MMA Fighting - On To the Next One | What's Next For Michael Morales After Stopping Gilbert Burns?

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

Michael Morales picked up the biggest win of his career when he ran over past title challenger Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX. While many believe Morales could be a future champion, the UFC's 170-pound division is loaded up with contenders right now. Where does Morales fit into that mix after his big win? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses what's next for Morales after improving his record to 18-0. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Mairon Santos after his big win over Sodiq Yusuff, Nursulton Ruziboev following his hard-fought win against Dustin Stoltzfus, Melquizael Costa after earning his third win of 2025 in the Fight of the Night against Julian Erosa, and more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠@mikeheck_jr⁠⁠ 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

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. Black Friday is here at IKEA, and the clock is ticking on savings you won't want to miss. Join IKEA family for free today and unlock deals on everything from holiday must-haves to cozy at-home essentials, all the little and big things you need to make this season shine. But don't wait. Like leftovers at midnight, our Black Friday offers won't last.

Shop now at IKEA.ca.ca.com slash Black Friday. IKEA, bring home to life. You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Well, hello there, everybody, and welcome to a brand new edition of On to the next one. Yes, the matchmaking crowns have returned. Following the UFC's return to the world's most famous and mightiest apex for UFC Vegas 106. And in the main event, a new Walterway contender has emerged as Michael Morales. knocks out Gilbert Burns in less than four minutes to improve his record to 18 and 0.

And he creates an interesting conversation in a very intriguing welterweight division. We'll discuss where Michael Morales and some of the other big winners from UFC Vegas 106 goes on today's program. I am ICAC. And joining me this week is nobody. My best friend Alexander Kay Lee has the day off. So he did a solo show a couple weeks ago. I'm returning the favor this week. And let me just get something out of the way real quick.

I don't even know where this is all coming from, but some people on the preview show, even some listeners who submitted picks to AK, we're like, what's the beef between you and Mike? There's no beef. There is no beef. I don't even know where this is coming from. Maybe he was, you know,

the preview show got a little dark heading into New Sea Vegas 106, but I was not annoyed. I love AK. I call my best friend. He will be my best friend for many, many, many, many, many more years, probably forever. And AK will be back next week. Actually, no, he won't because there won't be a show next week. But he'll be back the following week following UFC Vegas 107.

And we'll run down that card a little bit later on because it's not too shabby for a UFC Apex card. But it's just me and all of you guys who submitted picks following UFC Vegas 106. So let's get into this. Let's discuss the fallout from the UFC's return to the apex. As I mentioned earlier, Michael Morales, a lot of hype around this young man heading into this fight with Gilbert Burns. This was sort of the UFC's sink or swim sort of test for him against Gilbert Burns, who, yes, he was on a three-fight losing streak, but the guys he had lost to were the current champion,

the previous champion, and a guy who is very, likely to fight for a title in the next year. Gilberds is on a tough run, but it gets high-level competition. Michael Morales is a huge favorite heading into this fight. The line had closed a little bit heading into the actual bout itself. It went from minus 950 to minus 550 in a matter of 24 hours. But in the end, turns out those lofty long betting odds were accurate because Michael Morales beat the hell out of Gilbert Burns.

This fight was not competitive, even for a second. Even with Gilbert Burns getting a takedown, he was able to do nothing with it. Michael Morales is back on his feet three seconds later, and you could just see it in Gilbert Burns' eyes. He knew the end was near. He knew the devastation was coming. And it did. He knocks out Gilbert Burns, I believe it was 3 minutes, 39 seconds into round one. And he gets this massive win, the biggest win of his career.

And now things are really interesting at 170, because you could throw Michael Morales. in a fight with almost anybody in the top 10 right now, and I would be fascinated by all of those suggestions. You could throw them in there with anybody in the top 15, and I think there's something good there. The problem with timing right now for Michael Morales is there's just so many guys at the top right now. Jack Delam Adelana is the new welterweight champion after beating Bilal Muhammad.

He's going to fight Islam Makachev, who is moving up from 155. So Islam Makachev, the soon-to-be former lightweight champion, has skipped the queue. It is a long queue. It is a long line that he is jumping over. We got Ian Gary. We got Sean Brady. We got Joaquin Buckley. Who's fighting Kamara Usman in the main event of UFC Atlanta coming up in less than a month's time.

