MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 49

Episode Date: February 27, 2022

There seems to be quite the debate happening in the MMA community in regards to whether or not Islam Makhachev's next fight will be for the lightweight title against the winner of the UFC 274 bout between Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. Following Makhachev's dominant first-round finish over Bobby Green in the main event of UFC Vegas 49 on Saturday, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss that, and if they believe the protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight for the belt next. In addition, future matchups are discussed for Wellington Turman, Priscila Cachoeira, Arman Tsarukyan, Armen Petrosyan, and more coming out of the promotion's event at the APEX this past weekend. 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. Well, hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one, as we once again don the matchmaking hats one more time for the month of February, following UFC Vegas 49 on Saturday night. Calendar is going to change. We get a big event coming up on Saturday in Las Vegas. UFC 272 headline by Colby Cumberton versus Jorge Moswell. before we get into that fight week.

We got to put a bow on this past weekend's card, which was capped off by a dominant performance from one Islam Makachev, and we shall see if his next fight will be for a world title. It's been quite a debate on social media over the last 15 hours or so as we record this. But thank you for having us on, everybody. I am Mike Hack and joining me as always, the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity. Gosh darnity, he's my best friend, too, Mr. Alexander Kaylee.

Hello, AK, happy Sunday. You mentioned the debate going on on Twitter, and it put me in a sour mood for some reason, but we'll talk about that more later. But then you mentioned the best friend thing, and it just brightens up my whole Sunday. I'm ready to face the day. I'm ready to face today.

I'm ready to face tomorrow, Mike, wanting to hear talk like that. So, yeah, a pretty decent card. And I think the last few cards have been, you know, a little hit or miss, a little mediocre. But it's nice they're building up to sort of, I do feel like they've been a nice lead-up to next week's paper review show. and we're going to talk about that later as well.

Yes, started off the show with an emotional seesaw. We're up, we're down, but we're having fun throughout all of it. So let's get into this because this pick for Islam Makachev, and we talked about the debate on social media. Some people don't agree with this, but I think this is as easy as it gets, right? He goes out there, dominates, just malls, Bobby Green, needed a little over three minutes to get this done. And this is an interesting stat that I saw on Twitter. I went back and looked at it.

Bobby Green landed nine significant strikes in this fight, which was more significant strikes than anybody has ever landed in a round against Islam Makachev. So put that in perspective. Bobby Green had like the best round against Islamakachev what it came to actually striking. But this guy has won 10 in a row. Yeah, he doesn't have that signature win. Yeah, he hasn't fought a top five guy. But so freaking what, AK.

When you're getting wins like that and making it look as easy as he's doing right now, I mean, come on. The man has done enough to fight for a world title. It's got to be the winner of Oliver versus Gaichi, or we riot, right? Mike, I'm going to say this as plainly as I can. And if this results in me being checked in AK checks, I don't care. I understand, as you mentioned, wanted to see him beat a top five or top ten guy. That's fine.

Not even just talking with the UFC rankings. We keep where everyone casts their own rankings. and I think by almost anybody's rankings, maybe Dan Hucker would have been a top 10 opponent, probably 9 or 10, I think, in most people's rankings. That's about it. That is Armand Saurukyan, now that win has aged very well, but certainly was not in the top 10 or,

I mean, I know we're even ranked, I would say, obviously, it was his U.S. debut when he fought Makachev. So that's aged well, but sure, technically not a top 10 or top 5 opponent. But I want to say this plainly. If you are going out of your way to make a case against Makachov fighting for the title, you are broken as a fan. You are broken as a fan.

I will say it. Again, I say that I don't mind if you think there's other people who kind of deserve it more. But if this fight gets booked and you like, sorry, if him versus the winner of the Oliver, Gaiti fight gets booked and you are somehow in the mindset that this is, oh, this isn't fair. He doesn't deserve it. He needs to, again, he really, really need. You are broken as a fan.

This is an amazing fight, whether it's G. or Olivera. If you win 10 straight fights, as long as it's not against the complete bottom-run competition, you are worthy of a title shot. I'm sorry, you're worthy of a title shot. We'd all like his resume to be a bit beefier. But he was supposed to fight RDA. He's supposed to fight Benile D'airouche. How many times can we penalize him for these fights falling out, whether it's because of his side

or that's because of his opponent's side. He is so clear, like, we are, our listeners are educated. I think most people who read MMA fighting are educated. I think a lot of fans of modern MMA fans are educated. I really say this, and I mean this. Like, I know people make fun of a certain segment of maybe bad fans. I think the majority of fans are pretty intelligent,

and they know what they're seeing. And I think most people, when they see Mokachachov fight, they see a guy who is maybe, as Jed Mishu would say, the number one lightweight in the world right now. I disagree. I think it's Olivera, but you can make a case for it. He's certainly a very strong case for top three without having to beat a guy who's in the top three. So please, I would just implore you people out there who, for whatever reason, I'm just so adamantly against a Makachev title shot. Just remind yourself why you watch the sport. You watch a sport. Eminem is supposed to be fun. Don't we always say that, Mike. M.A. is supposed to be fun. Is this not a fight that you want to see? Don't worry about the meritocracy. If he wins the title, he'll fight the he'll fight the, he'll fight the, he'll fight the, he'll fight the, he'll fight the, he'll fight the He'll fight the other guys in the top 10. That will happen if he wins the title. You don't necessarily have to fight all those fights on the way there.

Is it ideal? Yes. But every case is different. And the Machutov case, man, it's just he's so clearly a top contender and a title contender, just don't in there now. There's no reason for us to keep putting it off. Fans don't punish yourselves. It's a fight you want to see, right?

So that fight should be next. Yes, he should get the title shot. And it very likely, as we've probably will probably be in Abu Dhabi later in the year. I'm going to choose my words carefully here, because I'm just going to because I don't want to I don't want it to sound like I'm being disrespectful and I'm not.

But we were fans as a community were clamoring, clamoring, screaming from the rooftops that Tony Ferguson deserved a title shot after beating Lando Vanada. Edson Barbosa, which, you know, Edson Barbos is a good win,

but Edson wasn't like a top five guy. Josh Thompson, Glacent Tebow. And he was, getting decisions. He almost got knocked out by Lando Vanada in that fight. Remember, that was like one of the best fights of the year, and that was Lando Vanada taking a fight on like a week's notice, and Tony almost

got bolted unconscious in that fight. And we were still screaming from the rooftops. Oh, it doesn't matter who Tony Ferguson fights at this point. Look at this winning streak. We got to give him a title fight. Yes, he got the signature win over RDA. When many people felt that he didn't have to fight RDA, he should have just got a title shot. What is the difference here?

there is actually a big difference. Islam Makachev's resume, I think, is stronger than Tony Ferguson was at the time. Yeah, Ferguson got the RDA win, but this is an RDA who just finished getting bolted by Eddie Alvarez and losing the title. This is a guy that was already talking about going up to 170. He wasn't totally into that fight. Not taking anything, I'm not trying to take anything away from Tony Ferguson because Tony Ferguson had a nice run. The Kevin Lee fight, he struggled a little bit in that one, ended up getting the win. Anthony Petis fight, he struggled in that one.

to get dropped. Donald Serroney, he even struggled in that fight. So, I mean, Islam Makachev is just going through these guys like nothing, like nothing. Nobody does to Bobby Green or Dan Hooker what this guy is doing. He's just going out there and it's not even, it's not even close. And every time we try to say that this is going to be a competitive fight for Islam Makachaf, yeah, he'll win. Yeah, he'll do so in pretty convincing fashion. He goes and takes that narrative and flips it upside down. He does it 10 times better than we thought. he was going to do. This time it was probably like a hundred times better than I thought he was going to do. And I thought he was going to win pretty convincingly. And he goes out there and just bolt to Bobby Green.

Bobby Green had no chance on this fight. And he basically admitted the fact afterwards. So this is a no brainer. He gets the title fight. Connor or no Connor. No one is taking that slot. The only way that he, that that slot is taken is if there's some freak injury that Makachev suffers and he's out for a year. But either way, even if that happens, is the on Makachev. when he steps into that octagon the next time he is fighting for a world title 1,000% and if you don't think that's the case, then you're crazy. You are a nut. And if I'm Islam, I ain't fighting anybody unless it's for the belt.

I will sit out for the rest of my life unless my next fight is for a title shot, unless he gets the red panty night with Connor, which I don't think the UFC would do. There's just no other way. Like stop, stop, stop it. Just stop it. You're crazy if you don't stop it. And for those saying he should wait and fight, but Neil Darius, when he's ready to come back,

you're insane. You're absolutely insane. Come at us. Check us both, guys. Go for it. If you think we're wrong on us, check us both because it's pretty irrefutable. I feel like, there's just a lot,

listen, there's a lot of ways to earn a title shot. I know people have this ideal of what it should be, but just go throughout UFC history and see how people earn title shots. In some great cases, Yeah, long losing streaks, knocked off two top five guys for getting the tell shot. But I think that's more rare than it is commonplace. So listen, the other thing is I know we live in this age of contrarianism where going against

the popular opinion makes you think you are smart. I think guys, no, no, no, this is true in any sport. This is not an MA thing. This is sports in general, right? Right? This is like, oh, LeBron James isn't that good. Oh, LeBron James. He's not even top five.

It's like, you're just being stupid at this point. You're just being stupid. So going with the obvious sometimes, guys, you've got to realize that is being intelligent. Arguing against everything that's not making you intelligent. So just arguing against because, oh, Makochev is so obvious, but like, oh, I'm a smart fan. I'm a smart fan. So I have to go against it. It's like that doesn't make you smart.

That just makes you argumentative, which is not the same as being intelligent. So don't confuse being argumentative or contrarian with intelligent. Sometimes the obvious choice is the smart choice. And I think Mike and I obviously agree. And yeah, again, we're only lashing out at certain fans, Mike. We're not saying like, oh, all fans are like this. No, there's just certain fans who are quite vocal about after last night's result. Well, here's what we should do instead of Makachap.

It's like, what are you doing? Why? Why? Ask yourself why you're doing this, you know? I don't understand. We were ready, again, as a community, we were ready to give Hamzaat Shemaiah a title shot after he knocked out Gerald Mearsart in 17 seconds. and now we're fighting against, and I love Gerald Mirchart, by the way,

but Gerald Mirshar, is an unranked middleweight. We were ready to throw Hamza Chamaif in there with Kamara Usman or Israel Adasanya after he knocked out Gerald Mirchart in 17 seconds in September of 2020. Then he sits out for a while. He's dealing with a lot of things, the COVID, comes back, beats another unranked guy in Li Jing Liang, and we are ready to throw him in there with Kamara Usman again. But Islam Makachev isn't ready to fight for a title. I just don't understand the line of thinking.

sometimes, it's just, it's wild to me. MMA is just a weird sport. It's a weird sport. We all want the acceptance of the big sports. We want to be in the game. We want to come off the bench. And now that you're there, we can't say these things. It's just wild. It's just insane to me.

