Oops! … He did it again. Jake Paul played with our hearts, got lost in the game on Saturday, as he dispatched Mike Perry via sixth round TKO. Things went a little off the rails after that, with Conor McGregor trying to “fire” Perry on social media and calling Paul a “pissbag.” Meanwhile, Paul called out Alex Pereira in a fight which seemed both interesting and also impossible. OK, so hear us out, guys. Paul is now 10-1 as professional boxer. He’s proven himself to be a compelling draw. He’s also a pretty good boxer. Though he’s clearly not championship level, would it ever be possible for him to – let’s say if he wins five or six more fights – to compete for some lesser boxing title? Like, the IBWQZF cruiserweight belt or something? I mean, he probably wouldn't win, but it seems like insane every day to ponder if he might at least get the opportunity. Also, UFC 304 is this weekend, where Belal Muhammad finally gets his welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall accomplishes the dubious achievement of actually defending the “interim” heavyweight championship against Curtis Blaydes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things Jon Jones has done on Twitter over the last few weeks include, but are not limited to: Announcing he gained 50/50 custody of a son we (maybe?) didn’t know he had. Posted a picture with his new cybertruck. Forgot his own birthday (maybe?). And also posted that he cut half his finger off at the Las Vegas airport. Maybe? Hard to know. After Jones did the old tweet-and-delete of his finger tweet, he pretty much went back to business as usual. Like, tweeting about how magic is real, and Jesus Christ is the strongest magic of all. Shit like that. Also, like getting charged with a couple misdemeanors in the wake of his recent weird alleged confrontation with drug testers. So, truth is, we don't know the status of any of Jones' fingers at the moment. But, like, if Jon Jones lost a finger, we'll find out about it eventually, right? Maybe? Plus, the UFC is really leaning into the Just Some Fights ass shit this summer and … hey … Jake Paul vs. Mike Perry is this weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, you know what they say about sunshine and the proverbial dog’s ass. Hard to believe, but Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal went out there and had an (allegedly) entertaining boxing match over the weekend. We guess the law of averages says it was bound to happen eventually. Question is, though, now that we’re this far down the road into the overwhelmingly disappointing “old MMA guys try to box” period of our declining society, did anybody watch? Plus, Jon Jones says he and Stipe finally have something on the books and Reug Reug wins a fight against a guy named Ketchup that was even more ridiculous than it sounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turned out, Alex Pereira didn’t need the dark arts to defeat Jiri Prochazka. He just needed Prochazka to continually rush at him with little to no defenses around his face until Pereira could start landing his bombs. Next thing you know, Jiri was standing there making his sad samurai face while Poatan was getting his hand raised. But now that Pereira is ensconced as UFC light heavyweight champion and one of the UFC’s most interesting draws, what’s next for him? I mean, if you’re the UFC and you want to create a huge spectacle AND make tons of money, it’s got to be Jon Jones, right? Right? Plus, Diego Lopes is now the champion of the 1-6-5 and Andrei Arlovski – who has been with the UFC longer than Dana White – is done. At least inside the octagon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, now we know. It was the toe. The pinkie toe, to be exact. The littlest pig. That’s what kept Conor McGregor out of the fight of the year, his grudge (?) match years in the making against Michael Chandler. And lo, what irony of all ironies it was the original SLG himself, Chael Sonnen, who trolled Conor into posting pics of the injured digit online which … yeah, that went about like you’d expect. With McGregor and Chandler off (perhaps for good), this weekend we get a revamped UFC 303 card that looks, well, just fine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor is out. Alex Pereira is in. Michael Chandler is out. Jiri Prochazka is in. Jamahal Hill is out. Anthony Smith is in. Elsewhere, Khamzat Chimaev is out. Ikram Alizkerov (?) is in. Mike Tyson is out (at least for the moment). Mike Perry is in. Seriously, enough you guys. Plus, Anderson and Chael boxed kind of. And Ben is back from Ireland! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier gave it his all, putting on the sort of gritty and endlessly game performance against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 that we've come to expect from him during his great career. But it wasn't enough. There was never really a moment in this fight where it seemed like Cool Dusty P was going to win. Poirier had that dog in him, but so did Makhachev. The result? And still. Now, Poirier contemplates retirement while Makhachev waits to see who's next. Plus, Sean Strickland put on another sleepy, split-decision Strickland performance against Paulo Costa. And is there any end to the bullshit the UFC will make us sit through during a PPV? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier is already an all-time great lightweight. He's a shoo-in first-ballot UFC Hall of Famer. He's beloved by fans. He possesses a resume that will stand-up with almost anyone's. But you know what would be really transformative for him? If he became undisputed lightweight champion. This weekend at UFC 302, Poirier gets what is likely his final opportunity to seize that crown when he takes on Islam Makhachev. It definitely won't be easy. Poirier is going off as close to a 6-to-1 underdog at some sportsbooks. But we can't help but wonder ... what if ... Plus, Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa should be an interesting match-up of styles between two well-known, uh, characters. But only one of them needs to win it to keep his hype train rolling. Spoiler: It's Sean Strickland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey! It’s the 12th anniversary of the Co-Main Event Podcast! Yaaaay! Didn’t think we’d still be here, did you? DID YOU? Haha, well, screw you haters, we’ll see you in the passion project gotcha videos we get our video staffs to produce making fun of you specifically. Funny to look back where it all began. Most of the fighters we talked about in those early days have faded from view now (or at least have moved on to the bare knuckle boxing portions of their combat sports careers) … with the notable exceptions of a few, including both Jon Jones and Anderson Silva (technically retired, but whatevs), who both just so happen to figure into our discussions THIS VERY WEEK. First though, you gotta take your hat off to boxing, which has a fascinating feud over its undisputed heavyweight title going on right now (and it doesn’t get much better than that). Also, UFC 304 fights got announced and they answer some of our biggest matchmaking questions of the year … while raising new ones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By now we all know what Derrick Lewis brings to the table. You either like it, or you don't. Lewis is going to come into fight week and be cheeky and affable, claiming to have not really trained and/or not to know his opponent's name. Then he's going to either A) Almost lose his fight before winning it or B) Almost win his fight before losing it. Afterward, he's going to take his pants off. This is pretty much what happened on Saturday against Rodrigo Nascimento, where Lewis ultimately emerged with a third-round TKO win after two-plus round where he flirted with the idea of messing around and losing. He won, whipped off his shorts and fanned the nearly unconscious Nascimento with them before sliding his cup out and tossing it into press row. So, yeah, everything went according to plan ... until an MMA "journalist" asked Dana White to sign Lewis' athletic supporter at the post fight press conference. Ugh. What the hell, you guys. Plus, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson faced off for the first time this week, while over in Saudi Arabia, the heavyweight boxing match that actually matters is scheduled for this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fitting that as the Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates its 600th episode, it's an old dog making the most headlines from Saturday's UFC 301. If Jose Also was supposed to serve as a stepping stone for Jonathan Martinez down there in Rio over the weekend, Aldo did not get the memo. He showed up looking like the Jose Jr. of old, pretty much putting a whipping on the younger Martinez over three rounds. Vintage Aldo! Plus, Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his men's flyweight title against Steve Erceg but didn't necessarily come out of it smelling like a rose--and Michel Pereira's crazy ass back flips his way into our hearts once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few years ago it might have seemed farfetched that one day we'd be sitting here spending the majority of an entire episode of the Proper talking about Bare Knuckle FC and a Jake Paul fight, but that's the reality of where combat sports is at the moment. The big headlines for the weekend were: Mike Perry dismantling Thiago Alves in a minute flat at Knucklemania IV and Paul's fight against Mike Tyson being sanctioned as an actual, real professional boxing match (sort of) by the Texas athletic commission. By comparison, the UFC's Fight Night event got left in the dust. So, there you go, there's our show. Boom. Done. Oh wait, except that UFC 301 is this weekend down there in Rio. So we gotta talk about that, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In all the hubbub over UFC 300, most of us missed the juicy detail that Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos was down there sitting cageside on the elbow of Ari Emanuel during the event. You know who didn't miss it? David Spade. The UFC OG celebrity himself posted a pic on his socials blaming "Ted" for blocking his view of the octagon. So, that's interesting. Just a few weeks after Netflix acquires broadcast rights for WWE, there's "Ted" checking out the merchandise at the UFC's biggest event of the year. Maybe Sarandos is just a hardcore. Or ... maybe ... Well, we're certainly not going to pass up the opportunity to speculate wildly. Plus, PFL had a pretty good event on Friday and Ryan Garcia's crazy ass actually won that big boxing match. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, don't we all feel stupid now? After weeks of dumping on the UFC 300 card for not living up to our expectations, it finally happened on Saturday and it ... was ... bonkers. You had Max Holloway put on a performance for the ages against Justin Gaethje in a fight that more than showcased the BMF status of both guys. You had Alex Pereira give Herb Dean the ol' "Not now, Herb!" hand gesture and go straight from a low blow to a highlight reel knockout of Jamahal Hill. Plus, Weili Zhang survived a gritty challenge from Yan Xiaonan and Arman Tsarukyan stayed out of Charles Oliveira's many submission attempts long enough to score a split decision win. And all that barely scratches the surface. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saturday night, the greatest fight card in the history of fight cards comes at us from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Or, at least, that's what the UFC wants us to think about UFC 300. Honestly, the card isn't too bad, with two actual championship fights and one "championship fight." Your main event, the light heavyweight title (unification, sort of?) bout between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill will be a fun punchy-kicky sort of a deal. Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan has been somewhat anticipated. Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway will no doubt be killer, BMF title or no. Plus, you've got the promotional debut of Kayla Harrison and plucky young underdog Bo Nickal trying to continue his Cinderella march through the middleweight division. So, yeah, good job, UFC, which will definitely not pat itself on the back for putting on a decent fight card to commemorate event No. 300 or whatever this actually is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Chris Weidman can't very well retire after that one, can he? We had hoped perhaps Saturday's Fight Night bout against Bruno Silva would be the former middleweight champion's last but ... not only did he "win," but the circumstances were so weird that Weidman pretty much has to come back for at least one more. After 12 and a half minutes of foul-filled action, where at times he looked much improved and at times looked like he was about to get spectacularly knocked out, Weidman pulled off the here-to-for unseen double eye-poke during the same one-two combination. Silva (understandably) couldn't continue, the fight was stopped and somehow Weidman got a unanimous decision (?) win out of it. MMA, man. It's fucked up. Plus, Manon Fiorot may well be the No. 1 contender at women's flyweight, just as soon as Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko get done coaching TUF and Nate THE TRAIN Landwehr reminds us that he might be the funnest thing going in the UFC. WHOOP HIS ASS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The years-long staring contest between the UFC and some of its former fighters is over. The class action antitrust lawsuit between the two parties ended last week with the MMA company agreeing to pay a $335 million settlement to the aggrieved fighters. That's great for the individual fighters, most of whom will now get a chunk of change. Maybe not so great for MMA at large, as the bigger picture structural and competitive changes that might have come along with the lawsuit will likely now not happen. But considering the alternatives, did the fighters do the right thing? Plus, Rose Namajunas returned with a win, though perhaps not exactly the kind of win she needed. Especially not with Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot about to have an apparent No. 1 contender fight this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After showing up to the "Road House" premiere looking like he was in a *cough* heightened state of awareness *cough* Conor McGregor once again iterated that he wants to return to the UFC to finish out the final two fights on his contract. So. Conor McGregor wants to fight. The UFC seems to want Conor McGregor to fight. Michael Chandler DAMN SURE wants to fight. What's the hold up? Plus, what's up with Nate Diaz suddenly being all nice and shit? Plus, we still haven't found something that can kill Mark Coleman, and Rose Namajunas returns on a fairly anonymous Fight Night card at the Apex. Because of course. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Sean O'Malley needed a statement win to prove he is perhaps the class of the UFC's growing group of young stars, he got one Saturday, essentially pitching a perfect game against Marlon "Chito" Vera at UFC 299. O'Malley kept Chito at the end of his reach, dictating the pace and the terms of engagement and the best thing you could say about Vera by the end is that he's one tough son of a bitch. Plus, how about that Cool Dusty P, eh? Yaaaay. And, oh yeah, Francis Ngannou got terribly knocked out. Booo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean O'Malley looks to avenge his funky 2020 injury loss to Chito Vera on Saturday at UFC 299. Kinda weird to think that we already consider O'Malley one of the UFC's most established stars and champions when in actuality he'll be gunning for his first successful title defense this weekend. It seems like a pretty good scrap, but make no mistake, UFC 299 has a lot more going for it than just O'Malley vs. Chito. Dustin Poirier vs. Benoît Saint Denis, the debut of Michael Venom Page, Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida and Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos just to name a few. If that wasn't enough, Francis Ngannou heads back to Saudi Arabia to see if he can prove his performance against Tyson Fury was no fluke when he takes on Anthony Joshua. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Ortega injured himself before his co-main event fight against Yair Rodriguez even started on Saturday, appearing to roll his ankle during Bruce Buffer’s fighter introductions. Then Ortega got lit up like a Roman candle by Rodriguez in round one. Got dropped. Got pounded on. Got his whole shit broke, basically. Somehow, though, Ortega rebounded in rounds two and three and ended up actually winning this thing with a gnarly arm triangle choke in the third. Damn! Add to this already delightful stew that Ortega entertained (?) reporters during prefight media festivities by telling an obviously bullshit story about eagles and – hoo boy – pretty weird week for that dude. Plus, judges declared Royval the better Brandon (was he thooooough?) and Bellator fighters dominated PFL fighters in all the fights except the one that mattered most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything came up Ilia Topuria on Saturday at UFC 298, as the 27-year-old Spaniard fulfilled his self-avowed destiny with a thunderous second-round knockout of longstanding men’s featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The outcome was bittersweet for longtime fans, signaling perhaps both the end of one great champion’s reign and the emergence of a bold new successor. Hold on, though, are we shoveling dirt onto Volk’s grave a little prematurely? And with no obvious No. 1 contender, what’s the right next move for Topuria? Plus, Bobby Knuckles wins, Merab puts on a show and Mackenzie Dern continues to baffle us. Plus, presidential trivia!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexander Volkanovski fully embraced his old man status headed into Saturday's UFC 298, in a legitimately hilarious internet video that showed off his stellar general acting chops and comedic timing. Still, that acceptance doesn't take away from the harrowing actual statistics about what happens to UFC champions after they turn 35. Add in recent concerns over his drinking habits between fights and our nagging memories of him getting KOed by Islam Makhachev his last time out and we are perhaps as nervous as we've ever been headed into a Volk fight. Plus, there is the matter of the weird confidence exuded by Ilia Topuria, who is either setting himself up for a fast rise or a big fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Got to admire Renato Moicano’s entrepreneurial spirit. Here’s “Money” Moicano nearly 10 years and 15 fights into his UFC career (he’s 18-5-1 as professional after Saturday’s win over Drew Dober) and it feels like he’s just now spreading his wings to show us the beautiful butterfly he’s become. And, friends, it is weird. After dusting Dober in the co-main event of the weekend’s Fight Night card, ya boi “Money” jumped on the mic and said, among other things, he was going to go home and impregnate his wife to try to keep up with his 62-year-old father (who himself just had a baby), that he wants to join the SWAT team to “kill bad guys,” and that if we don’t respect the law, America would become a “third world country.” So, yeah, it was a lot. Plus, Nassourdine Imavov wore Roman Dolidze around the cage like a hat and next week Joe BODYBAGZ Pyfer tries to become a capital G Guy against Singin' and Dancin' Jack Hermansson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a triple-whammy announcement from Dana White last week, adding Kayla Harrison to UFC 300, giving her a fight with Holly Holm and having it at women's bantamweight. Clearly Harrison's involvement in the UFC's gala milestone pay-per-view is a big deal. But how big? Does she really deserve to be such an overwhelming favorite? And is she really going to make 135 pounds? We have questions. Plus, after saying what we were all thinking on his podcast last week, Jon Anik apologized if he offended anyone by being so dead-on right about what assholes they are. Was the apology really his idea? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dricus du Plessis beat Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, Raquel Pennington cashed-in on the women's bantamweight strap on her 18th fight in the UFC and the company announced Frankie Edgar was going in the hall of fame. We really wish that's what people were going to remember about UFC 297, but honestly? We'll probably remember it as an event where people said a bunch of dumb shit and then many of the reactions to that shit were even dumber. And that's sad, man. That's a sad place we've reached in this sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis are set to take it to the cage on Saturday at UFC 297, instead of fighting all over the damn arena like Mankind and HHH in 1997 or whatever. The champion probably still needs to prove to us that his win over Israel Adesanya last Sept. wasn't a fluke. Can a victory here do that? Meanwhile, DDP is out to show he can win a title in a third organization -- and that he can either stop Strickland quickly or withstand the champ's pressure style without gassing out over five rounds. Plus, it's Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant women's bantamweight title. Who knew?!? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends, the holiday doldrums are over and this weekend the UFC kicks off its sure to be relentless 2024 live event schedule with a rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. Maybe not the sexiest main event, but the card isn't too bad, all things considered. In addition to that, we take your listener mail questions, which piled up on us a bit during the break. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last UFC event of 2023 left us with a lot to talk about. Leon Edwards and Alexandre Pantoja both successfully defended their titles. Up-and-comers Shavkat Rakhmonov and Paddy Pimblett got big wins. We saw at least one potential knockout of the year contender. Oh yeah, and Ian Garry, Sean Strickland and DDP all caused spectacles outside the cage. With Noted Fight Fans Kid Rock and Donald Trump sitting cageside, the whole thing was kind of a microcosm of what the UFC is all about right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a year of upheaval in the UFC. All told, the company has crowned 11 champions in 2023--with UFC 296's twin-bill of title fights still on deck this Saturday. Can Colby Covington finally breakthrough and become undisputed welterweight champion with a win over Leon Edwards? Can Brandon Royval unseat newly-minted men's flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja? Oddsmakers say these fights will be close. Will it continue to be a bad year for sitting champions? Plus, big fights for Shavkat Rakhmonov, Paddy Pimblett and Ian (whispers) MACHADO Garry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's possible there has never been a person better suited to bare knuckle boxing than Mike Perry. Here he was again last weekend against Eddie Alvarez, seeming to wager that he was willing to go out there and accept more punishment than the other guy in pursuit of something called the "King of Violence" belt--and he was right. Perry again emerged victorious after Alvarez's corner stopped the fight after the second round. All hail the king or whatever. Plus, Arman Tsarukyan looked dominant over Beneil Dariush and Bobby Green not so much against Jalin Turner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of last week's PFL championships and in advance of this week's UFC Fight Night, we open it up to listener questions. What's at stake between Beneil Dariush and Arman Tsarukyan this weekend? Why don't we give Miesha Tate more credit as a pioneer of women's MMA? Is Stipe still relevant? And is PFL fumbling the bag? These topics and more from you, the beloved listeners of the CME. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was funny and fitting that Bellator 301 crowned two new champions and advanced one fighter to the finals of the company's ongoing grand prix just a couple days before we got final confirmation it had been acquired by the PFL. At least for now, the PFL says it will continue running something called the Bellator International Champions Series but, come on, we know how these things go. This week, we discuss the end(ish?) of Bellator and what kind of player this could now make the PFL on the national MMA scene. Plus, Brendan Allen roughs up Paul Craig and Tom Aspinall calls out some rubbish. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It’s risk free with Nord’s exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We crowned two new champions on Saturday at UFC 295–and neither fight took that long. On a night full of KOs at Madison Square Garden, Alex Pereira emerged with the light heavyweight championship (his second in two different divisions) and Tom Aspinall became the new interim heavyweight titlist. So … the question remains … just how mad is Jon Jones about this? Yeah, he tried to be all nice when he congratulated Aspinal via social media, but you just KNOW it’s burning him up inside that these two guys won belts that Jones technically never lost. We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re sad that Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic is off pretty much indefinitely due to Jones’ torn pec, but UFC 295 still looks pretty OK. It’s admittedly a little top heavy – no need to stack the card when you thought you had JBJ vs. Stipe, eh? – but the revamped main and co-main still look pretty cool. Jiri Prochazka returns from the worst shoulder injury in the history of shoulders to take on former middleweight champ Alex Pereira for the vacant light heavyweight title. Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich duke it out for an interim heavyweight title. Seems like a couple good fights that might clean up the messes in the UFC's heaviest weight classes. Plus, some people were impressed by Jailton Almeida's win over Derrick Lewis and some people weren’t and shit maybe just got really real for the UFC in its antitrust case. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It’s risk free with Nord’s exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MMA people, what did we just see? Francis Ngannou went over there to Saudi Arabia over the weekend and DID THE DAMN THING against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Ngannou out-performed even our most generous expectations, knocking Fury down in the third and taking him to a (kinda bullshit?) split decision. It was, without a doubt, one of the greatest underdog performances in the history of professional sports. This week on the Proper, we discuss, among other things: My God, Francis showed out. How to even put this fight in historical perspective? So, what's next? Does Francis become a full-time boxer or does he have some MMA left in him? How bad did the UFC fuck up here? And when will we hear from Noted Boxing Fan Dana White about this fight? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 294 was a weird one. Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev both scored big victories over short-notice replacements, but the event also was marred by low blows, fence grabs, illegal knees, some super weird ringside doctoring, a couple people showing up with staph, rumors the UFC had once again banned flags from the Octagon and – of all things – Paolo Costa trying to brawl random fans in the stands. So, yeah, it was bizarre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, just a couple weeks before the UFC is set to head to Abu Dhabi with a fairly marquee card, they lose BOTH their co-main event and main event to some unexpected misadventure. In this case, it was a cut to Charles Oliveira and surgery for Paulo Costa that forced them out of their respective bouts. This type of swerve might spell disaster for any other promoter, but not so for the UFC. When you've got the power and influence of an organization that controls more than 90% of your chosen market, you just reload, brother. The UFC brought in featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski to take Oliveira's place in a lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev and former welterweight titlist Kamaru Usman to sub in for Costa in a middleweight bout against Khamzat Chimaev. In other words, still pretty awesome. Damn. Must be nice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC President Dana White this week confirmed earlier social media posts from Conor McGregor that the fighter had "sent his stuff" to UFC drug czar Jeff Novitsky, but said that McGregor was not back in the USADA testing pool quite yet. "I literally have nothing planned for Conor McGregor right now,” White said. Could this possibly be true? Has White finally realized that it's impossible to plan anything with the wily Irishman? But, if that's so, why did McGregor apply to get back into the pool at the exact six-month deadline he'd need if he were going to headline UFC 300 in April, 2024? It's a mystery. Plus, Bobby Green KOed Grant Dawson so fast he didn't even know what hand he did it with and ... well, this seems like a VERY Bellator end for Bellator, doesn't it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bellator 300 happens this weekend at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Three titles on the line. Seventeen fights total. Under normal circumstances you could chalk it down as a gala celebration of Scott Coker's alternative American MMA organization making it to the big Three Double Oh. Unfortunately, with rampant rumors that PFL is about to buy it and that Bellator has one, maybe two events left ... well, that casts a pall, doesn't it? Plus, the UFC's unstoppable fight engine roars back to life with Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green and the California State Athletic Commission continues to actually try to do a good job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We got more listener mail than we expected coming out of last weekend’s Fight Night card – Thanks, Bryce! – and with no UFC event scheduled for this weekend we thought, what the hell, let’s answer as many of them as we can. So, we take your queries about the bummer ending of Fiziev vs. Gamrot, Bryce Mitchell’s bible thumping, excitement levels for Jiri vs. Pereira, whether ALL fighters will soon be DWCS fighters and a whole lot more. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It's risk free with Nord's exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody loves a 10-8 round more than Mike Bell. That Mike Bell is a 10-8in' MFer to be sure. Let him out of your sight for even one second and Mike Bell will score a round 10-8. Valentina Shevchenko found that out the hard way on Saturday at UFC Noche, as Bell's 10-8 scorecard in favor of Alexa Grasso in the pivotal fifth round of their title fight denied Shevchenko the opportunity to regain the women's flyweight championship and maybe sent her to the back of the contender line. The split draw that let Grasso hold onto the title, however, should not overshadow the fact she and Shevchenko had a hell of a fight (again). So, where does Mike Bell's 10-8in' ass leave the 125-pound division? We discuss. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It's risk free with Nord's exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was no dream. There is no waking up from this one. Sean Strickland really DID show up on Saturday at UFC 293 and take the middleweight title from Israel Adesanya by shocking unanimous decision. This was no lucky punch or freak injury. Nope. Sean Strickland just went out there and did Sean Strickland stuff and Adesanya basically had no answer for it. Un-fucking-believable. Did we (and by "we" I mean I -- Chad) make this happen? Look, we were just trying to bring some Silly Little Guy energy to our bets on last week's Power Hour, but it seems possible we did spark the wrath of the MMA Gods by including Izzy in all of our parlays. Sorry about that. Now we all have a few months of a Strickland title reign to suffer through before somebody inevitably beats him. What will that be like? Who's next ? And what does the UFC do with the suddenly 1-2 Adesanya? We discourse. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It's risk free with Nord's exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, Co-Mainiacs, here's a tasty lfree sample of what's going on behind the paywall over at Patreon.com/comainevent. If you like it, you might consider signing up and joining the team? Remember, all our Patreon content appears ad free! We've wanted to get the big homie Patrick Wyman on the show for a long time. You've all asked for it and we thought we could have a super cool and interesting talk with him, but couldn't get the timing to work out until this week. Once we got Patrick on the ol' Zoom machine, however, it was amazing. We had so much fun, we felt compelled to make this episode of DDT available to everyone. If you like it, well, maybe consider leveling up to the $10 or $20 patronage tier, eh? Then we can all be best friends. Patrick has just launched his new podcast The Pursuit of Dadliness to go along with his other successful endeavors like the Tides of History Podcast and his great book The Verge. Ben and I will both be guests on upcoming episodes of the new podcast. So, this week, we talk about the idea of dadliness, how to balance work and kids and everything else, and why we lift all those damn weights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sounds like Sean Strickland is having fun on his trip to Australia, what with showing up on day one and slugging a random fan in the stomach. He's also writing some fire tweets (and by fire we mean offensive), which, let’s face it, he’d be doing no matter where he was in the world. Will that enjoyment extend to Saturday, when he is scheduled to fight Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title? That part we don’t know, though Strickland is facing long odds and what looks like a terrible match-up of styles for him. This wasn’t the 185-pound championship match we were supposed to have at UFC 293, but its the one we got. Anymore, that sort of feels like it sums up the general state of things in the UFC. Also, Ciryl Gane got a bit of a “comeback” win over Sergey Spivac last weekend, though it’s hard to tell how much that means for him while Jon Jones is still heavyweight champion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Holloway got the win as expected over Chan Sung Jung on Saturday, but it was still a fairly impressive weekend for the Korean Zombie. Jung was able to find Holloway's chin more than expected prior to his own KO loss, he got a signature Zombie moment surviving a choke in the second round and after the fight pulled off perhaps the classiest and most eloquent MMA retirement we've ever seen. Point being: Max and the Zombie are both sweet dudes. Where they both go from here, only time will tell. Plus, as the UFC rolls into Paris this weekend, will Sergey Spivak look to check that wrestling against Ciryl Gane? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get four free bonus months when you sign up for a two-year plan. It's risk free with Nord's exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends, your new UFC men's bantamweight champion is Sean O'Malley. It's possible that's a pretty big deal. At this point, the UFC certainly seems to have succeeded in its years-long effort at making O'Malley a star. His upset TKO of Aljamain Sterling on Saturday at UFC 292 made him the youngest champion on the UFC's current roster, he received a hero's welcome in Boston and now is poised to perhaps bring an unprecedented amount of attention to the 135-pound division. Only question now is, how long can he stay on top? Plus, Zhang Weili blanked Amanda Lemos and Max Holloway is going to have a fun fight against The Korean Zombie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since his promotional debut in 2017, the UFC has had Sean O'Malley ticketed for stardom. Saturday at UFC 292, perhaps we'll see if he came make good on that promise. O'Malley is going off as about a 2-to-1 underdog to men's bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, but questions persist about Sterling's health, focus and readiness. Fact is, O'Malley could be a live dog here. Will he prove to be everything the UFC thinks he can be? Plus, Zhang Weili squares off with Amanda Lemos -- wait, who? -- and Vicente Luque is a miracle cured by God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Paul did that thing on Saturday where he outduels an aging but beloved MMA star in the boxing ring. This time it was Nate Diaz coming up short on the scorecards against "The Problem Child." It was fine, if you like that kind of thing, but at this point these Jake Paul boxing weekends are starting to feel formulaic, right down to the brawls outside the arena after the actual fight ends. So ... is Paul's threatened move to MMA to fight Diaz again actually the smartest move he could make right now? Also, Cory Sandhagen tears triceps, still wins. MMA fans: Boooring! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Usually, when Justin Gaethje delivers devastating kicks, they are to the legs. Turns out, he can kick you in the head pretty hard, too. Dustin Poirier found that out the hard way Saturday during the pair's main event fight at UFC 291. Now that Gaethje has knocked out Poirier and claimed the BMF "title," he's also the assumed the No. 1 contender for the actual, real lightweight title, as well. So, it was a pretty good night of work for him. Plus, we talk Alex Pereira's victorious but frustrating light heavyweight debut, Derrick Lewis landing a flying knee and stripping his shorts off (because of course) and the downfall of Tony Ferguson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody in the world will argue with Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje re-matching at UFC 291. That's just a good-ass fight. One so good, in fact, that it probably doesn't need the added silliness of being for the "vacant" BMF title. But, you know, gold on the poster and all that. Plus we get to see how Alex Periera will fare at light heavyweight as he moves up to fight Janny Blackjacks. Plus, several "remember me?" fights round out the main card. We talk all that, plus: Tom Aspinall? That boy good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At this point, you gotta admire Francis Ngannou's track record of doing exactly what the fuck he says he's going to do. He said he was going to wait out his UFC contract. He did that. He said he was going to sign a lucrative MMA deal that would include unprecedented gains for both himself and his opponents. He did that. He said he was going to sign a big-money boxing match against one of the world's best-known pugilists that would probably set him up for life. He. Fucking. Did. That. How can you not be happy for this guy? On this episode, we look forward to Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury, talk about Holly Holm's submission loss to Marya Bueno Silva and anticipate the return of Tom Aspinall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holy shit! If you happen to be an MMA fan who struggles with the current landscape of the UFC, Saturday's pay-per-view was a goddamn life-affirming breath of fresh air. UFC 290 was probably one of the company's all-time great PPV events. Alexander Volkanovski reaffirmed his greatness. Alexandre Pantoja won the men's flyweight title from Brandon Moreno in a fight-of-the-year caliber split decision. Robbie Lawler walked away in perfect style. DDP set up perhaps the cringiest middleweight title fight of all time against Israel Adesanya. Bo Nickal knocked a MFer out on the feet (!). It was wild, weird and sometimes wonderful. This is why we started watching this stuff in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's no real reason to believe Yair Rodriguez defeats Alexander Volkanovski in their men's featherweight title unification bout at UFC 290 this weekend. Volkanovski has been too good, he comes into this fight about a 4-to-1 favorite and the whole idea of making an interim title in this division was kinda bullshit from the beginning. But ... are the vibes a bit off for him leading up to this fight? We're not saying they are. We're merely asking questions. Plus, the rest of the UFC 290 card looks fun as hell. You got Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja doing the damn thing for the men's flyweight title You got Bobby Knuckles and DDP in a probable No. 1 contender fight. You got Robbie Lawler's alleged retirement fight. Oh, and there's this scrappy underdog you may have heard of ... Bo Nickal. He's on there too. Also, is it craaaaazy to consider Sean Strickland a viable title contender now? Probably. But still. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mere weeks after Dana White said the UFC "doesn't do" gimmick fights, he's all up in the media talking about trying to book an actual cagefight between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. First off, if you needed yet more evidence that White is frequently bullshitting us, well, there you go. Secondly, these rich nerds ain't really gonna fight each other. But wouldn't it be sad if they did? Also, Illia Topuria is super good at fighting. Like, super good. And the PFL puts its finger on the scales in the worst possible way. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bellator staged the top MMA event of the weekend, with Sergio Pettis outdueling Patricio Pitbull in a compelling scrap for the men's bantamweight championship and light heavyweight titlist Vadim Nemkov reaffirming his greatness pitching a shutout against Yoel Romero. With both sides also confirming a Bellator-PFL merger is at least being explored, we'll take a look at what that might mean for combat sports. Plus, Jared Cannonier set a middleweight record for significant strikes in his decision victory over Marvin Vettori. Is that another one of this double-edged sword UFC records? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Nunes pretty much whooped-up on Irene Aldana to retain her women's bantamweight title and then retired in the cage, which was a nice moment. Canadian fighters went undefeated in front of their home countrymen in Vancouver, which obviously was a feel-good story. But you know who really stamped their name on UFC 289 on Saturday? Charles Oliveira, that's who. Oliveira went out there and spoiled Beneil Dariush's big chance at lightweight contendership by dominating on the ground and on the feet en route to a first-round victory -- and he did so while being hailed as a hero by the Canadian fans. This seemed like the kind of performance that could well net him a rematch with Islam Makhachev and also one that confirmed he's a pretty big star for the UFC. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Nunes returns Saturday to defend her women's bantamweight title against Irene Aldana at UFC 289. Should be a solid little scrap, though we're not sure there's any reason to suspect Nunes might lose ... except, well, she is 36 years old, recently left American Top Team to start her own gym and has been openly talking about retirement since her feud with Juliana Pena. So, can Aldana pull the upset here and is there any chance this is the last ride for The Lioness? Plus, Dana White reminds us Jared Gordon is not a doctor and did Kai Kara France get screwed? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor is "filling out the paperwork" to re-enroll in the USADA testing pool, according to Dana White, which means the biggest star in MMA is back! Almost? Maybe? Remains to seen. Despite the lingering uncertainty, it's clear at least one group of people is VERY glad to have McGregor in their lives again. Those people are the keepers of the MMA news cycle. McGregor hasn't totally done anything yet upon his return to active duty and somehow every other story on the websites is already about him. We talk the McGregor Phenomenon this week. Plus, UFC on ESPN rolls out this weekend and Justin Gaethje says what we're all thinking about the BMF title. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bloody Elbow's John Nash has a new report out on the UFC's finances and, friends, it is mind-blowing. Once again in 2022, the fight company made more than $1 billion in revenue and, largely because it didn't have to pay superstars like Conor McGregor last year, total fighter pay dropped by around $32.8 million (to roughly 13 percent of total revenue). UFC profits were up in every category, while expenses and operating costs were down. So ... wow. Plus, Mackenzie Dern went beast mode on Angela Hill and Dana White says he doesn't understand Francis Ngannou's new deal with PFL. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Rogan said some fairly innocuous stuff this week about what would happen in a street fight (or a locked-room fight, as the case may be) between Jon Jones and Tyson Fury. Fury did not appreciate Rogan's opinion and aired his displeasure on social media, and THAT essentially kicked off a round robin of internet beef between Jones, Fury and Francis Ngannou. It was, honestly, pretty ridiculous. So, this week we discuss: Why did it make Fury so mad when Rogan was really only repeating an argument MMA guys have been making since the '90s? If no other important boxers will fight him (as he claims) why doesn't Fury get something on the books with Ngannou? And doesn't Jones appreciate the irony of talking shit to Ngannou when Jones himself was embroiled in a contract dispute of his own with the UFC recently? Plus, in Power Rankings, the Conor McGregor reputational whitewash has begun, Alex Pereira vs. Janny Blackjacks (?!?!?!), and there are a lot of interesting personal style choices going on at this BKFC weigh-in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Friend of the Podcast and Real Life Hollywood TV Writer Kevin Seccia was kind enough to come in off the picket line to talk us through the particulars of the ongoing WGA writers strike. Kevin is a great dude as well as an active patron of the CME. He's also former standup comedian and currently a writer on the animated comedy "The Great North," which airs on Fox. The WGA strikes is something we've all heard about but perhaps few of us know the details of what's really going on. Kevin does a great job bringing us all up to speed with the style and humor befitting a longtime CME listener. Plus, in Kraken Up, well, it's over. Seattle sailed into the dark waters of the off-season this week, after dropping game seven to the Stars. Season wrap-up incoming! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rumor has it, there was some news this week. Just a lil bit. Just a lil bit of news happened over the last couple of days. As you may have heard, the biggest of homies, Francis Ngannou, announced on Tuesday that he is taking his talents to the PFL (and perhaps elsewhere) in a landmark deal that affords him what is almost certainly more money than if he'd stayed in the UFC as well as most of his out-of-the-cage asks, including the ability to go do boxing if he wants. So that's seems good. Not to be outdone, however, the UFC -- totally randomly and definitely NOT related to Ngannou's announcement -- went ahead with a big Tuesday afternoon news dump of their own which included, among other things, BRINGING BACK THE BMF TITLE. Lol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a tease this guy, Big Fran is. Here he is posting this video to his socials last week promising us that on Tuesday he's going to tells us (what we hope is) his final decision on free agency. We're not sure what he's going to say -- Will it be a boxing announcement? Will it be MMA? -- but that sure won't stop us from wildly and irresponsibly speculating. Plus, Jailton Almeida tapped the Bigi Boy, Matt Brown had a record night and Ian Garry continues to be a problem. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jailton Almeida isn't keeping his gameplan too close to the vest when it comes to this weekend's UFC on ABC main event against Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The fast-rising heavyweight prospect says he's strong where the Bigi Boy is weak, and plans to take him down and submit him. That's no surprise, considering six of Almeida's last 10 wins have come via sub. On the other hand, Rozenstruik has never been submitted. And you could argue HE is also strong where Almeida is weak. So, what if Almeida can't take him down? Plus, in Power Rankings, GSP says the UFC didn't have his back on drug testing, Dominick Cruz will cut a bitch (because he says the rules force him to), and Nate Diaz finds out Texas might test him for weed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Economist published an interesting feature story about how UFC veterans Abu and Ottman Azaitar -- who you may remember from that UFC 257 fiasco involving an alleged "bagful of potatoes" -- have parlayed a friendship with the 58-year-old king of Morocco into pretty sweet lives for themselves. To hear the article tell it, King Mohammed VI (who was never that into ruling, anyway) has become completely disinterested in running Morocco and only wants to hang out, travel the world and party with the Azaitar brothers. Abu and Ottman, for their parts, appear to be making the most of the money, power and influence that come along with being the king's besties. They have access to sports cars, private jets, military aircraft (!) and apparently whatever else they want. So, now the people of Morocco are sitting around wondering where the king at and also if the rest of the Moroccan government might do something about it. Plus, in Kraken Up, we await game five in Dallas, with the Kraken and Stars tied 2-2. Here's the link to the economist story: https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/04/14/the-mystery-of-moroccos-missing-king Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's pledge month at the Co-Main Event Podcast. As a totally independently produced podcast, we rely on the generosity of listeners like you to keep this thing rolling. Here's a free sample of our weekly Wednesday Live Chat, where we spend an hour (usually a little longer) taking questions from our beloved patrons. If you like what you hear, consider joining us at: https://www.patreon.com/comainevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know how some fight cards that look pretty "meh" on paper turn out to be unexpectedly great? Yeah, UFC 288 wasn't really one of those. Headlined by an important but perhaps not best-selling men's bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, this one didn't really appear to live up to the high standards set by some of the UFC's other PPVs this year. There was nothing wrong with Sterling's unanimous decision win over Cejudo and there was nothing wrong with Belal Muhammad's UD over Gilbert Burns. But this card didn't blow our hair back and these wins probably aren't going to get Sterling and Muhammad the respect they deserve. Speaking of not getting the respect he deserves, Demetrious Johnson looked as good as ever in (yet another kinda nondescript) unanimous decision win over Adriano Moraes in One Championship. Johnson took the trilogy and was Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's not every weekend that the eyes of the combat sports world fall squarely on BKFC, but with the UFC giving new meaning to the term Just Some Fights and no other MMA to speak of, that was the case on Saturday. A bevy of recognizable names -- Mike Perry, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, heck, even Conor McGregor -- essentially made this BKFC's Super Bowl. Both for better and for worse. Plus, with UFC 288 right around the corner, we look at the main event and co-main at that pay-per-view. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the heavyweight elite, Sergei Pavlovich. Ya boy went out there and starched Curtis Blaydes in just over three minutes on Saturday at a UFC Fight Night event to become the consensus No. 1 contender in the heavyweight division. Could a lot go wrong between now and when Pavlovich might conceivably fight the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic? Sure. Did Blaydes engage in kind of a bizarre strategy in this fight? Yes, he did. But is Pavlovich now arguably the most interesting figure in the 265-pound division outside of JBJ and Stipe? Undoubtedly. Plus, Bellator had a pretty good two-night stop in Hawaii, Nate Diaz fought some jabronis on the streets of New Orleans and Bobby Green had a pretty bad Saturday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You think the UFC will stop sending its top men's featherweight prospects to Max Holloway? Because so far when they do, all they get back is a box of bones. Holloway continued his up-and-comer ass-whipping tour on Saturday, dispatching Arnold Allen via unanimous decision in the pair's UFC Fight Night main event. This fight was 95 percent Holloway stylin' on Allen with his speed, pressure game and counter-punches and five percent Holloway eating Allen's hardest shots and walking right through them like a man out on a Sunday stroll. So, your basic Max Holloway shit, in other words. Plus, Nate Diaz is gonna fight Jake Paul in a boxing match at 185 pounds. What could go wrong? And Jon Jones teased us with retirement, while the UFC lines up a potential No. 1 contender fight between Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once it was over, you could kinda tell Israel Adesanya had been thinking about this one for a while. He had his bow-and-arrow celebration all planned out. He did every dance he knew how to do. He had his postfight interview scripted in his head. It's been a long time coming for Adesanya, but he finally got one back from Alex Pereira on Saturday at UFC 287. Adesanya is once again your UFC middleweight champion, which is great but ... what now? Plus, Jorge Masvidal calls it a career (maybe) in a pretty weird way. And, holy shit, Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen is next weekend. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There we all were, just minding our own business, tying to enjoy our weekends when suddenly Endeavor just casually drops that, oh yeah, they're going to buy WWE and roll it into a single, publicly traded company with the UFC. Say what now? As you might imagine, this rather mind-blowing news quickly put to rest any notion of us talking about PFL, Bellator or GameBread Boxing 4 on Monday's episode of the Proper. So, here are our initial reactions to Vince McMahon and Dana White becoming co-workers and (we're just guessing here) best friends. Plus, there actually is a lot to say in advance of Saturday's UFC 287, where Israel Adesyana faces what is almost certainly his last chance to defeat Alex Pereira in literally anything. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Sandhagen and Holly Holm (or, Holly Holmes, if you prefer) both looked pretty good at the weekend's UFC Fight Night event. Both veterans dispatched challengers who were looking to break into title contention. Sandhagen took advantage of a slow start by Marlon "Chito" Vera in cruising to an impressive unanimous decision in the men's bantamweight main event. Holm mixed in some wrestling to go with her already formidable striking skills and overwhelmed Yana Santos in the co-main. Theeeeeeen, Holm got on the mic and said some bizarre stuff about how we need to stop "sexualizing children." And somehow, we doubt she meant putting an end to child beauty pageants ...  This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leon Edwards went into Saturday's welterweight title fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 as both the champion and a bit more than a 2-to-1 underdog. As of Monday morning, he's now one thing, but not the other. Edwards pitched a masterpiece against Usman in their third fight against each other, ultimately retaining the gold via majority decision and proving that the oddsmakers had no clue what they were talking about. Plus, Justin Gaethje ain't done! He rebounded to also score a majority decision win over Rafeal Fiziev in the UFC 286 co-main. Get this, Gaethje salted away the third round using his jab and an uppercut. Guy has skills! This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Get your Exclusive NordVPN deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman are going to do it again, brother, for the third time on Saturday at UFC 286 in London. The champion is going off as a fairly significant underdog and conventional wisdom says this time around Usman just needs to NOT get kicked right in his head and he probably reclaims the title. Yet Usman has also reportedly been plagued by hand problems and he'll turn 36 years old a couple months after this PPV. Is it possible Edwards can get lightning to strike all over again? UFC 286 also amounts to the third time in about a month the fight company has asked fans to pay $80 to watch some fights. This time, it goes down just a week after Merab Dvalishvili turned in what will surely be one of the year's most dominating performances against Petr Yan for free (relatively speaking) on ESPN+. Will the people dig into their pockets one more time? Oh, and did you guys see Bellator? Or hear about it, at least? Usman Nurmagomedov retired Benson Henderson and Michael Page did something absolutely horrendous to Goiti Yamaguchi's knee. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Goddamn, he made that look easy. During the week leading up to UFC 285, Jon Jones said he expected people to be shocked by how effortlessly he'd beat Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title. Jones said it would be a mismatch and we were all like, well, I don't know if I'd say it's going to be a mis--oh, holy shit. It took Jones all of two minutes, four seconds to choke out Gane and now JBJ is the UFC heavyweight champion, which sounds both outrageous and somehow totally fitting. After it was over, he literally bleated like goat. But IS he the GOAT now? Is he gonna fight Stipe next? How big a shadow does Francis Ngannou's absence cast and do we want to see that superfight even more now? Plus, in the oh, holy shit category, we also present to you: Alexa Grasso. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode takes a deep dive into a thing we once thought would never actually happen: Jon Jones' move to heavyweight. This Saturday at UFC 285, the greatest light heavyweight of all time finally takes that walk, gunning for the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. You know ... maybe. It's Jon Jones fight week, after all, which means anything can happen. It's sort of impossible to forecast how a 35-year-old Jones, more than three years removed from his last appearance in the cage, training with a new team and moving up a weight class will fare in this battle, but we do our best to prognosticate. Can Jones thrive in a division where he may not be able to play the bully? Has Gane shored-up his wrestling defense? Will the specter of Francis Ngannou hang over this thing like a shadow? Oh yeah, and the rest of the UFC 285 card is pretty great too ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erin Blanchfield jumps up to the No. 2 spot on the UFC's official women's flyweight rankings this week after her drubbing of a short-notice Jessica Andrade Saturday at a UFC Fight Night. Hard to say she doesn't deserve it. Blanchfield looked outstanding en route to a second round submission and now has duly earned her chance to compete with the division's elite. Plus, some gnarly shit happened at BKFC Knucklemaina and, speaking of women's flyweight elite, Tatiana Suarez returns this weekend! This episode is presented in part by NordPVN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + a Bonus Gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski had themselves perhaps one of the greatest fights on all time on Saturday at UFC 284. For all the hoopla about a superfight and the Nos. 1-2 pound for pound fighters on the planet squaring off, these dudes delivered. Makhachev was a better striker than we anticipated, Volkanovski a better wrestler. And while Islam won the fight, did Alex actually win our hearts? Plus, it wouldn't be MMA without a little controversy. Public opinion seemed to be divided over the judges decision -- Volk 2, 3, & 5, dog? -- and then Dan Hooker had to go and accuse Makhachev of illegally using an IV to re-hydrate after the weigh-ins. So, sigh, that part is exhausting. But now it seems Volkanovski is set for a bout with new interim men's featherweight champ Yair Rodriguez, which will undoubtedly be very cool. This episode is presented in part by NordPVN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + a Bonus Gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought it was weird from the start that Fedor Emelianenko wanted to have his retirement fight against Ryan Bader. It was. Friends, Fedor looked every single day of his 46 years on this planet on Saturday in the Bellator 290 main event. The greatest MMA heavyweight of all time barely threw a punch en route to a first-round TKO victory for Bader. Yep. Sad. And strange. But at least Bellator seemed to understand the magnitude of the moment. Also, UFC 284 is this weekend, featuring a bonafide superfight main event where Dana White can't remember one his champions names. So that's hilarious. Plus, Conor McGregor is back. He's just gonna ease his way back in (to the USADA testing pool and also to competition) by coaching TUF opposite Michael Chandler. This episode is presented in part by NordPVN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + a Bonus Gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are led to believe that Saturday's Bellator 290 will include the last fight for The Last Emperor. The 46-year-old Fedor Emelianenko will do the damn thing one more time in a rematch against Ryan Bader. Do we really believe this will be it for him? That's hard to say. If we had our druthers would Fedor's swan song be a rematch with Bader? Nah, not really. But this man was once a phenomenon and he might still be the greatest heavyweight of all time. We guess that means he gets to write his own ticket. Plus, yet more layoffs in the MMA media world and Derrick Lewis finally meets up with Sergey Spivak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamahal Hill answered all our questions against Glover Teixeira on Saturday night at UFC 283. Could he handle the step-up in competition? Yes. Was he ready to go hard for the full 25 minutes? Indeed. Would he be cowed by having 13,000 Brazilians chanting for his death? Hell no. Hill emerged with the clean sweep unanimous decision over Teixeira and -- sort of out of nowhere -- also the UFC light heavyweight title. So, what will the Jamahal Hill Era look like? We have some guesses. Plus, Brandon Moreno gets the last laugh on Davey Figgs. Or does he? And Jose Aldo is going in the Hall, brother. This episode is presented in part by Nord VPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + a Bonus Gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, he did it. Francis Ngannou waited-out his UFC contract while rehabbing from knee surgery during 2022 and now he's a free man. There's never been a better time to be a free agent in combat sports and Ngannou seems like he's in a unique position to capitalize on it. What will he do next? Where will he go? And how much will he make? Meanwhile, Dana White is still sitting in front of microphones telling obvious lies about why fighters increasingly choose to depart the UFC. His claims seem especially hilarious when he's talking about Ngannou, though, right? With the real champ gone, the UFC will now stage Jon Jones' long-awaited heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane for the vacant title. Hooray? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + a Bonus Gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, fuck, you guys. We had just hit "export" on the latest episode of the CME when we refreshed Twitter to see the planned UFC main event between Nassourdine Imavov and Kelvin Gastelum is off and now SEAN STRICKLAND is in for an injured Gastelum. That's certainly unfortunate ... but a lot of this week's episode still stands up. It's still fight week and we still feel a weird pressure to stop talking about Dana White slapping his wife in the face at a club in Mexico on New Year's Eve and start talking about fights. Plus, there's still some stuff to unpack about Jake Paul signing with PFL for some MMA fights. Just, you know, do a find-and-replace in your head for "Strickland" every time we say "Gastelum." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With video of Dana White slapping his wife in the face in a club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on New Year's Eve now spreading across the internet, we are forced to frame this week's discussion around whether MMA is edging ever closer to a world without the longtime UFC president. Regardless if White skates on this incident the same way he's skated without any real consequences so much in the past, it feels like he's getting closer to the exit, doesn't it? How would that effect the UFC? Maybe not at all, honestly. Plus, where do we see the UFC's product headed in general during 2023, perhaps the last year of its broadcast deal with ESPN? How are our personal fan relationships with this sport holding up? And what is in store for the Bellators, PFLs and One Championships of the world? All that and more on the first CME of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor didn't fight. Jon Jones didn't fight. Francis Ngannou fought once, in January, and then spent the rest of the year rehabbing from injury with perhaps one foot out the door. Nate Diaz left. Israel Adesanya lost the title. It was a weird year for stars in the UFC. But was it also a preview of times to come? We discuss on the last CME Proper of the 2022. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paddy Pimblett somehow messed around and was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Jared Gordon on Saturday at UFC 282, in a co-main event bout almost everybody who watched live thought Gordon won. To say there was some, um, discussion about that afterward would be a bit of an understatement. Basically people lost their shit--and they hadn't even seen the main event yet, where Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev fought to a split draw over the UFC light heavyweight title. So, yeah, judging is on the table this week. Also, what on earth is the UFC gonna do with Pimblett now that he has proven to be a star who is also maybe not that good at fighting? Plus, after the title fight draw, the promotion needed two random-ass light heavyweights to fight on a random-ass night in Brazil for the belt. So it picked Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Score one for the old dogs at Saturday's UFC on ESPN event. Not only did Stephen "Wonderman" Thompson emerge victorious over an injured Kevin Holland in the main event, but Clay Guida, Rafeal dos Anjos and Angela Hill also got wins. So that'll teach these young whippersnappers a thing or two! Plus, it's UFC 282 fight week and we are sad to report that Robbie Lawler is out and his fight against Santiago Ponzinibbio is scrapped. Still a pretty fun card though, all things considered. Also, James Krause, what you doin', baby? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. The CME is also present in part by the Draft Kings Sportsbook. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800- NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH/KS), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI /NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. $150 in Free bets: Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pre-fight moneyline bet. $150 issued as six (6) $25 free bets that expire 7 days (168 hours) after being awarded. Bet must win. Stepped Up: Void in NJ. Valid 1 Profit Boost Token per customer. Token must be used on 3-leg same game parlay bet for UFC 282. Max. $50 bet. Token expires at the start of the main card fight and must be selected before placing bet. Profit boosted 50% on net winnings. Net winnings is the total payout less original bet amount. Profit Boost Tokens have no cash value and are valid only on DraftKings Sportsbook. Ends at the start of the main card fight of UFC 282. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/mmaterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, this is a new one. After months of speculation on exactly what he was up to when the UFC apparently let him opt out of the USADA testing pool while recovering from the horrible leg injury he suffered at UFC 264, Conor McGregor appeared to admit in a flurry of tweets that he took a bunch of PEDs. He also appeared to say "how dare you" to anybody who questioned him about it. Frankly, we're not sure if this is stupid or genius, but it certainly gives us a lot to talk about. Plus, Larissa Pacheco forces game four against Kayla Harrison and the UFC is back with a pretty OK looking TV card this Saturday. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have once again reached an odd inflection point where Bellator MMA could lay conceivable claim to having the best fighter in the world in a particular weight class. This time it's light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who put on a remarkable performance Friday night against Corey Anderson in the delayed final of the Bellator light heavyweight grand prix. Nemkov went and did the thing we're always asking MMA fighters to do: he closed the specific holes in his game necessary to win this fight and walked away with the lopsided unanimous decision win, the giant check and the gold. As ever with Bellator, though, the question is: Will anybody care? Plus, Derrick Lewis got the tummy troubles and PFL will offer its first ever pay-per-view event. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we take listener questions on all things UFC 281. Will Israel Adesanya get an immediate rematch against Alex Pereira after dropping the middleweight title in a fight he was probably on his way to winning on the cards? Should we actually be giving two-time UFC champion Carla Esparza more credit, despite this most recent drubbing at the hands of Zhang Weili? Did Michael Chandler earn his Dundasso blackbelt before getting choked out by Cool Dusty P? And what on earth has happened to Dominick Reyes? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As has become customary for pay-per-views, two title fights are on the docket Saturday at UFC 281. One is a hotly anticipated middleweight championship match between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira that everybody is stoked for and where nobody seems to know what will happen. The other one? Not QUITE so much intrigue. In the evening's co-main event, Zhang Welli challenges Carla Esparza for the strawweight belt in a bout that most assume marks the end of Esparza's reign as champion. Then again, we didn't think Esparza was going to beat Rose, now did we? So, maybe there's a chance? Plus Cool Dusty P and Mikie C. in a banger and ... Amanda Lemos upsets Marina Rodriguez at a Fight Night. This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800- NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH/KS), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 pre-fight moneyline bet. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Bet must win. Stepped Up: 1 Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Min $1 bet. Max bet limits apply. Min. 3-leg. Each leg min. -300 odds, total bet +100 odds or longer. 10+ leg req. for 100% boost. Ends at the start of the main card fight of UFC 281. See eligibility & terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/mmaterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two things can be true at once: Is Jake Paul just using these aging MMA fighters to make himself a series of huge paydays from relatively easy fights? Yes, obviously. But did Paul and Showtime also celebrate Anderson Silva better both before and after their scrap on Saturday night than the UFC did at the end of Silva's MMA career? Also yes. So, that seems notable. On top of everything else, Silva and Paul went out there and had a pretty fun fight, even if it didn't end the way most inside the bubble would have liked. Plus, Calvin Kattar's knee came apart and Jon Jones is suddenly in a big hurry to fight, huh? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We did not think it was going to go like that. Both figuratively and literally, our money was on Charles Oliveira to once again become lightweight champion at UFC 280. As it happened, Islam Makhachev was absolutely dominant, rolling to a second-round submission victory. Now, it seems the powers that be will set him up with a champ-champ fight against Alexander Volkanovski. That sucks for all the other lightweights, but you can absolutely take all our money for it. Plus, who's to blame for TJ Dillashaw showing up to fight a title fight he had absolutely no business fighting? And whether or not you thought Sean O'Malley deserved to win the decision, he kind of put it right in our faces with his performance against Petr Yan. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month as well as their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's face it, Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev seems like a heck of a fight for the "vacant" UFC lightweight title. Factor in that this event goes down in the middle of a Saturday afternoon (can't argue with mid-day fights!) and the UFC has efficiently increased our hunger by feeding us a steady diet of garbage Fight Nights in recent weeks and we are pumped. Are we actually a little bit TOO pumped? This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800- NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Free bets: New customers only. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 bet. Bet must win. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Profit Boost: Opt-in req. 1 profit boost token issued per customer. Min. 3-leg same game parlay bet. Max bet $50. Profit boosted 100% on addt’l winnings. Ends at the start of the main card fight of UFC 280. See terms at draftkings.com/mmaterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a few weeks now since news originally broke that Conor McGregor apparently hadn't been drug tested by USADA since the third quarter of 2021. Yet ... still nothing. It doesn't appear those reports served as a wake-up call that perhaps the UFC's anti-PEDs partner should put some agents on a dingy and have them motor out to McGregor's yacht with a sample cup. And in the absence of more robust testing, well, these rumors aren't going away. Cue Justin Gaethje, who speculated this week that the Irish fella has been "off doing steroids" during his time away. So, uh, can somebody please drug test this man? Plus, speaking of our old buds from the days before robust drug testing, Alistair Overeem is still out here nabbing wins in kickboxing. Oh, and there's another garbage-ass UFC Fight Night this week. Are they doing this on purpose to get us excited for UFC 280? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, Dana White lied right to our faces and it turned out the reason no fans or media could attend Saturday's UFC Fight Night event WAS because Mark Zuckerberg wanted to be there, after all. And even if Dana White tries to claim later that he didn't lie due to some semantic bullshit, we all know the truth now. Zuck just had to be there to watch Mackenzie Dern ... who unfortunately lost a majority decision to Yan Xiaonan and then felt the need to apologize if she "made anybody sad" with her performance. So, fuck, was that some super disheartening late-stage capitalism stuff? Yes, it was. Also, though, Bellator turned in a pretty fun event that included Brandon Gibson desperately trying to get Aaron Pico's arm to snap back into its socket between rounds, so at least there was some good stuff to be had. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Rothwell is set to make his first post-UFC appearance this weekend, taking on -- say it with us now -- Bobo "The Bible Belt Brawler" O'Bannon in BKFC. You know what, call us crazy, but considering his size, skills and experience, we kinda think Rothwell might do OK in BKFC. Plus, Melvin Manhoef calls it a career (but not before getting pounded into the Black Lands by Yoel Romero) and this weekend's UFC Fight Night event seems like ... well ... straight trash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we remember UFC Fight Night 210 at all, it'll likely be as a damn bloodbath. Cory Sandhagen got a much-needed win in a men's bantamweight contender bout against Song Yadong, after springing open an early cut that had multiple ringside officials nearly peering into Yadong's brain. There was also a grusome cut in Gregory Rodrigues' comeback win over Chidi Njokuani in the co-main and in his win over Bill Algeo, Andre Fili said his ear so filled up with Algeo's blood that it "felt like I jumped into a swimming pool." So, uh, yeah, nasty. In addition, we reflect on the UFC/WEC career of Jose Aldo and look ahead to Friday night's Bellator event in Dublin. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus moth and their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, that was fuckin' crazy, eh Mainiacs? Here we thought Nate Diaz and Tony Ferguson were both headed for demoralizing losses in odd match-ups against heavily favored opponents and then -- Boom! -- Khamzat Chimaev screws the whole shit up. Instead of seeing Diaz ragdolled by Chimaev, Nate lucks into a far more advantageous bout against Tony Fegurson ... which Diaz WINS and now exits the UFC into free agency with, like, ALL THE MOMENTUM. And Chimaev? Well, ordinarily, a guy who missed weight by 7.5-pounds -- thereby causing the UFC to have to rebook an entire PPV card -- would be in deep shit, but this guy seems like he's going to skate without suffering a single consequence after his own favorable match-up against Kevin Holland. So, we have a lot of thoughts about all of that. This week's episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus moth and their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. We are also proudly presented by Draft Kings. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1- 800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customer offer void in NH/OR/ONT-CA. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 wager. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Ends 9/19/22 @ 8pm. Early Win: 1 Early Win Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Token expires at start of eligible game. Min moneyline bet $1. Wagering limits apply. Wagers placed on both sides of moneyline will void bet. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See terms at sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash football terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's pledge month over at the CME Patreon. If you haven't yet signed up to join the team, we'd love it if you'd consider lending us your support at: https://www.patreon.com/comainevent This week, we set about getting primed for Saturday's UFC 279 fight card. Or, rather, we set about trying to guard ourselves against heartbreak, as Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev AND Tony Ferguson vs. Li Jingliang BOTH go down on this card. Dude. Who's idea was THAT? Also, we reflect on Ciryl Gane's third-round TKO over Tai Tuivasa at UFC Paris last weekend, which won Ben a lot of money, perhaps scuttled Chad's heavyweight prophecy and put Gane in line to receive ... well ... something. This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1- 800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customer offer void in NH/OR/ONT-CA. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 wager. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Ends 9/19/22 @ 8pm. Early Win: 1 Early Win Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Token expires at start of eligible game. Min moneyline bet $1. Wagering limits apply. Wagers placed on both sides of moneyline will void bet. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See terms at sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash football terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC touches down for the first time in Paris, France this Saturday, with Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa set to do the damn thing in an allegedly important heavyweight contender bout. Is it still a big deal when the UFC is able to break into new territory, as it will do this weekend? And if so, a big deal for whom, exactly? Plus, in Power Rankings, everybody keeps talking like Big Fran will be back in the UFC, Conor McGregor maybe posts a video of himself receiving oral sex on his yacht and, man, do you ever wonder what MMA would be like today if Greg Jackson hadn't KILLED THE ENTIRE SPORT 10 years ago this week? Join here: https://www.patreon.com/comainevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One Championship took advantage of a UFC-free weekend and made its debut on Amazon Prime Video over the weekend. You know what? It was pretty good. Can recommend. Would do again. Plus, One maybe kinda lucked out getting a resurgent Demetrious Johnson as its flyweight champion at this event. Now, the biggest question is, can One and Prime make a splash in the American MMA market? And how much of that comes down to whether Prime really wants to invest in live sports? Plus, we look ahead to UFC Paris. This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings Sportsbook. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/LA/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1- 800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA(select parishes)/MI/NH/NJ/ NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customer offer void in NH/OR/ONT-CA. $200 in Free bets: New customers only. Valid 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. Min $5 wager. $200 issued as eight (8) $25 free bets. Ends 9/19/22 @ 8pm. Early Win: 1 Early Win Token issued per eligible game. Opt in req. Token expires at start of eligible game. Min moneyline bet $1. Wagering limits apply. Wagers placed on both sides of moneyline will void bet. Ends 1/8/23 @ 8pm ET. See terms at sportsbook dot draftkings dot com slash football terms. This episode is also brought to you by NordVPN. CME listeners can grab their EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what has to be the most shocking ending to a UFC pay-per-view card in recent memory, Leon Edwards kicked Kamaru Usman right in his damn face with less than a minute remaining in the fifth round of a fight Usman was about to win on the cards. Thus, UFC 278 and Usman's title reign both came to a close. We're almost certainly running this one back, so gird your loins for a third fight between these two dudes. In other news, Luke Rockhold somehow made it through a three-round war with Paulo Costa even though he looked hella sleepy, capping it by rubbing his head-blood all over Costa's face. And if we told you Merab Dvalishvili was going to go 0-16 on takedown attempts and still win a decision over Jose Aldo, would you have believed us? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. CME listeners can grab their EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday in Salt Lake City (man it still feels weird to type that), Leon Edwards' long, strange journey to a UFC welterweight title shot finally comes to a head. Edwards will fight champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC 278, where Edwards is going off as close to a 3-to-1 underdog. It's been such a long slog, with so many broken promises and missed opportunities, how will Edwards react when he's out there for real? Plus, Dom Cruz looked OK right up to the point Marlon Vera kicked him in his damn face. And Rory MacDonald walks away. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. CME listeners can grab their EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, Mike Tyson is big mad at Hulu for producing a mini-series about the boxer's life without any of his input. He's happy with Dana White, however, who Tyson says turned down a lot of money to advertise the new show on the UFC. We ask: Is Tyson right to be peeved? Is this a new business niche for Hulu, since they allegedly did the same shit to Pam Anderson earlier this year? Is that shady or nah? Plus, in MMA, Jamahal Hill out-brawled Thiago Santos and Geoff Neal out-dueled Vicente Luque at Saturday's UFC Fight Event, each winning fighter now planting his flag as a prospect we should probably be giving our full attention. A couple of new TUF champions were also crowned. Oh, and it turns out Dominick Cruz is gonna fight Chito Vera next weekend? Knock us over with a feather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than merely making some physical adjustments in the wake of her title loss to Juliana Pena at UFC 269, it seemed like Amanda Nunes just flat vowed to show the world she was still the women's MMA GOAT on Saturday at UFC 277. And, yeah, mission accomplished. Nunes battered Pena from pillar to post for 25 minutes in their main event fight, duly recapturing the 135-pound title and reminding us all that we probably don't appreciate her greatness as much as we should. So, sorry if we ever doubted you, Amanda. Also, Brandon Moreno continued to be a badass men's flyweight and a true delight as a human being. Plus, we circle back to touch a bit on the stuff we missed from UFC London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are two primary questions we hope to have answered by the UFC 277 main event. Firstly, did Juliana Pena merely catch lighting in a bottle when she took the women's bantamweight title off Amanda Nunes during their first meeting at UFC 269? Secondly, is Nunes still about that life? If the answer to one or both of these queries is yes, then we figure we've got a good chance of seeing Nunes recapture the title on Saturday in Dallas. If not? Things could get dicey. And in the co-main, while Davey Figs eyes two-division supremacy, the UFC is just gonna go ahead and establish an interim belt at men's flyweight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yeah, so Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez were just getting down to what was shaping up as a pretty fun main event on Saturday's UFC on ABC card when Ortega's shoulder popped out of joint while he was trying to escape an arm bar. So, that was a very specific sort of bummer that might only happen in MMA. Now, you gotta try to explain to your non-MMA buddies what a shame it was that this guy's arm popped ... at a time when we didn't think it was going to pop. Also, Dana White doesn't seem like he wants to talk about Nate Diaz anymore and UFC London is actually kind of a stacked card! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where to start with this guy Rafael Fiziev? The technique? The power? The composure? How about the takedown defense? Poor Rafael dos Anjos spent 15 minutes trying everything he could think of to get Fiziev down and almost none of it worked. Then, in the fourth round, RDA has a little success, actually lands a couple takedowns and you start to wonder if things are gonna go Dos Anjos' way. Answer: NOPE. Fiziev storms out in the fifth and KOs him in 18 seconds. DAMN. Add ya boi Fiziev to the already crowded list of lightweights knocking on the door of title contention. Plus, Israel Adesanya isn't just gonna sit here and accept your criticisms. And T-City, El Pantera and ABC? Yes, please. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On one hand, you gotta hand it to Israel Adesanya for beating Jared Cannonier in the UFC 276 main event without really seeming to try that hard. On the other hand, man, it really didn't seem like he was trying that hard, did it? I guess when the Undertaker-inspired entrance gets better reviews than the fight, maybe that's not a great sign. At this point, it's pretty obvious there is a wide gulf between Izzy as advertised and the Izzy who actually shows up. If that's the problem, though, maybe kickboxing nemesis Alex Pereira has arrived as a middleweight contender at exactly the right time? Plus, Alexander Volkanovski kinda wore Max Holloway around like a hat. And TWO MMA retirements in one night? Many of us, it would seem, are getting too old for this shit. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! URL: https://nordvpn.com/comain Code: comain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's international fight week and UFC 276 looks pretty stacked. Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway are gonna go out there and try to make their series one for the ages. Robbie Lawler's gonna be there. Cowboy Cerrone's gonna be there. Sean O'Malley. Uriah Hall. If you recognize any of these names it should be because they're some of the usual suspects the UFC generally calls when it wants to pull off a blockbuster pay per view. This main event pitting Israel Adesanya against Jared Cannonier, though? It doesn't feel overly critical to say hopes don't seem particularly high for that one, right? This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW, use promo code COMAINEVENT, bet FIVE DOLLARS on any UFC 276 fighter to win, and get ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN FREE BETS no matter what. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1- 800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800- NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1- 888-532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/ /NJ/NY/ PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customers only. Min. $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See http://draftkings.com/sportsbook for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since we missed The Proper on Monday due to some family vacationing, we decided to offer up this episode of the Live Chat for free via the CME feed. Hope you all enjoy this hour of unfettered discourse and #WildOnWednesday action featuring the questions, comment and concerns of the beloved patrons of the CME. On tap this week, among other things: fallout from Saturday's UFC on ESPN event, Tony Kelley's remarkably inauspicious UFC run, Joe Lauzon's trick knee scuttling his fight against Donald Cerrone again and that awkward situation between Phil Hawes, Deron Winn and Daniel Cormier. This episode is sponsored in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get one free bonus month and their exclusive 30-day money back guarantee. URL: https://nordvpn.com/comain Code: comain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You want twists? You want turns? You want a fight where both guys get to look strong AND vulnerable en route to one of best light heavyweight title matches of all time? Well, we give you Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. That was a crackerjack, is what that was. Plus, Taila Santos would have won if she hadn't lost against Valentina Shevchenko -- and maybe she would have won if she didn't literally break her face in the third round? Also, pour one out for Joanna Former Champion. This episode is sponsored in part by Nord VPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! URL: https://nordvpn.com/comain Code: comain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Challenger Jiri Prochazka is going off as nearly a two-to-one favorite over light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira in the main event of Saturday's UFC 275. That should give you something to chew on, as this bout (just Prochazka's third in the UFC) pits the younger man's unorthodox, oddball style against the older fella's meat-and-potatoes approach. Who wins? It's gonna be interesting to find out. Plus, these Valentina Shevchenko fights keep sneaking up on us, largely because we all think we already know how they're gonna end. At some point though. somebody's going to shock the world. I mean ... right? This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW, use promo code COMAINEVENT, throw down FIVE DOLLARS on UFC 275, and get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS IN FREE BETS INSTANTLY. That’s code COMAINEVENT this Saturday at DraftKings Sportsbook — THE Official Sports Betting Partner of UFC. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888- 532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. New customers only. Min. $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See http://draftkings.com/sportsbook for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every time somebody asks Jorge Masvidal about his alleged encounter with Colby Covington outside the Papi Steak in Miami, it seems like Masvidal answers with a paragraph-long confession to the crime, only to end his statement with a pronouncement of his innocence. So ... is he trying to say he didn't do it? Or is he just saying no jury would convict him? Elsewhere, the UFC has finally confirmed some fights for this weekend's Fight Night card headlined by Alexander Volkov vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik. And Rickson Gracie is standing by his claim of being 450-0 is combat sports, while also admitting that he's totally ballparking it. This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + Free Threat Protection + 1 additional month for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't do it anymore, you guys. It's too much. Seems like every damn weekend our social media timelines are clogged with people arguing about some MMA judges' decision. Did they score it right? Did they score the ROUNDS right? What about the criteria? How about open scoring? ENOUGH. We're done. Or, at least, we could stand do to it a lot less frequently. This week, new rule: one judging controversy a month. After that, you gotta shut up about it for the next 30 days. Plus, did Holly Holm look a step slower at 40 years old? Did Eagle FC learn the hard way of the pitfalls of promoting fights between old-ass weirdsmobiles? Isn't it GREAT to see Anderson Silva clown fools in the boxing ring? This episode is brought to you in part by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + Free Threat Protection + 1 additional month for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you sit down to record the CME Proper and right away notice that Dustin Poirier has responded to one of your tweets? Why, you live-tweet him right back as you do the show, of course. That's what happens to us this week, as Poirier mulls the idea of fighting Colby Covington at 170. Elsewhere, we wonder how much credit -- a little? or a lot? -- is due Jan Blachowicz for defeating Aleksandar Rakic via TKO injury this weekend, when Blachowicz's own leg kicks may well have contributed to said injury. Then there's poor Logan Storely, who won the Bellator interim welterweight title over MVP in a fight so bad even Scotty Cokes had to comment on it. Oh, and Holly Holm (aka Holly Holmes) is back?!?! Well, OK! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had ourselves a good, old fashioned emotional roller coaster during UFC 274, didn't we, Mainiacs? First you had Charles Oliveira missing weight (bad!) and being stripped of the title (real bad!), only to rebound to choke the life out of Justin Gaethje (very good!) in the first round of their main event bout. Now, Oliveira will be "no. 1 contender" headed into whatever is next at 155 (pretty weird!) Then, you had Rose Namajunas dropping the title to Carla Esparza (bad!) after pursuing a head-scratching stratgey (very bad!) en route to an unexpectedly terrible fight (very, very bad!). And lo, Tony Ferguson, who had already mostly been written off by fight fans (bad!), looked as good as he had in years in the early going against Michael Chandler (so ... good?!?) only to get kicked in his damn face (bad!) and knocked utterly unconscious in the second round (very bad!