MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | Matches To Make After UFC Vegas 82

Episode Date: November 19, 2023

Brendan Allen continued his impressive run in the UFC's middleweight division with a dominant performance, and finish over Paul Craig in the main event of UFC Vegas 82. "All-In" called for a No. 1 contender fight in the aftermath, and with the streak he's on, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, but will he get it? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Allen could go from a matchmaking perspective following his show closing submission win at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Michael Morales following his decision win over Jake Matthews, Chase Hooper after submitting Jordan Leavitt, Amanda Ribas following her stunning third-round knockout of Luana Pinheiro, along with fellow main card winners Peyton Talbott, Myktybek Orolbai, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

The Downloaded 2, Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Support for this show comes from the Audible original, The Downloaded 2. Ghosts in the Machine. The Earth only has a few days left. Rosco Cadulian and the rest of the Phoenix colony have to re-upload their minds into the quantum computer, but a new threat has arisen that could destroy their stored consciousness forever.

Listen to Oscar winner Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rosco Cudulian in this follow-up to the audible original blockbuster, the downloaded. It's a thought-provoking sci-fi journey where identity, memory, and morality collide. Robert J. Sawyer does it again with this much-anticipated sequel that leaves you asking, what are you willing to lose to save the ones you love? The downloaded two, Ghosts in the Machine. Available now, only from Audible. Everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one.

Yes, the Matchmaking Crowns return following a memorable, unforgettable UFC Vegas 82 event. at the world's most famous apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. We still have a conundrum on our hands following the main event. Is Brennan Allen still or the former middleweighty middleweight champion? It's a discussion we need to have because Brennan Allen has been better than ever since being crowned the champion. So again, I find myself conflicted. Can we strip Brennan Allen of the title when he has just been so damn good since winning it? But all that and more coming up.

I am Mike Heck. a lot of voice here, as you can probably hear, so bear with me. But joining me, the man who has the voice of an angel, my best friend, the Prince of Positivity, the co-host and the co-matchmaker, Mr. Alexander K. Lee. Kind of a crooked judge, as you may have heard on the ranking show, but still my best friend nonetheless, even after all of that. Hello, AK. How much were you cooting and hollering last night, Mike, during UFC Vegas 82 that your voice is gone? I mean, it was, you know, I know everyone, I saw people buzzing on social media. It's just nonstop talking, screaming, shouting, best card of the years. Why? What happened? Why were you,

why is your voice so raw? You know, I think, I think it might have been all right until Mick Parkin and Kyle Matrato started doing the damn thing. And then I just, I couldn't stop screaming. It was the most exciting fight in the history of the company. Not to mention, you had, you had Eileen Perez and Lucia Pudilova just earlier before that. And I know that so early in the car, I was very word for you. I'm like, early in the car, like, oh, he's going to, he's going to, he's going to, let that voice rip early. He loves women's band and weight so much, and this is such a titanic matchup.

Regarding the Brendan Allen middleweight, you know, you and I have been at a disagreement on this. Yes, he was the lineal champion. He did beat Christoph Jocko, so logically, that should make him the middle wittiest middleweight.

But that title doesn't really work in lineal terms. It's a state of mind, it's a state of being. He's too exciting. He's too exciting. His fights are memorable. I actually remember Brendan Allen fights. He has a distinct, you know, style.

He has a signature move. He has his rear-naked choke is deadly. What was at five? I'm looking at now. Five of his past six wins, of the six-five wins on this wind streak are by rear-naked choke. That's pretty amazing. So he has a distinct move. He's exciting.

He's a contender. I mean, he's a guy who's probably with one more win fighting for the title. I have removed him from the middle-weightiest middleweight equation a while ago. I said, I think I told you, I need like Armand Srukian to get in there. He needs to fight like Mark Andre Bechio, after he fights Chris Curtis. That, these are middleweighty, middleweight. Armand Syracian. You mean Petrogyan?

What did I say, sorry. Thank you, thank you. That's going to be one of those. I'm sorry, USC Vegas 82. I'll tell you, it's so exciting. I've lost my, I've lost my senses. Yes, not Armin Serkian, Armin, Petrogean. He, to me, is the definition of a middleweighty, middleweight.

He probably needs to. secure a big win. But man, talk about a guy clearly at Good Fighter and his fights in one ear out the other with me, cannot remember them at all. He cannot finish anyone. That is your guy. But I get it. If we're talking lineal, obviously, it's Brennan Allen.

And he hasn't let go since because he's just been trucking holes. And another strong performance on Saturday. Yeah. By definition of whatever this thing became, Brandon is not qualified. for this title. But I feel like if I remove him from the equation, he will lose his next fight. So I don't know if I could do that to him.

But there's also, we talked about this in the post-fight show. I'll go ahead, Mike. We talked about this in the post-fight show. There's actually a case to be made that middleweight is not a middle-weighty middle-weight division anymore. Like, it's just gotten, maybe we just sent the right message to the middle-weights that they got more fun and exciting.

Middleweight's more interesting that it's been in a super long time that perhaps maybe we need to do this to another division that needs the help and assistance. It's another conversation. I mean, obviously, it's women's band and weight and heavyweight, of which we just mentioned. Like, we just get too many of those Parkin Machado, Perez, Pugelova fights too often. It's heavyweight gets a lot of, you know, slack because there's often exciting knockouts too, it's the big boys.

But there are so many fights at heavyweight at the UFC level, especially, that just go nowhere. that just seemed to last 25 minutes, 30 minutes long, they just take forever. But it's always been like that. It's been like that before we, you know, we invent the whole mida-wittiest middle-weight thing. Don't be fooled, Mike. Don't be fooled by middle-weight. This is still the division of impressive mediocrity. We have sparks like this.

I remember when Vittori and Paulo Costa and then were coming up, we had almost the exact same conversation like, oh, is Middleweight becoming interesting again? And it kind of was. We had a great champion in the top, too, and at Dissena. So it kind of was. It kind of was. But this is like a cyclical thing. And it's great. I love that we're getting some decent, for I say, fresh faces at 185 in the contenders picture and headlining cards, headlining fight nights. But I am not fooled. They will level out. We will have some. I haven't looked at the upcoming middleweight slate, but I'm sure there are fights coming up. That will have us going like, oh, middle weights. Middleweight, middleweight. Middleweight be middleweighting. You mentioned that as long as you've sort of had, and Allen is the middleweighty, middleweight champion that he has been winning fights. I think it has just as much to do with me picking against him. I have now, Brennan, I am doing this for you.

I am picking against you. I believe it started with the Andre Muniz fight where I said he has, I think I was very strongly, like, he's a, you know, Brennan is a good grappler. He's not on Andrene Moonez's level. This is a bad match for Brennan. Friend Allen picked up on those comments, put that put me on an Instagram montage, put me on blast with a bunch of other media members peeing against him

and proved us all wrong, submits Andromunis. So then just for poop and giggles, Mike, I also picked against him with Bruno Silva saying Bruno Silva's going to kill him on the feet. He actually outstruck Bruno Silva

before submitting him and he got another win and then if people see my prediction for this fight, I did the exact same thing. Openly saying I'm picking against him just for his benefit.

Sure enough, five straight wins of middleweight, six straight wins overall. So I will keep picking against him until he wins the actual middleweight title. Well, we'll see if you will pick against him in his next fight after just running over Paul Craig. This fight outside of one scramble where Paul Craig had a calf slacer on Brennan Allen in the first round, this fight was not competitive at all.

This is all Brandon Allen pretty much from start to finish. And as I said on the preview show, I'm just going to make this easy. It's already out there into the universe for people to hear. Everyone already knew where I was going with this. This could actually be for the middleweighty middleweight title, okay. It's Brennan Allen versus the man who probably is the Hall of Fame middleweightiest middleweight. It's Marvin Vittori. That's the fight to make next.

Where are you at? Yeah, I think Vittori, as much as he established himself as an actual contender, fought for the title, fought Izzy twice, actually. He is kind of the definition of a middleweighty middleweight. Like, God bless him, again, he's good. But how many moments can you pick out of some of Marvin Vator's fights other than, again, the Paula Costa fight? It's just a blob. It's a blob of like good grappling and kind of okay striking and lots of decisions. And that's where Vittoria. So yes, maybe this is the logical endpoint for Brennan's middleweighty, middleweight slash number one contender at 185 pounds run. That's the logical matchup. I went in a different direction only because I have to follow up on something I said for UFC, South Paulo.

It doesn't make as much sense anymore given how impressive Brendan looks on Saturday. but I said that Cayo Bahayo should have fought the winner of this fight. I said this is going to be the Kyle Bahia sweepstakes. And it's possible. It's possible. They are very high in Cayo. There's a possibility Marvin will try and angle for, quote, unquote, a bigger name. Maybe he doesn't see Brennan is a big name, which he is at 185 at this point.

So I'd be interesting. I would usually if they would try, if they would try and slot one of them in as kind of a sneaky number one contenders, especially Cairo. I know they like him, but he's probably further back than Brendan, but just following up on some previous matchmaking. So I'll go with that. But Vittori is the clearest pick. They can make that fight happen without any headaches. Yeah. I mean, maybe you do Kyle versus Paul Craig or something. I don't know if he gets Brennan Allen. If I'm Brennan Allen, that gets off to me. I'm like, what? What are we doing here? Call me an event slot. Call me an event slot.

This is promotional malpractice. Yeah, maybe. I don't know. See, this is where you can use the, do you know who I am? I'm the Middle-Aidious middle-way champion. I'm not fighting backwards again, but we'll see what happens. Michael Morales, AK, still undefeated, 16-0. This is a good matchmaking. Jake Matthews gave him a tough time at times from Morales, the youth, the exuberance, the athleticism, the power, the striking, everything about his game just became too much

for Jake Matthews. He earns a unanimous decision in the co-main event, excuse me, AK, where are we going with the young undefeated Michael Morales. Man, this guy is so solid. This guy is, he's at the level, Mike, where if he doesn't fight for a UFC title, I'd be surprised. I know we should always be careful saying that with up-and-comers.

I'll still go as far as the prospect. He's only, what, 24, 25 years old? This guy's so young. And he's got a good amount of experience under his belt now. It's 16 and 0 now. But, you know, we still want to be careful with him. But I'll say, I am all in. I think I was all in after his last win.

And now being a solid guy and Jake Matthews, who we know on any given night, you know, can challenge guys that talk 25. We've seen Jake Matthews turn it on. So for Marles to pick up a solid unanimous decision overwin, very impressive. You'd like to see a finish, but again, Jake Matthews is tough. So no big issue there.

I think Michael Marles fights for a title someday. But let's, I'm saying, like three fights away. We're talking, I don't want to hear any serious tell-to-talk until like end of 2024, early 2025. We have other names, up and coming names in 170 that I think are just above him, like Ian Machado Gary, Jack Delamadela, Adelaina. So he's behind those guys. He's behind those guys.

Talent-wise, right up there, just skill-wise, I think he has a bit of catching up to do. And I know there's people who are going to argue that he's ahead of both of them. That's fine. I just have him just behind. Let's keep the upward movement going. I want to give him a veteran. I want to give him someone who I have. ranked above him. Let's go Randy Brown, Muslim Salakov fighting at UFC 296 in a couple of weeks.

And he gets the winner of that fight. Daniel Rodriguez, come on down. You are the next contestant on the Michael Morales Price is right. It's just that. DeRod's suspended. He'll be back early 2024. I think it's January 28th. His suspension is up. Boom. There you go. Just line those two guys up. It's the next right test to see if he's ready for top 15 or top 10, like right now. Go in there and you just do the same thing to D-Rod, you know. We saw what Ian Machado, Gary did in the D-Rot fight, just runs him over. There's at that moment, everyone was like, all right, this dude's the dude.

Let's just, let's give him a bump. So, yeah, I want to see if he get past a D-Rod test and should be a fun fight. Are you as high? Let's go to the, oh, please. Are you high on him as I am as far as, me to tell you how do you like him compared to machado gary and uh delamadalina i am behind both of them honestly i mean like he's 24 but like if i and gary does not he's slightly behind jdm if i and gary does a fight for a ufc title like something's wrong like something's totally

wrong here so i don't know if i have that same faith in morales like i think he can get better i just don't know if he has the if you will to get to that next level as quickly. But he could probably get there. I need to see more. If he goes out there and just runs D-Rod, then I'm like, all right, this guy's got something. Let's go.

This episode is brought to you by Peloton. A new era of fitness is here. Introducing the new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ, built for breakthroughs with personalized workout plans, real-time insights, and endless ways to move. Lift with confidence while Peloton IQ counts reps, corrects form, and tracks your progress.

Let yourself run, lift, flow, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross-Training Treadplus at OnePeloton.ca. When I got a great deal on a great gift at winners, I started wondering, could I get fabulous gifts for everyone on my list? Like this designer fragrance for my daughter. At just $39.99, how could I resist? This luxurious will throw for my sister, This gold watch for my partner?

A wooden puzzle for my niece? Leather gloves for my boss? Ooh, European chocolate for the crossing guard? At these prices, could I find something for everyone at winners? Stop wondering. Start gifting. Winners find fabulous for less. How about Chase Hooper, A.K.? Chase Hooper, Jordan Levitt, People's Main Event.

I even tweeted out right before the fight started. I'm like, I demand they schedule this as a five-rounder. A five-rounder at 155 pounds. And, well, they didn't need five rounds. They didn't even need three minutes. Chase Hooper, Jordan Leavitt had a fun little scramble fest. And in the end, Chase Hooper gets the rear naked choke submission just under the three minute mark.

And, well, I don't really know what to do here, A.K., so I landed on a man who just came off of a victory, one that we will probably never, ever, ever, ever go back and watch a second time. Chase Hooper versus D1, Mark Chikaze. Oh, is where I ended up, okay. Where are you at? I like that. I think that's a smart test.

I don't think that necessarily would be a terrible fight. I know D1 Jokasey is the least entertaining form of Jokasey, but I think it might bring out the best in Hooper if assuming Hooper does not just get smothered, assuming that Hooper is sort of evolving and his grappling really gives Jakeasy a problem. Could lead some fun scrambles? Could force Chiqui show up that stand up again, see where Hooper stand up is? Um, it's really easier at this point to make a list of guys you, like, Chase Hooper shouldn't fight at the stage of his career.

It's a less longer list as well. So, uh, I had no idea. I had a lot of trouble with this one. I will say, Mike, we said, I think after one of his loss of featherweight where like, he looked particularly bad. And we were like, man, wouldn't it just be better if, if, um, you know, the UFC kept him, or put him back on some sort of developmental deal and had him go back to the regional scene. And, and, you know, he's so young.

then come back to the UFC later, I had not accounted for the UFC bringing the regional scene to him, as it were, because when he was, when he got his contract on the Contender series, I think it was still somewhat, you have a better memory of this. It was still somewhat like exclusive, right? They weren't handing out four or five contracts a night, right, when he got on. Do you remember? I mean, they still kind of were, but they did what were what they called developmental deals, where they signed them to basically like introductory contracts where they fought within the,

the Fight Pass banner for regional promotions that run Fight Pass. Same kind of deal, William Knight God as well. Yeah. And I think our whole deal with Hooper was like, it was that like, oh, well, he shouldn't be fighting quote unquote,

UFC level guys yet. He just might be not there yet. And then, but the problem is the, well, not the problem. The solution is that the definition of U.S. level guy has changed dramatically over the last couple of years.