Islam's fighting for the belt. Stop fighting it. It's a weird sport. That's why we love it. And you mentioned the fragrance of thing. I just want to add in, there was a very respectful member of the NBA media, who I will not name, someone I consider a friendly associate who before after

Charles Olivaire beat Ferguson Tony Ferguson said Charles Zolavera wasn't like a surefire like number one contender and I was just like I'm just saying this is it's not just a fence it happens in the media it happens to all of us we've probably done it we do we give what 50 takes a week Mike I'm sure we've done it but I'm just saying

if you want an example of like how much people are trying to like spoil things for themselves they'll see people on an eight fight nine fight 10 fight win streak And just because they haven't done it exactly, oh, exactly how it should go, like they shouldn't get a title fight. Or we don't want to see this big fight. I just, I don't understand it. I honestly don't understand it. Yeah. Sean Al Shadi had a great tweet about Gagar Bursasi and any Gagar Mousassi slander will not be tolerated.

Any John Anick slander will not be tolerated on my timeline as well. Because John Anick tweets out that Islamakachev has done enough to earn a title shot and everyone's firing back against him. How dare you? How dare you go up against John Anick? But that's Islamakchev. We will not matchmake for Bobby Green here, A.K., and the reason is, not out of disrespect, but we just did it two weeks ago, and I'm fine keeping things exactly where it was. You do Hinata Moikano, you do Brad Riddell.

I don't think his stock drops at all jumping in there the way that he did. Yeah, it sucks to lose. Yeah, if you wanted to fight for a title, that definitely puts a roadblock up there. But I don't think he cares about any of that. He just wants to fight as often as possible and makes a bunch of money. He doesn't care about belts. Tough fight on short notice. He's still a hero in a lot of people's eyes, AK.

And I know Kaye. and Jed were against what we were saying, but I feel like his stock drops zero. It's exactly where it is. Might even gone up a couple of notches because he took this fight with nobody else did. Yeah, no. All the listeners are with you, Mike. I'm not even going to read out like Bobby Green's suggestions this week because it was stuff that we've seen. Riddell, Moycano.

And yeah, as you and I went at it with Jedd and Casey on the post-fight show on Saturday, we differ greatly on what this loss means for bi-green. It hurts because it always hurts to lose. This doesn't affect, again, this should not affect his plans for 2022. So let's head to the co-main event, AK. Let's head to. I have another rant. I didn't mean to start off with the Machachov rant,

but I did prepare a co-made event rant. Do you want to do it before I make my pick? Do you want me to make my pick? Yeah, I'll do it. It's not even that long. I realize now why, you know, you've been saying, as they showed the interest on TV, it's a co-made event. And if they call it a co-meant events, fine, the very basic, you know, UFC, ESPN-defined criteria. So I don't agree with that at all.

I don't care if they play the music. I don't care if they call it a common event. I don't even care if they give it like a decent video package. That does not make it a co-man. So I've set some very basic criteria. I will probably modify this in the future. And I will have to bring it up repeatedly on shows coming up. So everyone who's hearing this for the first time, congratulations.

But bear with me, you'll probably hear it again and again and again going forward, especially over this year where I expect we're going to see some very lackluster penultimate fights. That's what I'm calling them, penultimate fights. It sounds even better than co-mate event. For to be a real co-mate event, one, obviously if it's on a pay-per-view, and there's two title fights and it's head online. I mean, that's a legitimate co-mate event, no question. For fight nights, this is where we're entering strange territory. I feel one of the, excuse me, one of the participants in the in an actual commitment has to be either a ranked in the UFC ranking official rankings or in the MMA fighting global rankings okay so that's and I think that's pretty fair there are exceptions you could have like if you had like I don't know an example like Terence McKinney versus a Sur Rukyan like I'm not a fight I would want to see but let's say they've made that fight happen I don't think either guys ranked yet Sur Rukyan might be in the UFC rankings after this weekend or or it

Is he already in there? Yeah, he's 13. He was 13 heading into the fight. But even if he wasn't, let's say for some reason both guys were outside the rankings, still, if they did look at McKinney-Sauru Kian fight, I mean, I wouldn't want to see it, but certainly you would put that at Colman, perfectly respectable. So the rankings, a bit shaky, but I mean, that's a pretty basic herriteria. And the other thing would be, damn, I'm a hat's this prepared, right?

Now, I forgot. I've lost my, I've lost my resolve. The other thing would be if I'm blanking. This is a lot. Oh, no, I've lost. I know, this is live. I've lost my steam. But my point is, oh, the other thing is, and this is a little more vague.

You can't look at the fight, and it can't be interchangeable with any other fight on the main card. And now that's kind of subjective, I understand, but I think last night would be a perfect case where you could have put, contrary and Kim could have been the co-main. I mean, not the co-main, but could have been the second last fight, and it would have been the same as Termin-Serkhanop. Same with Sarukyan. You could have with Cirque, you on the Comain, and no one would have said, oh, Terman and Sirkronov should have been there instead. I don't think Petrosia and Rodriguez would have been there, but you get what I'm saying. It has to, there has to be a sort of a, if it smells like a co-mate event, it is a co-mate event aspect to it.

And again, on, so I would want people to just compare what is the scheduled second last flight with another flight in the card and say, if they change this, would I be upset or what I even have thought? when I even realized that fight wasn't the co-main event in the first place. So I'm staying down some pretty, some somewhat flexible criteria, but I just want people to understand why I have looked at fights like Termin-Sirkenov and what was last weekend. Doccus picket. And just I just don't think, I think, I think co-in event has to mean something. I do think it has to mean almost like there's two main events and one is just, you know, not quite of the prestige of the other.

So that's why I've gone on this rant. That's why I feel this way about not calling these fights comments. UFC, ESPN can do whatever they want. Fans can do it too, but I'm not joining in. And I would hope fans would join me at least somewhat enrailing against suggesting that some of these penultimate fights are necessarily like more prestigious than other fights in this main card, which in this case, again, it definitely wasn't. And that's not always a bad thing because we love the contender series. Absolutely love the contender series. But the second and last fight on the contender series, we don't go out of our way to.

celebrate it as a co-main event. We don't. We don't. It's just the second and the last fight. And even, you can even make that argument for the main event. I mean, there's a little more,

the UFC is a little more choosy with which fight it, like ends each contender series fight. But, I mean, there's oftentimes where the more compelling matchup is not the last fight on the contender series. It happens all the time. So, yeah. I mean,

I don't think anyone should be offended if, if you say things like that or, you know, I mean, I have my criteria you have yours. It doesn't really matter. But Wellington Termin in the second to last fight, AK, submits Misha Sarkinoff of the nasty arm bar.

You have to think Misha Sarkinoff is probably not long for this UFC world much longer after that loss. But you can't go all that wrong here. I'll go with Puna Soriano, AK. What say you? I like that. That name will come up later on the show. I like Phil Haas. I like Phil Haas.

Again, I've ranted enough about this whole fight. Good performance by Turban. An entertaining fight, by the way, as much as I, you know, have been crapping on like, oh, whatever card placement or whatever you want to call that fight. It was a good fight. It was a good. It was what we had hoped for, a good grappling battle. I was very pessimistic in my prediction. I was like, oh, God, this is two strong grapplers.

Please don't neutralize each other and turn this into like a crappy, like boxing match. Nope. They both were able to show their strengths. Termin showed a lot of resolve. He was referred to as a 25-year-old Brazilian prodigy at the beginning of the show at the opening hype reel. and hey, great job, great read by Brendan Fitzgerald. You got to do what you got to do. He doesn't write it.

So, hey, and if anyone had seen Terman for the first time, this is the one good thing of putting them in that second last spot. If there are people who care who are like, oh, I'm only tuning in for the last three or four fights for whatever reason, they probably came out thinking Wellison Terman was a big deal. They had never seen him fight before. Not that he hasn't had his moments in the past, but that was, I mean, clearly his best UFC win with respect to the great Sam Alvey.

So, yeah, Haas, just a good test. Yes, I have no issue with that fight whatsoever. Yeah, it's funny. Well, I always, I picked Wellington Tourman. I was kind of scoffed out by Jed Bershoeffer picking Wellington Tournament, but I just felt like if you look solely at the Tapology page, it doesn't tell the story correctly. You know, seeing split decision with Sam Alvey,

even though Wellington, I mean, he beat the brakes off of Sam Albi. He just lost two points in the first round. And then I thought he beat Carl Roberson. and it was just, I don't know. I felt like this. Did it scoffed at it? Like it was a ridiculous pick to pick? Yeah, we made a push-up bet.

He always be push-ups now. How could anyone feel anything about that co-made event, like so strongly that they would make a bet on it? Or so, or that Misha Serkanov is too much for anyone at 185 pounds or not. Mish Rikov is a very strong guy, a great grappler, but he's been struggling. I can't imagine anyone going like, oh, yeah, Sercnov's going to run through this guy. It's like, what? Yeah, I mean. It's not what.

He impressed me in that first round a little bit, Circinoff, because I thought, I mean, usually when Sorkanoff is put in a compromising position, when a submission is locked, it's done. Usually that's what you see with Misha, but he fought through it and then almost finished the fight himself. But as soon as that armbar got attached in the second, that's it. It's just what happens. But his career is not done, but his UFC career might be done.

Yeah, I could see him fighting for. Or now. I would like to see him fight for other promotions. Yeah, he's going to Eagle FC. That's probably what we'll see him next. Perfect. Perfect. Let us move to Priscilla Cachua, AKA, who the listeners were not too kind to her.

Some even were like, I'm not picking her. I'm picking for G on Kim because she won the fight, but she gets the decision when, I mean, I'm with everybody else on planet Earth, except for one person, Ben Duffy. I didn't think Cachua won. My opinion doesn't mean anything, but I thought Kim won the first two rounds. I mean, rather easily, like no debate. Third was closer. I mean, if you want to score for Cat Chattuaerra, because she landed a couple of elbows, sure.

But, I mean, you can make the argument Kim 1 30 to 27. Like, you can make that argument very easily. Again, not our call. Kachuaer wins. I don't like to throw out the R word that often, but I'll throw it out here. I thought that was a clear robbery. Kachewa saves her job probably. Kim should get another shot.

I think the U.S., I mean, they gave her a bonus, so I guess $100 bills can dry away the tears of losing the win bonus. but what do we do with Catchuera now after a victory in the fight of the night last night? I'm getting a weird, like, flyweight Bechkoheya vibe from her. I know the Bechkoheya vibe's story was very different. Of course, she actually came to the OCCC with a great, great, like, hook, which is when, you know, she's hunting after Ronda Rousey's teammates instead of a title fight. So I don't know if Katzara ever, I mean, she's already fought Valentina Sturchenko, so she can really mark that off.

It wasn't for the title, but she has fought her. But I think, like, we were one, we were so mystified that she even got another fight, Mike, after losing, missing weight for the Gillian Robertson fight. Poked her, putting her, she poked in the eye or put her fingers in her mouth, Gillian Roberts, poked her eye. Tried to gouge her eye out, right? Yeah, that was like a reach behind. Yeah. And then was still lost, and then it was submitted. And it was like her third loss in four fights or something like that or second loss.

She didn't have a great UFC record. Something like, like two and two and four or something. So now she's three and four. Now she's quote unquote bounced back. And actually like I know that my math sounds weird here, but now she's actually won three of her last four. It's very bizarre. But the UFC, they like her enough, again,

that they would keep around after that Robertson fight for whatever reason. And we saw why. She's kind of a wild woman. She can definitely be a brawler. She can definitely find herself in fun fights. I think the matchmakers knew that when they matched her up with Kim. So, you know, she could be sticking around. Ariane Lipski, you know, Ariane Lipski, this fight was supposed to happen a couple of years ago.