We have other guys in this division, Bilal Muhammad. There's just a lot of guys in contention right. now. It's a very strange Shafkat Rachmanoff. He seems to be forgotten in all these conversations because of so much happening at 170.

So unfortunately for Michael Morouse, I think the road for him is going to be a little bit of a bumpy one. Now, if the UFC offered him Leon Edwards, that would be something he should jump all over. I wouldn't be shocked if they offered him Leon Edwards. I just don't know

how long Leon's going to be for. I don't know if he's going to be hankering to get back in there after losing a lopsided decision to Blah Muhammad to lose the belt and then losing an even more lopsided fight to Sean Brady back in March at UFC London. So it wouldn't shock me if Leon didn't fight till like the end of the year. So I'm leaving him off the table right now because I think it is imperative and it is necessary for Michael Morales to fight as often as possible as many times as possible. At least get one more fight in the next three months or so and then maybe get yourself on that UFC 320 card in Guadalajara. So what I'm going with here, and this might not be the

most popular pick, but this is sort of where I'm at right now because, again, I think Morales just needs to fight as often as possible and fight some people with some names. Vesente Leuke and Kevin Holland are fighting at UFC 316 in about three weeks time, 20 days from right now as we record this show. Let's get Michael Morales the winner of that fight and do it sometime this summer. Or just throw him in there with Kevin Holland in general. Because win or lose against Vicente Lucke, Kevin Holland is going to be ready to fight like a month later and just chuck him in there with Michael Morales and let's just go. I want to see more of him. I know I'm not alone on that. People just want to see this guy fight and what a performance it was just destroying Gilbert

Burns and not a lot of people have been able. to say that. Let's go to the... I don't even know if we're going to the lightweight division or going to the featherweight division, but Myron Santos bumps up to lightweight to fight Sudik Yousev, who was a featherweight that moved to lightweight as well.

Santos takes the fight at 155 due to the short-notice nature of it. I was surprised that Suddik Yusuf was the underdog heading into this fight, considering the level of competition that he's fought. Now he didn't have to do that massive weight cut anymore. but Myron Santos did the thing. You could see the improvements he made from the Francis Marshall fight,

a fight that most people thought he lost, a fight that Myron Santos himself admitted that he thought he lost. But he goes in there with a seasoned veteran, a dangerous guy, and just did the thing. He looked great in this fight. I will say, as good as he looked, I'm concerned about Sadiq Yusuf as a fighter right now. He did not look very good in this fight.

fight and I'm not trying to take anything away from Myron Santos because Santos looked very good. But a huge win. Absolutely huge win for Myron Santos. I'm going to treat him as a featherweight right now because I just don't know what he's going to do. If he stays at lightweight, cool, but if he drops down to featherweight, wouldn't shock me at all. This is a huge win. I'm giving him Pat Sabatini. Let's do it Myron Santos versus Pat Sabatini. I like this fight a lot. I think it makes a a lot of sense. Let's just keep throwing tough, difficult tests at Myron Santos to see if he could

pass them. And I want to see if he can continue improving with each fight. And it was just massive improvements from fight to fight between the Marshall fight and the Sadiq Jusuf fight. So big win from Myron Santos. Let's throw him in there, Pat Sabatini. Let's see what he got at

145 pounds. To the middleweight division, we go Ner Sultan Rude Zabayef versus Dustin Stoltzvus. Pretty fun fight. Rusebayev was a pretty big favorite in this one. A lot of people thought he was just going to run over Dustin Stoltzvist, but Stoltzvist

stung Rude Zabyev in the first round. I thought it was a knockdown. I know kind of people vary on that. I thought Stoltzvus clearly won the first round, but shout out to Ruzabiv. He battled through it. Took a lot of damage in this fight. Battled through. He won the next two rounds.

Wins the fight via unanimous decision. And he calls out Bo Nickel. And I talked about this on the post-vite show because you know how I feel about callouts. I think if you're strategic about it, you say the right name at the right time. The UFC can grant you your wish. And he calls out Bo-Nichol. And I like the call-out. I actually believe that every middleweight in the top 30 that has a microphone in front of them should call for Bo-Nichol.

And Roots Abye did the thing. The problem is, I truly believe that he has zero chance of getting this fight, even though I love the callout. And it's not because of the callout. And it's not because it's not realistic because it is. It's realistic in a sporting sense. But as we know, the UFC is sport in competition, but the UFC doesn't treat this like a meritocracy. They're trying to build stars. They're trying to get Bo Nickel over as much as possible.

And I think the UFC will look at a matchup between Bo and Rootsabayev as this guy might lose. Bo Nicol might lose Tuneur Salts in Roots of Biav. And I think the UFC is going to try to avoid that. Now, the UFC could throw Boe nickel in there with anybody and there's a chance that Bo could lose. It's just the fighting game. Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose and anything can happen on any given day. But I don't think Rootsabayev will gain a ton from this. So I don't think that fight's going to happen.

So what we're going to do is Enrids a vibe's kind of tough to book because he's fought a lot of guys already. I don't think he's in a spot where he can fight a top 15 guy. He's just in a weird spot. So I think we just get him in there and give him another fun fight.

I'm giving him Marco Tullio. Marco Tullio. Let's give him Marco and see how that all works. Because again, this is one of the toughest ones of the I just don't know how to book Nurse Salton Rootsabai, but good win, good performance, fun fight with Dustin Stoltzvus. Let's go to Melchaisal Costa. What a 2025 it has been for him.

Already 3-0, three wins in 85 days for Melchie Costa. This time defeats Julian Arosa in the fight of the night. What a scrap between these two guys. Velke Costa just quietly making his way up the featherweight ladder. And there's a lot of ways you can go with this. And I know I booked somebody different for this guy a little while back, but there's been so many fights booked at 145 pounds already that it now has opened the door for me to rebook this gentleman. Let's put in Melki Costa in there with another surging guy, an undefeated fighter,

a fighter who is just tough as hell and has looked great and has been really exciting and his fan base continues to grow. Let's do Melchi Costa versus Heider Amil. I think that'll be a lot of fun. I'm in. Let's do it. Featherweight's a great division. It's so deep, so wildly talented. And I like the idea of Melchie Costa fighting Hyder Amiel.

And maybe Emil will be ready to go in like six weeks. And you know Melchie Costa, he'll be ready to go. But I don't know if you guys saw Dana White's Instagram stories as it relates to Melchie Costa, just that toe. Oof, some nasty stuff from Melchie Costa. So it's all stitched up. Hopefully he doesn't keep him up for too. too long and who knows maybe we can get five wins out of milky costa in 2025 i mean it's already

may he's got three so he's off to a great start let's go to the wild card round i mean it's weird not just throwing it to a k and just talking to myself the entire time and just talking to all of you there are a lot of listener submissions that you sent to me sent to a k and i'm going to read them all off my wild card is going to be gilbert burns because it's tough because i we were talking about this a little bit on the post-fight show. I don't think Gilbert Burns is a guy. You have to immediately be like, dude, you got to hang him up. You got to retire.

I don't think we're quite there yet. He got in tremendous physical shape and condition. And unfortunately, Gilbert, and I know he talked about this throughout fight week, he's sort of in a position where he is a litmus test for, a lot of these fighters. Now, you can put Gilbert Burns in the litmus test position in a lot of different ways. It could be the road to the top 10, a road to the top five, if you want to talk about it in that sense. It could be sort of the Neil Magny role where, all right, if you beat this guy, you're a top 20, top 15 kind of a guy right now. And I kind of think Gilbert Burns is

maybe in between the Jeff Neal Magny role, but you could kind of push this back a little bit. so what I'm going to do and I saw a lot of different suggestions for Gilbert Burns I don't want to see Gilbert fight Carlos Proches I don't want to see that I know a lot of people suggested

doing the veteran route maybe you throw them in there with Colby Covington or somebody of that realm if you will I'm actually going completely off the board here but a guy with a name

with some cachet and I think it's like a good test because with this guy, I don't think you have a ton of time to build him up to a title or anything like that. I think you just have to strike now and hope that if you want this guy to be a top contender,

a guy who could potentially fight for the Welterway title, you have to shoot him up there pretty quickly. So we'll do a little, a little Kilcliff FC versus American top team battle. How about Gilbert Burns versus Austin Vanderford? I know that is super off the board and Austin's only had one UFC fight and he looked great in that fight.