And so he doesn't need to go back to regional scene because they are getting, just scooping people off the regional scene, whether they blew data, White's mind away on the contender series or not, you're getting a contract as long as you win pretty much and don't embarrass yourself. I don't even know if that's the bar is that high, if you honest. So yeah, so it kind of, the problem kind of solved itself. And that's not an insults to Jordan Levin or any of the other guys that Chase Super has fought or beaten. But he,

Chase Super versus Jordan Levin is a fight that could happen outside of the UFC. That could have happened outside of the UFC like a few years ago. So he's not facing overwhelming competition. So yeah, so he's good to stick around. I like him at 155. Doesn't have to worry about a weight cut. He can always drop back down to 145 later, I think. If any how his body developed? So anyway, Mike, I have a bad feeling. I have a very bad feeling

that they go with a name for him next. And that name will be a man who in his next fight win-lose or draw. He's fighting at UC Austin. Win-l loser draw in his next fight. I think they might do Clay Hooper, Chase Hooper and Clay-Gueeta. I don't like it for Clay. I think it'd be such a setup

fight, but I do think they might give Chase that name. Maybe. There's a lot of ways to know. I don't hate it. I don't know. I don't know what to think of Chase. I don't know what to think of him.

He's definitely like becoming a like a grown man. Yes. See that dude's like back? Yep. It's getting spelt. Dude's putting on a little mess. He might be a Walter way in the next two years. Who the hell knows at this point?

But fun, fun fight. We'll see where the M&M eating Chase Hooper goes from here. What do you think of the Claudia? Palmy is called it. What did you think of the Claudio Poyas call out, Mike? I liked it. Yeah. It's fine.

Yeah. It's fine. I don't think he gets it. That might be a little too. Because if he beats, if he beats Claudio Poyas, he might be flared with like a top 15 guy next. And I just don't want to see that right now. It's dangerous. I just don't want to see that.

It's dangerous. I know I think we learned in the Claudio Poyas, Dan Hooker fight, that Claudio is pretty limited as an offensive mixed martial martial artist. but he's still like a top 20, 255 guy right now, 155. It's, boy, that might be just be like too, too quick of a jump, but I like the callout. I like the gusto. We'll see what happens. Peyton Talbot, AK.

Now, I don't know what to think of this young man either. It's clear that the UFC is going to put the rockets on this guy. He had a great performance on the contender series against a guy who, let's be honest, he should have absolutely had a great performance against. They match him up at his UFC debut on a main card for the same purpose. We're going to give this dude basically a squash match on this UFC main card right before the holiday. And naked Gary made things really interesting here. A lot of people thought maybe a 10-8 round in the first round,

but then Peyton was able to overcome some adversity, gets the win in round three, and then cuts the promo at the end. and I'm like, man, like, this is your time to shine, bro. And just didn't have it. Like no charisma, no energy, very uninteresting promo. And I know he's young and up and coming, but like, these are the moments, man, that you have to like come through and make a name for yourself.

So I came out of this event feeling like matchmaking for this guy over the next few years is going to be of the utmost importance. There is no rushing this guy. I would barely at this point, I would even I would even not be upset if they went backwards with Peyton Talbot. They gave him like somebody else,

like lower level than Nick right now because he ain't ready. He's, he's UFC ready in the 2023 definition, but from where they want him to go, he's so far away from that man. And that's not a bad thing. It's not a bad thing.

He could still develop, For him to get to the ceiling, it's a good super long time. So matchmaking for him is going to be super important. Rushing him in any way is terrible. So I wouldn't do that. And I'm not even thrilled with this pick, AK, but I'm going with it. Steve Kozlo? Like, that's where I'm going here.

Like, I... Cue up the band. Yes. Somehow, we came up with the same... And I use this term respectfully. we came up with the same jobber, the same developmental talent to put Peyton Talbot over. Cue up the band. One, two, three.

Friends forever. Forever. Look, I don't even know if I would pick Peyton in this fight. I don't know if I would. And again, I'm not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer, but Steve's like, Steve's pretty decent. Yeah. He's pretty decent. I don't know who I would pick here.

I don't, I'm telling you right now, if Peyton Talbot's a minus 750 favorite against Steve Cozzo, I'm putting money on Steve Cozzo. I'll tell you that right now. I'm doing it. But do you see what I was saying, though? This is like with the Chase Hooper thing. It's like both Peyton Talbot and Steve Coslow and probably a bunch of the other names that we both looked at to match up with Peyton Talbot.

These are guys who probably should be like still fighting in the original scene. Like they're not anywhere close to being a finished product, right? because Peyton Talves, what, 25? And again, five years ago, that would have been the case. These guys would have been guys who the UFC had their eye on, their managers would have been, like, in touch with the UFC, and they would have come to the UFC maybe after they, like 10, 11, 12 fights. And that's just not how it is anymore.

So, yeah, it's really tricky because you're right. Steve Coslow and Peyton Talbot could have been the main event of, I don't know, CES 171 in January. This is how it would have been before. but now because the contender series, because they get behind some of these talents so early, we are talking about having to matchmake them

for UFC cars, and it just feels so strange because, again, it's not that they're bad fighters. They're just inexperienced. And there used to be a level of experience that you had to have for getting the UFC. You don't anymore.

So Mike, you're totally right. Everything you said is correct. I don't know how to evaluate this guy, how to matchmaking for him right now. You're right. You throw him in there with someone like Steve Coslow in the hopes that it'll put him over, but very likely Steve Kalsel could upset him.

And then these guys, a lot of these contenders, not contenders, series signings and short notice signings, just end up in this kind of mush near the bottom of the rankings. And you kind of hope some of them break through. So, yeah, I hope the best for Peyton Talbot, Steve Koso and all these guys. But it is, it does put them in a weird position in the UFC and in their careers. Yeah, it's just, we were talking about this during the Bellator card,

because after the Rafihan Stad's Danny Sabatello rematch, I was like, I kind of just want to see these dudes keep fighting each other at this point because I just don't know if there's anything really all that interesting for either guy right now that's more interesting than just running those two guys back over and over again. And someone had brought up like about, you know, one of these or both of these guys, like getting to the UFC if this whole Bellator thing dissolves and they're both free agents. and my counterpoint to that was like the UFC could have had both of these guys

and they chose not to sign them. Like Rafihan Stats, we're waiting for Rafihan Stats to get signed by the UFC. One of the best, he was probably a top five prospect in all of MMA by the time, you know, fighting for LFA and some of these other big promotions.

And then Bellator locks them up. And UFC didn't even give him a chance, which I was stunned by. And then Danny Sabatelo goes on the contender series and runs a 30-24 on his opponent, just annihilates this guy, cuts the promo at the end, and the UFC passed on him as well,

and then he signs with Bellator, and he's become what he's become. Like, I just don't think UFC's going to touch either of these guys, but the Peyton Talbot's of the world, like, they can't wait to lock him up. It just, no disrespect. Like, no disrespect.

I just, I missed the developmental deal. Like, Peyton Talbot would have been a perfect developmental deal guy. Let's just run them through the system a little bit for like a year, year and a half, get him some experience on some of these big shows, and then we'll bring them in. And they just don't even doing that anymore. I don't know.

I don't know. It was tough. It's frustrating. It's frustrating. Good win. Good win. Look good. Good UCDB.

The Payton Talbets of the world are signed for these cards. Like, let's be honest. They're signed for these cards of the apex that nobody's going to watch. Yeah. And if they become a contender, it's like, oh, it's a happy accident. If they don't, on to the next one. As they say, we're saying. Yeah, Dana White's the best talent scout in the fucking history of the sport.

I mean, it's just absolutely it. Nah, let's move on. To Amanda Hebas, AK, Mandihebaus, going back to 115, fighting Luana Pinero. It was a fun fight. She lands to the spinning hook, heel kick, gets the finish, and then just cuts the most delightful promo after. She's just so lovable. How can you not like Amanda Hebus?

and seems like 115 is the place she's going to be, moving forward. A lot of options here, A.K., what did you land on? Yeah, please, first of all, stay at 115. If she's genuine about that, that's where we wanted to be. Which is weird because she obviously can compete with anyone. And I was trying to remember, like, how'd she do it at 125? Like, Viviana Arrugio, that's a pretty good win. That's a pretty good win.

That's like a top 15, top 15 flyweight. But at some point, the size, I think, does catch up to her. I think that's what happened in the Macy Barber fight. Macy's a good fighter. Don't get me wrong, but having a strength and size advantage has definitely helped her. And it was just too much for a mound of Heba. So I think if she can keep making that cut to Wumpf Dene, it doesn't look like it's a problem. That's where she should stay.

I know it's fun to be able to collect checks in two divisions, but this is a woman who should be a contender. Now, again, this was easy for me, kind of like my main event pick because I had done a, well, someone on a previous card should fight the winner of Hebus, So sitting on Lupi Godinez, I had another name. I had another name, but I'm sitting on Lupi Godinez because it said that she should fight the winner of this fight. So I like it. Lupi, Hebas, don't know when it'll happen, but probably sooner rather than later because both these women like to stay active.

And I think it's perfect. But I'll mention the other name later, unless it's the name you picked. Yeah, I like that pick a lot. Jose suggested that on the post-fight show. Like if they end up going to Mexico City in March or something, you do Hebas versus loopy, which would be awesome. and I completely agree with that, but I already match made loopie with McKenzie Dern. So you could also do that in Mexico City.

This is, this was kind of tough. This was kind of tough. I was going to go with Angela Hill, like right at the bat because they had booked them a couple of times. Then I booked Hill against Carolina, so I didn't want to do that. So I'm just trying to think like what's interesting and what's available. and I don't know if this one will wet whistles at all, but at least it's a known name, and I think people would somewhat be intrigued by it.

I went with Michelle Waterson Gomez. I don't love it, but I kind of just went there. I think it's a fight the UFC would certainly book, and I just kind of went with there, just a veteran name who always seems to be in fun fights, win or lose. Let's just go ahead and do that. it though like i really don't yeah i obviously i think you would have gone with the angela hill pick if you had not to but you are respecting your own ought no rules i like that mike uh you could because

because angelil is the other logical pick like you said they've been booked a couple of times uh unfortunately it was during the covid 19 period i think of mind he was got covid um so it was booked a couple times and also canceled a couple of times and i do want to see them throw down at some point i don't think it was surprised either of us if that is the matchup that was made but we are both Just, you know, again, we had done our, we had done previous work already and we won't undermine it. So, but yeah, Angela Hill, I saw a lot of people suggesting Angela Hill, probably that's, if we were doing Crystal Ball Pick, that's probably what happens, right? Yeah, I would agree. But great performance.

Good to see her back in the wind column. She got run over by Macy Barber and kind of felt like the way Pinearro was putting the mitts on her early. Like, maybe we're seeing the downside, but nope, Amanda, just shut everybody up. very likable and she could find her way into a title shot over the next couple of years. Like there is a path for her. It's definitely possible. How about Mick Tebeck Oralby, AK? This friggin guy is just, I mean, he's something.

Not only did he take this fight on four days notice. He just ran over Euros Medich. Like they had a good little exchange at the beginning. And then Oral Bai just ran them. I think six takedowns just smushed him. There's nothing Medich could do. You can see the frustration in Medici's eyes. And then finally, Orrubai said, you know what?

I'm going to put you out of your misery. But it wasn't even putting him out of his misery because he slaps on a neck crank that I thought actually was going to break the face of Eurospedich. It was nasty. And then Oral Bae says, you know what? This is fun. This is a great debut. But this isn't even my weight class. Gasp.

I'm going to 155. Gasp. This guy just adds to this crazy-ass division. the best division in the sport, which is the lightweight division. So I wasn't really sure to go here. So I landed on Ishmael Bonfim. We'll do Oraby versus Ishmael Bonfim at 155 pounds, AK. What do you think?

This guy is nasty as hell, first of all. I don't know what the odds were for Medici and his original opponent, Johnny Parsons. I think Medeach was pretty strongly favored. So, boy, he kind of got a rough shake. because Oral By has been doing some damage on the regional scene with LFA. I actually didn't know a lot about his wrestling, but I know he's been spending time with the boys of Team Alpha Mail when he trains in the U.S., so I tell you, if he wasn't a good wrestler before that, I'm sure he already was.

That's going to help you. That's going to help you with your chokes and your cranks too. So he's got all the makings of a guy who could be a real player. I actually, so people, I was telling people on the previous show, I was not watching this card in full. So I didn't see the lightweight comments I'll stick with my welterweight pick then Again, if he's dropping down to 125

Good on him, he doesn't look like a massive 170 or so that makes a lot of sense But if he stays at 170 Maybe he decides to make a quick turnaround Maybe he just doesn't want to cut weight I'm going with Jeremiah Wells It could be a fun fight I don't know where Jeremiah Wells has been

I feel like his name has come up a few times On to the next one And I was just this was just going kind of on my rankings He's like a few spots ahead of Oral Bai After Earl By's win over Fadich So, yeah, stays at 170. Good options there. If it goes down to 155, good options there.

But he's going to be, I think this guy's been to become a boogeyman pretty quick. Because he fights with, like, a certain physicality. And we always say like a nose for the finish or finishing instinct. You can't really teach. And I'm not predicting he's going to be a top, like 15 guy or anything. But he's going to be one of those guys who's going to get, I think, plenty of fights in the UFC. And if you see his name opposite you on the contract, you're just, you're not in for a fun. that it's not going to be a fun guy to fight.

Yeah, he's going to be one of those guys that's going to be incredibly tough to book. Like there's going to be a day where we get Mictivik Oralby versus Benoit Santanyi and is going to be the best day of our lives. It's going to be absolutely chaotic. For the listener that there, if you have not seen Oral Baize the wind that kind of, I guess, I don't want to say, he was probably already on the U.C.'s radar. But this was just last month, Hayward Charles, the upper, this uppercut of Hayward Charles, it is. Oh, my God. It is so. And Heywood Charles has this big ass like Afro, like you or huge hair.

So it's like, it's an incredible visual. I think I assume they played it on the, again, I didn't watch that fight. I assumed they played it on the, on the broadcast. It was so nasty. He's got hands too. He is not just a wrestle guy. Again, before this, I didn't even know he was a great wrestler. I'd only seen his hands.

So dangerous, man. So dangerous. Such a fun addition to the, to, well, to rate or lightweight, it looks like. Yeah, very excited to see what he could do. Let's go to the wild card round. I think this honestly, if there's this. there's ever going to be a time, AK, if there's ever, ever, ever in the history of the show, going to be a time where we get a Friends Forever moment, in fact, I don't even think this

should be a Friends Forever moment because it is so freaking obvious of what the fight should be. I don't know if we're ever going to get a better opportunity than this. We're going to select one fighter we have not match made for yet, and we're going to matchmate for them right now, AK, who do you got? I didn't pick an obvious one, so I think there's no way. I think I have to hear yours first. Now I need to know how disappointed I should be that I didn't go. a certain, did you pick, was it your, is it your Anson Brito? Is that your, no. Oh, okay. I'm curious.

I actually don't know. I can't, I actually don't know what you're referring to. The most dramatic thing that has happened this week had to do with the fighter and the prelims. Oh, in your division, AKA, your favorite division, the women's Spanamoid Division. I will explain why. I mean Perez versus, Eileen Perez versus Jocelyn Edwards is like, that could headline at the apex of this point. So yeah, that's the fight. Like, there's just no other obvious choice. Like, you have to do this. You have to do this. This might become the Edwards, Mosvidal, though, of the women's band-to-weight division. I don't know. I feel like stuff is going to get in the way

of it. I hope not, because you're right, it makes too much sense. The other reason I didn't do a women's band-o-way pick is I think it's become too much of a running joke, because I think I've done this several times where, when I didn't, when there's not like a compelling challenger or or up and comer on the prelims. I was like, oh, go to women's band, wait. What can I do in this division? So I just didn't want to play that tune again. But you're right, Mike.

That's given the backstage drama, crazy. It's crazy. I'd still, again, if it was any other division, Mike, this would have been like the story of the weekend. But because it's Women's Banto, I think, I don't know how it's going to register. I think maybe more people will catch up on it by Monday, but it really feels like people didn't notice.

But yes, Eileen Press, Jocelyn Edwards. that's real beef. I mean, some people have like verbal beef, social media beef. This is, this is legitimate violence. And I don't know if, I don't know if the Occee wants to put them in case because it's just, I don't know what I was going to happen. But that's, that's a good thing. I went with that Jackassaragi. I just like him.

Good for him. Pulling up a really big upset. He was like a, I don't know, like plus two, almost plus 300, I think, underdog. Lucas Alexander, huge, huge favorite, missed weight, which I'm wagging my finger, people. You can't see me. I'm wagging my finger. Finger of shame. And then Jacka smokes him in 90 seconds. So Jacka is a wild man. So I just want to throw him in there with another wild man. Chip in Mariscall, let's go. Let's make this happen. I don't, again, I'll put Jekka in the same thing. Well, I have higher hopes on oral bias being a contender. Jacka, I don't think ever becomes even like a top 30 guy. But he is just going to do wild stuff in there. And I just, he's a fun matchup guy. You just keep throwing him in there. I don't know if he's going back to 1-25 ever. If he does, there's fun matches for him there, too. right now, I think he's just sticking featherweight, not a huge guy,

and just give him a fun match-up. So, Chepei, Jekka, I really actually want to see this fight happen sometime in 2024. I don't know if it's next, but I need these guys to cross-pass. It'd make me so, so happy, Mike. Yeah, man, it was a, it's a great fight. That's if Chappi doesn't go to 135. He is talking about that. Damn.

But who knows? That seems like, it seems like a big cut. So maybe we just do that. I'm down for it. So do we have any on no pointers or check the tapers? What do we have? I want to give an honorary point to this answer because last week, Mike, I asked, God help us, who actually wants to see this meotius John Jones fight?

Who is this for? Who is this fight for? And I didn't get a lot of responses. But I got one good response, and that's what I'm happy about. One good, well-thought-out response from at BratMiao on Twitter. What's up, Brat Miao? I think Brat Miao has called into a heck of a morning before. I could be wrong.

So just answering this question, who is this fight for? Who still wants to see John Jones to Steebio? I'll read the comment now. Hi, on the last Otno show, you want to know who want to see John Jones or Stipe? And why? So I'm going to try to explain my reason for wanting it. First off, I just want to be clear that I view Tom Aspinall is a real heavyweight champion now. And Jones Depe is a weird one-off fight, kind of like the BMF title.

The belt is just a prop and expect both them to retire after. why I want to see the fight simply because I believe that Steepie can win. Maybe that's delusional, but being delusional is just part of being an MMA fan and if Steepi can end his career

with being the greatest fighter of all time it would make me very happy as he's one of my all-time favorites. I would also probably get my father to finally admit that Stepe is greater than Mirko Krokov and how can winning an argument

with a stubborn parent not be a good enough reason? So you know what, rat meow, for you, I do hope that this fight still happens. And I hope Steve A pulls up, pulls off, I think, what would be one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, and that you get to, you get to shush your father. That is what matchmaking

should be all about, is family members resolving their issues with another, with one family member definitively coming out on top with bragging rights. So thank you brat me out for sending in that, that answer. And there's at least one person who has a good reason, Mike. Yeah, and look, if that happens, then we'll have another trial, because Stipe will be the best heavy in the world and Tom asked me I'll be number two behind Steve. So I'm kind of kind of in for that idea as well. I think I might have they're talking about disparate. Can you judges be despard? Judges are disbarred, right? Anyway, we'll just say. I don't know for a disparate or I think my judging credentials have been called into question. I'm under investigation right now, but hopefully by the time

we do our next trial, that'll all be cleared up. That was a lot of fun. That was a lot of fun. And Jed said it best on BTL. Mike, you don't even know if you believe. what you were saying and you're right. But you put me in that position and you back me in a corner and I'm going to fight out of it verbally whether it makes sense or not. So boarding for flight 246

to Toronto is delayed 50 minutes. What? Sounds like Ojo time. Play Ojo? Great idea. Feel the fun with all the latest slots in live casino games and with no wagering requirements. What you win is yours to keep. Grooby.

Hey, I won! Boarding will begin when passenger fisher is done celebrating. 19 plus Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concern by your gambling or that if someone close you, call 1-8665331-2-600 or visit Comex Ontario.ca. With Amex Platinum, $400 in annual credits for travel and dining means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too.

That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. A.K. ready to go to the peeps. We are ready. I got plenty. I got plenty. But go on, please. Start us off. All right. You guys know the rules of this point.

So if you got doo-doo, we're going to call it out. So I'm just going to go ahead. Let me look at what I have here. I'm going to just rip off the Band-Aid AK and go right to Dad Jackson because usually this is where things get really hairy. Let's see. Michael Morales versus Nicholas Dalby. Okay, I like this fight.

I like this fight. This is a good one. If you're building Michael Morales, doing this in Brazil, would be a terrible idea. So don't do that. Don't do that. I know you're going to hate it, but Brendan Allen versus Bo Nickel.

You're right, Dad Jackson. I hate it. Oh, God. I hate it. Get out of here. It's just not time. It's just not time. What is, like, everyone just wants to throw Boe Nickel in there with, like, top five dudes.

Like, no. Come on. Come on. Now, if you want to do Boe Nickel versus Paul Craig now, okay. I don't love that. I think Boat absolutely thrashes. Paul Craig, but I would be okay if you booked that.

But Brennan Allen just goes against this big win once in a number one contender fight and you chuck him in there with Bo Nickel. Like that, nah, I'm not a fan. What do you think? I understand the urge to push Bo Neckle into these big fights. I get it. I mean, it wasn't, I think it wasn't long ago. We're all, you know, when he was still the champion, we were all kind of like,

God, if they fought tomorrow, would Bo Neckle have a chance? Like, it's exciting. A guy like him is so exciting. But I agree. That's too in between for me. Like if you're going to go nuts with Bo Nickel, like if you're going to go nuts, let's go top five. Don't throw, don't knock off some other guy who was like grinded his way to a contender position just for a boat. Like, Brennan Allen is the wrong name.

He does not deserve to be just a ranked guy to elevate Bo Nichol. That's not what I want to see again. So either go all the way with Bo Nichol and go top five, just go super nuts. Or again, keep kind of doing what you're doing. Let's go, you know, top like outside of top 25, top 30 and state. that way, but yeah, I don't like the Brennan Allen match. John Ray, Estevan versus Al-Ala-Bai-F, Perez versus Lisboa, Parkin versus Carl Williams. Good God.

You imagine that friggin fight. You know what? I had, here's the problem. I actually love it because it needs to be settled, Mike, because I actually spent, I'm not proud to say this. I spent maybe two minutes of my life when I was updating my rankings. going, do I rank Mick Parkin higher or do I rank Carl Williams higher? This is a real internal conversation I had of myself because they're both two UFC fights, both

two and O. I think they both, do they not both have a win over the same guy? No, they have different opponents. Either way, I settled on Mick Parkin at 29 and Carl Williams is 28. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me up at night. So I'm glad that matchup was suggested because, yeah, the battle for the 28th spot in my rankings. That fight has to happen. Right now, Carl Williams is hang on by a thread. By thread, Mike. CLD versus Vietta. Johnson versus Ritchie Lang.

