The Ariel Helwani Show
The Ariel Helwani Show

“The Ariel Helwani Show” is the flagship program for Uncrowned. Every episode will feature interviews with the biggest names in combat sports, and analysis from Helwani and The Boys in the Back.

Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping the team’s time in Las Vegas, including their celebratory omakase, before reacting to footage from the UFC 329 press conference and official weigh-ins (00:48). UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jędrzejczyk joins Ariel in-studio to discuss life in retirement, which includes a move to Vegas, fighter management, and pickleball. She also touches on her fight with Zhang Weili going into the UFC Hall of Fame, the upcoming title fight between Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson, the state of the strawweight division and women’s MMA, and more (16:53). Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall stop by to dive deeper into the UFC 329 press conference and weigh-ins, discussing whether Conor McGregor could fight Paddy Pimblett or Ian Machado Garry next, Max Holloway’s demeanor this week, then react to various moments from this year’s UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, Shakur Stevenson signing with Zuffa Boxing, and more (1:04:52). UFC play-by-play man Jon Anik joins Ariel to talk all things UFC 329, revealing his interactions with Conor McGregor this week, how he handles preparation, his relationships with fellow UFC broadcasters, the stories behind some of his greatest calls, the unique nature of calling Freedom 250, and more (2:18:08). Ariel answers your Super Chats (3:23:12). Aljamain Sterling is the final guest of the day, stopping the studio to talk about his mentality toward training, Israel Adesanya leaving City Kickboxing, Merab Dvalishvili getting into a dustup in Georgia, Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier’s arrest, his next fight, and more (3:34:40). The Boys in the Back join Ariel to close the show (4:10:32).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing the recent broadcast deal reached between DAZN and PBC, and what the major promoters in boxing being under one roof means for fans (04:18). Moving onto the latest roadblock regarding the potential Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight – what time the event will start (11:06). The organizers want the fight to air on prime time in America, which could mean a late start in London.  After making MMA picks (18:28), it’s time to hand out awards for the halfway point. Categories include performance, fight, moment, knockout, trainer, round, and disappointment (33:07).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by reflecting on winning his 16th straight Journalist of the Year award, recapping UFC 329 media day, including comments from Conor McGregor, and more (04:00). Old friend Chael Sonnen joins Ariel in-studio, discussing his surprising beef with Francis Ngannou, his political interests and a potential run at the presidency, his role with RAF, Conor McGregor’s demeanor during fight week, Dustin Poirier’s arrest, reports of McGregor’s banned substance use, his relationship with Josh Hokit, and more (39:35). Coach Owen Roddy drops into the studio for a chat about Conor McGregor’s preparation for UFC 329 (1:32:02). UFC lightweight contender Mauricio Ruffy stops by the studio to talk about his past performances, including the revelation that he was injured before the Rafael Fiziev fight, volunteering to be the backup for Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, what he hopes to do next, and more (1:56:34). Uncrowned’s Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall join Ariel to catch up on all the fight week action (2:31:41). Coach John Wood is the final in-studio guest, discussing being recognized as Coach of the Year and Syndicate MMA as Gym of the Year, the latest on Gina Carano, Merab Dvalishvili, and Khalil Rountree Jr., how he sees McGregor vs. Holloway playing out, and more (2:56:47). Ariel and the crew close the show with your Super Chats (3:47:31).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show, live from our Las Vegas studio, by setting the scene for UFC 329 fight week (01:00). Coach John Kavanagh joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Conor McGregor’s preparation, rumors swirling regarding McGregor’s late arrival, Carlos Prates initially being proposed as an opponent, McGregor moving up to welterweight and likely being done with lightweight, how his communication with McGregor has evolved over the years, stories from past McGregor fights, and more (09:51). Manager Audie Attar is in-studio to talk about Conor McGregor’s return, how negotiations with the UFC played out, the proposed April date for McGregor’s next fight, McGregor’s potential value as a free agent, the overall state of fighter pay, what’s next for Rico Verhoeven, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and more (58:33). Nutritionist Tyler Minton stops by the studio to give insights into Max Holloway’s UFC 329 preparation and weight cut, suggest that more weight classes could curb weight cutting, and give insights on the science behind getting elite athletes ready for competition (1:36:49). Coach Eric Nicksick joins Ariel in-studio, discussing what’s next for some of his fighters, including Sean Strickland and Francis Ngannou, training Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, the rumored altercation with Ali Abdelaziz, Kai Kamaka’s UFC 329 fight, and more (2:21:45). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll ambush Ariel with a birthday cake, before tackling news and notes (2:56:13) and Super Chats (3:24:33).
Solomonster can’t believe it’s been 30 years since Hulk Hogan turned heel and formed the NWO, but it remains one of the most important moments in wrestling history (00:25). After discussing that, he addresses Sheamus' shocking WWE departure, why it happened and what it means for his future (06:50). CM Punk returned on Raw in Chicago and abruptly ended the nine-day reign of Sami Zayn as WWE champion.  The polarizing decision likely leads to a major match for SummerSlam, but what it means for Sami is less certain (30:34). Plus, news on four names reportedly on their way to WWE, including AEW and TNA talent (49:32). Tony Khan announces the date and location for AEW All Out 2026, plus a preview for a big “Beach Break” Dynamite episode, with MJF against Kenny Omega for the AEW World championship, with a major stipulation (57:32). Finally, listener questions regarding Oba Femi and Paul Heyman and the best year of Bret Hart’s career, as well as a note on the latest Dark Side of the Ring premiere (1:07:27).
Ariel Helwani is joined by Uncrowned's Shaheen Al-Shatti, Chuck Mindenhall, and NewYorkRic to discuss the media stories surrounding Conor McGregor's return at UFC 329, including how he's covered (03:45), why he's fighting Max Holloway (22:31), the weigh-ins being aired on CBS (29:38), and what potential viewership for the card might look like (51:44). Plus, the panels touches on what's at stake for Paddy Pimblett (52:48) and Gable Steveson (59:17).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by discussing World Cup drama involving the U.S. men’s national team and Taylor Swift marrying Travis Kelce at MSG (05:50). Craig Jones joins the show to announce the return of The B-Team, including a brand new gym, then talks about approaching Tom Hardy and Mark Zuckerberg to compete for CJI, his rivalries with Gordon Ryan and Dillon Danis, crashing White House fight week with Sean Strickland, the state of CJI and UFC BJJ, continuing to work with Alexander Volkanovski, and more (23:27). Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is back following his big win over Xander Zayas, discussing the exciting third round, critics claiming Zayas quit, reaction to the fight from Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz, being forced to shave down his beard by the New York State Athletic Commission, his thoughts on attending his first BKFC event and who he hopes to fight next (1:06:09). Wrestling legend Jeff Jarrett joins Ariel in-studio to preview his 'Dark Side of the Ring' special, discussing how it came together, his relationship with Dixie Carter and her absence from the project, Owen Hart’s death and its lasting impact on him, the true story of negotiating with Vince McMahon for his match against Chyna, his WWE firing, creating TNA, and other stories from his illustrious career (1:32:04). Ariel closes out the show with some news and notes, before answering your Super Chats (3:03:42).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show breaking down Abdullah Mason’s somewhat controversial stoppage of Albert Bell. Who should Mason fight next and is he the true future of boxing (2:56)? Bruce Carrington picked up a hard-fought decision win over Rene Palacios that left the crowd and audience wanting more (25:38). At age 29 and with a world championship belt, where does ‘Shu Shu’ go from here? This fight also spawned an open scoring debate, as official scores were read after the fourth and eighth rounds (32:24). Finally, this was TNT Sports first foray into boxing and the production was outstanding with Terence Crawford, Tim Bradley and Shawn Porter at the host desk offering their thoughts throughout the night (46:25).
Petesy Carroll and Ben Fowlkes are back on The Craic. This week, they dive into their picks for Uncrowned’s MMA mid-year awards (08:20). Following recent criticism of Herb Dean, the duo discuss the current state of MMA officiating (51:35). Next, they tackle the stigma around "quitting on the stool," following Ilia Topuria’s title loss to Justin Gaethje (56:01). With UFC 329 just two weeks away, the lads assess Conor McGregor’s energy during his pre-fight media run (01:02:21). To close things out, the boys discuss their World Cup plans (01:11:15) before answering your Super Chats (01:17:24).
The Boys in the Back quickly cover some news and notes (06:38), before reacting to Terence Crawford's response to Conor McGregor, who claims the pair were offered $200 million for a two-fight — one MMA, one boxing — deal (11:49). They also recap Jon Jones speaking on a variety of topics (26:17) and predict who could be the next American UFC champion (35:37). Plus, the Boys deliver their P4P lists of greatest American moments (46:27), listen to your voicemails (1:19:04), and answer your Super Chats (1:52:05).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing Jaron 'Boots' Ennis' next opponent, as a report that Sebastian Fundora could be next was quickly shot down. Will it be Josh Kelly or even a voluntary defense (05:14)? Abdullah Mason steps back into the ring this weekend, taking on late replacement Albert Bell in TNT’s first foray into boxing. Will Mason continue his winning ways (23:32)? Bruce 'Shu Shu' Carrington also appears in the co-main event against Rene Palacios (33:12). Tyson Fury announced he will take fight Mariusz Wach before his showdown with Anthony Joshua (41:40).  Lastly, Moses Itauma has been mandated by the IBF to fight Frank Sanchez for their vacant title. Itauma currently has a fight against Filip Hrgovic scheduled for late August and there is speculation that Itauma could forego that fight to take on Sanchez (49:57).
Ariel Helwani opens the show by covering news from the worlds of soccer and basketball (02:31), before launching into On The Nose. Question topics include Turki Alalshikh’s promoter “peace summit,” the likelihood of Jon Jones as Oleksandr Usyk’s next opponent, and more (19:52). Matchroom Mult-Sport CEO joins Ariel in-studio to discuss the other sports in Matchroom’s portfolio, including billiards, their new ESPN broadcast deal for pool, working with Barry and Eddie Hearn, how her career began, ambitions in the United States market, and more (1:0135). Dave Allen is back to discuss his upcoming fight against Thomas Carty at Croke Park, reflecting on his loss to Filip Hrgovic, suggesting he might retire if he loses to Carty, expressing his desire to wrestle for WWE, how upcoming fights in the heavyweight division play out, and more (1:59:19). Terence Crawford returns to discuss his debut as an analyst for TNT Sports, the potential of prospect Abdullah Mason, the performances of Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Xander Zayas, Conor McGregor saying there was a $200 million offer to fight him, whether he ever considered going into MMA, Ilia Topuria’s loss, his thoughts on the sanctioning bodies, and more (2:29:22). Ariel covers some news and notes, including images of Ilia Topuria as he recovers, Ian Machado Garry on how he plans to upset Islam Makhachev, Daniel Cormier saying Jon Jones was offered seven figures for a wrestling match between the rivals, and more (3:05:56). The show ends with Ariel answering your Super Chats (3:28:58).