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just as we sat down to record this episode of the Power Hour, news flashed across the wire that Charles Oliveira had missed weight, been stripped of the UFC lightweight title and will now fight Justin Gaethje in a five-rounder where Oliveira can't win back the title. So we thought: Well ... fuck. This changes everything. We scrapped plans for what we were going to talk about during this week's Power Hour and put our focus on Oliveira, what this means for him and how he moves forward for this sure-to-be tough fight against Gaethje. Plus, in Power Rankings, Tony Ferguson goes off, Cowboy Cerrone sheds a tear and Dana White locks himself in a hotel room for a few days. This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings Sportsbook. ust download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW and use the promo code COMAINEVENT. Throw down FIVE DOLLARS on any UFC 274 fighter to win, and get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS IN FREE BETS if they do. That’s code COMAINEVENT this Saturday at DraftKings Sportsbook — THE Official Sports Betting Partner of the UFC. Minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888- 532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Min. $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See http://draftkings.com/sportsbook for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dueling title fights are on tap for Saturday's UFC 274. In the lightweight championship scrap, both Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje will no doubt choose violence -- it's just a matter of exactly how and what kind. Plus, Carla Esparza has a chance to shatter the record for longest stints between UFC title reigns if she can beat Rose Namajunas for strawweight gold. Kinda hard to imagine that happening though, right? Also, are we more excited or scared for Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson? Scared-cited? This episode is brought to you in part by Draft Kings Sportsbook. Just download the DraftKings Sportsbook app NOW and use the promo code COMAINEVENT. Throw down FIVE DOLLARS on any UFC 274 fighter to win, and get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS IN FREE BETS if they do. That’s code COMAINEVENT this Saturday at DraftKings Sportsbook — THE Official Sports Betting Partner of the UFC. Minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visit http://ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY), visit OPGR.org (OR), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 1-888- 532-3500 (VA). 21+ (18+ WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NJ/ NY/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Min. $5 deposit required. Eligibility restrictions apply. See http://draftkings.com/sportsbook for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It turned out to be a wild weekend in combat sports and, perhaps wildest of all, the guy who ultimately pulled off the biggest coup didn't even fight. Francis Ngannou crashed the party in the ring after Tyson Fury's win over Dillian Whyte and the two heavyweights proceeded to talk about a potential match-up between them in way that made it sound like they are both actually serious about it. So, uh, maybe you done fucked this one up, huh, UFC? Elsewhere, Jessica Andrade reminded us who the fuck she is, Clay Collard and Jeremy Stephens had a banger and there was--gasp!--controversy in Bellator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou recovering from surgery and assumedly still on the outs with UFC brass, the company is teasing a potential 265-pound bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Possibly for an interim heavyweight title. Possibly this summer. Ummmm, yes, please. We'd like that very much. Plus, AJ McKee found out the hard way that it's really tough it win all the fights. And Belal Muhammad extended his unbeaten streak to eight fights. But was his performance enough to get us to "remember the name"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We said we wanted to see Khamzat Chimaev tested and, brother, he sure was during a three-round epic with Gilbert Burns. You know what? He mostly passed. There are a couple things -- specifically, his willingness to say, 'fuck it' and just brawl -- that still worry us about Chimaev, but it's clear now he is mostly deserving of the hype. Question is: What's next? Also, how you gonna boo Aljamain Sterling after that, man? And if you wanted to be reminded why Alexander Volkanovski is regarded as the best men's featherweight in the world, well, he just went and showed you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 273 might be a teensy bit of a lower-profile affair that the last few UFC pay-per-views, but the top three fights are still gonna be a lot of fun. Oddsmakers don't think these bouts will be all that competitive, but this week we take a deep dive into Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung, Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan and Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev. Who will prevail? What will we learn? Which one of these things could be surprisingly even? You have questions, we have answers. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/comain to get up a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + Free Threat Protection + 1 additional month for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curtis Blaydes is big, athletic and -- as he proved on Saturday night -- has a well-rounded skillset. On top of that, he's only 31 years old. In the aging and shallow heavyweight division, all those things add up to make him a perennial title contender if not, at some point, a champion. Chris Daukaus? Weeeeeellll, maybe not so much. In other news, Demetrious Johnson and Sexyama nab wins in One Championship and new (troubling) shit has come to light about Chael Sonnen's alleged drunken Las Vegas assaults. This episode is brought to you by Fulton & Roark. Right now at FultonandRoark.com, CME listeners can save 15% on their first purchase with the coupon code "IFYOUNASTY." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It had been a couple years since the UFC was able to make the trek across the pond and perhaps that break allowed everybody's aggression to become duly PENT. Because once the ref said "fight"? Hoo boy, some people got busy. You had Tom Aspinall kicking down the door of contendership. You had Paddy the Baddy notching another win and being adorable (as long as you don't find out about his social media presence!). You had Molly McMann throwing spinning shit, chugging Howler Head and stealing peoples' replica belts out of the crowd. And then Paul Craig. Well, what can you even say about Paul Craig? This week's episode is brought to you by Fulton & Roark. CME listeners can save 15% on their first purchase with the coupon code "IFYOUNASTY." Check out the website at fultonandroark.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought Magomed Ankalaev vs. Thiago Santos would be a banger, but instead it turned out to be a tepid 25-minute affair where two aggressive, powerful light heavyweights canceled each other out. So, that was a letdown. But in Eagle FC, Diego Sanchez looked slightly better than expected in a loss to Kevin Lee. So, that was a treat. Plus, now that Bellator really is in the Adam Borics business, maybe that doesn't seem so bad? This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the immediate wake of his lopsided and predictable unanimous decision win over Jorge Masvidal on Saturday at UFC 272, Colby Covington got right to work building his NEXT big grudge match. This one (he hopes), against Dustin Poirier. Yeah, if we were Poirier's managers we're giving that one a hard pass. At this point however, doesn't it kinda seem guys like Poirier, Nate Diaz, Masvidal, Covington and Conor McGregor are in their own little division? Oh, and at some point, shouldn't SOMEBODY have saved Renato Moicano from himself? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington are set to settle their longstanding personal grudge on Saturday at UFC 272 and, frankly, the end can't come soon enough. At 37, and winless since 2019, this seems like a must-win for Masvidal, but he's going off as a fairly significant underdog. What to think? Also, Islam Makhachev deserves a title shot, which is very different from actually getting one at lightweight. Plus, Gegard Mousasi is one of the best middleweights in the world. This episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Johnny Walker got posterized by Jamahal Hill on Saturday in the UFC. It was his fourth loss in five fights and it was an ugly one. Not does it establish Hill as perhaps the hot new contender at 205-pounds but it raises some questions about what Walker ought to do next. In addition to that, we discuss the highlights from BareknuckleFC and Bellator 274 as well as looking ahead to next weekend's fight between Islam Makhachev and Bobby Green. This week's episode is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Whittaker made some big improvement between his two bouts against Israel Adesanya, making Saturday night's UFC 271 main event a very competitive affair. In the end, however, it was just too much Adesanya. And still. But now who's next at 185-pounds? Jared Cannonier? Sean Strickland? And what of Whittaker? In the co-main, Tai Tuivasa continued his unstoppable march to the UFC heavyweight title (or so we are all desperate to believe). This episode of the CME is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It would be an understatement to say things didn't go Robert Whittaker's way at UFC 243, the first time he fought Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title. But that was 2019, in The Before Times, and it feels like a lot has happened since. Given a second opportunity to take on the champ this weekend at UFC 271, can Bobby Knuckles make things more competitive? Plus, Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa in a potential No. 1 contender fight? And Sean Strickland, man. What can we do with this guy? This week's CME is brought to you by NordVPN. Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to nordvpn.com/comain or use the code comain to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 1 additional month for free + a bonus gift! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Sean Strickland took us all on a virtual tour of his apartment, where he keeps his guns on the kitchen counter and you have to reach into the toilet bowl to make it flush. Strickland's going to fight Jack Hermansson in a UFC main event on Saturday and, while it does feel like he's getting more attention than he otherwise might, we ask: At what cost, bro? Plus, Bellator and Eagle FC had their events. Let's discourse! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, he did it. Big Francis Ngannou went out there and gutted-out a unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane on Saturday at UFC 270. Maybe it wasn't the fight we all expected, but the world must now come to him. He says he'll sit out the rest of this year and either let the UFC entice him with a better offer or he'll split for boxing. This week, we talk about all his options. Plus, are Davey Figgs and Brandon Moreno going to do it again, again, AGAIN, brother? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Ngannou's contractual status with the UFC has dominated the storylines leading up to Saturday's "title unification" bout against Cyril Gane. But what happens when these two guys actually get in the cage together? How will the fight go? What's the best case scenario for Ngannou? What's the worst? We discuss. Plus, Brandon Moreno and Davey Figgs out here about to do it again-again brother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another FREE Power Hour for all the little Co-Mainiacs this week. On this episode, it's all power rankings all the time this week, as we head into Saturday's Fight Night event featuring Giga Chikadze vs. Calvin Kattar. Among our topics: We'd make a list of suspects who might want to throw a Molotov cocktail at Conor McGregor's pub, but this show is only an hour long. You know who has weird ideas about Greg Hardy's MMA career? Greg Hardy! And who's gonna pay $75 to watch Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masivdal? Plus, an exciting new development in $20 We Never Want to See Again. No spoilers, but shit. Just. Got. Real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giga Chikadze's Fight Night main event against Calvin Kattar coming up on Saturday may well have gotten more interesting this week, when Max Holloway pulled out of a featherweight title shot at UFC 272. Right now, Chan Sung Jung and Henry Cejudo are both pursuing that open slot against Alexander Volkanovski, but you know how this sport is. Who's to say Giga can't steal that spot with an impressive performance? Plus, we look at the recent bonanza of heavyweight fight bookings and discuss Sean O'Malley saying most fighters don't make any money for the UFC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the third year in a row, the UFC wishes fans a Happy New Year by raising prices on its PPV events by $5. That's a 25% increase in just a few years. On this episode of the Power Hour, we ask: Will the ballooning sticker price ever hit a breaking point for fans? So far, it has not. On the bright side, at least we can be assured fighters will get a cut of this newly increased revenue. Haha. Psych. They absolutely will not. Plus, in Power Rankings, Max Holloway bows out already, Artem Lobov makes us sad and they're actually doing it: Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Dana White had actually read "The Art of War" he might understand that it is a bad idea for him to continually engage Jake Paul on the battlefield where Paul is strongest. Unfortunately, the longtime UFC president just comes out of every skirmish in this feud looking more and more out of touch. Plus, we wonder: Is the UFC really gonna let Francis Ngannou go? Also, fun with futures! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Due to some family obligations, we're not going to be able to record that new episode of the Proper we promised. Instead, please accept this free episode of Doin' the Damn Thing. For the final pod of the year, your dudes talk about our favorite TV shows, movies and books of 2021. Also, an abbreviated Kraken Up, with the NHL shut down amid a holiday COVID outbreak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derrick Lewis became the UFC's all-time knockouts leader with his win over Chris Daukaus on Saturday night, for whatever that's worth. On the other side of the country, Jake Paul walloped Tyron Woodley in their hastily arranged boxing rematch. We discuss those fights, and welcome Sir Nigel Longstock to read UFC fighters' letters to Santa Claus during the CME office holiday party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CME listeners had a lot to say in the wake of UFC 269. You filled up our inbox, so we had no choice this week but to take listener mail throughout the episode, while we discuss Charles Oliveira's submission win over Dustin Poirier and Juliana Pena's shocking upset of Amanda Nunes. Plus, not for nothing, but doesn't it seem like you could make some fun fights with these results? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC offers up the final PPV of 2021 this Saturday, with two title fights on the main card of UFC 269. Charles Oliveira defends his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier and Amanda Nunes puts the women's bantamweight title on the line against Juliana Pena. Should be a banger. Plus, look at 35-year-old Jose Aldo out here slowly but surely reminding us he's one of the greatest ever to do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trillers revolutionized modern hand-to-hand combat with the Triad or whatever over the weekend, and the results were a real mixed bag for the former UFC fighters on the card. Not to worry, however, since we all return to the world of Serious MMA this weekend. Bellator has a super compelling men's bantamweight title fight on Friday, pitting Sergio "YOUNG SERGE!" Pettis vs. Kyoji Horiguchi. On Saturday, the UFC matches-up its own set of perhaps surprising surging bantamweights in Jose Aldo and Rob Font. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Co-Mainiacs, just a reminder that Chad's other podcast, "Death in the West," returns for a second season in January. This week, DITW dropped a special teaser episode for the upcoming season that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the legendary DB Cooper hijacking in the Pacific Northwest. Give it a listen! If you like it, you can subscribe here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-in-the-west/id1482417987 Or here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7caKS5hAPIkGUSJnfUylg0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Holloway showed out, but perhaps needed to dip deeper into the ol' bag of tricks than we anticipated to defeat Yair Rodriguez in ANOTHER FOTY candidate UFC main event. And did it surprise anyone that while all this happened, Conor McGregor was EXTREMELY ONLINE? No, it did not. Over in Bellator, meanwhile, Cris Cyborg housed a 40-to-1 underdog and had some words with Kayla Harrison. So that made for a nice moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somehow Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler exceeded even our loft expectations. That was just bananas, and now they better damn well let Gaethje fight the winner of Chucky Olives vs. Dusty P. Plus, we are sure Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili should've been scored 3-2. Just ... you know ... we're not sure for who. And finally, after besting Colby Covington, does Kamaru Usman need some big, momentous challenge to be considered the GOAT? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know what, in this sport, we'll take the feel-good stories where we can get them. Glover Teixeira winning his first UFC title at 42 while being universally liked and and unyielding positive is a feeling we want to hold onto. Perhaps the only downer here was the Janny Blackjacks (also seemingly a good dude) had to lose. Plus, Petr Yan starts off scary and only gets scarier, big wins for Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev and we look ahead to dueling title fights at UFC 268. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvin Vettori was surprisingly businesslike all week, considering all the nonsense Paulo Costa was pulling, and that approach extended to the fight. Vettori notably wouldn't share his wine with Costa after the bout was over, though, which seems kinda unfortunate. Plus, can you really believe we're out here strategizing another fight for Fedor? And what's on tap for UFC 267? For one thing, that shit is free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's amazing how naturally the phrase, "Conor McGregor punched a DJ," rolls off the tongue at this point. Yeah, that just feels right. That feels like something McGregor would do. This week, on an All Questions Considered episode of the CME, we take your questions on Connie Mac's latest run-in with the law, Aspen Ladd's stinker against Norma Dumont (and the weird coaching that went along with it), as well as Scott Coker's take that the Belaltor GP winner will be the best in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The maiden voyage of Doin’ The Damn Thing is frankly jam-packed with CME goodness. We spend the first part of the show discussing the first couple episodes of Ken Burns’ new PBS doc on Muhammad Ali and some of the ways it either changed or reinforced our views of one of the most iconic figures in all of sports. We also talk to our friend Dan Brooks about the death of Norm Macdonald, as Dan and Norm had become acquainted during the final years of Macdonald’s life. Plus, the debut of KRAKEN UP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boxing owned the weekend, no doubt about that. Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder crafted a classic in their trilogy fight, capturing the attention of the sports world in a way it feels like MMA can never quite muster. Plus, does Mackenzie Dern need to decide what kind of fighter she wants to be? And what will you watch this weekend? The UFC? Bellator? Or both? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, shit, what can you do? Seemed like Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker kind of forgot to fight during the UFC's main event on Saturday night. That happens sometimes, but it certainly wasn't what we wanted to see from these two strange purveyors of violence. Over in Bellator, Michael Page defeated Douglas Lima via the sort of split decision that didn't tell us much about how good MVP actually is. And the CME debuts the brand new feature: "HOW HYPED?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 266 was a hell of a fight card, basically from start to finish. While there weren't any surprises in the evening's "big three" bouts, Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega put on an absolute crackerjack in the main event and the prelims were just flat wild. Oh yeah, and Jon Jones made his fist official appearance at a UFC function in months and got himself arrested, like, RIGHT AWAY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Smith had some words for Ryan Spann in the cage Saturday night, after Smith scored a first-round submission victory. "Lionheart" admits he let some of Spann's pre-fight trash talk get to him but now says he no longer gives a fuck. Plus, UFC 266 is right around the corner and Yoel Romero finally made his Bellator debut and maybe didn't know how long his fight was supposed to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took Anderson Silva a little under one minute, 30 seconds to leave Tito Ortiz in the black lands during their boxing match Saturday at the Trillers. Silva styled on Ortiz so badly, some people thought Tito took a dive. That's gotta hurt. Plus, we look ahead to this weekend's #JSF UFC event and Yoel Romero's impending Bellator debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek Brunson went out this weekend and reminded us all that he is a very good fighter who thus far in his UFC career as only lost to the elite in the middleweight division. So, that was good for him. Bad, though, for Darren Till, who now drops to 1-4 in his last five and needs to find some answers quick if he hopes to have much future as a high-level UFC fighter. Plus, hey there, Florida, how you doin'? Say, the Trillers want to know if you might let them put on this fight this weekend? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It turns out, Tyron Woodley boxes a lot like he fights in MMA, which is to say watching him was one of the more frustrating experiences in all of combat sports. So, yeah, Jake Paul improved to 4-0 or whatever. Also, is it finally, actually GigaTime in the octagon? And, holy shit, UFC 268 is stacked ... for now (card subject to change). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jared Cannonier edged Kelvin Gastelum in a competitive and entertaining UFC main event on Saturday night, then immediately hopped on the mic and announced that he's "broke." Is that a good look for the UFC? That's a bad look, right? Plus, does Kayla Harrison actually have this whole shit figured out? And ... uh-oh ... Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, it's Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On an All Questions Considered episode of the show, we take a grab bag of queries from you, the Co-Mainiacs, including: Will Conor ever be champion again? Which UFC titles will change hands before the end of the year? Was it wise for Bellator to move to Showtime? Is the PFL commentary team the best in the business? Should our guy Dak wear a bolo tie to a wedding? And is Jon Jones actually on double-secret steroid suspension? (Spoiler: No. No he's not.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ciryl Gane pretty much ruined the entire city of Houston's weekend with his third-round TKO of Derrick Lewis at UFC 265. Does the "Good Kid's" forthcoming title unification bout with Francis Ngannou now present a storyline so good "fucking Vince couldn't have wrote it better"? Plus, we put some hespect on Jose Aldo's name and talk the politics of booking a fight for Fedor Emelianenko in Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AJ McKee pretty much annihilated the competition during the Bellator featherweight grand prix, including Saturday's championship finale, where he stopped Patricio Pitbull in just a minute, 57 seconds to win the title. Ratings for that event weren't stellar, however, and McKee has now essentially cleaned out the 145-pound division by virtue of winning the tourney. It brings up the question: Is Bellator capable of making McKee the star he deserves to be? Plus: we look ahead to UFC 265. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TJ Dillashaw surprised a lot of people--including your humble co-hosts--Saturday night by emerging with a split-decision victory over Cory Sandhagen in Dillashaw's return after a two-year JPD suspension. Did Tilly Dills actually deserve to get the nod? Ehhhh ... maybe not, but he still put on a hell of a performance. During this week's show, we discuss how far the former champ can go now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miesha Tate perhaps benefited from some friendly matchmaking Saturday night as she returned to the cage for this first time since 2016, but she still made it look pretty easy against a retiring Marion Reneau, en route to a third-round TKO. The win immediately makes Tate a player at 135-pounds again. Will the same player-status ultimately be bestowed on that dude Islam Makhachev? He certainly looks the part, but will have to fight somebody first. Plus, what does Tyler Jeffrey Dillashaw have left to give? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor broke his whole leg shit on Saturday night against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The good news is, Poirier will probably now get to fight for the title while McGregor convalesces. The bad news? Yeah, depending on a bunch of factors, we're probably gonna have to sit through Poirier vs. McGregor 4 when he comes back. Also, Tai Tuivasa stole the flippin' show at this biggest PPV of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend at UFC 264, Conor McGregor returns to the octagon for just the fifth time since 2016 to complete a trilogy with Dustin Poirier. At this point, we've got so little recent intel on McGregor as a fighter, do even hardcore fans know what to expect? Also, so the UFC went and pissed off new heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou by setting up a interim title fight between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis, huh? Sure, that sounds like a great idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kind of funny that we all, as MMA fans, are going to look down our noses at these boxing vs. MMA crossover fights until we win one, and then suddenly we're out here in the street lighting couches on fire and ordering bottle service in the VIP. All jokes aside, however, Anderson Silva's win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. provided a nice moment "The Spider" absolutely deserves. Plus: Chan Sung Jung back and a heavyweight doubleheader on tap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Honestly, Brandon Moreno kinda stole the show at UFC 263, what with winning the men's flyweight title in overwhelming fashion while simultaneously seeming like the nicest damn person in the world. In this episode, we react to The Assassin Baby's win, the reality of Leon Edwards winning 24 minutes of a fight and Nate Diaz winning one minute and Israel Adesanya blanking Mad Marvin Vettori in the evening's main event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel Adesanya defends the middleweight title Saturday at UFC 263 against Marvin Vettori, in a championship fight that feels like it's happening just because. Does that make this a sneaky trap fight for Adesanya, who has already defeated Vettori once? Also, can Davey Figgs and the Assassin Baby have another slobberknocker? And are Nate Diaz fans gonna come out of this one, like, suuuuper bummed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cris Cyborg battered Leslie Smith for nearly the full 25-minutes to retain the Bellator women's featherweight title on Friday night and the following evening Rob Font did something close to the same against Cody Garbrandt in the main event of a UFC Fight Night. We talk about those bouts and then take your questions on this week's episode of the CME. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles Oliveira is the lion of lions. He weathered the early storm against Michael Chandler, won the vacant UFC lightweight title via second round TKO and then smeared blood on Dana White. Not a bad night at the office. Plus, what's next for the elite in the 155-pound division and will Tony Ferguson still be part of it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's no doubt that Bellator's Friday night event on Showtime was the best MMA card of the weekend. With MVP's whole-shit-broke KO win, Rumble Johnson having a fun one with Jose Augusto and Young Serg upsetting Juan Archuleta for the bantamweight crown, we packed a whole lot of living into this event. But with the UFC now firmly entrenched on ESPN and cranking out content every weekend--cough, Rodriguez vs. Waterson, cough--how much does it matter when Bellator steals the show on a single night? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just two fights into his UFC run, it sure looks like Jiri Prochazka is closing in on a light heayvweight title shot. And hey, if we're being honest, anything that keeps this suddenly Jon Jones-less division fresh is probably a good thing. Also, Thursday and Friday nights are STACKED with non-UFC action and Saturday night is ... well ... what's the opposite of stacked? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From seeing Chris Weidman's leg shatter against Uriah Hall's leg to a trio of stoppages--at least a couple of them fairly shocking--in the event's three title fights, there were a lot of mood swings during UFC 261. An emotional toll was exacted, you might say. If nothing else, this won't be one we forget for some time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Given the assembly-line nature of the UFC content these days, you can't blame MMA fans, boxing hardcores and casuals alike for being interested in Triller, which is (if nothing else) EXTREMELY different. So, when that dude Ebenezer Paul knocks out Ben Askren in under two minutes, it's going to be kind of a big deal. We discuss that and look ahead to UFC 261. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marvin Vettori defeated Kevin Holland in the main event of UFC on ABC 2 on Saturday, but it turned out to be the sort o fight that didn't really help either guy's standing in the middleweight division. Plus we talk about last week's efforts from One Championship and Bellator as well as look ahead to Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patricio "Pitbull" Freire advanced to the final of the Bellator featherweight grand prix Satuday night during that promotion's debut on Showtime, by choking Emanuel Sanchez to damn sleep with a quickness. Now, as he prepares to take on AJ McKee for all the marbles, how good is Pitbull's claim to being the best 145-pounder in the world? Plus, the "Right Guy" Championship fight is now official and the UFC readies for its second broadcast on ABC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francis Ngannou pitched damn near a perfect game on Saturday at UFC 260, stopping Stipe Miocic via second-round KO to claim the heavyweight title. By all rights, Jon Jones should be next, but somehow it feels like the UFC is going to screw us out of that one? So, what happens? A rematch with Derrick Lewis? A trilogy with Miocic? We talk our way into the Francis Ngannou Era on this week's CME. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC heavyweight title rematch between Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou is set to go down this weekend. The featherweight title scrap between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega? Not so much. Plus, Kevin Holland drops a unanimous decision to Derek Brunson and suddenly we DON'T think it's cool that he talks through all his fights? Huh, OK. Seemed like that was one of the reasons he found himself in a UFC main event to begin with, but whatever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, fudge. That's not how we wanted it to go. That's obviously not how Belal Muhammad wanted it to go. Dare we say, that's not how Leon Edwards wanted it to go, either, though his suggestion that maybe we just let it go and book him a title fight anyway was--yeah. no, that's not how this shit works. This week? We discuss the eye poke, which makes it three DQ/NC results during the last two weeks of UFC action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel Adesanya's foray into the light heavyweight division did not go as planned, courtesy the Legendary Polish Power of Jan Blachowicz. Oh, Janny Blackjacks, you never stop surprising us. Plus, Amanda Nunes still ain't nothing to fuck with and ... PETR YAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knock on wood, people: Five UFC titles are scheduled to be on the line during March, including this weekend's UFC 259 and its triple bill of championship bouts. Can Israel Adesanya end Janny Blackjacks' Cinderella run with the light heavyweight title? Is Petr Yan the guy we thought he was? Is there any way Megan Anderson beats Amanda Nunes? We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The current moment in the UFC belongs to the big fellas. With Derrick Lewis' KO of Curtis Blaydes last weekend and the Biggi Boy vs. Ciryl Gane coming up next, the heavyweight division is taking center stage. On top of that, it looks like Stipe vs. Big Fran II is actually gonna happen. So, get hyped, America. Now let's just hope Jon Jones didn't put on all that extra weight for nothing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a first round where it looked like Gilbert Burns was on the verge of capturing the UFC welterweight title, Kamaru Usman put his foot down. The power jab, the low kicks, the third-round TKO victory--all these things served to make Usman look like an ever evolving puzzle for the rest of the 170-pound class. All things being equal, Usman would probably be a much bigger star. Unfortunately, we know that's not how it works in this sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both Alistair Overeem and Frankie Edgar had rough nights at Saturday's UFC. Alexander Volkov busted Overeem's nose en route to a second-round TKO. Corey Sandhagen put Edgar's chin into the stratosphere with a KO-of-the-year-candidate flying knee. So, that was hard to watch. Plus, Ben watched BKFC and we look ahead to UFC 258. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alistair Overeem fights Alexander Volkov this Saturday during Super Bowl weekend, but you already knew we weren't going to spend the entire show talking about that. Instead, we take listener queries in another one of our All Questions Considered episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier walked out to James Brown's "The Big Payback," stopped Conor McGregor in the second round and then declared himself the uncrowned champion. A pretty nifty piece of business from The Diamond all the way around at UFC 257. Now, we ask what should be next for Poirier, McGregor and, oh yeah, Michael Chandler in a suddenly Khabib-free lightweight division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Holloway amazed us all with his performance at Saturday's UFC on ABC card. Never one to rest on its laurels, however, the UFC ramps back up for two events this week. (We see you, Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny!) And as Conor McGregor prepares to return at UFC 257, any effort to figure out what he has left just feels like guesswork. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC returns to network television this week for the first time since 2018, as Saturday afternoon it presents its debut broadcast on ABC. What to make of this, especially after the fight company's tenure on Big Fox started with a bang and then slowly petered-out over the lifetime of that deal? And what can we surmise from matchmakers using Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar as the first main event in this new series? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the first episode of The Proper since mid-December, we've got some catching up to do. So, we're going All Questions Considered this week. What's up with the UFC raising PPV prices? Have we witnessed the fatal flaw in Greg Hardy's MMA evolution? And what's the UFC really doing with its "Performance Center"? Those questions and more ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's be honest, ain't nobody doing any work the week of Christmas. This episode, we present (or, uh, re-represent, as the case may be) our year-end awards. Plus, Sir Nigel Longstock stops by to read the best tweets of 2020. We pop champagne and hand out white elephant gifts. You'll like it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno threw DOWN on Saturday in the main event of UFC 256 and, while it probably wasn't the fight of the year, it was perhaps the greatest majority draw of all time. In the co-main, Charles Oliveira wore Tony Ferguson around like a hat. Don't look now, but on the heels of a crackerjack pay-per-view card last weekend, there's another potentially dope card coming up this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC says its release of perennial title contender/lovable weirdsmobile Yoel Romero is one of about 60 cuts it will make before the New Year to trim its "inflated" roster. Inflated, huh? That's an interesting, hey-this-was-nobody's-fault kind of way to say it. So, that's a bummer. We also talk about Marvin Vettori's recent win over Jack Hermansson and preview UFC 256--a fight card that looks fun enough to make us feel uneasy with six days still to go before fight night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben watched the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition boxing match on Saturday night and gleefully reports that he got his money's worth ... of entertainment, if not exactly top flight boxing action. Meanwhile, the UFC scrapped Curtis Blaydes vs. Derrick Lewis at the the last minute while simultaneously shuffling the line-ups for its next two events as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 255 was definitely a thing that happened, as Deiveson Figueiredo and Valentina Shevchenko retained the men's and women's flyweight titles, respectively. This week on an All Questions Considered episode of The Proper, we talk the greatness of Figgy Small and Shevy Chenks, as well as A.J. McKee pulling off a heretofore unseen submission in the Bellator GP. Plus, a lot of other odds and ends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Felder didn't beat Rafael dos Anjos Saturday night, but it still feels like Felder's choice to step in on short notice for a five-rounder against a former champion was the right thing to do. Plus, the Bellator 145-pound grand prix deserves your attention, while UFC 255 maybe ... well, you make the call. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, Glover Teixeira pretty much handled Thiago Santos in their main event fight Saturday night. This week, the CME turns its attention to the most vexing questions facing the 205-pound division, including: In a world where Jon Jones is absent, could Teixeira be the best light heavyweight in the UFC? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anderson Silva lost to Uriah Hall on Saturday via fourth-round TKO. It wasn't great. It also wasn't terrible. But, jeez louise, Dana White sure showed up at the postfight presser in a shitty mood. He says Silva still has one fight left on his UFC deal and White will NOT be offering it to him. So, what happens next? Plus, Isreal Adesanya will fight Janny Blackjacks for the light heavyweight strap (wait, what?) and this weekend we finally get to see the Covid Cup. You know unless something bad happens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Khabib Nurmagomedov called it quits on Saturday after UFC 254 in what has to be considered one of the most emotional retirement announcements in MMA history. Naturally, we got a lot of mail on the subject. This week's All Questions Considered show talks Khabib's legacy, his performance against Justin Gaethje and what now to do with the vacant lightweight title. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Ortega returned from his first career loss and an extended absence from the cage looking like a new man on Saturday and straight-up put a whipping on Chan Sung Jung. Sup with that??? Plus, we look ahead to UFC 254's man and co-main events. Hype level is high! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If what you want out of your UFC content is a no-strings-attached experience where one semi-anonymous dude might do something unbelievably awesome (and terrible) to another semi-anonymous dude then, brother, Saturday night was your JAM. We discuss that and other stuff on this week's CME Proper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holly "Holmes" Holm and Carlos "Conduit" Condit both went out there and reminded us who the fuck they were on Saturday. But what now for our two old pals? Plus, the Jon Jones-Israel Adesanya beef gets capital "W" Weird and--oh, look!--another fairly low profile UFC event this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's a taste of Chad's new podcast: Death in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel Adesanya froze Paulo Costa like a statue, battered him with leg kicks from range and then toppled him with strikes to the dome piece in the second. It was, in short, exactly the kind of performance you'd want from a budding UFC superstar. Speaking of stars, how about your dude Janny Blackjacks? How long can we reasonably expected him to hang onto the strap? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colby Covington pretty much shut down Tyron Woodley en route to a fifth-round TKO victory on Saturday night. Then Covington opened his mouth and spewed awful racist bile all over the place during the postfight. You know, like he does. Plus, Donald Cerrone draws Niko Price and, hey, UFC 253 is this weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were a ton of fights this weekend, and the CME will forego its normal three-round format in order to talk about as many of them as possible. We discuss Michelle Waterson's win over Angela Hill, Ed Herman's Dundasso and those terrible low blows in Bellator, among other things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alistair Overeem's late-career dream continues, in the form of a fifth-round TKO over Augusto Sakai. All the props in the world to Overeem for remaking himself as a crafty veteran, but how far can he continue to roll at age 40? Plus, Nick Diaz back? Fight Island back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Smith made a somewhat short turnaround after his high-publicized de-toothing by Glover Teixeira back in May, just to return Saturday night to get outpointed by Aleksandar Rakic. Chances are, Smith's not going to be happy with that. Plus, are we seeing the end of the Brutal Bob Lawler Era? And Chad invents a time machine and sends Ben on a mission with an important message for 2010 Alistair Overeem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frankie Edgar finally made his bantamweight debut on Saturday and ... well ... it looked a lot like what we've seen from him at every other weight, which is to say quite good, but also prone to producing fights that could go either way. Plus, Ryan Bader finds out why you don't tempt the MMA Gods and--what's this???--some actual UFC vs. Bellator beef? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stipe Miocic will continue being the man after his unanimous decision victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 concluded that pair's heavyweight title trilogy. As for Cormier? We're not totally sure, though we hope it's something good. Plus, just to add to this event's weirdness, Sean O'Malley's leg went kablooey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier fulfill the trilogy this weekend. Kind of feels like it snuck up on us, no? Plus, we love Derrick Lewis, but is he trying to do too much? And shouldn't some MMA company just give Michael Chandler whatever he wants? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Score one for the grizzled veterans, as Derek Brunson became the first professional fighter to crack the riddle of Edmen Shahbazyan on Saturday night. Plus, chaos ruled at UFC Fight Night 176 and--what's this???--a certified weirdsmobile fight between Derrick Lewis and Aleksei Oleinik is on tap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Whittaker reasserted himself as one of the UFC's elite middleweights--and reminded us he has no qualms about stomping a motherfucker's knee to shreds. Plus, Shogun and Roger Nog didn't make us sad, while Khamzat Chimaev and Tanner Boser arguably emerged as the Pandemic Era's breakout stars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Benavidez likely saw his last, best chance at a UFC title evaporate when he got choked unconscious by new undisputed flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo on Saturday. Plus, what did we miss from Wednesday and -- hoo boy -- the UFC's Yas Island vacay looks to end with a bang. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legend of Street Jesus collided with the best welterweight in the world at UFC 251 and ... well ... it was a long night in the Bread Game. Plus, Max Holloway maybe got jobbed (or maybe not!) and Petr Yan beat Jose Aldo into a living death there at the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gilbert Burns is out and Jorge Masvidal (probably, almost certainly) in against Kamaru Usman in the UFC 251 main event. It was a circuitous route to the fight that should've been headlining this pay-per-view all along, but all's well that ends well, right. RIGHT? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker went to battle on Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12. Did Hooker prove he belongs among the lightweight elite? Did Poirier revive his title aspirations? This week, it's an All Questions Considered episode of the CME. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curtis Blaydes told us exactly what he was going to do to Alexander Volkov on Saturday night and then he went out and did it. He also warned some of you more punch-and-kick-oriented types that you might not like it. One person who didn't? Dana Frederick White Jr., though in fairness it was likely more Blaydes' comments on fighter pay that set the UFC Prez off. Plus, Emmett vs. Burgos slayed and Poirier vs. Hooker is now on deck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cynthia Calvillo established herself as a women's flyweight contender with a win over Jessica Eye on Saturday. Would we say she looked ready for Valentina Shevchenko, however? No, we would not. Next up: Curtis Blaydes fights Alexander Volkov, while Dana White says every UFC card is wonderful and if you're a fight fan, you'll watch them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Nunes, the female GOAT, continues to be leaps and bounds ahead of any competition the UFC can find for her. What are you gonna do? Meanwhile, Cody Garbs, Aljo and O'Malley make the case against Aldo. Oh, and Conor McGregor also wants more money and is retired again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Jones says he's vacating the light heavyweight title and going on hiatus during a public spat over pay with the UFC. Then he's suddenly out in the streets working as a social activist. Plus, Gilbert Burns finally arrives and UFC 250 takes its best shot on PPV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apologies from some sound quality issues on this week's show, Co-Mainiacs. Hopefully, you will solider through with us. On this episode, we discuss Conor McGregor continuing to troll the competition, whether Fight Island seems unnecessary now and the UFC scraping together main events like Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alistair Overeem weathered an early storm to defeat Walt Harris by virtue of his wily, veteran guile on Saturday. We discuss that, plus look back at the UFC's weird week in Jacksonville. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it finally arrived, UFC 249 weekend served-up a downright unwieldy number of storylines. From Jacare's positive coronavirus test to "The Waiver" to Justin Gaethje's surprise destruction of Tony Ferguson, we discourse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's here (we think). It's happening (maybe). It's finally going down (in a matter of days). UFC 249 fight week is upon us leading up to Saturday's revamped and (twice) rescheduled fight card. Are you ready? Is the world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC plans to do three events in Jacksonville, Fla., from May 9-16. Can that be safe? One way or another, we're all going to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss reports of Dana White's recent conference call with fighters booked on upcoming UFC cards, what an epidemiologist told Ben about how the UFC could get back to business in a safe way and what classic fights have listeners been watching to pass the time? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With UFC 249 officially postponed after Disney and ESPN bigwigs pulled the plug on Dana White's Grand Plan to Be a Man, we look at what we learned about White, Disney, ESPN, MMA fans, media and managers. Plus, what will the sport look like when it finally comes back? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're told UFC 249 is a go. We're told the main event will be Tony Ferguson vs. Justin Gaethje. We're told it will be for an interim title. We're told the venue you will be ... wait for it ... "somewhere on EARTH." So, yeah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Khabib Nurmagomedov is "stuck at home" in Dagestan, which makes him a lot like the rest of us, when you think about it. So, he's probably out, but the UFC insists 249 is still on. Plus, Jon Jones in trouble again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, here's something completely different. This week, from self-isolation and without much MMA happening worldwide, we went back and rewatched UFC 1. It was weird. Then we talked about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both our families are self isolating this week, which causes a number of challenges for the CME podcast. Still, here we discuss Charles Oliveira's win over Kevin Lee at UFC Brasilia, the UFC's weird declaration it will carry on in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and what will ultimately befall UFC London? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk tore the house down in their women's strawweight title fight at UFC 248. Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero? Weeeeeell, that's a different story. This week, we discuss those two fights and look ahead to a weekend full of MMA action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deiveson Figueiredo smashed UFC Norfolk's main event title fight when he missed weight last week. Then he damn near smashed the whole flyweight division by defeating Joseph Benavidez via second-round TKO. What's do be done? Also, we look ahead to UFC 248's two title fights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are Dan Hooker's prospects among the lightweight elite after defeating Paul Felder at UFC Auckland? Can Joseph Benavidez finally make good on his flyweight potential? Are we really doing Cejudo vs. Aldo? And did Ben consume too many edibles before the weekend's big boxing match? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan Blachowicz crashes the light heavyweight title picture with his three-minute KO of Corey Anderson, Diego Sanchez mystifies us with an unusual performance against Michel Pereira and, up next week, Paul Felder vs. Dan Hooker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How about that UFC 247, eh people? Specifically, how about that thriller main event between Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes? On this episode of the CME, we discuss that fight, the judging controversy that has emerged after it and why Valentina Shevchenko is just too damn good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonny Bones returns for the fourth time in roughly 13 months on Saturday to take on Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. If he wins, is this the last time we see Jones at light heavyweight? Can Reyes pull off the impossible? Is there anything else of interest on this card? These and other questions await. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curtis Blaydes looked good en route to second round TKO victory over Junior dos Santos Saturday at UFC: Raleigh. Yet, is there a huge, Francis Ngannou-shaped roadblock between him and the title? Also, Cris Cyborg pulls off the MMA grand slam and Joe Rogan beefs with ... Stephen A. Smith??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor blew through Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds in the UFC 246 main event, which seemed like exactly what matchmakers and promoters wanted. But with such a top-heavy main card and a $70 price tag, were consumers satisfied with the outcome? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor returns to the cage for the first time since 2018, for a bout against Donald Cerrone at Saturday's UFC 246. What do we expect from Conor and from Cowboy? And what else is worth watching on this card? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with an All Questions Considered episode of the podcast, as we wrap-up the action from Bellator 237 and look ahead to what 2020 might bring in MMA. Also, Tyron Woodley got mad at Leon Edwards so he threatened NOT to fight him??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Christmas just a couple days away, we went ahead and moved our normal Patreon Live Chat from Wednesday to Monday and opened it up to all listeners. Thanks to everyone who joined us. We hope the rest of you can make it next time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All three UFC 245 title fights nearly went the distance, pushing the pay-per-view run time up around four hours. Here we talk about how it all went for Usman, Covington, Volko, Holloway, Nunes and GDR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You wanna talk about painful? How about Jairzinho Rozenstruik destroying Alistair Overeem's lip in the final seconds of a heavyweight main event Overeem was on the verge of winning at UFC on ESPN 7? Also, how about Stefan Struve getting punted in the junk twice by Ben Rothwell and THEN losing via TKO? We talk about that, then look ahead to UFC 245. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor returns from his lengthy, uh, sabbatical to fight Donald The Cowboy Cerrone at UFC 246 in January and, among other things, the CME wants to know: Why now? Why the Cowboy? Why welterweight? And what about these sexual assault investigations? Plus, we discuss the fifth time being the charm for Khabib vs. Tony and this weekend's UFC on ESPN 7. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dreaded Patreon Power Rankings take over the CME proper for the first time ever! Plus ... uh ... what's going on with Ben's face? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zabit Magomedsharipov edged Calvin Kattar in the main event of UFC: Moscow on Saturday night, but not without a bit of intrigue. Magomedsharipov seemed to be fading down the stretch of their three-round main event, while Kattar appeared to just be coming on. So, what if it had been five rounds? We discuss that, Volkov vs. Hardy and Jacare Souza's impending move to 205. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, we spent part of UFC 244 at Buffalo Wild Wings eating the special one-night-only BMF wings. It didn't go that great for us. We talk about that, plus Jorge Masvidal being crowned the BMF king, Nate Diaz getting stopped on cuts and Darren Till getting an important, if not exactly thrilling, win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben returns from England and we attempt to catch up on everything we missed while he was gone. As usual, it was a lot: Nate's "atypical" drug test. Maia vs. Askren. Greg Hardy. Dom Reyes. Douglas Lima. Yair and Jeremy. It's all happening right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joanna Jędrzejczyk is back and maybe (?) better than ever, but is she "back" enough to coast into an immediate title shot against Zhang Weili? Plus, what to make of Kron Gracie at this point, is "Horizontal Niko Price" one of the most destructive forces in the universe and shouldn't we all be about done with Conor McGregor at this point? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Israel Adesanya's second round knockout over Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 to unify the middleweight championship. Where do both the new champ and the old go from here? And, damn it, we really gotta start thinking about going to Tampa already next weekend? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben got up early for us on what was his Thursday morning and Chad's Wednesday afternoon. We catch up with him about what it's like to be on the ground in Australia for UFC 243 and answer some listener mail questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Ben traveling to Australia to cover UFC 243 for The Athletic, there won't be a normal CME this Monday. We hope to be able to deliver a long-distance podcast for you later in the week, depending on his schedule and whether the internet with cooperate with us. For now, please accept this latest episode of the CME Movie Club to keep you entertained. If you like it and want to hear more like it, head over to our Patreon page and sign up: https://www.patreon.com/comainevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens' main event fight from UFC: Mexico City ending in a no-contest after just 15 seconds. Due to Ben's travel schedule, we also look ahead to UFC 243's Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya and try to preview a loaded weekend of MMA action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Justin Gaethje's first-round TKO victory over Donald Cerrone and his ensuing call-out of the winner of a championship fight that hasn't even been booked yet. In addition to that, we look at Tristan Connelly's surprise win over Michel Pereira and then turn our attention to UFC: Mexico City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Khabib Nurmagomedov tapped-out Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, we all have to give it up for the guy. He remains one of MMA's more complex and polarizing figures, but he's really good at this stuff. We discuss that, plus what one listener refers to as "some real Bellator-ass shit" and Cerrone vs. Gaethje is this weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov's and Dustin Poirier's bout to unify the UFC lightweight title this weekend in Abu Dhabi, plus what Zhang Weili's strawweight title win over Jessica Andrade means for the UFC and why you -- yes, you -- should watch the Bellator featherweight grand prix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Conor McGregor's apology and the MMA world's appetite to see him return to the cage, Matt Mitrione's loss via mouthpiece distraction at Bellator 225 and look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 15. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of Stipe Miocic reclaiming the title from Daniel Cormier at UFC 241, we talk about what's next for the heavyweight division. We also marvel at the return of Nate Diaz and discuss Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero getting weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Mike Perry's terrible broken nose (and his reaction) after his fight with Vicente Luque, the return of Nate Diaz and what Daniel Cormier is going to have to do to beat Stipe Miocic a second time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Colby Covington’s suffocating victory over Robbie Lawler and how important Covington’s odious schtick has been to getting him where he is today. Plus, Cris Cyborg’s “production team” undercuts our goodwill for her and the UFC heads to Uruguay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Max Holloway's impressive decision win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 240, where Cris Cyborg might land next and try not to get our hopes up for possible schadenfreude from Covington vs. Lawler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Leon Edwards' unanimous decision win over Rafael dos Anjos from UFC on ESPN 4 and what it's going to take "Rocky" to break through in the minds of MMA fans. Plus, UFC 240 goes down Saturday in Edmonton and -- sigh -- Jon Jones is in trouble again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes it seems like Germaine de Randamie is forever shrouded in controversy. Even her 16-second TKO win over Aspen Ladd Saturday at UFC Fight Night 155 likely won't be good enough to make her a No. 1 contender, owing to outcry over an early stoppage. In addition to that, we talk about Urijah Faber's surprise win over Ricky Simon and look ahead to UFC on ESPN 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss all things UFC 239, including: Jon Jones' lack of urgency against an injured Thiago Santos, Amanda Nunes pulling a Holly Holm on Holly Holm, Jorge Masvidal becoming a "breakout" star after 16 years and 47 fights and much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Francis Ngannou dusted Junior dos Santos in 71 seconds at UFC on ESPN 3, is he a little bit of takedown defense away from being a transformative figure in the heavyweight division? Plus, we look at UFC 239's dueling title fights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look at Chan Sung Jung's big win over Renato Moicano, investigate the buyers' remorse of the people who tuned in to see Artem Lobov vs. Paul Malignaggi at BKFC 6 and look forward to the heavyweight banger at UFC on ESPN 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Rory MacDonald advancing to the final of the Bellator welterweight grand prix, Chael Sonnen calling it a career all over again and Fedor Emelianenko announcing his "farewell tour." Wait, is that a thing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A full slate of UFC 238 recap, including Cejudo's shocking come-from-behind men's bantamweight title win and Donald Cerrone losing a fight by blowing his nose. Plus, Bellator 222 is a snapshot of everything Scott Coker loves, for better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad talk about their decisions to join The Athletic as senior writers. Plus, Lusty Gusty calls it quits, Cowboy and El Cucuy prepare to throw down and Henry Cejudo attempts to become the champ champ champ champ champ champ champ ...  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take listener questions about the UFC release of Justin Willis and Elias Theodorou, which fights we're looking forward to at UFC 238 and which items we'd choose for an MMA time capsule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rafael dos Anjos and Kevin Lee journeyed to hell and back in the main event of UFC: Rochester. Or, at least, RDA made it back. Lee didn't sound like he was so sure in his post-fight comments. That, plus Felicia Spencer's win over Megan Anderson and Sage Northcutt's painful OneFC debut on this week's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rose Namajunas was piecing-up Jessica Andrade until the new champ knocked her out cold with a slam. What does that say for the future of both fighters in the 115-pound division? Plus, it was a crazy weekend in MMA and we discuss all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Cerrone ages like a fine wine against Al Iaquinta, the way forward at lightweight seems as straight forward as ever (though is it ever easy?) and Jessica Andrade opens as a slight favorite over champion Rose Namajunas at Saturday's UFC 237. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad discuss Jack Hermansson crashing the middleweight title picture with his surprising victory over Jacare Souza, the newly gentle-of-spirit Rory MacDonald retaining his Bellator welterweight title after a majority draw with Jon Fitch--maybe not GREAT for the ongoing tournament, you guys--and this weekend's upcoming UFC card from Ottawa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Bellator 220 airing on DAZN and UFC: Jacare vs. Hermansson airing ... somewhere, it shapes up as a big weekend for hardcore MMA fans. Also, in no great surprise to anyone--including, it seemed, Aleksei Oleinik--Alistair Overeem got a big win in St. Petersburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad discuss UFC 236's stellar interim title fights, including what should rightfully happen next for Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum. In addition to that, they look at a number of Classic Dana Moments from the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad talk UFC 236's two interim title fights--Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Israel Adesanya. In addition to that, they talk about Bareknuckle FC successfully setting up its own version of a superfight. CME Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/comainevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miocic only to almost immediately ink this deal to fight Thiago Santos? Well, that's just mean spirited. Also, Justin Gaethje knows who he is, One FC Championship apparently does not and Conor McGregor is ... well, things aren't great for him right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Thompson was winning right up until he lost. Anthony Pettis was losing right up until he won. Big Pretty talked big but fought ugly. Plus, Gaethje vs. Barboza seems destined to be a certain kind of fight on ESPN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jorge Masvidal serves Darren Till AND Leon Edwards some tasty vittles at UFC Fight Night 147. Plus, Anthony Pettis moves up to welterweight ... and, wait, UFC pay-per-views are available exclusively where now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Junior dos Santos defeats Derrick Lewis after Lewis allegedly shows up at UFC Fight Night 146 with a serious knee injury. Then, dos Santos says anybody but Brock Lesnar should fight next for the heavyweight title. So, let's just say there is a lot of talk about--and that doesn't even include next week's Fight Night 147. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Jon Jones saying he's just now getting comfortable feeling like a UFC fighter (lol, wut?!?), we discuss the outlook for the rest of Bones' 2019 in the wake of his victory over Anthony Smith. Plus, a welterweight title fight that was a nightmare for one guy and a dream for the other. Oh, and say one thing for Ben Askren's UFC debut: It was not boring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about what the heck is happening at lightweight, where Dustin Poirier went from tweeting a middle finger emoji to landing in a 155-pound interim title fight. Also, a look ahead to UFC 235, the ACTUAL welterweight and light heavyweight titles are on the line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Francis Ngannou knock Cain Velasquez out with the shortest uppercut ever seen by man? Did Velasquez's knee spontaneously self-destruct? Is Mirko CroCop back? Have Matt Mitrione and Sergei Kharitonov made amends? On this AQC episode of the CME, the heavyweight division is back to its old tricks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WHAT happened to Robert Whittaker just before UFC 234? And how did Kelvin Gastelum play it? And did how we feel about Adesanya vs. Silva have mostly to do with our own fears? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A free sample of Ben and Chad's new podcast "Road Agents" which will be available to top-tier patrons at the CME's Patreon page. Like what you hear? Go sign up: https://patreon.com/comainevent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes each got big wins at UFC Fight Night 144. Plus, your dudes to UFC 234's Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum and Anderson Silva vs. Isreal Adesanya. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Bader becomes the Bellator champ champ with his quick and easy victory over Fedor Emelianenko in the heavyweight grand prix final. Did Scotty Cokes and Co. just hit a towering home run? Plus, what to look for at UFC on ESPN+ 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad break down the action from UFC on ESPN+1, as instructed by the huge amounts of listener mail they received. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC's broadcast deal with ESPN is upon us, so Ben and Chad break down Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw, talk about how a streaming-only product will affect fans and then nod to Nate Diaz jumping into the Conor-Khabib feud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After holiday break, Ben and Chad are back like Francis Ngannou after knocking out Curtis Blaydes. On this episode: UFC 232 wrap-up plus UFC 235 goes from the outhouse to the penthouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ICYMI, the CME put out a Christmas Spectacular last year about this time. Here it is again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad and Ben discuss the divergent directions of Frank Mir and Lyoto Machida, then look ahead to UFC 232's dueling title fights.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad breakdown the two title fights from UFC 231 and ask what happens next at men's featherweight and women's flyweight. Plus, with the UFC's deal with Fox about to end, what did we learn? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recapping the hot heavyweight action from Adelaide, Australia over the weekend (and Shogun!), plus Ben and Chad look ahead to the two awesome title fights on tap Saturday at UFC 231. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad discuss one of their favorite books, Patrick DeWitt's The Sisters Brothers, with some help from the CME listening audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The outcome of Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz 3 leaves everybody out of sorts and wondering, among other things, if Golden Boy is one-and-done in MMA. Also, just how "back" is Francis Ngannou? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we ready to accept Santiago Ponzinibbio as welterweight No. 1 contender? Also, Bellator throws it back to the early 2000s with a tape delay from Israel and Francis Ngannou prepares to fight Curtis Blaydes. In the middle of the night. From China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Fight Night event in Denver. Yair Rodriguez and Chan Sung Jung have a crackerjack. Mike Perry and Donald Cerrone settle their rivalry ... for now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stunning news this week, as Floyd Mayweather Jr. announces he'll be doing ... something ... at Rizin 14 on New Years Eve. Plus, UFC 230 wrap-up and a Fight Night 139 preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derrick Lewis will cash in on his balls being hot against Daniel Cormier at UFC 230, Anthony Smith seems like a good little light heavyweight contender and, wait, you can make *trades* in MMA? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad try not to jinx the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix. Plus, new fights for DC, The Black Beast, Jonny Bones, Lusty Gusty, Shev-champ-o and Joanna Former Champion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CANNONBALL!!! After Khabib Nurmagomedov goes into the crowd to brawl with Dillon Danis, Ben and Chad question whether anything really goes when you're "selling the fight." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov is almost upon us! Plus, your dudes break down much of the action from Bellator 206. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Jones back. Conor McGregor back. Plus, why is Bellator trying to hide Gegard Mousasi vs. Rory MacDonald from us? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All listener mail all the time on this AQC episode. Ben and Chad talk results from UFC: Moscow and answers questions on all things under the MMA sun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On tap this week: UFC 228's main event turned out to be a showcase fight for Tyron Woodley, Nicco Montano loses her title without even fighting and wild times afoot at strawweight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we hyped for Tyron Woodley vs. Darren Till? Is Valentina Shevchenko the uncrowned champ? And is Dana White right to expect two million buys for UFC 229? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special guest Sarah Aswell joins the CME to discuss Fletch and how much author Gregory MacDonald may or may not have been fucking with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Ray Gaethje KOed James Vick in 1:27 on Saturday, Bareknuckle FC starts to reveal its flaws and Buffer vs. Diaz is the hottest feud of the summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana White says he won't let Georges St-Pierre fight the Conor-Khabib winner (*knowing wink*), Justin Gaethje and James Vick prepare to do terrible things and James Gallagher gets kicked. Right. In. The. Face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time ever, Ben and Chad open the livestream up to everyone and take questions from the audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 227 provided twists and turns--Henry Cejudo and Tilly Dills reigned--and Conor McGregor is set to return against the dude he through that hand truck at, so ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor back! Plus, UFC on Fox 30 looked great on paper and the fights themselves turned out to be banging on Saturday night in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly seven painstaking hours of UFC: Hamburg on Sunday, Anthony Smith made short work of Shogun Rua in their main event light heavyweight fight. Merciful, perhaps, if you were one of the superfans who sat through the whole thing, but not so for Rua himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Junior dos Santos out-dueled Blagoy Ivanov in the main event of UFC Fight Night 133 on Saturday, though the unanimous decision win wasn’t exactly the home run needed to declare the former champion well and truly “back.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Ben and Chad discuss the catharsis of seeing Daniel Cormier win the heavyweight title, even if it meant toppling somewhat likeable dude Stipe Miocic. They also talk about the reemergence of Brock Lesnar, who strode back into MMA with his suit pants tucked into his cowboy boots, his potty mouth blazing and his bro-shove skills as wicked hot as ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Big Daddy is finally here--it’s UFC 226 fight week. Your dudes are pretty hyped for what may well turn out to be the biggest fight card of the year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Cerrone dropped to 1-4 in his last five after a hotly contested unanimous decision loss to Leon Edwards at UFC: Singapore. So, why do Ben and Chad feel like he’s embodying the “Cowboy” mystique more than ever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 225 included big wins from Robert Whittaker, Colby Covington, Holly Holm and others. Chad and Ben spend a good chunk of this show talking about that event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does middleweight champion Robert Whittaker have to prove--or gain--fighting Yoel Romero a second time? Is Colby Covington actually getting over on us with his “heel” gimmick? Does Alistair Overeem have legitimate beef for being left off the pay-per-view portion of the card? Oh, yeah--and CM Punk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Micheal Bisping announced his exit from MMA on his own podcast on Monday, nicely teeing-up Ben and Chad to discuss one of the UFC’s most unique careers on Tuesday. In addition to that, they look at Darren Till’s “win” (?) over Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight Night 130, which didn’t exactly launch Till into the stratosphere like perhaps matchmakers hoped it might. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yeah, so Kamaru Usman’s unanimous decision win over Demian Maia in the main event of UFC Fight Night 129 wasn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser. Still, some interesting stuff for Ben and Chad to talk about did come out of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad take back everything they said last week about how maybe UFC 224 and Bellator 199 wasn’t going to be all that. As it happened, shit was *flames emoji*. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 224 comes our way from Rio de Janeiro this Saturday, featuring Amanda Nunes defending her women’s bantamweight title against Raquel Pennington in its main event. Good news, though, Universe. If you’re feeling a little light in the wallet this weekend--or maybe you just don’t want to pay $65 for this card on principle--Bellator 199 is the same night live and free on the Paramount Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s always a good week on the Co-Main Event Podcast when Ben and Chad get to talk Fedor Emelianenko news that isn’t patently depressing. Therefore, Emelianenko’s weekend victory over Frank Mir at Bellator 198 is cause for celebration. Except, you know, you guys, let’s not get too crazy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in case there was any confusion about who they were, Kevin Lee and Frankie Edgar took to the cage Saturday at UFC Fight Night 128 to remind us all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje had themselves a gem on Saturday in the main event of UFC on FOX 29. To say we are not surprised, motherfuckers, would be an enormous understatement. As two of the most dependable action fighters in UFC, both Poirier and Gaethje lived up to their gimmicks in this all-out brawl, which ultimately ended as a fourth-round TKO victory for Poirier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here, your dudes talk McGregor, Nurmy, Al, Rose, Joanna and a whole bunch more of UFC 223 craziness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 300! Ben and Chad marvel, near-dumbfounded at Tony Ferguson’s late withdrawal from UFC 223 and his pending lightweight title fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the major MMA organizations largely taking the weekend off, the Co-Main Event Podcast is back with an All Questions Considered episode. This week, Ben and Chad let the brave and generous sponsors of their Patreon page have first dibs at submitting questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Fabricio Werdum merely get caught slipping on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 127? Or does the 40-year-old former UFC champ’s knockout loss to Alexander Volkov forecast the end of Werdum’s time among the heavyweight elite? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event still has plenty of work to do, what with this week’s UFC Fight Night 127 coming up from London. In addition to that, there is Mirko CroCop’s surprising journey to Bellator MMA, which raises questions about whether Scott Coker and his merry band of misfit toys need to quickly decide which kind of MMA promotion they want to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad take on the Cris “Cyborg” Justino Show and whether it’s starting to get boring watching her starch some nobody every time out. In addition, they hold a requiem for The Old Man, after Frankie Edgar’s knockout loss to Brian Ortega over the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Stephens scored a potentially big win over Josh Emmett on Saturday at UFC on Fox 28. How he got there is where things get interesting. Ben and Chad struggle over what to make of Stephens’ win, then spend a round trying to figure out if Conor McGregor is completely done fighting of it he’ll fight as many as two times in the UFC before 2018 is up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ALL QUESTIONS CONSIDERED ALERT! An entire show of answering your questions on every topic including Heather Hardy, Matt Mitrione, Derrick Lewis, Cowboy Cerrone and whether or not the UFC is an outdated fad that is about to dry up and blow away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 221 featured uncomfortable close talking, pantomimed public urination, an egregious eye poke & a dude chugging beer out of a shoe. In other words, we finally reached perfection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s just say UFC Fight Night 125 did not go off with flying colors Saturday from Belem, Brazil. From the mild controversy of Lyoto Machida’s split decision win over “Ya Boi” Eryk Anders to the slightly more egregious display of Valentina Shevchenko beating up Priscila Cachoeira, this event was one likely best forgotten. You know, just not until you listen to this episode of the CME. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The biggest MMA news of the week arguably happened Sunday night, at the conclusion of WWE’s annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view. We all suspected Ronda Rousey might wash-up on WWE’s shores sooner or later but, boy, we didn’t expect the handshakes to be so awkward. Of course, Ben and Chad have to talk about Rousey’s conversion into a “full-time” WWE superstar as well as what all this might mean for any potential UFC return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stipe Miocic tossed a bundle of dynamite on the tracks in front of the Francis Ngannou hype-train. Daniel Cormier did Daniel Cormier things to Volkan Oezdemir. Rory MacDonald won the Bellator welterweight title from Douglas Lima. Chael Sonnen advanced to round two of the heavyweight grand prix with a win over Rampage Jackson. Nuff said. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad do a little mop-up on UFC Fight Night 124 then look ahead to Rory MacDonald vs. Douglas Lima for the Bellator welterweight title before turning their attention to UFC 220's Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir for the light heavyweight title and the heavyweight title scrap pitting Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Chael Sonnen and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson scheduled to kick of the Tournament of Absolute Victory on January 20, the CME begins considering the implications immediately. In addition to Chael vs. Ramage, Ben and Chad also talk about whether or not it’s starting to seem like Conor McGregor needs to shit or get off the pot and also whether UFC executive Jeff Novitsky really ought to be going on various internet radio shows saying he believes Jones did not consciously mean to cheat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this show, your dudes talk about Cris “Cyborg” Justino’s first successful defense of her women’s featherweight crown, against Holly Holm, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s beatdown of Edson Barboza and look ahead to 2018 and what might happen in the UFC and Bellator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow one sport's most powerful man as he explores his own past, present and future, hoping to discover the true reason for the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rafael dos Anjos’ dominant win over Robbie Lawler at UFC on Fox 26 was yet another reminder to the Co-Main Event Podcast (or, at least, one half of it) to stop sleeping on dos Anjos. That actually tees Ben and Chad up nicely for this week’s show, wherein they discuss both dos Anjos’ win as well as the current awesome status of the welterweight “wilderness” (Ben’s word) and ask whether 170 pounds is the best thing MMA has going right now--even if Woodley doesn’t seem to notice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Ortega snatched Cub Swanson’s neck (twice) on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 123, perhaps along with it snatching future No. 1 contender status in the men’s featherweight division. This week, Ben and Chad search every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in T-City to break down how it happened. Oh, and did you hear Georges St-Pierre won’t defend the middleweight title after all? Sad but true. Don’t worry though, because Dana White is totally NOT MAD about it. Also, UFC on FOX 26 is this weekend, featuring Robbie Lawler vs. Rafael dos Anjos. So suffice to say there is a lot to talk about. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast talks Max Holloway’s impressive third-round stoppage over Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 218, Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Alistair Overeem and Conor McGregor's continued troubles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As feared, things turned even sadder this week for Michael Bisping. This week, your dudes talk about Bisping’s demise and then look ahead to such endeavors as Alvarez vs. Gaethje, Ngannou vs. Overeem and Holloway vs. Aldo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Show of hands if a couple weeks ago you predicted that a boomerang toss would take up a good portion of Co-Main Event Podcast episode 282? Yeah, Ben and Chad did not see that coming either. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seriously, how worried should we be about Conor McGregor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Georges St-Pierre’s shocking comeback victory over Michael Bisping to win the UFC middleweight title to T.J. Dillashaw and Rose Namajunas both dethroning champions most people expected to be dominant, this episode has it all. Was this the single greatest night in UFC history? Did GSP salt away GOAT status? And what of next weekend’s Fight Night 120, featuring Dustin Porier vs. Anthony Pettis and Matt Brown vs. Diego Sanchez. Buckle up, kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Batten down the hatches, CME Universe, it’s UFC 217 fight week. With just a week or so left before Michael Bisping actually defends his UFC middleweight title against Georges St-Pierre, Ben and Chad take a comprehensive look at what should end up being one of the biggest UFC events of late 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren Till made the most of his first real spotlight moment in the Octagon on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 118, blowing through Donald Cerrone via first round TKO. Now it seems as though Till might be looking at a future matchup with Mike Perry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gdansk, Gdansk, Gdansk is where the UFC journeys this weekend for Fight 118. The main event of that event features Donald Cerrone against Darren Till, which is kind of a strange marquee matchup until you consider that Till might well have his eye on being the new Donald Cerrone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No big deal, you guys. Demetrious Johnson is just going to toss Ray Borg up in the air like a small child and then armbar him as he plummets to earth (which is something we absolutely do NOT recommend doing to a child). If you are one of these people who insists on continuing to try to cast aspersions on the UFC men’s flyweight champ--well--you starting to feel sheepish yet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 216 comes our way this weekend from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. On this episode of the CME, Ben and Chad look at Demetrious Johnson finally getting his chance to break Anderson Silva’s record for consecutive UFC title defenses. They also talk about Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee squaring off for an interim lightweight title and perhaps the opportunity to be a future opponent for Conor McGregor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A pretty low-quality UFC event and a pretty high-quality Bellator event paced the weekend in MMA and you know that kind of role reversal is enough to get the creative juices flowing for the CME. On this episode, Ben and Chad talk about Jessica Andrade and Claudia Gadelha having a crackerjack women’s strawweight contender fight at UFC Fight Night 117. They also puzzle over the debut of Gokhan Saki and wonder if it’s good enough to be a fun fighter without being a terribly good one. They also take a broad look at what Bellator did, including a second fight for Aaron Pico, a highlight reel knockout for Paul Daley and a very Benson Henderson fight to cap things off. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Rockhold returns from more than a year away, takes some time to shake off the rust and ultimately emerges from UFC Fight Night 116 with a second-round win via strikes over Dave Branch. Pretty much just what the doctor ordered for Rockhold, who got some decent work in, faced some adversity and then nonetheless re-established himself as one of the very best middleweights in the UFC. Interesting thing is going to see what happens now, what with Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre still on tap near the end of the year. Depending on who wins that bad boy, the 185-pound division might still have some time to kill before anybody gets a chance to take on the champion. In addition to Rockhold, Mike Perry had himself a night on Saturday, and then went ahead and called out Robbie Lawler. As if that what wasn’t enough hot Octagonal action for you, UFC Fight Night 117 comes at you this week, featuring Ovince St. Preux vs. Yushin Okami as its main event. Ben and Chad talk about all this stuff and more on this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. Plus, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 215 fallout, plus Rockhold vs. Branch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Struve, Alexander Volkov, Demetrious Johnson and Amanda Nunes are all discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayweather-McGregor wrap up, plus Jon Jones breaks our hearts all over again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayweather-McGregor is finally upon us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayweather-McGregor, UFC 217's new main event and whether UFC fighters should still be considered independent contractors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC Fight Night 114, plus Conor McGregor's budding feud with Paulie Malignaggi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad talk UFC 214. Bones Jones. DC. Brock Lesnar? Yep, Brock F'n Lesnar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Results from UFC on Fox 25 and a look ahead to a stacked UFC 214 card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you hear us, Co-Main Event Universe? Look, we realize you may be confused since A) This episode of the CME is dropping a day later than normal and B) Your ears may still be ringing from last week’s Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor press “world tour” but here--in all its glory--is episode 264 of our little podcast. In it, your guys Ben and Chad spend a while talking about the silliness of the May-Mac Press Excursion and whether the sometimes ugly rhetoric will help or hurt pay-per-view sales. They also talk about a big win over the weekend for Santiago Ponzinibbio (of all people) at UFC Fight Night 113 and then turn their attention to next weekend’s UFC on Fox 25. At that event, Chris Weidman faces Kelvin Gastelum in a main event that shapes up as a must-win, lest Weidman complete a fall from grace that can only be described as “Johny-esque.” All that, plus AYFKM and Just Saying Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Universe, Robert Whittaker and Justin Gaethje both had pretty damn good weekends, huh? Amanda Nunes? Maybe not quite so hot. On this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad look at Whittaker’s big win over Yoel Romero at UFC 213 to become UFC interim middleweight champion. They also talk a fair amount about Gaethje having his Octagon debut in a fight-of-the-year caliber victory over Michael Johnson the night before at the TUF 5,476 Finale. Then there’s Nunes, the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, who had to bow out of a scheduled title defense against Valentina Shevchenko due to on-going sinus troubles. So that was bad and maybe casts her future with the company into doubt. Oh, and speaking of lacking futures with the company: Gegard Mousasi. Where did that dude go? Oh, there he is! In Bellator! All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s International Fight Week, CME Universe, and you know what that means: The UFC will produce back-to-back events this weekend--both of them from the same building in Las Vegas, which makes you wonder about the “international” part, but whatevs. Why spend time hashing out the details when there is so much honest to goodness MMA action to discourse? On this episode of the CME, Ben and Chad talk about the expectations for former WSOF champion Justin Gaethje, debuting in the main event of the TUF: Redemption finale on Friday opposite Michael Johnson. After that, they look ahead to Saturday’s UFC 213 and inspect the co-main events (get it?), where Yoel Romero takes on Robert Whittaker for the interim middleweight strap and Amanda Nunes defends her women’s bantamweight title in a rematch against Valentina Shevchenko. All that plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On paper, maybe it looked like kind of a ho-hum weekend in the world of mixed martial arts, but in practice--boy, howdy--it brought the weird. In other words, Bellator: NYC and UFC Fight Night 112 are both right in the Co-Main Event Podcast’s wheelhouse as far as discussion purposes are concerned. On this episode, Ben and Chad do their best to break down near everything that happened at the Bellator PPV, including but not limited to: Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva both looking old in their own ways, Matt “Mattrione” Mitrione and Fedor Emelianenko almost pulling off the rare double knockout, Michael Chandler being awesome even as his foot forcibly separated from the rest of his body, and Zach Freeman’s awesome email skills. Oh, and Heather Hardy, who seems nice. As far as the UFC event is concerned? There is slightly less to talk about, though the weirdness surrounding Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Lee would be fine on its own in the wake of a normal weekend. Buckle up, internet, it’s gonna be a ride. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoa there, partner! This is part 2 of episode 260 of the CME. If you haven't listened to part 1 yet, you'll want to double-back and do that. If you have, proceed. If you haven't, no need to be embarrassed. It's an easy mistake to make. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After another week where the Co-Main Event Podcast was off again, your dudes are back in full effect this week with a super-sized episode of the CME. On this show, Ben and Chad are in a mad scramble to touch on all the stuff they missed while taking a week off. Turns out, there was a lot of shit going on. For one thing, the long-discussed boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor actually got confirmed. So, that was kind of a big deal. On top of that, two UFC events are in the books, with Mark Hunt defeating Derrick Lewis and Holly Holm taking out Bethe Correia, respectively. Then, there is this weekend's Bellator PPV card to try to get our arms around AND a Sunday UFC event to discuss. Oh, and on top of that the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association finally went public too, and both your dudes are on the interim board of directors. As a result this episode of the CME will be broken into two parts for your listening enjoyment. Don't forget to download both parts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world has a new "undisputed" UFC featherweight champion, as Jerome Max "Blessed" Holloway rolled up to UFC 212, took the best Jose Aldo had to offer over the course of two rounds and then laid out Jose Aldo via third round TKO. In addition to that, Mighty Mouse Johnson waited until Monday to blast his UFC bosses for what he called "bullying" tactics around booking his next fight. Ben and Chad talk about all that and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week off to collect themselves--and in Ben's case go on vacation with his family--the Co-Main Event Podcast is back with a vengeance. It doesn't hurt that there are oodles of high-level MMA happenings to discuss, either. That's right, we said oodles. This week, Ben and Chad take a look at Alexander Gustafson's 21-minute beatdown of Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 109, which may have rekindles Gustafsson's title hopes after a few rough years. They also talk about Germaine de Randamie's declaration that she won't be defending her women's featherweight title against Cris "Cyborg" Justino and what that means both for the future of GDR and the division at large (spoiler: nothing good!). Lastly, they discourse on the upcoming main event of UFC 212, where Jose Aldo and Max Holloway look to unify the men's featherweight title and finally move that weight class away from Conor McGregor. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 211 was a barnburner, Universe, and this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast has your wall-to-wall coverage. Stipe Miocic’s first-round TKO over Junior dos Santos to put a second successful defense of the heavyweight title in the bank? Check. Joanna Jedrzejczyk foiling the brute strength of Jessica Andrade by breaking a bunch of her own already insane UFC striking records? Yuuuuup. Demian Maia eking out a split decision win over Jorge Masvidal and reportedly sewing up that long-sought-after welterweight title shot by turning himself into a human backpack for 15 minutes? Got that too. All of that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not gonna lie to you, Universe, parts of this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast don’t sound great. This week’s recording session was beset by technical difficulties, mostly with Ben’s microphone. Fact is, the ol’ Behringer C-1 may be on its way out. Can’t blame it, really, what with Fowlkes sitting there breathing on it for 256 episodes. In any case, you’ll run into some terrible hiss, which gets gradually worse toward the end of the first half of the show. Good news is, it gets a little better from there. If you can force your ears to stand it, you’ll hear Ben and Chad discuss this weekend’s UFC 211 main event, pitting Stipe Miocic in a rematch with Junior dos Santos, Joanna Jedrzejczyk's title defense against Jessica Andrade and Yair Rodriguez taking a massive leap up in competition to fight Frankie Edgar. You know what? We’ll go ahead and get this audio situation figured out before next week. How’s that? All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another relatively slow week in mixed martial arts means another #aintshitgoinon episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. This week, Ben and Chad fill an hour, 15 minutes with almost nothing but your listener mail questions. Well, your listener mail questions and one episode of MasterTweet Theatre featuring the inimitable Sir Nigel Longstock. So buckle in for that. Per usual, you guys bring the heat with your questions, slanging fire queries about Justin Gaethje’s move to the UFC, whether Yoel Romero should use this lull in the middleweight division to challenge Daniel Cormier and whether it’s OK to like to watch bad people fight and more! Oh, yeah, and did we mention MasterTweet Theatre? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artem Lobov didn’t beat Cub Swanson on Saturday in the UFC Fight Night 108 main event. In fact, at no point in their five-round fight did it even look like Lobov was about to win. Still, dude did better than a lot of people--including Ben and Chad--thought he might do. Does that mean Lobov will be back in an Octagon main event again? Ehhhh … I guess that’s why they record the podcast. In addition to Swanson vs. Lobov, your guys talk about Ragin’ Al Iaquinta knocking out Diego Sanchez and then shouting out his own real estate business. They also discuss where Sanchez goes from here which, yeah, that is as depressing as it sounds. Oh, but did you hear the World Series of Fighting is rebranding itself as the Professional Fighters League? So, that’s more accurate if nothing else. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in case you needed a reminder how comparatively shitty you are at whatever it is you do for a living, Demetrious Johnson fought last weekend. Johnson, the UFC’s inimitable flyweight champion, painted what might end up being considered his career masterpiece in a defeat of Wilson Reis at UFC on FOX 24. It’s kind of humbling to watch the dude do it, really. Johnson is so far ahead of his competition, it’s as if he’s been sent here from the future to teach the world a new brand of fighting. If that’s the plan, though, it still needs some work, seeing as how the world somehow still doesn’t really like to watch Johnson fight. In any case, Ben and Chad talk about all things Mighty Mouse. They also discuss Robert Whittaker’s reluctance to embrace the “Bobby Knuckles” nickname and Rose Namajunas teeing up another title shot. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was simply no end to the hijinks, controversy and out-and-out skullduggery surrounding Saturday night’s UFC 210. In other words, it was an event tailor made for Ben and Chad to discuss on the CME. From Daniel Cormier getting a little help from a beach towel at the official weigh-in to Pearl Gonzalez being ruled out and then ruled back in due to breast implants (WTF. SERIOUSLY, NYSAC?) things had gotten weird before the fights even started. Once they did, fans got to see Gegard Mousasi’s co-main event bout against Chris Weidman ruined by … situations beyond our control … and then saw Anthony Johnson abruptly retire inside the cage after losing to Cormier a second time. This one was a doozy, my dudes. Oh yeah, and NEXT week we get UFC on Fox 24, featuring a card chock full of sure-fire goodness. What could possibly go wrong! All that, plus Just Sayin’ Stuff and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Muhammed Lawal and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson ran it back on Saturday at Bellator 175, renewing their rivalry of 2014 by putting on a second fight that looked nearly identical to the first. Except that this time King Mo managed to get the better of the third round and salt away a unanimous decision win. As another wrinkle to this already stimulating match-up, turns out this was the last fight on Rampage’s Bellator contract. So you know Ben and Chad aren’t going to miss out on the chance both to break down this fight and to speculate about where your guy Q-Jack might be headed next. In addition to that, they look ahead to the top two fights on this weekend’s UFC 210 card, pitting Chris Weidman against Gegard Mousasi and Daniel Cormier against Anthony Johnson. The latter in a rematch for the 205-pound title we all assume those dudes are just keeping warm for Jon Jones. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ain’t shit goin’ on, you guys. Aside from Tonya Evinger getting that sweet, sweet revenge on Yana Kunitskaya at InvictaFC 22 over the weekend, it's been a fairly quiet couple weeks in the MMA Bubble. You know what that means. That's right, Ben and Chad turn the programming of this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast over to all the little Co-Mainiacs out there. It’s listener mail for the whole hour on episode 250. Per usual, that means the guys touch on a number of different topics, including but not limited to: the chances of Evinger closing out her career with a UFC run, Cyborg challenging Ronda Rousey to a rasslin’ match, what Bellator needs to accomplish on pay-per-view and how to internally justify being a fan (or drawing a paycheck) from a sport that leaves so many broken bodies in its wake. No, really, it’s fun. You’ll like it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will UFC Fight Night 107 be remembered as the evening in London when Jimi Manuwa stomped into the collective consciousness of the light heavyweight division and announced he wasn’t there to make friends? Perhaps. Perhaps. What is an undeniable fact, at least according to Ben and Chad, is that Manuwa did about as good a job utilizing his screen time on The Fight Pass Dot Com as anyone could have imagined on Saturday. First, Manuwa put Corey Anderson to sleep with a left hand, then got on the mic to call for a title shot, then went to the press conference to say Jon Jones tarnished his legacy with steroids. So, yeah, all in a night’s work for The Paper Boy. In addition to that, your dudes discuss Gunnar Nelson’s win over Alan Jouban and also, goddamn it, they were just kidding about having Kelvin Gastelum fight Anderson Silva. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 106, Vitor Belfort lost to up-and-coming middleweight Kelvin Gastelum in such lopsided fashion that even Belfort himself thinks it might be time to set an end date for his career. Maybe. Depending on how things go. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad look at Gastelum’s victory as well as Belfort’s loss and discuss where these two fighters may be headed on obviously divergent paths. In addition to that, they turn the page to this weekend’s Fight Night 107, where Jimi “Paper Boy” Manuwa takes on Corey “Beastin’ Overtime” Anderson exclusively on The Fight Pass Dot Com. So, yeah, you could say it’s a full show. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yeah, that UFC 209 main event between Tyron Woodley and Stephen “Wonderman” Thompson pretty much stunk up the joint, huh? Just a couple of dudes out there walking in circles for 25 minutes. And this after the unceremonious, last-minute removal of Khabib Nurmagomedov from the card on Friday and the cancellation of his interim lightweight title fight against Tony Ferguson. Aside from that, though? It was honestly a pretty good card. On this week’s CME, your guys Ben and Chad breakdown the particulars of the welterweight championship clash between Woodley and Thompson, such as they were, Nurmy’s inability to show up on fight night and then look ahead to next week’s action, featuring Vitor Belfort taking on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 106. Al that, plus JSS and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With an actual, honest-to-goodness interesting pay-per-view card coming on Saturday at UFC 209, the Co-Main Event Podcast has much to talk about. Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson prepare to rematch over the welterweight title, after their initial meeting at UFC 205 ended in a hard-fought majority draw. In addition to that, Khabib Nurmagomedov takes on Tony Ferguson in a bout that feels like a No. 1 contender fight long in the making--but is actually another weirdo interim title fight, since the UFC seems to have no idea what is going on with its regular 155-pound champion. The evening’s curtain-jerker will feature Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem as they attempt to have the perfect UFC heavyweight fight. So yeah, Ben and Chad are ready. Let’s do this. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President’s Day episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast is exactly what you might expect: slapdash, thrown-together, even less organized than usual. See, what had happened was, Chad had to take his 4-year-old daughter to a birthday party Monday morning, so he didn’t have the chance to give this episode of the CME its normal, meticulous planning and brainstorming session. So, when Ben rolled in that afternoon smelling like booze and dirty strippers they decided just to do an All Question Considered episode of the show, anyway. And you know what? It comes off pretty OK. This week, the guys take on Derrick Lewis’ come-from-behind victory over Travis Browne, the last-minute cancellation of Fedor Emelianenko’s bout with Matt Mitrione as well as a host of other timely topics. Seriously, you’ll like it. We were just kidding about it being disorganized. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ooof, UFC 208, right? That was rough. This week the entire Co-Main Event Podcast Universe is likely reevaluating how it spends its Saturday nights after shelling out $60 for the worst pay-per-view fighting event this side of WFA: King of the Streets. You better believe Ben and Chad gots some shit to say. From the overall depressing nature of the fight card itself and what it might mean for the immediate future of the UFC to how we’re supposed to come to grips with Anderson Silva so gleefully getting old, this is an emotional ride you won’t want to miss. Oh also, did you forget that Matt Mitrione is fighting Fedor Emelianenko in Bellator this weekend? That is also discussed. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC Fight Night 104 ended with decidedly divergent fortunes for main and co-main event favorites Chan Sung Jung and Alexa Grasso. Jung returned from three years away from the cage to triumphantly knock out Dennis Bermudez in the first round, while Grasso--yeah, we’re not totally sure what happened there. In any case, this week’s CME podcast takes a look at Jung’s return and Grasso’s tepid unanimous decision loss to Felice Herrig. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look ahead to this weekend’s UFC 208, including Anderson Silva taking on Derek Brunson (we know, weird, right?) and Holly Holm fighting Germaine de Randamie for the women’s featherweight title originally meant for Cyborg Justino. All that, pus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Octagon touched down in the Mile High City on Saturday for UFC on Fox 23 and things went well for some people and … not so well for others. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad look at the surging Valentina Shevchenko and her presumed women’s bantamweight championship meeting with Amanda Nunes, after Shevchenko dispensed with Julianna Pena over the weekend. They also talk about the strange career of Donald Cerrone and what--if anything--we are to make of his momentum shattering loss to Jorge Masvidal. Also, did you know Conor McGregor had a pay-per-view event where he just talked? So that’s weird enough to be discussed here for free. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen had the MMA spotlight all to themselves last Saturday night at Bellator 170 and the two of them delivered a fight that can only be described as a complete stinker. Sonnen’s performance especially was so bad that some observers were left crying “fix!” though the Co-Main Event Podcast does not necessarily condone such heedless accusations. Ben and Chad discuss the outcome of the fight, Ortiz’s send off into retirement and what exactly honchos at Bellator can do with Sonnen now. In addition to that, they look ahead to Saturday’s UFC on Fox 23 and its women’s bantamweight title eliminator main event, pitting Valentina Shevchenko against Juliana Pena. All that, plus JSS, AYFKM and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new beginning for Yair Rodriguez, perhaps a sad end for BJ Penn and another weekly episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. With Rodriguez’s second-round TKO over Penn still fresh in the minds from Sunday night, Ben and Chad spend a couple of rounds on this week’s show discussing each guy. Rodriguez seems like he has all the potential in the world, but is he also a fellow UFC matchmakers might have to protect a bit as they build his legacy? Penn, meanwhile, finds himself likely at the end of the road in the UFC. Your dudes both agree it wouldn’t be bad at all to see him walk away after a legendary career, but both admit now somebody has to go convince BJ of the same thing. In addition to that fight, this week’s CME looks at Saturday night’s Bellator 170 main event between Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz and wonders, “What was Chael thinking when he saw Tito smash that juice box?” All that, plus Just Sayin Stuff and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Naturally, this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast was recorded just as the announcement that Tyron Woodley will face Stephen Thompson in a welterweight title rematch at UFC 209 was going down. Which is just about typical, right, you guys? Fortunately, this episode of the CME is also an #AintShitGoinOn installment, so while Ben and Chad discuss in passing what next will happen to the UFC 170-pound title, it’s far from the focus of the entire show. So take THAT breaking news curse! As usual, the CME Universe comes particularly strong with its emails this week. Ben and Chad’s only regret is that they can’t sit there answering email questions all day. But an hour and 15 minutes ain’t bad. Yeah? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a weird weekend in the world of MMA, Universe. For starters, we saw perhaps the final fall of Ronda Rousey as she collapsed into dust under the pressure (and the fists) of women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. Where Her Rowdiness goes from here is anyone’s best guess. You know who else was surprising? Your boy Cody Garbrandt, that’s who. After spending a week or more looking completely ill-prepared to fight Dominick Cruz on Friday night, he came out of the gate appearing, shall we say, VERY FUCKING PREPARED INDEED. Long story short: new champion. So Ben and Chad spend this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast talking about those things. Oh, yeah, and they do it all while choking back tears over the loss of their beloved Baruto to Mirko Cro Cop in the Rizin Open Weight Grand Prix. Such is life. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world won’t be hearing much from Ronda Rousey in the final days before her UFC 207 comeback fight against Amanda Nunes. During the Christmas holiday we found out Rousey had been excused from participating in the standard media obligations prior to the event. Kinda weird, considering just earlier this year the fight company tossed Conor McGregor off UFC 200 for skipping a press conference. In retrospect, will Rousey’s low profile prove to be a genius strategy? Or will it have been the obvious giveaway of a broken and damaged fighter? We won’t know until after she wins or loses. But your guys Ben and Chad talk about Rousey’s reticence on this episode of the CME. In addition to that, they also discuss Cain Velasquez’s removal from that event and Dominick Cruz’s impending bantamweight title fight against Cody Garbrandt. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC on FOX 22 scored decent ratings but at least a few of the fight results didn’t pan out in the way matchmakers perhaps wanted. Ben and Chad spend the bulk of this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast discussing those outcomes and arguing about what they really mean. From Paige VanZant’s first-round choke out by Michelle Waterson to Sage Northcutt’s second-round choke out at the hands of Mickey Gall, it’s all here. In addition to that, they look back on the career of the newly retired Urijah Faber and look ahead to the debut of the UFC women’s featherweight division. On that latter point they wonder, where Cyborg at? All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally, the UFC featherweight division has its (interim) champion. The good news? He seems like a likable sort, comes bearing hashtags and impeccable taste in reflective neckties. The bad news? He’s not the only guy trying to lay claim to the throne. Not even close, actually. Perhaps the very best thing about Max Holloway’s third-round TKO over an overweight Anthony Pettis at Saturday’s UFC 206 is that it puts us one step closer to Holloway vs. Jose Aldo. At least, that’s the best Ben and Chad can make out of a confusing situation at 145 pounds right now. In addition to that conundrum, this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast finds them discussing Donald Cerrone’s potential change of heart about his involvement with the fledgling Mixed Martial Arts Athlete Association (MMAAAAAAAAA) in the wake of his impressive victory over Matt Brown. They also look ahead to the upcoming UFC on Fox show, which features another duet from The Paige N’ Sage Show. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did y’all watch crazy-ass Tim Elliott give Demetrious Johnson a run for his money on Saturday night? Hopefully you at least DVR’ed the damn thing, Universe, because--hoo boy--that was some shit. If you did--or didn’t and need to catch up--then Ben and Chad are here with all the instant reaction you could ever want. If by instant, you mean a few days later and delivered via carefully recorded and produced sound recording. In addition to that little ditty, this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast discusses the creation of the new Mixed Martial Arts Athlete Association (or MMAAA, if you nasty) and Anthony Pettis tumbling head over heels into an interim featherweight title shot against Max Holloway. Should be fun. Ready? Break! All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Universe, Conor McGregor is no longer the UFC featherweight champion. Just like we always knew it would, the announcement that McGregor had “relinquished” the 145-pound title (totally willingly, we assume) came like three-and-a-half hours into a six-and-a-half hour UFC Fight Night event live from Melbourne, Australia. With McGregor now merely the UFC lightweight champion, the ripple effects will spread through the featherweight division. That includes having Max Holloway fight Pretty Tony Pettis (really?) for an interim 145-pound champion while Jose Aldo is promoted to “completely undisputed God of all he surveys” or something like that. So Ben and Chad talk about all that on this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, while also dipping into Robert Whittaker’s victory over Derek Brunson last Saturday and next weekend’s TUF 24 live finale, where the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet of Earth takes on a reality show winner. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things get back to normal for this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Or, at least, as normal as they ever get in this sport’s unending news cycle. Ben and Chad spend the CME’s normal three rounds discussing last weekend’s fights and looking ahead to next weekend’s too. That means Gegard Mousasi’s big win over Uriah Hall takes center stage, along with Michael Chandler’s successful defense of his Bellator lightweight title against Benson Henderson. Derek Brunson vs. Robert Whittaker also gets some airtime, and Ryan Bader’s victory over Roger Nog is also discussed. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 205 is in the books and it was a doozy, folks. The fight company’s debut at Madison Square Garden and first trip to New York since 1995 was so big that it throws the normal format of the Co-Main Event Podcast into chaos. There’s no way to break this baby into coherent rounds--whether it be 3 or 5 or whatever--so your dudes Ben and Chad have no choice to chuck it all and dive in anyway. Call this episode’s format a tribute to new featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor. The guys just keep it flowy, for a single, uninterrupted conversation about the things that still stick with them about UFC 205. Like a couple bros at the park idly swinging pool noodles at each other, they discuss McGregor’s shockingly easy win over Eddie Alvarez, the goodness/weirdness of Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen “Wonderman” Thompson and Yoel Romero’s brain-rattler over Chris Weidman, among many other things. All that, plus AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bad news, CME Universe, with just a few days to go before UFC 205, Ben and Chad probably just jinxed the whole thing by recording this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. See, the trouble is that this is a very thorough discussion. On this week’s show, your dudes break down each of the event’s three title fights, including Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez, Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson and Joanna Jędrzejczyk vs. Karolina Kowalkiewicz. So basically those fights are now doomed to fall apart due to the parameters of the well-known CME curse. If we had to guess, we’d say the bodies likely start dropping on Tuesday. Because it’s always Tuesday. On the bright side, Ben and Chad also spend some time discussing last weekend’s TUF: Latin America season 3 live finale, including Tony Ferguson’s rad win over Rafael dos Anjos and Diego Sanchez’s victory over Marcin Held. There is also some talk of Phil Davis taking the Bellator light heavyweight title from Liam McGeary. Since those fights have already happened, they can’t be wrecked by the curse, so at least you have that to look forward to. All, that, plus JSS and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling refreshed, CME Universe? After a three-week break from UFC events we hope you are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to dive headfirst into the end of the year push. Ben and Chad certainly are, as they tee-up a very spooky Halloween episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. For starters, there is the Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tony Ferguson main event at this Saturday’s live finale of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 3 (who knew that was even a thing?). Since next weekend’s UFC 205 card is also so jampacked with hot fights, they begin to look ahead to that, too. In addition, they go over the series of stories Ben and his MMA Junkie colleague Steven Marrocco have been publishing providing an inside look the finances of the recent UFC sale. So that’s interesting. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never thought Ben and Chad would do a largely juice-box themed episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, but that’s the situation after Tito Ortiz made good use of props during his live “debate” with Chael Sonnen during last weekend’s Bellator event. In slightly more sobering news, last week also brought some fairly significant layoffs at the UFC front office, which raised interesting questions about where exactly the company’s WME-IMG era is headed. Also, Jon Jones potentially got some good news in his defense against a recent positive test for banned substances. So, discourse? Of course. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And here we thought it was going to be a slow week. Turns out, the MMA news cycle really does never stop churning out its wonderful goodness. As a result, this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is chock full of not only Name Brand News but also happenings Ben and Chad feel will be extremely relevant to your interests. For starters, Ronda Jean Rousey is back and set for a title bout against new women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207. There’s also the bombshell dropped by Georges St-Pierre on Monday’s episode of the MMA Fortnight, wherein he declared himself a free agent after “terminating” his UFC contract. So that’s interesting. Also, you guys hear about this guy Greg Hardy? He says he wants to build a new career for himself in MMA now that he’s officially been deemed too big an a-hole for the NFL. The CME has some stuff to say about that. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to even make of Michael Bisping at this point, Universe? That’s one of the questions that weighs heavy on the mind of Co-Main Event Podcast. After watching Bisping retain his middleweight title and become the Octagon’s all-time wins leader on Saturday at UFC 204, Ben and Chad have a hard time getting their arms around just how history should remember the swaggering Brit. The same could be said for Dan Henderson, who came up just short in his quest to end his own career by adding the 185-pound title to his already considerable list of spoils. Never fear, however, because the next several months should tell us a lot about how to think of Bisping as there’s pretty much no way he avoids fighting a legit Top 5 opponent early next year. You know who will be watching the upcoming middleweight smorgasbord with considerable attention? Gegard Mousasi, that’s who, after the Young Vagabond got a big win in his own right over Vitor Belfort on Saturday. All that, plus JSS, AYFKM and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nothing like watching a couple of 135-pound dudes try to rearrange each other’s faces for 25 minutes to get you primed for another week of talking about mixed rules fighting, right, Universe? Oh, yeah, and by “135-pound dudes” we mean 135-pound-ish, since by now you all know that John Lineker showed up overweight for his main event bout against John Dodson at UFC Fight Night 96. This makes five times that Lineker has missed weight for a UFC fight, and in two different weight classe--which is like truly some lifetime-achievement type shit when you think about it. Speaking of lifetime achievements, also on this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad talk about the surprising success of Michael Bisping headed into his UFC 204 title defense against Dan Henderson. Oh, also, did you hear Conor McGregor found himself another fight? You won’t believe what happens next! All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A couple days after watching Cyborg Justino do Cyborg Justino stuff to Lina Lansberg, the Co-Main Event Podcast still has questions. Did Cyborg really make weight? What’s the endgame here? Is Lansberg OK? On this week’s episode, Ben and Chad take on those topics and more. You didn’t think they were going to let Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett dominate the news cycle at Rizin FC and not talk about that, did you? DID YOU, CANDYLEI? Oh also, there’s another one of those somewhat middle-of-the-road UFC Fight Night events coming up this week, which near as your dudes can figure are put on these days largely to advertise the NEXT middle-of-the-road Fight Night event. But this one has John Dodson vs. John Lineker, so that’s cool! All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s like, one night you go to bed secure and comfortable, everything normal and when you wake up—zounds!—the world’s gone crazy. Of course, we mean Chael Sonnen signing with Bellator MMA, right CME Universe? Now that was some left-field style shit, right there. Your boys Ben and Chad did not see that one coming, and so at least part of this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is spent discussing how it happened as well as the possible fallout. There’s also UFC Fight Night 94, which turned out to be a fairly typical UFC cable TV event in that it felt nearly endless until the last two fights, which ended in first-round knockouts of the slightly funky variety. Oh and next week Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights a random opponent at a random weight on another pretty random UFC fight card. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, CME Universe, we saw it. CM Punk totally fought in the Octagon at UFC 203. And it was a thing that absolutely happened. And you know what? Ben and Chad understand if you’re not sure exactly what to make of it. Frankly, that’s what the Co-Main Event Podcast is here for. Let the professionals break down the subtleties of Punk’s game for you. Nah, jokes, as everybody on the planet could see, he looked very much like a 38-year-old man with roughly two years of MMA training and no other competitive athlete background to speak of. But because MMA, your dudes are obliged to talk about it here, and probably not for the last time. Aside from that, heavyweight weirdness involving Fabricio Werdum, Travis Browne, Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem gets a real serious look. Though, admittedly, serious is not the right word. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets primed for UFC 203 this week, as Ben and Chad discuss Stipe Miocic’s pending heavyweight title fight against Alistair Overeem. The way they figure it, you take hometown hero Miocic and have him defend his belt for the first time in a city with a sports tradition as proud as the one in Cleveland, Ohio and there’s just NO WAY that turns out to be a heartbreaker. Speaking of heartbreakers, the guys also discourse CM Punk’s (finally) forthcoming MMA debut and try to figure out the odds that it will be worth watching. Oh, and aside from that, there’s this guy, Georges St-Pierre? He’s thinking about returning to fighting but says he can’t get anybody from the UFC to call him back. So that’s pretty weird. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s up, Universe? Did y’all see Paige VanZant go upside Bec Rawlings’ head with that kick this past weekend on UFC on Fox 21? If you did, Ben and Chad expect you know some of what’s coming on this week’s CME. If you didn’t? Well, let your guys pull your coat to what happened. Or maybe you should run out and watch the fight card itself real quick first, since it’s totally worth it also to see what Demian Maia did to Carlos Condit in the main event. Wore him around like a button, fam, like a hat. Also, did you guys know Benson Henderson had his second Bellator fight last weekend? And that next weekend Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski fight in Germany, on a Fight Pass Dot Com event that will air in the states in the middle of the afternoon/early evening? Well, hop on board, let’s discourse. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, CME Universe, they done did it. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz did the damn thing at UFC 202. We saw it--some of us--and we saw that it was good. This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast spends the lion's share of its time talking about what the fight means for both guys. McGregor, obviously, answered a lot of questions about his fitness as the UFC's biggest male star. Meanwhile, Diaz proved that his Diaz-ish-ness is arguably both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness as a fighter. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look ahead to this weekend's UFC Fight Night event, which features Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia in the main event. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Batten down the hatches, CME Universe. This week gives us the spectacle that will be UFC 202 and then every weekend after that will be full up with action in the Octagon until like mid-October. Consider this your last chance to take that big breath and hold it. Will be a while before we can come up for air again. On this episode, Ben and Chad start at the beginning, with discussion of Conor McGregor’s looming rematch with Nate Diaz on Saturday. They also discuss the bummer of having Glover Teixeira and Anthony Johnson slotted as the Co-Main of that show and then look ahead to the return of Georges St-Pierre. That seems pretty real now that GSP has thrown himself into the USADA testing pool. All that, plus JSS, AYFKM and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Universe, if you sat through the interminable six-fight main card of UFC Fight Night 92 on Saturday night and you’re still hungering for more MMA talk/action, the Co-Main Event Podcast salutes you. If you are checking out this episode, however, Ben and Chad have a few ideas as to why that might be: Yair Rodriguez! Teruto Ishihara! Conor McGregor vs. WWE! Yeah, all those things/dudes happened this past week. And you know what? It actually made things kind of interesting, in spite of it all. So your dudes break down those events during this week’s episode, plus debate the notion of the UFC abandoning belts and Nick Diaz’s recent claim that somebody drugged him before his fight with Georges St-Pierre. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another new champion in the UFC. For episode No. 216, the Co-Main Event Podcast unexpectedly finds itself penning a eulogy for the title reign of Robbie Lawler, who got himself KOed by Tyron Woodley in 2 minutes, 12 seconds last weekend at UFC 201. In addition to that, the guys discuss Ben’s trip to Washington last weekend to watch WSOF and the weird brother vs. brother matchup between Caros Fodor and Phoenix Jones. Afterward, he and Chad look ahead to UFC Fight Night 92 and its strange lack of star power as the fight company makes a return trip to Salt Lake City. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the Co-Main Event Podcast picks up the shattered pieces of what was once the UFC women’s bantamweight division and tries to put them all back together in a way that seems somehow appealing. It’s a tough assignment. In addition to reflecting on Holly Holm’s stunning loss to Valentina Shevchenko last Saturday at UFC on Fox 20, Ben and Chad look ahead to Robbie Lawler’s UFC 201 welterweight title defense against Tyron Woodley and wonder if another upset is on deck. They also consider the newly-booked middleweight title fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson and try to make sense of Hendo’s claims he’ll walk away from MMA after this fight win, lose or draw. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA scene slumps back to normal this week, after a gala UFC 200 celebration that saw the fight company stage three events on consecutive days. What does “normal” mean exactly? Well, you know, just the usual stuff: The UFC put on just one live event this week (its fourth in, like, seven days) and then a human man got the front of his forehead crushed in by the knee of another human man. Everybody survived, so that was good. Here, the Co-Main Event Podcast tries to make sense of all of it. That means Ben and Chad talk about the gruesome injury Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos suffered at the hands (and knees) of Michael Page at a Bellator MMA event in London. They also chat about John Lineker’s big win over Michael McDonald and then look ahead to Holly Holm’s bout with Valentina Schevchenko. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 2 of CME episode 213, where the guys discuss the happenings of UFC 200 and the late-breaking sale of the UFC to WME-IMG. Did you listen to part 1 first? No? You better get on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s see, where to even start? Well, UFC 200 happened, mmmkay? It took three days, there were a boatload of fights and a bunch of noteworthy stuff happened. But even before that there was Wednesday evening, when news broke that Jon Jones had been flagged by USADA for a “potential anti-doping violation” and pulled from his fight with Daniel Cormier. Wasn’t that some shit? Long story short, Cormier ended up fighting Anderson Silva--we know, right?--and the bout itself was kind of a stinker. Also, Brock Lesnar returned, Amanda Nunes won the women’s bantamweight title, Eddie Alvarez upset Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight crown, Joanna Champion really earned her nickname and Jose Aldo beat Frankie Edgar for a second time. So, does that about cover it? Oh, wait, no THEY SOLD THE FUCKING UFC THAT’S WHAT THEY DID. As a result, Chad and Ben have no choice but to go five rounds during this week’s CME. The show is broken up into two parts, so after you finish listening to this one, you’ll have to find and play part two. Think you can handle that? Great, good. OK, take a moment to mentally prepare yourself. And … break! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to even make sense of this monster UFC 200 fight week, CME Universe? The Co-Main Event Podcast split the damn thing over two episodes and it still feels too big to even deal with. This week, Ben and Chad pretty much offer up wall-to-wall UFC 200 talk from start to finish and some stones are still left regrettably undisturbed. At least the largest, heaviest dagger-chest-tattooed stones get a thorough investigation. On episode 212, your guys talk about Daniel Cormier’s light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar’s return to the cage after a lengthy absence and Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar meeting for the interim (?) featherweight championship. All that, AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast basically clears its schedule this week to begin a two-episode dive into the UFC 200 mega-card. With the much-ballyhooed lineup for the July 9 extravaganza set, Ben and Chad start off by taking a wide-angle look at how the thing actually came together before closing in on the UFC 200 week’s championship aperitifs--featuring Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha and Rafael dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez, respectively. Hold up, though, there is plenty of Bellator madness to discuss, as well. From Michael Chandler’s KO title win over … uh … one of the Pitbull brothers to Matt Matrione’s KO … uh ... win to the recent allegations of unseemliness percolating under the second-string fight company’s cartoonish surface--oh yeah, they talk about that, too. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC appeared headed for new ownership late Monday, just as the Co-Main Event Podcast sat to record this week’s episode. Naturally, reports that Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta would be loading up their saddlebags with multiple billions of dollars and riding off into the sunset piqued Ben’s and Chad’s ears. So, in case you’re wondering, yeah, they talk about that potential sale a little bit on the CME. There is also plenty of normal business to discuss. First of all, some aging person pretending to be Fedor Emelianenko eked out a victory over Fabio Maldonado at an over-the-top Eurasia Fight Night event on Friday afternoon. The next night at UFC Fight Night 89, Steven “Wonderman” Thompson defeated Rory “Wonder What Now, Man?” MacDonald in the main event and Donald Cerrone took out Patrick Cote in the co-main. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets back to business this week--if indeed business ever slowed down--with a return to its usual format. The death of Kimbo Slice still looms large over the MMA world, as does the return of Brock Lesnar to face off with Mark Hunt at UFC 200. Ben and Chad discuss both those topics and also look ahead to this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89, where Steven The Wonderman Thompson’s bout with Rory MacDonald feels like it really snuck up on us. In addition to that, they take a final look at Ariel Helwani’s “lifetime” ban from the UFC as well as efforts to bring the Muhammad Ali Act to MMA. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For about 15 minutes on Saturday night the CME Podcast was fired up to do a show all about how unexpectedly awesome UFC 199 was. From Michael Bisping’s upset victory over Luke Rockhold to Dominick Cruz slamming the door on his rivalry with Urijah Faber to the sudden return of Brock Lesnar, it was all pretty (refreshingly?) great. But then the UFC went and banned Ariel Helwani, Esther Lin and E. Casey Leydon “for life” (cool NWO throwback, UFC) so instead Ben and Chad had to spend like half the show talking about that bullshit. It’s not that fun, but it needed to be done. Plus, they still got jokes. All that, plus listener mail and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast shows up for this memorial day episode feeling a little shaky and touch hungover, but it showed up nonetheless. Ben and Chad just aren’t going to leave you hanging, you know? Besides, there is plenty to discuss. From Cody Garbrandt’s easy-as-pie starching of Thomas Almeida on Sunday at UFC Fight Night 88 to Renan Barao’s unsuccessful return to featherweight, it’s all in here. In addition to that, the guys look ahead to next Saturday’s UFC 199 and the two title fights it will bring. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben is returned from the woods and the Co-Main Event Podcast goes on as scheduled. While his personal appearance--normal, un-grizzled--is a bit of a letdown for Chad, who was hoping for something more Grizzly Adams-ish, there is a lot of business to discuss. For starters, this matter of Michael Bisping finally getting a shot at the middleweight title. Also, the fact that motherfuckers STILL won’t stop trippin’ about this Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather bullshit. In addition to that, Chad tries to get Ben pumped up for Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event with … limited success. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to squeeze another episode in between vacations, the CME got together early on Monday to lay down No. 205 before Ben slipped off to his literal cabin in the literal woods for some literal R&R. Luckily, he and Chad don’t think you’ll mind if an episode drops ahead of schedule for a change. Plenty to discuss here, obviously, with dueling UFC and Bellator events over the weekend. The guys talk over Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight title victory over Fabricio Werdum, Cyborg Justino’s long-awaited Octagon debut, Phil Davis’ big win over King Mo and Jacare Souza’s battering of Vitor Belfort. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for your patience, CME Universe. Nah, jokes, patience is not your motherfuckering virtue, guys, you know that? You grumbled and groaned the whole week Chad was off visiting his in-laws in Florida and then grumbled and groaned some more when Ben caused a delay on Wednesday. We’d like to say we love you for it, but … no, that’s not quite right. It’s more like begrudging respect. We begrudgingly respect your tenacity when it comes to demanding the podcast. So thanks for that kind of. In any case, there’s plenty to talk about here, from rumors of a UFC sale, to Anderson Silva’s recent gall bladder problems--what the hell is a gall bladder, anyway?--to big wins over the weekend from Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve. It all sort of nicely sets the stage for Saturday’s UFC 198 pay-per-view, where Fabricio Werdum will defend the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic. We promise after this no more delays. Except maybe next week. Maybe. We’ll see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week where #aintshitgoingon. I mean, #notreally. Itleads your guys Ben and Chad to pull out another All QuestionsConsidered episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. And yeah, sure,there’s that Fight Night event this weekend where Andrei Arlovskiis fighting Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve is fighting BigfootSilva, but since you guys sent in exactly zero questions regardingthat event, they figured you didn’t care all that much. Thequestions, per usual, were good. On this episode, the dudes talkabout TUF 23, the UFC’s weirdo women’s flyweight fight, ConorMcGregor (of course), Jon Jones (of course) and some other stuffthat was tickling your mindbrains enough to send in questions.Plus, they engage in an impromptu Tips for the Well-Rounded FightFans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, last week’s Co-Main Event Podcast got bombed out of relevance fairly quickly by The Irish Gentleman Conor McGregor, eh, Universe? The paint was barely dry on the shingle offering CME No. 201 for your attention before McGregor tweeted his weirdo retirement announcement last Tuesday. The ensuing week has been largely swallowed by McGregor-o-mania, so you know your dudes Ben and Chad are going to discuss that during episode No. 202. There are other topics demanding their attention too, however, including the long-awaited and somewhat underwhelming return of Jon Jones at UFC 197--though perhaps the real culprit there was our own raised expectations. Also, Demetrious Johnson made an Olympic gold medalist look fairly hapless inside the Octagon. So, you know, ho hum. Just Mighty Mouse doing Mighty Mouse things. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and the return of MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is aware of a situation involving Episode 201 and a local business establishment--and that situation is that the episode is out and it’s fucking awesome. On this week’s show, your boys Ben and Chad talk about Glover Teixeira’s slobber-knocking victory over Rashad Evans, as well as his cunning call-out of Anthony Johnson. In addition to that, they look ahead to Jon Jones’ “interim light heavyweight title fight” against Ovince Saint Preux this Saturday at UFC 197. They also discuss Benson Henderson’s coming Bellator MMA debut and what that could mean for the future of free agency. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like UFC 200 itself, perhaps Co-Main Event Podcast No. 200 doesn’t feel like quite as a big a deal as CME No. 100, but it’s still pretty goddamn great. For starters, Ben and Chad kick off the show by announcing the first ever run of CME T-shirts, which you can buy right now over at Cotton Bureau. In addition to that, they have a long list of loyal listeners to thank for various CME 200 gifts and well wishes. Oh, and the actual fighting? yeah, there’s some of that too. Your dudes talk about Junior dos Santos getting right back in the heavyweight title hunt with his victory over Ben Rothwell last weekend. In addition to that, they look ahead to the aged main event fights on this coming Saturday’s UFC on Fox 19 and talk about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s long-awaited return to the cage against a short notice replacement opponent. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plenty to talk about on this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. Your guys Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier took care of that. It was a pretty shitty week for the UFC 197 main event all the way around. First, Jones spent a couple nights in the sneezer owing to a potential probation violation for racin’ in the streets. Then, just when it seemed like the Albuquerque court system wasn’t really gonna do shit and we were out of the woods, Cormier pulled out with a leg injury. I mean … c’mon, UFC 197! Finally, things went from bad to weird when Ovince St. Preux stepped-up to take an interim title fight (wait, the fuck?) with Jones and that not even he seems to think he’ll win. Ben and Chad discourse it all. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even during another relatively slow week, there is more than enough MMA news to whet the palette of the Co-Main Event Universe. On this week’s show, Ben and Chad discuss Nate Diaz’s recent declaration that chasing UFC championships is just a misguided “fairy tale, man.” Is Diaz right? Is he wrong? Have we all just been imagining those UFC titles around people's waists this whole time? In addition to that, they also discuss the fitness of Jason “Mayhem” Miller and the upcoming Venator FC card he’s going to headline as well as Monday’s breaking news that Cris “Cyborg” Justino will finally make her Octagon debut. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a few consecutive weeks where #aintshitgoingon suddenly the Co-Main Event Podcast finds itself in a brave new world where #shitgoingon. Almost #toomuchshit. Never to be cowed by the twists of circumstance, however, your dudes Ben and Chad are game to talk about it all. Or at least as much of it as they can fit into an hour and 15 minutes. This week’s CME reverts to its normal, three-round format as your intrepid hosts discuss plans for a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at UFC 200, Mark Hunt’s walkoff knockout of Frank Mir last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 85 and Neil Magny’s borderline scary TKO over Hector Lombard at the same event. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest, CME Universe--ain’t shit going on this week. Sure, there’s UFC Fight Night 85 from Australia, with Frank Mir fighting … Mark Hunt, maybe? Dunno, let Ben and Chad check up on that and get get back to you. For the most part, though, a week this slow (at least until the Tuesday curse unfurls its claws and really digs in) calls for another fairly free form episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Grand Olde Episode 196 finds your dudes taking your questions--handily grouped according to subject, kind of--for the full hour and change. You know what? You motherfuckers asked some good questions, too. I mean, don’t get a big head over it or anything but, yeah, adequate work this week, you guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Universe spoke with a loud, clear voice this week. And what did you tell us? That the only things you cared about from the past week were Conor McGregor’s loss to Nate Diaz and Holly Holm’s loss to Miesha Tate, both at UFC 196. Seriously, there’s no way to overstate the amount of listener mail you sent to Ben and Chad on those topics and the complete dearth of listener mail you sent on nearly any other topic. As a result, your guys are breaking with their normal format this week and devoting this entire episode to answering your questions on those two events. Also, Ben broke Chad’s doorbell. So that gets discussed. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot has changed since Ben and Chad sat to record the Co-Main Event Podcast just last week. Rafael dos Anjos is out and Nate Diaz is in against Conor McGregor at UFC 196 which only made things more sweary and less give-a-fucky. Never fear, though, because Holly Holm and Miesha Tate are both still on the card, so at least SOME PEOPLE are still acting like sober professionals. In addition to discussing both those fine fights, your dudes also look back at Michael Bisping’s unanimous decision victory over whoever that guy was pretending to be Anderson Silva last weekend. Also it’s leap day! All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, it was a certain kind of weekend wasn’t it, Universe? What with Bellator MMA getting down to its nitty, gritty freakshowiest best, while Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 did Kimbo and Dada things and Royce and Ken proved they’re both probably still crazy. You think Gracie celebrated his big win like a 50-year-old man who hits the game-winning double in his softball tournament? You think he went to the bar, put Toby Keith’s “I Ain’t As Good as I Once Was” on the jukebox, cracked a couple of sodie pops and told all the young fellas how he’s still got it? The CME Podcast would like to believe he did. Elsewhere, Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone defeated Alex “The Cowboy” Oliveira at one of those anonymous UFC events everybody will forget by next weekend. Oh, and speaking of next weekend, Silva vs. Bisping? You KNOW Ben and Chad are gonna talk about THAT. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Admit it, you’ve basically waited your entire life to listen to the Co-Main Event Podcast discuss a Cowboy vs. Cowboy fight. If that’s the case, gentle reader, you are in luck, as this week Ben and Chad take a good, hard look at the UFC Fight Night 83 main event, featuring Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone taking on Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. In addition to that, you KNOW they weren’t going to let this final episode go by without taking a moment to break down all the hot action at Bellator 149, featuring Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie and Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000. The CME also conducts the rare serious round, as your co-hosts remember recently passed UFC veteran Kevin Randleman and try to put his time in MMA in some sort of historical perspective. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both co-hosts of the Co-Main Event Podcast are sick this week--co-sick, you might even say--but Ben and Chad still rally the troops for an hour and change of hard-hitting mixed martial arts talk. How could they resist, with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s eye-opening win over Johny Hendricks at UFC Fight Night 82 still so fresh in their minds? In addition to that apparent changing of the welterweight guard, they discuss Mickey Gall winning the CM Punk sweepstakes prior to UFC 199/UFC 200 as well as Bellator MMA’s decision to bring Chris Leben out of retirement and into the fold. With that much stuff going on, it wasn’t as though they were going to let a couple of colds keep them from you, dear listener. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast delves heavily into the backlash against Sage Monroe Northcutt after his easy-peasy loss to Bryan Barberena on Saturday at UFC on Fox 18. Were the “haters” just being too “mean” to the 19-year-old “kid” after he “lost” his “fight” via “choke” and then told everyone he had “Strep throat”? In addition to that, Ben and Chad discuss the Dark Lord Ben Rothwell and his continued acquisition of power with his choke-out victory over Josh Barnett. Once all that sordid business is taken care of they look ahead to UFC 196/UFC Fight Night 82 and try to figure out exactly how bad it would be for Johny Hendricks if he lost to Wonderboy Thompson. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and the return of Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Ben and Chad drew up plans for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast and then tore them up and started again after Cain Velasquez pulled out of UFC 196 with an injury. Then they tore THOSE plans up and started again a few minutes later when Fabricio Werdum also pulled out of UFC 196 with an injury. At this point, by the time you listen to this episode someone will probably have been added to UFC 196 and then pulled out with an injury. In addition to that ridiculous talk, they also look back on Conor McGregor’s command performance at the UFC 197 press conference (and the UFC’s own less-than-command performance). There is also a UFC on Fox event this weekend--even though it doesn’t feel like it--where Anthony Johnson fights Ryan Bader and … maybe … Josh Barnett fights Ben Rothwell. But one of those guys will probably get added to UFC 196 before he pulls out with an injury. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were a lot of strange happenings over the weekend at UFC Fight Night 81 and where do you go when things get strange? That’s right, my precious, you come to the Co-Main Event Podcast to hear the two strangest dudes in the MMA industry make sense of it all. This week, Ben and Chad marvel over the culmination of Dominick Cruz’s amazing comeback, as he took the UFC men’s bantamweight title off T.J. Dillashaw. They also review Eddie Alvarez’s successful gambit of wrestling a victory away from Anthony Pettis and Travis Browne trying to reach inside Matt Mitrione’s skull in an attempt to grab his brain. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast begins with the twisted tale of UFC 197 and who may or may not end up competing at that most bedraggled fight card. A week ago, we thought the whole event could be a goner. This week? We’re wondering if it’s going to mean Red Panty Night on multiple continents. In addition to that, your dudes Ben and Chad talk about this Sunday’s men’s bantamweight title fight between TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz as well as the return of Pretty Tony Pettis in a must-win bout against Eddie Alvarez. Somewhere in there, also find out why Ben was afraid to ring Chad’s doorbell when he showed up to record the CME. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit straight up did the damn thing last weekend at UFC 195, Universe. These two evenly matched welterweights put it all on the line for 25 minutes of greuling MMA action and emerged … well … they emerged more or less as equal as before the fight started. That’s not optimal, but it was sure fun to watch. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad look back on the awesomeness of Condit-Lawler and then look ahead to try to figure out exactly what the UFC will do now at 170-pounds. In addition to that, they ponder fondly the weird spectacle that was Rizin Fighting Federation’s inaugural events and try to figure out exactly what’s on deck for Fedor Emelianenko. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You hold in your hands--metaphorically, at least--the last CME podcast of 2015. With no way to adequately sum up the rollercoaster ride of this year in MMA, Ben and Chad don’t even try. Aside from some short recollecting during listener mail (listener mail!) this episode sticks pretty much to business as usual. Because business never stops, right? This week your dudes take a look at Saturday’s UFC 195 welterweight title bout between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit, which promises to be good fun for everybody except maybe the guy who loses. In addition, they puzzle over the debut of Rizin Fighting Federation (including, after all this time, Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jaideep Singh) and the strange Christmas Eve announcement that Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping will fight on The Fight Pass Dot Com in February. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Co-Main Event Podcast Christmas special. On this very special episode of the CME we all sit around a roaring fire sipping cocoa with marshmallows while we think back fondly on the year gone by. Nah, not really. You think Ben and Chad have an ounce of Christmas spirit in them? This week, like every damn week, your dudes soberly break down the latest MMA action, including Rafael dos Anjos’ successful UFC lightweight title defense over Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz calling out Conor McGregor and Alistair Overeem cruising into free agency by putting Junior dos Santos on ice. OK, fine, not that soberly. They wanted to make it worth your while, after all. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, CME Universe, how about that Conor McGregor, huh? Turns out he’s pretty good at throwing the old left hand. So good, in fact, that he’s the new UFC featherweight champion, the company’s biggest star and perhaps the first fighter ever with the proper ability, smarts and grapefruits to twist the organization’s arm until it pays him what he’s actually worth. Sad thing about Jose Aldo, though. He collapsed on the canvas like a tipped-over stack of bricks just 13 seconds into a fight we’d all been waiting nearly a year to see. Was that a letdown? That’s just one of the approximately 1 million McGregor-Aldo related topics Chad and Ben take on during this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Give it a listen. We guarantee you’ve never heard a CME quite like this before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast ain’t hurting for topics this week, what with three UFC events on back-to-back-to-back nights. From Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor finally (we hope) doing the damn thing at UFC 194, to Chris Weidman defending the middleweight title against Luke Rockhold to Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes to Page and Sage renewing the love affair for the ages--it’s going to be a pretty big week. In accordance, the CME podcast is also going big. Ben and Chad do five rounds for episode 182, trying to squeeze in all this hot MMA action. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Benson Henderson’s UFC career come to a close last Saturday in South Korea, with a split decision victory over Jorge GAMBRED Masvidal? As always with The Man They Call Bendo, it was kinda hard to tell. There were some mixed (?) messages being sent, but your boys at the Co-Main Event Podcast are here to try to do some decipherin’. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look at Jon Jones’ return to the land of walking-based interviews as well as the fact that UFC 194 is just sort of quietly sneaking up on us--ready to jump across the lectern and snatch our belts away when we least expect it. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Master Tweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is awash in the weird come-down after UFC 193, a heady period where the likes of Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum are thrust forth as a main event fight for a televised card from the world’s largest mixed martial arts promoter. You know what? It was long--long as shit, if you want to know the truth--but the Magny-Gastelum fight itself wasn’t half bad. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look ahead to Benson Henderson’s bout with Jorge GAMEBRED Masvidal, which at least knows its place on The Fight Pass dot com. In case you haven’t noticed, there are also some strange happenings over in The World Series of Fighting. You dudes take a look at allegations being made on that side of the street to close out the show. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, what in the good goddamn just happened? That’s probably what you’ve been asking yourself these past few days since witnessing Holly Holm’s shocking second-round knockout of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Have to be honest, Co-Main Event Universe, your intrepid CME co-hosts have been asking themselves the same thing. And do you know what Chad and Ben ultimately decided? Why, they decided there was just no good way to discuss the crazy happenings of last weekend without going FIVE ROUNDS. So here it is, probably more CME Podcast than you ever wanted or ever deserved. On this supersized episode, your dudes talk about what kind of champion Holm figures to be for the UFC, where Her Rowdiness goes from here and exactly what the hell the women’s bantamweight division is supposed to do now. In addition to that, they talk about Joanna Jedrzejczyk's victory over Valerie Letourneau and then, because they absolutely must, look ahead to Neil Magny vs. Kelvin Gastelum at next Saturday's UFC Fight Night card. Do they have it in them? Only one way to find out. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the big enchilada, Co-Main Event Podcast fans. On Saturday night at UFC 193, Ronda Jean Rousey puts her women’s bantamweight championship on the line against Holly Holm, allegedly at some mondo stadium in Australia. Per usual, that means your dudes Ben and Chad talk about all the things that might happen when these two finally meet. In addition to that, they recap Vitor Belfort’s victory over Dan Henderson on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 77 and puzzle over Bellator’s latest bookings. Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie? Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000? That’s just ridiculous ... #wouldwatch All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the MMA world prepares to dive back in for the push to the New Year, the Co-Main Event Podcast steels itself for what lies ahead. On this week’s episode, Ben and Chad look at Vitor Belfort’s main event bout against Dan Henderson in Brazil this weekend. It’s pretty much the last chapter (maybe) in MMA’s dalliance with testosterone replacement therapy. They also talk about the surprising fun to be had in Jon Jones’ ongoing Twitter beef with UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Also, there’s a Bellator MMA event on tap this weekend. The dudes discuss what a good and interesting card it is and then wonder if Bellator is really in the business of putting on good and interesting MMA cards. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back to form this week for the Co-Main Event Podcast. Even though there still #aintreallyshitgoingon, Ben and Chad get deep into three rounds of mixed martial arts discussion. How is Ben holding up in the wake of his recent birthday? Can Chad make it through the show, considering his lingering cold? There’s a lot of subtext happening here. In addition to that, your dudes discuss the impending (and now official) return of Jonathan Dwight Jones, the injury mishaps that befell UFC Fight Night 76 and just Whas Really Goin’ On with the UFC’s apparel partnership with Reebok. Don’t know if y’all noticed but, man, they really stepped in it again last week. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week where there #AintShitGoingOn, but the Co-Main Event Podcast bravely marches on. Pretty noble, right? Ben and Chad forge ahead into another week of listener questions. All are considered, but only the strong pass muster. On this very special GRAB BAG edition of the CME, your dudes field queries about Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey’s mom, Ronda Rousey’s coach and Ronda Rousey’s love life. In non-Ronda Rousey talk, they also discuss the Nick Diaz White House petition, TJ Dillashaw’s ongoing feud with Urijah Faber and when the time will be right for Bellator MMA to make its move. Plus much, much more. All that, plus Sir Nigel Longstock stops by for MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s up to you this week, podcast pals. The Co-Main Event shifts into All Questions Considered mode for its latest episode and you know what that means--ain’t shit else going on. Ben and Chad put the trajectory of the show in your hands, answering as many of your questions as they can in one hour, fifteen minutes. As you might imagine, things get pretty random. Not only do they take your queries about Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Paige VanZant, Sage Northcutt and others, but they also talk a little Game of Thrones, the world of other podcasts and even hand out some advice for newlyweds. This is not your father’s CME podcast. It’s all your questions all the time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is recorded in the immediate wake of UFC 192 and immediately in advance of what everyone believes will be Jon Jones’ reinstatement to the UFC. Current champion Daniel Cormier just got a big win over Alexander Gustafsson over the weekend and Ryan Bader spoiled the return of former champ Rashad Evans. So it’s pretty safe to say there’s a lot going on right now, light heavyweight-wise. Ben and Chad talk about all that stuff, as well as welterweight Johny Hendricks’ failure to make weight and the ramifications that might have on his intended opponent, Tyron Woodley. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we record this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, just imagine Josh Barnett seated at the head of a viking banquet table, full-up on honey mead and eating stew from a bowl made of the skull of his enemy. Then imagine Roy Nelson in an I-Hop, waiting for his third plate of blueberry pancakes. Pretty much the same scenario, when you think about it, after two different outcomes at UFC Fight Night 75. This week, Ben and Chad breakdown Barnett’s victory, Nelson’s loss and puzzle over what they could possibly mean for both guys. In addition to that, they revisit more startling/not startling Vitor Belfort drug test revelations and look ahead to Saturday’s UFC 192, where Daniel Cormier defends the light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad rolls into this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast straight from the road, after nearly a week being in Iowa with his family. He needs a vacation from his vacation, but instead he gets more than an hour of MMA talk with Ben, all for your listening pleasure. This was something that needed to happen, if not for everyone’s mental health than simply because last weekend’s Bellator event left us with so much to discuss. There is Phil Davis’ sudden resurgence to discourse as well as the overall look and feel of Bellator’s strange “Dynamite” fight card. In addition to that, the guys look ahead to UFC Fight Night 75, where Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson will meet in a heavyweight clash in Japan. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking news into the Co-Main Event Podcast just as the show goes on the air this week, and Ben and Chad offer up some instant reaction to the Nevada State Athletic Commission handing Nick Diaz a five year ban for marijuana on Monday. Or maybe the extra-stiff punishment came because Diaz had the audacity to try to show up and actually defend himself? How’s that for some discourse? In addition to that, Bellator MMA takes front and center as its four-man, one night light heavyweight tournament goes down on Saturday. Who will win and what kind of No. 1 contender will they be for the victor of Liam McGeary’s title defense against Tito Ortiz the same night? Only time (and the CME) will tell. Your dudes also look into troubling reports about the UFC’s new drug testing partner and what that might mean for the fight company’s new in-house testing program. All that. plus Just Sayin’ Stuff, AYFKM  and Master Tweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demetrious Johnson went out last weekend at UFC 191 and proved he’s still the most capable 125-pound mixed martial arts fighter on the planet--and the Co-Main Event Podcast breaks down every painstaking second of it. Nah, just kidding. Ben and Chad talk about Johnson’s impressive win over John Dodson for a couple minutes and then move on to the more vexing and interesting question of just what the heck the UFC should to with Johnson. It’s vexing. And interesting. In addition to that, your dudes look at the clusterfuck that still is the heavyweight division, now caught in yet another delay because the NEW champion needs some time off. Also, they look at Anthony Johnson’s most recent outburst to the media because … wow, that dude just doesn’t get it, huh? All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and--you ready?--Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast can’t have one week where it doesn’t talk about Ronda Rousey, can it? Just when Ben and Chad thought we all had Rousey’s future set, the UFC done went and changed it again late last week, announcing the Rowdy One’s bout against Holly Holm would be moved up from Jan. 2 at UFC 195 to mid-Nov.’s UFC 193. This is being done to accommodate the recent injury to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and--we guess--desperately try to fill some big stadium in Australia. Why, you ask? Ostensibly to break some sort of made-up-sounding UFC live attendance record, but we’re guessing the real reason is millions of dollars. Anyway, so that’s begging to be discussed. In addition, your dudes talk about Demetrious Johnson’s pending rematch with John Dodson at UFC 191 and a smattering of happenings this week in Bellator. Is good. You like. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even with no UFC event scheduled for this next weekend, the Co-Main Event Podcast has plenty to talk about. On this episode, Ben and Chad break down Max Holloway’s anti-climactic win over Charles Oliveira from the main event of UFC Fight Night 74 and discuss the literal ins and outs of the often overlooked but vitally important esophagus. They also look into Michael Bisping spoiling much of the positive political capital he’d built up recently when he questioned the cojones of sudden UFC retiree Frankie Perez. In addition, they discourse on Ronda Rousey’s newly announced bout with Holly Holm. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By now, the cat is probably well out of the bag that there is no new CME this week, after Ben decided to go on vacation with his family to some mountain lake. Just picture him, swinging comfortably in his hammock sipping Jameson, not a care in the world as his bedraggled wife chases their two children around the cabin, trying to keep them from eating rat poison or tumbling down a set of stairs. Meanwhile, Old Man Fowlkes sways in the breeze, oblivious. But look, Ben and Chad didn’t want to leave you high and dry this week with no CME-related entertainment at all. For that reason, they’ve planned a special announcement regarding NEXT week’s podcast, as well as a chance for you to revisit one of the more unique and popular single episodes in the show’s history. What’s the announcement, you ask? Wouldn’t you like to know, you grubby little orphans. To find out, you’ll have to experience it in audio format ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA world will get a chance to catch its breath this weekend, or maybe come down from the weird herky-jerky meth high that was watching Glover Teixeira choke Ovince St. Preux unconscious on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 73. This coming weekend will be the first Saturday in some time without a UFC event, so now is your chance to take your kid to the zoo, maybe sit down and have dinner with your people, like a real damn family.  Unfortunately, since we know you guys, we know you’ll spend it watching old King of Cage events on Fight Pass. Ben and Chad will be here for you, though, because Ben and Chad will always be here to discuss things like Teixeira’s prospects, Ronda Rousey’s suddenly Robust-ish contender crowd and the latest effort to unionize UFC fighters. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rondamania is running wild as Ben and Chad sit down to record episode No. 165 of the venerable old Co-Main Event Podcast. It’s no wonder that the UFC’s dominant women’s bantamweight champion dominates much of the conversation this week, just as Ronda Jean Rousey dominated the shit out of Bethe Correia last Saturday at UFC 190. Your dudes break down the actual fight and the terrifying possibility that the competitive gap between Rousey and her peers is actually widening, then attempt to deal with her budding superstardom and whether the UFC can keep the Ronda Train rolling if she continues to pick the bones of one of its shallowest divisions. Also, you didn’t think crazy-ass SOB Rousimar Palhares was going to escape notice, did you? Oh, because the CME has some shit to say about that dude, too. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Saying Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s CME podcast finds Ben and Chad sorting through the rubble of TJ Dillashaw’s destruction of Renan Barao--read: Reen-an Barrio--at Saturday night’s UFC on Fox event. As you may recall, that rubble sits atop the rubble left behind by Dillashaw’s first victory over Barao from last year. Somehow, however, this rubble feels heavier. Weightier. Like Barao is buried deeper. Once that grim task is complete, they look ahead to the rubble which will surely be left behind by Ronda Rousey’s coming destruction of Bethe Correia at this weekend’s UFC 190. In the middle there, they talk about Dana White’s recent tirades and question whether we’re starting to see the rubble pile up around the longtime UFC president. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like Frank Mir’s standing as a top UFC heavyweight, the Co-Main Event Podcast is back! Back in your lives after a short seven-day respite, yet without having accomplished anything nearly as impressive as Mir’s knockout of Todd Duffee from last Wednesday. Ben and Chad can only sit back and marvel at Mir’s sudden rebound, and also note it's very much in keeping with the sudden rebounds of the rest of the elder statesmen of the UFC heavyweight division. In addition to that, they talk about Michael Bisping’s victory over Thales Leites from Glasgow, Scotland over the weekend and look ahead to TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight title defense against Renan Barao. As always, there’s a lot to discuss. All that, plus AYFKM an Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is back in the building, ready to sweep up after all these damn Irishmen practically wrecked the place. It’s going to be a big job. On this episode, Ben and Chad find themselves with just too much to squeeze into an hour long show, but they do their best. They talk about Conor McGregor’s interim featherweight title victory over a short-notice Chad Mendes at UFC 189 and now McGregor’s impending title unification bout with Jose Aldo. Somehow, the UFC is gonna squeeze a season of The Ultimate Fighter into The Notorious One’s schedule, too. Heck, though, it’s starting to seem like if anybody can do it, it’s him. In addition, the CME looks at the epic welterweight title clash between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald, wherein both dudes got their whole shit broke. Also, Stephen “Wonderman” Thompson kicked Jake Ellenberger in the face on a completely different UFC event probably about four people watched to its conclusion. Ben and Chad discourse on that as well. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and--wait for it--MasterTweet Theatre. Direct downloaders can buy a Tommy Hiflliger shirt and a Roolex watch right here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been a real white-knuckle thrillride, this lead up to UFC 189, but as Ben and Chad sit down to record this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast they are secure in the knowledge it is almost over. From Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, to Jose Aldo’s injury and Chad Mendes stepping in, the guys do their best to grapple with it all. Oh, hey, did you know there is also another title fight on the UFC 189 card? Yeah, Robbie Lawler is going to fight Rory MacDonald for the welterweight strap in a bout that has featured exactly zero injury replacements (knock on wood). In addition to talking about that, the guys circle back around to last week’s Reebok product launch for its new UFC apparel line to double check and make sure it really was as bad as we all thought at the time. Yep, it was.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just so much news this week that is right in the Co-Main Event Podcast’s wheelhouse, you guys. Seriously, sometimes it seems like the MMA Gods are scripting this shit just so Ben and Chad can poke fun of it on their unscripted weekly podcast. From Jose Aldo’s broken, not broken ribs to Yoel Romero maybe, possibly warning people not to go with “Gay Jesus,” this week was a doozy. But the MMA world’s depressing unbelievable weirdness is your gain. On this episode, your dudes talk up all that stuff, plus wonder about the future of the 37-year-old Lyoto Machida, who dropped to 1-3 in his last four at the hands of Romero last Saturday. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Call episode 159 of the Co-Main Event Podcast the first of the Kimbo Slice Era of mixed martial arts. Errr, wait, the second Kimbo Slice Era of mixed martial arts? Whatever. The Sliceman knocked Ken Shamrock into the black land on Friday at Bellator 138, setting promotional cable television ratings records and making us all kind of feel bad about ourselves for watching. In the aftermath of The Greatest Fight of All Time, many people have cried “fix!” because, well, they were looking for ways to seem like bigger suckers than just watching the thing in the first place. In other news, your girl Joanna Jędrzejczyk laid a straight up Eastern European beatdown on Jessica Pe-NAY on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 69. Ben and Chad talk about that, and then look ahead to Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero at next weekend’s Fight Night 70. Cuz this shit just never stops, you know? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast bows down before new UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum this week. Werdum defeated Cain Velasquez as something approaching a 5-to-1 underdog on Saturday at UFC 188 and at this stage Ben and Chad can only marvel at how it all seemed like too much for Velasquez--the altitude, the layoff, Werdum’s all-around skills. In addition to that, your guys discuss Eddie Alvarez’s amazing comeback performance against Gilbert Melendez in the evening’s lightweight co-main. And that’s about it. Oh, wait. What’s that you say? Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice are also fighting this coming Friday? You didn’t think the CME was going to record a whole episode and NOT spend a round talking about that … did you? … like some suckers? Nah, you guys know better than that. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to record this week’s episode of the CME, Ben interrupts a madcap schedule of dancing to indie rock bands and Chad pauses his white-knuckle wait for the birth of his son. Really, they have no choice. What, you thought they were going to ignore Old Man Dan Henderson’s big win over Tim Boetsch last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 68? You thought they might not catch the UFC announcing the very sort of drug testing program the CME has been asking for for years? You thought Cain Velasquez’s heavyweight title unification bout against Fabricio Werdum this weekend at UFC 188 might fly under their radar? Fat chance. The guys serve of an hour’s worth of sizzling hot MMA news and commentary just for you.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture it, CME Universe. There you are, walking along, minding your own business, just doing your thing, landing your low kicks, everything going your way, when--boom--all of the sudden Carlos Condit jumps out of nowhere and elbows you … right … in … the ... face. That would suck, wouldn’t it? Yeah, that would suck. Also, in this situation, you are Thiago Alves (Pronounced: AL-vez, it turns out). This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast follows the re-routed road map that was Alves’ face after his bout with Condit last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 67, and takes a few moments to mourn the testicles of Ryan Jimmo, which had arguably an even shittier night than Alves’ nose. In addition, Ben and Chad look ahead to next weekend’s Fight Night 68, where Dan Henderson will fight Tim Boetsch for some damn reason. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Cormier and Chris Weidman are your UFC champions in the light heavyweight and middleweight division (respectively), CME Universe. Both guys came to UFC 187 on Saturday ready to do the damn thing, whereas opponents Anthony Johnson and Vitor Belfort (respectively) did not. As Ben and Chad sit down to record episode 155 of The Co-Main Event Podcast they are struck (respectively) by the fact Cormier and Weidman appeared to be championship material while Johnson and Belfort appeared lacking. In addition to that, they look ahead to UFC Fight Night 67, where Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves both look to take the next step in their (respective) comeback stories.  All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frankie Edgar--just so damn good at winning fights according to the unified rules of mixed martial arts. The former lightweight champion and presumptive featherweight No. 1 contender proved that all over again on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 66, besting Urijah Faber by entertaining unanimous decision. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad go over Edgar’s dominance over “The California Man” and then look ahead to the twin title bill on this weekend’s UFC 187. Will Daniel Cormier finally cash in on his championship dreams? Will Chris Weidman finally be done with Vitor Belfort once and for all? There’s a lot of “finallys” floating around. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, we knew the this day would come eventually. This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast spends a good portion of its hour-and-change talking about fashion. Clothes. “Kits” as the young people say. Ben and Chad take a close look at the UFC’s new “outfitting” partnership with Reebok, after last week’s release of the official numbers. Not to spoil it for you, but there just doesn’t seem like a lot of positive things to say. In addition, they discuss Stipe Miocic’s beatdown of Mark Hunt from Saturday night, which was both impressive and sad all at once. They also look ahead to next week’s UFC Fight Night 66, where Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber will fight in the Philippines in the middle of the morning here in the states. So, a real Breakfast of Champions, if you will. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA guns fell mostly silent over the weekend, to allow the splendor and spectacle of Floyd Mayweather’s boxing fight against Manny Pacquiao dominate the national media cycle the way only a boxing fight can … once every 20 years or so. Starting next weekend, however, the UFC gets back on the horse and will not relinquish the reins for eight weeks or so. On Saturday, it’s UFC Fight Night 65, featuring Mark Hunt’s heavyweight tussle with Stipe Miocic from Australia, live on The Fight Pass Dot Com. There are also the small matters of injuries to Alexander Gustafsson and Khabib Nurmagomedov still floating around in the ether. You better believe the Co-Main Event Podcast has stuff to say about all that. Oh, right? That thing where Jon Jones got stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely after running away from an auto accident in New Mexico? There’s some mop-up needs to be done on that, too. Ben and Chad hold you down, son. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Ben and Chad sat down to record Co-Main Event Podcast episode 151 on Monday afternoon, the whereabouts of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones were still unknown. Jones is sought by Albuquerque police in connection with a mid-morning hit-and-run accident that occurred on Sunday. All of this is to say, listen to the damn podcast NOW, before current events make it obsolete. In addition to Jones’ new legal woes, your intrepid hosts break down last weekend’s UFC 186, including the performances of both Demetrious Johnson and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Rockhold was the man of the hour on Saturday at UFC on Fox 15, battering Lyoto Machida en route to an important second-round victory. No surprise he continues to be the hot topic of conversation as of this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. On Grand Ol’ Episode 150, Ben and Chad discuss Rockhold putting the clobberin’ on Machida, as well as what that means for the middleweight title picture, after Jacare Souza was forced to go slumming against Chris Camozzi. In addition to that, your dudes look ahead to UFC 186, where Demetrious Johnson once again finds himself in the worst position at the worst time. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new week dawns for the Co-Main Event Podcast with--wait, what’s this?--Mirko Cro Cop as a potentially relevant member of the UFC heavyweight division?!? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but the 40-year-old Croatian Copper did stave off his inevitable athletic demise on Saturday, with a come from behind victory over Gabriel Gonzaga. Ben and Chad take up that subject on episode 149, as well as what fans might be able to expect from UFC Fight Pass moving forward, now that the digital subscription service is well into its second year of operation. In addition, your dudes discuss Yoel Romero dropping out of UFC on Fox 15 and being replaced by Chris Camozzi against Jacare Souza. Oh yeah, and Luke Rockhold taking on Lyoto Machida in a presumed No.1 contender fight at the same event ... that should be pretty good.   All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ever wanted to jump on the mic and tell 5,000 Virginians to go f--k themselves, Al Iaquinta lived your dream last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 63. If you’ve ever wanted to jump on the mic and tell one friend to go f--ck himself while the two of you sit at your dining room table, well, the Co-Main Event Podcast lives your dream every week. On this episode, Ben and Chad talk about Iaquinta’s potty-mouthed star turn during last weekend’s event and also break down Chad Mendes’ unenviable position as (maybe) the second-best featherweight who’s ever featherweighted. Once they get done with that, they look ahead to UFC Fight Night 64 in Krakow (KRAKOW!) next weekend. Such as it it. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even with no UFC event last weekend, there is still plenty on the Co-Main Event Podcast’s plate in this latest episode. For starters Ben and Chad talk about Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor wrapping up their “world tour” promotional swing for UFC 189, where they made crazy eyes at each other from city to city, until Dana White threatened he’d turn this goddamn car around and drive straight home. Then there was what turned out to be an action-packed weekend in smaller MMA organizations, from Bellator getting good stuff from LC Davis and Hideo Tokoro, to Joe Warren dropping the bantamweight strap via high-pitched scream and Justin Gaethje and Luis Palomino having a barnburner at WSOF 19. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s Chad Mendes’ brunch date with Ricardo Lamas right around the corner at UFC Fight Night 63. So ... big wheel keep on turning … All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a surprise Sunday Co-Main Event Podcast for all the little Co-Main Event Maniacs who’ve been saying their prayers and taking their vitamins out there in radio land. Also, because Chad has his annual doctor’s check-up on Monday and there was no other way. Anyhoo, he and Ben sit down for a nice, cozy Sunday afternoon chat about Ryan LaFlare making Demian Maia look like Brock Lesnar with the takedowns, Josh Koscheck making Erick Silva look like … uh … Demian Maia and all the crazy happenings in the women’s bantamweight division. Is good. You like. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week long excursion in Florida, Chad gave up on turning his life into a Zac Brown Band song and returned to Co-Main Event World headquarters on Wednesday. He and Ben turned out the following episode of the podcast, a few days late but still just current and just a poignant as usual. They discussed Pretty Tony Pettis’ stunning loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185, as well as Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s beatdown of Carla Esparza. They also looked ahead to UFC Fight Night 62, such as it is. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 185 comes to the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Tex., this weekend, and while you probably can’t be there in person, the Co-Main Event Podcast transports you there via … the sound of their voices? Look, it’s whatever. In any case, Ben and Chad take an in-depth look at what should be a solid top-to-bottom card for the world’s largest MMA promotion. Sporting a twin bill of title defenses from lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and strawweight champ Carla Esparza (plus Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown!) there’s not a lot to dislike about this event. Hear about all of it, including whether Rafael dos Anjos and Joanna Jędrzejczyk (you know we had to get that name in there at least once) have a chance to unseat the UFC titlists. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the world still reeling from two seismic events--Ronda Rousey’s 14 second win over Cat Zingano and the birth of Ben Fowlkes’ second child--the CME delivers a very special episode. This week, Ben and Chad have you covered on a bunch of health-related topics, such as 1) Revel in the fact you have two working arms, CME Universe, because you never know when the UFC might call you to fight Ronda Rousey. Seriously, they’re kinda running out of people for the job. 2) Don’t get too caught up in your shockwaves and your dejavus, it may cost you your Bellator light heavyweight title. 3) It’s cool if you get super nervous and trembly before your UFC debut. It might even disqualify you from being recruited for the job we mentioned in No.1, which is probably a good thing. All of that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The technical term for this weekend’s MMA slate is “stacked” or, if you’re a true purist, even “stacked-ass.” Nope, not to confuse the layman out there, but this is one stacked-ass weekend of MMA action. As usual, the Co-Main Event Podcast has you covered, with at least as much of it as will fit into an hour and change of prime podcasting time. We’ll kick off on Friday, when The Big Homie Manny Newton defends his light heavyweight title against Liam McGeary at Bellator 134. That same night, Cris “Cyborg” Justino returns to the cage to face Charmaine Tweet at Invicta 11. On Saturday, Ronda Rousey will be in action, putting her women’s batamweight title and status as No. 1 female fighter in the world on the line against Cat Zinganno. In the CME of that event, Holly Holm makes her Octagon debut against Raquel Pennington. You better believe your boys Ben and Chad talk about it all. Plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know what? Much respect to Benson Henderson for taking all our minds off our troubles for a little while on Saturday night, when he choked out welterweight Brandon Thatch in the fourth round of their UFC Fight Night 60 main event. For the Co-Main Event Podcast, it provided a sweet respite between thinking about PED busts, PED meetings and PED press conferences. But, back to the real world for this week’s episode, where Bendo’s win will be discussed alongside the UFC’s scheduled Wednesday press conference to address drugs in the sport as well as Sunday’s hot main event pitting … Frank Mir against Bigfoot Silva. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Saying stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All right, Co-Main Event Universe, Ben and Chad are going to do things a bit differently this week, for venerable episode Olde No. 140. As depressing as it is to admit, Anderson Silva’s failed drug test of a week ago is still the biggest news of the day, with this weekend’s uninspiring UFC Fight Night 60, WSOF and Bellator cards all failing to engender enough excitement to knock it from the headlines. As they do every so often, your dudes elect to eschew the CME’s normal three-round format this week, spending the first half of the show talking about Silva’s drug issues and then the second half juggling some UFC and Bellator talk. Along the way there is as much listener mail as they can wedge into the conversation. Oh yeah, and MasterTweet Theatre happens as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anderson Silva is back, Nick Diaz is still crazy, John Lineker and Kelvin Gastelum still can’t make weight and Chris Weidman is injured again. Does that about cover it? Oh yeah, some big news will probably break just as soon as Ben and Chad drop this new episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. So, pretty much business as usual. UFC 183 was still loads of fun though, what with Diaz trying to get in Anderson Silva’s head like he was, well, Anderson Silva or some damn thing. So your guys talk about all that, plus the weird decision in Miesha Tate’s win over Sara McMann, the rising cost of UFC pay-per-views, the awesomeness of Al Iaquinta and Thiago Alves serving some instant karma to Jordan Mein. Sound like a lot for one hour? Imagine how your intrepid hosts feel. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast isn’t feeling well, you guys, but Ben and Chad still got it together to record episode 138 for you, the fans. Just too much stuff going on not to give er the ol’ CME try. For starters, Anthony Johnson put those hands on Alexander Gustafsson on Saturday at UFC on Fox 14. End result? We have a new No. 1 contender to Jon Jones’ light heavyweight title. In addition, the cowboy that is Dan Henderson may finally have let the bucking bronco of his professional MMA career ride him off into the sunset. Oh and hey, did you guys know Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz are going to fight this weekend at UFC 183? Yeah, they are, and the guys talk about that, too. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an odd-ball Sunday night UFC event, the Co-Main Event Podcast finds itself still shaking off the hangover of Fight Night 59. Ben and Chad squint for a long time at Conor McGregor’s victory over Dennis Siver, trying to see if there’s anything to make of it, besides the fact McGregor will now fight that one guy in the front row. There’s also Donald Cerrone’s controversial decision victory over Benson Henderson to try to put in context and--just when they’ve got that sorted--this New Business about Alexander Gustafsson fighting Anthony Johnson next Saturday in Stockholm. We’re back in it, folks, and we’re back in it deep. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In classic Co-Main Event fashion, the new podcast smell hadn’t even worn off last week’s episode before UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for that candy cane. You know, that gutter glitter? That paradise white? Anyhoo, Ben and Chad weren’t going to let an opportunity like that go by without busting out their best Scarface jokes. Their best Boogie Nights jokes. Their best New Jack City jokes. Especially after the Nevada State Athletic Commission spent the next week playing the Gee Money to Jones’ Nino Brown. Oh yeah, there is also another event of mixed rules fighting happening this weekend, when Conor McGregor takes on Dennis Siver and Donald Cerrone steps in on--what else--short notice to fight Benson Henderson. All that, plus Just Sayin’ Stuff and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plots are thick for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, recorded just a couple of days after Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier finally settled their beef at UFC 182. Well, they fought, anyhow. Not sure there was a ton of beef-settling, as both Jones and Cormier appeared to dislike each other just as much after they’d fought as before. Ben and Chad take a running leap at the topic--shouting “Cannon ball!” as they soar gracefully through the air--spending not one, but two rounds on it. After a fight like that, it just seemed necessary, you know? Also on the docket? Donald Cerrone’s victory over Myles Jury at the same event. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast was recorded in the middle of a g.d. blizzard, and Ben and Chad hope just a bit of that cozy holiday splendor somehow seeps into your earholes. God knows there is enough other stuff going on to light a fire under you. For this final CME of 2014, your dudes discuss with glee the coming UFC 182 matchup between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, as well as Donald Cerrone taking on Myles Jury. In addition to that, they look back at 2014 and wonder if/how 2015 will prove itself superior. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad feel your pain, CME Universe. You have, what? One or two more days of work before the bosses let you cut out for Xmas? You’re sitting in your office right now, paging through best-of-year slideshows online, just trying to pass the hours until quitting time. Here, let the Co-Main Event Podcast help with that. On this special holiday episode of the show, your dudes discuss Lyoto Machida’s one-kick wonder over CB Dollaway at Saturday’s Fight Night 58, the small business of that pending class-action lawsuit against the UFC and Rampage Jackson’s possible return to the Octagon, so long as a judge decides it’s OK. All that, plus Tip for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets back on its normal schedule this week. With everyone present and accounted for, Ben and Chad turn their attention to the latest happenings in MMA, both confirmed and otherwise. There is plenty of live action to get to, including Carla Esparza’s championship performance at the TUF 20 finale, Nate Diaz’s disappointing turn against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 13 and the heavyweight bonanza that occurred on that same card. That’s about it, though, nothing else to see here … err … wait a second. What are these reports about an impending class action lawsuit against the UFC? Uhh, that seems sort of important. The guys spend a few minutes talking about that, too. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Ben’s lengthy business chasing down hashtag lifestyle pieces in Las Vegas finally concluded, he and Chad get back on the wild, bucking horse that is the Co-Main Event Podcast on Friday. Better late than never, right, you roughnecks? Even with Ben safely ensconced back in the one true time zone, the show finds itself in an unusual position, with 10 not-so-slow days of MMA news to catch up on. For that reason, for one episode only your dudes dispense with the show’s normal 3-round format and just make it a free-for-all. From the UFC’s new Reebok deal and CM Punk to TUF 20, UFC 181 and UFC on Fox 13, they take on all comers. Think of this as a CME done by UFC 1 rules, where guys just brawl it out in one long continuous round until one guy taps out or gets his tooth kicked into the front row. This one’s for you, Superfoot.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week off to nurse their Thanksgiving food hangovers and Thanksgiving hangover hangovers, Ben and Chad return with a new Co-Main Event Podcast, and not a moment too soon. See, gentle listener, UFC 181 and its twin bill of title fights looms on Saturday night. How you gonna know what to expect/who to root for/what to think if the CME doesn’t swoop in to hand out them ass-whippings to their maximum effect? Don’t worry, though, we got you, troop. On this installment, your guys talk about Johny Hendricks returning from injury to defend his welterweight title in a rematch against Robbie Lawler and Anthony Pettis returning from injury to defense his lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez. Oh, and because you gave them a pass last week, they also circle back to go over Frankie Edgar’s victory over Cub Swanson as well. Deal? Deal. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad delayed the recording of this week’s CME by some 25 minutes, hoping to be able to hear the UFC’s big #TheTimeIsNow announcement, so they could discuss it as BREAKING NEWS during the intro to the show. But, as it turned out, the time was not now. The time will be somewhat later. In the future. That’s when the time will happen. That’s right, the UFC punted on its own big announcement today, with UFC President Dana White telling the gathered crowd that the fight company “didn’t get it done” yet. “You can all go home now,” White quipped. If only! Instead, your boys went ahead and did the whole show, discussing last weekend’s jam-packed MMA slate, including Fabricio Werdum capturing the interim UFC heavyweight title, Tito Ortiz edging Stephan Bonnar at Bellator 131 and next weekend’s featherweight main event featuring Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No time to mince words for the Co-Main Event Podcast this week, what with the MMA schedule more jam-ass-packed than even is normal. Is normal. Ben and Chad have, frankly, too much on their communal CME plate, but do their best to cram as much into their hour and change as possible. From Luke Rockhold and Ovince St. Preux scoring big UFC victories over the weekend, to Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum preparing to square off over possession of the cursed UFC heavyweight title, there’s a lot of ground to cover. On top of all that, there’s this damn Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar fight, which apparently is actually going to happen on Saturday as well. Also, news broke on Monday that crazy. crazy Wanderlei Silva is going to show up at the Bellator fan fest this weekend in San Deigo. So, CME road trip? CME road trip!  All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast records another Tuesday morning episode this week, as Ben’s tenure as a juror in a local trail plays havoc with the schedule. He joined Chad for coffee and fight talk as soon as he was able, and there was no shortage of stuff to discuss. Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping’s Friday-night UFC main event took center stage, but the guys manage to squeeze in some speculation about Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux as well. Then there is the small matter of Nov. 15 to reckon with, when the UFC, Bellator and World Series of Fighting will all stage events during the same day. Did the guys come up with a battle plan for how MMA fans should attack that day? Only one way to find out. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s that chill you feel in the air, gentle listener? Why, it’s the super-scary, mega-terrifying Halloween episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Just pull up a squeaky old rocking chair and try to listen to Ben and Chad talk about the week’s mixed martial arts news over the spooky sound effects of a howling wolf, the screech of an opening door or, like, a laughing devil or something. This week’s topics include Jose Aldo’s successful title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 179 in a fight-of-the-year caliber brawl, Phil Davis’ odd call-out of Anderson Silva and the longstanding curse surrounding the UFC heavyweight championship. So, yeah, it’s pretty spine-tingling.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the soaring high that was last week’s All Questions Considered episode, Co-Main Event Podcast No. 125 crashes back to earth, reverting to the crippling normalcy of just having Ben and Chad talk about stuff. Luckily for everyone, there’s actual stuff to talk about this week. The guys address Jose Aldo’s upcoming UFC 179 rematch against Chad Mendes, wondering if anything has changed that would make them believe that this time Mendes might pull off the upset. In addition, they talk about Phil Davis’ bout against Glover Teixeira, agreeing it’s pretty much a must-win for “Mr. Wonderful.” In round three, they get a little philosophical on the topic of the UFC’s 2015 schedule and a recent Sports Business Journal article about the fight company. Only after finishing recording did they immediately realize that said article had a super big typo in it about how many PPVs the UFC has sold in the last few years, so you’ll have to bear with them on that little mistake. All that plus AYFKM, Just Sayin Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the UFC on hiatus both this weekend and the last, the Co-Main Event Podcast saddles up for another episode of All Questions Considered. It’s simple, really. You send Ben and Chad your email questions and they answer as many of them as they possibly can in an hour and change. From Joe Warren’s Bellator bantamweight title victory to Jake Shields’ WSOF win over Ryan Ford to Mayhem Miller’s continuing meltdown, it’s all covered. In fact, this bad boy is so quick and painless, the guy’s might just start doing AQC every single week. Nah, probably not, but thanks for all your emails, all the same.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yet another UFC doubleheader Saturday leaves the Co-Main Event Podcast feeling spent. On this episode, Ben and Chad discuss Rory MacDonald’s victory over Tarec Saffiedine in an apparent welterweight title eliminator. It seems like fans will tacitly accept MacDonald as the next challenger for the 170-pound title, if not exactly welcome him with open arms. Rick Story notched a big upset win as well, undressing Gunnar Nelson over in Stockholm. So there’s that. Also, the guys dip into the question of whether Cung Le’s recent positive drug test raises issues with the UFC’s testing policies, regardless of Le’s guilt or innocence. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of the stellar UFC 178 card, the Co-Main Event Podcast once again finds itself with a good kind of problem: too many compelling storylines to cram into one episode. As usual, Ben and Chad make the best of the time allotted, talking about Conor McGregor’s big win over Dustin Poirier, all the weirdness in the Yoel Romero-Tim Kennedy fight and Eddie Alvarez’s disappointing UFC debut. They also find time to discuss awesome comebacks from Cat Zingano and Dominick Cruz, as well as World Series of Fighting’s plan to split pay-per-view revenue 50/50 with its fighters. Oh yeah, and Chad signed a book deal, so that comes up, too. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, Chris Weidman broke his hand and his fight with Vitor Belfort is pushed back to February? Man, you guys, the Co-Main Event Podcast is starting to feel responsible for this stuff, as one again (!) some big news in the MMA world broke just after Ben and Chad were done recording the show. Without the revelation about Weidman’s busted paw, the guys talk about Eddie Alvarez finally making it to the UFC (and the stakes therein), Conor McGregor going head-to-head with Dustin Poirier and the long-awaited return of Dominick Cruz. What’s that you say? The UFC 178 main event? Yeah, they talk about that, too, though perhaps the billing here gives you some idea how we’re all feeling about that. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is back … on Mondays! With both Ben and Chad just hanging around town doing nothing special this week, we’re back to our normal schedule. You know what that means … some big news should break in three … two … one … In any case, on episode 120, your dudes talk about Andrei Arlovski’s big knockout win over Bigfoot Silva in Brazil last weekend. They also speak on Emmanuel Newton’s spinning backfist KO of Joey Beltran (surprised? Don’t be.) and Bellator’s ongoing perception problem. Sprinkled in there is a little talk of Mark Hunt’s coming main event against Roy Nelson, TUF 20 and Nick Diaz’s recent arrest on suspicion of DUI, as well. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Ben safely returned from the wilds of Maine, the Co-Main Event Podcast produces what it hopes is its last delayed show for some time. Lucky thing, too, since the MMA world just proves too capable of breaking hella news from Tuesday to Tuesday. We all look forward to getting back to the normal Monday to Monday sched., where news breaks right AFTER the podcast comes out. This week, Ben and Chad talk up Jacare Souza’s big win over Gegard Mousasi from last Friday, Bellator’s shocking unmasking of ... some dude during its own show and Ben Askren’s weird appearance on AXS TV’s Inside MMA. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now back to irregularly scheduled programming. For the next two weeks, the CME will come out on Tuesdays, which for the record was how the show was conceived in the beginning, before public pressure and the harsh realities of life forced it onto Mondays. In any case, episode 118 sees Ben and Chad breaking down TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight title win over Joe Soto at last Saturday at UFC 177. Wait, who? Exactly. In addition, the guys also look ahead to this Friday’s Fight Night 50 main event between Jacare (Jacare!) Souza and Gegard “Sweet and Sassy” Mousasi, when the UFC and Bellator will run dueling cards in the state of Connecticut. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not gonna lie, after another UFC doubleheader Saturday, the Co-Main Event Podcast felt a little bit like Cung Le fresh from three-plus rounds with Michael Bisping. Ben woke up super early to write MMA Junkie capsules for the Fight Night 48 card in Macau (MACAU!), while Chad … ah, hell, who are we kidding? Chad slept in and then took his time getting around to watching Rafael dos Anjos take out Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 49. Still, it felt like a long day. All of the above is discussed on this week’s show and the guys also look ahead to the forthcoming UFC 177. Will a show headlined by an immediate rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao sink or swim at the box office? That’s what they want to know. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 21 empty, listless days with no shows, the UFC returned with a vengeance this past weekend. With an event scheduled for every Saturday from now (last weekend, actually) through the end of the month, the dog days of summer expect to be … well, empty and listless, but at least replete with face-punching. On this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad discuss Ryan Bader’s win over Ovince St. Preux from Saturday night and look ahead to next weekend’s doubleheader, including Benson Henderson’s main event against Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Bisping’s Fight Pass bout against Cung Le. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With one CME host returning to town just as the other skeddadled out the back door, Ben and Chad had to squeeze in episode 115 during the short window when both dudes were still in the One True Time Zone. As a result, this installment of the Co-Main Event Podcast was recorded at Ben’s house, on Saturday and before noon. So, yeah, your dudes weren’t really awake yet, were swilling coffee and trying to keep their voices down while a bunch of babies took naps. Other than that, you won’t notice a difference. Covered in this week’s show are Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier literally threatening to literally kill one another from opposite ends of a Sportscenter live feed, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz literally getting booked to literally fight and the UFC literally doing a show literally from Bangor, Maine where Ryan Bader and Ovince St. Preux literally re-define the meaning of the term “Maine Event.” Get it? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know the Co-Main Event Podcast has a lot to discuss this week, what with Anthony Johnson’s fearsome punching power and Alexander Gustafsson’s torn meniscus crying havoc with the light heavyweight pecking order. Daniel Cormier (his own bum knee in tow) is subbing in for Gustafsson in a title fight against Jon Jones, but what now will become of Gustafsson? And what, for that matter, of Johnson, who flattened Roger Nog at last weekend’s UFC on Fox 12 show, only to leave us scratching our heads about who he might fight next. There was also the small matter of Robbie Lawler coming out on top of his dogfight against the better-seen-and-not-heard Matt Brown. We couldn’t squeeze any more MMA into this damned show if we tried. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MMA’s charmed month of July rolled on, as Conor McGregor and 9,500 of his closest, most Irish-est friends blew the roof off O2 arena in Dublin over the weekend. The Co-Main Event Podcast was not in attendance, so had to live vicariously through all the other media types who went over there and partied the night away on the Isle of Erin or whatever. Even from afar, the whole thing had an intoxicating effect and was almost enough to make us forget that just last Wednesday Donald Cerrone knocked out Jim Miller in a main event from Atlantic City and said he was going to go drink a bunch of Budweiser. Speaking of which, has anybody heard from Donald? Do we need to send somebody on a welfare check? All that is discussed, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the pleasant dream that was last weekend (no shows! zero!), it’s once again fight week, as MMA fans gear up for two UFC events. Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 45 is headlined by Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller. So, that’s probably not going to suck. Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 46/UFC: MeGregor vs. Brandao/UFC: Dublin is a little more difficult to get your arms around. With a main event pitting Conor McGregor against replacement opponent Diego Brandao and the UFC still seemingly sending mixed messages about whether it actually wants anyone outside the fictitious nation of Ireland to tune in, Ben and Chad aren’t sure what to make of it. Plus UFC 176 got “postponed” so maybe they’ll surprise us and have that on Saturday night instead. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast has never smelled so clean, nor felt so fresh in its … uh … groin … area. Be warned, CME Universe, this week Ben and Chad record the show under the influence of Dude Wipes, which came in the mail as a thoughtful gift from listener Coleen H. Or maybe it wasn’t so thoughtful. Maybe it was just her subtle way of telling them they stink. In any case, there is a lot of non-odor related MMA news to discuss as well, what with Chris Weidman putting it in the haters’ faces, Ronda Rousey playing Andre Arlovski to Alexis Davis’ Paul Buentello and Frankie Edgar mopping up what was left of B.J. Penn’s career and wringing it out like the tears of a thousand tarnished angels. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look, Ben and Chad need to get this episode of the CME recorded quick, so they can make it down to Cub Swanson’s Bar and Grille before the two-for-one appetizer happy hour ends, OK? Before they shuffle off, they discuss newly minted featherweight No. 1 contender Cubbie Sampson’s victory over Jeremy Stephens last week at UFC Fight Night 44 and look ahead to UFC 175 (you know, the one with Chris Weidman, Lyoto Machida, Ronda Rousey and soap opera character Alexis Davis). They also talk up Chael Sonnen forever, forever-ever failing drug tests, timberjack Nate Marquardt’s win over James Te Huna and Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn III or IV or whatever. There’s probably more stuff in this episode, too, but who can keep them straight anymore? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The winners of the second annual White Elephant Essay Contest are finally announced this week, so after a couple of weeks of stalling from Ben and Chad, winners must now begin the interminable wait for those dudes to actually put their prizes in the mail. In any case, thanks to all who entered, it was a fine crop of essays this year, and the guys had a legitimately difficult time picking winners. In actual MMA talk, this episode of the CME takes on Scott Coker’s arrival at Bellator, Wandlerlei Silva’s arrival and departure in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the arrival of two more UFCs in one day. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demetrious Johnson put Ali Bagautinov under his spell on Saturday at UFC 174, battering yet another top five flyweight into oblivion. Can the UFC’s 125-pound champion have a similarly dominating effect on fans? Ben and Chad discuss that topic on this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, as well as Rory MacDonald literally putting Tyron Woodley’s back against the wall during their bout on the same card. Plus, the fast, sad end of Chael Sonnen’s fighting career gets some discussion as well. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast had the strangest dream, you guys. We dreamed Diego Sanchez went out and got lit up pillar to post by Ross Pearson this weekend at UFC Fight Night 42 and somehow walked out with a split decision victory. We woke up screaming about how we wanted to challenge Nate Diaz to a fight in Mexico, but after a shave, shower and a strong cup of joe, we realized none of it could possibly be true. So, what’s in the news today … well, for episode 107 of the CME, Ben and Chad talk up Benson Henderson’s stoppage(!) victory over Rusty Cables and Demetrious Johnson’s upcoming flyweight title defense against Ali Bagautinov. What’s that you say? We normally do three rounds? Ah, I’m sure we’ll think of something for round two.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real talk, Universe? Sometimes Ben and Chad wish they could invent a suspended animation machine, that would freeze all MMA news from breaking between the time the Co-Main Event Podcast is recorded and when it comes out. That’s would've been hady to a small portion of episode 106, with the UFC now claiming that Jon Jones doesn’t even want to fight Alexander Gustafsson, but would rather test his skills next against Daniel Cormier. That pretty much renders moot a discussion from this week’s listener mail, but whatevs. They’re used to it by now. In addition to that talk, the boys discuss the current bizarre status of the Chael Sonnen-Wanderlei Silva-Vitor Belfort love triangle, Stipe Miocic closing out 10 and a half hours of fights with a 35 second KO of Fabio Maldonado and this weekend’s UFC card in the ABQ. Most of it is still relevant, they promise.  All that, plus the return of MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tylor Jeffery Dillashaw, everybody! The Co-Main Event Podcast was not expecting to spend nearly an entire round talking about that young man during episode 105, but that’s what happened after Dillashaw spent the entirety of the UFC 173 main event slapping Rena Barao around at will last Saturday. No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world indeed! Also Daniel Cormier’s fullscale roughhousing of Dan Henderson gets a lot of talk, as does this coming weekend, when the UFC will do two shows in one night. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fight cards like Bellator 120 are pretty much tailor-made for discussion on the Co-Main Event Podcast. With a little bit of quality action and a whole lot of weirdness, Ben and Chad dig deep into the fight company’s first pay-per-view effort. From Tito Ortiz’s embarrassing choke-out of Alexander Shlemenko to Will Brooks’ upset of Michael Chandler to Rampage Jackson’ iffy victory over King Mo Lawal, it’s all here. In addition, the guys talk up Daniel Cormier’s coming title eliminator against Dan Henderson at UFC 173 and Renan Barao’s title defense versus TJ Dillashaw. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Brown saved us all from what felt like the longest UFC card in history on Saturday night, and the Co-Main Event Podcast is grateful because of it. On episode 103, Ben and Chad talk about Brown’s comeback victory over Erick Silva, which was pretty rad by almost any measure. They also discuss Eddie Alvarez’s concussion and the crumbling of this weekend’s Bellator pay-per-view. Like a couple of Red Priests trying to read the future in the fire, they attempt to figure out just where in the hell Bjorn Rebney and his wacky band of Cirque du Soleil performers can go from here. All that, plys AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One thing the CME can always count on: MMA dudes will be beefin’. This week, Ben and Chad take on yet another mysterious phonenapping, as Josh Thomson’s Twitter account talked some junk about Nick Diaz, only for Thomson to later say his phone was stolen while he was at dinner. Nate Diaz wasn’t buying that, and the whole escapade resulted in the kind of #GoodTime that the Co-Main Event just can’t turn down. In addition to that, there is Matt Brown’s impending UFC main event against Erick Silva to discuss as well as Rousimar Palhares bowing out of his World Series of Fighting bout against Jon Fitch in order to take care of his mom. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 101 of the Co-Main Event Podcast sneaks in before Ben Fowlkes takes his family on a fabulous Florida vacation this week (must be nice, amirite?). Ben and Chad have more than enough to fill all three rounds, after Jon Jones sprinted past Glover Teixeira, Anthony Johnson reduced Phil Davis to ruin and Ronda Rousey said more weird stuff about Cris “Cyborg” Justino (only to be later backed up by even weirder stuff from her boss). All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huffing and puffing like a couple heavyweights at a local MMA show, Ben and Chad stagger into the championship rounds during the second half of CME 100. As if the first hour wasn’t action-packed enough, this installments finds your dudes discussing Bellator’s finalized pay-per-view card, UFC President Dana White trying to light a fire under Phil Davis prior to this weekend’s bout with Anthony Johnson and Jon Jones’ UFC 172 title defense against Glover Teixeira.  All that plus MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates episode 100 this week. In order to honor the show’s vast listening audience for its attention and good graces, Ben and Chad bust out a doublewide show, going five rounds, two hours and two parts in order to get it done in style. In part one of this week’s CME, the guys unleash a boatload of announcements, including the Breakfast of Champions, this year's White Elephant Essay Contest and some exciting new merchandising opportunities for you, the fans. In addition, they discuss Tim Kennedy’s big win over Michael Bisping from the TUF: Nations live finale and Fabricio Werdum’s big win over Travis Browne from UFC on Fox 11. Get it? Got it? Good. All that, plus listener mail and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep breath, fight fans, this shit is about to get hectic. The Co-Main Event Podcast dives into the thick of the UFC’s spring schedule this week, with talk of Roy Nelson’s win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as well as this Wednesday’s bout pitting Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy and Travis Browne’s Saturday No. 1 contender fight against Fabricio Werdum.   Along the way, Ben and Chad also take on Ronda Rousey’s newly booked title defense against Alexis Davis as well as Tyrone Spong’s horrific injury during last weekend’s Glory kickboxing event.   All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Great MMA Drought of 2014 is nearly over as Ben and Chad sit down to record episode 98 of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Friday in Abu Dhabi the UFC ends its uncharacteristic period of inactivity with Fight Night 38, featuring Roy Nelson's heavyweight main event against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That show will be live on Fight Pass, so naturally the dudes must devote a round of this week’s CME to breaking down its many ins and outs. Of course, that’s not all. With Jake Shields getting unexpectedly cut from the UFC and Holly Holm winning the Legacy FC women’s bantamweight title on Friday, there is plenty to discuss. Oh yeah, the parenting style of Fedor Emelianenko and this week’s Lingerie Fighting Championship event also garner a mention. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, the doldrums of Spring. With the MMA calendar in a bit of a down cycle this week, the Co-Main Event Podcast breaks from its typical format with one of its favorite diversions--All Questions Considered. That means Ben and Chad put the content of this week’s show in your hands and pull off 72 odds minutes of nothing but listener mail. You asked, and now the boys will answer. Sort of. If they feel like it. Reserving the right for lengthy departures and a wee bit of good-natured mockery. Back to your regularly scheduled CME next week. Maybe.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A day late and several dollars short, episode 96 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finally makes its way to the streets on Tuesday, after a 24 hour delay caused by Ben Fowlkes’ duties as a newspaperman for U.S. Today. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise however, as the tardiness gives Ben and Chad the opportunity to discuss Chris Weidman’s injury and the rescheduling of his middleweight title fight against Lyoto Machida. In addition, the guys look back at Dan Henderson’s win over Shogun Rua at UFC Fight Night 38, the banishment of Will Chope from the UFC roster as well as the happenings of Bellator 113 (yes, they watched it). All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Co-Main Event Podcast of the post-Georges St-Pierre era goes in the books easily enough. God knows there’s enough to discuss, with Johny Hendricks’ masterpiece victory over Robbie Lawler to claim the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171. There’s also the mess behind Hendricks in the 170-pound division to consider, after Carlos Condit injured his knee to concede victory to Tyron Woodley in Saturday night’s co-main event. Nick Diaz has started showing up to UFC events again to heckle people from the crowd and St-Pierre himself stopped by the MMA Fortnight to further clarify the terms of his indefinite sabbatical. Oh yeah, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson scrap this Sunday night in the last gasp of TRT in the Octagon.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Alexander Gustafsson’s win over Jimi Manuwa on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 37-38/UFC London, the Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates a rejuvenated light heavyweight division to begin episode 94. In addition, Ben and Chad look ahead to UFC 171, where the organization will crown a new welterweight champion with a pleasing little scrap between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler. On the undercard of that PPV event, Diego Sanchez takes on the undefeated Myles Jury in a bout that seems like a must-win for the TUF 1 champion. Or does it? All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb. 27 may end up being regarded as an official holiday on the Co-Main Event Podcast calendar, as that was the day the Nevada Athletic Commission finally rid MMA of the scourge of legalized testosterone therapy. After spending the better part of this show’s lifespan calling for a ban on TRT, you better believe Ben and Chad ring in episode 93 like a couple of drunken carolers out on a Christmas Eve lark. They also discuss what could be the painful way forward for Vitor Belfort, the prewritten goodness of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s confrontation with Muhammed Lawal and the end of the UFC Fight Pass free trial period. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronda Rousey coasted off into the bright light of a six month vacation this week, after dispatching Sara McMann in one minute, six seconds on Saturday at UFC 170. The victory did not come without controversy, however, and the CME fully explores it in this week’s episode. What to make of the UFC’s contention--not to mention the opinions of seemingly most media--that the stoppage which ended McMann’s chance at winning the UFC women’s bantamweight title was A-OK? Ben and Chad discuss that vexing issue, as well as Daniel Cormier’s win over coffee man Patrick Cummins and Gilbert Melendez going to the mattresses with the UFC and coming out on top.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we’re being honest, there’s just too much stuff to talk about during this week’s Co-Main Event podcast. Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 36 produced dueling middleweight contenders in Lyoto Machda and Jacare Souza, but there isn’t much time to dwell on it, with UFC 170 coming up this weekend. In the main event of that pay-per-view, Ronda Rousey will defend her women’s bantamweight championship against Sara McMann, while in the co-main Daniel Cormier fights random dude Patrick Cummins. Not only that, but with Dana White’s unhinged PEDs tirade, Gilbert Melendez agreeing to terms with Bellator and Chris Leben tiptoeing right up to the brink of a Twitter meltdown, Ben and Chad have quite enough to discuss, thank you very much.  All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s not every week that news breaks during a Co-Main Event Podcast recording session, but this was one of those weeks. Ben and Chad were nearly done taping episode 90 when news floated across the wire that Jessica Eye had indeed tested positive for marijuana at UFC 166, forcing the Texas commission to relegate her decision victory over Sarah Kaufman to a mere no contest. So, round three is pretty interesting. In rounds one and two, your dudes discuss the dueling middleweight main events from this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 36--Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souzza vs. Francis Carmont. The show experienced some minor audio difficulties during the intro, but that gets cleared up by round one. Sorry bear with us. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 169 left the Co-Main Event Podcast no shortage of storyline with which to fill this week’s hour and change. From the Urijah Faber-Renan Barao-Herb Dean thumbs-up debacle, to Jose Aldo skipping town to fight Anthony Pettis at 155-pounds, to Alistair Overeem putting whoopin’ on Frank Mir, it’s all covered. Ben and Chad talk about all that stuff at considerable length, and also address whass really goin’ on in Newark, N.J. as well as the pros and cons of calling out Bork Laser after you just won your first fight since 2011. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To begin this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben tells the story of his escape from Chicago following Saturday’s UFC on Fox 10. And what a harrowing tale it is, too, friends. Once safely ensconced back in the One True Time Zone, Ben and Chad take a close look at Benson Henderson’s controversial decision victory over Josh Thomson at that same event. How does Henderson keep pulling of these weird sleights of hand, anyway? In advance of this coming weekend’s UFC 169, your dudes also break down dueling title fights between Renan Barao and Urijah Faber as well as Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas. Then there’s the matter of Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem, where both guys may well come in needing a win and also, possibly, allegedly with wildly fluctuating hormone levels. All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, approximately another 1 million stories for the Co-Main Event Podcast to try to cram into an hour, 15 minutes. Last Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 35 card ended with Luke Rockhold reclaiming some of his momentum with a first-round knockout of Costas Philippou, and that leads off this week’s three rounds of action. In addition, Georges St-Pierre and Dana White start a brand new war of words (not to be confused with their last one) and Josh Thomson prepares to fight Benson Henderson after the worst training camp of his life. Sounds: The music for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast comes to us from listener Lucas Ketelle, or officially from the artist Tay Off The Top & Lukie The Producer and  the album T.O.T.T. (Top of The Twamps). If you like what you hear you can get at him through his twitter account: @LukieBoxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in Co-Main Event Podcast history, World Wrestling Entertainment takes over nearly an entire round of this week’s show, as Ben and Chad discuss the merits and drawbacks of the new WWE digital network compared to UFC Fight Pass. Just a couple of days prior to Luke Rockhold’s midweek main event against Costa Phillipou, that fight also takes center stage. Also, did you guys hear nobody wants to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov? Seriously, anything to say that name over and over again on one hour-long podcast. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With very little in the way of topical MMA news going on this week, the Co-Main Event Podcast once again puts the fate of the show in the hands of you, the listener. Instead of wasting a round talking about UFC: Singapore or whatever, Ben and Chad once again pull off an episode of All Questions Considered. That’s right, this week it’s all listener mail, all the time. From the happenings on last weekend’s Fight Pass-only event, to the potential of Chris Weidman turning heel to the late breaking news concerning Dominick Cruz’s torn groin, it’s all in here. For better and for worse, the listeners plotted this show from start to finish. Except the middle, when Sir Nigel Longstock stops by to play a little MasterTweet Theatre. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast prepares to ring in 2014 this week with the first ever installment of CME: After Dark. What’s that mean, you ask? Eh, just that Ben and Chad had to record a couple hours later than normal, it was actually dark outside and they cracked open a couple of the Xmas beers they received in the mail from Danny Downes. So if you feel like this week’s podcast is, I don’t know, sexier than normal, that’s why. With UFC 168 ending in Anderson Silva’s horrible leg injury and Ronda Rousey’s triumph last Saturday night, the MMA talk comes fast and loose. After properly dispensing with event-related talk, the guys look back on 2013 and ahead to the new year, as Ben totally hijacks round three and talks about TRT or something for like seven minutes. So, sorry about that. All that, plus AYFKM (of the year!) and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise! Just because the Co-Main Event Podcast wants you fools to have a very happy holiday (and because Chad has to go out of town next week) Dundas and Fowlkes got together to record episode 83 a little early. And why not? It’s not like recording it on Friday rather than the following Monday meant they were going to miss any big news, right? Oh God, they hope they don’t miss any big news. Not like the show needs any more content anyway, with UFC 168 on tap and Chris Weidman defending his middleweight title against Anderson Silva. Here’s hoping that sentence still feels as backward to read as it does to type. Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate are going to go at it at that same event as well, which will provide a nice aperitif to the main event. Oh yeah, and also Bigfoot Silva got popped for elevated levels of testosterone, thereby ruining one of the best fights of the year. Not to paraphrase Boyz N the Hood or anything, but can’t we have one night without nobody testing positive? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC on Fox 9 left a lot on the Co-Main Event Podcast’s plate, Ben and Chad don’t mind telling you. First Urijah Faber proves he’s still the man to beat at bantamweight by throttling Michael McDonald. Then, much maligned champion Demetrious Johnson comes out like a house of fire and knocks out Joseph Benavidez to retain his “World Championship.” Oh yeah, and in case you didn’t hear, this fellow by the name of Georges St. Pierre decided to take an indefinite leave from this MMA thing of ours, setting off a feeding frenzy of fresh match-ups in the welterweight division. So, the guys have to reconcile themselves with all that in just over an hour’s time. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One show on the Fox family of networks down, another one coming this weekend. Episode 81 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finds Ben and Chad reveling in  the unexpected glory of Mark Hunt’s slugfest with Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva last Saturday on Fox Sports 1. Twas that rare heavyweight fight that goes a full five rounds, while seemingly getting better at every step along the way. In addition to that, they inspect Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s revitalizing knockout of James Te Huna, wondering aloud if the “old Shogun” could truly be “back.” With the time remaining, they look forward to next Saturday’s card on Fox Heavy, where Team Alpha Male sends everybody on the roster into the fray. All that plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you had to come up with an official slogan for the Co-Main Event Podcast, it might well be: Motherfuckers be acting silly. In that way, episode 80 dovetails nicely with the week’s MMA news. This week Ben and Chad take on the awesomeness that was Nate Diaz’s performance against Gray Maynard at Saturday’s TUF 18 Finale, before, during and after the actual fight. In addition, they talk about Ronda Rousey’s performance at the same event and try to put a finger on exactly why it didn’t feel quite as steeped in the same awesomeness. Because they are obliged to do so, they then turn their attention to this Friday’s UFC event from Brisbane Australia, where Mark Hunt will take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a fight nobody asked for, but nobody is complaining about. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the rollercoaster of the last few weeks it feels almost refreshing to return to the normal MMA news cycle, with the Co-Main Event Podcast sleuthing around for suitable topics with which to fill the hour. That is to say, this should be considered a slow week in mixed fighting circles as there is only one UFC event, and it’s sort of a minor one. Nonetheless, Ben and Chad spend a round of episode 79 “breaking down” (in a manner of speaking) Saturday night’s forthcoming main event between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz. In addition, they talk about Jon Jones’ recent proclamations that he wants to fight Cain Velasquez “within a year” and that he wants to retire by age 30. Ben Askren’s Monday meeting with the UFC is also a topic of conversation, though the show was recorded before any news could break there. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big week for the Co-Main Event podcast, considering all the fallout from UFC 167. During episode 78, Ben and Chad discuss the hotly contested welterweight title fight between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks, including the bout’s various twists and turns as well as the somewhat questionable decision. Oh yeah, and then there’s all the other stuff that happened. From GSP’s bizarre sort-of retirement to UFC President Dana White’s Kill-Em-All attitude at the postfight presser, there is a lot to digest. Also, all the OTHER, OTHER things that went down at UFC 167 (remember that?) including Robbie Lawler’s win over Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley sending Josh Koscheck into the spirit world and Rashad Evans handling a disinterested-looking Chael Sonnen. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the listener, perhaps the best part of plowing through episode 77 of the Co-Main Event Podcast will be hearing Ben cough and choke his way through the full hour like somebody’s 70-year-old grandma with a carton-a-day habit. Or perhaps not. Tough to say, really. Whatever the case, Ben had a frog in his throat, you guys. Luckily, that didn’t stop the kid and/or Chad from taking on a boatload of MMA news this week. Vitor Belfort’s 2013 career resurgence is the hot topic of conversation, as is next week’s UFC 167 main event between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks. If that doesn’t work for you--spoiler: you are probably a weirdo--the guys also do a bit of reminiscing about the early days of the UFC and chop up the pros and cons of the Zuffa-produced vanity peice “Fighting for a Generation” (or whatever) that aired on Fox Sports 1 this past week. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And so the UFC begins its hard push to the new year this week, with shows on both Wednesday and Saturday, to be followed up by two more events this month and then three during the month of December. Not only that, but there’s Bellator 106 to consider, as the bridesmaid fight promotion’s most anticipated event underwhelmed for much of its three-and-a-half hour broadcast over the weekend. Until … until, until ... Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler hit the stage and showed everybody exactly why they were the headlining act. Obviously all that stuff gets discussed in more or less painstaking detail during this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Also discussed are Ben’s recent trip to an in-state grappling tournament, Chad’s latest short story publication and how every time they go to the store both guys seem to get stuck behind an old lady who insists on scratching the world’s slowest check.  All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lot of ground to cover during this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. With Tito Ortiz’s “unexpected” neck injury forcing Bellator to scramble to re-book Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez on free TV last Friday, you might’ve thought this CME would double as a eulogy for the dearly departed fight promotion. Not so fast however, as episode 75 finds Ben and Chad discussing whether Bellator’s revamped free card actually puts it in a better position than its terrible PPV one. Aside from that, there’s Lyoto Machida’s big win over Mark Munoz to consider, and then some rampant speculation as to if the “Machida Era” is back on at middleweight. In between, they discuss Chad’s new job and benefit from cameo appearances from dudes like Mayehm Miller and Melvin Guillard, not to mention a few Gracies. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s always a joy to record the Co-Main Event Podcast, but some weeks? Some weeks are just superior to others. Take this week, for example, when in the aftermath of the excellent UFC 166 and in advance of Saturday’s UFN 30, Ben and Chad probably could’ve done two, maybe three shows. They will not do this. Don’t get any ideas. That said, episode 74 just rolls out  like a fine, velvety wine. From the awesome performances by Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier and Gilbert Melendez to the slightly troubling ones by Junior dos Santos and Diego Sanchez, this week’s MMA news was begging for it. And the boys oblige. With the time left over, they toss some preview talk about Mark Munoz vs. Lyoto Machida at you just for fun. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With one of the biggest fight cards of the year on tap, Ben and Chad turn nearly their full attention to UFC 166 during this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. And we only say nearly after yet another weird display from Rousimar Palhares at last weekend’s Fight Night card led to his UFC ouster and called for a fair amount of discussion on episode 73. Never fear though, gentle listener, you’ll get an earful about the third pending bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, as well as Diego Sanchez’s chances in a lightweight tiff against Gilbert Melendez. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some personal news kicks off episode 72 of the Co-Main Event Podcast, with Chad explaining to inquiring MMA minds everywhere why he chose to leave his position at ESPN.com on Monday. Will he take Ben’s advice and join the Crips? Guess you’ll have to listen to the show to know for sure. In any case, the touchy-feely stuff gets dispensed with quickly and then the guys dive right into discussing Wednesday's UFC main event between Jake Shields and Demian Maia. From there they segue into conversations about Ben Rothwell’s nine-month suspension for TRT-related shenanigans (or mistakes, or what have you) and the five-year anniversary of the final EliteXC event, as viewed through the lens of Chuck Mindenhall’s brilliant retrospective over on MMA Fighting.com. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plenty of news and notes to discuss this week on the Co-Main Event Podcast and not all of it jolly. On Episode 71, Ben and Chad spend the bulk of the time sorting out happenings that range from unsavory to simply unsatisfying. There is Yushin Okami’s recent release from the UFC to consider, along with news that the rematch we all expected/wanted between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson isn’t going to happen as quickly as it first appeared. The biggest bummer of all, though, is the death of a Brazilian flyweight last Thursday just prior to the weigh-ins for a Shooto event in Rio. All that stuff gets discussed in more or less excruciating detail, as does Sir Nigel Longstock’s current illness, which the world’s leading theatricalist blames on Ben’s baby daughter. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was so much awesomeness to go around in Jon Jones’ UFC 165 win over Alexander Gustafsson that Ben and Chad thought something special was in order for episode 70 of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Unfortunately, they were both too tired to think about it for long, so in the end they just decided to commit all three rounds to that one fight. Don’t fret, the guys still find some time to discuss the fortunes of Renan “The Monster” Barao, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Brendan Schaub. That one fight, though, that was a doozy.   All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t know if you heard amid all the boxing chatter last week, but there’s a pretty cool mixed-fighting show this Saturday night too, as UFC 165 emanates from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. This week the Co-Main Event Podcast reckons on whether Alexander Gustafsson really will turn out to be the stiffest test of Jon Jones’ career at said event, or if everyone is just excited for this fight because they’re both so tall. In addition, there is last week’s announcement that B.J. Penn is back (and headed to 145 pounds?!?!) to consider, though who is to say how seriously? Oh, and also, the boxing match. Seemed like a lot of people watched it, and a lot of MMA people even took the opportunity to say nice things about the sweet (albeit elderly) science. So … uh … what’s with all the high profile boxing people continuing to talk shit about MMA? Ben and Chad will discuss. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just because there is no major MMA show this week doesn't mean the Co-Main Event Podcast won't have more than enough fight-related BS to BS about during episode 68. For starters, Ben and Chad chop it up over Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks bickering about who exactly is (or is not) going to conduct the independent drug testing for their UFC 167 fight and who is (or is not) going to pay for it. In addition, there’s this new season of The Ultimate Fighter. which debuted to slumping ratings amid a short spate of slumping UFC ratings on Fox Sports 1. Also, Bellator opened its Fall season with an entertaining scrap for the middleweight title. Not that you would notice in the middle of that company’s ongoing PR nightmare. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Co-Main Event Podcast of the Anthony Pettis Era went down in style, with custom-made suits and Corn Nuts for everybody. Nah, not really. Since episode 67 was recorded on Labor Day, Ben and Chad did this one in board shorts and trucker hats, with a couple of Olympias coozie’d-up at the ready. Fine, that’s not exactly true either, but it is a verifiable fact that Chad’s daughter screamed and cried throughout the whole show, so if you can hear what sounds like a raccoon trying to free itself from a spring-loaded leg trap in the background, that’s just her. Seriously, no animals were harmed during the recording of this podcast, unless you count reason and good taste as living, breathing things. The guys break down Pettis’ win over Benson Henderson at UFC 164, talk about Frank Mir’s odd first person account of his knockout loss to Josh Barnett and preview Wednesday’s Fight Night 28 card. At least, the fights with people they’ve heard of before. All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two shows, one week? Two shows, one week. As the UFC prepares to double dip with the revival of its old Wednesday evening time slot for Fight Night 27 and Saturday’s UFC 164, the Co-Main Event Podcast is along for the ride. During episode lucky number 66, Ben and Chad discuss Benson Henderson finally getting his shot at a rematch against Anthony Pettis, Josh Barnett making his long-awaited return to the Octagon (while opponent Frank Mir and Ben Rothwell will reportedly be using TRT) and a second Fox Sports 1 card that looks like a real kick in the pants. Plus, find out which upcoming main event Chad had no idea was being contested at light heavyweight. Seriously, why they do that? But that’s not all! Thrill to the adventures of AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre as well, gentle listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consider it yet another significant hurdle cleared by the UFC on Saturday, as the organization’s Fight Night 26 show ferried Fox Sports 1 into the world with the violent, crowd-pleasing stuff of promoters’ dreams. As the fog of war dissipates, the Co-Main Event Podcast swoops in to sort through the particulars. So, Chael Sonnen got a big light heavyweight win just in time to drop back to middleweight, huh? And you say Alistair Overeem is looking more fireable than ever after his knockout loss to Travis Browne, is that it, old sport? And FS1’s ratings seem to be a smashing success? Yes, well, Ben and Chad will be the judge of that, as they break down all these topics and more during the next seventy minutes or so. Plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 64 marks another early arrival for the Co-Main Event Podcast, this one recorded and put in the can just as news broke that Jason “Mayhem” Miller had allegedly been arrested for domestic violence. So, that’s about typical as it concerns breaking news constantly occurring just as the podcast is finished. Fortunately, there was more than enough preexisting MMA news to fill this episode as Ben and Chad laid it down on Sunday afternoon. Topics discussed here include the pending debut of Fox Sports 1, the returns of both Chael Sonnen and Alistair Overeem and Ronda Rousey’s recent claims she’ll only fight for another couple of years before transitioning to career No. 2 (or wait, career No. 3? Eh, who’s counting?). In the middle, the guys mix in some talk about last Saturday’s World Series of Fighting 4 card, which included promotional owner Ray Sefo losing to Dave Huckaba, Lew Polley badly missing weight and Tyrone Spong getting his second professional MMA win. All that plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the many things that makes hosting the Co-Main Event Podcast so fun is that to date Ben and Chad have never encountered a week where they had to be all, “Well, just a bunch of boring, normal, sane stuff happened.” This week was obviously no exception, with Bellator announcing that Tito Ortiz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson would headline its first ever pay-per-view effort on Nov. 2. The guys could probably do a whole show on that topic alone, not to mention Chan Sung Jung’s shoulder vibrating apart during his title match against Jose Aldo or the MMA community at large crying foul about Phil Davis eking out a victory over Lyoto Machida. All of this is a nice way of saying episode 63 clocks in at around 1 hour, 12 minutes. Hope that’s not a problem. There is also some AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre on there as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Online voting did not go as planned last week during the quest to find a winner in the Co-Main Event Podcast music contest. Nobody’s fault, really (except maybe the dudes who wrote up the rules for the contest itself) but in the end Ben and Chad had no choice but to declare the thing a draw. Thing is, though, that could well turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as now the CME has two dope new themes to choose from during the next month or so before going back to the beloved original theme. Anyway, to get the details, you’re going to have to listen to the show. You’ll want to do that anyway, as this week the guys break down the stark contrast between the final two fights on last Saturday’s UFC on Fox broadcast, look ahead to Jose Aldo’s title defense against Chan Sung Jung (that’s the Korean Zombie, you guys) at UFC 163 and wonder when the UFC’s gonna break the news to us that it’s moving its operation to Brazil on a full-time basis. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t mind telling you, Universe, there are a lot of unknowns on this weekend’s UFC of FOX 8 card, which means the Co-Main Event Podcast had its work cut out for itself during episode 61. Witness Ben and Chad trying to sort out whether the legend of Rory MacDonald is more hype than substance, if Jake Ellenberger can make a run at the 170-pound title before it’s too late and just who the hell is this John Moraga dude everybody keeps saying is fighting for the flyweight title. Your dudes pick over this show like a couple of grizzled lab techs at a crime scene, all the while looking for answers about why Dana White would shout at the hapless people from SI Now, why anybody would think reanimating “bare knuckle boxing” was a good idea and why Joe Riggs would tell those stories about other fighters’ bathing suit areas. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank God for Anthony Pettis, Brian Stann and Anderson Silva, as those three gentlemen provided a significant lift to episode 60 of the Co-Main Event Podcast during what otherwise may have been a fairly slow news week. First Pettis poured gas on the conspiracy fire as he slid safely into a lightweight title bout against Benson Henderson at UFC 164 after T.J. Grant pulled out with a concussion suffered during Brazilian Jiu-Jits training. Wait. Concussion during BJJ? The fuck? Grant must’ve been coming off the top rope or something. Anyway, then Stann pulled off potentially the most reasonable and responsible retirement in our sport’s history just a day or two before Anderson Silva announced that he [was] back and had agreed to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in December. Suffice it to say, all this stuff made Ben’s and Chad’s jobs as your humble co-hosts a walk in the park. Meanwhile, the MMA world breathed a collective sigh of relief as former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia emerged from hiding this week to offer proof of life and to let everybody know he still has cell phone service. You didn’t think Big Tim would get through this week without making an appearance in AYFKM did you? Yeah no, he does not. All that, plus Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don’t know if you guys heard, but UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (who has long been regarded as pretty good at fighting) lost the title to Chris Weidman this weekend at UFC 162. It was sort of an upset and that makes episode 59 of the Co-Main Event Podcast a pretty big one. Ben and Chad take a fairly indepth look at the fight itself, including the many machinations of public opinion in the wake of Weidman’s second round victory. They also contemplate the future of the 185-pound division and exactly how much of the UFC’s future planning went up in smoke at the moment the challenger landed that left hook to the champion’s jaw. In middleweight news of another kind, the guys also wonder about the future of longtime fan favorite Chris Leben, whose career appeared on thin ice after his own loss to Andrew Craig. All that, plus the return of Sir Nigel Longstock and MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With America set to turn 237 years old this week (or 229 years young, for you Treaty of Paris types) the Co-Main Event Podcast celebrated the only way it knows how: By recording the show early so Ben and Chad could spend the rest of the week standing around shirtless at barbecues drinking beer and shouting stuff like “Oh yeah? Let me tell YOU something …,” at people they only sort of know. So, yay America. With UFC 162 coming up on Saturday, it goes without saying that the guys have serious MMA business to attend to as well. This week’s topics include Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva as the most talked about UFC main event in some time, that awesome behind-the-scenes video of War MMA that we all watched and numerous past and present fighters criticizing the UFC’s pay scale. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. It’s nearly Independence Day, which means Sir Nigel Longstock has retreated to Mother England to stew on the shame of it all, but we hope he’ll return next week to shock and disturb us with his Michael Bisping impression.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad pull a fast one on the CME Universe this week, calling an audible and opting to do an All Questions Answered installment of the podcast for Episode 57. Turns out it was a pretty slow news week in the MMA world and rather than spend an entire round (or two) talking about Nick Diaz’s fledgling War MMA promotion the guys decided it would be better to hear from you, the listener. You didn’t disappoint, either, you little rascals, serving up a full slate of questions that have the hour, eight minutes flying by in a blink. A bunch of topics are addressed, including Anderson Silva’s fitness as GOAT, Chris Weidman’s chances at UFC 162, PEDs (sorry), a new scoring system for MMA and how the world will remember the sport’s recent spate of retirees. All that, plus Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One thing to be said for episode 56 of the Co-Main Event Podcast: Everybody was sober for the recording. We think. Hard to tell sometimes with Ben Fowlkes, you know? Anyway, with the decision-heavy UFC 161 still weighing considerably on their minds this week, Ben and Chad take up Rashad Evans’ victory over Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson’s lackluster loss to Stipe (Stipe!) Miocic and Steve Mazzagatti once again getting the raspberry after letting Josh Burkman choke Jon Fitch unconscious at WSOF 3. So, good for World Series of Fighting for actually getting a full round of the podcast devoted to its product this week. Focus on the positives. All that, plus AYFKM, listener mail and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, the Co-Main Event Podcast will never do that again. At least, we hope not. The CME unveils its Unofficial Drinking Game this week with Ben, Chad and Sir Nigel spending the hour trying to drink up the Internet beer they were bequeathed by listener Claire Hammond. Was it a “success”? Perhaps if you consider the podcast essentially devolving into 74 minutes of Just Sayin’ Stuff then, yeah, it was a huge success. On the docket for episode 55 are Fabricio Werdum’s big win over Roddy Nog from last weekend’s UFC on FuelTV event, former UFC stars like Jon Fitch and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson making news and a “preview” of sorts of next week’s UFC 161. The guys would love to tell you how it went, but they’re not sure they “remember” the “whole thing.” We’re pretty sure there is some AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff, though. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The groovy, spaced-out beach vibe that accompanies episode 54 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is due largely to the show’s featured music, which comes to us from a CME listener’s surf rock band called – get this – The Testostertones. If you close your eyes, it’ll be almost like you’re right there with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as they have the time of their lives during that crazy summer of ’65. Except, you know, that Ben and Chad are there harshing everybody’s mellows by talking about MMA the whole time. This week the dudes take on the game of mixed martial musical chairs going on over the UFC 161 card, the sudden insertion of Miesha Tate (and the other half of Caratate) opposite Ronda Rousey on the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and the overall newsworthiness of this weekend’s UFC on FuelTV 10 event.  Plus, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 53 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is so chock full of heavyweight goodness that it barely slips in under the 265-pound weight limit. With UFC 160 still lingering on all our palates like a fine wine, Ben and Chad talk about the prospect of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos III, the fates of Bigfoot Silva and Mark Hunt, the reintroduction of Josh Barnett to the division as well as Roy Nelson’s intentions to fight Stipe Miocic. With time remaining, they also take a good look at the performance of New Lightweight Superstar T.J. Grant, the emergence of Alexander Emelianenko’s beard and the bloodbath that was Jeremy Stephens-Estevan Payan. Plus, MasterTweet Theatre, Just Sayin’ Stuff and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not going to lie to you, episode 52 of the Co-Main Event Podcast contains a lot of talk about testosterone replacement therapy. But you knew that already, right? After Vitor Belfort knocked out Luke Rockhold with an amazing spinning kick on Saturday at UFC on FX 8 and the internets exploded with TRT-induced vitriol, it didn’t take a genius to figure out the dominant topic of the week. Ben and Chad do their duty, strapping up and hurling themselves headlong into the sludge, taking on such questions as: How will the UFC handle Belfort’s supposed No. 1 contender status? Does the Young Dinosaur deserve more/less/equal criticism as other TRT-tastic dudes like Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson? And what can CME fans do to help? When the testosterone talk subsides, they also discuss Cain Velasquez’s upcoming UFC 160 fight against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva as well as Mark Hunt’s scrap with Junior dos Santos. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and listener mail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So it turns out some a-hole has been impersonating Ben Fowlkes on the internets, huh? The introduction to episode 51 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is highlighted by Ben and Chad discussing the story of his reverse catfishing, which caused quite a stir over at MMAJunkie.com and the UG early this week. Some of the burning questions that emerged from the ordeal: Just who is lame enough to do this? What could their incredibly lousy motives be? And why on earth would anyone who is not already Ben Fowlkes want to be Ben Fowlkes? There are no easy answers. Once your dudes get around to the actual MMA talk, the upcoming UFC on FX 8 card takes center stage. Specifically, Ben and Chad break down the main event pitting Vitor Belfort against Luke Rockhold as well as the octagon debut of “Jacare” Souza. In the time left over, they squeeze in some talk of the “phantom agent” who allegedly offered Leonard Garcia a contract with Bellator this week and wonder aloud if it might be the same sorry son of a bitch who is also impersonating Ben. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All in all, it was kind of an awkward week for the Co-Main Event Podcast to ring in episode No. 50. Caught in the doldrums between major MMA events and without much really juicy news to sink their toothless grins into, Ben and Chad were left to fend largely for themselves. The result? Well, at least they do something they’ve never done before. You gotta give them credit for that … right? … right? Anyway, you’re familiar with those weirdo, two-round “exhibition” bouts the fighters do on “The Ultimate Fighter” that don’t end up counting on their professional records?  This is kind of like that. The guys embark on an expanded installment of listener mail (and, seriously, thank God for you people) before chopping it up on the topics of Eddie Alvarez’s ongoing legal battle against Bellator and the fact that some of the sport’s most improbable superfights have floated back to the front and center of our collective consciousness. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though she does not appear on episode 49 of the Co-Main Event Podcast, the real star of this week’s show may be Ben’s wife, as both he and Chad borrowed her jokes for the broadcast. And really, what can you do in the wake of an event as weird as UFC 159 besides laugh? From Jon Jones’ broken toe, to Chael Sonnen’s near miss at becoming light heavyweight champ, to the gouged eyes and splintered thumbs, the guys break it all down, including where both Jones and Sonnen should go from here and what the powers that be in the UFC must’ve done to the MMA gods to deserve such a screwy show.  All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With less than a week to go before UFC 159 and just a few days removed from UFC on Fox 7, episode 48 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is strictly concerned with the big issues: Did Benson Henderson really beat Gilbert Melendez on Saturday night? Really? Did Daniel Cormier really fail to entertain you during his victory over Frank Mir? Really? And are you really gonna shell out the big bucks to watch Jon Jones beat up Chael Sonnen this weekend … Really? It’s a busy week in the world of mixed martial arts, so in addition to these topics Ben and Chad have a lot to get off their chests, including discussing the politics of asking someone to marry you on national television, why Strikeforce fighters seem to be doing such an awesome job in the UFC and how the hell some dude who teaches at a Cesar Gracie-affiliated school got himself assigned to judge Bendo-Melendez.   All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and the long awaited return of Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan (TFTWRFF?). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we see your eyes brimming with tears as you listen to this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, we’re just going to assume Ben and Chad said something that affected you on a deeply personal basis, and not that your eyes are watering from listening to the hoarse rasp of Ben’s injured voice. Sadly, the poor kid isn’t quite 100 percent for this taping, telling us he got stuck in a “choke” at “jiu-jitsu” or some other obviously made up story. You’ve got to hand it to him for saddling-up and croaking his way through 66 minutes, though. On the heels of the TUF 17 live finale and in advance of the UFC on FOX 7 this weekend the guys break down the surprising performances we saw from Cat Zingano and Uriah Hall and look forward to Gilbert Melendez finally getting his chance to prove he belongs among the elite lightweights in MMA. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM Just Sayin’ Stuff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Due to some technical difficulties it took two full tries to get episode 46 in the books, but Ben and Chad persevered, took it one round at a time and, God willing, they came out on top. You might notice this installment of the Co-Main Event Podcast sounds particularly smooth, as if the guys had just completed a dress rehearsal only hours beforehand. Either that, or it’ll seem like they’re just going through the motions. Nevertheless, this episode sees copious discussion of the Alexander Gustafsson injury situation, Gegard Mousasi’s good fortune and Ilir Latifi’s man on the street build. In addition to that, the guys break down Cris “Cyborg” Santos’ return to the cage after a 15 month absence and whether or not these “Ultimate Fighter” live finale cards are really necessary. If you listen closely, you just might hear some AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 45 of the Co-Main Event Podcast was recorded mere moments before the Wanderlei Silva-Gegard Mousasi April Fool’s Day internet rumor bonanza took the MMA news world by storm, or else you better believe Ben and Chad would’ve had something to say about it. As it stands your dudes had to be content with discussing the previous rumors, about Alexander Gustafsson damn near getting his whole head chopped off while training for UFC on Fuel 9 and the resulting cut putting his scheduled fight with Mousasi in the lurch. Curse them for thinking that’d be as crazy as it got. This cool 70 minutes of mixed martial arts talk also includes discussion of Georges St. Pierre going Hollywood (literally this time) in order to play Batroc the Leaper (Batroc the Leaper!) in the next Captain America movie and the return of Chris “Cyborg” Santos at Friday’s Invicta 5 card. In addition to that, there’s some Just Sayin’ Stuff and some AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ugh. Yeah, so the Co-Main Event Podcast lost a bet. Because of the unbelievable drubbing Ben’s and Chad’s beloved University of Montana Grizzlies took at the hands of Ariel Helwani’s hated Syracuse Orange last week in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the CME has a slightly different soundtrack for this episode. Really, your humble co-hosts have no one to blame but themselves. They should’ve known better, taking an underdog No. 13 seed straight up against Jim Boeheim’s longstanding basketball juggernaut. The end results were not pretty. Not pretty at all. But, because The Co-Main Event Podcast Always Pays Its Debts, the guys had no choice but to adopt Helwani’s terrible yet oddly infectious theme music this week. Next week all will be back to normal, you know, barring any further riverboat gambling. For the second (or maybe third?) time in its history, the CME delivers an All Questions Considered episode this week. That means all listener mail questions all the time until the show runs out of gas. Plus, Sir Nigel Longstock drops by for some very special good times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 43 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finds Ben and Chad just trying to wrap their arms around all the awesome happenings of UFC 158 and hug it all so, so tight. Maybe all the excitement goes to their heads, as at one point Ben relates the story of being locked out of his hotel by a “manifestation” in the streets of Montreal and at another, Chad tries out his new Johny Hendricks impression. Once they get down to brass tacks, the guys talk up the not-so-dark, not-so-scary appearance of Georges St. Pierre’s dark place, the (possible) end of the strange saga of Nick Diaz (his retirement, his demands of a rematch, his dreams of a fight with Anderson Silva and, oh yeah, his taxes) as well as the notion that Hendricks might well be the guy to finally wrench the title from St. Pierre’s pampered-up, manicured grasp. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two exciting developments for episode 42 of the Co-Main Event Podcast: 1) The debut of the show’s new logo! and 2) Listener generated music! Both are part of Ben’s and Chad’s ongoing mission to make the CME better and more listener friendly during the two zero one three. Anyhoo, aside from the new accoutrements this episode itself is as you might expect: The guys relive last week’s epic UFC 158 prefight conference call between Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre (and those other dudes who just had to stay on the line and observe the madness), talk up the two other extremely meaningful welterweight fights on this Saturday’s pay-per-view card and discuss the topsy-turvy week in the lives of Mark Hunt and Junior dos Santos. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Listener Mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41 of the Co-Main Event Podcast comes on the heels of last Saturday’s unpredictable UFC on Fuel TV 8 card from Saitama Super Arena and leaves Ben and Chad with no shortage of things to discuss. From Wanderlei Silva’s upset win over Brian Stann (and what it portends for both their futures) to Mark Hunt’s jaw-breaking KO of Stefan Struve (seen at right) to welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre saying he’s going to unleash his dark place against Nick Diaz, the guys leave no stoned unturned. Get it? Stoned? As in,  some talk of Matt Riddle’s recent ouster from the UFC on grounds of continued marijuana use also makes the cut on this week’s show. You didn’t think a guy was going to get released from the UFC for his love of lechuga de muerta and Ben wasn’t going to have some shit to say about it, did you? All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM (which seems to be spreading to listener mail, btw) and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodically speaking, the Co-Main Event podcast turns 40 this week, amid the rush that was Saturday night’s UFC 157 and the advance jitters of next weekend’s show at Saitama Super Arena. Ben and Chad celebrate accordingly, talking up Ronda Rousey’s first round armbar victory over Liz Carmouche (and what it might mean for the overall future of women’s MMA), the stinkfest Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson forced us to suffer through and the sudden gnashing of teeth over the UFC’s release of Jon Fitch (which was pretty much the most classic response ever from the collected MMA industry). The guys also talk about Brendan Schaub’s lackluster victory over Lavar “Big” Johnson, the relative ins and outs of Johnson penile nickname and how awesome it was when Kenny Robertson tapped Brock Jardine with a DIY submission hold. Oh yeah, and Chad sends a special fuck you out to the hapless clowns in the South Dakota state government. At the risk of repeating ourselves, allow the CME to say it again: Fuck you, clowns. All that, plus Just Sayin’ Stuff, AYFKM and – like we always do about this time – listener mail. (Listener mail!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another increasingly jury-rigged episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast somehow finds its way into the light. This week, Ben and Chad had to resort to using the world’s oldest known computer and some free software in order to get this thing out but, damn it, here it is. Imagine Sir Nigel furiously turning a crank to keep the power on while the guys yelled into a series of increasingly large tubes and you can pretty much picture what this week’s recording session was like. Any irregularities in sound you may experience are obviously the result of this process. Same goes for the few new musical surprises headed your way during this episode. Cheesus willing, by next week Chad’s computer will be safely back in his possession and recording will resume as normal. As for now, you’ll have to accept this week’s discussions of Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche, Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida and Dana White’s sudden about face on the issue of testosterone replacement therapy with our compliments and apologies. Seriously, it’s a miracle this shit worked at all. Anyhoo, another round of MasterTweet Theatre, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff are included, for good measure. So take that, haters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And so, here it is, the long-awaited episode 38 of the Co-Main Event Podcast, aka CME: The Lost Tapes. The guys got thrown for a loop this week as first the unexpected death of Chad’s computer, then Ben’s family commitments set the podcast back a full two days. Forced into a DefCon One-type scenario, they resorted to booking some time at their pal Nate’s downtown studio to record this ish and – ta-da! – this is the result. On this week’s show, your dudes talk about the performances of Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche on the first episode of their UFC: Primetime infomercial, whether Renan Barao is STILL a MONSTER and why the people involved in Bellator’s “FightMaster” (FIGHTMASTER!) either should or shouldn’t be fearing for their futures. Look, it’s a miracle you’re getting this thing at all, so … you’re welcome. Now, what the shit are Ben and Chad gonna do about next Monday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the Co-Main Event Podcast puts a temporary hold on one of its solemn vows in order to discuss the recent kerfuffle caused by the release of the UFC’s first official rankings. Seriously, though, people, don’t get comfortable thinking this talk of rankings will persist. If the guys had their way, all MMA rankings would come with a disclaimer that said something like: WARNING! THESE ARE REALLY NOT WORTH TALKING ABOUT! As the podcast turns its eye toward more relevant happenings, Ben and Chad discuss the futures of Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar after their killer bout from Saturday’s UFC 156, marvel at Alistair Overeem’s hubris catching up with him in such a violent way and note how awesome it is that Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva keeps winning these fights The Powers That Be obviously want him to lose. Let’s see, what else? Oh, right, things get dicey for a moment when it seems like Ben is going to insist we all sit down to watch his high school football highlight tape. Also, Chad gives out his secret formula for Winning At Keno Every Time. ‘Nuff said? ’Nuff said. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 36 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is more sprint than marathon. This week Ben and Chad hit the ground running after the unadulterated awesomeness that was Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 6 card and they never look back. The guys discuss Demetrious Johnson’s transgressions during his successful title defense against John Dodson, contemplate the legacy of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and try to hash out the futures of two lightweights seemingly headed in different directions (namely, Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis). In addition, Chad finally comes clean about that one time NFL washout Ryan Leaf paid him $100 for his half-empty Bud Light. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Production of the Co-Main Event Podcast moved into the icy basement of Castle Fowlkes during the last two weeks, so if you detect any audio irregularities in episode 35 it may be just be the sound of Ben’s and Chad’s teeth rattling as they struggle to stay alive in the arctic temperatures. On this installment of the show, your co-hosts discuss Vitor Belfort’s upset of Michael Bisping, preview the coming week’s UFC on Fox card and talk about whether or not Bellator established any real momentum with its debut show on Spike last week. Along the way, Jesus is praised (you the men, Jesus) Michael Chandler’s future projected (it’s bright) and the guys drop some spoilers about the upcoming meeting between Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson (don’t tell anyone but, they’re flyweights). All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you certainly know by now, the birth of Ben’s daughter (Willa Jane Fowlkes, who is adorable, by the way) on Monday threw this week’s Co-Main Event schedule into chaos. Just when you thought they’d leave you hanging, though, your dudes got together late Tuesday night to record an impromptu episode of the CME. Maybe they just couldn’t let the opportunity to comment on the end of Strikeforce, the future of SF fighters and the beginning of the Bellator-on-Spike era pass them by. Maybe they just had nothing better to do. Anyway, Ben and Chad obviously laid this track down prior to the UFC releasing the official roster of Strikeforce combatants who’d be making the move to the Octagon (No Barnett, dudes? Really?) but most of the content remains fresh, nonetheless. So yeah, it’s Wednesday and here you go: An hour and 15 minutes of Co-Main Event goodness. Now that everybody has had their babies and gone on their family trips, maybe we can all get back to our regularly scheduled programming. Not to jinx it or anything.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The logo for the first meeting of the Co-Main Event Podcast book club really sets the tone, don’t you think? Racy, exciting, a little bit dangerous. The truth is, the whole thing is kind of a blur. What we know for sure is that Ben, Chad and Sir Nigel spent an hour and change breaking down “Bar Brawler,” the debut novel from David Lee “Tank” Abbott and the first volume of the purported “Befor [sic] There Were Rules” trilogy. After all that time, did the guys come any closer to understanding the nature of the work? To ferreting out the intent of one of the more enigmatic pieces of “fiction” to cross their desks in some time? Probably not. What did happen, though, was a good deal of pre-tuning and a whole lot of fun. Frankly, this episode was all about you, as this was without a doubt the strongest showing ever from the CME Universe. The listener contributions to this show were flat-fuckin’-outstanding, so kudos to you. Ben and Chad provide their theories, Sir Nigel performs some dramatic readings (both from this text and others) and the guys play a Brawler-inspired game dubbed “Begging for It or Not Begging for It?” Final verdict: Was Tank’s book bad? Of course it was, but nobody could’ve anticipated the surprising and wonderful ways it would prove to be bad.  Next time, if there is a next time, the CME pledges to pick a better book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast may well have dodged another baby bullet this week, as Ben’s wife still had not gone into labor as he and Chad recorded episode 33. Unless Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes’ kiddo is petulantly late, it appears as if the first round of CME offspring were kind enough not to disrupt the podcast schedule. On this installment, the guys reminisce a bit about Strikeforce prior to the zombie promotion’s final show this weekend, talk about the debacle that was InvictaFC’s first try at an internet pay-per-view and discuss the even bigger catastrophe that appears to be Eddie Alvarez’s current contract situation with Bellator. Numerous sirens are consumed, jokes are cracked and no one will ever be the same again. Plus Just Sayin’ Stuff and the return of Sir Nigel Longstock for another round of MasterTweet Theatre. Don’t forget: On 1/9/13 the first ever episode of the Co-Main Event Book Club is also set to drop. There’s still time to finish up Tank Abbott’s “Bar Brawler” before Ben, Chad and Sir Nigel spend a painstaking, probably overly thorough and half-drunken hour discussing it. Check back Wednesday!     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Through the magic of tape delay the Co-Main Event Podcast’s first installment of 2013 is also the last episode of 2012, as the guys got together bright and early on New Year’s Eve Day to crank this puppy out. As the calendar turns, Ben and Chad are still flying high on the rush that was UFC 155 … at least, you know, the last two fights of it. During episode 32 the dudes talk at length about Cain Velasquez reclaiming the UFC heavyweight title from Junior dos Santos, Jim Miller and Joe Lauzon totally saving the day after the first few fights of the UFC 155 PPV stunk the joint up and Dana White’s most substantive discussion of performance enhancing drugs in recent memory. They also dole out some suggested new year’s resolutions for a few members of the MMA community, talk about how much of the best action of UFC 155 came from the cornermen and discuss whether or not Ben’s jiu jitsu gi has a stash pocket for his weed. You know, normal stuff. All that, plus AYFKM, listener mail and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not even Christmas can stop the Co-Main Event express, as America’s favorite mixed martial arts podcast thunders straight through the holiday season with episode 31. In the lead up to this weekend’s UFC 155 card, Ben and Chad discuss the coming do-over between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, the return of Chris Leben to the Octagon and take a long lens look at how much things have changed since the end of 2011. Your dudes won’t lie to you, CME Universe, it’s been a tough year for the UFC and MMA in general. Will 2013 be any different? Only one way to find out. During this last real episode of 2012 (Ep. 32 drops on Jan 1, you see) the guys also discuss Roy Nelson’s desire to go at least two more rounds with JDS, the politics of having Tito Ortiz as your manager and what it might be like to do a bunch of blow with MMA referee Kim Winslow. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff, uploaded while visions of sugar plums danced through your heads and whatnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After so angering the CME Universe last week by choosing to go out of town with his family, Chad hopes to make amends by heading straight from the airport to Co-Main Event Studios to record episode 30. Once everyone is present and accounted for, he and Ben have a lot of ground to cover, so much in fact that this week only five rounds will do. On the docket for the latest installment of the CME are last week’s dueling TUF finales, Benson Henderson’s win over Nate Diaz (not to mention Toothpick-gate), the quizzical lineup for UFC 158 and whether or not doing three shows in 10 days is a good or bad thing for the world’s largest MMA promoter. Somewhere along the way, the guys wonder aloud who will coach TUF: India and Chad confesses that he spent much of Friday worrying about a specific UFC fighter’s brain. Oh, and Ben finds a way to bring up oral sex. Again. Also, turns out Co-Main Event Studios is no Universal Studios. Just sayin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First the bad news, kids: There will be no Co-Main Event Podcast next week, since Chad will screw everyone by being out of town. Now that we’ve all processed our grief from that little disappointment, however, we may celebrate the life of this week’s episode of the CME. And what a life it is. Installment No. 29 sees Ben admit that his wife’s pregnancy (and resulting lack of drink) has really made her go over the top in the Christmas decorations department. Meanwhile, Chad does his best to put the jinx on the entirety of the upcoming UFC on Fox 5 card. The guys break down Benson Henderson’s lightweight title defense against Nate Diaz, puzzle over the legacy of BJ Penn and try to figure out whether it’ll be Alexander Gustafsson or Shogun Rua (Rua!) who ends up getting screwed when Jon Jones fights Chael Sonnen instead. All that, plus listener mail, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Seriously, you better get two weeks’ worth of enjoyment out of this before the lean times cometh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices