MMA Fighting - On To The Next One: What’s Next For Max Holloway, Conor McGregor, Paddy Pimblett After UFC 329?

Episode Date: July 12, 2026

Max Holloway and Conor McGregor’s rematch at UFC 329 raises just as many questions as it provided answers. The former UFC champions met in a rematch 13 years in the making, with McGregor returning to action for the first time since 2021, but there was little satisfaction for either fighter as McGregor was forced to bow out with an apparent knee injury just 69 seconds into the contest. Holloway got the win, but didn’t get the chance to put on a bounce-back performance after his recent loss to Charles Oliveira. And McGregor? He didn’t even get to fight and with one more bout left on his UFC contract and potentially another long layoff ahead of him, his future is murkier than ever. On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Holloway and McGregor can possibly go from here, with both fighters likely done for 2026. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Paddy Pimblett, who arguably stole the show with a stunning submission of Benoit Saint Denis, plus main card winners Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval, and King Green. We also dig into the prelims to figure out what’s next for Robert Whittaker in his light heavyweight journey, and how the UFC should build blue-chip heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson. Plus, the fellas take your matchmaking suggestions at the end of the show. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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The world may have forgotten Peter Parker. I'm just a neighbor. Friendly neighbor. But he hasn't forgotten. gotten them. Sometimes Spider-Man has to do the hard thing. That's my responsibility. Talk to Banner? I didn't know you could get that big. Spider-Man, brand-new day in theaters July 31st. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. We're all doing fantastic. And welcome to a brand-new edition of On to the Next One, where the matchmaking hats have returned following UFC 329, which was, I don't know how we're going to remember the Civilization.

I mean, I think we're obviously going to remember one big moment, but there were several big moments that happened. This was trending on being at worst in the conversation for the best UFC event ever. Like, we were just rolling here. We had so many big moments. And then the main event happened. Connor McGregor makes the walk. He steps into the octagon to face Max Holloway. The fight begins.

And then seconds later, it was a disaster. Connor McGregor injures his leg. tries a wild kick. There's all sorts of different thoughts. And was he injured earlier? Was he this? Was he that? We have a lot to talk about following UFC 329.

And we'll do so from a matchmaking perspective on the program. A little bit of reaction as well. But I am Mike Heck still here in Las Vegas, at least for the next few hours. And joining me to do some matchmaking, as he always does, is the co-host, the co-matchmaker, the Prince of Positivity. And my best friend, where is he? There he is.

the great AK Alexander Kaylee. AK, how we doing, how we feeling? My best friend, we're feeling good, man. We're feeling good. That was a really good card. That was a really good card. Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on how you felt about the main event.

Certainly, I think a disappointment, just whether you're a fan of Cona McGregor or not, whether you're a fan of Max Holloway, but those of us who were expecting an exciting fight because, look, I can't stand Cona McGregor the person. We know very well outside of the case, transgressions. So like, you know, from that aspect, I was fine with never seeing the man fight again. But there's no question that, you know, historically, McGregor fight nights have

been pretty entertaining and he's usually delivered in the cage, right? If you're just looking from a purely business standpoint, Conner-Megger fights are exciting. He's been at the center from the most exciting, you know, MMA moments of the past 20 years. I mean, I just think objectively that's true, unless you truly, truly, truly cannot stand the man. So Saturday's made a event, a lot of hype, a lot of build up to it, did not come close to letting out to that. Was certainly quite the scene, though, and gave us in the media and I think the MMA fan base a lot to talk about. That's saying the least.

And we had so many questions heading in. And I think we would have had like a bunch more coming out of Connor one. And I think like there were so many options that could have been yeses, right? Like, oh, we could do this. We could do this. and all of them makes sense. With it ending like this, I don't know what to do with Conner McGregor.

Actually, I think I do know what to do with Conner McGregor, and we'll get there in a moment, but like, let's just get right into it, okay? Max Holloway, no matter how you look at it, no matter how it all went down, it is going to go down in the books and in your local newspapers as Max Holloway defeated Connor McGregor via TKO.

That's what it's going to look like. You go on topology, that's what it says. TKO. Max Holloway wins. Max Holloway also said at the post-fight press conference, hey, I already fought in March. I just did this and I came out on Skate and he was grateful for that. But he's like, I owe my family some more time. I owe them all this as I was preparing for essentially back-to-back camps,

including a fight with the biggest name, biggest star in the history of the sport. I ain't fight until 2027. So don't get too excited. I'm not bouncing back this year. like you probably won't see me until like March of next year. So we're going to have to work through this together, A.K. I might just steal whatever you're going to say because my biggest conundrum heading out of this event, I don't know what to do with Max Holloway.

I truly have no idea. Does he stay at Welterweight? Seems to like that idea. Does he go back down to 55? There's some big fights for him there. And he's also fought all of these dudes. So I truly don't know what to do with him. So I'm going to hand it over to you.

Maybe you can wax poetically. Sell me on why your suggestion, whatever it may be, you're shaking your head and now I'm going to be even more confused. Who's Max Holley fighting next, okay, if you've had the magic pencil. I can't sell anyone on this. I'll do my best to find some weird logic in my selection. I do not think you'll be copying my answer, Mike. Okay, so yes, I believe Max when he says he won't be back before the end of 2026. Unless by some chance, you know, again, we don't know the extent of McGregor's injury.

If it turns out to be something, you know, not serious, not a like exploded, you know, ligament. Who knows? Maybe we see him. I doubt it. I'm not a doctor. There have been doctors out there on social media who already put out videos and put out comments saying it looks like, you know, serious knee injury, which, as we know, can be nine to 12 months. Again, we'll talk more about McGregor in a second. If by some miracle, he was able to come back and fight before the end of 2026 and the UFC decided to just go. go with Max Hollow his wishes and run it back.

Fine. It's possible. I sincerely doubt it. I believe we won't see Max again until 2027. And when he comes back, he will need something worth his while. He said he likes life at 170. I assume he only meant that for another McGregor fight, but who knows? Maybe he decides to stick around. Eating and not cutting weight is super fun. Mike, picture, I don't feel confident about this all.

Picture the UFC going back to Ireland. and needing a headliner. And it's not a trails you with McGregor. It's Ian Machado Gary coming off a loss to Islam Macha Chim. Oh. Now, I really, really don't believe this because there's a part of me. I haven't made my pick yet. Obviously, he's fighting Islam Machchab, USG330 in August.

There's a part of me that believes Ian Machado Gary can actually beat Islam Makachev. I'm probably only saying this because we've had this crazy year where all of our top five pound-for-pound guys are lost, right? we saw we saw Hamza lose we say Ali Tuproa lose it just feels weird feels like something's in the air that Islam could be next but going by like the safe pick

and assuming that Islam is the pound for bound best fighter in the world he beats Ian Machado Gary Gary's probably not going to come back for the end of the year either so if the UFC is serious but going back to Ireland someday and Dana White is always saying this even though clearly he means he would like to go back with Connor in a headlining role in some way if they want to go back

and Gary finally gets his wish and Max wants to stay at Welterweight. I think that's the only welterweight matchup that would make sense by that time. I could be right. I still think any other, I can't imagine any other welterweight fight that Max would be interested in taking, other than a title fight, which I don't think he's fighting Mokachov. Yeah, I mean, that was the big thing was like, I would be happy to stay 170. I would fight Mokachev.

I want to be a two division champion. And he's like, you know, there have been a lot of two division champions, but no one skipped a weight class to do it. He goes, I would do it. And he goes, and by Justin Gachie's logic, if I win the Walterway title, Islam, Islam is the champion right now. So technically, like, by beating Islam,

who was like the lineal champion, I'd be, like, a three-division champion. Sure. I would be the 155 champion, too. I thought that was quite funny. I, you've helped me in no way. No, you were right. I'm definitely not going to have friends forever this.

What's... So I'm just, so what I'm going to do, and this, there's no way it's going to happen. What I think is actually going to happen is they are going to run this one back. It's sometime next year. Like I guess Connor's contract is whatever, like he's going to fight in April or something. And it seems like that is probably somewhat true at least. You know, if there's smoke, there's some sort of fire. But I don't want to see this again.

I just, I didn't really like it the first time. Like being here and being a part. of the festivities like i bought in a little bit more as the days went by like people are just so hyped for it i let's just have some fun okay let's just have some fun i know i went in the different direction before but and you know what and i'm changing course uh let's just do max holly versus rathiel fazeve and just have a good time like it's not going to happen this fight is not happening um and it's not a fight that's going to be max to be like you know what forget my family I'm going to prep and focus on Raphael Fiziv, which,

so I'm just going to go with that just for funzies, but I don't know. It's impossible, if he's not fighting until March of next year, it's impossible to even think about this, because so much can happen between now and then. So we'll see what, I'm curious to see what everybody else's suggestions are in here. I see a couple that I just would be fun.

I just don't see any of these actually happening. I don't think mine's happening either. I think, honestly, of all the things that I've seen and even my thought, Ian Machado Gary is like the better choice or like I guess the more realistic choice. And I give that like a one and a half percent chance of happening. And he could like Charles. He could Charles Max. Like there's a real world.

Yeah. He just like, you know, wrestles him for five rounds. Very real world when that happens. So it stylistically, it doesn't make a lot of sense. But I'm just trying to project because I don't think we see Max for another eight months. Yeah. Now as far as Connor McGregor goes, AK, you laid out your theory. Okay, so now allow me to lay out my-

Please, please. This is an absolute disaster. This, I mean, straight up, this was a disaster. And I was watching this fight from way up top of T-Mobile arena. Like, there's an area for the media to work, and you can watch the fights from way up in the building.

So I watched this happen in the building, and we were just like, it was such a buzzkill. And Jose even said on the post-fight show that we shot, like, it might be, the biggest buzzkill in UFC history. Just the way that the card ended comparatively to how the rest of the card was playing out.

And I'm trying to find some sort of positive outcome to this outside of like, well, Max at least like made a whole bag of money and didn't do anything. He didn't really have to throw a punch. He didn't have to the most work he did to earn the biggest paycheck of his career

on Saturday night was just walking to the cage to his music and like the emotion. and adrenaline dump that comes with a fight ending in that way. The positive thought I have, AK, is that this helped only one man. A man who, since coming into the Ultimate Fighting Championship,

has spent the majority of his UFC career, not only trying to entertain the fans with a style that has not been great for him, but he's been calling for one specific fight. And it has eluded him, and he had it once, and he continues to pine for it. There's memes about it. There's all sorts of stuff.

If there's one man who I think won last night, AK, it's Michael Chandler. I think Michael Chandler, this works out for nobody, but I think if it worked out for anybody, it worked out for Michael Chandler. So Mike, keep fighting the good fight, my friend,

and, uh, I think you're about to fight on McCracker in 2027, and just don't do not fight anybody else just sit back and wait because when connor is cleared and he's got to do this last fight on his deal they're going to chuck him in there with michael chandler and uh wow it took a long time to get here but i think he's going to get it i i i can't believe it mike i it's i'm like i hope so because i i i had a i had a banger of a tweet like two years ago, which was like,

someone was asking, oh, did you ever waste like three years of her life on someone? One of those random Twitter questions. And I just put a picture of like, you know, McCracker and Chandler from the Ultra Fighter and it was hilarious. And I've got to break it out once again. I break it out every like eight months. I just retweet it and put it out there again.

And then if that like talk comes up again, I'm just throwing that out there again. I hope for Michael Chandler's sake that he somehow gets out of fight. It would be truly, truly spectacular. And again, you know, I love the Open Fighter. I feel like that loop needs to be close. I just think it's incredibly unlike. But, I mean, it's as realistic an answer as anything because I don't even think I, like, have an answer.

I wrote retirement, but he can't really retire properly anyway because he has one fight left in his contract. Like, we know that. We've seen fighters say they're retired. Or Mosvidal. Mavs is a good example recently, right? We're like, oh, I'm retired from the UFC. But then every time some opportunity frame comes up, he mentions like, oh, I have to ask the UFC before I'm allowed to do this thing. And I'm like, that's not like really retirement or free agency.

a lot of people in the comments saying the one like sort of positive thing for Connor was that he knocked one more he got paid of course and he knocked one more fight off of his deal so it does feel like he has to fight again it does feel like it could be Michael Chandler but you and I both agree when this whole UFC thing is over regardless of how bad he looks in his last fight which could be extremely bad uh he's definitely going to fight for BKFC someday right oh I think it's going to happen yeah one legged Connor has invested I feel like too much time and probably some money as well into promoting BKFC. I feel like that has to happen.

So obviously I couldn't say that's next because he does have one fight remaining. Maybe I don't know why I'm just laughed thinking about maybe Dana and the UFC say, you know what, you're a free man. You don't owe us that last fight. And that's not going to happen. I was considering how much money they just made, broke another gate record, charged tickets, you know, up the wazoo. So it does feel like they need to squeak it a little more blood out of that stone.

So I don't know. I just don't think we seem. I guess I have to lean towards, Mike, if I had to pick between, will he fight anywhere ever again? Or not? Or just never fight again? I will lean towards never.

So I will lean towards he never fights EFC, BKFC, his own promotion, whatever, boxing. I think he might be stuck with this, unless that it has like a 10-year or what limitation. I don't know how long you're stuck on a EURC contract if you have one fight left. So I'm leaning towards never fights again, But I think you're right.

I think one more UFC fire, right? And then just become a free agent. Yeah, I think he's just going to do what you can do and be done. I'm sure getting a fight in a certain time frame was part of the negotiation process. At least if I'm Team McGregor, that's how I'm doing it. Be like, cool, like, I'll renegotiate with this new Paramount deal or whatever. But this last fight on my deal, like, you got to knock it out within a year. And we don't know if it's possible now because we don't know the extent of the injury.

but that's what that's what him and his team said right that's why he said the april date out there right like not that he's going to fight in april but like they assume they expect to be free by april the latest that's kind of what they were saying right yeah i don't know what's going to happen man but we'll see um i i'm sure people are loving my michael janler suggestion but uh it that was like my my thought of like it just didn't want to walk out of there being like man what a bummer because the main event sort of dictates like how a fight card goes and this is just way better so I saw a lot of people throwing out. Maybe we get the Connor Floyd rematch

under the Zufa boxing umbrella. I wonder how that works. Does that we, we, we, uh, you and I have predicted that someday like there will be some crossover between Zufa and UFC, but I think as far as we know, it's not like interchangeable, right? They can't tell a UFC fighter like, oh, we're going to book you in a boxing match on it. And that counts as like one of your contracted fights. I don't know.

We don't know what these contracts look like. No idea. That would be a funny. That would be a really funny way to like do his last contract, last fight. Yeah. Boxing match. Or he just fights Michael Chandler and then box is Floyd. I don't know.