Brito versus Casaris. Oral Bai versus Wells A.K., he's with you. Hewaz versus Hill. Hooper versus Elder. Morales versus Phil Rowe. Allen versus Vittori, Paul Craig, versus Kyle Barallio. Harry Daweskin.

Go ahead. When did Oral By, when did he make the comments that he's dropping? Was it read at this post-fight speech? Yeah. It was in the cage of Fielder. Oh, okay. I guess I'm not the only one I missed it. Yeah, I see a few.

I see a few. No, he didn't say I might drop down. He said, he didn't say I might drop down. He said, I'm dropping down. I'm dropping down. My next fight will be at 155 unless it's short notice. Oh, okay. He said he'll fight at 70 under short notice if it's short notice, but other than that, he's

fighting at 55. Don't cut weight. Don't cut weight. Cut weight. It's so silly. Go fight your mind well. Harry. Estevan versus Kaolin Lachrin.

Ogden versus Ruevich. Jekha versus Francis Marshall. Damn. That's fun. Porkin versus Porter. Parkin versus Paco Porter. Did you call him Porkin? I mean, I don't know why you want to.

Did you call him Porkin? That's how he spelled it. That's how he spelled it. P-O-R-K-I-N. Don't let David Martin get a hold of this because he's never going to be able to say it right if we, I mean, I don't know why you want to wreck McParkin's career already, but I mean, have that it. CLD versus Dumas, Brito versus E-Gay.

Mike Hechtby Orlby versus Evan Elder Very nice What was that one? Ah man He caught Mick Hechtby And used my last name Oh, okay

I like that Very very well done Versus Evan Elder Talbot versus Steve Coslow Another one with us Hooper versus Trevor Peak What do you think about true Hooper versus Trevor Peak, AK

I think Hooper is above considerably above him at this point Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm underrating Trevor Peak. I feel like Hooper should handle him. So I don't know. I don't know if that would prove anything. I would, that would be a crazy fight. I'm kind of in on it. Morales versus Renat.

Vacartinoff. Alan versus Hermanson, Apex, uh, and an apex event. I assume he means Apex main event. Uh, Robbie Ryan. Good day, gents. Let's get Otno. Brendan Allen versus Hamzot Shimeev, aka Hamzot not getting east. either 170 or 185 title shot just yet. Why not just book this one in the meantime? Who do you rank higher? And who do you have higher in your rankings, Mike?

That's a great question. I actually wouldn't. I only know mine because I'm literally looking at it right now. I don't know. Who do you have higher? I have Hamza at one spot higher. And that was before yesterday too. So essentially, Alan's impressive win did not bump him.

It was not enough for me to give him Hamza's spot, which almost sounds unfair. I'm just so high on Hamza as a fighter. I think there's also, I'm doing a bit of, like, who I think would win a fight. I still think Hamza would beat him, but it does seem, it does seem a bit like really unfair to Brennan Al, who again has won five straight fights at 185,

while Hamzat scraped out a win over a welterweight. So I don't know. I feel like I'm so wrong on this, but let me see. I'm going to look at everyone's rankings, actually. I have Hamzat. I have Hamzat higher than anybody. in our rankings. I haven't at six.

So. Okay. I haven't at six. Brandon Allen's going to get a bump here. He will. He will. I will probably bump, I will probably bump Brandon Allen to number eight behind,

ahead of Vitori and behind Canada. And still behind. And still behind Hamza. And two spots behind Hamza. Again, I said he's not moving in mind, which seems unfair. Again, I don't know what else he can do besides fighting, actually fighting Hamzaat,

which is why this matchup makes sense. Looking at everyone else, some of them having one spot ahead it's a mix we're about even some people have them like one spot ahead some of them have one or two spots behind so that's that's a good matchup and if you're Brendan

I think you absolutely go for that fight yeah he's not afraid he's not afraid of comes Lashmayev and he shouldn't be no that's a good fight yeah that's a good fight right there yeah I didn't mind his call out like the only thing I was hoping for him like was don't call for don't call it Sean Strickland like just let that go yeah let that all

go. So you were happy. He did not do that. He didn't do that. He just said, give me number one contender fight. Okay. If he went,

but again, like his buddy Balal, like he should probably should have went all in on Hamzad. But I also understand, I also understand that if I'm the UFC, I'm not booking that fight. I'm still trying to do Hamzaat versus Paulo Costa. That's probably the fight to make at this point.

But listen, I can't be mad at Brennan Allen. What a performance did the damn thing. Michael Moraz versus Carlson Harris, Chase Hooper, Mark Jackey, Talbot versus the Garrett-Armfield Brad Cotona winner. No, no, no, no, no, no. Are you kidding me? No, no, no, no, no.

I don't like that. No. I don't like that. No. Peyton's not beaten either of these guys right now. I'm sorry. He's just not. It's way too fast. Way too fast.

Garrett Armfield has looked real good and Brad Cotona's looked real good. He's way too much experience. It's just way too soon for this fight, in my humble opinion. I agree. This is the kind of things. This is why we were struggling before. And we're saying, like, there's so many situations you can't put them in. And definitely not against one of those veterans.

That's a bad idea. He likes Oral Bai versus Anjlosa if he stays at 170. This is a good pick right here, AK. For Amanda Hebas, going back to the old school days, hashtag him. Hashtagging. Hashtag Amanda versus Amanda. Amanda Hebas versus Amanda Lomosey Kay Oh yeah yeah yeah definitely possible definitely possible

I think winner would get a title shot depending what the hell's going on with the top of one Did we ever find it so as far as we just know Zhang and Jan they just couldn't obviously book it in time for what you are so fondly calling UFC Shang Vegas That's all we know right The fight has not come together The fight has not come together for some reason Yeah, I'm not surprised, dude.

I'm not surprised. Sad. But, yeah, it's too bad. Let's move on. We got a first timer, AK. We got a first timer. His name is Carter. First time, long time.

Claudia, he likes Hooper versus Paias. He likes Morales versus Dobby. He likes Allen versus Vittori. But also threw this out here for us. Alan is becoming a bit too exciting to be considered the middle weightiest middleweight. Agree. But, but an awkward five-round kickboxing match with Marvin Vittori gets them right back in the mix.

This is a great comment. Love it. You're up, AK. I don't want that now. I don't want that. Let's go with, you know what, we'll go from one first time or to another, Anthony Hernandez, Fluffy himself. I know, this is unrelated.

I assume unrelated to Anthony Hernandez. not Fleffin Hernandez. What's up? Long time listener, first time, submitter. Chase Hoepoias, Oral by Mark Chikisi. Brandon Allen won the Mark, Victoria sweepstakes,

Michael Morales. Kevin Holland. I thought about this, Mike. I thought about this. I don't know why. I didn't like it, but I actually don't have a reason. Why don't I want Michael Morales to fight

Kevin Holland? Get in my head, Mike. What's my... Like, why? I don't know. But why not? I don't know. Kevin...

another two wins and then we do it. Yeah. I think there's something else possibly in play for Kevin Holland as well. Okay. All right. All right. All right. It's more interesting than Michael Maraus.

And Brito versus Alth Casares. Love you and Mike. Keep of the great content. Also, any Black Friday deals on Otno points. Anthony, we would never devalue. We would never devalue Otno points by making them part of some pithy. They're actually more expensive on Black Friday this year. Yeah, it's harder to get them.

George Biagan, I'll just see if there's anything new here. Michael Morales, Joaquin Buckley. I like this matchup. Where did you land with Buckley again? Mike, I remember you had two fighters who were like, they were fighting for the Buckley sweepstakes, but then something happened. Where did you land with Buckley now?