They're both three and four in the UFC. I think Kacharer is shown her that she's around that range. You know, Lipski came in with a ton of hype. When she came to the UFC, I think people thought she would be a surefire title contender. That hasn't happened. But Kacharra is a fun fight for her. And if Lipski wins, I think something that would get her on track. And if Ketra wins, which is something that just keeps her in the UFC collecting checks.

Yeah, again, this is one of those things that you really can't go wrong with. I'll go to Canada with this one, A.K., I'm going with Jasmine Jazz DeVizius. Because, yeah, I thought she looked good in her win over Kay Hansen. Her wrestling in the ground control is very strong. And, I mean, just a gigantic advantage of Priscilla Catchware in that regard. But I think that's a fun fight. Jasmine likes to get into wars. And I think she would be fine standing and trading with Priscilla.

she has a path to victory if she needs it and just takes the fight to the ground over and over again. But yeah, I think that's a fine fight. Can't go wrong. And we'll move ahead to some of the bigger names who competed on the card, AK. How about Armand Sarukion, who just absolutely malls and bloodies and finishes Joelle Alvarez? This was a one-sided beatdown. This is a statement-making performance. AK, you know how high I am on this guy, but what do you think should be next for Sarukion? on. This card was quite a card for the lightweights, wasn't it? It showed one, the guy who might be the number one lightweight in the world. And then a guy who looks like he'll be a top five lightweight in the world in the future. And then McKinney, a fun fighter, a wild card could be a top ten contender. Either way, it feels like guy who would be in the UFC for a long time, just because it was fighting style, his potential. Yeah. And we also saw tears. We also saw like how far McKinney probably has to go to get to Sar Rukyhan's level. How far Surukhian still has to go to get to Makha Chub's level. It was just a really good show. And I'm forgetting, Bahamma. But how Haman does the lightweight as well, right?

Yes. That's just crazy. So what an awesome showcase for the weights. Hey, I said, I warned people before, don't be a smart dumb cat. If you can avoid it. Everyone's saying, everyone was calling for this name right after. They've been calling for this one for a while. Sur Rukyan Gregor Gillespie.

I mean, it just makes a lot of sense on paper. It makes sense where they are in the rankings. And stylistically, a great matchup of grapplers. We'd love to see Sir Rukian tested there. Because in a straight grappling matchup, I think it's pretty even. Sur Rukhian, I would give him the edge and stand up. But Gillespie has a way of getting those fights where he wants to go. So great veteran test for him.

And, you know, two guys who are, it's a fight for a top 10 spot. Yeah. This is an interesting one because, I mean, I would favor Saurukian against almost everybody in this division right now. There's probably like three or four guys I wouldn't. But if you look at the UFC rankings, I would favor him against Michael Chandler all the way down. There's not, I think I would favor him pretty convincingly against Michael Chandler. No disrespect Michael Chan. I just think Sir Rukian is that good.

And I've been saying it for a long time. You could push him to the moon right now. Like if for some reason, they can't get this Tony Ferguson fight together, you could throw him in there with Michael Chandler right now. And I would have no problem with it. And I think Sirukian would probably beat Michael Chandler and then get very close. But I, give him the Gilleski. If we can't do that, if we're just going by.

meritocracy. You got to give him a top 10 guy. Anything less than a top 10 guy is insanity to me. So if you want to do the Gillespie fight, sure, that's my Otno point pick. Gillespie's a damn good fighter. He's a fun fighter. It would be a sick matchup at this point in their careers. So I'm good with that. I would favor Serochian heavily in that fight. I just think he's that good. I really do think he's that good. This is, he's not Mokachev levels yet, but he will be soon in my opinion. I mean, minus 275, minus 300 favorite open for Sarukyuan over Gregory Gillespie right now. Sure, certainly. Listen, we never got Gillespie, Habib. We're probably not getting Gillespie Makachev. I have now downgraded to Gillespie Sarukyon. And that's okay. You know what? The

other thing what M.A. is people is about managing your expectations. So there was a point where Like, it was kind of a cool idea to imagine Gillespie fighting, Habib, or, or Machachov. But Sarukyan also be a fun matchup. I have a feeling that this week I'm going to be fighting with Tristan Gordet on social media about Gregor Gillespie and Armand Sarukian. I haven't looked at the email he has sent me yet. He said you, he'll send me an email. So I don't know if you want me to read it out when the time comes or if you want to read

it out. I don't know why he would send one to both of us. I'll read it out. But, yeah, I mean, I haven't seen the email. I know it came. I saw the notification on my phone. I saw the Instagram notification on my phone that the picks were sent via email. So I'll start with Tristan Gordet, but something tells me he's going to fight me on this.

And there's going to be a debate on why Gregor Gillespie shouldn't have to fight backwards. Because I feel like we have this in every division at one point. So I am expecting that to happen. And we will see if that does happen. Oh, he sent you picks. He just sent me a comment. Okay, I got picks. I got picks, but he usually sends comments.

He usually explains them, but he's probably not picking Gregor Gillespie, and the reason will probably be because Gregor Gillespie is ranked ahead of him. So I'm going to go with that. But let's go to another exciting fighter on this card who got a victory. Armand Petrosian, AK, gets a very exciting whatever Gregor Rodriguez. I thought there was no robbery here. There are folks who believe Gregor Rodriguez run the fight. I am not one of those people.

I thought Petrogyan won. And it was an exciting fight. He comes through. He overcomes some adversity. He got bloodied and battered. But he goes out and gets a big win in his UFC debut, AK. What do we do with a... You know, I'll just throw mine out there.

Go. It's Abdul Razak Al-Alissan. That's the fight with you. We just have some fun. Let him go in there and fight another striker. That's the fight. I wish I was talking about Greg Rodriguez now. If he just used his Jiu-Jitsu more,

you might be having a different story. But hey, maybe easier said than done. You know, again, we always save fighters with great jiu-jitsu who end up, like, just becoming strikers. Like, oh, why don't they just jiu-jitsu everyone? Hey, when you're in there, it might be different. I mean, I will say, I know Petrosian, from the very beginning, his hips were so far back.

I mean, it almost looked like he was, like, leaning forward, like, in the friggin Michael Jackson, smooth criminal video. You know what I mean? It was like, I don't know how he's, his hips were just non-existent so far out of, out of Gregory Rodriguez's range, and you can understand why. and Rodriguez didn't really get a submission attempt until it was off of a striking flurry.

He didn't knock him down, I think, right? But he heard him on the feet first and then during his scramble, kind of got him down. Anyway, but we are talking about Petrogyan. This is where I pulled the Puna card. I'm going with Soriano. I want Suriano for him. This is also sort of something for Puna

because I feel like they've been giving Puna, they gave him like Grapplers in his last two matchups. Man, let's just let Puna go, man. Just let Puna bang. I know he's a well-rounded fighter. I just wanted to see him throwing bombs, though. And that might not necessarily be the case, I guess, like a technical kickbox like Petrosian. But Robocop certainly drew him into some sloppy exchanges.

And I think a striking battle with Puna and Petrosian would be great. So, yeah, I'm going with, that's where I put Soriano. Sure. No issue with that whatsoever. Let's head to the wild card round, AK, the final wild card pick for the month of February, in 2022. We will select a fighter we have not matched for yet. if we will do so right now,

a.k. Your UFC Vegas 49 wildcard pick. I really like Josian Nunez. I'm such a fan. I love that the fight had to move to featherweight because just seeing this five foot two woman come in at 145 pounds because it was a, you know,

they had a short notice change with Ramona Pasquale. So Bill's fighters, fighting a little bit here from you. I think Pasquale has fought at featherweight before, but I do imagine she'll drop back down, drop down to 135 in the UFC. if she can. But I like Josia Nunez.

Listen, you want a wild card? I'm going full wild. Mike, Mike, I don't want Josia Nunez to drop back down to 135. I like my five foot two

featherweight slugger, all right? Give me hashtag Nunes on Nunes. Oh my gosh. Give Josia Nunes the featherweight title shot. I don't know what Amanda Nunes

his plans are. I mean, I know she has to fight Julianna Pena again. I understand. I understand. Regardless of what happens there, win or lose. I want a man Nunes to get another featherweight title defense. They haven't taken the belt off for yet. It's still a thing. Give her Josian. I just want to see what would have foot.

Five foot two Josianne is in there with arguably the goat women's fighter. I don't care. I just, I said it. I said it. Josian, stay at 145. Stay at 145. If she needs to win another fight, fine. Like I said, Nunes is to fight Pena first anyway. I want, Josian, don't worry about it. about 135. 135 is, I mean, not a great division either, but it certainly has more competition than 145. Fight whoever's there at 145. I can't even name anyone right now. And let me see Nunes on Nunes. Wow. Yeah. I did. I mean, the way you've, the way you've laid it out,

it actually kind of makes sense. There is a, there is a featherway fight coming, there is a featherway fight coming up May 7th, a UFC 274 between Norma Dumont and Macy Chieson. If Norma Dumont wins, you could do Nunes versus Dumont. Number one contender fight. Although I think Dumont gets the title shot with a win over Chiazon anyways

if Nudas decides to go. But again, we have a ways to go. I mean, we're not, that rematch between Pena and Nunes isn't even on the bookshed. They're saying summer, so maybe July, August, that fight happens. So we've got to go through the whole tough experience before we even get there. It's just going to be so.

brutal dude. It's going to be so brutal. I shouldn't have eaten this morning. But Josian, don't go to 130. Stay at 145. I'm a big fan of hers. I read that one wrong just because I thought it's the first big punch Nunes landed. The fight was going to be over.

Just because Pasquale, I mean, this is no offense to Pasquale. I just felt like the level of competition was night and day. I just thought Nunes has fought better fighters. And their second pro fights, you went the distance with Tyler Santos, who very well could be fighting Valentina and Chavchenko in her next fight, and she just has that power. So props to Ramano Pesquale for her toughness, her grit, her chin, and Nunes is just really fun to watch.

And I have no issue if she stays in 145. But my wild card could be perceived as lazy booking. But I actually think it's the right time in both of their careers to make this fight because you have two guys on similar paths, both guys with bright futures and high ceilings. And both guys coming off submission wins on this card. But this is the kind of division where you can make fights like this, and it makes sense. We had three fights like this on the card.

So give me Terrence McKinney versus Ignacio Bahamandes, AKA. I am ready for it. If we can get these guys in around May or June, even better. That's the fight. I love it. We don't, this is the UFC. At some point, you do want to keep contenders with each other, but two or three fights for the UFC careers, throw them in there.

Let's see who's give us an entertaining fight. This is what future champions and legends are made of. at least at lightweight where it's just, again, it's such an insane. I have McKinney, even after yesterday's win, just because he hasn't had, you know, he hasn't had the chance to fight like, you know, super high-level competition yet. I have McKinney at like 40 in my lightweight rankings. And I know that sounds bad, but again, this is the cluster he's in with. Where is he?

McKinney, he's in there with Claudio Pueyes, 4 and 1 in the UFC. My guy, Mustafa, the guy's really talented. The three and two in the UFC, you can put above him maybe. There's veterans. Like, I wouldn't put McKinney above. of like Nasrod Haq Praschia, Al-Aquinta, Leonardo Santos. These are the guys I have him behind.

It's such a deep, deep, deep division with up-and-comers and veterans who I still feel like are clinging onto their spots. If you put McKinney closer to 20, I wouldn't blame you either. I have him again in the 40 range. I'm not in a hurry to push him. And yeah, Bahamundas is right there,

right there with him, Mike. So I love it. I hope it happens. I love it. Yep. I'm totally with that, especially at 155. Okay. Do we have a check the tapes?

