Meo on MMA

The UFC is back at the Apex and I have mixed thoughts on this card. The main event is Flyweights so YAY but it also involves the rather depressive fighter Alex Perez. The card is generally free of fights without meaning and should be reasonably entertaining but there's only maybe 3 fights that I find myself actively looking forward to.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

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Apologies for the audio quality, randomly started losing my voice at one point and the mic was a bit too close to my face so there was some "fuzz".

PFL 3 went down on Friday and with no UFC had the MMA spotlight for a change. Though the main event was a bit of a snooze, the card as a whole was a solid night of fights. Now PFL please improve the production and deal with the Mousasi issue.

I'll also do a re-watch of Jessica Andrade vs Marina Rodriguez and I'll see if my disregard for the split decision lessens.

Let's Unpack the Fights.

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

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The third of the PFL 2024 season is upon us and this card is a big chance for the PFL as there is NO UFC this weekend. No ONE either. So PFL get's to be the star of MMA world.

The 170ers and 145ers fill out the card with names like Koreshkov, Jenkins, Loughnane, Storley, Yamauchi, Gracie and Borics. Some of the best options they have in the tournaments.

They do have some bad PR in regards to Gegard Mousasi's contract though. And it's turned into this weird "Why do you only hate on UFC pay" thing. Also there's some silliness in regards to the UFC Lightweight Title picture and Jamahal Hill justifying his KO loss.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

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UFC 300 was a blast of violence and star power. We had a last second KO in an amazing BMF Championship Fight. Alex Pereira stamped his authority on the 205 division. Diego Lopes ripped through Sodiq Yusuff. Kayla Harrison made her debut in dominant fashion and seems able to make 135 her home.

I missed the PFL card because of tech issues, lame. But apparently the action was pretty good.

Let's unpack the fights.

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

Pardon for some of the recording quality, I seem to have developed a sniffle during recording so a couple of coughs couldn't really be edited out. Came out of nowhere past in like 2 hours. Weird.

UFC Vegas 90 is in the books. The PFL season has kicked off. And ONE did it's thing. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC 300 is HERE! And this card is a highlight fight after highlight fight. Perhaps excluding the Holm"Harrison fight because of a double weight class drop by Holm and of course the oddities of a main card fight between future title contender in most opinions Bo Nickal and glorified man there to loose Cody Brundage.

The card literally opens with 2 former UFC Champions.

I also run down the PFL 2 card as the 155 and 205 tournaments kick off.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

Pardon for some of the recording quality, I seem to have developed a sniffle during recording so a couple of coughs couldn't really be edited out. Came out of nowhere past in like 2 hours. Weird.

UFC Vegas 90 is in the books. The PFL season has kicked off. And ONE did it's thing.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC returns to the APEX with a card that isn't particularly bad but does have some feel past their best fights on it along with a lot of DWCS talents that may or may not be actually UFC caliber just because their strength of schedule hasn't been informative.

PFL also kicks off its season with the deepest pool of talent in promotion history because Bellator talents are sprinkled in. ONE also has a card but I assure you my breakdown of that is purely an outline.

Also Ronda Rousey, Manel Kape and Sean Strickland are acting a fool once again. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC Atlantic City was a bit of a letdown because it seems to have cursed by some cosmic force. 2 Eye Poke endings, a bit of a dull main event, a banger on paper that just fell flat and an early stoppage (debatable) generally reduced the card from a roaring boil to a simmer.

Coming out of this card, MMA social media is alight with discussions of new glove ideas, Erin Blanchfield being fraud checked (how?) and James Krause is back in the news. Let's Unpack the fights.

And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC is on the road to Atlantic City and that means we actually have a really good card.

Title contenders in the main? Check. Action Co-Main Event? Check. Mostly proven UFC talents on the card? There's maybe 5 that are really not of this level but they are deep in the undercard so partial check.

Honestly if it wasn't for the continued Chris Weidman return tour (which I understand, he's a former champion, he's semi hometown) that no one asked for this would be a guaranteed good time. But that one fight casts a long shadow. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

Well UFC Vegas 89 is in the rear view mirror and I can't say it was a disappointment. The fights mostly went according to expectations but that's not exactly high praise. Thug Rose seems disinterested and struggling to really put a statement on fights atm, she's young enough to turn it around but it's a complex problem.