Renat Fokritino was going to fight Kevin, was going to fight Buckley after he beat Eliza Zeleski, but then he decided to just, like, not fight. So they fought to a draw. Also, I proclaimed Nicholas Dalby as the winner of the Joaquin Buckley soup states. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay.

I think that's right. Yeah, I like that one more. I don't mind Maralison Buckley. I don't mind it, but I think you're right. I think Dalby and Buckley's the way to go. Amanda and Amanda, yep. Duranson, Brito, Naimov, Cheka, and Melsig, Baghdasarian, sure. And Mayheads, a bunch we've already got.

Morales versus Phil Rowe. I think Morales is ahead of him a bit, though. Not that we, again, we've been saying how much we don't need to over push this guy. I do think Morales may be a bit ahead of Phil Roe. Mike, how about Chase Hooper versus the recently returned Roosevelt Roberts? I don't know. It's tough. No, I'll say no.

Chase's way too ahead of that. I mean, he's so far ahead of Roosevelt Roberts. It's not even funny. Talbot Brady Houston? Sure. You put Brady ahead of him? Keep talking. Keep talking.

Let me, let me, let me do some more experience. I think Brady, well, I don't think Brady would be, I think people are really hot because Talbot was, what, minus like 700 on Saturdays. He's the biggest favorite of the card. So, UFC and, sure, sure, and it certainly played out well in the end. Duncan, Bruno. I think Brady's too, honestly, I think Brady's too much right now. Really?

Do you knock out Dona Bakari, who's got a ton of experience in the UFC. really good in his last fight. I mean, maybe do Fernie Garcia. Maybe. That's, I don't know, man. What about Chad?

Good old Chad and Elger. That's, no, that's, no, no. Well, none of these. None of these. Steve Coslow.

Yes. Jacket, Saregi, Morgan, Shadiyam, I think Shadiyah murders Jekosaragi, but whatever. You know what?

I'm not, I'm not, I dare you. making it see what happens. Eileen Perez, Chelsea, Mike, I actually have not seen one person recommends me.

That's insane. This is so crazy. I will say, I think we have the story going on M.AFling.com soon. I think we want, we want to gather some more info. I know the story got out there

already on social media. I think we wanted to, like, actually talk to some people and get some data information on it. So I guess it hasn't gone out M.AFighting.com yet. You know, if it doesn't have, if it didn't go in MAAFighton.

Like, then. But by the time, people don't know. By the time they hear this, it will be out. I know. really it was outside of it was all the parties involved have spoken all the parties involved have spoken at this point Alex Davis has even come out on social media and discussed it yeah but you didn't

see it in your picks right you didn't see it in your picks right you didn't see any not one not not at all so this is and again again maybe people again listen listen they're very loyal to macefying dot com they didn't see an emma fighting so they weren't sure if it was true so I'm not I'm not going after our list our listeners pick makers at all I understand they're like us they wanted to wait to all the facts out there. Let's go to Twitter. Liam Perry. Again, I'm not going to read all these, but I like, oh, okay.

Talbot and Colin, Colin Lockran? No. Lockhart's too, no. Yeah, Lockhart's too. Yeah, yeah, Lockins actually, it's not good. It's not good. Man, Talbot's in a weird. I'm very, of all the fighters on this card,

I won't see he's the most because I do think that, I mean, I'm intrigued to see what's next for Brendan Allen and Mecca Morales, but outside of the top two fights, I think Peyton Talbot is a guy I'm kind of most intrigued to see what they do with them because you just can't push a kid like this too fast. You just can't clearly talented, physically gifted for the division too and I don't know.

Let's move on again. Some of these, a lot of these already there. Annie Galapali, Hebas, Angela Hill, sure. Toke, our pal Toke. Interesting. Peyton Talbot, Luan, Lacerda, Mike. This is, is this our, who's this? Forgive me, guys.

I'm getting my I always think of Daniel Lacerda, not Luan Lacerda, Daniel Lacerda. Luan Lacerda. Oh, and two. I was like, yeah, if you could do that. O and two in the UFC so far, I guess that makes sense. Let's see, Luan Lacerda. A little more experienced.

I mean, as far as how long ago he started competing. It's not terrible. I don't think that's a bad. I don't think he's also lost to two guys who I think are kind of decent, though. Yeah. Cody Stamen was like a top 10 panty. him wait, not that long ago. But, Tok, I think Tok's on the right track, though.

I don't, Toc, I don't think that's a bad. This isn't bad. No, no, no. Braden-O-Neil, I was going to see everything's new here. He was versus Dern rematch. I kind of saw other people suggesting this. I don't know if that turns out any differently or why we'd want to, like, I think he was just beats Dern again.

So I'm not entirely sure why we would do that to poor McKenzie Dern. It'd be big. I agree. If McKenzie Dern avenge that loss, that would be nice. That would show, like, clear. development from their first meeting. It was a while ago now. I just don't know if she does.

And then what do you do? Then McKenzie Dern has two lost to men. He was man. Then you're really cooked. Unless we're all saying we've given up on the McKenzie Dern contender stream in, which Mike, some of us have. Some of us have. Yeah.

I want to speak for everyone. Some of us have. Barry O'Reilly, my boy, Barry. What's going on, Barry? Christina. Christian Leroy, Brian Duncan versus Chidi and Jaquani. First next fight,

a fan-friendly fight, both guys willing to stand and bang. I agree. Jose Johnson, Rinyanakamura. By the way, we didn't talk about Jose Johnson. All good for him getting his first UFC win. I'm a Jose Johnson fan. Again, I don't know what a ceiling is. It's great.

I was a good fight. Whoa. Oroby and Gudang Katatlazze. Give me some of this Eastern European Violence. Winner of this is the next guy who was coming on in the stacked 155 division. I wouldn't do this, but I don't do this, but I don't. my Gudam is like kind of got I'm struggling with my words here

we kind of screwed up how to gauge him because he won that controversial decision against Gamrod and I don't know if we've been able to calibrate how good he actually is ever since do you think that does that make sense? He's still like the 19th best lightweight in the world I think yeah man let me see I have him I haven't been lower I only think because he's not a bit of a losing it's so his only win is Gamron

in the UFC but he had he was he had wins before that which were relevant. And I don't hate this matchup. I don't hate this matchup. But it is kind of weird because I don't know how high people put Kudom. And I don't know how people, high, high people put Mukta Beck after his debut.

Man, I don't like this. Michael Morales, Michael Kiesa. That's not bad, though. Okay, you don't, well, I was going to ask you, who do you book Michael Kesa against at this point? He looked so bad in his last fight that I don't want to say Michael Kiyos was, like, cooked, because he's a kind of guy, I think,

If he's motivated enough, he can get back on that saddle. But when you add in age, you add in some of the injuries he's had, you add in the level of competition at 170 right now, some of the younger guys coming up. I feel so bad. Like, I never want to match him up. And that's kind of unfair to him. Because I think he still can compete with a lot of people at Walterway.

I just like, man, I just feel like every time they match him up, it's going to be against someone who they want to, like, make a name off him. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. What do you do with Keesa? I don't know, man. I don't know. It's hard, right?

It's hard. And they like, like the UFC likes them too, right? He's a UFC guy. Because like everybody that would, everybody that would match him up with, he's already fought. Yeah. Like RDA,

he's already fought and beat. So like, do you do that rematch? Like, I'd watch that rematch. I'd watch this guy's fight again. Can we get Kevin Lee out of retirement for that rematch? Is that a thing that's possible?

I kind of watch that. Controversy, controversy in the first fight. Maybe. And I'll just read what Barry has to say about Alan, Alan and Hamza. The Vittori fight is the one to make, but if they book Shemaya and Costa, strong possibility that fight doesn't happen for whatever reason. Alan is very good, but he doesn't have the Mike Chops really push for a title in his next two to three fights. Real talk.

But a fight against Shamaev would get them there much quicker. Shamiya looked human in his two big showcase fights, sure. And Alan's ground game looks strong enough to maybe hang with him. Yeah, I'm warming up to this. I don't think it happens. but I think it's not the worst thing. And last one from Twitter, four corner sports.

Let's see. Brennan Allen Canineer. Canineer, he doesn't have a fightbooked, Mike? What's going on with Kenya? Torne MCL. Oh, gosh. Okay, so not happening anytime soon anyway, then.

I don't think so anyway. I think you mentioned, I don't know if you read this, Mike, and I just didn't respond to it. Chase Hooper, Terrence McKinney? I did not see that one. I feel like they're, are they not teammates?

Are they not? I'm crazy. I have no. I don't know if it's true. If they weren't, if they weren't, would you want that to happen? No. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know how I feel about it. Yeah, we've got to simmer on that. So maybe they shouldn't do it. I just feel like they're at least friends or something. How about Oralby versus Terrence McKinney? Boy, I mean, Terrence would love that. Terrence, again, we'll fight anyone.

He'll fight rank guys. He'll fight, he's had to fight guys who were making their debut. He does not give a crap. Yes, and that's the first round knockout way to happen. Someone is getting caoed. I would take the under all the way on that. I love that. I don't think it happens.

What did Terrence last do? He had to fight someone on short notice. Not he was on short notice, but I don't remember. Sorry, I got you hear some clattering there. He fought Brennan Moran. He fought in New England, I know that. Yes. And it's a 9-2nd knockout, as was, again, most people would have predicted.

So, yeah, that's in play. That's why it's totally in play. And let's end with some emails here. Just a couple of emails. Jay Donagie. Craig and, oh, Gerald Mirchirt. That makes a lot of sense. So go from Alan to Alan's buddy.

Gerald Mirchirt. Another Morales, Kevin Holland's suggestion. Don't mind it. Don't mind it. He was Angela Hill. Of course, Oral by Loik Rajabov at 155. I can see it happening. I think he's pretty, I think he's well above

the week in the rankings right now, but I guess not. At 1d5, who knows, it's true, that fight was on the 170. I don't know what to think. It won't be fun. Oh, wild card. Mike, Jose Johnson versus Raoul Rosas Jr.

Yeah, if they do the Mexico City card, that could be a good one. That is good. That is good, because Jose has a lot of experience. I don't think he's like a super threat to stop Rowell's wrestling. I don't think So I think Roewell would go into that. It's like probably a minus 300 favorite.

But does it really matter who Rose's fights on that card? No. Does it really matter? No, and that's why Jose I think is good. Just throw them anybody. Yeah. Don't get him Peyton Talbot. Don't do that.

Our pal, Tristan, Jose Johnson, Muen Gaffroff, Peyton Talbot, Christian Kienones. And I don't mind this. Mukta Beck versus Mark Chikizi. So we have him be his 155 opponent. That's not bad. Mark Chikese, getting a lot of play this episode, Mike.

Mark Chisies. Yeah, I don't think. Yeah, I don't love that one. It's not bad. I don't mind it. I can't risk it. Anyways, guys, yes. Thank you for all the great picks for, again, what was, you know, we said was a pretty

forgettable card on paper. Looks like it didn't turn out terrible. But again, not by the end of the year, you'll barely remember UFC Vegas 82 happen. And that's okay. That's nothing wrong with that. But yes, please send in your picks for, well, yes, next week. We have one more week before the next... Do we have a car next week, Mike?

No. Oh. We have PFL. Oh, baby. I'm going to say you and I are not doing... The $50 PFL pay-per-view. That's it? That's all?

Only $50? Wow. That's if you have a subscription to ESPN. If you don't, it's over $60. Still only? Don Davis. I'm trying to help you here. I'm trying to help you.

Yeah, dude. I'm trying to help you guys. Hey, Kayla Harrison 700 pay-p reviews Kayla Harrison Aspen Ladd It's great matchup

This is the whole Maybe the best World to wait in the world That's out of C will be fighting on there Olivia Obed Moseye Can't hate on that It's okay

Some people fighting in this card Anyway so don't We'll leave the The picks for now Because don't bother sending in Now Because Yeah we won't

I don't think we'll be doing There won't be a show next week Mike, let's take the weekend. Yeah, there will not be a show next week. There will not be an A, ask us anything. There will be nothing. There will be no show next week. But boy, when we come back in two weeks,

we're going to be matchmaking, a fun one. UFC Austin, Penil Daryush, Armand Syrucan, Dan Hooker, Bobby Green, Khalil Roundtree, Asimat, Merza Kanaff, Rob Fomp versus Davis and Figurato, Sean Brady versus Calvin Gasselam, Puna Soriano versus Dustin Stoltzvist, Jamie Lynn Horth, versus Veronica Hardy,

Misha Tate. versus Julia Avila, Clay Guida, Jo Selecki, Jarka, Close, Wellington Termin, Jared Goodin, Steve Garcia versus McQuiziel Costa, Cody Brundage, Zach Reese, Ihor Potaria versus Hidolfo Balato. That's UFC Austin.

Sick card. Really, really good. I'm super excited for this one. This is what a fight night card should look like all the time. If we seem the bit laconic after UFC Vegas 82, I assure you, we will be filled with

Pep and Vigor when it comes time to do matchmaking for UFC. Yes. This is a good one. And then this is the meat of the

UFC Apex sandwich. UFC Vegas 82 and then UFC Shang Vegas December 9th. And then we close the show with the UFC 296. So it's got to be a... Yeah, it's going to be an interesting stretch.

It's going to be a roller coaster ride down the stretch. But next week, We'll recap UFC, or two weeks from now. We'll recap UFC Austin from a matchmaking perspective. It's going to be a weird week on MAA Fighting with the holiday. So I believe we'll have two MMA hours. We will have the BTL next week, but it's going to be recorded ahead of time.

I think we're doing one heck of a morning on Tuesday. So it's going to be a weird week with the holiday going on. But stick with us, MAFighting.com. We'll let you know what's going on. We'll let you know if there is an announcement from PFL regarding Bellator. there are rumors that there's going to be announcement on Thursday. And wouldn't that be such a PFL thing to announce such big news on Thanksgiving when no one is going to be paying attention to it? I mean, it's just as PFL as you can get, and I love it so much, and it just tracks in so many ways.

Mike, we will – But if that is the case, we will let you know. That's smart. We'll forever remember Thanksgiving now also as the anniversary of the PFL buying Bells for. That's just good. That's just smart. That's synergy. I believe Thanksgiving was the day we found out that Habib Tony was off.

Oh. And then we got, we were supposed to get Habib versus Max Holloway instead. I'm pretty sure. Or was that Christmas? I don't know. It was one of the major holidays. It wasn't in Christmas.

It wasn't in December. It must be Thanksgiving. You might be right. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. But, hey, if something happens on Thanksgiving, we're great. Oh, no. Thanksgiving was when we found out

John Jones versus Alexander Gustafson had to be moved from Vegas to California or from California to Vegas for some weird reason that's what it was Pico grams.

That's it was. Pico grams, Mike. Pico Gramgate. Pico Graham Gate. We moved the entire event. Yes, that's what it was. That was Thanksgiving. Oh, okay.

The Hald-Khabi, Tony, how Mac stuff was in April. April. Yes. Yeah. Okay. That's what it was. But who knows what Thanksgiving is going to bring this year, at least here in the United States. But we're done here. Thank you very much. Back here in two weeks. And always remember the golden rule, everybody. Don't take this stuff too seriously. Everybody is supposed to be fun. We'll have more fun. We kick off December right here and on on to the next one, the podcast. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.