MMA Fighting - TUF Hang: McGregor vs. Chandler TUF 31 Reaction | Ep. 8

Episode Date: July 19, 2023

Conner Burks and Mike Heck react to Episode 8 of The Ultimate Fighter 31 on TUF Hang, which goes live on YouTube every Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/4 a.m. IST immediately following the conclusion of TUF 31. Watch the show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e0owDCDalI0 Follow Conner Burks: @ConnerBurks Follow Mike Heck: @NewYorkRic Follow E. Casey Leydon: @ekc Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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You just saw it. Rico DeShullo gets Team McGregor on the board. They don't get swept. They go one and seven. We're going to get into all of that first. A quick introduction. Last week we were joined by the great New York, Rick, aka Lee, still on vacation.

Now we are joined by the great Mike Heck. Mike, how we doing today, man? We're doing great. And it turned out I got to watch probably the best episode of the season. So, you know, when you need something done, you call in the Boston guys. And I feel like this works in multiple ways for this episode of the program. Yes, we bring in the Boston guy.

I'm drinking all my Dunkin' Donuts right here. Don't worry about it. I got it ready to go. Fantastic knockout by Rico DeShullo. Like I said, we'll get into all that. We're also joined by producer extortionaire E. Casey Lai. And I have to say, Casey, right off the top. Do you feel a little slighted?

You said it from the very first episode. It was your prediction. that Team Chandler was going to go 8 and 0, does it feel worse that it comes in the very last fight that he ends up going 7 and 1? I was getting cocky. I was getting cocky. I don't know.

Yeah. Heck of a fight, heck of a comeback, actually. Still a shocking comeback of all the fights. Of the 1 through 8 fights, maybe this and the Timor fight, I was like, there's no way they're going to lose this one. And the Timor one wasn't as dominant as I thought it was going to be. And, of course, the Hunter won.

I thought that was a surefire easy win for Hunter, especially if his wrestling. And, no, you just got to win two rounds. And, hey, it's a tough house, man. Things are wacky in there. I was shocked. Yeah, I mean, I'm shocked. I have to say, I think we're all pretty surprised, especially with the way team Chandler has been performing so far. But not only that, it felt like in the build up to the fight.

And I don't know if they did this editing on purpose, but it was just like, it felt like everyone in Team Chandler was just like. like there is no way Hunter Asia is going to lose this fight. This is the biggest mismatch on the entire slate of eight fights that we have. I mean, they even interviewed Carlos Vera for Team McGregor, and he was just like, yeah, I mean, Rico could knock him out, but if it goes to the ground, I don't really love his chances. And then we see in that very first round,

they end up spending a majority of those five minutes on the ground, and it looks like Hunter Asia is just putting in work. And then as you said it, round two comes around. it stays on the feet. Enrico de Shulow finds the knockout. I mean, nasty knockout. Put him right on his ass and then goes, follows up with the double,

like King Kong hammer fist, just took the one. Fight is immediately called. McGregor goes crazy. He's running around. He starts talking shit to Team Chandler fighters. Him and Roosevelt Roberts got huge beef. He's yelling from the stands.

Yeah, it was definitely the most shocking outcome so far and tough. I really was not expecting that. I got up off my couch when it happened. So here's what I thought, and I'll admit, I'm not going to lie to America or the world right now. I've only watched a couple of episodes. This is probably the second or third that I've watched. I might have had it on in the background for others, but I've seen social media clips. And when Connor McGregor is talking about his fighters, it almost feels like he's convincing, trying to convince himself that he feels his fighter can win. This one, I actually, like, believed every word he said when he was talking about RICO. He's like, people are saying. People are. sleep it on this guy, but his length, he brings a lot of really interesting attributes to a fight with a guy who can wrestle and the length, if he can keep this on the feet. I didn't feel like McGregor had to force himself into having that take into having that side. It felt like he truly believed it.

And he hasn't been able to read a lot of things very, very well on this season of the show from all indications. But man, it seemed like he read this one really, really well. And Rico listened to everything he had to say. it seemed like Connor really motivated him. And a lot of these guys will say, like Chandler just seems to care more, but sometimes that doesn't even really matter.

