MMA Fighting - The A-Side Live Chat | Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, Jon Jones’ comments, Robert Whittaker's next fight, UFC lightweight title, more

Episode Date: October 28, 2020

For this episode, José Youngs, Alex Savas and E. Casey Leydon break down some of the top storylines in MMA. Some topics include Khabib Nurmagomedov retirement, his legacy inside the octagon, his submission win over Justin Gaethje, Jon Jones’ recent comments on Nurmagomedov claiming the top spot on the pound-for-pound rankings, the future of the UFC lightweight title, and more. Also on tap, the three will look back on the rest of the UFC 254 card, including Robert Whittaker’s decision over Jared Cannonier, as well as preview this weekend’s Bellator 250 card, featuring a middleweight title fight between Gegard Mousasi vs. Douglas Lima. Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow E. Casey Leydon : @ekc Follow Alex Savas: @alexsavas 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network. We're live, pal. Hey, we're live, pal. Welcome everyone to another Wednesday episode of the A-Side Live chat. My name is, of course, Jose was with m.afeiting.com. I am back in the United States after five weeks in Abu Dhabi. I should say back in Arizona because I was close up at the Colby Covenant's entire Woodley card, which seems like years ago.

So I've basically been on the road for six straight weeks, but I'm back. I got my bookshelf. I spent way more money than I got. to admit on comic books when I landed on my first day off. But we can talk about that if you want, but we don't have to. But joining me this week is, of course, our partner in crime, Alex Savis, who will be on the road this weekend at UFC Vegas for Anderson Silva's quote-unquote retirement show. I'm sure we'll talk about that.

I'm sure she's excited to get out of California for a little bit. And on the ones and two, Casey Leiden, who is also in California, who is listening more crystal clear than normal, though. His background is blurred. It's depth of focus, man. It gives it, you know, it looks cool. Look, that I can change it up. Look.

I don't know what those words. Oh, look at that. Look at that. You see my art in the background. See some exercise equipment that's not being used. See my grave diggers poster. There's me again. All focused.

Giving Luke Thomas a run for his money on Best WebCamp. Anyway, you guys know the drill. You can ask whatever questions you want on Twitter, the website, the YouTube. comments, Casey's monitoring, whatever. Let's get it done. I'm sure we're going to have a million questions. So right out of the gate.

Casey, what's our first question? Boop, boop, boop. Million questions. All right. Is it the most important one? Is this where we ask questions? Yeah, why not? Jay Romero, average Joe R on Twitter,

wanted to know, is this where we ask questions? Yes, on Twitter, on the site, on the YouTube comments by Carrier Pigeon. If you have my phone number, you can text me. If you have Casey's phone number, you can text him. Didn't Ed message you once? We talk on Facebook Messenger. Oh, okay. Facebook messenger.

You can message us on Facebook, but the most direct route is probably on Twitter, or better yet. It's on the site. If you want to decide something. Before the show starts, I would say hit us up on the site or Twitter. When the show starts, hit us up in the YouTube comments. Unless you guys see something cool when you want to send it to me, but I really don't have time to look at Twitter because I'm running the ones and twos. So, Jay Romero. I hope we answered your question.

Man, which one do? All right. You want to talk about last week or this week? What we're going first? We could talk about whatever your heart desires. All right, here we go. From MM2K20 on Twitter, everyone spoke about Justin's wrestling credentials being the best Habibu ever faced. However, that was the easiest time Habib has had on the mat if it was like knife through butter.

Did everyone overestimate Justin's ground game or is Abib just that good? So, yes, the set scene if anyone lived under a rock or just discovered mixed martial arts and wants to tune into this for the first time, Habib Nirmative Madov, submitted Justin Gajee to move his record to 29 and O and then retired. I don't think Habeem Nermanagh broke a sweat in the second round submissions. On the flip side, Justin Gaju was basically sprinting around the octagon until he got submitted by trying to keep Habib off of him with his back and away from the first. which of course, Habib Nergamaiy used us to set up his takedowns.

Justin had said the best path to victory is to keep the fight in the center of the octagon. Well, he tried, and it didn't necessarily work out because he got submitted. He got put to sleep. He did tap a few times. Referee Jason Herzog didn't see it, but he got put to sleep by a triangle choke, if I'm not mistaken. So, Casey, to answer this question, do we overestimate Justin's ground game or is Sabib just that good? You cannot put in all caps or make the font big enough when he says, is Khabib that good?

The answer is that. That was that good. Justin's wrestling is superb. Is it the best ever in MMA? No, it's not because the best ever was right across the case from him. So just there was better wrestling in that cage and it was Habib. Justin Gagey's wrestling is phenomenal. And we thought maybe that would be the difference maker,

that his wrestling defense will be enough to. slow Habib down and then just again really throw those bungalows. But that's not what we saw. We saw knife through butter. Bungalows, huh? Bungalows. Is that what we're calling punches? Call back to rampage.

Justin's wrestling is obviously very good to the point of he stuffed the first takedown, if you guys remember. And the whole narrative was if he could keep the fight standing, he would have a better shot of victory. But of course, the flip narrative was it's great to stop one. takedown can he keep stopping the takedowns but after that first takedown Oscar Wilson and I he were sitting next to each other he just kind of looked at and she looked at and she looked at oh is this going to be one of

those kind of fights and then it definitely wasn't he got him he got taken down in the end of the first round landing some great kicks too and some plunges two referees two referees two referees two judges actually gave just in the first round which I agree with watching it live he had mel on him did you agree at the very end and the arm bar intent

I agree but that was like the last 45 seconds of the round. There's five minutes in a round. Watching it live, I can see how, first of all, I didn't score the first round for Justin. I scored it for Habib, but watching it live, Justin punches were very loud and he seemed to be doing the most standards. Since watching it through the broadcast, because as you know, when you're watching a fight live, you can't see necessarily all angles of the octagon. You can hear the angles, though. Everything Justin through you could hear. And you could hear him laughing because Abed would throw punches and Justin would like chuckle at him because he would very easily dodge flying knees or punches or jabs and

everything so just didn't seem to be doing the most damage on his feet after watching it obviously habib was the more dominant one but i see where they're coming from just from my my point of view but alex we'll talk about this how did you what did you make of habib's win over justin gaugie at u.c 254 you're muted there we go can you hear me now i muted myself um it was an important fight, I think, to watch because we've been talking about Tony versus Hibbe for so long. And I think this fight kind of solidified in my mind that Tony versus Hibb would go the exact same way as what we saw this weekend. And so now I have, I think, less interest in seeing it.

I also have less interest in general because I feel like a whole different person than I was, like, back in March when this was allegedly supposed to be like getting the ball rolling on it. But yeah, I see it going the exact same way. I think he really is just that good. Yeah, he's most dominant fighter I think I've ever seen In terms of we know exactly what's going to happen And no one can stop him

He's lost maybe now he's what lost Two rounds I don't think he's lost one round Maybe Yeah, but I mean Some judges, courts gave him a round But I don't think he's legitimate Has he lost a round on all three judges

Scorecards yet? Once I think once Once Once But if you watched You can go back and rewatch The Pre-Fight Press comments

At M.A Fighting's YouTube channel Justin Gachi has said Habib has lost one round and he doesn't even agree with that. So Justin Gachie's mind, no one has ever even handed just Habib one round. But I think there's been one very early into his UFC career.

But I digress. Habib Nurekmanov is retired. Greatest lightweight who's ever done it. I wouldn't necessarily call him the greatest. Most dominant is another conversation. I don't know if I call him the greatest, but I know Casey's eyes bug out. But I guarantee

you were going to have a question about it later we can talk about it then we don't have to dwell on this okay uh sorry real quick um your microphone is like little overblown can you can you can you can turn it down a little bit is it sound overblown to you Alex yeah yeah it's just where it's peeking you know maybe turn it down just a bit I didn't is that better that's not that better yeah now that you're hearing your broadcasting voice now you're yeah yeah well now that I'm also like home and I have my microphone and I'm not you know I digress yeah um But, yeah, Habib's wrestling is that good. Yeah, he's the various wrestling I've ever seen inside the octagon.

He's the most dominant fighter I've ever seen in the octagon. And was I wrong? Did Habib, I mean, Habib basically, not I wouldn't say you won the striking, but it was pretty even. It wasn't like, it wasn't like, there was nothing desperation about those takedowns or anything. It was like, oh. Definitely not. I just think it was, Justin was on his horse for so much, like throughout the whole, first round, that Habib was stolen a lot of punches, but he wasn't connecting with a lot.

And Justin was slapping in those leg kicks and snapping Habib's head back once or twice. So I would say Habib threw more, but Justin Gagey landed more. But it was pretty, it was a dead heat in my mind. Statistically, I think they said Habib actually landed more. But I know you're, you know, I really think that from the live experience, what you know, how you said how you felt Justin won. I think because Justin throws so dang hard. and there's no one in that arena

so everything has blocked even if a kick is checked you just hear that slap of skin so everything even a block shot feels like it lands so I totally get why a judge would feel that way you could also like I said

when Habib Thu is running knee that is like a signature running knee he completely missed and Justin laughed like you could hear Justin laugh at the miss so like you you can pick up all these things to the point where like sitting octagon's side i didn't have my computer because i was set up in the back the entire fight and then we everyone went out to watch the main event obviously so me oscar and farah anun

of mhm a junkie and ufc abdhabi were all sitting next to each other and we're not working yet because we have nothing to work on so we actually got to watch the fight as like that's fun quote quote that's fine that's so like trying thinking questions and oscar and i were just giving each other looks and like just the gate you landed kick and all of our buys would just go like we just like together because they were so loud that it hurt my legs listening to them so definitely unique experience though i will say there were a lot of people in that arena for that there were so many people it felt like an actual fight did you know when as soon as the people won even before he kind of bent over and kind of cried and everything he actually told all the people there to shut

the hell up like he goes hey chill guys chill it's done like he goes like he goes Like, he gave his, he gave his fans, like, about three seconds, three or four seconds of screaming. And he was like, all right, everyone was bringing down. So, like, well, those weren't fans. Some of those people weren't fans. And some of those people were journalists, which was disappointing now. You know, but do you think what my impression when, when Justin, because I saw that little chuckle he did when Justin, when that flying knee kind of went by him. My impression, it wasn't Justin necessarily laughing.

at Habib like, oh, you didn't even hit me. I think it was Justin to me going, oh, boy. Like, I got to worry about this now. I got to worry about guys diving on my ankles and knees at my head. Like, Jesus, man. The knee was not close at all. I know, but the threat, but just the fact that Habib's threatening that now, like, yeah. It was the same knee he missed on Connor.

Yeah. Remember, he slipped Connor through the knee and then Connor kind of switched it, but then it was irrelevant because Habib is just Habib. Anyway, we'll talk more about it. It's, yeah. God, I'm so like, I'm so excited. I want to ask a question because someone, a co-host, former co-host, text me, said, hey, pal, I heard texting questions is allowed now. Matt Wells.

In Texas, former co-hosts of the A-side. So question, what's more impressive? Habib always dominating with wrestling. Everyone knows his game plan and is still unstoppable. Or John Jones often willing to go where his opponent is best with different. approaches largely still dominating. It's a very interesting question because as we know, John Jones's whole thing is he'll beat you at your own game or Habib on the flip

side. You know what's coming and you can't stop it. So Alex will start with you because I'm sure Casey's going to have more thoughts on the matter. What is more impressive? I think it's obvious. I think everybody knowing what Habiz is going to do and still cannot stop it is way more impressive.

I mean, I don't know how many more fights that this guy needs to do exactly what he did. And there's just no, there's nothing anybody can do. That's way more impressive to me. It is an interesting comparison. Casey, what is your, what is your answer? And then I'll give them on. Oh, Habib, 10,000 percent. It's like, yeah, Habib.

I mean, and the idea that John beats you up what you're best at, I don't think he did. I think he lost the Reyes. He didn't beat him in, he lost the Reyes. I mean, what did he beat him in football? I don't know what he's talking about. Like, you'd be a narrative. I think the narrative of Jones beats you at what you're best at hasn't been a thing since the first D.C. fight.

Yeah, I agree. He beat Shale with wrestling. He beat D.C. with wrestling. He dirty boxed Glover. He was more than happy to stand with Shogun and Machita, tapped Rampage. So I think that at one point in time, that was true. But I don't think we've seen that for a problem. Yeah, I think that's over.

Actually, someone I would, the whole beat you with your best out, I would actually go with, when I think of that comparison, I think of someone like Nick Diaz, when like, oh, I'm facing Paul Daly, one of the most dangerous strikers. Yeah, I'll strike of you. You know, that, that's why I think of when I think of guys who are that crazy, but. Maybe. But then like Nick Diaz isn't going to fight. But yeah, but I don't think of John Jones that way.

Like, oh, he'll beat you at what your best out. I just think if he's like, okay, he's really good. That's about it. I think there was a point in time where that was accurate. But I think that's just because he game-playing so hard for an opponent that he just knew what they were going to do. Like, he fought Glover to share, like, face-to-face for five rounds, and that was Glover's whole thing. But he also tore-shed-old. Yeah.

Yeah. I think there was a point in time that was John Jones's M.O. But that hasn't been a thing for a few years since his first DC fight. Anyway, let's ask that. What is our next question? Next question. Oh, what's your opinion? You didn't give your answer to that.

I was advocate. I would say John Jones, but I think both are very impressive. Like, some of the people. performances that John Joe's had were blew me away. Like when he fought DC and took DC down and put his hand on his forehead super disrespectful and unnecessary

it's still really impressive to take down a former Olympic wrestling captain and that basically after weighing him. Remember that time John Jones out karate Machita? No, he beat him. He beat. I agree. It's a fun story but I don't think it's too much

truth to it. I'm impressed with both people's performances. I think John Joe's fighter IQ and his chin is one of those underrated tools of his game. His ability to change on the fly. And I don't know how to just. We'll talk about him more. But both are very impressive. I just think Habib is the more dominant fighter.

Real quick, before we go to next question, because I already know the questions, because we didn't get one in this. But I think the most underrated part of Habib is his toughness. the way he ate those leg kicks and never even showed any damage or any limp that he ate a good four or five leg kicks like i was like oh on a broken on a broken foot on a yeah on a broken foot and which i have no reason to believe that they're they're BS in us so uh and they put out like x-rays and all that stuff on all the injuries he had had staff possibly to do you this is the awesome habib is Habib broke his foot so he could fight with a balloon foot just to show Connor you can still win a title of a balloon foot

that's how good Khab is that's the narrative that's the narrative next question do too thank you MMG 2K20 speaking of Connor

oh great yeah here we go longtime comments everything about lightweight division when will Dana announce Connor's next fight when will Dana announce pronounce the title how would you match up michael chanelan tony

ferguson just engaged in charles olivara i'm going to add dan hooker in there who should you who should fight for the number one contender what's nests for islam maca chipp so i asked dana white about connor versus porier and dana white was not about it and walked out of the press conference but someone had to ask it uh but that is the exact response i expect because dana white doesn't like talking about future fights um so chandler ferguson gachi charles olivaara i'm going to add Dan Hooker in there because he's in the top. I'm not going to add Veldier because he's still technically

retired. What's next for Islam Makhinev, we already know, is RDA in a five-round fight in Las Vegas. Connor was supposedly fight end of January. I assume for the title. And I assume that also because Javier Mendes has been on record. I think he told our friends over submission radio. So shout out to them

for an awesome interview that he thinks whoever fights for the title is the next should fight Dustin. That is his opinion. I'm not going to argue Javier Mendez on that. And since Connor is already fighting Justin Porte supposedly, just make for the title. I don't really care. I think that's a fine fight anyway.

They're both coming off wins. It's the rematch. And then I think Chandler should fight Tony Ferguson. Justin Gates used to fight Dan Hooker. Tony Ferguson. I mean, Charles O'Veara, I'm sorry. You're pretty much the odd man out, unfortunately. You're Leon Edwards.

Great. But Alex, what would you do for the lightweight division? I had it almost similar. So if Connor Dustin's for the title, then I'd put, Candle of Ferguson, obviously, for the number one contender. But then I had Oliveira fighting hooker, just because I kind of feel like they're in the same boat where they're just kind of floating near the top.

And I think one would really, I mean, one, that would be a huge, that would be a banger. And I feel like we're going to get a really amazing finish from that, really dominant performance, and then probably bump them up to probably fight the loser of Chandler and Ferguson. Yeah. And then Gathe, I don't know.

I don't know. I will say, and I don't know what they, were talking about, but I was on, I saw Gaichi and Chandler around each other a lot after the fight on the plane ride back home in the airport and they were chit-chatting, very friendly, very respectful, but if they're trying to book that

fight, I'm not going to say no to Michael Chandler, Justin Gehche. Also, let's not forget, Dana White says the ultimate fighter's coming back and I think I would be hard-pressed not to assume one of some sort of combination of these two will coach. I wouldn't hate Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson, mostly because Michael Chandler is already a fitness

expert, as Dan Hooker calls him. Did you see Dan Hooker's sub-tweeting Michael Chandler all fight week? No. He keeps saying, he goes, if you weigh in and you're not fighting, you're just a fitness model and stuff like that. He wouldn't actually tag Chandler. And he'll say, oh, the fitness model on the screen again, not fighting and stuff like that. Like he wouldn't do the same thing.

Shut up. I think he's just trying to pick a fight. I don't think he has, I know he doesn't have anything against Chandler. He just wants that fight so badly and trying to drum up some sort of. sort of interest. So I would not hate Chandler coaching because that mean we get, we get Henry Hooft and all those guys on screen. And I think that gym is awesome.

And they're great coaches on the ultimate fighter. And then Tony Ferguson and his Tony Ferguson workouts would just be awesome to watch the ultimate fighter too. But I know Kay's going to say, let's just have the workout on screen for an hour. But if you need two coaches the ultimate fighter, I wouldn't hate those two. That's what, that's what Showtime did for their boxing workouts, open workouts. They just had live schemes on the open workouts. But all that.

Choo-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-oh. Oh, yeah, I like that you said, Dana, doesn't want to talk about future fights. But then, like, five minutes, not even five minutes before that, because he was only up there for, like, five minutes. He talked about, oh, let's do Whitaker, Adasania.

So we had that fight in his head, but he didn't have the next fight. I think, I just think you have to be, and this is all, like, I don't know the answer. So I'm just speculating. think Dana and Connor and like with negotiations, do you have to be very careful what you say? Because it might throw wrench into negotiations. You might ask for certain things.

If you say the wrong thing, Connor. Connor is so. He might ask for money. Yes. So you have to, it's a very delicate situation when it comes to like dealing with Connor McGregor negotiations that I just think he, as soon as someone brings up, he's like, I'm out because he just doesn't want to ruin negotiations. That's a speculative though, because he won't talk about him at all.

But I'll talk about everyone else. I just think, how, I didn't really realize, because I was so caught up in the Habib retiring and everything that I didn't realize what, from my impression, like, how just depressed and sad for the UFC's future bank account when they found out Habib was retiring? Considering even Mendez didn't even know that he was retiring, imagine the shock that the UFC had, like, because Dana's doing all these big old, you know, multi, multi, multi million. dollar deals with these people in Abu Dhabi and all of a sudden Like your book You have this big agreement with Abu Dhabi And all of a sudden the guy that's going to be the man

In that country retires Yeah I bet we see a lot more of Islam Makachev In the future Umar and made up to all those guys Oh but to answer the question Uh If we actually go by rankings

I'll do my own rankings The next vacant title should Without a doubt be between Dustin and Gehji. Rematch, and those guys are one and two right now. I have, most likely, it would be Connor versus whoever is going to fight for the cheapest to me. That's how the UFC works. If it is Connor, it should be Connor and Dustin, but ideally I would like Connor, I'm sorry, Dustin versus Geichi. But in a perfect world, let's have an eight-man tournament, and yeah, and let's actually find out who the best lightweight is and not pick it by popularity

or who's going to fight for less. I agree. But Dan White hates harmless for some odd reason. Yep, yep, yeah. All right. Next question. Oh, let's move on to next week

or this coming week. Anderson Silva from Zakukeg. Is this the last time we see one of the best fighters in the game? What was your favorite moment of his career? Case y'all come to you second because you've seen a lot of his fights. Alex, you're going to be there to potentially witness, Anderson Silva's last fight. I don't think he's retiring.

I know he has one more fight after this on his contract. I can't imagine he's going to go out on a fight against Uriah Hall in front of nobody. So do you believe this is the last time we see Anderson Silva fight inside the Octagon, who many considered to be the greatest middleweight of all time? I still consider him the greatest middleweight of all time. Or will we see him at one more time, maybe go somewhere else, and what is your favorite memory from the Spiders' career? this is this is a hard question for me because i feel like anderson sylva's um his reign was probably before i really got into mma so i actually kind of feel bad that i'm going to be either this

weekend and it probably means a lot less to me than it does too a lot of other people that are going to be there um but that being said i've heard a lot of whispering about you know i don't think that this is going to be his last fight anyway so um yeah i don't really have a favorite moment i think was all pre pre pre m m alex fair play casey what is your favorite moment from the spider's career and is this the last time you see aniston silver fighting inside the octagon okay first off cool alex you're a bad mama fan because you shouldn't have said oh i've been watching anderson says ufc one i saw me ufc one i just so like you're you're a you're a bad mama fan sorry number one number one bullshit that's how we do everything here we just i just talk of our

ass. Say a random. I saw him fight. When is he fighting Connor McGregor? Yeah. Yeah. I do want to see that fight still. Favorite moment?

Actually, you know what? Oh, I had it. My favorite moment is actually when I was working of Ariel back in the day. And it was for one of his UFC title fights and it was during the media day. and Anderson grabbed Ariel and they danced together. I do remember that. I don't remember what fight it was for.

It was for. I bet I can look up. Anderson Silva, well, you know, people at home, once we're done of this, go Google Anderson Silva

dancing, Aero Hwani, and watch them dance. It was beautiful. It was cute. But my favorite moment for me, fighting, actually,

fighting-wise, was actually, probably won't go down I was one of his favorite best moments, but actually it was when I was in Brazil, and I got to watch him knockout Stefan Bonner. And I was sitting in Cajside. It was one of those times, like you said, I didn't have my laptop. I had nothing to do. So I was like, you know what?

I'm just going to watch this as a fan. This is awesome. I'm not trying to keep score. I'm just not hashtagging in Abu Dhabi, all that crap, you know, just watching fights. And watching a full arena, you know, do their old chant and then that flying knee right to the sternum to Bonner. it was just awesome so just seeing seeing Anderson just school someone and especially I think that I think that was pretty I think that was juiced up I think Bonner got popped too after that fight he did yeah yeah so yeah so loaded PD loaded Bonner just destroying him in Brazil

that was very fun that was the last time we ever saw Anderson like the Anderson fight okay like the original that was the last time we saw like the Anderson Silva that it's like that we yeah because he still hadn't lost to wideman yet it was at light heavyweight that was still undefeated light heavyweight anderson silver which was a thing like our anderson so was never lost a light heavyweight before until he fought daniel cornea and then he lost to wideman like 162 i think the bonner fight was 153 so it was not soon after and they showed that highlight on repeat over and over because 162 was um international fight week so they had the old style fan expo, pre-rebok

where the fanxs were actually felt like a big deal because they had all the booths with I had like the Vandenbooth and the Ruka booth and the tap-up booth and had the fighter signing autographs and everything. Head rush and I remember head rush all that stuff. And they had the giant screen in the Mandalay Bay playing the Stefan Bonner and Juselope on repeat over and over and over and over and over.

So I watched that fight maybe a thousand times waiting for interviews. I also remember Venom would have like go-go dancers wearing Venom outfits to dance for hours. And I felt so bad for those women because they would just be standing there dancing while people were in line to like meet Shogun or Vanderle or someone like that. And I just felt so bad for them because music was blasting and they just had to nonstop dance. Anyway, my favorite Anderson Silva moment, man, that's a good question. I vividly remember him knocking out Chris Levin Because I was so hyped on him coming over from like the pride cage rage Time to Chris Levin

Everyone thought Chris Levin was going to be the guy that could just walk and march forward And Andrew Silver would just pieced him up in like 60 seconds His Lee Murray fight was awesome Because Lee Murray is a psychopath at Cage Warriors I'm just going to talk or cage rage I should say I'm just going to talk about pre-UFC and his Silva where you had Shonen fight getting tapped out the Tony Franklin elbow, where Anderson watched Angbach before and decided he was going to land that elbow.

Man, pre-U.C. Anderson was freaking awesome. Him dancing out to Michael Jackson, it was awesome, all that stuff. Yeah, I wasn't really an MMA fan when Anderson fought Lieben. So I'm very curious to talk to some journalists at that, who were kind of in the game at that time. Like, what was the perception? Because I know that was a main event for a- So my, my perception. Was he coming over like Michael Chandler?

Was he coming over like Eddie, like when Eddie Alphus came over, like the biggest, you know, big free agent? Or was it just kind of like? Not really. Not really because he was one in one in his last few fights because he beat the fight before he had beat Tony Frickland with that that elbow that everyone's seen a thousand times. And the fight before that was his Okami loss at Rumble on the Rock. Which was a DQ. He was like, which was a DQ.

And before that he had, I think two, three. And even going into that Ocami fight, it was like a two or three fight win streak. I'm not 100%. And before that, he had just lost a real show. So he was like four and two in like his last six fights coming in. But you knew how good he was. He also fought in a couple welterweight fights or like catchweight fights where he was really small or he was a really tall skinny welterweight fighting like Carlos Newton and everything.

And he also beat Jeremy Horn. Lee Murray was pre-psychopath Lee Murray. So he was still allowed to be in public. And before he went to like Barack in jail. So beating Lee Murray was a really big deal. mostly because he went to England to fight Lee Murray in his backyard. So it was one of those things where you knew how good he was, but his record going in wasn't reflective of how talented he was.

And Leibon was still Chris Leiband, like, from coming off tough from like 2005, 2006. I also wasn't, I'd never seen Anderson fight live, so I didn't know how tall he was. And do you remember, I'm sure you guys have seen the tail of the tape for that fight. It said Andrew Silva was 5-11. which is so inaccurate. He's like 6-2, 6-3, and Chris Levin is 511. So I'm like, oh, Anderson's a lot shorter than I expected. And then when they fought, that was a wrap.

And as soon as he beat Chris Levin, I'm like, sign it, fight Rich Franklin now. And that's exactly what happened. So clearly the Joe Silva, when they signed him, obviously thought that he was the next big thing. So, I mean, they want to give him a main event in such a showcase fight against Leibon. The Chris Levin fight I thought was going in.

I'm like, it's, he's, remember what we were saying about Izzy? He's either going to get bulldozed or he's going to style on him. That is how I viewed Levin versus Anderson Silva. So basically, go ahead. Oh, no, no, no. Sorry, I'm sorry. I lost the, I lost the comparison to Izzy. What do you mean with Izzy?

Remember before Izzy fought Romero. Oh, before Romero. Okay, I thought he meant his debut. Sorry. Oh, no, no. Is he was going to be like, where he's going to style on him or your arm out of him. One of the two. There's no back and forth fight for the...

And we got neither. Exactly. But that was the whole narrative going in, and I knew either Leibon is going to be too tough or Anderson is just going to wrap a baseball bat around his head. It was one of the two. And that's exactly. We got the perfect game, Anderson Silva. Now, I was not under the impression that he was going to become Anderson Silva after that.

I thought he would face... I thought Rich Franklin was going to be a tough fight. Really? I thought Mark Hart's of the world to be a tough fight. I thought Dan Henderson was going to be a tough fight. super tough fight the first time because Dan was still champ champ of pride coming in. So it was, I did not think he would become the Angeles Silva that we know now, but I knew he was going to, I knew he was going to be something special. You know, I did forget my one Anderson, my one

very, very fond Anderson Silva memory is, is actually when he lost the Wyatman the first time. I was backstage, I was actually shooting on the backstage by the medicals where they, they do their Fox interviews. So I'm in the tunnel watching the fight, which is a great, it was a great vantage point. I think it was that M-G, was that M-D-Ly or MGM?

Not sure. The first fight, the first fight was at MGM. MGM. The first fight was at MGM. MGM. And maybe everyone felt this way at home too, but as soon as Anderson got knocked out,

I was just so confused because I just thought, oh, this is crazy. Anderson-Silva is faking, getting knocked out. So bold. What a bold move by him. Man, to get, to get knocked out, just a just a just a fake whining man out that's really good because remember we it's like yeah I think how many times you have to watch that replay before you went oh man oh no Anderson did get knocked out

he was just like he got folded because maybe but even before he was faking it you know oh and then he like you didn't fake it and I was just like man this is such a good actor look he's still they're carrying him out of the cage this is amazing he's really sticking to it I admire that man So that's my Anderson Silver moment Anyway Anderson's great I still think he's the best man He'll wait ever

At one point in time He was my favorite fighter on the planet Anyway I have a story Real quick Anderson Silver story I want to share this Because when I worked for a lead exe Back in the day

We were in Hawaii And Hopiola Fajiao was fighting And if you know Member Fajiao He was one of Anderson's main training partners So Anderson was in his corner. Nick Diaz was also on that card. I think it was for the KJ. Noon's one of the KJ. Noon's fights.

And we're out on the pool, in the hotel pool. And Anderson's out there. Nick Diaz is around. And I'm just by, and Nick Diaz is just staring at Anderson, just like I am up and down, like, and just going like, and just kind of Newon's like little, you know, Stockton thing. And I was like, oh, my God, Nick Diaz is going to fight Anderson Silva by the pool right now. And it was, and Anderson is just like, hello. Hello, hello.

And Nick Diaz just like, just mean mug him the whole time. And I just like, oh, this is great. I love both these guys. MMA is awesome. MMA is a silly and awesome sport. Thank you for the questions of Kukkeg. We talked a lot about Anderson Silva on that one. I think he deserves it.

Oh, by the way, this is not his last fight. But, no, it's fun to talk about. The Seaside, are you going to dress up on Halloween night? Question mark, hashtag the A side. I should. You better. I haven't dressed up probably four years, I would say. I mean, you're going to be in a media tent on Halloween night.

I know. How embarrassing. You should definitely. You should 100% dress up. I don't know about that. Casey, are you dressing up? I'm going to be watching the fights from home. So I don't know.

I don't know. I'll be just be sitting in my living room in a, I don't know, in a sexy nurse outfit. So not sure. As you do? Yeah. Yeah. You should go. I'll dress as a sexy nurse.

Alex, you should dress up as Esther. Go as Esther. So the media. How does one dress up as Esther wear like a metal shirt? Yeah, no shirt. We're on the red bandana. Red banana. Just get wasted.

Yeah, you know. Tuck your shirt into your jeans and wear the white nursing shoes that she was way ahead of the game on. Maybe I'll go with Jose instead. That would be fun. That's easy. I think. Black. Yeah.

Just go bird it out. I'm definitely dressing up. I think me and my girlfriend are going as Marco and Alana from Saga, but even though we're not going any. Nice. Very nerdy. Very nerdy. As you know. But so, yeah, we'll see.

I'm, okay. I'm not, I thought I was going to overshare a bit and share some. my previous Halloween costumes on the stream, but nah, I might just catch me on Twitter. Catch me on Twitter. Ryan Bader is the champion of Halloween costumes in the MMA world. He goes all out to the point where he was telling the story where I think he had painted his whole body blue to be like a smurf. Like he wore like no shirt and he had like the white pants and like he dyed his like facial

hair white. And he was like going into Canada for a party and they like stopped him or something crazy. like that. They're like, why are you dressed like this on the Canadian border? Anyway, from Sam Harris 999. Jose, how did it feel to be one of the only people on the planet be watching UFC live? Bizarre. Super bizarre. I'm not going to lie. Like I said earlier in the show, I went out to watch the main event, sort of as a fan, but not like I was still at work was in the back of my mind because you have to be ready to ask questions at the press conference, even though there was no press conference with Habib, you still have to be ready for whatever happens.

Or Justin Stue, I thought we were going to get both of them. We didn't get either of them. But Oscar and I and Farras sat down and we kind of like there were a lot of people in the Flash Forum because they invited some guests like VIP guests. There was a lot. There was like an ESPN booth, a BT Sport booth. Michael Chandler was sitting there. Nelkebore there, whoever they are, the YouTube millennials were doing their thing over on the

side. So it felt like a big fight. And it was very, very bizarre to be there in person, knowing that how many people wanted to be there. Oscar and I had that conversation right before the fight start, because Oscar, like, held his hand up. His hand was, like, like, shaking because the fight was so, also because we had been there for five weeks,

and we were like, oh, I can't wait to go home. I'm so tired of the White Island, seeing the same people over and over and over. And then, like, the Habib fight, as soon as we met up in the media room, before the fight card even happened, we were like, man, I forgot how big of a deal this fight is going to be, and we were just so excited. But it was a very bizarre feeling.

I'm not going to lie. Side note, being stuck on Fight Allen for five weeks, the weirdest sensation getting home was seeing cars. Because we didn't have for five and a half weeks, because it was buses and golf cars. Like when we landed in Vegas and Oscar and I took a lift out of the airport, like seeing cars was a mind-sroom for us. there were just very few cars oh yeah it's just because you're in a bubble you're in a bubble so there were zero the only vehicles on fight island were the big buses that was shuttle media

or fighters or anyone back and forth or golf carts for security there were no like we're going to drive somewhere like nothing there's no cars you can walk down the street like i am legend stop all right well thank you for your question mr sam harris 999. One more for you, sir. Question for Jose.

Top three best, worst, most, most fight island, fight or not fight related. Worst was lose, everything broke. Everything. So update for everyone,

because so many people have been asking me. Landed in Vegas, went to get my car. There was a security guard. I put a donut on my car. You can't drive back to Arizona on a donut.

So I had to go get it patched up at a tire joint. Oscar Willis is going to give me a ride. Quits sailing up, his tire had blown out while we were away too. So that was two tires we needed to fix. And then I finally got home. I'm back in Arizona. Lost all my SD cards. Finally got a SIM card for my phones so I can use my phone again off of Wi-Fi. Still have to go get new SD cards. My Xbox is still broken. Everything broke. So that was probably the worst. Everything was worst. I just think after week four, you've seen the same people for five weeks,

for four weeks, that you just slowly start to lose your mind and you lose sense of time. And like, what day is it? What time is it? Like, I was trying to work with Alex, but she was 11 hours behind me. So, like, when I was working, she was dead asleep. And when she was working, I was dead asleep. So that was very difficult, but I think we made it work. And the best things were fights.

Seeing fighters every day was very interesting because they were, a lot of them weren't cutting weight because the corner men were there too. So we're all used to seeing fighters on fightweek cutting weight and being like super vulnerable and dehydrated and miserable. But seeing like Eric Anders, Michael Kiesa, like DC, like a lot of fighters that were just there either commentating or cornering because then you could actually have conversations with them was very, very, very interesting and fascinating. Of course, Laura and Megan Oliviam were all really good friends with. So it was just a treat to see fighters, to see people not being surrounded by. fans so much because every time we try to talk to fighters on fight week i think they get mobbed by fans and you kind of lose being able to talk to them so being able to talk to fighters

without being swarmed by people it's very fun all right m a fighting robert wittaker looks spectacular over jared can in the air however do you really think people want to see the rematch between him and izzie weird question isy versus jones should be next right well we're 100% going to start with alex on this one in the world was more excited about Robert Whitaker's win over Jared Cannonaire than Alex, outside of Robert Whitaker's immediate friends, families, and teammates. So Alex is Robert Whitaker versus Israel Adisania part two, Electric Bugaloo next?

I think it's next. It should be next if you're staying in the middleweight division. If Robert Wittaker decides to stay, you know, out until March or April, like he said, after Christmas, he, I don't doubt that Jones and Adasania might. happen before that. I don't really, I feel like Outtaxine is kind of a wild card where it's like whatever people think he's going to do,

he's going to just do the opposite just because it's funer that way, more fun that way. I don't know, but if anybody else fights Outa Sine before Whitaker for the title, I'm not going to be happy about that. It should be Robert Whitaker, 100%. I think Robert Whitaker has done more that he styled on, he styled on Cannon Air, broke his arm,

and then that Darren Till Fight, I enjoyed watching. And there's no question he won that fight. Now, the only scenario I can see if Robert Whitaker doesn't get the rematch because Israel-Azania was on record saying, like, if they want me to fight Robert again, he will because he already beat him. But you know Izzy wants new challenges. If Darryntil beats Jack Branson impressively, I can almost guarantee the UFC will try to book that fight because Izzy wants to fight Daryntill badly. Darren Till is much more willing to engage in in like fight buildup and trash talking

and social media and everything and as you know Alex Robert Whitaker is about as clean cut as you can get when it comes to fight. I like to use the word unproblematic. That was the word you used on Twitter. You can ask the question. He's like, mate, I don't know. I don't want to convey.

I don't care what people do. I'm just my own guy. So yeah, definitely want to be. Let's fight after December or if he fights Jan, if they fight first him versus Jan Blaovich, and then Izzy then fights John International Fight Week 2021 because he's on record numerous times saying that's when the fight will happen. But if we are going off of who deserves the fight at middleweight, it's 100% Robert Whitaker, I just have a hard time seeing that fight happening again now simply because we saw how the first fight went.

Yeah, but that was a different Whitaker. I agree. That was a different. 100%. agree. It's a different Robert Whitaker we saw. He's in a better place. He's 100% deserves the fight. He's a normal contender middleweight. Just don't know if that fight happens. Casey, what do you think? Well, I think how the first fight went is pretty irrelevant because we've seen enough MMA to know that you fight last week isn't how you're going to fight next week. So, I mean,

if we go by that, we were never seen the trilogy between D.C. and Stipe. But Whitaker does deserve it. But I only think that fight happens next if the UFC can Well, actually, if restrictions get released in either New Zealand or Australia, so they can actually have a live crowd. And I know New Zealand is doing phenomenal in their handling in the pandemic. Like whatever the U.S. is doing, they're doing the opposite in the better way in New Zealand. So I can see them actually because they've had live crowds in New Zealand. So if they do, I'm sorry, Izzy versus Whitaker 2 in New Zealand, full house,

packed up full of New Zealand and Australian fighters, you have a pay-per-view right there. Throw on Volcanowski as a co-main against whoever, you can do that in New Zealand. Obviously, the UFC staff and all the fighters have to quarantine two weeks. It's going to be a major pain in the ass, but everyone's making money, so whatever.

But I think once we're forgetting, I think we're forgetting about why is everyone sleeping in Hermanson here? If Hermanson, he'll... Well, it's going to go. It's going to wait until your answer to go off of that. Yeah, I think, Because he goes, what, would occur? I'm sorry, Izzy fought like the fight of the year versus gasoline.

And then freaking Hermanton like finishes that fight in 10, what, 15 seconds or something like that, a hill hook. And I think if Hermanson can smoke till, which I think's unlikely, but hey, who knows? I didn't think he was going to be gas on him. Then we have a different look. We have someone like, oh, can someone submit Izzy? We don't know. So I think there's a good angle on that. I don't think Hermanson has the name, unfortunately.

but yeah and uh izzie versus jones should it be next fight absolutely not i agree i do want to see that international fight for 2021 though don't care what way clats i just want to see that fight and i think jack her manson might be the only one that's more like clean cookie cutter unproblematic he's the only fighter more unproblematic than robert whittaker because he's just always smiling he's the Joker. That's his nickname. But he's just always happy and always positive, which is great.

You love to see it. Robert Whitaker just seems kind of indifferent to everything in the world. Somebody said he sounded like he was drunk at the post press, which he kind of did. He was just like, ah. Dude, I love Rob. I love Whitaker's personality. Yeah.

It's his fight versus Israel Adasania was one of the, we've talked about it before where it's like you are a big fan of both fighters. that it's like difficult it was difficult i didn't pick obviously because i don't want to i was watching um biously but i was like man i would just feel bummed for either fighter losing this fight for their careers but for the record is he's gonna be but is he's gonna be is he's gonna be all of them so sad this is there's a new whittaker sadvis dude there's a new wittaker but i feel like there's also a new adasania adasani is the kind of fighter who likes to parade around as unproblematic and in fact becomes very problematic.

He's like the biggest anti-bullied bully. And that's my hot take. I think Israel Adasanya's anti-bullie persona is you're a bully and now I'm going to he's going to be such a bully to the bullies where it just gets, I'm like, dude, calm down. Yes. Like you killed, he's done. You beat him. Move on.

Yes. Oh, no, no. That's beautiful. Mm-mm. Fine. Do it for a few days. but to do it like two weeks after, I'm like, bro, move on. You beat him.

This isn't for us. This is a direct attack to that gentleman all the way in Brazil constantly. Attack all you want, but like don't tell yourself that you're an anti-bully because you're not. No, he is. He is anti-bolly. Did he do that to Whitaker? Did he do that anyone else? No, he is beating up that bully.

By bullying. Yeah, that's what you do. Isn't the whole anti-bullying thing? you beat the crap out of the bully? Yeah, but then you beat the crap out of the bully and then you move on and fight someone else. Let Polokosta fight someone else. Right.

Like, you're done. Hey, man. Also, Paul Costa, for a while, Policoster was like, sign the contract. I'm like, what contract? There's no contract. We saw it, move on. Izzy can fight someone else. Paulo Costa can fight someone.

I just got over it. Like, I just got, like, after like a few days, I'm like, I get it. He was like, Paulo Costa was saying a lot of awful things a lot of terrible things, then you beat him. 48 hours have at him and then move on. 40 hours of bullying, then we move on. Everyone knows.

You only get two full days to bully people. We know that. Come on. It's going to roll. Everyone knows this. Two days. Casey, since you've been, since you're the bully, you've never been in the other side. It's going to happen.

Happens to all of us. We all, we all become the nail one day. We all become. Thank you, Trissy Gord. All right, this is a big one. Are you ready, Jose? You ready? You ready?

You prepared? This is a great question, though. John Malkin on Twitter. What would the equivalent robbery in MMA be of Mookie bets being given to the Dodgers? First of all, I hear the Dodgers won the World Series. I haven't watched baseball since the Red So the Red Sox got eliminated. So allegedly, the Dodgers won the World Series. So congrats to Mookie.