Mike checks, any bonus coverage before we go to the listener picks? Well, so Marcus McGaie has dubbed this the Firefist edition, by the way, if you case you're wondering who he thought won the Kim, Kacharerra fight, the Fire Fist edition of onto the next one. I'm going to give a point to the listeners for Charles Jodin versus Lando Venada, which is happening in April 23rd. The timing is a little weird because I think this is one people were asking for like a long time and maybe on multiple occasions. But generally, it's been asked so many times.

I think guys our listeners deserve credit, I think. Marcus, the master of the spreadsheet, Mike. You probably got the same message. He wants a shared point for Bellator pick. Per Picco Kennedy. Yeah, Pecoecoe Kennedy. Aaron Pico, Jeremy Kennedy. Hank, Belator 277, April 15th.

Sure? I guess you can have one, Mike. I know we sort of discussed how we feel about giving away Bellator points. The match being is a little too obvious at times. Until Friday, until Friday when Scott Coker announced, on the broadcast that Chenate Kavanaugh is going to fight Chris Cyborg again. Hey, if you're out there and you've picked Kavanaugh Cyborg 2 to happen at any point. No points.

If you could show me a receipt, a screenshot from with the date and the time on it, that after November, when Chris Cyborg actually annihilated Jeney Kavanaugh, you said, your, your otno choice was we have to run this one back. I will give you, I'll give you all my otno points for the year. No, Mike. Oh, that's crazy. That's great. You know some weirdo might have.

You know some weirdo might have. I've thrown it out there. You can't trust these people, but very strange. I have to hope that's like a placeholder fight. And if something better comes along, like the contracts, obviously kind of the contracts have been signed. Of course not. They can still call an audible on it or they're assuming it just won't happen for some

reason. Very strange booking from Bellatory there. How did nobody in that press conference ask Scott Coker why? How do you not do that? I just don't understand. Like you you ask the question. Scott Coker gives his answer. This is why, like, I did this.

Here's when it might happen. But no one just grabbed the microphone and said, but Scott, why? Why? Why? Why? What sense does that make? Why? I guess he could point to the rankings.

You know, if they want the rankings to be taken seriously. So, oh, man, she's not even. Oh, yeah. Okay. So she, I'm just looking at the house. Katzegano is fighting Pam Sorensen in like two weeks. Do we know? I'm sorry.

What was the story there? Katzegano didn't want to fight that? What was the story there? I mean, I interviewed Kat probably in like January, maybe like the end of December, and it didn't seem like Bellator was all that excited about it or that all the parties were all that excited about it because it's seen odd. Scott Cooker had just had an interview saying, we're going to make this fight in the first quarter of the year.

And I asked Katzegano about it. And she didn't seem like that was the plan. They, she said basically, like, promotion told me to get ready for March 12. And sure, if they get it. Give me the title fight. Great. But the way she looked at it was, looks like we're probably not getting it until later on in the year.

Plus, Cyborg only is one fight left in her contract. And I believe that contract expires sometime in June or July. So they have to try to re-sign her. And maybe Chris Cyborg is sort of looking to maybe get that Kayla Harrison fight at some point. But you have to think Bellator is not going to make that fight official unless Chris resigns. So there's a lot in play here. Well, I tend, from what I, understand the whole Zengano turned the fight down thing is not wholly accurate. I think Zengano's team

wanted the fight, but I think Cyborg smartly is weighing her options, especially now that Kayla Harrison is not a lock for PFL and Bellator is very much in play in this Kayla Harrison discussion. And as far as you know, Zengano was not officially offered the fight. She was never formally offered the fight. Not that I'm aware of. I mean, we were all talking about it publicly. I'm sure they were, I'm sure they had talked about it, but I mean, yeah, so technically, again, because again, we don't, like I said, we don't want to say San Gano is avoided the fight. If you're not offered a fight, technically you, you didn't avoid it.

I mean, you didn't duck it. Yeah. If it was never formally offered, you didn't lose it, you know. So, uh, I'm going to defend this booking one time. Oh my gosh. No, and this is, this is, this is, this is just MMA math. If Liam McCourt had won, she would have gotten the title shot against Cyborg. Maybe.

That's not a guarantee. I think that's why they made the announcement. I think they were ready to say, I think they were hoping McCourt would win. And they definitely that night would have announced like, oh, McCourt is like they would have made the name. I think that's why they made the announcement that night. They were prepared to make a Cyborg championship announcement. They were leaning towards Liam McCourt, hoping it would be her. When it wasn't her, they said, F it.

We're going to make an announcement for Cyborg tonight. It was going to be Liam McCourt. Liam McCourt lost the Cavana. I'm not saying that's a good explanation. I'm saying I think that was how the machine worked. I think that's the gears just moved, just turned in that direction. And that's why we got this nothing burger of a rematch. Again, Cheney Kavanaugh, super tough.

That fight was really good with Liam McHort. And I'd love to get a title shot again just yet, not so soon after losing so definitively in November, right? Yeah, it was three months ago. That's bizarre. Really, on the Mount Rushmore, a bad matchmaking. Like, I'm really hoping that this fight doesn't come to fruition. No offense is to say, Cabin. Is it worse than, than Vader Congo, too?

Oh, by a zillion times worse. I don't even know if that's a real thing, but that's, I mean, after listening to Czech Congo, talk about how much he hates Ryan Bader. I'm actually sold on the fight now. Yeah. I'm actually into it. I mean, could Bellator make better fight, sure, but I mean, I'm into it. Let's just do it and get weird and fun with it.

it like we can talk ourselves into thinking that's fun we can't do that here the only way that this makes any kind of sense is if you do it in dublin like not in brazil you do it in dublin let the double crowd go bananas we have that moment when chnade cavanaugh walks out and then probably gets stopped in a matter of seconds by chris cyborg so so in other words cyborg versus cabinac too coming to uh the scenic uncasville uncasville cana yeah it's gonna be in thackerville okohama folks buckle up because where else could we have that fight besides Tackerville, Oklahoma? Now, Mike, we mentioned our palatrist and Gorda, and I know, do you want to take a quick glance at his email? We got to figure how to handle this because he emailed both of us.

He sent me a mic, he sent me a clear mic check that he wanted me to read to you. But if he's also sent it to you. I didn't get a mic check. He just got picks. I just got picks and, hold on me pull it out. I'm looking at it right now. Sure, sure. Take quick glance at it.

And if the comments are different, I wanted to see. Okay, so I'm absolutely correct about where I thought Tristan would go with this. But I didn't get a, I didn't get a mic check. Okay, you know what? Let's, we don't normally like to do this. We don't like to encourage Tristan's cloud chasing behavior. But I liked his email message he sent to me so much. I'm going to let you open up with your things first.

And I'm going to also, I'm also going to give him the last spot on Onno. I think I like this message so much. So I will just say that, Mike. You can read your Tristan email whenever. you want. I will save the one he sent to me for the end. Yes, we can move on to listener picks. Let me just say usual disclaimer, Mike. Emphasis winners, guys, unless we're talking about main event or title fight. It's category's rule. You want your auto point. You better have been like the only person in the planet to make that pick, at least, at least if I had seen it

that way. People, please watch, wait class. Did they fight already? And recently, as a person have a notable injury, has a person been released? Has a fight already been booked? I am going to, Mike, I am going to start not reading people's entire suggestions if they make one mistake. I'm not saying, I'm not locking that in. I'm not locking that. I'm like the California Athletic Commission with the weight cutting. Like, it's just a suggestion, like to move up in wait. You miss badly, you can move up.

I'm not, I'm just suggesting people, please be a little more careful because if I keep seeing this, I'm just not going to read your message. It saves us time. It saves you time and you learn a life lesson. And for this week, guys, I'm not reading, Michael, you can do this. I'm not reading matches for Michael Gilmore. He should be released. He's a tough guy. He's tougher than I will ever be.

He's 100 times tougher than I will ever be. So Michael Gilmore, good for you for getting to the UFC and for sacrificing so much to be on the ultimate fighter and to get in Dana White's good graces. But I would like to see him either go back to the regional scene or move on from MMA and just do and enjoy his life, whatever. I wish the best for Michael Gilmore. He's just not a UFC level fighter at this point's career.

I'm not reading out any matches for him. We got a few. And people, Wellington Turman was in the, he was in the freaking co-main event of Saturday's card, right? Spell his name right. Spell his name right. I saw, I know it's a tricky name. It's not a common last name. I understand.

But I saw Truman. I saw Thurman. I saw, like, a French spelling, like, Termon. It's not a common, it's not a common last name. I understand. Very easy to mix it with Truman. I get it. But the guy just won again, a co-main event.

spot in the UFC. Let's get a little pull of respect. Let's literally put some respect on his name. All right. The Tristan Gordette sandwich begins. Okay, you'll start with him? Okay, go ahead. I'll start with him. Okay, that's perfect. Main card, screw at Mike. Let's make this happen. Bobby Green versus Patty Pimblit. Regardless of Pimbleau, Windsor loses his fight against Rodrigo Vargas, most likely I think Patty will win. I want this fight in the worst way. I don't care. Put it as a headliner in a fight night card or put it on a main card of a pay-per-view. Let's make this happen. The build-up to this fight would be. It's so insane.

That would really shove it in Jen and Casey's faces too, eh? If you got the Paddy Pimblit fight, they're like, oh, yeah, Bobby Green, there's no more big fights ahead for him. If you got the Paddy Pimblit fight, that'd be huge. That would prove, Mike, what you and I were saying, like, that this loss meant nothing, like as far as hurting his matchmaking opportunities, right? Yeah, and I don't think Patty would even take that fight right now. He better, he better not.

Yeah, that would not be a good fight for him. Armand Sirukion versus Matush Gamrott. Sarukian won't fight, won't get Gillespie because Gillespie said he said he only fight fighters that are above him in the rankings. Obviously, he's not going to fight for Z because they're under the same management and everyone else in the lightweight division is books. So here we are at this fight. So like I suggested, he was going to argue against it because Gillespie is ranked above

him. And apparently Gary Gillespie is Connor McGregor who can deny fights all he wants. So, yeah, I mean, I don't agree with you. Maybe they don't make it. Maybe Gillespie says no. And maybe Gillespie just stands on the sidelines and just doesn't want to fight anybody until he gets somebody above him. And if that's case, good on him,

I don't agree with that line of thinking of the wild card. Baja Mondees versus Steve Garcia. Terrence McKinney versus the winner of Jalen Turner versus Jamie Malarki, sure. Brahimah versus Takashi Sato, just rebooked that one. Okay. Daniel Markoulos, I'm guessing Jonathan Martinez returned to Bannamweight,

so I'll go him versus Mario Batista. Terence said he wanted a fight in two months. I like him versus the winner of Gordon versus Alves. Baja Mondays versus Christos Gagos. though the fun move would be Bahamandes versus Joel Alvarez for the tallest lightweight bout of all time. Josie Nunes versus Stephanie Egger.

Yeah, I love that. I really like that one. Armand versus Gillespie. I'm changing my tune on Bobby Green fighting Gillespie now. If the Tony Chandler fight falls through, give me Elkakoui versus Mr. King Green as a headliner. Bonus, Gagar Musassi and Sean Al-Shadi

tag team match against the great Jedmishu. So a handicap match. Okay. Oh, just two on one. And just like, like not even a BTL thing, just like just like physically being the crap out of them. I mean, I don't approve violence, but I mean, I would, I would pay to watch it. I mean, I'd pay to watch that too.