It's just about personalities meshing. And I really feel like Rico took a lot away from Connor and maybe vice versa in some respect. So it was nice to kind of see those two guys kind of come together and Rico really buying into what Connor was saying because it doesn't seem like a lot of the fighters on the team really have been throughout the season, but Rico bought it hook, line, and sinker, and it paid off.

You really came on the right. episode, Mike. You really came for you and the whole Boston strong thing that he was really pushing. You did perfect for this episode because it's because I don't know. I don't know. What do you think, Connor? Did Connor McGregor sound exactly pretty much the same as every episode? Because it felt the same to me.

Like, this guy's going to win. He's got it. And then he doesn't win. He goes, darn it. You know, I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I said Mike came on a perfect episode for this. This was the best Connor episode, Connor McGregor episode, I think.

I agree. And I don't know. Maybe it's just because he won and I'm looking back in hindsight. Did it feel like we saw more of like the training footage and more of like the behind the scenes interactions? Maybe I'm just tripping and seeing it with rose-colored glasses. But no, we did. I noted that that we were actually seeing longer segments, like just not like matched up

and fast edits. It was actually, I think for one time, there was a good 45-second. just him just talking how to, whatever, throw that upper cut into that bag, you know? Yeah, yeah. And that was actually an extended segment that we usually don't see in the show. We may see that in the little extra clips they send out afterward, but in the show, everything's kind of chopped up real fast. This was actually just, they just let it play out, which I felt was the, I felt the show

needs more of. But, uh, yeah, I agree. I agree. I like seeing it. But I think I have to side with Casey here. It has felt like Connor has sold us, uh, you know, a bill of, goods on each of these fighters and how they can win. And I feel like had Hunter Ager held on to win a two-round decision, because I clearly

had it 10-9 Ager in round one, I feel like we would have just gotten the same reaction for McGregor. So I feel like he's not really acting too different. I feel like we just got to see more of it. I do have to note, maybe I'm just picking up on this eight episodes in now, but it's such a contrasting style when it's McGregor in the training room and he's yelling and he's like, you got to slow it down, you got to get the uppercut, you got to slow it down. And then they go to the interview where he's sitting in the suit in the apex and he's like,

so calm. And he's just like, oh, yeah, Rico, he's Boston Strong. He's got this in him. He's got this. It's just like, it's such like a harsh contrasting style is the way he's acting. Yeah. And I did the write-up for it too. And so basically that's how I took notes for the episode.

And like, Connor just seemed surprisingly fired up like in a positive way for a fighter who just got very close to a 10-8 round from Hunter Azure. Like, it wasn't a 10-A, but it's very, very close. Like, this is pillar to post that he had, RICO had no answer to the ground attack. It just seemed like Hunter hit him 150 times in that first round. And when the horn sounded like Connor was just like, this is a, it doesn't seem like he searches for moral victories all that often. And again, I haven't watched every single episode of the season.

I've watched very few. But it seemed like he was completely fired up. like he saw something was coming. And Rico did a good job defending takedowns early. He, that uppercut was there. He landed it real quick, landed a nice right hand early on. And then once Hunter got the takedown, like Rico couldn't do anything about it. And I just felt like him getting to that horn was such a confidence boost because Rico is just,

he's like most Boston fighters, man. He's just got so much grit and so much tenacity that you're going to have to kill this man. And the only guy to really take him out of a fight, I know he lost a, submission on the regional scene, but Montel, like Montel Jackson is a guy that if he was active, he's probably like a top 10 Bannamweight right now. So Rico's beat a lot of really good guys. And, you know, and if he loses, he's getting beat by Montel Jackson on the freaking Contender series, a loss that has actually aged incredibly well. So yeah, I took a lot away from that performance. I thought, G.C., let me ask you this. If you, I know obviously this is a recorded

show with the ultimate fighter. This fight had happened. couple months ago, but if someone tasked you with putting betting lines on this fight before it happened, Hunter Azure is a big favorite. Like, how big of a favorite would you have put him out at? I mean, I'm obviously no lines maker or anything, but just looking through like their tapology records and going back and watching, you mentioned the Montel Jackson fight. I mean, you kind of feel like someone with, with Asia's experience, and especially with the way the Chandler fighters have been having this much success, we've been seeing the veterans. I mean, like, you're thinking like a minus 400,

minus 500, like I feel like, and then what would, let's just say that this was a real fight. What is the live line after round one? Like you're talking about Asia in like a minus 1,000, minus 2,000 range. Like it's easy.

It's like I really thought that this was going to be a two round like dominant decision win after round one. I really was floored. Now I have to ask you a question, Mike, since you asked me one, being from Boston, can you speak to these,

fights that break out over parking spots in the greater Boston area. It happens, man. People fight in Boston about everything, dude. And 60% of it is motor vehicle related, whether it's a parking spot or somebody cut you off without using a blinker or, you know, someone's driving five mile an hour above the speed limit in the fast lane instead of driving 15 miles an hour above the speed limit in the fast lane. Like, that's just how they are, man.

me moving down south has really changed my personality. I used to be a very aggressive driver, and now I'm like, George Kostanzan, in that episode of Seinfeld, when he did the opposite of everything, that's kind of how I feel now, but Boston guys, man,

they just, yeah, there are fights over parking spaces, there are fights over any stupid thing, and then they dab up and have a beer after, and that's it. I mean, I liked that part. It showed a little bit of the personality.

I liked how they were laying in bunk beds, talking about the parking spots. That was actually, I felt like that's what the show, we've complained a lot about the show for lots of reasons. And one of the things I complained about is that they live in a house together. And this is one that, as I'm saying, Mike, you got a good episode. We've seen very little of actual interaction with the fighters with each other and not about a particular fight. Just talking.

That's not about their family, too. Everything is either, I miss my kids. I miss my kids that we get it. Everyone misses their kids. So this was actually a rare moment. we actually kind of, they're just, I don't know, shooting the shit a bit, you know? And it was, it was fun. It was fun.

I also have to say, speaking of the house thing, which I wish we got more of, like, you're putting these guys in a contained space together. And, like, they're all very aggressive dudes that are essentially fighting for their careers. I thought it was pretty cool to jump off the episode, uh, and seeing Lennonis and Jason Knight talking about the fight. Yeah, that was awesome. And essentially Landon being like, listen, man, like, I'm normally super salty when I lose, but, like, you taught me a lot, appreciate it.

And then Jason Knight giving him tips, like, never go to the ground with a dude that has better jiu-jitsu than you. Like, if you want to hang in the UFC, you need to get better jiu-suitz. Like, I thought that was actually pretty cool to sit. And that was the first time, I think we've seen that, where the two opponents have talked about the fight after the fight, which I think is that's one of the unique things about this whole reality shows that we have that situation. So let's, and that's a rare situation.

So let's see more of that. And at least we got it once. Yeah. I'm surprised there hasn't been more of that, honestly, especially with the layout of the show, when you have the prospects on one side and the vets on the other, like when the fights end, especially

they got some McGregor's team, you would think that they would spend a lot of time talking to the hollow bows and the Valleves and the Jason Knight. I mean, Jason Knight is probably just to, I would love to pick that man's brain for an hour and a half about fighting because that dude has fought everywhere

and every single kind of a rule said. And dude, it's just done it all. Like, I'm surprised that we haven't seen more of that throughout these episodes. I don't know why we haven't. I mean, I just don't know. I mean, they live in a house together. I don't know. Yeah, it just makes sense they would.

I'm sure those conversations are going on all the time. It's just what the editors or the UFC directors of the show, whatever, they feel like giving us. And I don't, maybe they, I don't know. This is what we want to. Lisa, I think this is what we want to see, us three. But I don't know if the general casual fan wants to see this. I'm not sure. I'm just speaking for myself.

