MMA Fighting - The A-Side Live Chat | Urijah Faber & Germaine de Randamie’s KO wins, Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix, Next Opponent for Henry Cejudo, More

Episode Date: July 17, 2019

On this episode of The A-Side Live Chat, José Youngs and Petesy Carroll host The A-Side Live Chat, where this week’s topics include UFC 240 fallout, Max Holloway’s title reign, Cris Cyborg’s co...ntract, Frankie Edgar’s future, B.J. Penn's next fight, the welterweight title picture and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:02:06 What's up, Universe, Jose Young's here with M.A.Fighting.com for another episode of the 8. side live chat on as I said mhmatfighting.com I'm not in my normal spot I'm not I am on the road I'm not at fight night or whatever it's I'm in the beautiful overcast Los Angeles but I'm going to go to Bellator Media Day later today and then tomorrow is I believe Max Holloway's luncheon so I'm here in Los Angeles I'm using videographer extraordinaire Casey Leiden's beautiful camera which is why I actually look semi presentable this time but this week making his debut on the the A-side. I've been asked this every week, literally every single week. It's either when's Pizzi coming back on and when is Danny Seguer going to make his A-side live chat? That
Starting point is 00:02:52 week is today. Danny, what's up? What's up, man? Thanks for having me on. The people got what they wanted. They asked, you, you shall receive. So here I am. They missed you. They missed your beautiful face on Mondays and on the MMA beat. So since obviously that is a process we're working on, But I've been asked every week since I took this over. When is Danny going to come on? When is Petey going to come on? Pee's he's been on. Danny's on.
Starting point is 00:03:18 So you guys got both of your wishes on both of your guest hosts. I'm really excited to have Danny on. I'm sure he's going to be on a million times. So, but without further ado, we're going to jump into your questions. And as you guys all know, put your comments in the comment section. You can go on Twitter, use hashtag VA side, and we'll look for your questions. We might do a little bit different this time because we have a lot of questions. And we're definitely not going to get to all of them.
Starting point is 00:03:43 And a lot of them have been greened or recommended, whatever you want to call them. So we're going to be, we're going to have to bounce around a lot because we're definitely not going to hit all of them this week. But right off the bat, Danny, China's ban on people who have tattoos. Now that fighters who fight in China must cover up their tattoos, how will this affect the UFC? One championship and other organizations from doing fights in China. Also, with the UFC sets to go to China soon, how does this affect how they put a fight card together? I like to hear your opinion on the topic. So yes, Danny, I don't know if you heard,
Starting point is 00:04:14 but China has this law regulation. I don't know the exact terminology where they don't want actors or anyone with tattoos or quote unquote hip-hop culture on their television. It's not specifically aimed at MMA fires. I just think it's abroad, like tattoos. I also, I haven't looked too deep into it, but I read the wording of the actual law.
Starting point is 00:04:38 And it seems to be they don't want them broadcast in China. So if, say, Jessica Androdd and Wiley Zhang fight on the upcoming card in China, I don't know if it'll be broadcast in China, if that makes sense. But we'll be able to see it here. I just don't know if they can, I don't know if Jessica Androge can be on television in China. And I know a lot of fighters over there will have to wear rash guards to cover up their tests. I don't know if that's going to happen. this is a fairly new development to me.
Starting point is 00:05:09 But what is your opinion on if these fighters might not be able to fight in a market that they're really trying to break into? Well, that's another excuse for the USC to start skipping contenders. You don't have tattoos? All right, well, here you go. You're fighting for the title next. No, but in all seriousness, is it only for television broadcasts or what about streaming? Is that?
Starting point is 00:05:32 That's a good question. That is an excellent question. I don't know how China uses streaming, because I know, like, the UK, they have, like, a different streaming service for the UFC, and they have BT sports, and there's Fight TV and ESPN Plus and all that stuff. That's an excellent question that they don't have the answer to. Yeah. I guess, you know, that it's going to be another hurdle that UFC is going to have to deal with if they plan to have events in China. Usually whenever they go to somewhere outside the U.S., and even with the U.S., they try to have local fighters on the card, obviously, to sell ticket. and whatnot. From what I remembers, you know, and this is just me generalizing, a lot of
Starting point is 00:06:10 Chinese fighters don't have that many tattoos. So I guess, you know, that's a plus. But when you're bringing guys over or girls that, you know, have tattoos, I guess that'll be an issue. But as long this is not broadcasting, I'm guessing they're good. I know, for example, in Japan, I think Joe Rogan talked about this like a while ago. Like, he used to have to wear long sleeves and cover up his tattoos because tattoos are often seen as, as, and tied with the yakuza and seen as sort of like a gangster thing to it. So I guess just another hurdle the UFC is going to have to deal with. And yeah, but as long as I think they can put on the right fights,
Starting point is 00:06:45 they will continue to go to China. And I, 100%, it will be difficult to say like Wiley Zhang is fighting, say this fight wasn't happening in China. It was happening in on the Newark card. Say Wiley Zhang was fighting Jessica and Draug and Newark. And they really want to use Wiley Zhang as like the face of their new Chinese market. but they can't show her fight because she's fighting someone with tattoos. That, to me, will be the most detrimental.
Starting point is 00:07:10 Like, it will be very interesting to see if the UFC does move forward saying, say Wiley-Jank does win, beat Jessica Androj, and now they have a Chinese champion, but they can't show her fights in China. Like, I don't. I guess another requirement for a contender is, you know, got to have a laser removal. And I believe a lot of them were. rash guards and when they do fight in China, but I don't like, obviously like UFC, if you don't
Starting point is 00:07:37 want to wear a rash card, you don't have to wear rash guard. But like Jessica and Drach has tattoos, but I don't believe Rose has tattoos. I don't believe Yowana has tattoos. Uh, but there's a lot of straw weights, uh, that have tattoos in that division. And I'm sure we're going to talk about it later, but that division is unbelievable. So I, it's so good. It's going to be, it's going to be interesting to see moving forward how they handle this. But I don't have all the answers. I'm sure. talk about this later on. But moving right along, Danny, from Cleve 21. All in that first one, I apologize how I pronounce this, your name wrong. It was Zach Ku Kulkegi. I asked that first question. So I apologize if I pronounce your name wrong. But from Cleve 21,
Starting point is 00:08:21 Sehudo, straight, real simple, who should slash deserves to get the next shot at Sohudo and who will get the next shot at Sehudo? Danny, you can start this one if you want. Henry Sehudo is a Triple C, but he is a champ champ. He's the UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion. There's a lot of fighters calling for his name. But who do you think deserves the first fight, and who do you think will get the first fight? Tough question.
Starting point is 00:08:49 And I actually caught a lot of heat on Twitter recently. Algeman Sterling, like, quote tweeted me saying, like, get the fuck out. And he was kind of a little bit upset, I guess, at some of the things that I tweeted. All I said was, and I was pretty clear on my tweet, people were kind of obviously just just taking out of context. I literally a first sentence I said was I'm not saying that I want to see
Starting point is 00:09:11 Sehudo versus favor. I'm not saying that. But what I am saying is that it's not such a crazy idea now that he has a win over a ranked opponent. I think, and I've always, I've been on record and I told this to Sterling too. I replied to his tweet, I think he should get the next shot at 135. But that doesn't necessarily mean he should get the next shot, period. I think the next guy in line is Joseph Benavides.