We could put that on a fight circus car. That'd be great. Oh, I do want to ask, you said that was, you said Jonathan Martinez versus Bautista. First Mario Bautista. Yep. How do you feel about Jonathan Martinez, like staying at 135? I mean, he did make it this time. Well, this is one.

Oh, sorry. Actually, I say my phrase it differently. How do you feel about, Marinas. Martinez staying at 145, excuse me, that's right, because he's had issues making 135. He looked very comfortable making 145. Would you want him to stick around here in this division? Or do you think there's still, like, because he's a really good fighter, do you still want to see him try his hand in the deepest division at Bantamweight? I think his success is at 135, but again, he's got to get that weight kind of under control.

But if you want to play sort of the Brian Kelleher blueprint of things and fight Bantamwaites at featherweight sure I have no problem with that at all if he wants to keep fighting bannam weights at featherweight I mean who cares just do it that way but I think his pat like if he ever wants to get to a ranking or a top 15 spot his best chances probably at bannam weight but you just got to get that he's just got to get that stuff under control so the silence behind the violence looking to to make some moves up one of these matters I want to see him stay at 145 but like you said he can do that and also fight phantom weights for the foreseeable future.

So, yeah, I don't know. Maybe there is that happy compromise for him. And by the way, just for people who think that Martinez, you know, drank a bunch of milkshakes or something, and that's why the fight was at 145, this is a Perez call from everything I've been told. So, and then why is Martinez is getting a tax message from his manager saying, hey, Perez wants it at 145. Are you cool with that?

Marcheas would be like, hell, yeah, I'm cool with that. Let's go. Let's go to 145. I feel like it was a somewhat late booking. I could be wrong. I'll check this. I feel like it was during the week. No, I mean, I don't think the booking was late.

It wasn't a late replacement, but I thought it was booked. I don't know. Maybe it was booked ahead of time. Anyway. Yeah, but it all worked out for everybody. Francesco, our big Italian fan, Termin versus, spelled it right, by the way, D. Di Carrico, Kachiora versus Lipski, Sirukion versus Gillespie,

Petrosian versus Malcun, Wild Cards, Bobby Green, Jim Miller. I like that. McKinney versus Hadsevich, Martinez versus Batista again. Chris London, Termin versus Anders, Petrosian versus Phil Haas, Joel Alvarez versus Terrence McKinney, Bahamandes versus Hacquarest, Martinez versus Dawadu at 145. That would be fun.

It would be fun. Marcus, with the chart. Let's see. Let me take a look at this too. Green Moycano, Termin, Vietta, which was a rebooking. He likes Syruke on Gamrod as well. Petrosian Shabazian, sure. Baja Monde's Mason Jones.

That's fun. Nunes versus Avela. Again, we don't know when Aeel is going to be able to fight again. May not be till the end of this year, maybe next year. McKinney Mustafa, Martinez, Montel Jackson, Brahimah versus Carlson Harris. Carlos Hernandez versus J. Cadley. That's fun.

I like all those. Yeah. Brandon Nunez. Petrosian versus Malcun. Green versus Alvarez. Islam versus the... Oh, God. Islam versus the winner of RDA versus Fiziv.

Title shot makes sense, but a win over Green shouldn't give him one. And I know it's not Islam's fault, but still, oh, good God. Take it easy, Mike. Take it easy. We've said enough about this. You are, you, no, you're wrong. Rewind to the beginning of the episode if you want our response to that. Yeah, absolutely, no.

Gerard, Bioggan, Bobby Green, Brad Riddell, Turman, Phil Haas, Alvarez versus Jake Matthews at 170. Not a bad idea. Again, another guy who might need to move up. I don't know. Petrojan versus Anders, Bahamandes, Hubbard. That's fun. McKinney versus Selecki. Brahima versus Jack Delamatta, Madalina.

Sure. I like that. That's, yeah, that's, yeah, that would actually be kind of interesting. I think that's the right track. Although Delamadalina is probably a gigantic favorite in that fight, but if that fight gets to the ground, things get interesting. Minus 400. Dylan, hey, Mike, what a bloody card.

Here's my picks. The Catchy Ware versus Kim fight was a robber. So no pick for her, 29, 28, Kim. Serukian versus Fiziv, RDA winner. Armand might be one of the top five best lightweights in the world right now. So I don't think, this has been brought up a couple of times, I don't think they're against fighting each other. I just think it's a fight that they would rather wait for

until their top five or that's the number one contender fight or a title fight. I don't think they're against fighting each other, but I don't think it honestly makes all that much sense to book those two to fight each other now if Fizzis Bits RDA. If RDA wins, sure, you can do Sruki on RDA. And if Fizzis Bits RDA, you could do Sauruqi on RDA. I'm fine with that, too. Like, that would be okay.

Yeah, the whole, I mentioned it before, but I've been told the whole dominance of M.A thing. It's not like the guys won't fight each other. It just has to be the right opportunity and the right money. That's it. They're probably going to be strategic with how they match up their clients, but it's not like they'll never fight. Again, we saw it, we saw it, G. and Habib, which, of course, was for a world title.

And, again, we've seen another matchup. So it's not, yeah, it's not completely out of the question. is smart with those guys. And Syatt does a great job with some of these international fighters. I think they will fight at some point, but just no need to put him in there now. And then he said, let's just run back Petrojan, Robocop.

What a fight. If not, do Petrojan versus Abdul Razak-Alassan. John Ray, Hope Musassi is happy with ruining my Friday. I got off work to watch one fight. He's just too good. L.O.I.I think he was kind of the Mike Tyson syndrome of the 80s and 90s where you bought the Tyson fight

and you were looking forward to watching just a 10-round brawl and you got 14 seconds of fighting. Mike Tyson of Bellatory MMA. They should, they got to market them like that. Scott Coker, what are you doing? You're welcome. Brahima versus Jason Witt. Jonathan Martinez versus Hanayya.

Nunes versus Stoli Aranco. I do like that fight. But let's do it at 145. I'm with you, I'm with you, A.K. Petrosian versus Pickett, Termin versus Marquez, Green versus Dober Glenn. Cool. Owen Carroll.

Carlos Hernandez versus Juan Puerta. Martinez versus Morales. I like that fight a lot. McKinney versus Leo. Santos, Nunes versus Egger, Baha Mondays, Mason Jones again, Petrogyn versus Chidi and Jokwani. That's fun. Ketuera, Sejara, U. Banks. I actually thought about that one.

That's not a bad pick. Termin versus Puna, Green versus McGregor. I mean, I would watch the hell out of that. And then Islam Makachev title shot. Last one, Poppy underscore Brian. He's got the Canadian flag in the profile picture. Good. Good morning, AK, and Mike.

AK was very fired up last. Sunday. Love to see it. Keep up the great work. And as you can see, AK, still a little fired out. Let's carry it over a little bit. Wild card pick. Terrence McKinney versus Alexander Hernandez, AK. What are your thoughts on that matchup? I, it's, I don't want to say it's too soon, because I understand that Alexander Hernandez's stock, you know, has plummeted a bit in people's eyes. But, and it's a very winnable fight for McKinney. I don't think, I don't think Hernandez is like a complete, you know, completely out of his league or anything. But I do, I mean, I do put a lot of a weight in UFC experience, maybe more than I should.

That might explain why I was like, you know, when Yuri Prasca first came over, I was like, yeah, is he ready for a title shot? And it's like, I mean, he destroyed like two people, two top ten guys. And it was clearly he probably could have fought for the title when he came to the UFC. So, yeah, so maybe I'm putting too much weight in U.S. experience. I like it because I think, I think there'd be a good storyline there with obviously McKinney potentially continuing his rise up against the guy who's very tough to finish, Alexander Hernandez, I mean, you know, McKinney getting a reputation first round finishes.

If he could do that to Alexander Hernandez, boy, I mean, that's, there you go, that faults you're writing in the top 20 for me. And Alexander Hernandez would be kind of this redemption story because we know the guy, we think he's a good interview. He's someone the UFC has wanted to market. The results just haven't quite been there, but it's not like he's over the hill. I don't even think he's, he's not even 30 yet, I don't think, right? He must be maybe close to 30. How was Alexander? He's 29. So he's not even, so he's not even age 30 yet. He doesn't turn 30 until much later this year. And it sounds weird to sort of, now we've already relegated to him like, well, he didn't quite live up to his promise. So there could be a second chapter to his career. And it'd be interesting to throw him in there with McKinney. Now this, Mike, that match suggestion has fight night co-main event written all over it. That is a fight night co-main event. Thank you. There's a narrative. No, the guys are not ranked, but there's a narrative there. It's a potentially exciting matchup. And there's a great. guy in McKinney who you should be pushing to the moon right now. So very good suggestion.

I like that too. But yeah, there is a part of me. It thinks it's too soon, but sure. I mean, if you think he's ready, this is the kind of fight that you look at. Petrosian versus Mark Andre Barreel, Surukian versus the winner of Rick Glenn versus Drew Dober. I forgot who said it in the pre-show, but no way Armand gets a ranked opponent. These top 10 guys won't fight him. They fight once a year, most of them, it seems. I would love. the RDA Fazeev loser, but God knows when they'd fight again. I mean, there's probably some truth to that.

But again, we're at 155, and it's very, very difficult to move up the ladder. So at some point, some of these guys are just going to have to suck it up and fight if you want to move up the ladder. You've got to win fights to move up the ladder. Islam Makachaf is struggling,

and he's winning all of his fights. So you've got to make some moves. You've got to be a little proactive, and you got to take these fights, no matter if they're in front of you or behind you, shoot for the stars or shoot for the moon. If you pull out a star, cool. I mean, if Greg Gillespie goes out there,

and Gregor's got a path to victory, man. Like, if he goes out there and submits Armand Sarukion, that's a huge win for him. His stock jumps tremendously, despite, you know, being ranked behind him. I think he wants Tony Ferguson, and Tony's a fun name and stuff, but I think most fans would view a win over Armand Sarukion,

having a little more umph than beating Tony Ferguson on a three-fight losing streak right now. So we'll see what happens there. Priscilla Kachewa versus Antonina Shepchenko. Antoninis, we've got to fight fighting Courtney Casey in April. Welling to Termin versus Abdul Razak al-Hazan. Islam Makach. Wow. Islam Makachov versus anyone except for whoever has the belt.

Just wrong. No. Just not just no. Wrong Poppy underscore Bryant. You have been one of our, you have been one of our very consistent And every week you come through with picks and submissions, and I appreciate that very much, but just wrong. We love you, we love you.

And we love all the listeners and we love all the readers and everyone, that whole MAAfighting.com fan base. But I will say it again, if you are arguing against a Makachev title fight or ask yourself why. And I just want to know, like why? What is the reason to say, oh, I don't want to see this fight now? Why? Why? Because of these, because of rankings?

Because like, I, MMA is supposed to be fun, guys. Is this a fight? Do you want to see him fight Charles Ilavera just engaged you in a five-round fight in a main event? If your answer is no, something's wrong with you. So anyway, we won't go back to the beginning of the show. We really went in on it. Correct. On to you, my friend.

I'm done. All right, all right, all right. Well, it's funny again, yeah. So that thankfully was from the most part, the most popular pick I saw this week, Makachov versus the Oliveri-Ga-Gy winner. Special shout out to Jay Donagy, the Poconos picker, who specifically said Do Bronx.