But I want more. So here's my theory is that the Rico de Chulo knockout is going to spin us into like, I'm now excited for the rest of the season because McGregor didn't get swept. And now we are going to get the best matchups of the best fighters. And now when we get into the episode, we don't have to. to get the background of each one. We don't have to do the five, ten minute video on their families and stuff. I'm hoping that we're going to just get more content surrounding the house, the training, the beefs, the drama, and then we're going to pay it off with getting the best

fights. And the coaches challenge or whatever, too, we got that yet. The coaches challenge, let's get Chandler up in the house. Let's get McGregor and Chandler at the same time at the house. I got high hopes for these last few episodes. I can't wait to see which, one of Chandler's fighters gets sent over to McGregor's team and how they react to it because it's going to be the best. It's got to be incredible. It's got to be Catona. It has to be Catona.

Katona's the only one that would make sense, right? So let's actually get into that. You want to get into that part? Oh, Conno, so what did you think about that part? Because that was, I actually forgot they did this part because I got, they got stuck in this routine. Every episode is exactly cookie cutter. But now that we're past the elimination round, the fact that we got to see the part with

Dana, them kind of talking about matchups and, and you're going, what's the easiest fight? What's the hardest fight? You know, that's different. Yeah. Yes. No, no, no. I like that. I like that.

I actually have a note right here. And I was just like, oh, there's 20 minutes left. Like, we're going to finally get our first round three. No, it's because, you know, he gets the finish round two. And then they have to do the post stuff afterward. I actually found it to be really interesting. It felt more like a mainstream reality show, getting to see each guy's response to, like, who they think the easiest fight is.

A lot of the guys at Bantamway think it's Rico DeShullo. And then having to see the McGregor and Chandler or the team Chandler guys match up against each other after training with each other. And then I have to say, I got to give the editors credit here, leaving us on a cliffhanger of like the matchups are revealed. And it's just like, I don't want to go over to this team. Like, I'd rather leave than put on blue. Like, I like to see that drama.

But then in the same break. I thought I'm complimenting them. I do have to kind of rip on them because they did give away we're going to get Austin Hubbard, Roosevelt, Roberts. That's weird. Which means we're going to get Kurt Hollaba versus Jason Knight.

So it's like, all right, well, we know the lightweight that. That kind of got ruined in there. But alas, we get a cool behind the scene drama and we get a cliffhanger. I'm down for that. That's what I want more of. But all they said was

Roosevelt Roberts and Hubbard were going to take center stage. They didn't say they were fighting each other. Maybe there'll be two fights next week, and Roberts will be part of one, and Hubbard will be a part of the other. They showed a clip of them in the cage. Do you think they really went that deep on the editing?

They're like, all right, now do the Roberts in there. All right, now cut to Hubbard. And then they, if they did that, then all the credit in the world to them, this is like turning into like a real life reality. That would be like top-notch stuff. Like that, the whole season would be worth it at this point. Another question I had for you guys.

is it is it like I don't know how to really to phrase this like is it all worth it for McGregor to get that one win in the last fight like essentially so like is it better to have gone one and seven

and got the loss and got the win in the last fight or to have gone two and six but you got win number one in fight two and win number two and fight five so like he kind of had just like a couple wins sprinkled

but you still went two and six or to avoid the sweep and go one and seven by winning the last chance. In dramatic fashion, too. Dramatic fashion. Yeah. I think just ending it, honestly, I think the way that it ended

was perfect for Connor, because he stole all the momentum. And then even his trash talk was like, eh, look at your bums. All you do is just sit on them. But we go out there and we actually knock, we're actually finishing fights over here. We finished our fights.

You guys are just sitting on you, your bums. And he's yelling at, They finished so many fights. I don't know what he's talking about. Don't forget, team here today, gone tomorrow. You know what we call you guys? Here today, gone tomorrow. I love that.

That he's just having, like, major beef with Roosevelt Roberts. Like, Roosevelt Roberts is, like, leaning over the railing, screaming at him. It's fantastic. Do you know that whole theme of Connor after he won? It felt exactly like that meme we see with someone on the, what we call the metal podium. They were like, yeah, I got the champagne ball. Sprang the game. Sprang me.

And then they zoom out. He's like in last place. Yes. That was Connor right there. Winning one out of seven going, I did it. Yes. And then they go back, take shots of proper 12 together. Like they're all celebrating.

It was fantastic stuff. But I thought that was so weird too. It was like, dude, everyone in that room lost except one guy. And they're all like, you're not going anywhere. You're not going to the World Series. Only that guy gets it. It was just. That's it.

It was weird. Like, you mentioned that, like, everyone lost. Like, as we were going through the episode, anytime they interview a team McGregor fighter that wasn't Rico de Chulo, it was just like, oh, man, there's like another lost soul that, like, eventually met his fate of, like, not getting to win. On the flip side of the team McGregor thing, I feel terrible for Honor Asia. I mean, having to watch him do that interview through tears, talk about his family, how hard he worked to get here, how it's just right back to the grind.

just like he's been cut from the UFC. He's now knocked out in the first round of tough. Like he's put in so much work. Like I really do feel bad for him. Dude, Hunter Azure is a really good fighter. Like, he's not, I was going to make a Kevin Lee comparison because he's not obviously the same, doesn't have the same personality, the same pizzazz,

but talents, the skills, like he has it all. And just for some reason, the last few fights, just something just in his head just isn't letting him perform to the best of his ability. I mean, what we saw in the first round, I was like, okay, this is the Hunter Azure. Most people expected to see it 135 pounds before the Jackshore fight and before not getting re-signed by the UFC. But man, like, just to see him have such a great start and then just get melted like that. And then, yeah, you mentioned the post-fight interview. Just really sad stuff.

Really nice guy, family man, great beliefs. Like, one of the real nice guys in the sport. And I feel like I'm not saying that the door is closed forever. But boy, it's going to be tough for him to get back in the UFC after that. Cut off a split decision lost to Jack Shore, who was undefeated at the time. And now, you know, like to lose here like this and a fight that he was doing. really well in up until the knockout. And like, if you look at it, like, he went two and two in the UFC.

Like, he's got a win over Brad Catona. And it's just like, man, it's a brutal game. Oh, it's not, there's nothing fair about it. There's nothing fair. You know, it's just, it just sucks. I mean, and it's a fight. I honestly believe Hunter wins nine out of ten times. I think he wins nine out of ten times.

And this was the one time. He just, you know, I hate saying puncher's chance, but Rico had that puncher's chance. and he absolutely did everything he did. He actually did perfect for Rico to get to the second round what he had to do. But Hunter is the better fighter, but sometimes the better fighter does not win the fight. And that's how it goes. To a happier note, a more ecstatic note, Rico DeShullo getting to drive Connor McGregor's Lamborghini after the fight. I mean, unfortunately, we didn't get to see much footage of them just turning away.

McGregor said he was worried at how fast he was driving in. He was like, I'd take it easy, man. But still, like a pretty cool moment for Rico to Shula, like sitting down in the Lambo after getting a knockout for Team McGregor on Tuff. Like, that's a pretty cool moment. Yeah, dude thought he's going to just sit shotgun and take a little rider on the block. And Conner's like, yeah, here's the keys.

I got 42 more. Don't worry. Get on him, man. I mean, what a momentum shift. And what a moment for Rico. Not a lot of people giving this man a chance against, not only Hunter Azure, but against really anybody. I mean, you talked about Dana talking to all the fighters and everything,

and they're like, oh, who's the easiest matchup? Who would you rather fight? What do you think is the easiest path against the final? Oh, it's definitely Rico, like without hesitation. And then for him to go out and have knockout of the season in a lot of respects and, you know, have that moment. And 36 years old, like these prospects are all in their 30s. This dude's knocking on the door 40.

Was he the oldest prospect? I think you might have been. So the oldest prospect won the fight over, I think Hunter is 31. Yeah, 31 years old for Hunter and age. Yeah, I mean, an incredible moment for Rico. Can we go back to the two box real quick? Just one thing I need to point out. We've been talking about the episode names.

This one, Protectian neck. Don't really know how that one applies at all. I don't know if someone said that during the episode and I just missed it. But Rico winning by vicious knockout doesn't feel like protect your neck is very fitting. It should have been called sledgehammer. Honestly, like it was like Derek Lewis-esque. The two-handed hammer fist finish was quite impressive. Yeah.

Hokey-pokey herb was probably should have been a little quicker there. That strike should not have landed. Like Hunter was on another planet. And then RICO was just like, I think it's slow. I'm watching it like happened in real time. I'm like, no. It's just like, boom. And you just saw Hunter just end up 10 years into the future with that shot.

Yeah, there was no, there was no stop in Rico at that point. One of their note that I had. Oh, go ahead. Can you go ahead. Can you go ahead. So I've been pretty positive about Chandler's coaching this season, I felt. And I actually wrote notes. And like there's something he said that I did not like at all.

like when he was, when he was talking to Hunter kind of before the fight, you know, in the training room or whatever, he kept really underselling Rico. He kept saying, like, Hunter, you're better at this. You're better at this. You're better at this. You'll win this. You got it. You're better than this.

You're better than that. And personally, I've always kind of hated when coaches undersell your opponent. And like, you're just, you're just better. You're just better. It's like, I don't like that. And maybe that was good foreshouting to kind of give the twist. But the way, I think, I think Connor, I'm sorry, I think Chandler gave Hunter way too much confidence in that fight. And coming out in that second round, it showed.

Actually, the beginning of the first round, he looked, if you go to the first 30 seconds of the first round, I would say Rico has won the first 30 seconds. But then eventually Hunter kind of took over, no almost, very much 108 of them the rest of the round. But watch the episode, Chandler was just like no selling. RICO hardcore. And I think that hurt, I think that hurt Hunter. I just want to point that out. I just don't like underselling your opponent like that, especially when they have so much on the line. I mean, that's a fair point. And honestly, like, I have the note of how like it felt like everybody was gassing Hunter up and sort of putting down RICO. And it almost felt like the only people that really were giving full belief in RICO, at least behind the scenes. I'm sure to his

face, Tim McGregor was gassing him up. But it really only felt like McGregor and the other coaches were the ones showing full belief in him the entire time. And then obviously, Rico himself. But yeah, that's a good point by you, Casey. I didn't really think about it from the getting too much in his head of like, this is easy work for you. This is easy money. Yeah.

So when you do hit some adversity in the fight, you're like, it's going to hit you like a wall. Like, oh my God, I'm supposed to be so much better. And when it turns competitive for a moment, you can quickly fall, especially MMA with four-ounce gloves. So I think that, I just think I was a mistake by Chandler, at least what they showed in the episode so on a much less serious uh tactical you know great observation note uh how about dana all episode every time we went to the to the one solo shot interview of them rocking the hasbula shirt don't even get me started with that mike i know you i know you're a hasbula fan

i know you must have loved that oh it was great it was awesome the only you know what had been the only thing that would have been better is if we got a commercial for the hasbula t-shirt that he's wearing and they could sell it for $45. I would have bought it. I would have bought it, dude. It's a great shirt. It's a great shirt. You could wear it to the next watch party.

Yes. Yes. Yeah. I mean, I wish they had released made it like a cooler design. Like it was literally just a square box with Husbul's face on it. Like let's get like some like a cool designer in there for it. But yeah, I just thought that was hilarious. Every time we went to him, it's just, it's just has Bullitt's face.

All right. So moving forward, I, I am a. under the belief they kind of gave it away that we're going to get Austin Hubbard Roosevelt Roberts and then Kurt Holla Jason Knight. We had to talk about it. It seems as if they're probably going to have two fighters go over to team McGregor. We're all in agreement there. Do we have any any inclination on who it might be?

Katona seems pretty an easy choice, right? You said who? Katona. Yeah. So I think it's going to be Katona and De Shulow in the bantamweight fights but in terms of lightweight like oh what lightweight will go over yeah in in my opinion i feel like it's it's definitely not going to be roosevelt roberts which means it'll be austin hubbard and then i think it'll be either hollabber night in in the other fight i'm gonna say Yeah, Holbo. I think Hollabo will go over to McGregor.

I think Knight will stay. They foreshadowed it. They were like, Jason Knight said he'll go home if he ends up on McGregor's team. Oh, I didn't hear that. I didn't even hear the night thing. Okay. I mean, they could just be.

I think we've gotten this pretty much. Pulling the chain. Like, Hollabo doesn't seem to give a crap. He just wants to get in there and fight. He's, he knows this is his last chance. He doesn't care of a team he's on at this point. He just wants, it's not about. team this and team Matt's about getting to the final and trying to get back into the UFC for him.

So, dude, Hallibaut and Knight is going to be exciting stuff, man. That's a fun fight. The build, the face off, everything about it, like southern accents to the nines between those two guys. It is going to be awesome. I think they actually did this right. Mississippi versus Louisiana? Yep, Mississippi, yeah. Southern Mississippi versus Nicanna.

Who was it? Was it Jason Knight that said this fight has needed to happen for the last? 10 years? I don't know if he meant them to in particular or you talk about Mississippi and Louisiana. I wasn't sure if he meant like them. I wasn't sure what exactly meant. But I know there's like a lot of college rival because I'm from Mississippi area too. I'm from northern Mississippi, but nights from southern Mississippi.

But I know there is a lot of college rivalries down there. So. Los Angeles, you, Ole Miss. Shout out. Yeah. Yeah, Lise, Ole Miss, the most obvious, biggest one. But yeah, I'm not sure. Yeah, I'm not sure what he meant by that in particular.

Hopefully, maybe there is some beef that we didn't know about. They've been saving, you know? I wonder if, like, they're ever booked to fight each other on the regional scene? Like, that's very possible. Yeah. It's very possible. Yeah. Well, I think we're going to get it either way.

So I think it'll be Rico and Katona at Bannon White for McGregor and Havill and Hallibahubbard at lightweight. And then obviously, the Chandler fighters will stay on their side. So it should be interesting. I'm looking forward to it four episodes to go. I don't know Was this episode 8 So 12 episodes yeah

There's four Yeah so four Yeah so we're gonna get one fight an episode Yeah yeah I mean we are actually like on the case right now We are the mystery solvers We are not going to get two fights next week We are only going to get the one because we're going to do

We're going to do it one fight per episode I'm going to say that Rico is going to shock the world And Katona Nah never mind Never mind. Timor has to be in the final. Yeah, Timor is going to fight Brad Katona

because the UFC is going to want to get Katota on, on, out of here. And from what seems to be the rumblings right now, the tough finale fights are going to be during UFC 292 in Boston. And you would think that either A, it's foreshadowing that Rico is in the finals, Or B, they knew that this was the plan to begin with, and they're going to try to get RICO into that final fight. And throwing him in there with Gibson is probably the best way to do it.

Because isn't Gibson hurt? Doesn't he have a knee injury or something? Yeah, yeah. So there you go. Like, they're going to give DeSulo to Gibson. They're going to have Valia fight Katona. Value of probably win, and it'll be Rico versus Valley of in Boston. I have no insight to this whatsoever, by the way.

This is just how I say. There's a lot of force. I know McGregor. Yeah. I know McGregor wants. Yeah, McGregor's like, oh,

we want Timor. I'm like, they're not going to, like, if the finals is going to be in Boston, they're not going to throw him in there with Timor. There's just no chance. I don't know,

but you get him wrong. Oh, man. Man, I didn't even think about that. 2.92. They're trying to get Rico on the final. I love this. We're building this right here.

All right. So I think we have this all figured out. It's going to be Rico. It's going to be Rico. It's going to be Rico versus Cody Gibson. Rico, obviously, representing team McGregor.

It's going to be Brad Citona versus team believe. Cotona representing team McGregor. It's going to be Holliba representing team McGregor. And it's going to be Hubbard Roberts, Hubbard representing team McGregor. Then we're going to go, RICO versus

Believe. We're going to get the McGregor fighter in the final at 2.92. And then what do we think for lightweight? How do we think we get to the final there? Knight versus Roberts. I think, I'm thinking, I'd be incredible.

Yep, let's go. Let's go Jason Knight versus Roosevelt Roberts. And there you have it, folks. Rico versus Believe, Knight versus Roberts, UFC 292 in Boston. Crowd goes wild for Rico. He pulls off the upset at the ripe age of 36 years old in front of the home crowd. We're writing the story right now. I mean, this is incredible stuff.

We're kind of excited. One upset creates a lot of excitement. Well, now they left us with some. some cliffhangers. They left this with some things to figure out. They left this with a guessing game. But I have this written down. I have the bracket we've just created. I have this written down. We're going to go back to this after next week's episode. I am, I'm going to disagree with you on one pick. Oh, God. Here we go, Mike.

I'm picking Kurt Hollabo to be Jace tonight. How dare you. So we're all in agreeance that it's going to be Roberts over Hubbard. Oh, yeah, I feel pretty good about that. Hubbard's good, man. I don't want to take anything away from my. Kind of thing Rose on one right now. I think there's just, and look, I've talked to both guys after their first round wins, and they both have a lot to fight for right now.

And both realize, both were on the cusp of just walking away and calling it a career before this opportunity came. And Robert just kind of came all of a sudden. He's like, eh, I ain't fighting anymore. And then the show came up. And Hubber was like, yeah, I'll do the show. And they're like, well, we're going to do a different format. All right, so I'm not doing the show.

Actually, you're back on the show. Oh, sweet. actually you're not on the show anymore. And then it was like, okay, now you're on the show. So it's been kind of a weird road for both guys. So I'm kind of bummed that they're fighting each other in the second round, especially when everybody seems to believe that these are the two best 55ers in the house. You'd think you'd want to set up the finale that way, but who knows?

It's just, I don't know nothing about tough in the setup of it. I mean, it's been on for 20 years or so, and it's the same friggin show as it was 20 years ago. So pretty much. What do I know? I don't know. I don't think it's about you not knowing anything. I think it's just the show can lack entertainment at some point. So I think you are on to something.

Yeah. I'm glad I got a good episode because, yeah. Listen, we've cracked the code. 292. Just go ahead and put it on the tapology page. Rico Believe and Roberts versus either night and hollab. We know who's going to be representing Team McGregor. I mean, this is great work from us.

This is really investigated for stuff. Can't wait. We'll keep you updated. I mean, Mike, where, are, do you think they'll put the, the tough finale's on the main card of 2.92? No, God, no. No. It'll be on probably the ESPN prelim, so. Oh, what a bummer.

Those are probably the first two, first two ESPN. They're not going to do their own fight night for the tough finale, but this one, this. From all occasions. Yeah. From all the occasion, the tough finale is going to be on that card. Oh, they're going to mix it in the prelims. Okay, one of those things, yeah. Which is better than just chucking in on a random fight night main card that 11 people are going to watch.

So this is actually probably better. I mean, oh, it's just kind of wondering. Yeah. It also makes a thousand percent sense. There's only 11 fights booked on 2.92 right now. Also, I just have to step back and say just how naive and foolish it was to me even throw out the idea of it being on the main card. main card of 2992 right now main event aljo versus omali comane wiley jang versus amanda lemos rob font songy dong jane jean e and gary which there's huge beef there now marlin chito vera versus

pager manuio vorentius yeah uh gonna say that rico versus valet is not gonna make the i think you're either way we might have to start that uh 2992 watch party a touch early so we can get the tough finale's in. That'd be fun. I'm down. Hopefully they don't do it like too early on it the night.

That's obviously TBD. All right, that was episode eight. Protect your neck of tough season 31. Team McGregor, Blue is on the board. We start with the semi-finals next week.

Should be as the tease let us to believe Austin Hubbard versus Roosevelt Roberts, but maybe they throw us through a loop. Maybe everything we just did was all for not. They're going to give us something interesting.

But we will discuss that next week. A.K. Lee back from his trip to Japan. Mike Heck, thank you so much for joining us. Really appreciated, man. Great stuff. Continue to watch tough, man. Maybe we'll call on you at a later date. So don't give up on season 31 just yet.

I think I should get the hot tag when Rico wins his fight, right? I mean, you're predicting it. I think I should get the hot tag for that episode. It'll be the last one before the finals, more than likely. We shall see. I cannot wait for that one. Until next week, thanks for watching, Tough Hang, appreciate it.

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