But we get a lot of answers with a fight like this. If Austin wins, you can use the name, you can use the relationship to Page, which Austin kind of understands that that's the world that he lives in right now and he's proud of that. If Austin Vanderford beats Gilbert Burns,

that's a huge win for him. puts him in the top 15, you could start to push Austin up the ranks. If Gilbert loses to Austin, I think the writing is on the wall. And this is not me saying Austin Vanderford's a bad fighter. This is me saying if Gilbert Burns and what he has accomplished cannot beat a guy like Austin Vanderford, I think we know our answer to his fighting future. One way or the other. So let's just do that.

Let's answer all the questions that we need. know it's sort of a weird booking but Gilbert's in a really strange place right now and I don't want I've I've like Gilbert Burns he's always been really nice to me I've interviewed him a million times he's the man and one thing I just don't want to see is him continuously going out there and getting thumped around and getting badly knocked out and badly heard he's been badly knocked out in his last two fights I don't really want to see that that. So, yeah, Austin Vanderford, let's do that.

And it could be Gilbert's final fight. Or if Gilbert gets a win, cool. He gets a win, and he's back on track, and we feel a little bit better about things. And if Austin wins, he gets a bump, and we'll know about the future of one Gilbert Derino Burns. All right. As I said earlier, a lot of listener picks, a lot of suggestions that you sent to myself and the great AK-A.

Kay Lee, AK sent a bunch of those over. And we're going to turn the show over to you, the listeners. Coming up next, on, on to the next one. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first, there, the last one. Enjoy a Coca-Cola for a pause that refreshes. With Instacard, you get groceries that over-deliver, so you can over-share your preferences.

Want russet potatoes with no brown spots? You got it. Want turnips that look light but feel heavy? Easy. Want honey crisp apples that are firm green and definitely not Macintosh like last year when you lost the fall bakeoff to perfect Penelope Johnson. Okay, a bit TMI, but we're here for it.

So download the app today and get zero delivery fees on your first three orders. Instacard, groceries that over deliver. Service fees exclusions and terms apply. All right, welcome back to on to the next one, everybody. I am Mike Heck here following UFC. Vegas 106. The UFC's return to the mighty apex

following UFC 315, a place where we will be 13 days from now as well. We'll run down that card, which is a pretty decent one at the end of the program. But right now, it is time for the listener picks, the listener's suggestions. I got a bunch. A.K.

got a bunch. Let's rifle through these. We'll start with the ones that I got. via the magic of Instagram. You can submit your matchmaking suggestions for all non-paper view of Benz on Instagram. Follow me while you're at it. I'm going to step it up over there.

I keep saying that, and there are moments where I do step it up over there and do a lot more content, but I've kind of been off the ball the last few months. But at M underscore heck, J.R. Again, that's at M underscore heck J.R. There you have it. Let us begin with Kyle. Kyle's matchmaking suggestions following UFC Vegas 106 are Michael Morales versus the Joaquin Buckley-Kamar.

Usman loser. I saw a lot of this. I think the Buckley fight is absolutely in play if Buckley loses to Kamara Usman. Kamara Usman is fighting Bilal Mohammed win-loser draw in this fight. If Kabar Uspen destroys Joaquin Buckley, he one-punch chaos him in 12 seconds. He's not getting a title shot. He's just not. So they're going to cash it on this Usman-Bel-L rivalry.

And I think that's the way to go. The problem with Usman is that he was just out for so long and there were certain opportunities that people felt he was in play for. And while I understand him wanting to return at 100% or as close to it as possible, the division has kind of passed him by a little bit since he has been out since the Hamzaat Shamaa fight. I know he lobbied for a title shot after Bilal won the fight. I thought that notion was absolutely ridiculous. I know there were others who disagreed with that. but I just, you cannot give a guy a title shot who has not won a fight in like four years. You just can't do it.

He's 0 and 3 in his last three. It's been almost four years since he won a fight, I think. And this is not, this is without looking at it in front of me. It's been a long time since Kamar Usman has won. And I understand that he was a longtime champion. He lost to Leon Edwards. He got a rematch, chance to regain the belt. He lost again.