I'm happy he won because that makes John Henry. our owner look like a fool that he is. Also, shout out to John Malkin, this commenter, using the phrase given rather than traded. Because that's 100% of what we did. Anyway, UFC to Bellatorre. What would be the equivalent of giving the, I'll say second best player on planet Earth, because Mike Trout is the best baseball player in the world, might be the best baseball player, whoever lived? So what are the equivalent of being the second best

MMA fighter in the world To another Chris Cyborg comes to mind That's not bad Chris Cyborg is up there for sure Because Chris Cyborg only left the UFC Because of her and Dana's beef Or whatever

So yeah there was no It wasn't a business decision It was just like I don't like you So you can't fight you here And Ruby bets giving to the Dodgers is 100% in just business, which was Tom, just absolute nonsense. Anyway, I mean, I don't think there's really – sorry? The UFC losing DJ, I think, sucks just because we didn't get to see the rubber match with Suhudo. But DJ was happy about it.

We got Ascran, which didn't have a best record in the UFC, but drummed up a lot of interest in his fights. Basically, as Asker says, like, Horrie Mazvel, I used to thank you. me for putting my face in front of his knee. Exactly. Which I fantastic. I think losing Musasi was a bummer just because there's a lot of matchups you won't see. I'm not sad that he went to Bellator because like we got to see like Himmler's Lovato was a fight that I didn't know I wanted until I happened like the rematch between Machita.

We're getting Usasi Lima this weekend. Freaking which is just like Oscar and I were talking. It's like there's a Belator fight in his car and Oscar's like, oh man like do I want to watch that? Like, it's Lima Musasi. He's like, oh, yeah, that's like the one. So, yeah, losing Musassi just sucks because, like, him versus Izzy, him versus Romero, him versus Hermanson, like, all those guys, Till would just be so fun to watch that we're not going to get. But, yeah, there's a lot of great equivalence.

But, you know, Mookie Betts no more. He's still won. Is he versus Missossi as I think the one middleweight fight I'm never going to see, most likely. and I'm really bummed because I am a giant Musasi fan. I think Izzy's just, I think Izzy's on his way to becoming the greatest middle way ever. So I just want to see that fight because I just, I'm, I'm so excited about this Thursday.

There's so many fights that like Musassi Whitaker is off. Like we talked about Whitaker being indifferent. Musassi's existence is his whole persona is indifference. And then you talk to him. and he's hilarious. He's absolutely hilarious. He's like Whitaker. He is like Whitaker where they come off

is so indifferent. But then when you talk to them and you get to know them, they're so funny. So it's a bummer. We won't get that fight. The Hermanson fight. The Till fight. Musassi versus Anderson would be an awesome fight for Anderson's

retirement party. I guess technically we'd still get that if Anderson wants to hop over to Belator. Imagine, oh my God. Imagine if Anderson and Musassi fought on a rise of New Year's Eve show. Oh my God, in a ring. That needs to be...

Anderson's real retirement fight needs to be on a New Year's Eve show in Japan. So he gets to big walkout. He can come out, do his big dance, do whatever he wants to do now. And, yeah, having Anderson's retirement fight in the apex with zero fans just feels... Antichimatic. Yeah, yeah, anti-antacomatic, yeah. No press conference. either, which is a bummer. Anyway. Thank you for

John Balkan and thank you for using the phrase giving. Shout to who Kewke bets. Our Lord and Xavier. Okay. This next question is pretty loaded, but we're going to do it. From Tanguin on Twitter, how badly did Leon Edwards torpedo his career? So for those of you who aren't aware, Leon Edwards who, what's he ranked?

Three, four? Unranked. Unranked. Oh, I think he's back. An unbelievable comeback. The guy goes unranked in number three in a matter of hours. How does he do it? This guy didn't torpedo his career. He just made the greatest jump ever in the rankings and not even fought. It's amazing.

Mr. Tanwin, you are crazy. Very reminiscent of Nate Diaz did this once, where he went from unranked to ranked in a matter of 30 minutes. But Leon Edwards is top five welter away in the world and is fighting Hamzaat Shemaya, ranked challenger who has just been on a tear through the UFC lately. Three and O in the span of like a month and a half, which is super impressive. And the span of like 30 seconds, fight time too. For real. Like he has to combine one round of fighting or something.

Yeah. I will say Leon Edwards is the first legitimate welterweight he'll ever fight in the UFC. Because he's fought in two middle weights, a lightweight that went up. And now he's fighting a legit like this is a massive step. up in competition. Like, I can't stress how big of a step up in competition this is for Hamzaa Shemayaf, going from Gerald Mirchart, middleweight, who has like 15 career losses. Very good fighter, but Leon Edwards is incredible fighter.

Alex, did Leon torpedo his career right here? Yes and no, because if Leon beats Hamzat, there's going to be a lot of eyes on him that aren't already on him, I think. The only reason the eyes were on him in the beginning is because he was complaining about not being able to get a fight so people were paying attention. But if he pulls this off, there will be a lot of people watching of, you know, the guy who derailed the hype train. And it's a big win for him. But at the same time, it's also a huge risk for him as well.

Because I don't think people, maybe casual fans don't realize as much that Hamzad is not, he hasn't been around that long. And he's not exactly, you know, top ranked. So it's a big risk for him. But I don't, I think he torpedoed his career worse for, like, his position with Dana White. You've got to be careful with the things that you're saying. What did you say? No, I just mean like when you complain too much about, you know, and allegedly turning down fights and just you got to be more of a company man than that. Oh, unfortunately.

They got Alex Savis pro Dana White. Do what Dana says. Do what Dana says. That's what I saw. I hear. I'm joking. Yeah. Now that, yeah, Alex Savis is a Dana White fan.

I didn't say. You just said it. We already clip that now. It's already out on Instagram. Anyway, Casey, did Leon Edwards torpedo his career? I think, I think, I think, I think Jorge Mazeldao torpedoed Edwards' career, to be honest. I think every since then, we've seen Leon Edwards in a different light, and it sucks for him. Because he's never been that guy on the mic talking crap, talking crap, you know.

He's just not that guy, which is good. I don't want, I don't want him to be someone he's not. But I don't think we know if he torpedoes his career until, after this fight. If he loses, oh, hell yeah, he torpedoed his career. Then it's just, it's just, it's just going to be a bad look. If he wins and he really controls that narrative and says, no, it says like, now, give me the champ. You know, it's like, all right, Dana, I did what you did.

You know, I did what you wanted, Dana. I fought that. Because clearly Dana wanted this fight because otherwise it'll be, it'll be, um, Shamea versus Neil Magny. Because like, Dana was like, raise your hand. Raise your hand. If you want to find him. no man, he's like, pick me, pick me.

Dana's like, I don't see anyone yet. All right, I guess we're doing Edwards. You know, so. It doesn't even go here. Yeah. So I think the jury's still out as far as torpedoing his career. And I think this is a horrible fight for Leon Edwards, but somehow if he can, if he can steamroll Shemayev, he can flip it around and turn it to his advantage.

But there's a lot, a lot needs to be done. I think whoever wins this fight is going to get a title shot. 100%. I can see that. Whether it's, if it's after Gilbert, if Gilbert Burns is still the guy to fight Ouzman and the winner waits, so be it. Or if Hamzot,

say Hamzot beats Leon Edwards and is still just like, I want to keep fighting. I'm not waiting. And then he gets the Darren Till fight that Darren Till said he would take. Let's not forget, Darren Till said, if I get through Jack, I'll fight you next. And they started to like Instagram and tweet at each other and all that stuff.

So Hamza Shamaa just might be a psychopath that might knock out two top five contenders in two different weight classes before he even gets the title shot. He's the guy to do it, I think. But I don't think Leon Edwards quote unquote steam rolls Hamza. I could very easily see him just boxing him up for five rounds. Because Leon Edwards is a great fighter. Let's not forget. What does he call him? Left elbow Larry is what he calls himself after Bisbin calls himself left hook Larry.

So we just haven't seen him in more than a year. I feel real bad he didn't get the time. We'd fight, especially after that BT Sport promo package they did before fighting in London and all that stuff. Roll that back. Whoever wins, whoever wins will get a title shot against the winner of Usman and Burns. And I wouldn't play to pass Hamzatz. Become the number one contender in two way classes before he gets a title shot. Oh, my.