Solomonster covers a lot of ground this week, starting with WWE Night of Champions, Sami Zayn winning the WWE championship, the finals of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, Piper Niven putting Jade Cargill on blast on social media, and more (03:56). Brock Lesnar returned on Raw last night, with Oba Femi accepting his challenge to a Hell in a Cell match. Solomonster breaks down what this means for Femi's title shot, Seth Rollins challenging Roman Reigns, and what the overall SummerSlam card is looking like (25:41). Next, TNA Slammiversary thoughts with Nic Nemeth regaining the title, Mike Santana’s future, the latest on Road Dogg joining their creative team, and Amazing Red being named to this year’s TNA Hall of Fame class (44:11). Finally, thoughts on AEW Forbidden Door with Will Ospreay and Mercedes Mone punching their tickets to Wembley Stadium, Maya World’s star-making performance, and how the original card was impacted by injuries and visa issues (49:35).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a bit of news and notes (03:28), then welcomes in longtime referee “Big” John McCarthy to discuss all things officiating. McCarthy covers the controversial ending to Adriano Moraes vs. Phumi Nkuta, the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven stoppage, whether Ciryl Gane landed shots to the back of the Alex Pereira’s head and how Herb Dean handled the call, Michel Pereira having his hair pulled by Shara Bullet, how the doctors treated Ilia Topuria’s damage eye at the White House, and more (13:28). UFC strawweight title challenger Gillian Robertson is back, discussing how her grappling compares to Mackenzie Dern’s grappling, whether there’s any friction between the two, hoping to submit Dern, how she unwinds when not competing, her marijuana use, career ambitions, and more (1:03:24). WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason joins the show ahead of his Ohio homecoming fight against Albert Bell, having familiarity with his opponent, being willing to take on major challenges like Shakur Stevenson, what’s next, and more (1:31:20). The Boys in the Back, Petesy Carroll, and special guest Marc Raimondi join Ariel to close the show, touching on Tyson Fury’s next fight, the approaching anniversary of the NWO formation, Ian Machado Garry and Eddie Hearn speaking to Irish media, Max Holloway reacting to Dustin Poirier’s arrest, Merab Dvalishvili’s friendship with Sean O’Malley, and more (1:47:24). The show wraps up with your Super Chats (2:51:48).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping a huge combat sports weekend that included thrills from the Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Xander Zayas card (10:07), developments in the the Dana White and Eddie Hearn rivalry (33:03), and a fun UFC Baku Fight Night (45:13). Rafael Fiziev returns after a big win in Baku to talk about fighting again in his home country, getting back on the winning track, scoring his first knockout since 2022, being surprised by Justin Gaethje’s win over Ilia Topuria, not appearing in the new Meta rankings, and more (1:04:12). Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez joins to discuss his main event booking for UFC’s return to Sacramento, being excited about fighting close to home, lessons learned from his loss to Sean Strickland, recently training with Strickland, thoughts on the White House card, and more (1:31:14). Inside Boxing’s Dan Canobbio makes his show debut, breaking down the weekend’s action, touching on the fallout from ‘Boots’ vs. Zayas, a potential fight between ‘Boots’ and Vergil Ortiz, what’s next for Ben Whittaker, Turki Alalshikh trying to play peacemaker for Dana White and Eddie Hearn, the current state of Zuffa Boxing, Oleksandr Usyk vacating his titles, Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli being postponed, and more (1:51:05). UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is our final guest of the day, discussing her upcoming title defense against Gillian Robertson, why the fight with Zhang Weili isn’t happening, her experience at the Golden Globes, not being able to fight on the White House card, Ronda Rousey’s comeback, playing in celebrity poker games, and more (2:3731). Ariel covers some news and notes, before answering Super Chats to close the show (3:05:26).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show dissecting Jaron 'Boots' Ennis’ seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas in front of a raucous Brooklyn crowd (02:00). Next, they touch on what's next for 'Boots,' including mention of Terence Crawford and Vergil Ortiz (28:38), as well as unifications against Josh Kelly or Sebastian Fundora (30:15). Then, they cover Ben Whittaker's very impressive US debut (35:09) and Emiliano Vargas' stoppage win over Bryce Mills (39:58). Finally, they hit big headlines from the weekend, including Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli being postponed and Teofimo Lopez vs. Rolly Romero taking shape (46:12), plus Oleksandr Usyk relinquishing his heavyweight titles, likely to fight Deontay Wilder (47:59).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for this week’s episode of The Craic. First up, they discuss Ian Machado Garry’s move to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency ahead of his upcoming title fight (8:30). Another high-profile Hearn client is Tom Aspinall, prompting a conversation about the current state of the heavyweight champion’s career (24:02). Dustin Poirier’s recent arrest footage also sent shockwaves through the MMA community. The lads discuss the fallout for the retired fan-favorite (51:10). The boys then react to the UFC officially releasing the global viewership figures for the White House card (59:50). The latest UFC rankings have also stirred plenty of debate (1:02:25), then Petesy breaks the news that Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his world titles (01:10:55). To close, the trio answer your Super Chats (01:16:55).
The Boys in the Back cover some news and notes (05:17), including Ilia Topuria's return (15:04), before breaking down the latest drama regarding the UFC's heavyweight title picture (22:36). When will we see Tom Aspinall again? Could Josh Hokit end up getting a title shot? Plus, they preview UFC Baku (38:53) and PFL San Diego (58:26) and speak to LFA 235 winner Liam "The Iowan Lion" Aunan (1:09:08). Finally, the Boys deliver their P4P worst fight tattoos (1:42:52), make picks (2:08:19), listen to your voicemails (2:10:38), and answer your Super Chats (2:43:50).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show breaking down the upcoming unification bout between Xander Zayas and Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. Is this too much too soon for the 23-year-old Zayas? Will this be Ennis’ defining moment so far in his career? Plus, the X’s and O’s between two fighters with two distinct styles (02:23). Joe Cordina has visa issues and is out of his title fight vs. Abdullah Mason next week. Stepping in is the veteran Albert Bell, who was scheduled to fight Andy Cruz on July 18. Could this be a tougher fight for Mason, as Bell presents a totally different style and dynamic (52:44) Reports state that Teofimo Lopez and Rolly Romero have “verbally agreed” to a fight this summer, where Romero would put his WBA welterweight title on the line (54:25). Finally, they discuss Liam Paro’s big win over Lewis Crocker to capture the IBF welterweight title (57:12).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by discussing Dustin Poirier’s arrest, before being joined in-studio by Eddie Hearn. Hearn breaks news of Ian Machado Garry signing with Matchroom Talent Agency, then talks about the latest regarding Tom Aspinall, including recent communication with the UFC, Michael Bisping’s comments about Aspinall, rumors of Zuffa Boxing signing top talent, drama surrounding the promotion of a potential Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Xander Zayas, Katie Taylor’s Croke Park fight, and more (09:40). Ben Whittaker stops by the studio ahead of his American debut, previewing the bout against Richard Rivera, discussing his deal with Matchroom, coach Andy Lee’s impact on his fighting style, training alongside Joseph Parker, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Paddy Donovan, his respect for MMA fighters, English football, and more (1:16:27). Cody Rhodes returns to catch up with Ariel, diving into who he considers the face of WWE, stories from his early career, his feelings on WWE Unreal, his relationship with AJ Styles, WrestleMania 42, the idea of taking a break, potentially becoming a booker in the future, whether he has unfinished business with The Rock, and more (1:46:05). PDC world darts champion Luke Littler is in-studio to preview the US Darts Masters, reflect on his incredible success, and throw a few darts (2:28:20). Ian Machado Garry pops in to talk about his signing with Matchroom Talent Agency, how the deal impacts his current management situation and relationship with the UFC (2:56:44). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll jump back in to cover news and notes and answer your Super Chats (3:36:04).
Solomonster reflects on 30 years since the birth of Austin 3:16 at the King of the Ring and a common misconception people have about it (0:26). Then, he dives head-first into a wild week of TNA news, with thoughts on their stalled momentum six months after their debut on AMC Network and talent fleeing the company (06:26). Plus, Tessa Blanchard being forced to choose between TNA and CMLL (17:11), Tommy Dreamer out as head of creative, Sami Callihan making noise on his way out, and a Slammiversary preview (23:40).   Next, thoughts on the King and Queen of the Ring finalists, the WWE championship match on Smackdown, and predictions for Night of Champions in Riyadh (38:32). Finally, a preview and predictions for AEW Forbidden Door, including thoughts on Maya World shocking the world and beating Athena to advance to the Owen Hart tournament finals, Bully Ray’s stupid comments about Jon Moxley and Josh Barnett’s response (54:02).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a preview of this week’s stacked sports slate (00:52). Boxing prospect Emiliano Vargas joins Ariel in-studio to discuss his bout against Bryce Mills in Brooklyn, his Hall of Fame father Fernando, a potential Ryan Garcia fight, rooting for Ilia Topuria, and more (20:27). Jaron "Boots" Ennis is back in-studio with Ariel to preview his fight with Xander Zayas, then talk about the Virgil Ortiz fight falling through, his P4P status, Zayas calling him “flat-footed,” and more (1:10:47). Josh Hokit returns and reveals his right hand was hurt heading into the Derrick Lewis fight. Then he discusses being kicked out of the UFC Freedom 250 press conference, his beef with Alex Pereira, feeling Pereira is overrated, whether Ciryl Gane landed illegal blows, whether he regrets his post-fight interview, whether there is a line he won’t cross, and more (1:55:48). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll react to the Hokit interview, before answering On The Nose questions, with topics including Dana White’s successor, UFC’s new rankings, blind rankings, and more (2:45:37). Ariel ends the show by answering your Super Chats (3:36:21).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing their upcoming pre-game party, the New York Knicks championship parade, and more (00:41). Next, Turki Alalshikh recently took to social media in hopes of brokering peace between promoters over the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury negotiations. The fight is yet to be announced and there are several rumors on who will officially promote it and where the fight will take place. Turki also made mention of some health issues, causing Ryan Garcia to react (09:44). Xander Zayas vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis fight week is here and it is one of the most anticipated fights of the year. Who will come out on top? Will a new star be born on Saturday night (25:28)? Moses Itauma has an opponent. Filip Hrgovic, the hard punching Croatian, will take on the young phenom on August 28 in what is easily Itauma’s toughest test to date. Is this too much too soon for Itauma or a perfect piece of matchmaking (41:10)?
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show recapping his experience at the New York Knicks championship parade, before reacting to UFC Vegas 119 and Dricus du Plessis being booked against Kamaru Usman (01:53). Ian Machado Garry is back on the show, discussing his UFC 330 meeting with Islam Makhachev in August, how the fight came together, other welterweights campaigning for the title shot, Makhachev’s comments about Garry’s skills, comparisons between their fight and Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, and more (31:43). Diego Lopes returns to recap his White House win over Steve Garcia, talking about his prediction that Justin Gaethje would beat Ilia Topuria, weighing in twice to be the main event backup, the overall experience of fighting on the card, wanting to move up to lightweight and compete on the Noche UFC card, and more (58:49). WBO and WBA super welterweight champion Xander Zayas joins Ariel in-studio to preview his massive fight against Jaron "Boots" Ennis, discussing his relationship with Top Rank, surprises in store for his walkout, appearing in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, Boots’ résumé, visualizing how the fight plays out, and more (1:22:06). ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler stops by the studio to talk about "Finding My Father," a documentary where Fowler reconnects with his father through found audio tapes. He also touches on some of his career highlights, his love of boxing and newer fandom of MMA (2:03:35). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to cover news and notes, including UFC’s new Meta rankings, Freedom 250 ratings, and more (3:24:18). Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (4:17:18).
The Craic trio of Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes delve into the controversy surrounding Ciryl Gane’s finish of Alex Pereira at the White House. Did referee  Herb Dean make the right call and how does this latest situation affect Gane (06:10)?  Next up, they give their takes on UFC White House generating 17 million viewers and whether it will be seen as a success (31:31). Petesy then explains the Irish reaction to Conor McGregor’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon, which appears to have sparked outrage on the Emerald Isle (47:57). Finally, the Craic crew give their takes on Tyson Fury promoter Frank Warren revealing more reasons why Dana White will likely end up promoting the Fury’s fight against Anthony Joshua (1:17:37).
We open the show with Dan and Bob Canobbio discussing the story of how CompuBox was created in 1985 - by chance, luck, good timing and a very innovative executive at HBO named Ross Greenburg (04:34). The father-son duo talk about big fights Bob attended ringside, including Ray Mancini vs. Livingstone Bramble, Marvin Hagler vs. Ray Leonard, the rise and fall of Mike Tyson, and the modern eras of Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao (17:53). Finally, Bob and Dan touch on some personal stories from their lives in boxing and how the sport has molded them as people (30:48). Happy Father’s Day everyone!
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with news and notes, including reports of Zabit Magomedsharipov grappling Dan Hooker, Daniel Cormier addressing his social media being hacked, UFC 330 fight announcements, and more (16:25) Then, they react to Conor McGregor's interview with Ariel Helwani, honing in on his comments about Ilia Topuria, and Topuria's recent comments about McGregor as well. Is this the fight to make (39:48)? After previewing UFC Vegas 119 (1:03:25), they make picks (1:36:56) and deliver their P4P things worth waiting for (1:38:14). The show ends with your voicemails (2:05:55) and Super Chats (2:54:39).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the the show by covering some news and notes (06:52), before being joined in studio by California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster, who discusses regulation for the UFC’s White House card, Herb Dean’s handling of Ciryl Gane’s win over Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria being able to continue with his damaged eye, MVP’s MMA card on Netflix, the New York Times report about Conor McGregor using “banned drugs,” disclosed fighter purses, and more (16:10). Sean O'Malley is back following his big White House win over Aiemann Zahabi, diving into the differences of the card from a normal fight week, additional pressure and preparation for the fight, his weight cut, believing he deserved a bonus for his knockout, who he wants to fight next, his salute celebration, Justin Gaethje’s massive main event upset, and more (59:49). Ariel and the crew react to Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry being announced for August, World Cup action, Paramount download data for the White House card, Floyd Mayweather’s reported money issues, and more (1:33:09). UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski returns to discuss cornering Mauricio Ruffy at the UFC White House, Ilia Topuria’s performance against Justin Gaethje, Topuria’s chances in a rematch, expectations for Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, when he plans to return, and more (2:26:32). Before the next guest, Ariel answers your Super Chats (2:52:35). Alex Pereira joins Ariel in-studio to express frustration with the stoppage in his fight against Ciryl Gane. Plus, coach Plinio Cruz’s details his reaction to the final sequence, then Pereira talks about whether he thinks Gane is a dirty fighter, referee Herb Dean’s decision-making and past controversies, wanting to use this situation to improve future officiating and fighter safety, wanting a rematch, planning to stay at heavyweight, Josh Hokit’s continued trash talk, and more (3:18:00). Ariel finishes the show with a few more Super Chats (4:28:28).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with further reflection on the UFC White House event and reaction to new stories developing in the aftermath (14:53). Ariel and The Boys in the Back answer your On The Nose questions about the New York Knicks, White House walkouts and production, Josh Hokit’s controversial post-fight comments, whether Ciryl Gane is getting a reputation for fouling opponents, and more (44:10). Chuck Mindenhall joins Ariel to give his first-hand account of the UFC White House card (1:21:18). Conor McGregor makes his long-awaited in-studio return, talking about his announced comeback, his negotiations with the UFC, including a confirmed date for the final fight on his current contract, thoughts on the White House card and Ilia Topuria, being offered a two-fight deal — boxing and MMA — against Terence Crawford, BKFC’s new broadcast partner, his rivalry with Max Holloway, the New York Times reporting his took “banned drugs,” and more (1:52:22). Ariel and crew answer more On The Nose questions (2:48:09) and your Super Chats (3:19:55).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri kick off the show discussing the New York Knicks becoming NBA champions and what it all means for the city of New York (01:08).  Bam Rodriguez scored an impressive knockout win over Antonio Vargas to win the WBA bantamweight title on Saturday night and now all eyes are on a potential super fight with Naoya Inoue (16:24). Should Bam take another fight before? Should he jump right into an Inoue fight, which would be his highest-paying fight by a large margin (25:28)? Next up, the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House produced some wild scenes and fights (38:53) as well as a confusing boxing moment when Tyson Fury was brought in to make an announcement and instead deferred to Dana White (45:25). We’re guessing the announcement will be Fury officially signing with Zuffa Boxing. What does this mean for the Anthony Joshua fight?
Solomonster chimes in on the wild rumors floating around regarding CM Punk, his physical appearance, heat with WWE, and even a future return to AEW (04:09). Thoughts on Friday's WWE championship, where things may be headed for Night of Champions, plus an injury update on Rhea Ripley (12:53). News on the death of the man who created the King of the Ring in 1985, plus thoughts on where things stand with the KOTR and QOTR tournaments after Raw (19:37). A major update on Vince McMahon's sex trafficking lawsuit and whether it could pave the way for an eventual return to the company, plus an update on Liv Morgan’s stalker being found not guilty by reason of insanity (30:49). MJF gets a match at Forbidden Door but it’s not a title match, the finals of the men’s Owen Hart tournament have been set and why the Forbidden Door concept no longer works (44:37). Five title changes on the New Japan Dominion show this past weekend, including a new IWGP champion crowned, and the blocks revealed for this year’s G1 Climax tournament (54:19). Vince Russo reveals some sad news about Konnan’s health, plus some listener questions and a note about the social media ban being implemented in the UK (57:53).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by discussing the emotions of his New York Knicks winning the NBA championship (01:56). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to react to the UFC White House card, including the impressive production, Tyson Fury’s bizarre appearance, Justin Gaethje shocking the world, Ilia Topuria’s corner stopping the fight, Ciryl Gane dominating Alex Pereira, what what’s next for both, the night’s biggest winners, and more (21:01). Bo Nickal is back after his White House win against Kyle Daukaus, giving behind-the-scenes insights, revealing his conversations with President Trump, and talking about what he wants next (1:29:50). Anthony Smith joins to weigh in on the UFC White House card, dissecting Ilia Topuria’s game plan against Justin Gaethje, Gaethje’s toughness, the main event stoppage, Ciryl Gane’s next fight, Topuria and Pereira’s ability to bounce back, the rest of the card, and more (2:02:01). Action Bronson joins Ariel in celebration of the Knicks title win, laying out his watching habits, how he reacted to the clinching game, his longtime fandom, and more (3:01:39). Ariel touches on the continued promotional battle between Dana White and Eddie Hearn (3:26:20). Arman Tsarukyan returns to discuss his RAF win over Tony Ferguson, before giving thoughts on the UFC White House main event, his friend’s winning bet on Justin Gaethje, believing he’s next in line for the title shot, still wanting to fight Ilia Topuria, wanting to be UFC champion above anything else, and more (3:46:18). Ariel covers news and notes (4:21:09) and answers your Super Chats to end the show (4:30:09).
The Craic is back with its usual trio of Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes. This week, all roads lead to the UFC‘s White House card. On site in the nation’s capital, Chuck shares his observations ahead of attending the historic event in person (04:31). The lads then lock in their official Uncrowned picks (24:51). Security has also become a major talking point surrounding the event. Drawing on insight from former Secret Service agents, Ben breaks down how the operation could work behind the scenes (41:36). Elsewhere, Conor McGregor made headlines due to the New York Times reporting he used ”banned drugs" while recovering from his devastating leg injury. The boys give their thoughts on the revelation (01:01:36). Fellow Irish superstar Katie Taylor has officially sold out Croke Park in 30 minutes. Petesy shares the mood in Ireland ahead of the historic occasion (01:11:58). To round things out, the lads talk World Cup buzz (01:16:35) before answering your Super Chats (01:23:06).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to the New York Knicks' incredible NBA Finals comeback, with Ariel Helwani and On Air Jordan, who was at the game, joining in to share their excitement (03:22). Then, they dive into the New York Times report that Conor McGregor took "banned drugs" while recovering from his broken leg (21:30). After covering the escalating heat between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje (44:10) and Josh Hokit continuing to taunt Alex Pereira (53:35), the Boys preview the Freedom 250 card (1:16:22) and make picks (2:05:11). Plus, Fight Feasts featuring food from Donald Trump's Michelin-star restaurant (2:10:12), P4P Fictional Presidents (2:29:18), voicemails (2:47:09) and Super Chats (3:14:49).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show breaking down the latest twitter exchange between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, where they agreed to fight at 144 pounds. Will this even happen? How big would this fight be? Should Haney fight Keyshawn Davis (04:31)? There is a big combat event this weekend on the White House lawn, as UFC Freedom 250 is set to take place. Dan and Chris give their picks (12:47). Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez makes his 118-pound debut this weekend against heavy underdog Antonio Vargas. If "Bam" wins this weekend, should he go right into a Naoya Inoue fight or get more accustomed to the new weight class (25:29)? Finally, reports potentially placed the megafight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury at SoFi Stadium in California. Eddie Hearn refuted that, stating the contract stipulates it must be in the UK. Speaking of Eddie, will he be the official promoter of the event or Dana White (34:19)?
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by previewing the UFC Freedom 250 card, including Sean Strickland’s alleged banning, potential weather concerns, Josh Hokit continuing to taunt Alex Pereira, and more (11:59). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions regarding Dana White’s projected viewership for the White House card, Alex Pereira’s potential GOAT status, and more (28:52). Aiemann Zahabi returns just days before his fight against Sean O’Malley at UFC Freedom 250, giving insight into his preparation, the venue being built at the White House, representing Canada, Sean O’Malley’s comments about him in the lead-up, having Georges St-Pierre in his corner, and more (55:40). GLORY heavyweight champion Mory Kromah makes his show debut, talking about training with Ciryl Gane in preparation for Gane’s fight against Alex Pereira, his own title defense against Miloš Cvjetićanin, the impact of Alex Pereira's success, Israel Adesanya, Rico Verhoeven and others on kickboxing’s growth, and more (1:30:28). Wrestler Killer Kross is back in-studio talking about his success since leaving WWE, the state of the industry, his relationship with Tony Khan and talks with AEW, not hearing from HHH after his departure, his feelings about WrestleMania 42, defending his MLW title against Matt Riddle, the greatness of AAA’s mask vs. mask match, and more (1:57:47). Ariel Helwani wraps the show with Super Chats (3:02:47).
Solomonster opens with an update on the WWE shareholder lawsuit that was supposed to go to trial this week, but has been settled in principle. Plus, Money in the Bank again gets moved to a new date (01:26). Next, discussion of Chad Gable reappearing on WWE television after his Match of the Year in Mexico, what he should be doing at SummerSlam, and Eric Bischoff says we may see Gable in Real American Freestyle (6:32). Then, the next potential Bloodline member was spotted at the WWE Performance Center on Monday (14:27), and where things stand with the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, including a total burial of Smackdown so far (15:57). Why Mick Foley is totally wrestling in AEW, a lot sooner than he even suggests (25:11), and thoughts on an excellent episode of Dynamite, which included an injury to MJF and the return of Mercedes Mone (32:55). Two TNA stars request and receive their releases, including a former champion, as the talent exodus continues and why it’s about to get even worse (49:06). Police finally rule on Hulk Hogan’s death, despite questions that remain from his daughter (1:00:06), and Rick Martel clarifies his comments on the WWE Hall of Fame (1:03:35).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a recap of his NBA Finals experience and watching the New York Knicks (09:13). Tommy Fury comes on to preview his upcoming boxing match against Eddie Hall, discussing the weight advantage Hall will have, having no interest in fighting Darren Till after their failed first booking, recent comments by Carl Froch, and more (33:43). Former Knicks forward Steve Novak joins Ariel in-studio to break down all things Knicks, including his feelings about the current NBA Finals and stories from his own career, behind-the-scenes of Linsanity, his iconic belt celebration, working as an analyst for MSG Networks, and more (1:03:55). Katie Taylor talks about finally having the opportunity to headline Croke Park, this being the final fight of her illustrious career, and more (1:58:07). Alex Pereira returns ahead of his Freedom 250 fight against Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title to talk about his preparation and added weight, Josh Hokit’s inflammatory comments, his newfound friendship with Ilia Topuria, Rico Verhoeven’s performance against Oleksandr Usyk, wanting to return quickly, and more (2:23:59). Ariel and the gang cover news and notes, including more UFC Freedom 250 updates (3:01:03), before answering Super Chats (3:45:00).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with more excitement for the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals run, before recapping the weekend. The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join him to discuss Ilia Topuria saying Justin Gaethje made their fight personal, Arman Tsarukyan claiming he wagered $1 million on Gaethje, Sean Strickland’s White House drama, Dana White suggesting Alex Pereira could become MMA’s GOAT, and more (01:36). Diego Lopes is back on the show, previewing his meeting with Steve Garcia at the White House, then talking about frustrations with things being taken out of context in the media, lessons learned from his two fights against Alex Volkanovski, his prediction for Volkanovski’s presumed title defense against Movsar Evloev, and more (37:01). Darren Till returns to recap his big BKFC debut, shoot down accusations of PED use due to his transformed physique, express interest in fighting Mike Perry and Yoel Romero, tease a potential return to MMA, weigh in on Eddie Hearn’s handling of Tom Aspinall’s career, and more (1:03:17). Steve Garcia joins the show to discuss the Lopes fight, competing on the White House lawn, feeling disrespected by not having more notoriety despite his success, teammate Holly Holm’s controversial loss to Stephanie Han, his love of golf, and more (1:32:05). Levy Rozman, aka chess International Master “GothamChess,” joins Ariel in-studio to talk about his life and career, the recent popularity of chess, building a successful YouTube channel, his combat sports fandom and training, and more. Then Levy takes Ariel to chess school (2:01:31)! Ariel closes the show with news and notes, including Dana White and Eddie Hearn’s latest war of words (3:05:03), before answering your Super Chats (3:35:03).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes return for another edition of The Craic. Chuck kicks off the show by sharing his plans to attend the UFC White House card in person (4:43). Paramount also weighed in on its partnership with the UFC, outlining what they hope to achieve through the deal (16:30). After years of speculation, Croke Park is officially set to host Katie Taylor’s next fight. Petesy sheds light on the mood in Ireland ahead of the historic event (43:30). Fellow Irishman Conor McGregor’s reported sparring partners have also come to light. Are these the right names to help prepare him for his return (54:58)? Michael Bisping had some harsh words for Tom Aspinall regarding his recovery from eye injury. The lads examine Bisping’s apparent change in stance (59:50). To close up shop, the boys look ahead to PFL action (01:10:05), before answering your Super Chats (01:32:21).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing the recent WBO ordering of Devin Haney vs. Keyshawn Davis at welterweight, including if the fight will happen, who will win, and the entire welterweight picture at this very moment (03:18). Lamont Roach is returning to the ring and the lightweight division as his fight with William Zepeda was made official for Aug. 1 in Las Vegas for the vacant WBC title (14:38). Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki is this weekend’s fight to keep an eye on and we have your picks for this one (26:59). We end the show with your voicemails, ranging from favorite pizza spot on Long Island, to Tank Davis’ status, to what we do not like about the changes being made to the Muhammad Ali Revival Act (33:03).
After reading your five-star podcast reviews (04:02) and tackling some news and notes (08:03), The Boys in the Back react to Sean Strickland claiming he was banned from attending the UFC White House card (11:53), leading to a back-and-forth with headliner Justin Gaethje. Tom Aspinall also came out and said he wasn't invited to attend the event. The Boys then preview UFC Vegas 118 (39:20) and give their picks (1:07:21), before delivering their P4P worst mic moments (1:12:45). The show closes with your voicemails (1:45:19) and Super Chats (2:14:54).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reveling in scenes from the New York Knicks’ NBA Finals appearance, before answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Action Bronson’s brilliance, whether Tom Aspinall vs. Francis Ngannou is a realistic fight, the strength of the UFC White House card, and more (00:57). Dakota Ditcheva is back on the show to talk about her fight against Denise Kielholtz, why there’s no PFL belt on the line, returning from injury, wanting to retire by the time she’s 32 years old, her criticism of Ronda Rousey’s comments about Khamzat Chimaev, and more (58:28). Holly Holm returns on the heels of her loss to Stephanie Han to discuss the scoring of the fight, frustrations with the referee for their first fight in Puerto Rico, whether she believes she’ll end up facing Katie Taylor, potential fights against Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey, and more (1:35:56). BKFC President David Feldman joins to talk about Darren Till’s impressive promotional debut, Mike Perry’s contract status, a timeline for the $25 million “World’s Baddest Man” tournament, whether Conor McGregor will compete for the promotion when his UFC deal ends, and more (2:08:51). Cory Sandhagen is back to break down his rematch against Mario Bautista, give his predictions for Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi and Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway, explain his social media voice, his friendship with the late Chuck Norris, and more (2:35:55). After answering more On The Nose questions (3:09:08), Ariel tackles Super Chats (3:22:46).
Solomonster opens with his thoughts on the greatest all-around spectacle of the year in pro wrestling and the fumble WWE is making if they don’t capitalize on things with Chad Gable (0:28:24). Then, he dives into Clash in Italy, including Brock Lesnar beating Oba Femi and why it wasn’t necessary. Plus Jacob Fatu drops two straight to Roman Reigns, and why a conversation needs to be had about WWE's infatuation with the Bloodline (12:17). Thoughts on the the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments, potential winners, and why one hand doesn’t know what the other hand is doing when it comes to King of the Ring announcements (34:10). Reaction to a former WWE intercontinental champion being arrested in an embarrassing McDonald’s Drive Thru incident (49:34). AEW announces a new PPV event for Montreal, why it feels like Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay will main event at Wembley Stadium, and how AEW plans to fill the TBS championship vacancy (53:09). TNA contract news on Leon Slater and why they allegedly did not allow him to break the record for longest-reigning X Division champion (58:56). Ric Flair has another social media meltdown, this time dragging his son publicly and threatening to sue him (1:01:23) and an ex-WWE writer reveals a pitch for a terrible nWo reboot in 2020 that nearly became a reality (1:05:42).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by covering some news and notes (TIME). Mick Foley joins the show, discussing his decision to cut ties with WWE due to associations with President Trump, his decision to sign with AEW, his relationship with Tony Khan and role for the promotion, how the AEW product compares to WWE’s offering, being a mentor for up-and-coming talent, whether he has any career regrets, his love of boxing, and more (17:01). Scott Coker is in-studio to talk about his return to the MMA industry, the end of Bellator and why he didn’t end up with PFL, how long this league was in the works, plans for tournaments and broadcast partners, the state of the sport and potential UFC competitors, Dana White’s promotional tactics, funding for the new promotion, and more (1:04:38). Olympic bronze medalist and big-time boxing prospect Omari Jones makes his show debut, talking about his pro success, finding himself in the middle of Xander Zayas and ‘Boots’ Ennis drama, getting his start in karate before moving to boxing, being around the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry during his time at the Olympics, Jake Paul training at the Olympic training center, and more (2:04:17). WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster is our final guest of the day, recapping his win over Ray Ford, then discussing his heated exchange with Shakur Stevenson after the fight, the viral moment where Foster threw Ford through the ropes, whether he believes the fight with Stevenson will be made, stories from their training sessions, overcoming difficult circumstances early in his life, and more (2:36:15). Ariel brings in the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to cover some news and notes, including escalating trash talk between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, Georges St-Pierre revealing his demands at the time for an Anderson Silva fight, Alex Pereira appearing in the new A24 film, and more (2:58:41). The show closes with your Super Chats (3:22:02).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing the recent WBC ruling that Noel Mikaelian must fight David Benavidez or be stripped of his title. Mikaelian was close to finalizing a deal with lineal champion Jai Opetaia. It’s a messy situation that has a lot of ramifications for the future of the sport (02:19). Dmitry Bivol returned to the ring this weekend and pitched a shutout over Michael Eifert, showing he still has it. Will he fight David Benavidez next or will he get a third fight with Artur Beterbiev (15:46)? O’Shaquie Foster defeated Ray Ford in a very nip-and-tuck fight that saw him pull away late. Shakur Stevenson then entered the ring which led to a debate on who Foster should fight next. Fellow champion Emanuel Navarette is the clear choice if Foster wants to unify the titles (24:26). Over in El Paso, Texas, Stephanie Han defeated Holly Holm in a fight many thought Holm won. Will Caroline Dubois be next for Han? Can Holm still get the Katie Taylor fight despite coming off a loss (38:39)? Amanda Serrano got a stoppage win and tied Christy Martin’s knockout record. She has mentioned retiring at the end of the year (45:15).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping a massive combat sports weekend, including Stephanie Han’s win over Holly Holm, UFC Macau and Road to UFC, Darren Till’s BKFC debut, Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington’s RAF rivalry, and more (07:14). Music and entertainment icon Action Bronson returns to drop knowledge about a multitude of things, including his New York Knicks being in the NBA Finals, his new album Planet Frog, his thoughts on some upcoming UFC fights, and more (1:03:03). Ben Askren joins to announce that he’ll be wrestling Belal Muhammad for RAF, talking about overcoming his near-fatal health crisis, his preparation for the match, recognizing similarities between his situation and that of NASCAR’s Kyle Busch, who recently died from pneumonia, how he thinks Gable Steveson will do in the UFC, his prediction for Tsarukyan vs. Covington, and more (1:33:51). Ariel and the crew cover some more news and notes, including action from the boxing world, AAA’s mask vs. mask match, Katie Taylor teasing her final fight, UFC releasing soccer merch ahead of the World Cup, and more (2:09:48). Arman Tsarukyan is back following another RAF win to detail his future plans in the wrestling world, provide thoughts on Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, react to Colby Covington’s callout, give insights into Khamzat Chimaev's difficult UFC 328 weight cut, react to Ryan Garcia talking about their bet, and more (3:18:53). Ariel wraps up the show with a few more news items, including Dana White’s recent comments about mental health and Anderson Silva, and Eddie Hearn calling for Tom Aspinall’s release (4:03:51), before answering your Super Chats (4:53:35).
The Craic is back! This time, it’s the duo of Petesy Carroll and Ben Fowlkes chopping it up. To kick things off, the lads react to construction beginning for the UFC's White House card (03:38), along with Joe Rogan’s criticisms of the event (25:20). The promotion behind the White House event has been relentless. Does Dana White deserve more credit for his recent media tour (38:10)? The UFC President also opened up about the circumstances around Anderson Silva’s exit from the organization, which the boys discuss (44:02). UFC Macau is this weekend, so Petesy and Ben talk the early start time and what the card has to offer (52:00). Holly Holm’s boxing return (58:38) and Darren Till’s BKFC debut (01:02:06) also feature on this weekend’s slate. To close the show, the duo answer your Super Chats (01:17:40).
Since Rico Verhoeven’s near-upset of Oleksandr Usyk, the boxing/MMA communities have been debating what the most difficult combat sport is: boxing, MMA or kickboxing? Chris Algieri breaks it down as someone who spent time practicing both boxing and kickboxing (06:17). O’Shaquie Foster vs. Ray Ford for Foster’s WBC super featherweight title is the big fight of the weekend and we break down who could come out on top. Over in El Paso, Texas, Stephanie Han puts her title on the line in a rematch vs. MMA/Boxing legend Holly Holm and Amanda Serrano returns, looking to inch closer to the women’s knockout record (13:31). Dmitry Bivol returns this weekend from an extended absence due to back surgery, taking on his mandatory, Michael Eifert. How much does Bivol have left in the tank and will we get the Betervbiev trilogy or a fight with David Benavidez (27:57)?
After reading your five-star podcast reviews (04:01), the Boys in the Back spotlight soaring ticket prices for Conor McGregor's return against Max Holloway at UFC 329 and wonder whether the price is worth it (06:34). Next, they react to Dana White's recent comments about UFC fighter pay when compared to the WNBA (32:14) and the potential of a Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm rematch (46:36). Then, they touch on chatter about Khamzat Chimaev's nightmare weight cut (1:02:08), more Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev talk (1:03:52), and results from Road to UFC (1:10:29). The Boys preview UFC Macau (1:24:24) and Darren Till's BKFC debut (1:43:52), before making picks and acknowledging this week's lack of a P4P segment (1:48:40). The show ends with your voicemails (2:01:17) and Super Chats (2:32:21).
Ariel Helwani starts today’s show by answering your On The Nose questions, touching on the New York Knicks’ success, best all-time walkouts, running into Jake Shields, the scorecards for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, and more blind rankings (04:52). Rising PFL prospect Patrick Habirora joins to recap his massive win over Benson Henderson and discuss criticism of the booking, his callout of Mike Perry, who he wants to fight next, and his relationship with the promotion (40:53). Colby Covington is back on the show to reveal details of his sudden retirement, including conversations with the UFC, then talks about his full-time move into wrestling, the RAF matchups he’s chasing, UFC’s White House card, the lack of animosity between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland after their fight, whether he belongs in the UFC Hall of Fame, and more (1:04:42). Holly Holm returns to preview her rematch with Stephanie Han under the MVP banner, also discussing how much longer she plans to compete, potentially being Katie Taylor’s final opponent, Ronda Rousey coming out of retirement and the possibility of a rematch, and more (1:49:32). Boxer Adam Azim is our final guest of the day, looking ahead to his bout against Steve Claggett, then detailing his training for the fight, his desire to retire at just 31 years old, how he viewed the Usyk vs. Verhoeven controversy, praying with his opponents after their fight, and more (2:14:32). Ariel and the crew come back to cover news and notes (2:32:46), finish up On The Nose (3:13:38), and answer your Super Chats (3:44:28).
Solomonster is back with a full review of AEW Double or Nothing, by far the best wrestling show of 2026. Plus, FTR contract news with potential WWE interest, a Jim Ross health update, and thoughts on Darby Allin’s run as AEW World champion (1:56). Then, reaction to MJF singling out Malakai Black as one of the ex-AEW talents who thought the WWE grass was greener, and why Black may have been keen on leaving to go back after Vince McMahon fell out of power (40:10). Thoughts on Ludwig Kaiser a.k.a. El Grande Americano being arrested last week and what it means for his big push (47:05). More on Saturday Night’s Main Event, including Logan Paul sustaining a torn triceps, and what it means for the Raw tag team titles (52:19). WWE Clash in Italy preview and predictions, including which matches will open the show, and why Brock Lesnar doesn't need to win to get to a trilogy match with Oba Femi at Summerslam (57:40). An update from AEW star Kota Ibushi, who acknowledges he won’t be wrestling again anytime soon, and a fatal accident on Sunday claims the life of a wrestler at a lucha libre show in Mexico (1:10:56).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by celebrating the continued fairy-tale run of his New York Knicks, then discussing an eclectic combat sports weekend that included the controversial ending to Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven (13:00). WBO super middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz joins the show following his knockout of Alem Begic, talking about what’s next, expressing his interest in fighting Canelo, and more (41:01). Rico Verhoeven is back to break down the controversy around his fight with Usyk, then talks about being able to defy expectations, being happy with his performance, how he scored the rounds, wanting an apology from the officials, what he plans to do next, talks of fighting Francis Ngannou, and more (58:19). Peter Fury, Verheoven’s coach, joins to give his thoughts on the fight, then discuss his training with Verhoeven over the years, their game plan, speaking with the referee after the bout, also working with Tom Aspinall, and more (1:48:14). BOXXER headman Ben Shalom is our final guest of the day, reacting to the outcome of Usyk vs. Verhoeven, then talks about Adam Azim upcoming bout against Steve Claggett, the promotion’s broadcast deal with the BBC, Ben Whittaker signing with Matchroom, the contract status of Chris Eubank Jr., and more (2:17:32). Ariel covers some more news and notes, including other action from the weekend, White House updates, Conor McGregor’s recent training, and more (2:46:34), before ending with your Super Chats (3:22:34).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing Oleksandr Usyk’s late-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven, including the controversy, Verhoeven’s outstanding performance, and whether Usyk has finally lost a step. Will we see a rematch or will Usyk finally face Agit Kabayel (00:28)? Frank Sanchez scored an emphatic knockout over Richard Torrez that left the boxing world stunned. With the win, Sanchez became the mandatory for Usyk’s IBF belt. Where does Torrez go from here (34:30)? The boys also break down the rest of the main card, which saw Hamzah Sheeraz capture his first world title against an overmatched Alem Begic and Jack Catterall’s dominant win over Shakhram Giyasov, which lines up some big future fights (44:28). Finally, on Friday night, fast-rising prospect Amari Jones scored a quick knockout of Vincenzo Gualtieri, which puts him one step closer to a middleweight title shot (52:32).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back on The Craic. Following Scott Coker’s announced return to MMA, the crew discuss the future of emerging promotions and what it could mean for industry-leading UFC (05:18). One of those promotions is MVP. Attention turns to what the company’s record-breaking numbers actually mean given its Netflix collaboration (43:43). Colby Covington has hung up the MMA gloves. They reflect on the timing of the retirement, just one month out from the UFC White House card (49:50). Another recent annoucement is the return of Conor McGregor. Did the UFC fumble the reveal of his comeback? (58:15). One fight flying under the radar is Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven in Giza. The lads preview the crossover matchup (01:02:10). After a quick preview of PFL Brussels (01:10:30), the boys close the show by answering your Super Chats (01:21:35).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri kick off the show breaking down the heavyweight title fight between champion Oleksandr Usyk and kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven. Why is this fight happening? Does Verhoeven have any shot at all (01:03)? We introduce a new segment to the show and lay out the odds for the Usyk-Verhoeven fight as well as the co-main event which features Richard Torrez Jr. stepping up to face veteran Frank Sanchez (28:42). The rest of the undercard features the return of Hamzah Sheeraz fighting for the vacant WBO 168-pound title against unknown German Alem Begic. Could Sheeraz fight Jaime Munguia or Canelo Alvarez next? The other notable undercard fight is a WBA interim title fight between Shakram Giyasov and Jack Catterall (38:01). Finally, Ryan Garcia recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and announced his next fight against Conor Benn. Do we believe Ryan? Will Zuffa and Golden Boy play nice and do business together (52:28).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Scott Coker re-entering the MMA world (06:19), Khabib Nurmagomedov pushing back against Dana White's claims about his retirement (10:12), the arrest of wrestler Ludwig Kaiser (20:20), and trash talk between Ilia Topuria and Ryan Garcia regarding a hypothetical boxing match (24:22). Then, they discuss Conor McGregor's return and speculate on his next few fights (28:56) and preview a weekend that includes Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, PFL Brussels, and Brandrisk 014 (51:33). Ariel Helwani joins the show to give further details about Coker's plans for his new promotion (1:18:52). The Boys debut video from their California training sessions with UFC fighters (01:35:59), then deliver a particularly convoluted P4P list (02:04:04). The show closes as always with voicemails (02:33:30) and Super Chats (02:45:36).
Ariel Helwani kicks off with a recap of last night’s spectacular win by his New York Knicks and Arsenal winning the Premier League title (23:47). Most Valuable Promotions CEO Nakisa Bidarian is back to address fan criticism of the promotion’s MMA debut on Netflix, then discuss the event’s viewership numbers, UFC announcing Conor McGregor’s return during Francis Ngannou’s walkout, how many events they plan to do in the future, Jake Paul’s return from the jaw injury he suffered against Anthony Joshua, and more (31:21). Old friend Alistair Overeem returns to the show to talk about a potential comeback, his role as an analyst for Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, and then break down the heavyweight clash (1:04:49). Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, makes his show debut to discuss all things related to the proposed Ali Revival Act, including Zuffa Boxing’s role and intentions, the Congressional committee hearing, the narrative that boxing needs to be fixed, and more (1:30:53). Phumi Nkuta joins Ariel in-studio, reflecting on his controversial loss to Adriano Moraes, talking about the sequence leading to the submission attempt, Moraes holding the choke after the bell, the referee’s decision to grant Moraes the win, appealing the result and what he hopes to achieve, why he hasn’t been offered a UFC contract, and more (2:05:33). The show closes with some news and notes (2:55:14) and Super Chats (3:28:29).
Solomonster is back with thoughts on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano “fight” on Netflix, as well as a controversial finish during the preliminary fights, featuring a pro wrestler (0:37). Thoughts on John Cena being treated for a medical condition and more information about the John Cena Classic (4:27), plus Brock Lesnar’s surprise return on Raw to destroy Oba Femi, Tribal Combat added to the Clash in Italy card, and hollow justice for Stephanie Vaquer’s alleged abuser (8:14). Then, the latest on Randy Orton injury reports, and the former WWE star that could be coming back (21:30), a preview and predictions for Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Sports Illustrated saying WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley could be on his way to AEW (29:28). Thoughts on the brackets for the men’s and women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournaments, plus an AEW Double or Nothing preview and predictions (43:32). Why Road Warrior Animal’s widow was furious after A&E’s Biography, plus a WILD story as former WWE star Reginald reveals how he nearly ended up in the WrestleMania main event (57:15).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with a media discussion, sparked by NBA insider Shams Charania’s recent reporting of NBA’s MVP award (10:21). Carlos Prates is back to reflect on his dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena, then talks about deserving the next title shot, facing Michael Morales in the future, Mauricio Ruffy’s relationship with The Fighting Nerds, a dream fight against Ilia Topuria, and more (32:05). Ariel and the gang answer On The Nose questions, with topics including their adventures in Hollywood, Conor McGregor’s return announcement, reactions to Netflix’s MMA debut, and more (1:02:21). Maxwell Jacob Friedman (a.k.a. MJF) joins Ariel in-studio, discussing Tony Khan’s growth, wrestling fans being disenfranchised, the strength of the AEW roster, having unfinished business with Darby Allin, WrestleMania 42, Danhausen’s success, legends Steve Austin, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels, his 2024 free agency, and more (1:44:57). Ariel and The Boys in the Back close the show with some news and notes, more On The Nose questions, and your Super Chats (3:03:44).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping his time in Los Angeles, before the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join to give their own perspective on Netflix’s first MMA offering, including the card, the crowd, UFC announcing Conor McGregor’s return during the event, and more (06:50). Mike Perry is back to break down his massive win against Nate Diaz, then pivot to future plans, including talks of a Diaz rematch, potentially fighting Jorge Masvidal, and even a meeting down the line with Conor McGregor (1:01:54). Referee Herb Dean joins the show to discuss the controversial ending to Adriano Moraes win over Phumi Nkuta, Francis Ngannou’s vicious knockout of Philipe Lins, procedures followed by combat sports officials, new language proposed for assessing fouls, open scoring, and more (1:32:57). Arnold Allen returns on the heels of his hard-earned victory against Melky Costa to talk about the fight, traveling with his cat during fight week, some of his recent funny social media posts, and more (2:04:14). Jason Jackson makes his show debut, looking back at his lightning-fast knockout on the MVP MMA card, then discussing not getting a performance bonus, his early life in Jamaica, being open to fighting Cedric Doumbe, his truck he named “Clifford,” training with his son Jelani, and more (2:37:11). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll rejoin Ariel to cover news and notes, including Conor McGregor’s return and the announcement timing, who Francis Ngannou should fight, Nate Diaz’s next move, Jon Jones wanting out of his UFC contract, and more (3:10:43). The show ends with your Super Chats (4:28:00).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show recapping Keyshawn Davis’ dominant win over Nahir Albright and what could be next for the talented fighter out of Norfolk, Virginia, including title shots at 140 pounds, a potential Devin Haney showdown, and more (06:40). Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic was successful in his return, stopping journeyman Dave Allen in three rounds, as rumors swirl he will be Moses Itauma's next opponent. Plus, Fabio Wardley exercised his rematch clause with Daniel Dubois, so we could see another epic fight later this year (38:49). Finally, Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli has been finalized for September 12 in Saudi Arabia, which leads to a discussion about Canelo no longer fighting in America (47:12).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back with The Craic. This weekend’s highly anticipated matchup between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano is on everyone’s mind. The boys debate whether the Netflix card can compete with the UFC (02:31). They then break down the co-main event between Francis Ngannou and Phillipe Lins (40:52), followed by a preview of the guaranteed brawl between Nate Diaz and Mike Perry (46:13). The lads give their official picks for this weekend (56:50), break down this weekend UFC Apex card (01:03:02), then close up shop by answering your Super Chats (01:05:58).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri kick off the show discussing Ring Magazine’s report of Vasiliy Lomachenko coming out of retirement for “massive fights. Could it be a Shakur Stevenson showdown or perhaps a fight with Gervonta Davis? Why is Lomachenko returning; money grab or does he legitimately want to achieve more (09:53)? Keyshawn Davis returns to the ring against Nahir Albright in a fight that Davis admits he did not even want. Who could Davis fight next if he is victorious (33:50)? Lastly, top-rated heavyweight Filip Hrgovic takes on upset-minded Dave Allen this weekend in the UK which leads to a broader discussion around the heavyweight division – could we see Hrgovic in the ring with phenom Moses Itauma this summer (48:48)?
The Boys in the Back are live from Los Angeles, kicking off the show by reading more five-star podcast reviews (04:55). After quickly touching on some news and notes (10:39), they preview the upcoming MVP MMA card, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, on Netflix (14:26). Next, they debut a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring the iconic Dodger Dog (42:32), break down UFC Vegas 117 (53:32), and make picks (1:15:01). The Boys showcase their shopping trip ahead of visiting the Magic Castle (1:23:22) and deliver their P4P Star Wars characters (1:40:42). The show concludes with your voicemails (1:53:55) and soda-fueled Super Chats (2:16:13).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with movie star O’Shea Jackson Jr., who joins him in-studio to talk LA sports, his latest film projects, pro-wrestling, fatherhood, going on tour with his father Ice Cube, and more (03:34). Junior dos Santos is back on the show, previewing his fight against Robelis Despaigne on Netflix, then talking about fellow Brazilians Philipe Lins and Adriano Moraes also competing on the card, potentially rematching Francis Ngannou, significant moments from his illustrious career, maintaining his motivation, and more (1:05:44). PFL CEO John Martin is in-studio to discuss the promotion’s plans and upcoming schedule, their media partnerships and rights, then breaks news of Thad Jean and Shamil Musaev fighting for PFL’s welterweight title in Washington, D.C., the use of AI in promoting fights, and more (1:31:41). Jake Babian joins Ariel in-studio ahead of his big show debut on the undercard of the Netflix MMA card, talking about his rivalry with opponent Namo Fazil, his early life and combat sports journey to this point, and more (2:07:42). Next, video of Ariel’s visit to Dodger Stadium, where he spoke to Dodgers fans about last year’s World Series against the Blue Jays (2:29:45). Petesy Carroll calls in to react to the team’s LA adventure and express his frustration with not being there, then cover some news and notes (2:48:19) and answer your Super Chats (3:26:58). Hall of Fame NFL wide receiver Michael Irvin crashes the studio to tell tales from his playing days, discuss his massive combat sports fandom, touch on football stories with names like Jerry Jones, Bill Belichick, and Mike Vrabel, and more (3:29:50). The Boys in the Back join Ariel for a final meal, before ending the show (4:24:28).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by previewing the show, then addressing his recent back-and-forth with Sean Strickland, touching on other news and notes, and answering Super Chats he missed from yesterday’s show (07:48). Next, video of the crew’s visit to the Santa Monica Pier, including a roller coaster, some basketball, and more (30:38). Chris Avila joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Brandon Jenkins on the Netflix MMA card, speaking on potential rematches against Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis, wanting to fight Tony Ferguson for Misfits, being bothered by the odds for his upcoming fight, venturing into acting, and more (43:31). Bodybuilding star Mike O’Hearn comes in-studio to discuss the beginnings of his career, training with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno from an early age, appearing on American Gladiators alongside Gina Carano, garnering interest from WWE, dispelling claims of PED use, memes and handling viral fame, his martial arts training, and more (1:16:10). Ariel sits down with Nate Diaz for a wide-ranging interview on his decision to fight Mike Perry on Netflix, talks with the UFC about a return, a potential Conor McGregor and Max Holloway fight, the legacy of the BMF title, and more. Plus, stories from his illustrious career and long-standing beefs involving Daniel Cormier and Jake Shields get settled over FaceTime (2:15:45). MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian is in-studio to preview Netflix's MMA card, diving into the business side of the event, how the talent was assembled, viewership expectations, before also discussing TKO’s position in the industry, fighter pay, the Ali Revival Act, Jake Paul’s return, and more (2:56:34). Legendary musician Travis Barker joins Ariel in-studio to talk about his upcoming projects and rabid MMA fandom, including his thoughts on UFC 328 and the aftermath (3:29:00). Magician Ian Michael Scheller wows and amazes Ariel Helwani with tricks, including a few with an MMA twist (4:01:00). The Boys in the Back join Ariel to try some In-N-Out (4:24:01).