And then, yes, he stepped up on short notice and fought homelieu. Hamzaa Chamaif and he gave Hamzot a really tough fight. And I'm not taking anything away from that. But he didn't win it. He's 0 and 3 in his last 3. So he's going to have to fight one more time. So I think Uspin's going to fight below no matter what happens here. But I think the Buckley ones in play if Uspin gets the win.

You can do Morales versus Buckley. I'd be okay with that. He also likes Burns versus Colby to stay age appropriate with the welterweights. Myron Santos versus Alexander Hernandez. I think that would be with the assumption that Hernandez or, excuse me, Santos would stay at 155. And Jared Gordon versus the judges that screwed him in the Pimblet fight or Jim Miller, whatever the UFC gives him.

How about that? Javan, Melki Costa versus Duho Choi. That was a pretty popular one. Nurse Salton v. Zubiah versus Mikhail Olegzechek. I actually think Bo Nichol is going to get Mikhail O'Elegzechek. I think that's perfect matchmaking for Bo to try to get back on track. Not saying Mikhail can't win that fight because he hits pretty hard, but it is a fight that Bo Nickel can get Mikhail.

Alex Echek to the ground and have some success down there. And Mikhail's a classic get-or-get-a-g-g-a-kind-guy, kind of guy, a guy that can look good in wins, and he gets got real fun. So I actually think Bo Nichols is going to get that fight, but they want to do that with Roots-A-Bai if I'm fine with that. Myron Santos versus Slava Clausby, stays the lightweight, Michael Morales versus Leon Edwards. If I'm Michael Morales and his team, I'm pushing for that one,

I know Javon, not Javon, I know Michael Morales called for Ian Machado Gary. Just no chance he gets that fight unless something happens with Sean... Gary should fight Sean Brady. There's just no other fight that makes sense for either guy right now. But if they do book that fight and something happens with Brady along the way and Morales needs to step in on short notice and Gary's cool with it, I think that's the only chance he gets that fight.

I really wish Michael Morales turned his attention to Leon Edwards because I think if he called that one out, he would have a chance of getting it. Now, not so much. Let's go to Robbie Morales versus Gary. Wow. Okay. I just don't think that happens.

I just don't see a world where that happens. Jed mentioned Morales versus Carlos Pratchez. Love that fight. I love that idea. I don't know if they cashed on that immediately because that fight friggin rocks. That could be a main event at the apex or on a fight night somewhere. Throw that on.

Guadalajara, but I would like see Morales with somebody else before fighting Pratchez and vice versa, if I'm being honest with you, but I don't see Morales versus Gary happen happening unless it all sort of plays out the way I laid it out earlier where Morales has to step in on short notice. Santos versus Embers, Rutsabaya versus the Petroski Shabazian winner.

So I think Routzaabive is a Marquez MMA guy, and I believe he trains with Petrosky. I could be wrong, but Chbazian, sure, that could happen if he wins. But yeah, I don't think Roots-Bi would fight because they probably spire each other every day. Gabe Green, excuse me, versus Alexander Hernandez, Jared Gordon versus Terrence McKinney.

Interesting, that would be fun. As far as, like, rankings go, I think there'd be a step back for Jared Gordon, even though Terence is incredibly fun. But, I mean, who's going to complain if the UFC books that fight? John Pennington versus Lupi Godinez, Park versus Alessandro Costa, Deniseie Goans versus Carnalosi, Santos versus Chandler, Del Valle versus Morgan Cherrier, Gordon versus Mike Davis.

I like that fight. Gabe Green versus Trey Ogden, Costa versus Santos. Presuming he's going back to featherweight. Yeah, that would make sense. Morales versus Buckley when he, win. So we're going Michael Morales versus Joaquin Buckley if Buckley beats Usman. Interesting.

I don't think that I don't think, I think, I think Buckley would be absolutely insane to take that fight because he'd be, he'd be pretty much knocking on the door of a title shot. So he may have to fight one more time, but I don't know if he'd be all that thrilled to fight Michael Morales

one win away from a title shot. But John said I wanted him versus Bala Muhammad, but he took no damage in Muhammad's face needs to heal. So yeah, mom wouldn't have been a bad shout. But for the reasons I lined out earlier, I would like see Michael Morales in there as soon as possible. Let's go to Chris. Burns versus Jeff Neal Santos versus Giga Chikaze.