Let it go, Mike. He's both of you. Let it go. Mike. Heck and let it go. No, Mike. Both of you guys let it go. Mike.

Mike, let's go, dude. Mike, don't listen to Mike. Mike, do not listen to Mike. Michael, believe, achieve. Okay. Believe and achieve. You know who's been believing in achieving AK? Patty the Batty Pimblit.

golly, AK. I have to say it has been, it's been wild this sort of change of the way people view Patty Pimbled over the past few years.

I haven't like taught, I don't know why it like popped in my head at that moment of the press conference. I was like, look at where you are now compared to like the Jared Gordon fight and like how people viewed you after that fight when everyone thought Jared won.

Like it's crazy. He was so over on Saturday. That entrance, I don't know how it played off on television, but in the arena, it was loud. Everybody was into it outside of like the 17 Benoit Santadie fans inside the arena. But Patty was over like Rover. And then Benoit Santadie did the one thing that any sort of pundit, anyone who's ever watched a single fight of the two guys,

everyone was like, you know, Benoit has a really good chance to win. doesn't try to shoot a crazy-ass take-down early in the fight. And he literally shot the crazy-ass take-down early in the fight. And then he got choked unconscious by a ninja dars. I mean, just weird submission. Like even Patty were, even Patty at the presser was like, I've never, I've never even done that before.

So it was just such a moment. He is a, he's a star. Like, he's a star star, this isn't like, oh, he's a rising star. No, no, no. He is, he's a star. And he got that way because he got punched in the face a whole bunch by Justin Gagy and lived to tell the tale. And now he gets the best win of his career by far and did it in such a big moment. So he is going to get a big fight, my best friend.

How big is this fight? What's he doing? Who's he fighting? I think we're probably down to three names here. Maybe a fourth. I don't, one seems like it's not going to happen. But where we go with Patty? You've been the best Patty matchmaker in the history of matchmaking.

You've nailed some out of left field shots that landed big. Where are we going with the batty here? Yeah, man, I've been pretty good at prodigious fights. And also, like, I feel like I've just been an advocate for him for the longest time. I always said his antics and his, like, personality and, you know, shenanigans and Tomfoolery are, like, overshadowing that he is, like, a really good fighter. Like, I agree. It was outsized. You know, we came to the UFC.

see his level of fame was certainly, you know, higher than I think his level of skill. But I think it, I think it, I think it made people like think his, if the gap was here, I think people thought the gap was like down here, like off the screen. I thought that he was only famous. I'm like, no, he's like a good, I thought he's like a good lightweight who is, you know, getting way, way, way, way more attention than a good lightweight. And that's okay. And I didn't think he was like a finished product by any means either.

So I always thought he could be good competition. I gave him a lot of credit for those, you know, Ferguson Chandler, King Green, even though people, you know, all those, it was so popular to say, oh, they had, you know, they were on losing street fall, blah. And listen, he helped contribute to some of that losing. So I do want to, I also want to address this one comment from Max Rapkin. What's up, Max? I'm still not sure Patty is actually good. He just needs bozos like BSD to make negative IQ plays.

True. But I don't think you guys realize, like, a big part of MMA is just not being dumb and fighting smart or for the most part, fighting smart. So like if that's how he's beating a lot of his opponents, that's a credit to him. You got to remember, these guys are really talented. But sometimes you're right. The IQ just isn't there. And the best fighters capitalize on that. So I don't think that takes away from how good Patty is.

Again, is he a top five guy? Another question altogether. Is he a legit top 10 guy? I think so. And we'll be on the ranking show updated. Mike, I went with, I've called for the smashup before. I'll stand by it. I think it just makes sense for where they are right now.

I think he's getting Charles Olivaira. I originally had been thinking that Charles would get the Gaichi fight at some point, mainly because I think the UFC is so against ever giving Armand his title shot. How dare you? I know. I know, no, but I'm getting, things I'm getting more optimistic about that actually happening. Like, as time is passing by, I'm like, gosh, they just have to do the Armand fight. Like, I just think it makes so much sense.

So I still think, like, it's not their number one choice, but I don't think Charles can leapfrog Armand in the situation. I would hope not. So I'm shifting my picks around a little bit here. Give me the Pimblit, Charles Lovera. I think it would be awesome. Just such a fun fight too. So again, I have to change course because of this friggin main event. I have to change history a little bit on this program

because after another big event that was a spectacle, the man who lost the main event, I said, well, you know what it's going to happen? He's going to fight Connor McGregor. But now he can't fight Connor McGregor. Because not only did Connor lose, he ain't fighting for a long time. So you know who else is a huge winner in all this AK? And he's going to get the fight that he wants.

And if he somehow wins this fight, he's going to fight for the belt against Gachy or whoever it may be. I think they're going to do Armin versus Charles Olivera. I think that's where we're going to end up going, which leaves two men left. and this thing's been brewing for a long time, and it's going to happen now. Patty Pimbleth is fighting Iliot-Sporia next. That's the bounce-back fight. And if Ilya wins,

big thing for him, and what a bounce-back? And if Patty beats Ilya to, I mean, it's a wrap. He's fighting for the belt, and he's got to become like the Sean Strickland of 155, where he could lose and then lose again. but if he wins another fight, he's right back in there. So it'll use the next. I think you got to do it.

That could headline a pay-per-view right now. Like that fight is so big without a belt or any sort of gimmick, that fight can headline, not a paper view, but a numbered event. Right? I love that fight. I love that. I'm just like I'm afraid it's like, it's not one of those fights that we think just makes so much sense.

And for some reason, the timing never lines up where the fighters just don't make it happen. I'm thinking like, yeah, and Diego, like I just don't know. I think we're moving on from that one, Leon and Jorge. Again, all fights that I hope still happen. I just hope two years from now, we're not talking about like Patty and Ilya. I'm like, man, it's time. It's time for Patty and I'llia to fight. And for some reason, never lines up.

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What a time. 155 just continues to be such a money division. Bannonweight's always fun, AK. Bandamate's always fun. And I looked at Twitter as this fight was going on. And I didn't see a lot of people loving the Mario Batista, Corey Sanhagen fight. I was watching in the,

arena because there's a million things happening, right? Because I'm trying to help Jose in the media room get stuff out. But I'm watching this fight closely because I was intrigued by it. And there was, you know, Sanhagen looked got a little dinged up. But even so, I'm watching it and I'm thinking to myself, I will never watch this fight again. Like, and I'm not saying this in a bad way, just because if I'm going to go back and look at this card, like I'm probably skipping that one. Not because it was, it wasn't a bad fight, but just compared to the rest of the card. It was just. just like a good fight on a card with wild shit happening from start to finish.

But my biggest takeaway, as I'm watching this fight live, was this. These two are both super good at fighting. Mara Batista, say what you will about his personality and his, I'm going to say lack of charisma because he's trying now. You can see he's trying a little bit more. Dude is so good. he's so good at fighting he's so good and he goes out there and beats Corey Sanhagen

I actually thought Corey everyone was just like I am Mario clearly won I actually thought the fight was a little closer that first round was really close to me and then Mario sort of took over and then he dropped him in the third but Mario man just keeps coming he just keeps coming and now AK

he's got a big fight because eventually Peoria's going to fight Maraubalos really And Mario ain't fighting the winner of that one. There's just no way. He's going to fight the loser, though. He is going to fight the loser of that fight. Damn, that's a tough draw for Mario.

Because I want to seem to get a tell the shot. Not next. I'm with you. I'm with you. I just, there's probably not enough heat there. It would be a matter of like if for some reason, you know, he doesn't fight again for like nine months. And Jan or Marab needs like, you know,

whoever wins that fight needs a challenger. He could plop down. I don't think Mario's going to sit around for nine months. And again, he just doesn't have enough, like, buzz. I've been saying the same thing about like Marvin Vittori, right? I'm like, I know it makes sense for guys like this to get a title shot. They've done enough. I just, I don't think the UFC matchmaker see it that way.

And at some point, the time off is actually hurting you. And that's what would happen to Mario. And I think he knows that. So, yeah, I loved what I saw from him. Just gutted out a win, man. Avenged that loss. Sorry, I would say a statement from Max. and yeah he's in position right he's he's he's so close mike he's so close unfortunately you're

going to hate this pick i think because he has to fight again and he's already fought so many guys in the top 10 i think the uc is going to resign a guy who had his last fight on saturday and that guy's going to get a big opportunity i was just even gets a decent contract they're going to need to give him a top ranked guy i'm so sorry maria bautista i think he might end up fighting for Reid Bosharat. It's not fair. It's not fair to Mario. You call mine a tough draw?

Golly. I know. I know. It's not fair to Mario at all. But again, I just, I don't feel like the UFC is invested in him. They did give him the Umar fight. And they gave him the Sandhagen rematch. And they gave him the Sanhagen rematch.

That's true. That's true. That's true. But really, you're right. The Umar fight was a good indication. Because if he had won that, actually, that's not true because even Umar isn't guaranteed a total shot. So, dude, if Marab wins and Umar wins.

They're fighting. Umar has a fight booked, right? He's fighting a song. Song you don't know. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I just feel,

I'm feeling Farid and Mario. I'm feeling in the air. That's tough fight for Farid, too. That's not like a walkover. Like, that could easily be Freed Rushrod's first loss.

Maybe that's why I'm so intrigued. Maybe that's why. And again, Hione Barsallis gets screwed. He has to watch all these dudes leap for all of them. Is he not booked? I don't think so. He's fought Mario.

He just beat the great Montel Jackson. He did beat the great. Gimson. Has he fought? Mario? I don't know. I don't think. I feel like he, no.

They've never fought. You know, that'd be a good pick. Let's do that. Let's do that. Okay. I mean, I think he's going to get Maravari on, but they could do that. Peyton Tal would be interesting. I don't know.

Let's go to the flyweight division. Brandon Royval is, I'm watching this fight play out and I'm like, all I can remember is what you said during the way in show AK. You're just like, you know what I realize? I really like Brandon Raubal. Right. I love the guy.

He's great. I love him. I love him. I love him. And I'm not, and I'm proud to say it. And I felt so much of that watching this fight. Yeah.

And this fight with Lonnie Kavanaugh is incredible. Brand Royval had a, just a professional first round where he just looked good and we're just like, oh boy. Like, I don't think Lonnie can win this fight because Brandon is fighting so well. And he brings stuff to the table that Lonnie just ain't going to be able to do anything against. And then he just cracks. him. He got Royval to go back to Rodog for a moment. And he cracked Royval and one round two. And then Royval just comes out and finishes him in the third. Like that fight was unfrigging believable, man. It was such a good fight. Brand Royval is going to be one of those guys that when he's gone, you're going to appreciate him a lot more because you're going to go back and watch his fights after a great night out with your buds. And you can be like, I want some late night pizza and watch a fight and just going to watch a whole bunch of Brandon Royval fights and have a great time.

I loved his callout, AK. I love the Asso-Mabayev call-out. Did you love it? Is this where you're going? You're giving the man what he wants now that you forge this opinion and this love for the raw dog? Yeah, yeah, man. I tried to dance around it because I think I said last night for Osseu, I was like, oh, he should fight Kai-Carra France. But I'm like, you know what?

Screw it. Screw that pick. Yeah. No, screw that pick. Brandon Riveau is right. This is the matchup for him. Also, again, it's just hard to find anyone that Brandon hasn't fought yet. That's ranked.

he's fought everybody so it makes a ton of sense he's he's in this situation where he kind of has to hold on to his spot i was saying um i think i was saying on our comments i don't want to press it online but roy val i feel like pound for pound is the toughest gatekeeper in m m mhm i think any weight class i think he i know we have a lot of gatekeepers in east division or sorry not a lot but like you know one or two gatekeepers in east division i think he is the best um he suddenly with his style it's weird because like you know him and brandon merino uh both fought cabana and like um Moreno is kind of being viewed as washed, and yet, you know, most of us would say Moreno, like, was a better fighter, had a better career than Ravel. And yet I feel like Ravel's going to have more longevity somehow.

He's just really able to absorb damage, to drop people in the brawls, to, he has a great recovery. Yeah, he's just so fun to watch. Like I said, I love the guy. And I'll love it when he fights Asaamaya, another fan that I'm quite fond of, another fighter, excuse me. I love that fight. I'm not going with that. I match made for for Asu and I gave him a big fight anyways. I'm making Brandon, what do you want it before?

He wanted, he had a name in mind before he fought, I believe, Tetsuro Taira. And he's had to watch this gentleman fight a couple of times in the UFC. I think it is now time for a little raw dog versus Horaguchi action, AK. That's good. That's good. Oh yeah, that's that's it. That's going to be an unfortunate. I mean, it's going to be a great fight for all of us,

but that's going to be one of those, dang, man. Why is this fight happening at the apex type fights? Because that's going to headline like UFC fight, UFC Vegas 127. And that deserves being a crowd. But it's kind of headline. Make that money. Make that money.

So unfortunately, I'm not giving Brandon what he wants now, but I'm giving him the one he wanted before. And I'm giving King Green exactly what he wants. K. Dan Hooker called him out. King Green goes up and says, yeah, dude, I'll fight him. So we're just going to do it.

He's in. I'm in. King Green's the man. Terrence of Kitty put such a beating on him. Couldn't finish him. Normally we give referees crap all the time. Who was the referee for that fight? Carrie Hatley.

I think Carrie was involved in both quote-unquote sort of stoppage controversies on Saturday. pretty sure yeah i first of all the luke riley one i actually didn't have a problem with no i was fine both are early both are early sorry no actually no no i think the the mckinney one was sort of well-timed i do think i always say this i agree the riley one was early but for me early does not always equal bad early means early but it doesn't necessarily mean terrible we've seen way worse um this was exactly the fight we expected um from these two guys but yeah let's give him dan hooker why on. Yeah, I just didn't know where else to go. I don't know. I have like King Green solidly, you know, sort of just just in the top 20 at the UFC lightweights. And he can't really go up that much or it just doesn't make sense for him to fight like a top 15ish guy. So, oh, sorry, except for Dan Hooker. Sorry. If there's one guy in the top 15 that we that we can pluck out, it is Dan Hooker. And it would be crazy if he beats Dan Hooker. And in 2026, King Green is like a top 10 ranked lightweight. That sounds weird.

I feel like every two and a half, I feel like every two to three years, we have this conversation. Yeah, it's true. I'm having deja vu. Serious daydaboo right now. It's like, man, are we getting a Mazadol run here?

Is he going to fight for a belt? Like, he's so close. Like, every time. Four straight fights for the first time since 2012. It's crazy. This man has not won four straight fights in 14 years and just kept plugging away. Just kept plugging away.