He's really said Machachep versus Do Bronx. He said, I'm not just going to say the winner because that's the coward's way out. He's, I am making a prediction because remember,

MMA is supposed to be fun. So he's like me. He thinks Dobronks is the true king at 155 and he will beat Gaichi and get the chance to prove that against a guy who's already leapfrogged him in the minds of many, Islam Machinjev.

Ketra of Rizlipki, very popular pick. Again, like I said, It was previously booked. It just makes sense. Neither woman has really separated themselves from that pack from when the fight was first booked. So there's no reason not to sort of revisit it. Surrechaun versus Gamrod, I think, was the most part.

Oh, I actually think I got more of those than Gillespie. And I got some good explanations here. Thomas Collins says, not the matchup I want, but the one that will probably happen, as all the other top 15 fighters will turn Armin down. So Gamrod probably the only option. It's the wrong fight, but the one that will probably happen. So that's a what will happen, not what should happen, pick. Tim Mielosho's saying, Aramus Rukyan, tricky because the division is stacked in my mind.

He has tier one talent, but based on his competition so far in low tier two, I'd like to see him versus Gamrod. Gamrod, Gameron, isn't a huge name or the winner of the winner of next week's Co-Main, but he thinks that they will be running away from the boogeyman. He doesn't think RDA or Fiziv will be interested in taking that fight. So, Timmy says, after that short journey, I'll go with Route 1 and pick Gamrod. What do you think about that fight, A.K., because we, I mean, we talked about... Fiziv RDA? Not Fisiv RDA.

Sarukian versus Gamrod. Like, the UFC booking those two guys, because I feel like, I mean, even, you can even throw Fiziv into this discussion as well. You have three guys who many feel could be title contenders. I view Sauru Kian as the better of the three guys right now, and that's no respect to the other ones. I think Gamrots got some talent. I think Fiziv's got great talent. And all these guys are going to continue to get better.

But this seems to be like the more popular matchup, Surukiaen versus Gamrod. And I get why, because they feel like some of the top 10 guys are just going to be like, nah, dude, I'm not going to fight this guy. And Gamrot and Sarukiaan are going to be like, sure, we'll fight each other. But I feel like the UFC is going to try to stay far away from that idea. But maybe not. What are your thoughts on this being the most popular selection?

Oh, I'll keep it civil for you, Mike. one, I like the matchup. They're very close together in my rankings. As you said, they're both guys who, I both have them in my personal UFC top 15. I have to look at my, I'm not looking at my total MMA rankings that includes all divisions right now.

So they'd be, so Gamrod would be just outside the top of 15. I think Syrucian will still make the cut when you add in, again, other promotions. But I'm fine with it. I'm fine with it being the most popular pick. But you mentioned that cluster, Mike, of Sarukian, Gamrod, and Fazeve. I will tell you, I will predict right now.

Only one of those men will fight for a UFC title by the time there runs with the promotion of over. And it will be Armand Suryukyan. I think Fazeve's great. I think Gamrod's great. It's just a deep, deep, deep division. And I think we've seen how hard it is

to fight for an undisputed title. Tony Ferguson never got to do it. And Dusts-Pore just finally got his chance to do it and fell short. And that was in his 26th U.S. fight. So, hey, maybe one of these guys is a Porre-A-level fighter and we'll see them get a title fight somewhere down the road.

But I do think it's Sarukyon, who if I had to pick one of those three, and I do think it will only be one of those three, it'll be Sarukyon and Fizib and Gamrod. Contenders for the next couple of years, just never quite getting that win they need to turn the title shot. It's a hell of a shark tank at 155. I wonder how if they, I know they've trained together.

I know they both trained at American top teams. I don't know if there would be any sort of, like, thought process there that they're maybe they consider each other teammates because I know they both like I said they both have trained at ATT when they when they come over and train in the state so that's their kind of their home gym away from home so we'll see if that throws up a roadblock but maybe not who knows ATT is so big come on I think it's guys so funny we got we got coldie and Mosvodal fighting next weekend right come on that there's no there's no bonds at ATT those guys will turn each other they'll slit each other's throat at the drop of the hat uh

Petrogean versus Brunner Silva, Alex Paheda, loser. This is very specific. Most people said the loser of this matchup. That's going down March 12. Oh, my God, that's only two weeks. I'm so excited for that. Hayes v. Third saying, basically, the perfect prelim headliner for a pay-per-view. I think that I like it.

I like when people are very specific with that. Yes, I think you put that on the ESPN, to close out the ESPN portion of a pre-P overview card. Very good idea. Bahamondas, you know, we just, like, Bahamandas, again, we just didn't get the chance to talk about him enough. I think he was the other, he was like the other lightweight, just breakout of this card,

fighting a very tough guy in Rongju, who he was giving up a ton of weight to, I imagine when fighting I rolled around, Rongju missed weight by four pounds. So I saw for Vola, I saw Mason Jones, I saw Seleki for Bahamondas, Terrence McKinney,

with Dad Jackson calling the McKinney matchup. He says, I call matching up two winners from a card getting two birds stoned at once. That's not how that saying goes, Dad Jackson, but I admire the sentiment. And then another option for McKinney was Jim Miller, a lot of that, and Joe Selecki. So some people wanted to see him kind of get a, with Miller, obviously, a veteran. McDessie was another veteran option for him, and then Selecky.

And there were some other listener picks. Guys, I've logged them. Don't worry. I'll keep track. Let me hop on Instagram quickly. Wes Scroggins, I think he's messaged me before. I think this is his first time, first time actually submitting picks. Certainly, Makachovgers Gaitiola Vera winner,

Serykian, Gamrott, McKinney, Mason Jones, termine, Chidi, and Giacuani, and Petrosion versus... Oh, well, I was going to say, I was going to say Petrosi Maximov. Maximum is already booked to fight Petroski. So there you go. He had a very, very quick turnaround.

So, but either way, thank you, West, for those picks. I said Dad Jackson before. Petrosian versus Trayshon Gore? I think he's way too much for Trayshon at this point. Boy, that'd be a fun striking battle. but yeah I mean I don't think you can justify no I don't think you can justify that after losing

his first UFC fight and it wasn't like a great performance from Treshawn so no I mean Gregor Rodriguez I mean look how how you were on Gregory Rodriguez you thought he was a I mean he still could be you feel like he was a dark horse title contender but I mean I think he's well beyond that at this point

life starts at 35 Mike Bobby Green versus Nate Diaz Yeah look we all want this We all in a perfect world This would happen I hope there's a possibility But again it's probably Nate Diaz Fighting Poray

If I was contract And then heading to a greener pastures But yes Bobby Green should get Nate Diaz He should get Connor McGregor He should get Nick Diaz Barrio should get all these great fights He's just an exciting guy And as we saw in the lead-up

He can sell a card He can sell a fight So I don't know I don't care what the ratings are I'm sure the UFC does And ESPN does But I was very convinced by Bobby Green, the quote-unquote main event, the first time main inventor.

M.M. Mayhads coming in with Terman versus Muradov. Murdov was supposed to fight Serkernov, right? So kind of, you know, kind of like to switch those opponents around. Petrosian versus Al-Hassai, I know we mentioned. Let's going to skip over some of these. We've had Josanne Nunez versus Egger. M. Mayhead says, why not Josian Nunez versus Jessica Rose Clark? Yeah, I think Eager makes more sense, but I could totally see the Clark matchup being made as well.

Carlos Hernandez versus Daniel De Silva, Francisco Figurado, loser. That's happening on April 30th. So, one of a bit of a journey there. Otno and MMA fighting memes. People follow this account. Otno and MMA fighting memes on Instagram run by our pal, Michael Connoferi. He likes, I want to read, I know we mentioned this one, Brachymi versus Delamadalena.

He just said, let's see how the Aussie deals with a grindy grappler and sinker swim fight for Ramees. Yeah, Rameses look good in some of his UFC fights, but I do think a big knockout of the hands of Madalena. He might not get a new contract. Bobby Green versus Michael Chandler. Yeah, I still think that's alive. I don't think that Chandler's interested in taking that fight anytime soon.

I would still like to see it someday. Matt Bradbury with some, Mike, your favorite, Bell Tour picks. Wasasi, Wissasi goes up to light heavyweight, takes on the Nemcov Anderson winner. You're not getting a point for that if that happens. because we owe Gago Musassi be telling me for two years

that's the plan so Vanderford uh facing a musasi proxy in Costello van Steenis musassi's voice I don't say yeah

I think that that's possible that's possible fight I like it and Tocom versus Lorenz Larkin for number one contender

middleweight totally yeah yeah how is Lorenz Larkin not fought for the welterweight title at this point

it's just did he not fight Lima was not Lima was not that wasn't for the, uh, right, but then, yeah, but then he bounced back and he's won like four in a row, just bolton dudes, beats Koreshkov in a main event, got all these good, and he felt like he was the next guy, and then maybe we were going to do Larkin MVP, and then he just like, yeah,

I'll fight a, I'll fight a middle way if you need me. And then he's just like kind of falling off the face of the earth. It's crazy. Yeah, it's kind of weird. I'm just looking at his, what's his recent fights. Uh, he had a cat, so five fights ago, a catchweight belt, 180, so it was a bit strange. He missed weight for a fight with Kata Nakamura a couple of years ago, and then his last fight was a middleweight bout. So he's kind of like not in the welterweight picture clearly enough, though he does have a split knot over Koreshkov, which should mean something. But again, now that that's two years away now.

Matt Brabri, also Hernandez versus Carlos Hernandez versus Adashev Osborne winner. Brahimai versus Mickey Gall, Mike Malat winner. That's USC 273, April 9th. So some deep cuts here. And then he wants Prochogian versus Bruno Silva, no matter what happens. against Alex Bejada. So I think that's kind of fun. So like I said, a lot of people said,

Petrosian versus winner or loser. Sorry, winner of that fight. Or loser of that fight, excuse me. So Matt Bradbury is saying strictly Bruno Silva. I think that'd be an awesome fight. Twitter, we've got a, all right, we've got a bunch of quick hits here. Fast Bender J. Sarukian versus the Chandler-Fergusen. We have to remind people.

Chandler Ferguson is not signed. It's not official. There's a lot of fake graphics out there for Chandler Ferguson. Is it a fight that we think, I mean, is likely to happen? Sure. it is not agreed upon even verbally, I think, by either side. So that's strictly fan booking for now, right, Mike? Yeah, the UFC's working on it.

Both fighters apparently seem to have acknowledged that that could be the plan. It's just a matter of getting the date and getting both fighters on board. So, I mean, I don't even think we're in the in the works phase yet, because in the works or targeted means that the fight's been agreed to. I don't think we were even at that point yet. I don't think we have matchup, date. All that stuff set just yet. So, yeah, right now, UFC, the fighters, there's discussions ongoing. It's probably in the same place as Shemaya v. Gilbert Burns.

I think Shemaya Burns is probably like a step and a half ahead in the negotiation stage. This is from what I'm hearing, because, again, we don't know what's going on. The world is a crazy place. There's visa issues. There's unfortunate things happening in the other side of the world, right? now. So there's a lot of things up in the air at this point when it comes to that fight. But at least from what I understand, the UFC has officially offered the Shemaya

Burns fight for UFC 273. But we don't have about agreement signed or anything like that to this point. Yeah, like you said, there's some serious external factors that could be getting the way of that. So I wouldn't hold my breath. God's in hearing news for that anytime soon. Ryan Doherty. Oh, sorry, sorry.

The clearest values on Twitter, green versus. Mendes and BKFC. They said if they said if Bobby Green lost, they wanted to see him. And I believe they meant in a bare knuckle bout with Chad Mendez, not Chad Mendes returned to the UFC and move up to lightweight and fight Bobby Green. That would just be bizarre. I'd love to see them in bare knuckle. I think that'd be hilarious.

Ryan Doherty, Sarukyan versus Dariush. I like it somewhere down the road. Dariush is injured. It's going to be a long time. Yeah, way too soon to even. Can we put Daryush on that list where we can't book him match up right now? Now, yeah, until we get an update on how serious this. It's an ankle, I think, ankle injury, some sort of leg ankle injury?

Yeah, we don't know. Hopefully, yeah, it's not. Hopefully it's nothing we see him fighting for the end of the year, but could be out the rest, could be out the entire year. We don't know. So, yeah, I do want to see that someday. It just won't be next. We just don't know when Darriers coming back.

Liam Perry's with me on Termin versus Haas. Bahamondez versus Mark O'Matsin, Vince Pichel winner, U.S. 20th. McKinney, I like this one. McKinney versus Clay Guida, Claudo Pueyes winner, April 23rd. And I imagine if Claudio Preas win. so probably want to move up in the rankings. But like we said, McKinney's name is so hot right now.

It feels like you could really throw them in there with just like any number of guys. But that'd be a big win for points. I don't know if he would fight McKinney after that or would be interested anyway. Hayes Betherd, our pal, Hayes Betherd. I want to read his message here. I don't know. I have my tweet so far away. First, he said, big shout out to Mike.

You gave him half a point for the James Krauss. He had this James Krauss-Buckley scenario. Mario last week, which I thought you would, you would poop on, but you actually turned out okay. And I think you gave him half a point. So well done, Mike. Well done. He's very great.

Thank you. Thank you. Catcherera versus the Casey Antonina Shepchenko winner, April 30th. Thank you, Bethard Hayes for recognizing that fight's happening. Bahamondas versus Devante Smith, Ludovitz Klein winner, UFC 272, March 5th. There's a possibility Klein might drop back to featherweight, but it hasn't been an easy wait for him to make. So I'd like to see him to stay at 155. It seems better for him. Brahmiya versus Songkina. That's another one I like. Jack O'Hara, McKinney versus

Jack Carr close if he beats Ren Jenkins, April 16th. And with me on, was that, what was this? Oh, no, no, Termin versus Storiano. That's when you wanted, right? What was that? I'm sorry. Termine versus Terman versus Puna. Yeah, that's fine. That's fine. I picked. Jack O'Hara is with you on that one. Chris at Dragon Slayer 2. Jonathan Martinez versus Khalid Taha. I like that. Dax at Pike Putt,

a tournament versus the Maximoff Petroski winner, May 14th. And Charles Olavera versus Camaro Ouzman. There's an explanation here, right? Yes, there is. Dax writes, I do think of Charles wins against Dakechi, and I think he will.

They'll do an Uzman versus Olavera super fight because Ali has been clamoring to do one with Uzman. And I don't think the Shmaia v. Burns fight will happen. Oh, wow, anything will happen. They would have announced already if it was going to be at 274. I don't know about that. No, we're still over two months away. Like, we're, that's fine.

Everybody at this point knows that the fight is being discussed. Exactly. So it's not like, we just go on social media. Both guys are training. It's not like they're, you know, eating bonbons and watching all my children right now. They're getting ready to fight one another and just seeing if we can get everything lined up. Yeah. It can be announced officially like two.

weeks before 274 and it's not like it could be a short notice thing. They're essentially taking this on full notice whenever it gets booked. But yeah, so, but I still think it's a cool idea to set up Usman Oliver's superfite. It's way too soon. I think, like I said, just Oliver has so much business to take care of at 155, whether it's Macha Chev or if he's lucky, a money fight with, with Conne McGregor. I don't know if you'd even want to move up to 170. He's talked about he still wants to win a title of featherweight. So he'd probably look at dropping down first before going up. And then And Dax says, if that happens, maybe Islam versus B'Neal for an interim title, which I don't know. Let's not overthink this.

I will say one thing that I had an issue with with Islam Makachev. Just one. Just one thing. Sure. Why are you going back to this? He's a quitter narrative. Terrible. Terrible.

Terrible take Islam. You would have had an A plus week if you didn't say that. Carry on. Tell him. Sean Haywood. Carlos Hernandez versus Jake Hadley. I like that. I think we saw that in Marks.

I was going to skip ahead here. Petrosian versus A.J. Dobson. That's good thinking. And they said, Gian Kim in all caps. Kim, the winner, I say they called her versus Eubanks. So there you go.

And Thomas Collins, we got some good comments this week. I should read some of these out. Thomas Collins, I think being very cheeky here. Makachev, is Hanato Moikano. Let him finish.

The UFC will book Darius to fight Islam next. Darius will enforce to get injured. Hanato will win a fight, get cult status, and then come in on short notice to fight Islam when all other contenders turn Islam down. So I think Thomas just being a little cheeky was what we just saw with Bobby Green, suggesting time is a flat circle.

And it could just easily happen from Moycana. So very clever, Thomas. Very clever boy, Thomas. And Jonathan Martinez versus Bill Algeo. I like that because again, I want Jonathan Martinez to stay at 145. So if that happens, great matchup. He might not.

He might still try and go back down to band to wait. That's fine. Dustin Gedco, I like some of the things I said here. Terrence McKinney versus Pichel, Madsen winner. Would love to see the wrestling versus a more decorated grappler. And hopefully, oh, okay, that's why I wanted to read this.

Hopefully you haven't read any Miller McKinney versus Jim Miller touts yet, because that matchup is egregious, strongly against. Why? I don't know. They didn't explain. They just not, they don't like it.

I don't think they like the idea of, again, you know me. I've said Jim Miller, I'm happy with him fighting two and O guys in the UFC, one and O guys, debutants. But I think he thinks McKinney, I guess, would truck Jim Miller. That's what I assume. And he does not feel like the veteran should be disrespected in such a way. I don't know. God, I mean, that's, I don't think, I actually tend to think that's the opposite. Maybe he thinks like, we don't want to slow down.

this train of Terrence McKinney by throwing him in there at Jim Miller. There is the sort of vibe that goes on when you get into that octagon and you see Jim Miller standing across. Just ask any heavyweight over the last two or three years outside of maybe Tom Aspinall that has stood in that octagon and seen Andrea Arlofsky on the other side. It does something to you. It really does. So maybe they're just trying to avoid that. I mean, maybe you're right. Maybe I'm right. But somewhere in the middle, that's probably what he's thinking. but I get it. You want to kind of keep those two guys away from each other

and throw Jim Miller against a guy who's making their debut or fighting a legend. And there's no in between. And that's fine. Yeah, I think egregious is a bit strong, but sure, I could see why people would have checked. Josian Nunez versus Gina Mazzani if she beats Shania. Why would you do that to Gina Mazzani?

I don't know if I like that. I don't know if I like that either. Dustin also wants to know, do you guys think that we'll find a fill-in for Jessica I? For men on Fio, excuse me, a feeling opponent. Jessica, I just dropped out. Surely somebody would want to try and step in and steal the hype train. I do think someone will step in.

I don't have any ideas, though. I don't know if you heard any rumblings or... Nothing that I've heard. I mean, when Jessica, I put out that Instagram post, I confirmed with Fioro's side that that was, in fact, correct information. And the discussion's going on right now amongst her team in the UFC. It's just, do you want to stay on this card? maybe fight a debuting fighter or do you want to just push things back a couple months and then

you could just fight Jessica I again. So that's kind of the decision they're pondering right now. Can we take Lupi Godinez's phone away from her? Because I have a feeling she would gladly take the fight if it were offered and because she's a maniac. Please, loopie, don't. If you're out there, Lupi, don't do this. You have a great career ahead of you.

You do not need to be taking short notice fights against 125 pound killers. All right. Please don't. Yeah, I'm curious what they'll do. Maybe Joanne Wood will step in on a week's notice. She's in Vegas. She's in Vegas, sure. And that would be a good, fun, veteran test, right?

And a chance for her to regain, that's, you know, that spot that she's kind of been losing over the last couple of years. Joanne's booked to fight who? Alexa Grasso, right? On that Columbus card? I guess I didn't know that was re-booked or that was booked. I forgot about that. Yeah, it's on that Columbus card, so you'd have to bump her up a few weeks. I mean, I would say the UFC is probably approach her about taking the fight, but if I was her, I would probably say.

Maybe not. Yeah, maybe don't do it, Jojo. And I like Armand Protojan versus Jordan Wright. I think it's just too. So thank you, Dustin, Gedco. Barry O'Reilly says, just he agrees with me about second last fights and not actually being co-made events.

Thank you. Yeah, I mean, guys, common sense here. Carlos Hernandez versus flyweight, Bruno Silva. Jonathan Martinez versus Chris Gutierrez, if he beats Dana Bokkeri on March 26th, McKinney versus Osman Azitar, two fighters two and o in the uc two finishes too good not to make and says sorry for the overuse of their word two to two uh barry this was the week to do it we just had february 22nd

2002 on the second day of the week so uh your numerology is is on point don't apologize for that uh petrogean versus phil haze or josian nunez versus macy chasson again it could happen at 1.45 but she said chaston's fighting dumont right yes all right and termin versus brian battle uh bearer i says who am i to say It's pretty harsh. Who am I to say? I do not think Termin is good enough to ever achieve anything in the UFC. Yikes, 25-year-old prodigy according to the UFC.

Come on. Let battle test himself against him and it will give us a good indication of whether he's too, whether he too is good enough for the UFC or not as all he has faced so far our ultimate fighter guys. Yeah, I actually think that's pretty solid matchmaking. I like that. I would really like to see that play. Last couple of Twitter guys here, Marcus McGahy mentioned before, Terman versus Mago Metcizria.

Gosh, I'm going to mess up these names. Abu Supian Megamadov versus Kizriev. They're fighting on March 26, the winner of that fight, March 26. You mentioned this before I just want to mention again because I like it, and I think Marcus is on point with the suggestion. Kacharoa versus Jazavizius. Bahamonas versus David Tamer. Where are the Tamer brothers right now?

I don't know. That's a great fight. Probably just visa things, guys, Visa, COVID, you know how it is. Jonathan Martina oh I like this one Mike Jonathan Martinez Casey Kinney Yeah I'm found out I'm into it again make that 135 get that way cut right

John Martinez you could have I want you to say 145 but there are good fights for you at 135 I understand And Carlos Hernandez versus Juan Camilo Randeros Last one on Twitter Four Corner Sports and Y oh boy We got some stuff here Mike Oh boy They want to see Makachev versus

RDA if he defeats Fiziv. He says, let me explain. Fully aware, RDA has a tough task against Fiziv, but if he has to win, and if he does, it aligns with Islam's timeline. Oliver and Gachi are fighting in May. Whoever wins will walk out his champion, but we'll have taken a beating.

We'll need time to recover. Plus, don't see Connor fighting Islam. Benny Dereyush might not come back to 2023. And the winner of, again, this hypothetical, Ferguson versus Chandler fight, will heavily avoid Islam. I don't think Chandler would. Correct.