Wow. All right. Sudhir Yusuf versus Batutche Rebekchi? What? What did Sunni Yusuf ever do to you? Golly. Rootsabai versus Chris Curtis. I like that one.

Costa versus. Alex Casaris. That's a good one. Green versus Reivovich. Gordon versus Mauricio Hoofi? Ruffy? I can never get his name right. I like that fight. That makes a lot of sense. Del Valle versus Ricardo Hamos and Park versus Charles Johnson. I like that. Dawson, Melchazio Costa versus William Gomee.

Rutzabaya versus Michelle Pereira. Okay. Myron Santos versus Searod, assuming Myron's going back to Featherweight. Let's go to left lane. Santos versus Joe Anderson Brito, Gabe Green versus Mike Davis. A lot of Mike Davis mentions on today's show. Gordon versus Manuel Torres at UFC 320. Del Valle versus Seward.

Said this after his last fight. We must find another undefeated guy to fight Rodriguez. That also at UFC 320. Santos versus Yana Santos. Got to find the gimmicks where you can. That would actually make sense. Deney Gomes versus Tisha Pennington. And finally, Park versus the winner of the Filio Nassimento fight next weekend for a crack at the back end of the rankings.

P.S. Thunder winning tonight, beating the Wolves in five and Knicks in six. By the time this is released, the game might be over, so this could age terribly. Yeah, I'm not going to go on another Knicks rant. But best of luck to all the fan bases and all of the teams. All right. let's go to AK's picks that were sent by you wonderful listeners. I'm going to try not to repeat a whole

lot here. But let's go to Braden O'Neill. He likes Morales versus Edward. Santos versus Feely. Rudesa Bai versus Tullio. All right. We're on the same page. Costa versus Dan Igay. Okay. Arosa versus Sean Woodson

2. Green versus Mason Jones. That's a good one. Gordon versus Ferreira 2. Delvali versus Zaccini Santos versus Cornel Deniseie Gohams versus Jacqueline Amarim Park versus Osborne, Pennington versus Andrage 2

DGB, Torres versus Amarim Gordon versus Chase Hooper That's a good one That might be the one That might be the one That might be the one It's a good one Melchie Costa versus Edson Barbosa

which makes sense I want to Calvin Cater versus Edson Barboza but who knows how long Edson is going to be out for Rootsubai versus Gerald Mearschart okay and Morales versus Edwards

a lot of Morales versus Edwards tack MMA agrees Morales versus Leon Edwards Jared Gordon versus Fores Zayam okay Shezy 32 Hey AK we had an awesome night of fights we're just missing that Paul Craig submission

and it would have been over the top. My out-no picks for UFC Vegas 106 are another Morales versus Leon. That is the most popular selection here. Again, I really wish Michael Morales called for Leon Edwards. I don't know if he would have got it immediately, but that would have been just a good strategic call-up.

But again, Michael Morales is in such a interesting spot right now where he could take his time. He's only 25. He is in no rush to get to a title fight or a fight with a guy like Leon Edwards so I think I think he's going to be just okay what else myron Sontas versus Kawi Fernandez he wow I said shezzi 32 but it's SBZ 32 excuse me old man vision here on the old laptop he likes rudesie versus Bo Nickel I actually like the matchup for both again from a meritocrat meritocrat

meritocratic sporting sense that fight makes perfect sense if we're going by rankings in the division it makes sense i just don't think the ufc is going to put that fight together because bow nickel could lose there's a real world where that fight goes very badly for bo nickel so i don't while i like the callout i just don't think there's a chance the ufc puts that fight together Melkey versus Dan 50K I like that fight Gabe Green versus Evan Elder Jared Gordon versus BSD

Wow All right I don't hate it I'd watch it Cool I like that one Another Goins versus Pettington Yadier versus Francis Marshall Honsung Park versus lazy boy

Luana versus Priscilla Catcha Ware Wildcard Gilbert versus Colby in Miami retirement fight So we're gonna sit We're gonna sit out a year huh All right and we will wrap things up

this is me a quick show Lucas Cortest Hey okay really fun card I know you aren't going to be on the show but I have no way to send these to Mike I just told you I could send them Lucas Gordon versus Rebatchke Gordon thinks he's on a six-fight win streak

so let's have him fight this killer and winner gets a ranked opponent I like that one Morales versus Buckley win-lose draw against Usman but especially a win man walking buckley's done all the right things he goes and beats kamara usman the third best welterweight of all

time and just like congratulations you're a win away from a title fight let's have you fight michael morales holy smokes but if they book it i would certainly watch it moises versus reevovich would be fun man that's tough it would be fun but man moisten got badly knocked out that's all you got anyway hope uh any hope you're doing great have a good week P.S. are things okay between you and Mike? He seemed so mad at you during the preview show. Perhaps, wow, perhaps jealousy from you running the show while he was gone. Holy cow.

I, I, I don't even know what to say to this. I don't even know what to say to this. I like when AK hosts. And to peel behind the curtain, I actually, like, I put that show scheduled together every week. So I, I lay out who's going to do what show. So yeah, I put him in that spot. And he does a great job. There's no jealousy.

I don't have to host another show on this network, and there would be no jealousy. There's no, A.K. and I are perfectly fine. We're good. There might have been something else going on that I was looking at. Maybe, who knows? But it was a long week, too. So maybe it was a little cranky from all the travel and not really sleeping in four nights.

So maybe that's what it was. But I assure you, it has nothing to do with it. And I'm sorry Lucas. I'm putting that out for the world to see or to hear. And that's that. So those I believe are all the picks. Let me just go through here real quick and just double check that there aren't any last minute submissions. I'm not seeing one.

And I think we're good to go. So as always, thank you all very much for being a big part of the show, especially since I'm Brian's soul. I'll need a sip of coffee for. Shout out to Dunkin' Donuts. Shout out to the Super Chat. But the UFC returns May 31st. No card this coming weekend. It is Memorial Day weekends.

The UFC, well, back in the day where they really tried their hardest. There was always a Memorial Day weekend card, and they always loaded the shit out of it. But now they just don't even do cards on that weekend anymore. So we're going to close. close out the month of May with an apex card. The go-home show for UFC 316.

This is UFC Vegas 107, and I got to say, for an apex card, this is not bad. Main event, Aaron Blanchfield versus Macy Barber. That's a big one at 125. Co-main event, love this fight. Best Division in the sport.

Matush Gamrot versus Ludwig Klein. We got Siokyonko versus Billy Ray Gough. someone's going to sleep in that fight. Dustin Jacoby versus Bruno Lopez. Zach Reese versus Dusko Tadourovich. We got Alon Nasimento versus Jafel Filio, Andreas Gustafsson versus Jeremiah Wells.

Buried on the prelims is a huge women's Bannamway matchup between Ketland Vieira and Macy Chiesa. I don't understand why this is buried in the prelims. I also don't understand why Oban Elliott is buried on the prelims against Ramiz Brahimaj. That fight absolutely should be on the main card. Jordan Levitt versus Kurt Hollabo. That's an interesting matchup.

Markell Maderos versus Bola High, Oki, and Ryan Dos Santos versus Alice Ardeline. That is the opener for this one. So, yeah, high stakes for Aaron Blanchfield versus Macy Barber. It's a huge fight for Macy Barber. Absolutely massive, considering where this division is right now. and the contenders that are there and is Zhang Wei Lee moving up? Is she not moving up?

Because if Macy Barber wins this fight, there is a real chance. She gets pushed up very, very quickly. Maybe she needs one more. Maybe they just give her her a title fight. Who the hell knows at this point? So a huge 101.125. Pretty fun card overall.

Not a lot of complaints from me. But what I'm mostly excited about is once Aaron Blanchfield and Macy Barber comes to its conclusion, We'll have answers in terms of the top of this division. We'll discuss where the winner of that fight goes, but we'll be out of the apex for two months, which I'm very excited about. No apex cards in June.

No apex cards in July. And that's the way it should be. But thank you very much. AK back next week. We'll do some matchmaking following UFC Vegas 107 right here on onto the next one, the podcast. Thank you for listening. We love you guys. And we'll see you next week.

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. Unwrap holiday magic at Holt Renfrew with gifts that say I know you. From festive and cozy fashion to Lux Beauty and Fragrant Sets. Our special selection has something for every style and price point. Visit our Holtz holiday shop and store or online at Holtrenfrew.com.