It's great. We just haven't seen him fight atop. seen him fight anyone ranked and he's all of a sudden fighting the number three wink right in the world this is right okay I asked this question on Twitter and I couldn't the best answer I could not not not taking account short notice yeah Cubs Swanson versus arm low bob is the last time we had a top five division fighter coming off a win fighting someone way way unranked and that was Cubs Swanson after his after his fight of the year versus super boy versus arm low bov so it's a weird fight.

Super. Super. That's his name, right? The Korean Superboy. The Korean Superboy, yeah. One of the best fights I've ever seen in my life. He's Superboy to me.

I don't need labels. I don't need nationality. I just, he's my superboy. Oh, okay. You know what? But now this question rolls right into this question. From Michael Jones on Twitter.

Are you on the UFC's make-believe media panel that determines ranks? No, none of us are. No one at M.A. fighting is on the UFC ranking panel. It's on the website. I don't know if you go to the UFC.com slash rankings all the way at the bottom to see how a rankings determined. Click that. It tells you exactly all the outlets that people come from. Have you ever been on that, Casey?

The ranking site? The rankings panel. No, no, not at all. I am very against that. At the beginning, I kind of liked it. I was like, oh, cool. But then once I think we all discovered very quickly, oh, the UFC just uses this and negotiating against their own fighters. It's like they'll use rankings when they want to. Yeah.

Outside of the, like, outside of like the goofiness, like Connor's still being ranked and lightweight after like not fighting in a long time and then losing and outside of like the weird like every now and then like when a fighter gets a fight both of a sudden they mysteriously move up a spot. I don't have a huge issue with a lot of how the rankings are laid out outside of like the weirdness that the UFC does with moving fighters up and down one or two spots. first. But the weirdness is the issue.

That's the issue. I know. No, that's what I'm saying. I have an issue with the weirdness, but in terms of how the fighters are actually, like, there, I don't have any problem with Robert Whitaker being number one middleweight. Pauly Costa being number two, like, Darren Till being whatever it is. Like I don't have the, like, Lauren Murphy I get when she went off on that long tangent at the press conference.

Like, how am I ranked number five? Like, I'm like, you have, you make a very valid point. And she didn't move up, right? She's still number five. five as far as she'd be an unranked unranked person with came on short notice and she's a party girl that's probably actually a straw weight so I I wouldn't I wouldn't move up the rankings so

I if anything she I think she might move up by proxy just because like Calais Chagena lost to an unranked flyweight so maybe she just fell past Lauren I wouldn't say Lauren moved up I just made me feel someone fell below her if that makes sense the Connie on draja unranked flyweight is like just weird it's like calling Hans not Shemaya of an unranked welterweight. Oh, no, no, I agree is unranked. But Androge is not an undruthry.

I agree. I agree. But like, I agree. But like, Jennifer Maya being like, like missing weight and still being ranked above Lauren Murphy and all that kind of stuff. Like, I get Lauren Murphy's arguments. Like, if anything, people losing and falling would move her up, despite proxy. Not that she powers her way.

But Maya didn't lose weight when she submitted Jojo Carterwood. Nope. So I agree. So wait. I mean, like how far back? or we kind of I get what Lauren's trying to say I just don't buy any of our arguments

but um she has an argument for being ranked five she's not being Andrew Lee she's being she's beaten but see that's the thing about rankings rankings are we don't it's not it's not the judge's decision it's like who we think's the better fighter and we all

we don't need to go back on pick every dissect all of our fights but if you think fighter A beat fighter B but then the judges gave it to Fighter B, I still rank Fighter A above Fighter B. Oh, I just go off of what's on paper, wins and losses. I don't care if I think you lost or won.

But ranking, but rankings are head to head, though. Right, but it's also a very subjective thing. We have completely different things. And I get in 2020 being subjective just means you are infallible. And everyone's opinion is facts. It's just not how I, it's just not, which is not the reality, of course. I base it off of wins and losses. I think Andrew Lee beat Lauren Murphy, but at the end of the day, she has a W.

And Lauren Murphy's got a W. So that's how I take it. Fats. Like, if, like, John Jones theoretically could have lost three in a row. If Anthony Smith took the DQ, loses Tiago Santos, loses to Dominic Rays, I'm not going to rank John Jones lower than one at light heavyweight, even though he could be on a three-fight losing streak. I'm not going to rank him. I still would put him number one pound for palm fire in the world over Habib.

I get Habib's number one. I don't have any problem with that. But me personally, I would still put John Joe's number one because he's beating people on his worst days, which is a whole other argument to begin with. It's just all subjective. It is a completely subjective narrative. End of rant.

Don't block us again, Lauren Murphy. I'm still blocked. I didn't. She, if you watch, because I told, I didn't want it to become weird for media people and ruin press conferences. Like I told, like, some of the media, I'm like, I don't think Lauren's going to want to take questions from me.

So, like, I gave some of the people heads up. Like, you should ask more questions because I'm not going to be able to ask me any questions because I don't want to ruin the vibe or make her walk out or something like that. And someone asked her about the ultimate fighter. And she was like, stopped asking about the older player. She looked right at me. And I wasn't even the one asking the question. And I was like, I get it.

Like, you have an issue with your appearance on the A side. I wish that wasn't the case. but it is what it is But I made sure not to ask any questions I didn't want to ruin the flow of a press conference Because on media day she was great Her part when she was talking about her son And how her son seeing her in the video game

Being a really big deal It's a very sweet moment She was like tearing up and stuff I didn't want to ruin the vibe If she had it problem with me She might not even remember that I was She might not even know me as the host of the A side I just didn't want to take that chance

I think she just came out guns of blazing at everyone in the media And like why you guys have a lot of explaining to do And it's like nobody here She did great. That's how you do. That's how you make a case. That's how you make a case. You just fucking just rip everyone's asses apart.

It's going, man. That's what she was doing. We're talking about her and we're still talking about it. I get it. If she looked at everyone in the press counter, she would see, oh, none of you people are on the UFC panel board. So you have anything to do with where I'm ranked. Lauren Murphy versus Jessica Andrage.

Just booked that fight. Right, there. Then you will make your damn case. You beat Jessica Androge, the woman that just smoked Kate Lynch-Gay again, that it will be undeniable. Undeniable. Or Cynthia or Androge, I'm fine with either. Or just stay ready in case someone falls out.

Like if Jennifer Meyer misses weight against Valentina, ban. You're right there. That's actually a good option. Yeah, she should be campaigning to be a backup fighter, I guess. Maybe, I don't know. And to Lauren Murphy's credit, she's like, I am a realist. And if they want to give the title shot to Androge over me, she deserves it for smoking Call and Chagia again. So she's like, if they want to give the next one to Androge, fine, I'll fight Cynthia.

But if they don't want to wait, I'll fight Androge and just stake my claim. Like Lauren Murphy was also very realistic in her. Like for all the stuff, like, why am I ranked five, why am I fine? She made a lot of good points where she, if they gave Androa's title, she, she would 100% understand, but she still wants to fight. So who's in front of Murphy in the rankings and the UFC rankings? Let me pull it up. I have it up here.

So Shevchenko, Androge, Jukagi, and Maya, Kavio, and Murphy. You have Kavillo in front of her and then. Maya. Maya. Where's Androge? Oh, sorry, you said Androge, right? Andrade is number one. Okay.

Yeah, the problems, I don't know where to put her in front. of anyone. Maybe Cynthia. Because Lauren Murphy's... Yeah, maybe Cynthia. What? She goes in, so she's four. I mean, okay.

But she's still in the same spot. I mean, Maya, Maya took a short notice fight. Maya took, you know, Jojo and Carterwood took a big chance facing, you know, my own short notice. Wait, wait, who is that? Did Jojo take that fight short notice or did Maya take that fight short notice? Neither. Neither one.

They both just, they announced it very close. Oh, one that was pandemic. Just fight now type thing. Okay. They both do what it was happening, but it took a while for them to officially announce it.

Yeah. So they were both, they was one of those, neither one was a short notice replacement. They just wanted to fight. The fight itself was short notice. Yeah, I got you.

Maybe just swaps Lauren and Cynthia. That might be the only one. Yeah, so that's when I mean, like she's complaining about the rank. He's like, but it's like, uh,

okay, I don't know. Maybe Maya, because Maya, because Jojo's seven and Maya's three. three. Because look at dominance of victory. I mean,

Maya just beat Jojoa. Like a round took no damage, took her down, submitted her. No, Maya known as a stand-up, or a stand-up fighter. Jessica,

I was like the number one fighter at Flyweight and Cynthia just beat her five rounds, not dominantly. She's one and O in the division. And she's ranked above.

So that would be the only one I was flop. If you're going by that logic. Dominance of victory. That didn't mean. Anyway. Go, Laura Murph. free, make your case.

I love it. I love it. Get your name out there. Just, yeah. That's good. Don't stop. Don't stop. 1115.

How many, do we got any more questions? Lal, la, la, la, la. You know what? Let me look at the YouTube real quick. Talk amongst yourselves. Alex, who do you think is the number one pound for pound fighter in the world since that seems to be a big argument right now? Oh, we're going to talk about that.

I put who be, I'm one of those people who, gets rid of anybody who's been accused of PEDUs. I just think it takes out of the running. Sorry. We're talking greatness or pound for pound? You said pound for pound. Is it pound for pound for pound? I would still put John Jones number one pound for pound fighter.

I think Habib is like greater if that makes sense. See, I'm the other way. I mean, I definitely have a beat pound for pound. I think that to me is like that's easy. As far as greatness, I'll actually put John above it. But what are we talking about? What are we writing here great? Like, I don't know.

It's just a weird. But doesn't greatness encompass, like, you as a person? That's why I would say, Habib is the greatest. Like, I, if you're looking, like, I would, we're not going to argue about this at all because it's a ridiculous conversation. But I think LeBron James is a more talented basketball player than Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan is still the greatest player of all time. That's how I view it. Like, John Jones is the most skill. fighter maybe outside of GSP I've ever seen. I still think Habib is the greater fighter. I still put GSP as the greatest fighter of all time if we're talking about that. Two belts, avenged both losses. Like we're talking about like look at the reaction to Habib retiring and getting and becoming number one. GSP's like, good job man. Like you're the man like go out on top and John Jones is like, I'm number one. Everyone look at me. So it's just two completely different perspective. So

I still think GSP is the greatest. I don't have a problem putting Habib 2, John 3. I still put John Jones pound for pound best right now in terms of what happens inside the Octagon. John Jones is a much better prize fighter. Habib. Habib, the prize fighter, I think John Jones has done very well for himself. Habib is a greater fighter and definitely a pound for pound number one. I think there is a legit argument that has.

Abedee was a better prize fighter. He, the amount of interest that he generates in a fight. But no, but look how long it took for, Abe, do that. How many times he had to win? John Jones, John Jones has been, like,

one of the best prize fighters for years. Like, within, like, maybe his fourth or fifth, with his fourth or fifth fight in the UFC, like, we were like, holy shit. It took a bib, what, like, at least six, seven fights in the UFC before we were like, hey, no, maybe we should move him to the main card. All sounds like a problem with light, heavyweight and lightweight.

Lightweight is just way more of a kill-the-climb. Also, you compared... Language. You compared... You said Habib was the Floyd Mayweather of MMA. Floyd Mayweather is the biggest prize fighter ever in combat sports. No, I'm talking about just fighting style, like what you... In the sense that you know what you're getting.

And you're just waiting, like, price... Floyd's a different level in terms of everything. I think Habib, there's a legit argument that Habib is a bigger prize fighter based on outside of the United States interest. I guarantee you more like Christiano Ronaldo. No, no, no, no. Stories on Habib. Habib has been only a great prize fighter for the last like two years or so. Yeah.

John Jones has been a pay-per-view main adventure for, what, seven, eight years? I'm going longevity right there. There is an argument that at their peaks, Habib drums at more interest than John Jones. And that's what I'm basing it off of. Because it took, because he is the pound for pound best. But that's what I mean. So if you take like, yeah, the sliver in time right now, yeah, he's the bigger fight. He's the bigger price fighter.

I'm talking about over their careers. Sure. That's what I'm saying, though. And if you go over their careers, that's why I think Habib will always be a pound for pound better fighter than GSP. because Habib never ever had an off night, which is insane. And that goes into the argument of, can you, like, GSP first conned it, was so impressive to me because he got rocked bad and looked like he was about to lose and still won. So me personally, I weigh you very well could have lost and came out from the depths of hell to win.

Like I put a lot of stake into that. So you're hoarding against Abib, that he didn't get kicked in the head. Yeah. I will go with the guy not getting kicked in the head over the guy who got kicked in the head. I will say, though, losing your dad right before your fight is way bigger

of a mountain to climb over. So I will, like, but again, we're arguing who's one, two, or three. Like, they're still top three. What's the problem here? I think, uh, I would suggest everyone go to a bloody elbow

and read Jordan Breen's article. I don't know if you got a chance to read it, Jose. Jordan Breen wrote an article about Habib and is very good and basically he came down to the thesis was deciding who's to pound for pound best

is like saying what's better well I know what you're going to say It's a bit vulgar but read the article I know what you're going to say he's taking negative

he's taking two negative connotations to argue against greatness no no not at all okay no no no I don't know anyway I digress we've run up on

lot of time. Do you have any more rapid fire questions you want to plot through first? Rapid fire. Uh, okay, man. Well, okay, long time, long time, um, commenter really wants to answer this, though. Let's go for it real quick. Tristan Gordet, M.A. fighting with, you two comments with now 13 finishes, seven TKOs and six submissions. What do you think, what do you think of Shakurat Rockmanov's UFC debut against Alex Olivero? Was not expecting a Shakurat Rakmanov conversation. Kazakhstan came and got a big dub the same week Borat too came out so we were all in the media room talking like who's going to ask about Borat who's going to ask about Borat I'm like

no one asked about Porat I don't want this conversation I don't want that press cons to turn to that conversation um is their official motto is your official tourism motto now oh I heard awesome win it's had is made of a legitimate wolf uh awesome awesome awesome win so it's all I can say yeah very impressive good win uh Maddox Tavera apparently had Lots of very serious personal issues coming in, family issues coming into that fight. But yeah, good win for Rachmanoff. And I can't wait to see him fight again. There you go.

Is that it on questions? Do we have more? Oh, one more, one more. Just because we got to get this one out of the way. Watch my 666. Lawler is injured out of his fight. Perry's calling him out of Shemaiah. Mike Perry might fight, hazmat.

hazmat hamzal hazmat is what michael phaise who keeps calling yeah mike might fight hamzah before leon thoughts not gonna happen hamzah shumaiov is going to fight leon adored

mike parry can fight i don't know i don't really care Alex your thoughts seconded whatever mike perry do whatever you want to do I just wish a ufc would like dana i know you didn't hear anything

about mike perry and the accusation from his ex-wife posted an MMA junkie. But why don't you look into it? Yeah. Right now you have some time. You know, you had a long flight back, you know? Yeah. Google it.

Maybe delve into that a little bit. Yeah. Google it. It could be fun. Yeah. Yeah, actually, I'm very, yeah, I don't know. I have no comment on Mike Perry. No comment because I don't, you know, no comment.

Agreed. Oh, so, but the line that. that Jordan Breen said when you're trying when you're trying to decide who the goat is or pound for pound best it's like saying what's better sex when you're high or pizza when you're drunk all right bang thank you about it makes you get let us know in the comments tell us how you feel tell us how you feel uh the world needs more Jordan Breen it's in this is in the world needs more Jordan Breen I agree. I like doing it all right. Let's play. I'm ready to play the outro music.

Okay. Right. And take us out. We are signing off for this edition of the A-Side Live chat on Wednesday afternoon slash morning, depending on where you are in the world. My name is, of course, Jose Young's. You can find this podcast on Stitcher, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, YouTube, I-Hart Radio, all the podcasts. That works. Casey's been great on the ones and twos.

You can go tweet at him all of your takes. You get into Twitter arguments after this at EKC. It's right there. You brought this upon yourself. He doesn't have a blue checkmark so he can't filter out the noise. Alex Davis is going to be in Las Vegas for the Andrew Silva versus Uriah Hall. Main event on the pre-lamps. The co-main event is an absolute banger of a feather-way match between Bryce Mitchell and Andre

Feeley. Bryce Mitchell gets his camel shorts finally. André Feely is probably one of the most outspoken fans of comic books. So I very much look forward to that one. Greg Hardy and the crocheted boss, Marie's Green is on the card. I can't remember all the other fights off card. Low-key, fantastic card for the U.S.U.C.'s return to Las Vegas.

So watch for all of Alex's content. What are you going to say? Okay. And we give it up for Reebok. What, like 10 years into, seven years into this, the last week before the deal is over. Hey, let's make a custom outfit. Hey, go get him, Reebok.

Go get him. Well, well said. Go watch all of our content for UFC 254 and all of our Fight Island content that we have on the YouTube page. The Media Day will stream today so you can watch that. We'll watch for Alex's awesome content coming from Las Vegas because she has a way better camera than me. So it's going to look way more aesthetically pleasing. And with that, we'll see you next Wednesday. We're out.