Frankly, I feel like Connor will skip the line and have Islam sitting in the bench waiting for his title shot. So that's why, so that's kind of roundabout way to why Islam might have to fight someone else's dead. So it's true. Okay. So let me, let me try. I've been thinking for an hour and 25 minutes how to play devil's advocate here inside with these people who are egregiously saying that Islam is not.

No one is asking you to do this. The only way that that any of these scenarios make any sense is if Islam Makachev, picks up the phone and says, you know what, I'm bored. I'm sitting home. I'm bored out of my mind. I want to fight somebody. I'll fight RDA. You know what?

And then I'll fight for the belt after. Like this is fully 1 million percent an Islam-Machachev decision and nobody else's. Ali Abdel-Aziz, say what you will about him? We'll probably say, Islam, what are you doing, dude? Why would you do this? And Islam's just going to say, I am bored to tears. I just have to fight somebody. I got an itch.

and I need to scratch it. So let's go. Other than that, that's never going to happen. He's fighting for the title next, people. You can try to be cute, and you can try to justify all you want. You can try to get all these different scenarios. Unless Islam picks up the phone and calls the matchmakers

and says, I'm bored, I want to fight, I don't want to wait for a title shot. There's no chance that any other scenario happens outside of Islam fighting the winner of that fight. It's just no chance, no chance. If he calls for a fight soon, that's not a title fight on Twitter, we know that was him and not Ali is what you're saying.

We know Islam got the reins of his fraud. Unless it's the shot of Connor, then that's just silly. Oh, sure, sure. I mean, go for the red panty night, but Connor, I can't take that fight. So they're going on. They have the hot take, so this sort of plays off that. So Four Corner Sports says, I feel like the UFC will make sure Connor fights either Michael Chandler, Islam Makachep, or Justin Gath.

Okay. All three options can have a great story attached to it. I agree. I just see the UFC having Olivera versus McGregor next, because the UFC is going to do everything possible to have Connor challenge for the belt because once those two fights finished, he's leaving and the USC will have to pay him serious money,

which they are allergic to do. By the way, I see Connor stopping Olivera in round one. Wow. Four corner sports. People, that's not me. That's four corner sports, NY. Don't come at me.

That's their hot tape. That is one of the spiciest takes of the week. I mean, it could happen. I don't know. I mean, that's good. Good for you. Ought no point if you're right. Now let's round back out to the emails.

Just close with three of our pals here. Jay Donaghii, I talked to him before. Petrosian versus Injani, Termin versus, I like this. Termin versus Edmund Shabazian. Sure. Maybe that's what the golden boy needs. Again, maybe a win over a recent co-main eventer can get him back on track. We're always trying to put poor Edmund back on track.

Yeah, but a Brazilian phenom? I mean, come on. 25-year-old Brazilian phenom. Casey Carpenter. saying, awesome to see a tweet from Mike on the show. Mike, what was the tweet you got on the show?

On the broadcast? Yes. I had a tweet on the broadcast? Apparently so. I think two more rounds, two more rounds made it to the broadcast. After Kim and Katzscheira? No, no, no.

The Petrogean Rodriguez fight. Although, listen, no disrespect to Kachua or Kim. That was a bad fight until the third round. Sure. There was a bad fight. Yeah, we wanted to see two more rounds. We just didn't want to see the first two rounds. Casey, if you're listening, please send me that email.

Let me know which tweet it was because I think Mike's right probably was the Rodriguez Proterjian two more rounds one. But he didn't see it. He didn't see it. I didn't see it either. I'm rarely paying attention to those things. You know who else? You know who else made the broadcast?

Jed Mishu made the broadcast. That I was aware of at the end, right? The last one made the event. Yep. Best Lightway in the world made the broadcast. Wow. Wow. PR, UFC PR, Jed Mishu.

Casey Carver says, great job on the Q&A. They're sad that I wasn't there, but they're happy to see more Jed. I don't know if I agree with that. Casey Carter, Makachev versus Dosanos-Fiziv winner. Again, Casey says we can dislike it, but I'm pretty sure Connor is fighting the winner of the title fight. Money drives everything. So yeah, Connor's probably, again, the other wild card and all this that could screw things up. But again, I just don't know if the O.C. is that committed to throwing him in

another. I think we'll have to realize Connor, they know Connor can draw without the title easily. I mean, his fight with Saroni, I think, cracked a million. So I don't know if the title adds that much. It'll add a bit, but again, why, you know, it's not necessary to mess with their plans with that. So Bobby Green versus Jim Miller, I know it's been booked before last year. I think it'd be a great common event and would be what you would call an actual co-mean event. Yes, you're right, Casey Carpenter. That would be an actual co-main event. And Petrosian versus Kyle Dachis, the Darcy Knight and Casey Carverner saying this would technically be hashtag Superman versus Batman. So yeah, that's kind of cool.

If you're behind to the whole Dars Knight thing. Does Caledoccus also just call himself Batman? No, right? I don't think so. Okay. So this is playing off the Dars Night thing. Okay. And lastly, Mike, we return to our friend Tristan Gordet.

I cannot wait for this, Tristan. I'm pretty con-cool and collective, but I'm ready. You're damn right. You can't wait because I am ending this. I have not been positive enough lately, Mike. I am ending this show on this segment, at least on a positive note. Tristan says, A.K., please send my apologies to Mr. Heck,

forever doubting him with a certainty about Armand Saruky. I thought this might be very close. I thought that Alvarez was going to give Armand some issues. Oh, how I was sadly mistaken. Sarukian is going to beat a lot of fans' favorite fighters in the top ten of that lightweight division. And that was proven emphatically last night. Mike can now put his feet up, throw some cool shades on, Cool shades emoji.

Sips some nice cold lemonade and quote Will Smith's character in men in black. The difference between you and me is that I make this look good. So nothing but love for Tristan. This is a friendly, friendly mic check. Wow. Laughing emojis. So thank you, Tristan. Thank you for that.

See, I'm glad we did. That warmed my heart. That honestly warmed my heart. It really did. Because I was expecting, again, we're in. a weird time in the world where, I mean, people are just negative. Nancy's everywhere. I mean, especially in MMA. It's just, it's just wild. I feel like 2022, we are, we're plummeting. The positivity levels are plummeting. I mean, our listeners on this very program, I think we have,

our community is spot on. We are in the know. Sometimes there's a hot take or two that needs to be discussed and perhaps as an argument or a differing opinion. But in the, the end we are all friends we are all community and to see i mean what a way to end the show what a way to end the show tristan i salute you i'm and i'm literally wearing a hat and i'm taking it off to you right now you can't see it literally confirm i confirm hopping around this sweaty redsox a it is a grotesque redsox hat but it is flopping around with glee out of respect for you tris and cordia so thank you uh people send more pleasant emails please send them to me uh at alex dot lee at sbnation dot com hit me up on uh instagram at Alexander, Kay K, K Lee, and on Twitter, at Alexander, Kaylee, just the one K on Twitter.

Mike, how can this slide to your IGDMs? M underscore HeckJR. I'm going to throw out a challenge once again. This is something we haven't done since like the fourth or fifth episode of the show, but I feel like maybe what Tristan did has set up some positivity, maybe some consecutive weeks of positivity. So wherever you listen to your favorite podcast, whether for the Apple podcast listeners specifically, this challenge is for you.

We have a lot of shows in the MA Fighting Podcasting Network, but I want you to write a review about just this program. Talk about why you like it, why, you know, what you think about the team best friends getting after it and doing matchmaking, like, you just don't see in this world. We took something and it has become a massive thing. And by the way, AK, happy 80 episodes. This is episode number 80 of the program.

How about that? That's crazy. It is wild. 100 is just around that course. So before the end of this year, we're going to hit 100. We are. And what, uh, wow. And what an episode that's going to be.

So be able to get some special guests on here and do some fun stuff. We know a lot of fighters enjoy the show. So I think next week's going to be a hell of an episode, a live episode. We are live next week. Yes. Breaking news. UFC 272. That means we'll be live next Sunday morning, March the 6th, 11 a.m.

Eastern on the M.MA fighting YouTube channel. Now, if you miss it live, you're still sleeping. And we don't blame you because it's going to be a long night of fights on Saturday. all good podcast will be delivered per usual not long after that right around the same time maybe about an hour and a half later than you're used to seeing it but we will have a lot to discuss coming out of ufc 272 and again i will say this again publicly props to the ufc and their video editing team that ufc 272 promo was outstanding a plus effort top one of the top five best promos in the history of the company in my opinion that got me jacked up for colby covington versus Jorge Mosvidal, although the fight week chatter between these two is not going to be pretty. I am very intrigued by the fight itself, and that package is really well done. We got Hafeel Dosanjos versus Rafael Fiziv. It's not Hafeel Fiziv.

It is Raphael Fiziv. Fizier is not from Brazil. Raphael Fisiv. Hafiel versus Raphael. All right. Not Jafel versus Hafail. So something to look forward to this week. Edson Barbosa versus Bryce Mitchell, who was on the M.

hour, good grief. Kevin Holland versus Alex Olivera at Welterweight, Sergei Spivak versus Greg Hardy, Jalen Turner, Jamie Malarkey, fun fight. We got Marina Rodriguez versus Janjouin. I mean, this should be a main card fight. Absurd, absurd, that's not. This is, this is,

Maria Rodriguez is your, could be a future UFC champion. Nick Nagumariano versus Kennedy, Njituku, that'll be fun. Umar and Amargamadav versus Brian Kelleher. this fight, by the way, is at 145. It will be a featherweight fight, not a Bannamweight fight. Tim Elliott versus Tegier-Ulan Bekoff.

That's fun. Devante Smith will remain on the card taking out Ladovitt Klein. Dustin Jacoby versus Mikhail Olegzecheck. That should be fun. And maybe the most heated fight of the mall. Oh, Lord. Maybe the most heated fight of the ball. Even more so

than Covington versus Mazadol. Marina Morose versus Maria Agapova is also going down at UFC 272. Wow. There's some heat here. If you haven't kept track, if you're out there, you haven't kept track of the Morose Agapha feud. The trash talk has been way, way worse than the Covington Mazvedal Pude, frankly.

Like the stuff that Morose has accused Agapha, it is, it is rough. Peek behind the curtain. Peak behind the curtain. I did a 35-minute interview with Marina Morose. on Wednesday or Thursday the video will never see the light of day the audio will never see the light of day we are cut it like we are cutting out

maybe the first 20 minutes of the interview altogether because the things that she has said and accused Maria Kappava of is just unbelievable we are not even going to share that information it's litigious it's litigious and we don't want any part of that let's put it that way yes however we do get her thoughts on the fight and how she feels like Agapava.

Quote, quote unquote, used the word, she did use the word terrible. And the way that her prediction for the fight is outrageous. But there are other accusations that Marina Moros has made that will see the light of day. And it's not against Maria Agapha. So stay tuned for that. We are working on that right now. And that is, uh, yeah. Jerry.

And that is interesting too, especially with what is going on in the world. because Marina Moros, of course, is born, raised from the Ukraine, and a lot going on with that whole situation. So stay tuned for that. And stay tuned for on to the next one, live next week, 11 a.m. Eastern, 8 a.m. Pacific on the MMA fighting YouTube channel. So for AK, I am ICAC. This show is over.

Always remember, AK said it multiple times this episode. I'm going to say it again. Don't take this stuff too seriously. MMA is supposed to be fun, and we're going to have a lot of fun next week right here. On to the next one, the podcast.