He's got you know some of the matchups recently fine you see like oh landskips and junior which was a tough fight by the way like okay that that's whatever But four wins in the UFC lightweight division is four wins in the USC lightweight division. It's an extremely extremely tough division no matter who you're fighting and somehow he's doing and yeah really had to battle back against Terrence What I what? Yeah Best Division in the sport ladies gentlemen. You know what we're giving we're gonna give you a little bonus content here Yeah, to do to the picks. Let's talk about Robert Knuckles Robert Whitaker. Cookies for everyone, said Robert Whitaker after the win to us in the back

and goes out there and knocks out Nikita Kraloff. And we thought that he broke his jaw. Everyone thought that Whitaker broke his jaw. Dana White showed up at the press conference last night and said he did not break his jaw. So, I mean, good news there. But what a performance from Robert Whitaker. He is just a bulky, big-ass, light heavyweight. It's not like a very tall one.

but dude is big. Like he looked real big in person. Just again, it's the height thing that throws people off. But what a win here, AK,

there have been a lot of fun suggestions here. Bilal Muhammad even throughout, screw it. Let's just do Whitaker-Yeary right now. And boy, I don't know how I feel about that. We're going to settle the Jan Blahovich Bogdan-Guskoff rivalry.

Let's give good old Bobby Nucks, the winner of that fight. Why not? Like, do you ever think we live in a world where we could see Robert Whitaker versus Jan Blahovic? Certainly didn't. No, but that at least has like a champion versus champion, you know, sell to me. Him fighting Bogdan Guskov now would seem really weird. I doubt would be such a strange, but. I mean, him fighting Nikita Kreelovak seemed kind of weird to me too. Incredibly weird. None of us, I think like, the rumor for a long time was like Magamette and Kalaya. I don't know how substantial that was. I think it was. I think it was just just because both guys said they had fights coming up at a certain time and it was just like an

internet thing we're like oh well these two must be fighting it i don't know if there's any actually i look there's any fire to that smoke as it were um but i think if you've given us like five guesses i don't know if i would have landed on nekita like it makes it kind of makes sense especially now that we see the result but like i was like oh okay yeah i mean he's in the top 10 sure we're given yeah he wants a top 10 guy well not nekita but at the time it was so strange i'm just how tall bogdan is boxed six foot three oh oh oh oh oh man. And then Nikita's even taller. It's like, he was like, oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. So it's not, it's not like, yeah, it's not a vast difference. Like, but he's just going to be shorter than every duty fights in that division. What a weird. What a weird thing. Anyway, yeah, I'm settling on Erie because again, weird is the word of the day. It's really the word of this whole light, heavyweight move. Like, I don't know how long it will last. But I like what, I like what, I like what Rob says, which is like, he says, just enjoying, he's getting to enjoy the in between a fights more, not having to about weight cuts and he can now see himself, you know, not retiring within the next like two years. Maybe he gets a few more fun fights at 205 because it's just so much less strenuous than his body.

He may change his mind when he has, again, some like hard hitting 205ers, you know, bashing his head in or a massive 205er like laying on top of him. Yeah, might change his mind real quick. But as of now, he's riding high. And yeah, I'm going with Prohashka because it's just so unpredictable. Like I don't know what could happen there. Like, Uri should beat him. But you never know with Yirma. just one big shot from the Reaper, and who knows?

Suddenly, Robert Woodhers one fight away from fighting for a light heavyweight title. So wild, man. Crazy. God, it's so wild. You're saying Yeri? No, I'm going with the, I'm going Yonbaugh. Oh, yeah, you're like that. The Yon Goosecoff.

We can get there. We can get there. I think if Ankelyev beats Kahl, and I think he's going to, the UFC's going to do Yuri versus Ankiyaf. Because that's, they're not in the Ankyloif business. They just aren't. But at least there's some heat there, right? We can build something between these two guys.

They don't like each other. They both talked a bunch of crap about each other. So we can go ahead and knock that out. But hey, good 205 debut for Robert Knuckles. We will wrap things up here for the official picks, AK, with Gable Steven. Gabel Steven makes his debut, fights Elijah Ellison. This is not like a good fight. This is not like high-level mixed martial arts.

But at the same time, this is way more fun than anybody you thought it was going to be. I think everyone just assumed like Gable tackle, punch, punch, punch, punch, fight over. But shout out to Elijah Ellis. He went in there. He understood the assignment and didn't care. Still had a fun fight. And landed some shots on Gable, stung him a little bit. But then Gable just hit him with a whole bunch of stuff and just a nasty ass knockout.

I'm moving very slowly Gabriel Seeps in here Like I'm moving very slowly here I saw a lot of people's suggestion He should fight Derek Lewis I'm like no No he shouldn't Please don't do that

If you're looking to build Gable Intoes like undefeated guy who fights Reveld Because Derek might just knock him dead Not saying he can't win Because if he could tackle Derek I win But he's got to get hit When he fights Derek and that could go very badly for him So this is where I'm going

AK, we're going to go at the timing here. One of the heavyweight heroes is returning to action following a suspension this coming Saturday. Oh, man. The man, the myth, the legend, everyone's favorite heavyweight rookie, Alvin Hines is taking on R.J. Harris.

You may have to look that one up. I certainly did. And I don't know a lot about the young, about the man, but he's getting sacrificed to the altar of Alvin Hines. But either way, maybe RJ Harris comes in and pulls off the upset. Gable versus the winner of that fight, but I kind of feel like big goosey.

We're about to run right into a big goosey Gable Seveson fight. Madison Square Garden. It's going to happen. I hate to just do like sort of the Josh Hokit like, you know, heavyweight buildup package, but I went with Denzel Freeman. I went Denzel Freeman. That's whatever. Yeah, it's all in that same.

I just looked at sort of the bottom seven or eight heavyweights in division. obviously yes alvin hines is in there uh i'm tempted like i've said like i think the highest i wanted to go was like stephen aspland but maybe that's next maybe not yet maybe i wasn't i was even i was even ready to go that high yeah yeah maybe not because he's he's he's kind of tough yeah i was absolutely he could actually give gable some oh he's booked he's booked he's i just had to look it up he's fighting guierme pat what listen the winner of that fight or the loser of that fight might be next for gable after uh do do you think gable um kind of gets on the hoakit plan i know he said he wants to fight Madden Square Garden in November, which obviously means I think he's eyeing only one

one more fight. Do you think of like a short notice opportunity comes up between now in November? It would make sense for him to jump in, right? He should fight two more times this year. He should. I don't think he's going to. No, he's only eyeing MSG. He's going the bow-nickel route in terms of schedule.

Yeah, yeah. He should be fighting again. Yep. Get him on a big card. Get him in L.A. like if they go when they go to L.A. in September he should be on that card and then he can turn around and fight MSG. Like just get him out there and let him nuke a bunch of people.

Yeah. That's what you want about Josh Hawket. The man stayed busy. The big thing. Yeah. The antics got him some attention for sure. No question. We talk about the antics a lot.

But like, yeah, he stayed busy and he was winning fights. I think it was like four win. He's like he's four and O in the UFC now, right? Four or no? Yeah. Four or no. Either way, he's undefeated three or four fights, and he only made his UFC debut like late 2025.

And, yeah, I mean, Stephen should be on the same path. I get it. He's got a little more of an established background. You know, him and his team probably feel like they can be a little more choosy. But I agree with you. I would like to. I think he should fight before November and then, you know, MSG could still be in the cards.

We'll see. It'll be tight. It'll be tight. It'll be tight. But given the competition they'll be putting in front of them, maybe not super strenuous. Yeah. Maybe this is a, yeah. Look, people can.

agree with our takes and things of that nature and I've been wrong about a lot of things but one of the one of the things that Jed and I and everybody this website has been saying for four years now there ain't going to be another superstar in M.MA there's just like no one's going to be

there will never be another Connor McGregor it just won't be the only way to get over now and you can do it with personality and you know you can do what the Sean Strickland's do and if that That works for you. That's fine. You get over by fighting all the time. When people see you on TV fighting and winning, that's how you get over. That's how the fan base gets excited for you because they see you a lot and you go out there and crush people. So if I'm Gable, I'm fighting as much as I possibly can. But who knows? Maybe he was dinged up heading into the fight. I don't really know. Who knows? But yeah, Gable gets it done. John Jones is in the building. And, yeah,

there you have it let's go to the wild card round okay let's select a fighter we've not match made four we'll match make for him right now I forgot we were doing this okay I'll give you a minute I'll go for I'll give you a minute

I know what I'm going to do because I thought about it last night but what's say you I have feeling we might be doing the same thing I don't know if you were able to come up with it so quickly I have feeling we're doing the same thing are you picking for Terrence McKinney

I am not okay I am usually you know we like we always say winners or losers i think like 90% of time we pick a winner but i love terence mckinney okay and i know i'm throwing this word around a lot but i mean that the same way that i love brandon roi vall i love terence mcini i was trying to think about the other day one of the things that makes him so special is he kind of like he should be so much more famous than he is um i feel like the uc promotional machine just should get behind him but as we know they're not even willing to give him like the shine of a bonus somehow um and

also, you know, he's not like the most, even though he has a great story, everyone knows a great story of like how he sort of, you know, came back from some very difficult personal adversity and drug addiction and things like that. Other than that, like, he's not like this big, huge personality. He's just, he's just not. And that's okay. It happens sometimes. And it's hard to become a star in MMA when you're not like that.

So I get it. I get it. But in a perfect world, the way he fights is how I think like your average MMA fan or like a more casual NBA fan wishes like every UFC fighter would fight. So he should be a bigger star because he answers. the question of like like if you ever watch with a casual fan they're like

oh why does the guy just go up and punch him why is this all this like footwear I just go up just walk up and punch him that's Terrence McKinney he's like he doesn't care about getting countered like that's what made the style bachelor with King Green so fun is like he's like he's not playing King Green's game he's not staying at distance

and like trying to dance around he's like no I'm just going to go in King Green hits me hits me I don't care and he's done this in many fights sometimes it's worked out sometimes it hasn't but it's why he's ended fights in like seven seconds so why he's been finished himself in like 20 seconds so I just need more Terry for Kinney. I'm just pushing a fight mic. We've talked about a lot in the show.

He's the one who should fight Michael Chandler. I still want Terrence and Michael Chandler. I just feel and this is a fight Michael Chandler could win. This isn't like a oh, I think Terrence is going to run through Michael Chandler. That's what makes it so fun. Like Michael Chandler looks completely washed, but you know what? You throw him in there with Terrence for Kinney. Anything's possible in those first two minutes and 30 seconds. So please give me this fight. Michael Chandler, stop waiting for Conno McGregor. Don't listen to Mike Heck. Take a fight with Terrence McKinney. I mean, I love that fight.

Everyone knows I love that fight. I also love Michael Chandler versus King Green as an option at some point. But, I mean, why would Michael Chandler stoop to those levels when he can fight Connemarro? I'm not just kidding. If they book Chandler with McKinney or Green or, I mean, I'd rather see that. But I think, I think if Mike's smart, I don't think Mike's got a lot of fights left. Go get your son. Go get it.

I can go like super crazy here. Adrian Yannes is I really liked his post-vite scrum. Dude is a very thoughtful guy. I think him going to Dallas was a very smart move going from Houston. I just think it was one of those things where it was, you know, I know he loves everybody in Houston and all that,

but I think he just needed a change. The death of Saul Salis really messed with him. And now he's over at Safe Sayud, who he sees a lot of Saul in him. and I think it's like working well and him and safer like Abbott and Costello it was hilarious at the post-fight scrum but Bryce Mitchell

Adrian Yannes versus Bryce Mitchell that's where I'm going okay good dig it no no notes Mike no no no it I just I hesitate every second because I know Bryce is booked for a UFC BJJ match with Mikey Busce Mechie but that has nothing to do with his bantamate plans and actually wow

look in my rankings I got Yanyes at 22, Bryce Mitchell, 23. So you nailed it. There you go. That's it. That's the one. Yeah.

All right. Let's go to the peeps. Time for you to shut out your picks. Thomas Yates in here. You know Patty Pimbley fought the day before when Thomas Yates is in the chat, the chat being like, these guys said Paddy Pimble would even win a fight. These guys said he wouldn't even be top 100. Who's these guys?

Yeah, by the way, AKA was the one. How dare you? The only reason. Yeah, Patty Pimblitz surge is mostly because of A.K.'s matchmaking prowess. Thank you. I mean, let's put this in there. No one put Patty over better than AK has. You know what was really funny, though?

You know who wasn't in the chat the day after UFC 324? Thomas Shades. Just want to throw that out there. And Jessica Gaitch, put those paws on him and messed his ass up. I'm not getting involved with that out there. I'm not getting involved in this. Just want to throw that out there. It's okay.

Listen, how many times do I have to come on the show and be like, look, Patty's better than I thought he was. I was wrong. Take some man to admit he's wrong. How about that? He said you still got dummies like CJ. Who's CJ? Do we have a CJ on staff?

I'm not aware. I'm trying to think. I'm talking in the MA media. Who's the CJ? I mean, I don't think you're talking about the great PR man, CJ Tuttle. I don't think so. You can't throw a day about there.

By the way, you know who I saw yesterday? Who? Danny Brenner Hey It was it was a delight Bellator Former Bellator man Danny Brenner

Yeah he does some stuff For uh With Paramount now And I was like I was like Danny Brenner Holy crap Unbelievable

So yeah Shout out Danny Brenner What else we got Let's go to the piece Oh yeah People send in your fight picks Please What's going on

I put out a call Mike don't get embroiled In the beef In the I'm not grumpy today Okay Yeah this is just like having a good time Oh there's a super chat

Oh there was super chat Oh there was super chat Umson T0 M S1N He can't be main event anymore right I assume we're talking Connor McGregor He certainly can And he will

Yeah Thompson he hadn't fought The guy hadn't fought in five years He hadn't won a fight in six years Do you think people care about It's the spectacle around him This is what we mean When we talk about Like there'll never be another Connor McGregor

Like there may be another big star someday. But when you, this is like, this is transcending another level of fame where you've like developed the sort of cult of personality, or at least may a cult of personality certainly and very much so even broader like a cult of curiosity. And he has that. He has that. And like I said, some fighters are absolutely amazing fighters, most excited people. And they just for some reason cannot attain that. And Connor has that. And he will have that for as long as he's competing. He can lose his next year. C fight. He could go fight and BKFC. He could go fight and BKFC. He could go team up with the Netflix MMA like whatever wherever Connor goes he's still like this A side

it'll be a long long time before people like shrug their shoulders and say like oh I don't I don't I don't I'm not interested in a Connor headliner like this just it gets a lot of cows I'd feel messing you mean this morning about the Connor fight who have not never I've never I've never them talking about MMA in like a year or two that's just where that's just his level of thing so yeah he'll he made events no matter what this this is going to do better numbers in the White House card it's just gonna We will know those numbers because they will tout those out. We'll know peaks and valleys and everything.

We'll get specifics on these. Unlike what we got at the White House, this is going to smash it. Like, it's just caught. I was curiously, like, the level of star power and how people were going to react to him. Would he get booed? Who knows? Nope. Nope.

They were, it was Team McGregor in Las Vegas for the most part. And Patty had a lot of fans too. But it was pretty wild, man. He's still, the intrigue, the cachet, all that, like, it's still there, even after five years. RS 40 threw this out right out the gate. Max versus Marisha Ruffy, Patty Ilya, BSD Fizzi, Batista Marabian three loser, Sanhagan's a hobby, Royval, Horgouchi, Kavanaugh-A-Kura, Green versus Hooker McKinney versus Camille.

RS 40 did say, nope, Kavanaugh versus Tyra Asakura is at Banimway now, which is very true. Yeah, those are all pretty good. I don't think we're going to see Max Holloway fighting Marisha Ruffy, but. No, no. Like I said, there's only certain fights that'll stick around for a 170. It just doesn't make sense. I'm thinking about Kavanaugh and Tutsar. I actually love it. And can I just say, as much as I love Roy Val, like, huge props to Kavanaugh. This guy is legitimate. Like, who has he fought in the UFC so far for his first like four fights or something? It is just ridiculous. So he's now, this is, yeah, this is fifth UFC fight. Two good wins, you know, Jose Cho, Philippino Santos. And then he gets in there with the spoiler. Charles Johnson gets knocked out. I mean, I feel like that's a loss that's just Charles Johnson can. beat anybody masterclass against brandon reno and then like a really good back and forth fight with random roibell just like a more experienced more battle tested guy so he's only uh 27 he just turned 27

lani cavana uh his potentials through the roof so i'm not discouraged at all by that lost roo if these things happen and uh yeah would love to see him fight tyra or if they even give him a few not just back because would not surprise me if he still fights for the title someday insanely talented kid uh t swiss san hagen chito five rounder run that uh And this is a two, no. Wasn't it wasn't the first fight like that? I don't remember that fight happening. I thought this was the fight where San Hagan just like took him down a lot.

That was Rob Font. That was Rob Fon. Okay, I do not remember the Marlon Vera fight. I remember it happened. I'm seeing a split decision. Cannot remember the actual action in it. So run it back? Yeah, run it back.

I don't know. Cheetah's fighting Charles Jordane in September. Oh, sure, sure, true. He might not be getting top 10. John Shin, man, Gable versus Tui Vasa. Did you see this? People were talking about the social media last night. Why were they doing this?

Because I think they're saying, force him to wrestle. I think that's the idea is like, I think people, weirdly, weirdly, I think people want to see Gable wrestle, right? That's usually the opposite. We're just like, oh, like if he had like, you said, just grounded Elisha and like just beat him up, you know, 45 seconds TKL ground and pound, then we would have people complaining the other way and being like, ah, can he stand up though? Like, ah, he didn't show any striking.

We know he can wrestle. So now it's suddenly weird. We're going the opposite where people almost feel like robbed where they're like, they're like, yeah, we were told this guy's like, we know this Olympic level wrestler. Like, we want to see the wrestling. So obviously against Ty, standing up with him would be insane because I know Ty is well past his best before date. And sure, Gable could catch him on the feet.

Gable could knock him out. But it just makes, it would make no sense for him to trade hands with Ty. He would have to take him down in the first like 15 seconds. So I think that's the logic with the hide the Tweedboss of matchup. I think it's too soon. unless tie is really near the end of his contract and they're just trying to get something out of him. I don't know, but it could happen someday.

I just think it's too soon. I saw a lot of that, though. I did see in the comments. Honestly, the fight, because I throw the name out a lot, they should just do tie two of Vasa, Derek Lewis, too. Like, that's the only final. I love that. Yeah, no more guys who are going to tackle Tyo Vasa.

Like, what are we doing here? Enough is enough enough. Sanhagen versus, I assume, David Martinez. Yeah, is he booked around? He was booked. He was booked. He was supposed to fight. I don't know if it was official, but he was.

Umar. Fight him. Okay. Yeah. So, so he was going to know. Okay. And then Luke Riley, who had a great performance as well versus Andre Feeley. I like that fight.

Riley. Yeah, good one. Yeah. I still don't know what to make of Luke Riley. I'm not as high on him as I'm on like Lonnie. He's good. He's very good. I don't know.

Don't know what to make him. I'm actually, I'm actually like the opposite. You're higher on Luke Riley. I'm actually very high on him. Okay. He's got a, he, I think he gets it. I like how he's tough on himself. He does have like, he needs to get his personality to shine better.

I know it's in there. And I think he'll get there. He's super young. But that kid is really talented. Very, very talented. He's got some pretty good wins. They put him in some big spots. So they obviously see something in him.

Yeah, I think, I think Luke Ratt is really good. So Max says, Corey, she'll fought three years ago. I was there. Corey beat the hell out of him. So one of those splits that probably shouldn't have been a split. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, maybe now it's, maybe now it's starting to come back a little bit. Let's see.

Simam Kalabatisai. Pimbledo Altoista versus Song after the Umar loss, Whitaker Gooskoff after beating Jan, Yanez versus Yakup Wicklach's. God, that's fun. The dark, Wicklash, the dark horse of the phantomweight division. He's kind of like, because he's kind of been like the B side, I think, in his fights. and he just kind of keeps getting with it. The patchy mixed fight was weird.

I'm just looking back at the M-Madest decisions.com, Sanhagen, Vera. It looks like there's about 20 media scores, all Sanhagen. And I think 12, like 15 of them are 50-45 Sanhagan. So I'm not sure what happened with the cards there. Shout out to, shout out to Joel Ojeda. You know, we don't hear that name often in the judging booth. So maybe, maybe that's cool.

Duke Maddo. Can the UFC resign Jailton Almeida in Bookup against Gable? punishment L LLJK Who are they put Wait who's being punished here? Who's being punished here? Gable? Because Jelton will handle

that ass I'll say don't don't you dare Jeltson will handle that ass right now he can't beat Jelton Lameda not yet Lazybed yeah shout out to John Garza

what a dude dude's a gamer Yes He's credit he tried to go out there and like knock him out but John can't be killed He's so 21 years old Yeah he's just Yo he looks good

Like yeah Let's revisit this John Gar's a thing in three years He could be a guy who I could see like loses like like one and three or something Against like good competition Goes back to the regional scene builds up and like comes back Like I I know it's a very small sample size But just based on what I've seen like a little bit from his regional fights and this fight Man I'm I'm for a 21 year old

I'm so impressed So, so impressed. Lazy Bed just wants to do prospect booking. If haven't faced Blaw, Hassan, Blal, uh, wins on week one of DWCS. Wow. Nice. Yeah.

What else we got? Max Rapkin reminding us that Corey Chuta card was also, oh, when, uh, cop Perez was supposed to fight, but, uh, Alex Perez had a seizure. Oh, geez. That's right. Okay. Now it's all coming back. Uh, Dylan, Patty Charles for the BMF.

Yes. Winner fights Max next year for. title Eliminator. Paddy becoming BMF champion would really would take him up another notch like fame-wise. It's just a neat title to have. Again, am I picking in the beat Charles? No, because I think Charles is, Charles is like my man.

I love Charles. I love Charles. I'm picking him. I was saying he was going to be Habib back in the day. It's probably a good thing that fight never happened. Probably a good thing for Charles. That fight never happened. But I'm a huge fan. I still think he beats Patty, but man, just the chance of it? Patty, BMF champion? Man, you want to talk about headlining

a, a new paper for you headliner right there. Um, extra. I feel bad for Tracy Cortez. What's next for Tracy? Shrews. I don't know why we need to feel bad for Tracy. I mean, good for her.

You know, I know she changed her camps. It's just not a good matchup for her. Like, I don't think, I don't think, uh, uh, Wang Tong is that good. But I just think for Tracy Cortez, um, who obviously needs to, like, wrestle to win this fight. I just don't think she can be able to impose her will on Wang like that. She's probably going to lose her ranking. What's next? Boy, she still has some good fights at flyweight, but I don't know.

Maybe she goes up to 135 if that's even a thing anymore. It goes back, go back to one day. She used to be 135 or they go back for that. Yeah, it's not going to, well, I mean, she can get some wins up from 35. Do you see our 40s? Oh, sorry. I kind of think like that'll be the Macy Barber bounce back fight. And it's not going to go very well for Tracy Cort.

as unfortunately. Yeah. Yeah. I think Macy's way better than her. Yeah, let's see that. Harris 40. David Pinnas or Ataba Goteer,

who's better? That's a really good question. That's a really good question. Can we put, can we, by the way, can we put, and I want to say this right

because I need to have pronounced this correctly. Gee's been on my ass. Heon Gondra. Heon. It is not Ryan. It is not Rian. It is Hian. Heon Gondra.

Can we put Hian Gondra in the, I've not messed up the last name now, in the Piannodon, Pinas, uh, Gotei, Abdul Malik group. Can we put Gondra in there?

I think he deserves it. You don't see him? You don't see him on that level? I mean, he could be. I'm not there yet. Like beating Zachary just ain't doing it. Like a Tabe has got a Pulaev win under his belt.

And like, I know it's not the sexiest aim, but like that's, that's tough fight. That's, yeah. Nothing. nothing sexy.

Yeah, yeah. We learned a lot from that fight good and bad. We did learn a lot. And I think he would have given these names, we just mentioned similar problems. Pulaya, I think would have given me similar challenge these guys. They could be the three pillars

of the middleweight's next generation. I feel like we're leaving out poor Hian. Well, you know, you're right. I just want to throw it out there. I feel like Hian is getting disrespectful in this conversation. Jimmy Suss is not being mentioned. This is true.

Who called him out again? Peanut. Pinos called him out. Pinos. Pinos. I yeah I don't you're right I don't know if I put Pinas above a table but boy that is like Cesar Amade it was a really really tough matchup for him given the level of like overall combat sports experience because Cesar Amid is like

tons of kickboxing experience and it was a stand-up fight and he was giving Pina some real problems but you just see man that power like it's one of these guys this power and athleticism takes you so far one shot one shot was all he needed to crack that shin so um yeah i think comfortably comfortably we can put a table at the top penis and abdermalik i'll do are close i'm not sure i think maybe i would actually probably put abdul malik above him and maybe i have penis third that's a meet mentor abdum the other day um at extreme couture nice good night very good dude uh we're going to do rapid fire because i start packing up and get the hell out of here uh agent yanna is rough on two

riley jack jenkins from tristan gordette uh lock bomb patty charles fight to make Damien Piedos versus Nardia of, dang. I think we're a little, that's early. No, too early. I think Nardia was really good. Yeah. Just for the sake of fun from Lazy Head, Yonnas versus Ethan Ewing. Damn.

That would be super fun. Max Pinaas versus Edmund Shabazian. Too early? Because I think Edmund is, I think Edmund's good. I know he obviously had a tough fight in his last one, but that was like, you know, going into the tough team opponent. Max, Janus versus Figgie, retire the yunks. Oh, brutal.

Good bad to Connor Chandler. Let's go. Max Rufi, Patty, Ilya, BSD Fizib, Wongtong versus the Grassofior loser, Gable Sutherland, Rob versus Reyes. I like that one, Fried McGrizzly at PFL.

Cortez Mara, Kreelov, Jacoby-Said, winner, Royval Erseg, Temeroff winner. Mike, before we go, you didn't hate the Wang Song Schenko callout? Am I reading it from our Slack? comments. It sounds like you didn't hate it.

I thought it was horrible. I get the logic behind it. She beat her in a kickboxing match. And that is sellable. Listen, that is sellable. I think obviously we had the most famous example, of course, Izzy and Pereira, their kickboxing past. And then what was it, Yowana and Valentina?

They'd also kickbox before. I just don't remember who won. It was, it was, Valentina had beaten Yowana in kickboxing before, I think, right? Something like that. Something like that. And, I mean, well, that played out. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they fought in kickboxing. I think Shepchenko won every time or something.

So I get it. It's kind of that cool history of I beat you another combat sport. I'm coming up in your division. Let's have it. I just think one is too soon. And I think the M.A is different enough that I don't give Wang Tong like almost any chance in that matchup. But I could be wrong. Maybe she'd be catching Valentina at the right time.

I don't know. I hated that. I kind of like no so, though, because like I understand what she's trying to do. The reason the UFC signed her in the first place was to fight Valentina Shep Chico at some point. They're trying to recreate the Israel-A-Sania Alex Pereira magic any chance they can get. And Tong had a loss and kind of spoiled stuff.

And, you know, she goes out on a regular card and beats a ranked fighter like Tracy Cortez, who everybody knows. She took, you know, shot her shot. She ain't getting it. There's no chance. but at least like it's out there now when we start building the promotional package for it

and we go back to the countdown July 11, 2026 Wong Tong beat Tracy Cortez Valentina Chef Chico, let's fight yeah a couple of ladies a minute Cody officially retire so I'm to take off the gloves

Dana was asked about this at the press conference he said Cody spoke to Sean Shelby would not relay the context of that conversation, which means to me that I would say at least maybe in that moment, he was like, yeah, I'm done, but I can't say yes or no.

Hopefully he releases a statement of some kinds. He's got to hang it up. Like, I know he was already rocked, but he got like finished by literally, Jania's like head was down. He's like throwing punches like this and they were still connecting with enough impact because the chin is completely gone.

Oh, Cody. Hang it up, man. It's been a very good career, Cody. Yeah. For your health if you can. John Shun said, how about Cody versus Malcolm Wellmaker? How about we don't matchmaker for Cody Garbrandt? How about that?

Not do that. There, thank you. Thank you, Mike. This is the music that Cody Garbrandt needs to hear in his head. Keep listening, Cody. Yeah. Yeah. There you have it, everybody.

there'll be a lot more UFC 329 shatter throughout the week we appreciate you following along all week it was very fun to come out and cover to a Connerberg-Gregor car during international fight week Jose is an absolute maniac and yeah this is great hopefully get to do more of this stuff with multiple feet on the ground for UFC numbered event but we'll see how that all plays out but getting ready to head home and then yeah be home for a few days for I have to travel to Millie Walker

K, which is Algonquin for the Goodland. Nice. And yeah, so keep it with us at Mayfayun.com. It's a great website. Alexander K. Lee is a great best friend. You're all our best friends today. So for A.K., I am Mike Eck. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

We are out of here. See you next time.