Elsewhere Payton Talbott does look REALLY good and Julian Erosa has some spicy takes that are pretty dumb all things considered. Bellator Belfast was......fine.

Let's Unpack. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

It's a double fight card week as we get an offering from the remnants of Bellator from Belfast, Northern Ireland and the return of "Thug" Rose Namajunas for the UFC. Both cards have their high points that I'm looking forward to but they do feel a bit thin. The Bellator card suffers from a lack of closely matched high profile fights and the UFC is a bit heavy on fighters battling through Psychological issues pertaining to fighting which could make for a rough night.

The Anti-Trust Lawsuit appears to be moving towards a settlement which is good in that the fighters involved will see some cash but is bad in that with a settlement a chance to change the industry moving forward seems unlikely. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC Vegas 88 is in the books and once again it has been proven that BJJ is a cheat code in Heavyweight MMA. Otherwise this card showed some thing games in some promising fighters and had yet another eye poke No Contest, which never feels great.

Let's Unpack the Fights. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

It's another UFC Apex Card. A lot of 2 true outcomes. Some raw fighters that have decent ceilings. This is the product we can expect sadly. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

We had our obligatory Trump appearance and a one side main event. But ignoring those 2 things, UFC 299 was very good. Dustin Poirier turned back the most recent newcomer to a top 10 claim, Jack Della Madallena had a very impressive performance and Michael "Venom" Page did well MVP things and Petr Yan appears to still have it.

Let's unpack the fights. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC Returns to PPV!!!!!!!! With the Suga Show headlining in his first title defense and a chance at redemption against Chito Vera, the debut of Michael "Venom" Page and key battles for the Lightweight, Welterweight, Women's Flyweight and Heavyweight divisions. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC has given us another Apex show and well I do tip my hate to the prelim fighters, fantastic work however the main card well that's a different story.

Also to all those who said I was insane for doubting the main event I have the following to say: I was right, stop expecting heavyweights to be good, stop putting faith in 1 round can crushers. Anyways let's unpack the fights. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

Well we return to the Apex with a sadly standard offering from the UFC. Heavyweights in the main event, unranked 205ers in the co-main and well there's a couple of good flyweight fights on the main card and there is Umar Nurmagomedov though he's fighting a regional debutante.

Of course we do have UFC fans that are super excited for the card. Go them. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The PFL vs Bellator Super Card and UFC Mexico City are in the rear view mirror now. Both cards had some standout performances and big moments. Some cool finishes and some fighters raising their profile to the moment.

But there were also some hiccups. From a less than great job building Francis Ngannou's MMA return (not happening) to a flyweight main event at UFC Mexico City that cast serious doubts about one of the best Flyweights in the world.Let's Unpack the Fights. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC travels to Mexico City with a Card that is mostly very well build with reliable gas tanks and interesting matches and we have the first PFL vs Bellator Supercard in Saudi Arabia. It's a good week to be a Fight Fan! Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

It's Volk time!

Interesting that the UFC didn't really go all out for the co-main event (no disrespect to Bobby Knuckles and all towards Paulo Costa) for this PPV card and are really letting the main event do the work. Though Ian Machado Garry is a lightning rod of attention along with his brother in cringe Henry Cejudo. And both of them have solid opponents and interesting fights ahead of them.

We also have Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Lemos, Fluffy Hernandez vs Russian Hooper and the super prospect Rinya Nakamura. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The Volkanovski era appears to be done at 145. Never know, he might come storming back but damn if Ilia Topuria didn't make him look a little bit old and breakable.

Robert Whittaker took a hard fought win over Paulo Costa. Ian Garry picked up an expected win but was tested far more than expected and wants Colby Covington (I'd prefer not). Merab Dvalishvili toppled the legend of Henry Cejudo and really needs a title shot. And More!

Let's unpack. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC has finished up another Apex offering and while the card was pretty bland, I think we did learn a lot about Joe Pyfer and his limitations. There are a lot of them but being positive I think everything is fixable. There weren't any terminal flaws exposed. So while it's a loss there's positivity.

Otherwise Dan Ige scored a nice KO, Ihor Potieria was surprisingly effective and the Brazilian killers of Gregory Rodrigues and Rodolfo Viera brought their best games.

Let's unpack. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

It's time for the Middleweights to once again headline the Apex. It's a solid Apex card in that most of the fights have fun upside. But there's not a lot of can't miss to it unless you count the Pyfer hype train.

Pyfer is a powerful and promising fighter, there is no questioning that. It's just the UFC blows all of that up to an inhuman degree. Most powerful fighter on the planet type stuff. He's in for a big test with Jack Hermansson and I'm more than a little interested to see the results.

Add in undercard fights for some pretty solid prospects such as Timothy Cuamba, Bolaji Oki, Hyder Amil and solid action fighters Loma Lookboonmee, Darrius Flowers, Gregory Rodrigues along with my personal favorite Dan Ige vs Andre Fili. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC Vegas 85 is in the books and it was an Apex card. There was some cool stuff, Themba Gorimbo has a cool KO, Molly McCann announced herself at 115 with Randy Brown and Charles Radtke also stamping their authority on fights. But there was a lot of drags and aside from a dope first round the main event was well Middleweight.

The UFC will be at the Apex next week so I'm not expecting a great upgrade.

Let's Unpack.

And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

UFC Vegas 85 is here and we are back at the APEX which means pretty limited impact fights but there are some interesting bookings here. Though the Urbina/Radtke fight has me all kinds of befuddled because I can't help but think Radtke's entire fan base is just homophobic?

The UFC also is in some purely PR hot water as fights between Sean Brady and Vincente Luque along with Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint Denis fall apart not because of injury but because THEY WERE NEVER SIGNED! The UFC and Wolf Tickets, a story that never ends.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC has made a major addition in Olympic Judoka and PFL Star Kayla Harrison. But they seem to want her as part of the Women's Bantamweight Division? That's a tough pill, join me as I describe why and also talk about the UFCs issues with the division and Jon Anik. And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

A correction for the end of the pod, there is no card next week, the card I discuss is in 2 weeks, didn't realize we had an off week this quickly (though given the relationship with WWE it makes sense).

The UFC has made it's journey into Canada and offered us 2 title fights but not great ones and the aftermath probably will stretch on. The Canadian fighters had a bad night and I am left with the Solace that Raquel Pennington got her championship.

Let's unpack! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC PPV year kicks off with what has been a grimey lead up to a fairly ok fight card. The main event (as much as I dislike both guys) should be a fun time if a bit mentally confusing. The co-main event hopefully will enshrine a new champion to move Women's Bantamweight forward. Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev face off in a very meaningful Featherweight Bout. And we have some solid Canadians taking a step up in Mike Mallott, Marc Andre Barriault and Brad Katona. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC opened 2024 with a pretty good bang. The fights mostly delivered a fun time and some cool finishes. Consider the lack of established elite talents on the card it punched above it's weight with a solid undercard.

Let's Unpack the Fights!

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And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC returns in 2024 with honestly a bit a dud card. Now that's not to say the card is all together bad, the undercard for an Apex Card is pretty fire honestly. It's just the main event is a rematch I don't need to see (Walker vs Ankalaev) and the co main is the same (Kape vs Nicolau).

Still there's some interesting match ups on the offer. Let's break it down! And the Usual Links: My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

No UFC or really any big MMA cards this week though ONE FC is bringing a pretty stacked Kickboxing card, but kickboxing has never been something I have felt comfortable breaking down.

So this means the MMA newscape is sadly dominated by the continuing fallout of Leon Edwards and Colby Covington's terribly fight. From the even derided by the conservatives victim campaign of Covington and the Leon Edwards "please tell me it's not Belal" saga.

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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So quick warning: There will be some political talk in this review. Why? Because Colby Covington literally has styled his entire gimmick as a MAGA Republican Hyped up Parody and is "Donald Trump's favorite fighter" it's not possible to discuss the atmosphere around his fight without talking about politics.

UFC 296 was pretty bad if we're talking about the main card. 3 fights were a bit dull and had a definite sad downside while 2 were quite good. But I will say the undercard was a banger. Now does that makes the card worth the PPV price? Well no, you don't pay for the undercard.

Let's Unpack.

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

I have to say that I'm not super thrilled for this card. If you dear listener are, keep being so, don't let my melancholy get in the way because it's not about fighter quality, because that's very high on this card. It's just each fight seems analytically thin. Plus I'm allergic to the Colby Covington Circus.

In the main event we have the let's just say none standard sports story of Covington's title shot against Leon Edwards. Brandon Royval gets another crack at Flyweight Champ Alexandre Pantoja. The legend that is Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson saddles up again to face in my opinion the biggest rising star at 170, Shavkat Rakhmonov and the ghost of Tony Ferguson battles the avatar of hype without substance Paddy Pimblett.

I am a bit let down with lost the Garry/Luque fight, was looking forward to it.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

The UFC has given us the latest Apex offering and while the card was filled with more exciting prospects than normal but the matchups had a flat feel to them in any many cases were.

There were fights to cheer for of course. Smith/Roundtree was a fun time. Kevin Jousset made a major step forward towards being someone who can make some noise. Tatsuro Taira continues to impress and inject some life into the Japanese MMA scene worldwide.

Let's Unpack!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

My Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meodread

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

And my Full Link Tree Here: https://linktr.ee/meodread

I completely forgot in the episode that this was suppose to a Shanghai card and is now an APEX card with the loss of Petr Yan. So that explains why the card is a bit weird in it's depth but lack of top end.

The card lacks a real main event because Chris Gutierrez is going from second fight of the night to main event. So it's an interesting fight analytically and probably will have some dope action but the matchmaking backdrop is really weird.

The rest of the card has a lot of solid fights I am looking forward to.

Also Jamahal Hill thoughts because it's legal turmoil time for another UFC fighter.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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UFC Austin was pretty damn good. Some cool finishes. Some fighters adding to their highlight reels and resumes. The lone downside to the card was the fights didn't answer the questions I had about the winners. Like it's awesome that Arman Tsarukyan stopped Beneil Dariush in emphatic fashion but the questions I had going in needed more time to be addressed. Of course I am Captain "We don't learn much fighters in a minute".

Let's Unpack!

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A UFC Fight Night with a very good and relevant Main Event? Co-main event is a major prospect getting tested? 2 former champions and 2 former title contenders ON A FIGHT NIGHT? I feel like I'm caught in a time warp.

Anyways this is a very good card. I'm looking forward to most of the fights. Sure Turman/Gooden and Soriano/Stoltzfus are not really exciting me and Tate/Avila is........potentially amazingly depressing but the rest of the card slaps.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/MeoOnMMA

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PFL takes center stage this week with it's tournament finals and their acquisition of the bones of Bellator (which in reality is just their roster it seems) so I'll be talking about those 2 topics and the UFC Anti Trust case (or at leas the hot takes on it). If you want a full rundown on the Anti Trust Case I HIGHLY recommend John Nash and Erik Magraken's writing/reporting on the matter as it is the most comprehensive you'll find.

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My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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Bellator 301 and UFC Vegas 82 both delivered what was promised in the cage. Solid action. A lot of submissions. And few fights that I felt were a drag (though there were those as well). Some big prospects enhanced their hype train and a couple stumbled a bit.

Quick notes on Payton Talbott and Aillin Perez. In the case of Talbott, I think my review comes off as severe. I stand by the general conclusion, that he needs a lot of work. But he also showed coachability and composure. So I do think he'll get there, just he's not there yet. And for Perez, her twerking has stoked debated on social media, I still don't care for her entire package, she has a loud bark that she cannot possibly actually deliver on and I've never been super keen on sex appeal fueling a career which seems to be her aim but at the same time the moral indictment of her is misplaced. That being said, so is comparing any critique of a fighter to the legal troubles of Conor and Jones. So middle ground.

Let's unpack the fights.

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My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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Bellator and the UFC give us fight card offerings this week and Bellator is putting some strong together with the complete lack of certainty in their future and the UFC has...........an apex card.

That's not to say the UFC doesn't have anything good on the card. Amanda Ribas and Luanna Pinheiro is a very relevant fight. Jonathan Pearce and Joanderson Brito is very interesting as well.

The Bellator card is headlined by 2 title fights and serious talents such as AJ McKee, Raufeon Stots, Alexander Shabliy and the Bellator Legend Patricky Pitbull.

Let's break it down!

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UFC 295 is in the books and aside from the Trump pageantry I really enjoyed the card. Fun stoppages and some high action fights. Some lesser performances but we have 2 new exciting champions, albeit one is interim and one is a return champion just in another weight class but I hope both inject excitement and activity to divisions struggling with identity.

Let's unpack the fights.

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My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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Man when the UFC tries they can make some fascinating and hype worthy cards. And this is one of those cards. From top to bottom the fights are interesting, action packed and quite relevant to their respective divisions. Applause to the match makers even with some lost fights.

Let's break it down!

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The card was a bit cursed with 3 fights cancelled in 24 hours but despite some online negativity I thought it was pretty good.

Some hype trains did take a detour in the forms of Gabriel Bonfim and Kauê Fernandes and depending how you look at it Jailton Almeida. But on Almeida, I disagree. I think we saw some improvements for him, but I also have a much smaller hype train than most for the Jailton Express.

Let's unpack!

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Off the top of the head I am very confused by the hate for Stipe Miocic and I got to address that. Plus we have the insanity of the Fury/Ngannou fall out and kid's MMA is a big Twitter topic today, not sure why but bringing some thoughts on that.

Then we get the fight card this weekend headlined by rising star Jailton Almeida and the loveably Swanger and Banger Derrick Lewis. The card doesn't have a lot of star power but I like a lot of the matchmaking and some prospects will have some important questions asked of them.

Let's break it down!

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UFC 294 was weird before we even hit the Octagon and it really just got weirder. And dirtier. We had Staph, a guy barking, 2 No Contests, a Comical Doctor and some fights that I think the fanbase have an inflated sense of what they mean. So give me a listen and see if you agree lol.

A couple of quick notes that I didn't get deep enough on:

1) It's humanizing to hear Alex Volkanovski talk about his struggles

2) I get that the complaints about Wood/Naimov goes beyond the dick kicks, and I would have been 100% ok with Naimov being docked a point for some of the fence and glove grabs, I just can't get super angry about the dick kicks or the result

3) Yes the UFC pay structure creates a motive to fight with Staph and other infections/injuries, I just don't think that is a good excuse for being reckless

Let's unpack the fights!

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UFC 294 is a card getting hit with body blows, losing it's main event and co-main event and the UFC deserves some kudos for still coming up with a pair of fights to top off the card and still make it interesting.

But this is the card of my least favorite thing: super hyped Fighters from or linked to the Caucuses. And while I do think some will win, I also think they will have an alarming cartoon worthy faceplant at some point.

Let's break it down!

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Another Apex Card has come and gone and the main event was phenomenal. A classic performance by Edson Barboza and an all time comeback. The card was otherwise decently entertaining.

Sadly the spotlight was shared with 2 influencer Boxing Cards and well I'll have a few thoughts there.

Let's unpack the fights!

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The UFC returns to the Apex with a rising star vs a legend of the Promotion in an interesting clash. And it's not alone in being interesting. Martinez/Yanez is a very solid fight, Pereira/Petroski might be very fun (but also might be exceedingly ugly albeit it in an amusing way) and Rodriguez/Saaiman tickles me.

But the UFC seemingly being done with USADA and some recent fight cancelations are overshadowing the card.

Let's break it down!

And the Usual Links:

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The UFC, Bellator and ONE have presented their offerings and I have to declare the weekend for the UFC. Not because UFC Dawson vs Green was especially good, it had it's moments but it was a content night card but because Bellator gave us well a bit of a stinker. It had some moments on the undercard but the main card isn't worth revisiting and ONE was well ONE.

So let's unpack the fights!

And the Usual Links:

My Discord: https://discord.gg/hzc4NMyjRf

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