Starting point is 00:09:35 That's the guy that the only guy that has a win over him. And that fight, I don't know if you guys remember it, it was a buildup from a tough series. So there was a little bit of a rivalry there. And I think, you know, that's the time when Sehudo was cringy, but without really, I guess, bringing it out to the world. And Joseph Benavitas would just always burn him for that. And it was actually a really entertaining fight.
Starting point is 00:10:01 There was some controversy there. If you don't remember, Sehudo got deducted a point. I don't remember exactly for what it was. It might have been a low kick, a low shot. I don't even remember the details. But, yeah, he was deducted at a point. I thought Sehudo probably had the better fight. Nonetheless, Joseph won.
Starting point is 00:10:19 It was still very competitive. I think he should get the next shot. I think there's a storyline there. I think Henry Sehudo has the opportunity to defend the belt at both weight classes, something, you know, champ champs haven't been doing. in the recent years and I think that'll set them apart from any other champ champs. Amanda Nunez is currently trying to attempt that. But, you know, we saw her at 135.
Starting point is 00:10:40 We've yet to see her at 145. If Sehudo can do that, I think it'll put them apart from all the other champ champs. And on top of that, you know, it's a fun fight. It's a fight that Joseph Benavides deserves. So I think he's the next in line. Who do I think will get it? I'm going to be optimistic and I'm going to say Joseph Benavides. Dana White recently came out and talked to.
Starting point is 00:11:01 to TMZ and said, look, I think Joseph Benavides should get the next shot. And I think if Sohudo is able to defend the belt at both weight classes, we'll keep the 125 pound division around. So I think it's a great idea. But again, this is him talking to TMZ where they just stick a camera on your face and they just ask you questions. And you're just like, well, yeah, sure, you know. So I don't know. I think the favor thing, people are discarding it. People are saying it's crazy. But I do think it's very plausible. I wouldn't look. If tomorrow I wake up and I open up Twitter because that's the first thing I do when I wake up and I see favors getting the next title shot at 135, wouldn't surprise me. Wouldn't surprise me not one bit. Not even a little bit. I can't agree
Starting point is 00:11:42 with everything you said. If they announced your eye favorite was fighting Henry Zahoodle for the 135 fond title, it would be the least shopping development. It wouldn't, I won't say it won't, it wouldn't bother me personally because I just like high level martial arts. And that's like, I like that fight as a fight, but who deserves it? It's Joseph Banevarez. I spoke with Henry Sehudo at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony on the red carpet, and he told me that fight doesn't bother him at all. Like the first Demetrius Johnson fight ate him alive, and that made him obsessed.
Starting point is 00:12:15 But losing to Joseph Banevarez didn't bother him. That was a three-round fight. So who knows what would have? Because I don't know if you remember that that main event, I believe, was Demetri's Johnson, Tim Elliott on that same car. And then Joseph Benevides, well, should have, that was, he had already gone 0 and 2 against Demetrius. And so him fighting Sohudo and winning, anyone else doing that would have gotten the next title shot. It just happened to be Joseph Benavides didn't deserve that third fight.
Starting point is 00:12:41 But like you said, Dana was on TMZ saying Joseph Benevius will get the next title shot. But Dana was also on TMZ saying women will never fight in the UFC. And now we're where we're like. The UFC is not for sale. That's crazy. I mean, there's a bigger chance of him. and quarterback for, what is it, the Patriots. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:12:59 So, yeah. So it should be Joseph Benavides. And then Al Juserman Sterling also said on Twitter after Joseph B.N. Vida's won that he wouldn't have a problem if they gave Joe B. He goes, I don't have a problem if Joe B got the fight. If anyone deserves it over me, it's him. And now he, he quote tweeted an article of Dana White saying, Joseph Benavides will probably get the next title shot or Henry Cito should fight a flyweight next.
Starting point is 00:13:22 And he said, who should I fight for the interim title? That's what Al Jermaine said. So I think he's trying to will this interim title into an existence, which just infuriated me because I hate interim titles. But right away, within seconds, Peter Jan quote tweeted it. And he's just like, I'm in. And I was like, let's, I'm in. That fight, I love it.
Starting point is 00:13:42 Peter Jan, Algebra and Sterling, they both fought at U.S. 238. They were both on that Chicago card. The timeline lines up. I think it's clear, like, those two are the next big contenders, but then your Rye favorite comes into those a wrenching than that. But if you're asking me, Personally, I would like to watch Joseph Bianavides fight, Henry Sehudo, and I would like Alzerman Strung's fight Peter Yan. That's my favorite scenario, but your eye of favor is a wild card and a very popular wild card.
Starting point is 00:14:05 And all this chirping they're doing on Twitter, you know the UFC's, like, they're definitely gauging the interest in how people are taking this trash talk, this trash talk on Twitter. So, like you said, it would not surprise me if your eye of favor got yet another title fight. Yeah, it's not far-fetched at all. And people are saying, are you delusional? Like, you know, he just came back from retirement. Dude, it's totally possible. And actually, I have one of my best friends, he works at the Guardian. So the way his mind works is he's aware of everything news-wise.
Starting point is 00:14:41 So he knows a lot about everything, about sports, a little bit about everything, right? But it's mostly what made headlines. And I remember he came over the other day. And I was watching something about your eye of favor, because I had just interested. reviewed him. So I was, I was, you know, writing a story. And then he goes, oh, that's your right. And I go, yeah, that's your I favor. Oh, yeah, I know him. He's old, right? Like, is he coming back to fighting or whatnot? And then, you know, I gave him the quick update. But if I asked him who Al Jem and Sterling is, he doesn't know who that is. If I asked him
Starting point is 00:15:08 who Peter Yon is, he doesn't know who that is, the champ champ, he probably doesn't know who that is. He knows Uriah Fabor, though. Yariah Fabor is a big name. And we've seen the UFC, you know, time after time, skip over, you know, deserving contenders. over guys that, you know, can sell, sell pay-per-view. And that's your favor. Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Brock Lesnar fight for a U.C. Heavyweight Championship in his third fight? There you go.
Starting point is 00:15:33 After beating heat, Eric. Wasn't the heavyweight title held the hostage the last few months because we didn't know it was depending on whether Brock Lester or not, we'll jump in the sport, you know? So, yeah, it's ridiculous to think that you're our favorite wouldn't be able to get a shot. At the end of the day, I always remind people this, yeah, they are fighters, but they're prize fighters. Yeah. So I know our old colleague, Luke, got a lot of heat for saying Chale's son was a good, not great fighter. I think he was a great prize fighter. Because every fight he was in drew a lot of interest, and he headlined or co-main evented everything he was in.
Starting point is 00:16:13 From that name, Mar-Cart fight on pretty much, it was, Chale's son was a big deal on fight card. Might not have been the most skilled fighter, but he was an unbelievable prize fighter. So if they're in the money-making business, your eye favors the name to go with. I don't personally want to see that fight yet. But moving on, go ahead, go ahead. No, I was going to say, look, I wouldn't even be pissed
Starting point is 00:16:36 if you do Al Jem and Sterling, your eye-favor for interim title. I love that fight. I would have a fight. Yeah. I think interim titles work when you have champ champs that are willing to defend in both divisions. In that case, you know, I don't hate interim titles.
Starting point is 00:16:49 100%. But moving on, another question from Cleve 21, recommended by our readers. Superfight, do you think there is any chance we will see GSP versus Habib? And when the new UFC model of ESPN and with the new UFC model with ESPN are the days of superfights over? No, I think that's a super fight. Like GSP going to a new weight class is a super fight. Habib has said that if he fights George St. Pierre, he would prefer to have it at 155 because it would be for championship like if he moves up to 170 and fights george or at a catchway like it doesn't matter uh george just wants that fight he says he can make 155 because he was not he's only what 510
Starting point is 00:17:30 uh 511 like he's not he's obviously huge because he fought a middleweight but if george can cut down a 155 i give him a title he's one of the few fighters i give a title shot too right away just because he's george st pierre but i don't see that fight happening anytime soon danel white's been pretty adamant at that that fight. Like, George retired because he didn't get that fight. So I personally don't see that fight happening anytime soon. I'd rather see, and selfishly, I'd rather see Habib fight Tony Ferguson first. And then obviously the Connor rematch that everyone's talking about.
Starting point is 00:18:02 But I think Habib, there's a lot of fights I'd see, I'd rather see now rather than have George Zing here a comeback and kind of win. If he say he wins and then retires again, what was the point? Yeah. I mean, I don't think that fight. will happen. I think if there was any time that it would have happened, it would have been, you know, months ago. I mean, that, that was the whole thing. George St. Pierre and the UFC didn't see I to eye to eye when it came down to negotiations, because I'm sure if George
Starting point is 00:18:28 St. Pierre and, you know, all things would have been, been equal. Habib would have fought GSP, probably this summer, right? But the reason why it didn't come down is because they didn't see eye to eye, so that fight did not happen. Now at this point, I believe George St. Pierre is out of the you saw to pool right so for him to come back it'll be another six months and unless they want to do a brock lesnar situation and just wave off the the six month period um but the thing that this fight has going against is that there's also several other super fights at 155 at this point you know a rematch with connor mcgregor would be the biggest fight maybe in combat sports history maybe um certainly the biggest in mMA for sure if you throw tony ferguson in there as well all of a sudden
Starting point is 00:19:14 I'm sure there's a lot of interest there as well. And I would consider that a super fight as well at this point. And so, yeah, there's still a lot of options and a lot of big fights at 155 that don't depend on George and Pierre. So odds are that fight doesn't happen. I agree. And I personally think if if Habib wins beats Dustin Pori, which I lean, I favor Habib, but it's the 155 pound division is so chaotic like anything that happened. I think a fight between Habib versus Tony Ferguson is a fight for the greatest lightweight of all time.
Starting point is 00:19:47 The winner of that fight to me is the greatest 155-pound MMA fighter who's ever lived. Right now, it's like BJ Penn by default based off his history. But if you were to sit there and say, I think Tony Ferguson is the greatest lightweight ever, I'd be like, yeah, all right, that's totally fine with me. Or if you said Habib's the greatest, I'd also agree with you. I think the winner of that fight just settles it. And to me, that is a super fight. Tony versus Habib is 100% a super fight in my mind.
Starting point is 00:20:15 Yeah, it's a super fight. I think that fight definitely answers the question of who's the best 155-pound fighter ever. Undoubtedly, that fight answers that. As far as the greatest, I think a lot goes into achievement. And despite Tony Ferguson already having a run that's worthy of being called a championship run, like you could easily just, you know, go on the Wikipedia page, edit Tony Ferguson, and just put him as champion and you look at his run and you go yeah that you'd believe it you'd be like yeah it's a championship run um but obviously not having the belt i think in all those achievements
Starting point is 00:20:50 you know bjpan going up a weight class winning also the walterweight title um i think he's still the greatest if we're you know measuring achievement but as far as the best yeah habib and and tony ferguson are are the two best lightweights and they've yet to fight so we don't really know who's the best but those are those two are it and i'm on record saying and that fight will never happen because I'm very much a believer in reverse psychology. And if I say, yeah, that fight will eventually happen, I know it won't. Because we've been burned so many times. So that fight will never happen because I am very much in favor of reverse psychology.
Starting point is 00:21:26 Depression's kicking in just from you bringing this up. I remember what fight was it that they both actually weighed in and made it two way-ins for whatever card? I remember watching those early morning ways. I wrote a tweet something like, I had a very, It was a moment where it was just like, wow, how amazing would it be if these two would be fighting each other? Maybe it's one of those things that, like, it just, they'll never fight each other and then we'll just, we'll just, you know, be with the what if. But that'd be one of the biggest, one of the biggest, I guess, regrets, MMA regrets, not ever making that fight possible. UFC 229, they both fought on the same card and they didn't fight each other, which broke my heart.
Starting point is 00:22:08 But we're going to move right along. This episode is brought to you by Progressive. Saving money on your car insurance is easy with Progressive. It's an average savings of $796 for customers who switch and save. In fact, customers can qualify for an average of six discounts on their auto policy with Progressive, including discounts just for starting a quote online or owning multiple vehicles. Get your quote online at Progressive.com and see how much you could be saving. National average annual car insurance savings by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive in 2019.
Starting point is 00:22:45 Discounts vary and are not available in all states and situations. All right. So we can respond to this one from Milo of Croton. He asked questions a lot, and I never know how to pronounce his last, the Croton or Croton. I apologize. Hey, guys, just wondering if there's any new programming plan for Mondays now that the MMA hour is gone. Thanks. Hashtag free pizza carol.
Starting point is 00:23:05 And I'm going to say the same thing I've said for the last six or seven weeks. Just stay tuned. I know everyone hates that, but there's things in the works that we can't talk about yet. But just stay tuned. I know Danny specifically, I'm sure that question is because you're on. I'm sure as soon as people saw you were on, they had a lot of questions about the MMA hour. So if you want to say anything, go ahead. Yeah, I'll just say, you know, there are things in the work.
Starting point is 00:23:34 there are some ideas, you know, in the works right now. Personally, like I, for the most part, like when I hopped in, hopped on, you know, MAA fighting like four years ago, I was mainly just writing and doing a lot of social media work. And then once I moved up to New York and, you know, I started appearing on the MAB and then I had the opportunity to work on the MAA. I really enjoyed working with video and it's something I want to do more of. And it's something that this company values a lot because Vox Media is a digital company, right? So obviously, video is huge for us. So we are looking to create more video content
Starting point is 00:24:09 and programming. That's something we're always going to be looking at. Obviously, you know, we've had a lot of people leave and there's been a little bit of a shakeup and things have been a, I guess, a little, you know, hectic. But, you know, we are organizing. We are, you know, we have some things that we're putting together. So just stay tuned. Yeah, just stay tuned and more content will be coming your way. So in the meantime, Danny's answer was way better than my answer. What? Danny's answer was way better than my answer because I've said, I can't tell you how many times I said stay tuned. So at this point, I'm just like, hey, stay tuned. And I know people who are like, you've been saying that, like, your aunt that listen to Danny. He knows what he's talking about. So I get asked about
Starting point is 00:24:53 it on Twitter like every day. I feel like I answer one thing and then the next day still the same question. And I'm not a big social media guy anyway. So yeah. stuff's coming so just stay tuned so moving right along i'm pretty excited about this one from lyron ben niria again i really apologize if i don't pronounce if i'm misprouncing these hey guys bellator featherway grand prix for those of you who are want for those of you who are wondering how they pick first round matches it's by facial hair all right uh now for the serious stuff who's a or one who's going to win worse to best first round matchup. Oh, I don't know about worst because they're all, like, these are some high-level
Starting point is 00:25:37 fighters. I'm the one I'm most excited for, I'm really excited for Juan Archelaeda versus Patricio Pitbull, which is for the Featherweight Championship. Juan Archeletta is like moving up because you were in the, you were at the New York fight. Juan Archaleta had that crazy knockout. Yeah. And he's what he said, like, I am the next contender for 135, but now he's, I really like Tywin Claxton. Like he's one that had that crazy flying knee knockout that made all the highlight real. He's a very interesting human. when I interviewed him in Chicago, he was telling me that he had a job interview with Google to code. And I was like, why are you fighting?
Starting point is 00:26:11 Like, do that. Don't take brain damage. Like, go code for Google. So I like watching him fight just because he's such an interesting guy. Yeah, there's some super interesting fights. I don't know what the worst one is because I do like all of these. Their names I wish were in it. I know Pete C Carroll's probably really upset that Artem Lobov and Brandon Lachnain aren't in it.
Starting point is 00:26:32 But page is the final boss? they're going to unveil that. That's going to be a thing where deep and determined, they're going to say, guess what? The championship is no longer on the line. We got something even better. That's what I said last week. PT Carroll was like, I want Arden Lova,
Starting point is 00:26:47 Brandon Locknain, and Pedro Carvalio in. Pedro Carvalio was obviously in it. But I said, I don't, like, Aram Lobov should not even be in the tournament. The winner should fight Aram Lobov. Like, he is the final boss. they'll unveil him like they did with Stefan Bonner bringing in, you know, the mask man and just unveil him. Oh, Artem Lava is here.
Starting point is 00:27:11 They hit this year fighting. I want him to. No, but in all seriousness, in all seriousness, this is a really exciting tournament. I'm really excited. This is just fun stuff. One matchup that I love is Pat Curran versus Adam Borch. Adam Borch, you know, knocked out Aaron Pico here in New York just not so long ago. and, man, interviewing him, like, he just looked amazing.
Starting point is 00:27:34 And, yeah, he's a fantastic fighter. And Pat Kern is his experience as they come. This is a guy that could easily be fighting in the UFC for many years. I mean, he's been high level for a very long time. So that's a fight that I'm really looking forward to. But that's just personally. There's a bunch of other great fights there, too. Yeah, I wouldn't want to necessarily pick up worse.
Starting point is 00:27:53 I think they're all good. Darren is moving up from 135 to 145 to fight Henry Corral is the one that knocked. He's the, and Henry Corrales is a good, man. Pico. So Aaron Pico's not in it, which I think a lot of people are surprised about. Good. Yeah. Good. Yeah. I think Scott said something, I think speaking with Ariel Hawani, I don't remember all that well, but I think he said something like they want to take a step back from, from Aaron Pico, and I think that's good. I think, you know, he needs tune-up fights.
Starting point is 00:28:19 He doesn't need to be in a tournament fighting the best feather weights on the planet. The kid's only, what, 22 years old? Mm-hmm. Four and three? Yeah. But Greg Jackson, we spoke with Greg Jackson at UFC 239. fight week and I asked him I go do you want Aaron Pico's now at his gym I go do you want Aaron Pico to take time off and he's like nope I want him to get right back in there I want to get bigger as soon as possible so I wouldn't be surprised if Aaron because notice how they did I don't know if they've announced but I didn't see any alternates announced because like
Starting point is 00:28:48 famously Daniel Cormier like an unheralded to Danone Cormier was the alternate for that strike force heavyweight Grand Prix so if they need alternates maybe Aaron Pico is one of them I don't know. I'm going to see Scott Coker later today and I'll ask him. I hope not. Artum Lobos the guy. No, but in all seriousness, keep him away from the tournament. I think Aaron Pico should be busy. A lot of people are saying, oh, he needs time off. He needs time off. No, he's young. He needs to be fighting. He just needs to be fighting the right opposition. But yeah, throw him back in there. Yeah. And he'll, how long, he wasn't with Greg Jackson's team that long before he got that borrish.
Starting point is 00:29:23 Yeah, so when I interviewed him, like, right before his fight, that'd been seven weeks with the team? Yeah, that's not enough time. That's not enough time, yeah. So, if Aaron Pico was in it, it'd be, like, fun to watch him fight because I think he's, like, yeah, he might lose, but he's an exciting fighter to watch, so I enjoy, I enjoy watching him fight, but I agree with you. I don't think he should fight again until 2020.
Starting point is 00:29:47 But moving along, another GSP Connor question, so I think we've talked about. about this a few times so but danie will get your take on it i know dana said that he would consider habib versus gsp is if he'd really wanted it but maybe the timing is right for gsp versus connor neither of them have belts right now how would a non-title pay-per-view main event do would gspp want it what would it add to his legacy well that fight is definitely not happening i think connor needs a fight he can win or has a shot like obviously connor can beat it like connor in the first round is an unbelievable fighter but they're they're just stylistic matchups that favor the other guy heavily, Habib was one of them.
Starting point is 00:30:27 George would definitely be one of them. George would be a huge lightweight if the fight takes place of lightweight. I don't think Connor and George would want that to make a lot of money, but I don't think that's a smart fight for Connor whatsoever. He needs a fun, stylistic matchup that he can win. But if there's one fight that could headline a pay for you without a title on it, it's George St. Pierre versus Connor McGregor. I think that would be the biggest fight in UFC history in terms of.
Starting point is 00:30:53 a pay-per-view because George is one of the three pay-per-view kings of the UFC and Connor is the king. Him and Brock, so it's Connor, Brock, George, and then obviously, like, Rhonda, I'd probably put four as, like, the three biggest draws as, like, individual superstars. So I think that would be the biggest fight in terms of interest, but if I'm Connor's team, I'm like, don't take that fight. Yeah. I think if it also depends where Connor is at as far as his career.
Starting point is 00:31:21 Like there's questions about if he's ever even going to return and if so, how long is going to be that return? If look, if the dude just plans to stick around for two or three more fights, you know, or just two or one more fight, take the biggest fight possible, even if it's, you know, not a good matchup. So in that case, the GSP would fight would make sense. You know, I mean, you got one more. If you lose, what does it matter, right? But if you, if he's in it to make a run, if he's in it to fight a few more times to get the bell back, defend it, establish a legacy. something that I feel like fans don't feel like he's done enough of. Like he's done a lot of achievements.
Starting point is 00:31:55 He just hasn't established something long and sustained. Then, yeah, GSP is a horrible idea to come back and fight. Yeah, it's a big fight, but it's a worst. It's a terrible matchup. I mean, we just saw the Habib fight. You really think that fight would go any differently with GSP? GSP's one of the best wrestlers in MMA. So, yeah, note to that fight.
Starting point is 00:32:15 Also, I feel like GSP, yeah, he's in it for the money at this stage of his career. year and if he does come back. But he's also in it for legacy. That's why he fought Michael Bisping. That's why the belt was on the line. Carter McGregor has no gold right now. So if GSP would come back under any circumstances, it'd be to face a champion. Yeah, 100%.
Starting point is 00:32:37 And at the end, also looking back, I tweeted about this after Connor lost to Habib. He lost to Habib, which is the highest selling UFC pay-per-view ever. He's lost to Nate the first time, UFC 196, which is one of the highest. He beat Nate the second time, which is, I think, the second highest at the moment, or it's top five. And then he beat Eddie. But then he also lost to Floyd during all this, which obviously is the second highest pay-per-view ever. Well, if you listen to Dana White, it did like a million – it did like 10 trillion pay-per-view buys, but I don't know the exact number off the top of my head. But at the end of the day, Conner's lost a lot of fights that a lot of people watched.
Starting point is 00:33:14 He needs a – he needs to win. Like, yeah, like – so say he fights Habib again. and he loses, that's, he's lost three fights in a row if you count the Floyd fight. At what point does he stop becoming a major player in combat sports if he's not winning? Honestly, I feel like at this point, he's so big. I mean, he's larger than the sport that he's going to continue to draw numbers. Because at the end of the days, the people that are making up those big numbers are casuals. And casuals, it's a lot easier to sell a fight to a casual.
Starting point is 00:33:49 and then a hardcore. Hardcore would look at Connor McGregor's record and go, what? Why is this the main event? Why am I paying money for this? Like, you know, I shouldn't be watching this. I should be fighting Tony Ferguson fighting, you know, Habib or, you know, something like that. But the casuals are the ones that are going to be like, well, they put this highlight real and he has knocked out people before in the past.
Starting point is 00:34:09 You never know. It's Connor McGregor, right? So regardless, whatever fight he's in, it's going to be big. I agree. And I think his brand is the best when he's winning. And I think that's why a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz makes sense. That's why I think the Donald Soroni fight makes sense. And Anthony Pettis, anybody that has no wrestling, well, that has no wrestling.
Starting point is 00:34:31 But anyone that does not pose as the same threats that, say, a GSP or Habib poses, is a good matchup for him. So, yeah, Connor winning is good for business. That's why I think the cowboy fight makes the most sense. Cowboy has the most wins, the most knockdowns, like most knockouts. Like he has all of these accolades. His name is all over the UFC record book. Yeah. He obviously had like the fighter with the most wins fighting Connor McGregor, that right there.
Starting point is 00:35:00 Like, and that is a very winnable fight for both men. That's, I've slightly leaned Connor based on what we've seen like Donald Serroney has gotten. He's climbing to the top of the mound and only to kind of falter. I think Connor would play these mind games with Cowboy, like leading up to the fight. and Cowboys says he's matured. And, like, remember when he fought Nate? Nate talked a lot of traffic. And then Donald Seroni played right in the Nate Diaz's game inside the Octagon.
Starting point is 00:35:25 And you can hear Greg Jackson just screaming at him to, like, stick to the game plan. And Donald Serroney was like, oh, I'm going to box this guy up. And I think at the time, Nate Diaz landed the most significant strikes in the history of the U.S. for a three-round fight in that fight. That was the co-main event of Brock Lesnar Alas for Overing, fun fact. Speaking of non-title fight, pay-per-view headliners. but George, Connor and Donald Serroney,
Starting point is 00:35:50 that's the fight to make to me. That's the only fight that makes sense for both men. Outside of a rematch of Tony Ferguson, but that's another story for Cowboy Sorony. Moving along from Ted Bear, who asked our good friend, Ten Bear, one here they, one comma, here they come. Chatri announced one's deal with Turner
Starting point is 00:36:11 and his intentions of making a U.S. office in L.A., assuming he speaks the truth, how do you see the fallout of their arrival on American soil? I don't know if it's fallout. And then he asked like six questions in a row. So I'll do like rapid fire with you because we're at the halfway point and we have a lot of questions we're trying to get to. Will Dana White finally meet his promoters match as.
Starting point is 00:36:33 Oh, I'm back. Yeah, I froze. My stream froze and now I'm back. So I don't know what you said in the last like 20 seconds or so. Were you expecting also a response from me? Was I just quiet? I thought you were just like, I'm done talking. That's hilarious.
Starting point is 00:36:51 Oh, was my frame frozen or? I have no idea I was reading the question. That's hilarious. I didn't even know you. I don't know you. I'm sure what you said about, I agree with your points. I agree with your points.
Starting point is 00:37:01 So, but we're going to do a rapid fire one here because we have a lot of questions to get to. And this person has six questions in one thing, but they all seem to be like yes or no. About one championship, Chachry announced one's deal with turn. Well, I'm going to repeat it for Danny. Chachry announced one's deal with turn.
Starting point is 00:37:16 Turner as the attention of making a U.S. office in L.A. Assuming he speaks the truth, how do you see the fallout of their arrival on American soil? I don't know if it's going to be fallout, but real rapid fire. Will Dana White finally meet his promoters match as Trotry City Dog is quick to spin a tall tail or two? That's an interesting question. I think we're already seeing how, like, one is positioning their company is like, it's one versus the UFC.
Starting point is 00:37:47 Like, we're, you know, we're not even not. number two, like we're competing for number one. And I think with the recent acquisitions of, you know, American fighters and not only American fighters, but former UFC fighters and former UFC champions and prospects, I think it could position themselves as, you know, little rival to Dana White. I don't think, I don't even think, I know Dana White's not really going to care, because how many times have we seen Dana White being like, I don't, like, they're nothing. Like, when Scott Coker went to Bellator, that was like a major.
Starting point is 00:38:19 move because they let go of Bjorn Rebony and brought in Scott Coker, who worked for the UFC after the Strike Force acquisition, has been in the combat sports MMA game for a long time. Dana White's like, I don't care. Like, they're not, like, I don't view them as a rival or number two. Like, they're just there next to the U.S. They're not next to the UFC. They're just there. So I don't think Dana's really going to care.
Starting point is 00:38:39 Will he pay, will other people in the UFC pay attention for sure? But the question is specifically asking about Dana White, I don't think Dave is going to care. But will this competition finally raise the UFC, minimum wage above 12,000 show money a fight. I don't think so. I'll just say no. I don't know what your opinion is. No, yeah.
Starting point is 00:38:59 Because we also don't know, like, one championship hasn't even had an event here in the United States, so I don't know how that's going to play out. And they don't disclose their, it's not like here in the U.S. where, like, the U.S. has to disclose, like, you know, payments to the commission. And, you know, us media, we get that information and we get that out. with one out of my hand uh oh danny froze again danney's internet is down so i'll just move along because i don't know if you guys can see danny but i cannot um will it help the u sss dismiss all lawsuits claiming it is a monopoly no that will not happen um who will be the next
Starting point is 00:39:39 former uc star to defect one either as a fighter or an executive that's an excellent question if i'm putting money down i'm going to say chris cyborg just because i know her contract is coming up and her and Dana White and the UFC kind of had this this feud going on on social media so I don't expect her to sign with one but if you asked me to just name a fighter that I could foresee her going I could foresee her going to one championship but again who would she fight like I don't think she's going to fight Gabby Garcia who's in rising because they're good friends I know a lot of people are going to say that that would be the first name off the top of her head but I don't think that fight is ever going to happen what did you take on one generally former UFC fighters like
Starting point is 00:40:19 Brandon Bear seem to love it, but Chautry seems as trustworthy as Pinocchio Dana White. I like it as an alternative. I am wary of their weighing, like the regulations regarding their wayings, how they don't show the broadcast of the early morning wanes and stuff like that. And you hear fighters say, like, that fighter definitely cut weight. Like, yeah, fighters, for those of you who don't know, their weight divisions are a little above. So, like, if Eddie Alvers fought 155 in the United States, he's probably fighting 170 in one championship against other fighters. Is Danny back?
Starting point is 00:40:56 I'm back. I was trying to hold down the fort where you were gone. I was probably people were probably like, get this clown off my camera. But what was the last thing you heard? So I was, I don't even know what you heard from my end. All I said was the one doesn't disclose its pay. So that's a big one. I mean, if they somehow do and fighters find out that they can make more money.
Starting point is 00:41:18 at one and say one became a big player in the U.S. Maybe then the UFC would look into it, but even then I think there's so many advantages within the UFC that many fighters are willing to tape pay cuts just to fight under those three letters. Bingo, you hit it right on the head. So quickly, yes or no, and then because we got to move on quickly, will it help UFC dismiss all lawsuits claiming it is a monopoly?
Starting point is 00:41:42 Yes or no? Of course, but I think those lawsuits are kind of silly because there's a bunch of other players. But yeah, the more competition, the more that claim goes away, right? I just don't think that's ever their UFC will ever, I don't think that's going to happen. But I think that's way far because lawsuits take years. So that's not going to change anytime soon, I should say. Who will be the next former UFC star to defect the one either as a fighter or an executive?
Starting point is 00:42:10 When you were frozen and off the air, I said Chris Seibor would be the one off the top of my head. I don't expect it to happen, but I lean her. because her contract is coming up, and her and Dana White kind of have this back and forth going on on Twitter. Like, you turned down the fight. No, I didn't. Yes, you did. Now he has Amanda Nunes saying she turned down the fight.
Starting point is 00:42:28 I say Chris Seaborg just based on the fact her contract is coming up, and her and Dana White have not seen eye to eye lately. Yeah. I think Chris Seiburg might end up with Bellator. I mean, she's worked with Scott Coker in the past, and I don't know if you've kept, have seen, well, her Twitter's always busy, but she's been tweeting some Bellator stuff and being very compliment
Starting point is 00:42:47 three of, you know, the fighters over there. And they actually, Belter actually has an 145 pound division, a women's featherweight division, you know, in the organization, which is something the U.S.C can't really say. They have a belt, but not a division. So I think Cyborg has been very open about that. Like, hey, UFC creates stuff. So, I don't know. I can definitely see Cyberg, you know, leaving the UFC. But as far as, like, fighters going to one, man, that's a tough one.
Starting point is 00:43:17 I don't know. I'll have to get back to you on that one. Also, Julia Budd spoke with M.A. fighting said that a fight against Chris Cyborg is something she is absolutely open to. And she's like, she said like, come on down. But I know Chris Cyborg is in Asia quite a bit, either for training camp or just vacationing or whatever. So I don't expect her to go to one. But if there's one fighter on the UFC roster right now, I lean her.
Starting point is 00:43:43 But we have to, like, if she runs through Felice Spencer at UFC 240 and gets the immediate rematch, Amanda Nunes, I don't think she's leaving the UFC. And then finally, what is your take on one generally? Former UFC fighters like Brandon Verr seem to love it, but Chautry seems as trustworthy as Pinocchio Dana. Now, before you came back, I said the weighing, their weighing thing, where they don't show the wayans, they don't broadcast early morning wanes and everything.
Starting point is 00:44:08 I'm not a big fan of that, especially because they, you know, they have that rule where, like, Eddie Alvers is basically fighting at 170 or they're fighting like a weight class above, but calling it something else. and now, Eddie, you always hear like, yeah, this fighter isn't supposed to cut weight, but he's definitely cutting weight. So it's like Eddie Alvers fighting like 185-pound fighter at 170. I don't like that whatsoever. Self-regulation is also another story.
Starting point is 00:44:33 I know I think Will Chope was on Facebook, like just rinsing them, saying like he does, basically like if they make the rules, they can bend the rules and just do whatever they want. So the way and thing is real weird for me, but I'd like to hear your opinion. Yeah, there's a lot of sketchy things about, you know, the way one runs things. The wayans for one is weird because you ask fighters like, oh, do you know how much your opponent weighed? They have no clue. No idea. I think that's kind of important, right?
Starting point is 00:45:02 That's the way there's weight classes. But look, one is growing and one is down-a-pay purses that you can't really find in the local circuit. Plus, if you have leverage, if you're a big name, say like Demetra's job. Johnson, Sage Northcut, Eddie Alvarez, you know, they're willing to accommodate you just as Belter does, just as any promotion does to any valuable assets. So if you can be valuable for them, of course you're going to be happy because you're probably going to make good money. They'll probably promote you.
Starting point is 00:45:33 And you'll probably have a little bit more say about your future than you would in a larger company like the UFC. And that works. That's true across like any other major company, even outside of like sports or MMA, right? So I think for a lot of fighters, it is a good vehicle. It is a good promotion to fight for. 100%. Competition is good.
Starting point is 00:45:57 And at the end, I like the moitai kickboxing, MMA style. We're like fighters could do all three if they want. But we're running real close on time, so we're going to move along because we also have to jump to Twitter. I haven't even got a chance. GDR, good afternoon, guys from Rob Holland. Even after a good one-punch win, GDR is still getting heat. though she has zero to do with the stoppage by her.
Starting point is 00:46:19 What do you think is the best path for her to win back the fans? Does she wait for Nunes or does she take another fight to stay more active? And of course, what did you guys think of the finish? Hated the finish. Hated the finish because it was, I thought it was premature, but it's always like, did the referee just step in to save her? Because at the end of the day, no unnecessary damage is what they're trying to protect. They're trying to protect the fight from that.
Starting point is 00:46:43 So did he stop it at the right time? It didn't look like it, but I get it. because she her back was to GDR. Like she was like, her hands were on the canvas and her back was there. She wasn't out, but maybe three or four more punches
Starting point is 00:46:56 and she'd go to sleep. I didn't like the stoppage because as soon as it happened, I'm like, well, that's not what GDR needs, Jermaine Durandum. That is the last thing she needs is another wonky finish and another weird win.
Starting point is 00:47:09 So what she needs to do to win back to fans, I don't think she needs to do anything because the fans shouldn't be against her in the first place. And if I'm her, I have to wait for the Chris Cyborg Spencer fight because whoever wins that will probably fight Amanda Nunes and if Amanda Nunes doesn't want to fight,
Starting point is 00:47:25 say Cyborg loses and she doesn't want to fight a 145 anymore because that fight is the only one that interests her, then she should fight Germain Durandum. I think Jermaine Duranum. I think Jolmany is the clear-cut number one contender of Bantamate, in my opinion. I know Giuliano Pena's been wrapping at the door, but I think we have to wait for UFC 240 for the Cyborg fight before we can really see what's next for both.
Starting point is 00:47:46 divisions. Yeah. I see your point as far as like that's the last thing she needed and I think you know obviously it has value and I think I think you know you make a good point but I would actually offer a different point of view. I actually think that this finishes is probably helps her and is not exactly what she needed but Germain is developing whether she wanted or not she's developing a type of personality or or character within MMA about kind of being a villain. And she's done well in the sense of like, look, dissociating from fans and being like, hey, look, you know,
Starting point is 00:48:26 like you guys say whatever you want, I'm going to do me. And I don't share it. I don't see it that way. But like her not fighting cyborg and saying, no, I'm going to take care of my injuries, which is very common once fighters reach the title. I mean, Henry Sehuda is about to get surgery, right? Kamara Usman is just healing up from surgery. So it's very normal for fighters to win.
Starting point is 00:48:44 a bell and be like, hey, I'm going to take care of my body right now. Because a lot of fighters destroy their body to get there. So I'm not hating on Germain for that, but a lot of fans are. And I feel like her brand is getting bigger because of that. I mean, Josh Koshik made a career out of being hated. So, you know, it's always nice to have fans being on your side, but, you know, having fans being on the other side of the fence, it's not really all that bad either if, you know, ultimately your goal is to make money and get opportunities.
Starting point is 00:49:11 So she did her job. She got, you know, it was a solid performance. It was on the ref that, you know, stopped the fight. I actually don't really just say, I thought it was premature, but I don't really disagree with it all that much. Like I think Ladd was not intelligently defending herself. She had her hands on the ground, not covering her face, wasn't even looking at the opponent. And when the fight was stopped, you know, she had like this blank look on her face. Maybe she would have fought out of it.
Starting point is 00:49:35 Maybe not. We've seen fighters fight out of even worse positions and worse states. But the fact is that Jermaine Land. did dropped her and cost damage. So I actually definitely see a path for her to fight for the belt at 135. So again, a lot depends on what Cyborg does in her upcoming fight, but I think J.D. Jermaine is a huge player of that. And while I agree with you that villains, the world needs villains, like in the professional wrestling world, like villains are like, you need those. Like Josh Kochschek. We just talked about Taylor Sun and is a great
Starting point is 00:50:11 prize fighter he made himself a great prize fighter because he played the villain but germane de randum is such a likable person when you interview her so nice yeah and like i i interviewed her in denver and she was crying in her post fight scrum because and you said she needed to heal her injuries and stuff i don't know if you remember that but she said she got an eye injury in camp and almost lost her eye like she almost went completely blind in her eye so she's like i might not have never fought again and it hit you could see that moment hit her where not only did I fight, but I won. And she was just crying.
Starting point is 00:50:45 She's like, I love, I love martial arts so much. I just love everything about it. So I get it, but Germain is not going to do that. And if she did, it would come off so disingenuous to me. Because I'm like, what are you doing? You're such a, like, you're so nice that you being mean just doesn't seem real to me. I mean, I feel like that falls on the fan base. Like, she doesn't have to change who she is and all of a sudden be like mean.
Starting point is 00:51:11 and being rude, but like, I don't know if you remember not so long ago, Daniel Cormier wasn't the most popular fighter out there. He was hated on a lot. And this is a dude that was just wanted to compete and do his best. And he put it all in the line every single time. Yet fans hated on him because you didn't really beat John Jones and this and that. Now all of a sudden with becoming champ champ and all this, he's kind of changed public perception.
Starting point is 00:51:32 Now he's, I think the fans, you know, are appreciating, are appreciating him a lot more. But, you know, I don't think Germain has to be like this, like, evil person for her to sort of take that torch. And I think as long as, because I know, like, she did several interviews where she'd be like,
Starting point is 00:51:48 yeah, like, I'm getting all these comments and they're affecting me. Like, people are telling me to kill myself and, like, all these horrible things. Like, people are mean on the internet, man. But if she can shut that off and just keep doing her thing,
Starting point is 00:51:58 and if this is the way the chips are falling, roll with it. I mean, at the end of the day, the sports entertainment. So, you know, whether they want to see you lose or they want to see you win, what matters is that they want to see you fight. So she's got that going for her.
Starting point is 00:52:13 Yeah. I mean, you're not wrong. I just, yeah. Of course not. Former featherweight champion, Jermaine, neither of us mentioned that. She was the inaugural champion. Never fought. So if she gets to fight for a second belt and actually have a great performance and defense.
Starting point is 00:52:30 I also, I just like that fight. Like Jermaine and Amanda, I just like that fight again. Yeah. I just think that's another high level martial arts fight. And where they were years ago is they're not the same fighter. people are blinded by because I do think like the way she maybe phrased things and the way she handled things when she won the title was a little off like I think those comments would have probably served better maybe like a few weeks down the road not immediately in the post fight
Starting point is 00:52:54 speech where it's like eh you know I don't really have plans of defending the belt nonetheless um man I just forgot what I was going with this oh it happens the best of us and I remember uh fans are blinded by that but germane is actually a a badass fighter. Yeah. She's a deadly striker and she's super good and she's got tons of power. She throws hard. She's very technical.
Starting point is 00:53:17 Like, she's legit, man. I love watching her fight. Yeah, I was not upset. She headlines that, that Sacramento car. I was more upset that the fight didn't last longer because I also enjoy watching Aspen Ladd fight. Like I just want to watch a high level martial arts fight between two great fighters through five rounds.
Starting point is 00:53:34 But moving along, because we still have a few questions. We have about 10, 50 minutes left. and I do want to get to Twitter. Hafeo Levato made an appearance at Bellator 224, but no plans for his title defense were announced. What is your guess? Whom is he going to fight next, really? Well, I think the answer is he's going to fight the winner of Liota-Machita,
Starting point is 00:53:53 Gagard Musasi rematch. He was on the record saying that he wouldn't blame Belator if they had booked the immediate rematch would be to him and Musassi, because Musassi had that long run. It was a very close, like a lot of people might have scored it from Musassi. A lot of people scored it for Movato. I know Luke Thomas was on record saying it's not an upset. Like, he laid the path out for Lovato to win.
Starting point is 00:54:14 If Lovato's saying he has no problem rematching Musassi, Musasi gets his long-awaited, long-desired rematch against Machita. I think the winner of that, no-brainer, fights Hafe Lovado next. Yeah. I agree with that. Bingo. Look at that. You're welcome, Bellator.
Starting point is 00:54:31 But final question on the site. Hey, guys. When this question was asked in the past from multiple posters, was brushed off with a vague. We ain't going anywhere type of rhetoric, but I'll be more specific. Can you elaborate on why a majority of the top tired talent as part of ways of MMAfighting.com?
Starting point is 00:54:48 I'm not insulting anyone that still works there, but it's strange. An actual answer in any way with what can be said would be appreciated. Thank you. And I will say, I don't, I, ask them. It's not my place. It's not my place to tell you guys why Sean, Chuck, Dave, Luke aren't here.
Starting point is 00:55:06 So ask them. and they'll give you, because excepting the day, they have their reasons. And I think, I think you should, they should be the ones to tell you guys. I mean, I don't really understand the question. I'm a little bit confused because, I mean, you're looking at the top talent. So I'm just kidding. No, I mean, it's obvious, like, you know, we've lost some people in the last few months. But I think that's the way the world works.
Starting point is 00:55:30 Like, I have friends that are, you know, working in media right now, and they've been at a company for a certain amount of years. and now they're looking to go elsewhere. Nothing lasts forever, man. Like, you know, people move around. People change jobs. That's what happens. And I think everyone that has left has always been, has posted something on Twitter or has opened up about their departure or whatever.
Starting point is 00:55:52 So I guess everybody has personal reasons. So you can ask them. But, you know, this is the way it is. And I understand the concern. I think people are worried about MA fighting because for so long this has been a community where you can come in, get your news, but not only that, you hop in the comments. You know, I mean, just right now, we're addressing our community for a
Starting point is 00:56:12 fighting. And all I can say is that that still won't change. We will still be producing top-notch content. We still have, you know, a super talented team. And not only that, we still have one of the biggest teams in MMA. And wherever you look at it in every area, we got Esther Lynn. She's the most badass photographer in MMA, probably in sports period. videographer. We got Casey Leiden, who's another badass, who always kills it. You're doing a great
Starting point is 00:56:39 job with the A side and continuing to step up in other areas as well. We got the bad boy, a.k. Lee, the baddest man in M.MA media, to be honest, you go to Europe. We got the baddest journalist as well in the European scene. I don't even need to talk about Brazil. Guillermo Cruz is a beast over there. Damon Martin, dude, that dude's been writing and working in M.M.A. media before I even got into it. it. Who am I missing here? We got a very talented crew. You got me as well. I'm around here. So, dude, this is a great team and we're going to still be producing great content. So the site will be fine. And I also don't like speaking for it because like I'm still,
Starting point is 00:57:20 like everyone that left, you and I are still really good friends with. There's literally no animosity between anyone who left the site and us. Like if I like Sean still one of my really good friends. We live in Arizona. I talk to Mark about professional and wrestling. literally every single day on Twitter. And I know when you join the athletic, you write, everyone that joins the athletic has to write a long piece on why they joins the athletic.
Starting point is 00:57:43 So if you want to know why Chuck and Sean are at the athletic now, they literally wrote out why they're there. And then Luke is doing his thing at Showtime, happy for him and his family, and he kind of explained it. Like the, yeah, he explained it. You were there, obviously.
Starting point is 00:57:59 So also, I don't like, I personally don't like speaking. for people because I'm not them and I don't want to put words in their mouth and they come back and say hey why'd you say this I'm like so ask them but we're going to jump to Twitter really quickly because we got one real quick Mike Chippetta forgot about him another OG oh Mike Chiepetta yeah beautiful man hey Jose and Danny updates any update on fights for one Josie Aldi or Gregor Gillespie and what do you think of Gillespie versus Aldo or Gillespie versus Dubronx Oliver at 155 so I have been saying forever Gillespie versus Charles Oliver is the fight that I personally want to watch. It might not make sense in terms of ranking or title contention. I just want to watch that fight. I think that's Greg Gillespie has a lot of questions like, how would you do against a high-level black belt?
Starting point is 00:58:43 There's questions how would Charles Oliver do against a high-level wrestler? I just want to watch that fight to answer those questions. And I think Jose Alos should stay at 145 and not go up to 155. I'm the opposite, man. I think Aldo has a lot of fun fights at 155. That's where I want to see him. And at this point, after losing to Volcanowski and having those two, losses to max i just don't i guess maybe there is a path if frank edgar picks up a win maybe there's a
Starting point is 00:59:12 path back to the title but right now i i don't really see it uh i i would pick max holloway to win that fight although frankie edgar is always a game you know i can't i can't discard that but i'd like to see him test the waters of one 55 you know weight cutting when when you're already in your 30s can can always you know hinder your performance you don't know and so you go up a weight class and find out. So go up to 155. Have a fun fight and see what happens. Worst comes to worse. You just drop back to 145 like you never left. So I'd like to see Aldo at 155. As far as Gregory Gillespie, Charles Olivera, I'm all in, sign me up. I think they're both ranked at this point at 15. They're definitely in the top 15. And I think Charles Olivera finally, you know, his crazy ideas
Starting point is 00:59:55 of going back to 145 are already gone. I think. I think he's already establishing himself in that way class. So yeah, I'm all for it. Let's do it. I don't think Charles Oliver is going to go to 1.45 as long as he keeps winning. Because he has the record for like most submissions, most performance. I know, it's ridiculous. But in every post-fight speech, I think he always makes a case for a drop, which is ridiculous. It's like, yo, you don't realize you just picked up a victory at 155? Right.
Starting point is 01:00:19 So, yeah, I think, and I get out everyone. There's a lot of fun fights that Jose Al-Lu could take at 155, but I want to see Jose Al-Lov by Brian Ortega. I want to see him rematch Korean Zombie. Frankie Edgar wins. He has two wins over Frankie Edgar, two, like, five round decisions. There's still a lot of fun fights at 145. I want to see Josealdo take.
Starting point is 01:00:39 145 is super exciting. And then obviously that Cubs Fons and fight that everybody keeps calling for to rematch. Like, imagine Crohn Gracie versus Joseo Alto. Like, I love everything about it. So there's fights at both, but all this jumping up and weight down,
Starting point is 01:00:53 like one, there's a lot of huge 155. And Josea Alto's not that big. So if he can make 145 healthy, I want to stay at 145 because there's fights I selfishly want to see. But we're out of time. It's 11 o'clock. Danny, I know you watch the A-side every single week. You know what time it is.
Starting point is 01:01:11 You get your promo. The floor is yours, sir. So this is a little bit of what we addressed earlier. But I kind of want to take it a little more broad and just outside of the Algeman-Steling, Henry Sehudo, Faber. Just Benevita situation. Guys, wake up. Open your eyes. Take the red pill, all right?
Starting point is 01:01:39 Move your eyelids back and look around. MMA is no longer a sport. If you're going to come at me on Twitter and be like, hey, but he's not in the rankings. But, you know, he's not in the top 10. But he's 40 years old. But this, but the layoff. Look, Dan Henderson got a title shot, being outside of the top 10, being one. one in one. All right. Conner McGregor didn't want to fight for, uh, what, two years,
Starting point is 01:02:05 also assaulted some people in a bus, uh, got into a bunch of trouble and then, you know, got to headline one of the biggest and made of the biggest pay-per-view in MMA history. Uh, I can keep going down the list. Brock Lesnar held the division hostage this summer, just because there might have been a possibility for him return and he hadn't fought him forever. Also, his win over Mark Hunt, his last win was questionable. man, I can just sit here and keep going on and on and on and on for days. Guess what? Tony Ferguson, the man has been undefeated since 2013.
Starting point is 01:02:36 I was still in college. Didn't even know what I was doing. Nowadays, I'm a taxpaying adult that pays rent, utilities, cleans his apartment and meal preps on Sunday, and the dude's still undefeated and it still hasn't gotten a title shot. So guess what? This is not a sport. This is sports entertainment.
Starting point is 01:02:53 So wake up. If you're still using rankings as, hey look but this guy deserves that this guy deserves this the m-ma that you knew from from six seven years ago is not the same not the same m-ma that we see today sports entertainment if you can sell you can get a fight so i just wanted to get that get that out of way i thought i thought it was pretty clear at this point i thought you know in 2019 we kind of know how things work but apparently a lot of people don't so i just had to get that out of my chest well said sir so my and i agree with you I like, I still view it as a sport, but when I do fantasy matchmaking, like Cynthia Calvillo came at me on Twitter this, like recently, because I said she should fight Van Buren, who just picked up a big fight at UFC Sacramento.
Starting point is 01:03:38 And she's like, she's not even ranked. She has one fight. I'm like, I get it. I just like high level martial arts. Like, it doesn't make sense. And we're getting the timer that we have to go. And I'm going to say, we didn't even get to talk about UFC San Antonio. Leon Edwards fights on Saturday, seven-fight win streak.
Starting point is 01:03:51 If he wins and Colby Covington wins, Colby Covington is to fight Camaro O's. and Leon Edwards should finally get, look for revenge for that three pieces of soda against Horne Mazur doll, and the winner that gets the winner of Colby Congton and Kamau-Uzman. But at the end of the day, Colby Cunning has to fight Robbie Lawler. No chance. There's no guarantee he wins that fight. That's my promo. Danny, where we've gone a little bit over time, I'm getting told we have to go.
Starting point is 01:04:11 So until next week, I don't know who my co-s is going to be. Wednesday, 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. specific. This will go up on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, all that fun stuff. But until next week, see you guys. Later.

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