Solomonster is back with thoughts on the passing of media mogul Ted Turner and why wrestling would look very different today without him (1:30). Then, he dives into WWE Backlash from Tampa and John Cena’s historic (was it though?) announcement of The John Cena Classic, pitting WWE stars against NXT stars, why the idea could work, but is not without its issues (7:54). AEW sues its former streaming partner, TrillerTV, for $5 million in unpaid money owed to them, what they allege, and the impact a Triller bankruptcy could have on independent wrestling (34:41). The latest on MJF challenging Darby Allin for the AEW World title and what MJF will have to put on the line for it, plus thoughts on AEW hosting a show on an indoor golf course and why we need more wacky venues in wrestling (40:01). Closing out with news on the end of Raja Jackson’s criminal case, Billy Corgan’s NWA touting big ratings on Comet TV, and Sports Illustrated ranking the 20 best wrestlers in WWE history… and yes, there are some issues (46:49).
Ariel Helwani starts the show, live from Los Angeles, by previewing the upcoming week. Then the Boys in the Back join Ariel in-studio to discuss UFC 328, starting with Sean Strickland’s shocking upset of Khamzat Chimaev and whether he should have apologized after the fight, then moving on to the rest of the card (12:46). Sean Brady is back after a big win over Joaquin Buckley, talking about Buckley’s trash talk leading into the fight, the fight’s notable gambling activity, learning from the Michael Morales loss, when he expects to return, wanting to fight Carlos Prates or Kamaru Usman next, and more (1:22:12). Coach Eric Nicksick returns to break down Sean Strickland’s massive victory, including the game plan for Khamzat Chimaev, whether he believes Chimaev made weight, Strickland’s apology in the aftermath, not being surprised by Strickland’s success, where Strickland goes next, and more (1:49:34). UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van celebrates his first title defense, discussing the performance against Tatsuro Taira, his high-volume style, his press conference fit, his budding rivalry with Alexandre Pantoja, when their rematch could take place, Manel Kape showing him respect, and more (2:13:06). Jake Paul joins to preview MVP’s upcoming MMA card on Netflix, looking back at the growth of the promotion, then talking about his relationship with PFL, UFC not trying to counter-program their event, comparisons to the White House card, trash talk in the fight game, viewership expectations for the event, working with Ronda Rousey, meeting Dana White, his return to the ring, and more (2:33:02). Years in the making, Ronda Rousey and Ariel reunite to discuss their various interviews over the years, Rousey’s renewed passion for MMA, maintaining an edge while balancing her love for opponent Gina Carano, her UFC departure, wanting to be the Dana White of Netflix’s MMA offering, her beef with UFC’s Hunter Campbell, believing this will be her last fight, the end of her time at WWE, and more (3:03:38). Ariel reacts to Sean Strickland’s response to his earlier comments (3:37:19), then covers some other news and notes (3:40:20), and samples some famous doughnuts (3:59:42).
We open the show recapping Daniel Dubois' late stoppage of Fabio Wardley to capture the WBO heavyweight title in an all-time thriller of a fight. Is a trilogy with Oleksandr Usyk, a rematch with Wardley, or perhaps a Moses Itauma showdown next for Dubois? Also on the card, David Morrell was upset by massive underdog Zak Chelli (02:55). To end the show, Chris Algieri details IBF featherweight champion Angelo Leo and Ra’eese Aleem’s fight being canceled over Aleem missing weight by 2.8 pounds (33:23).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for the UFC 328 post-fight show, reacting first to Sean Strickland shocking the world again by dethroning Khamzat Chimaev (00:37). After discussing Nassourdine Imavov calling next (21:50), they address Strickland's apologetic post-fight speech (26:33). Next, they revel in the show-stealing co-main event between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira (31:51), including the stoppage (37:27), and Van's callout of Alexandre Pantoja (40:48). Finally, they recap the rest of the card, including the scoring of Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (49:36), Sean Brady's win over Joaquin Buckley (56:46), including the drastic betting line movement, and more (59:35).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes return as usual. First up, the lads react to the fireworks between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland at the UFC 328 press conference (05:10). After predicting what kind of shenanigans could unfold at the pair’s final faceoff (36:19), the boys preview the flyweight title co-main event between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira (41:40). Attention then turns to Dana White’s confidence in Conor McGregor making his long-awaited return this summer (49:29). Elsewhere, recent comments from TKO president Mark Shapiro on the state of the UFC product have come under the microscope (01:01:45). To close the show, the chaps give their UFC 328 picks (01:09:15).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri kick off the show discussing David Benavidez’s recent comments about potentially fighting Dmitry Bivol at a catchweight of 190 pounds. Is Benavidez already looking for a way out of making the 175-pound light heavyweight limit? Ring Magazine also reported a strong desire from Turki Alalshikh for Benavidez to fight heavyweight king, Oleksandr Usyk, in 2027 (03:36). Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois will go at it in a highly-anticipated heavyweight championship fight in Manchester, England. Can Wardley keep the momentum going after big stoppage wins over Justis Huni and Joseph Parker? Dubois, coming off the stoppage loss to Usyk, and could be in a do-or-die situation (23:25). Finally, the guys discuss the upcoming featherweight championship bout between Angelo Leo and Ra’eese Aleem, with the winner potentially squaring off against Naoya Inoue in 2027 (55:01).
The Boys in the Back read your five-star podcast reviews (02:51), before discussing Raja Jackson's plea deal (22:32), Freedom 250 fighters visiting President Donald Trump at the White House (25:23), and another investor call from TKO's Mark Shapiro (32:14). After previewing UFC 328 (55:40) and making picks (1:55:49), they debut a brand new Fight Feasts focused on Burmese food (1:58:59). The show ends with the Boys' P4P lists of diner food (2:12:39), voicemails (2:36:05), and Super Chats (3:14:50).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by honoring media mogul and WCW owner Ted Turner, who passed away Wednesday (10:02). Eric Bischoff joins to celebrate Turner, talking about his impact on the wrestling industry, stories from their time running WCW together, fallout from the Time Warner merger, and more (17:59). Ariel and The Boys in the Back discuss UFC 328, including Khamzat Chimaev releasing sparring footage with Sean Strickland, new trash talk from both sides, and Strickland’s brewing feud with Josh Hokit, then touch on Ciryl Gane’s recent comments about Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria flying to see President Trump at the White House, and more (38:25). Heavyweight boxer Dave Allen previews his upcoming bout against Filip Hrgovic, also speaking about his love of American sitcoms, getting into the management game, Conor Benn leaving Matchroom, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport, and more (57:57). Johnny Eblen joins to discuss his training sessions with Sean Strickland, before PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis joins for their virtual face-to-face, ramping up the intensity before their massive rematch in July (1:35:29). Karate Combat President Asim Zaidi addresses recent criticism the promotion has received, giving details about the brawls involving the Pitbull brothers, Winged C pretending to be blind and walking onto the mat, Larissa Pacheco being matched against an inexperienced fighter, fighters claiming the promotion didn’t pay them, and more (2:04:50). Paulie Malignaggi is back ahead of his next bare-knuckle bout, discussing damage he suffered in his last fight, the Ali Revival Act and the recent Senate committee hearing on the bill, the state of the sport of boxing, and more (2:32:19). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to react to the White House main and co-main event fighters visiting President Trump, Sean Strickland’s media day comments, and more (3:04:43). After answering your On The Nose questions (3:27:14), the show ends with your Super Chats (4:05:45).
Ariel Helwani is joined by the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to UFC Baku announcements, easter eggs in the new EA Sports UFC 6 trailer, and more (07:34). Tatsuro Taira joins the show ahead of his UFC flyweight title fight against Joshua Van at UFC 328, talking about the fight being delayed due to an injury to Van, potentially becoming the first Japanese UFC champion, being inspired by Naoya Inoue’s win over Junto Nakatani, wanting to fight Alexandre Pantoja and Kyoji Horiguchi, and more (12:05). In an awkward interview, Daniel Dubois quickly previews his upcoming WBO heavyweight title fight against Fabio Wardley, before storming off (32:49). Luke Rockhold returns, discussing his involvement with Santo Studio, training sessions with Khamzat Chimaev, Chimaev’s demeanor in light of Sean Strickland’s trash talk, not liking Strickland’s gym etiquette, wanting to face Michael Bisping at a RAF event, and more (1:30:18). Unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez is back on the heels of his massive knockout of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, breaking down the win, his place in the P4P rankings, having no interest in the Zuffa Boxing belts, still being willing to fight Canelo Alvarez, wanting to go back to light heavyweight to face Dmitry Bivol, pressing pause on any heavyweight talks, and more (2:32:08). Ariel wraps up with your Super Chats (3:05:58).
Solomonster is back with thoughts on the unceremonious WWE departures of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, reports of TKO asking to restructure their deals, and why leaving is the best thing that could happen (4:19). Plus, thoughts on additional WWE releases including JC Mateo and Tonga Loa (26:34). Next, WWE Backlash preview and predictions, including John Cena teasing something “epic,” and an update on why Roman Reigns was suddenly pulled from Raw dates in June (31:55). This week, a social media “story” about AEW and Warner Brothers Discovery was treated as gospel, but it wasn't anything we didn’t already know and you should be skeptical about it (55:12). Then, news on Dynamite notching its highest domestic attendance in two years, where things stand for the Double or Nothing card, and a medical update on Kota Ibushi (1:03:39). The show closes with some listener Q&A and a scary health update on Chelsea Green, who was treated for a heart condition and is now on the mend (1:08:31).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with one of Saturday’s big winners, UFC lightweight prospect Quillan Salkilld, discussing his massive knockout of Beneil Dariush, his growing fan base and social media following, his mustache, his callout of Mateusz Gamrot, and more (05:01). Old friend Chael Sonnen is back to chat with Ariel about the UFC’s welterweight title picture, a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, his beef with Jorge Masvidal, the escalating trash talk between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, and more (47:36). Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren returns to talk all things boxing, including David Benavidez’s big win, Fabio Wardley’s title defense against Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma’s next fight moving from July to August, his relationship with Turki Alalshikh, Zuffa Boxing’s first few shows, the Ali Revival Act passing through Congress, talks of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua on Netflix, and more (1:42:13). Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to recap a busy combat sports weekend, touching on the continued back-and-forth between Strickland and Chimaev, the latest White House card updates, Tom Aspinall’s road back to the cage, and more (2:23:30). Ariel closes the show with your Super Chats (3:43:57).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show reacting to David Benavidez’s unreal knockout of Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez to capture the unified cruiserweight championship (03:58). With the win, Benavidez stamped himself as one of the bonafide stars of the sport and could carry the 'Face of Boxing' moniker. Could Dmitry Bivol, Jai Opetaia, or even a run at heavyweight be next (22:00)? The undercard delivered as well with four scintillating fights, from Jaime Munguia’s win over Armando Resendiz, to an all out brawl between Ismael Flores and Isaac Lucero. Oscar Duarte had an up-and-down performance vs. Angel Fierro as well (46:31).
The Craic is back with Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes at the helm. Sean Strickland is back in the headlines with controversial trash talk aimed at upcoming opponent and UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. The trio break down the impact his latest tirade is having on the perception of MMA (4:18). Another fight potentially on the horizon is Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry. Does Garry’s style present real problems for Makhachev (40:45)? Welterweights take center stage at this weekend’s UFC Perth card, where Jack Della Maddalena faces Carlos Prates in a potential firefight, but will the lads be tuning in for the early start (46:19)? After spotlighting Ben Fowlkes’ latest Uncrowned piece on Sonny Liston (1:03:15), they close the show by getting to your Super Chats (01:12:23).
David Benavidez vs. Gilberto Ramirez is here! Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show breaking down the cruiserweight title fight, both men's chances, how much of a star Benavidez could be if he wins and gets Dmitry Bivol next (08:04). The undercard is loaded as well, with a 168-pound title fight between champion Armando Resendiz and Jaime Munguia, and a can’t-miss fight between Oscar Duarte and Angel Fierro (40:06). Finally, we are one day closer to Naoya Inoue putting all his titles on the line vs. fellow countryman Junto Nakatani in the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. Dan and Chris give their final thoughts on the fight (45:04).
The Boys in the Back start the show, as usual, with a reading of five-star podcast reviews (01:32), before hitting some news & notes (13:59). Then, they break down the UFC's welterweight title picture (15:55), including a preview of UFC Perth (30:55).  After touching on this weekend's major boxing action and PFL (1:01:33), they make picks (1:10:52) and deliver their P4P nightmare scenarios (1:14:34).  The Boys end the show by listening to your voicemails (2:01:14) and answering your Super Chats (2:49:54).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by announcing a live show in New York City before UFC 328, then brings in The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss Skye Nicolson banking another win, Takeru taking out Rodtang in his retirement fight, whether Sean Strickland’s verbal jabs have crossed the line, the build for his fight against Khamzat Chimaev, and more (16:07). Jorge Masvidal and Yoel Romero join the show together, talking about Romero’s upcoming fight for Masvidal’s bare-knuckle promotion, a potential return to the cage for Masvidal, Masvidal’s beef and war of words with Chael Sonnen, Masvidal being offered a fight against Darren Till, Romero wanting to fight Anderson Silva before retiring, and more (1:14:15). Wrestling legend Matt Hardy is back in-studio to talk about his recent run with TNA, the relationship between TNA and WWE, his own relationship with the WWE, including with President Nick Khan, being a locker room leader for TNA, stories from Wrestlers’ Court, his friendship with the Undertaker, other tales from his illustrious career, his thoughts on WrestleMania 42, and more (1:34:09). Ariel reacts to the Hardy interview, before touching on Jake Paul calling out Ilia Topuria, a run-in between Ryan Garcia and Henry Cejudo, Arman Tsarukyan saying he was offered a fight against Michael Chandler, and answering your Super Chats (2:18:33). Merab Dvalishvili is our final guest of the day, talking about training with Gina Carano ahead of her Ronda Rousey bout, recovering from his recently broken nose, Henry Cejudo pulling out of their RAF match, his feelings on Arman Tsarukyan, wrestling against Frankie Edgar, when he expects to have the Petr Yan trilogy fight, his prediction that Sean O’Malley will beat Aiemann Zahabi, and more (2:56:17). Ariel ends the show with more Super Chats (3:32:27).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look at the first faceoff between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates and a skit from Quillan Salkilld (06:59). Friend of the show Arnold Allen returns to talk about his upcoming fight against Melky Costa, the state of UFC’s featherweight division and who should get the next title shot, running into former opponent Jean Silva, training with Aiemann Zahabi and his prediction for the Sean O'Malley fight, and more (10:05). KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries joins to discuss his 14th consecutive title defense and 17th straight win, wanting a superfight against Francis Ngannou, his rituals and superstitions, and more (41:21). Promoter Lou DiBella is back to touch on hot-button boxing topics, including the early days of Zuffa Boxing, Conor Benn’s big money signing, Eddie Hearn’s rivalry with Dana White, Anthony Joshua fighting Kristian Prenga rather than Tyson Fury, the Ali Revival Act making its way through Congress, Jake Paul’s latest moves, the state of the industry, and more (1:05:19). Ariel is joined by The Boys in and Back and Petesy Carroll for On The Nose, with questions about Jiri Prochazka’s recent appearance on the show, Aljamain Sterling’s historical ranking, what’s at stake for Michael Chandler in June, the NBA playoffs, MMA’s intersection with politics, and more (2:10:31). Ariel closes the show with your Super Chats (3:14:26).
Jason Solomon is back with a lot to say about the latest round of WWE roster cuts, including one surprising name (04:18). Plus, why people need to stop putting all the blame on TKO, Nick Khan playing the straw man game at a WWE town hall, and more (30:24). Next, news on NXT PLEs finding a new home, Smackdown reverting back to two hours and why this is a good move (34:25). Then, thoughts on a big main event signed for Backlash, the Oba Femi open challenge and his direction heading into SummerSlam, and which Smackdown star wants to be a Paul Heyman Girl (41:39). Plus, a review of Hulk Hogan “Real American” Netflix docuseries, what’s there, what’s missing, and whether it’s worth watching (56:03). Closing out with news on a potential Lucha Underground revival, the North Carolina town paying homage to Andre the Giant, and some listener Q&A (1:12:11).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a recap of his travels and thoughts on Netflix’s Hulk Hogan docuseries, before reacting to Aljamain Sterling’s win over Youssef Zalal and what it means for the UFC’s featherweight division, as well as the rest of the card (05:04). Jiří Procházka returns to discuss his experience as a new father, reflect on the UFC 327 loss to Carlos Ulberg, react to Ulberg’s recent comments, express his interest in a rematch, explain what improvements he will make moving forward, call for fights against Paulo Costa and Magomed Ankalaev, and more (32:26). Davey Grant joins on the heels of his win against Adrian Luna Martinetti to talk about moving his family to Las Vegas, his children taking up the family business, his martial arts journey, what he wants next, and more (57:53). Ariel gives his reaction to recent hints dropped by Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett about their next bookings (1:26:15). Aljamain Sterling is our final guest of the day, breaking down Saturday’s victory, making his case for a fight against Alex Volkanovski, then discussing his relationship with the UFC, clapping back at fans on social media, what his legacy will be, and more (1:31:57). Ariel brings back The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to cover recent news, including UFC’s Serbian debut, talks of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua finally happening, Dana White at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Khamzat Chimaev and Kayla Harrison firing shots at Ronda Rousey, and more (2:12:16). Finally, Ariel and crew answer your Super Chats (3:41:58).
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are ready to do battle in what is being billed as the biggest fight in Japanese history. Inoue is the favorite, but has shown some vulnerabilities over his last few fights. Can Nakatani, a former champion in his own right, pull off the upset (04:42)? Jarrell Miller picked up a hard-fought victory over Lenier Pero in Las Vegas and quickly called out Deontay Wilder. Wilder is mulling his options after defeating Derek Chisora last month. A Miller vs. Wilder scrap would be a banger at heavyweight, so the guys weigh in (48:19).
The Craic is back! This time, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are joined by special guest John S. Nash. First up, Nash sheds light on the latest regarding the Ali Revival Act after the Senate hearing debating its merits (1:10). Then, the lads turn to RAF’s recent momentum, following the news of Khamzat Chimaev’s signing (40:27). With the White House card looming, does Alex Pereira becoming the promotion’s first three-division champion put him in the GOAT conversation (50:02)? UFC returns to the Apex this weekend. Petesy and the boys preview Aljamain Sterling vs. Youssef Zalal (1:19:00) and close the show with some classic Craic banter.
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by celebrating the anniversary of an important show moment (06:54), then cover news and notes from the combat world (12:16). They react to the recent war of words between UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and top contender Arman Tsarukyan (24:16), before previewing UFC Vegas 116 from top to bottom (53:53). After making picks (1:25:26), the Boys deliver their P4P superheroes (1:27:07), listen to your voicemails (1:55:34), and answer your Super Chats (2:50:46).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing the most recent Senate hearing around the Ali Revival Act. It was Nick Khan representing TKO vs. boxing's side of Oscar De La Hoya and Nico Ali Walsh. Both sides made their points and the bill will now go to the Senate floor (02:13). Next up, Richardson Hitchins who signed with Zuffa Boxing recently, announced he is vacating his 140-pound title and moving to welterweight (30:03). Could he fight Devin Haney this summer? Speaking of Haney, he has been very quiet to start 2026. What’s next (37:16)? Lastly, the only major fight of the weekend is in the heavyweight division as Jarrell Miller, fresh off losing his hairpiece, fights Lenier Pero from Las Vegas (47:40)!
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with living legend Ric Flair, who gives his reaction to WrestleMania 42, then speaks about his daughter Charlotte’s career, Dennis Rodman asking Flair to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame, feeling a lack of respect from WWE, his admiration for Stephanie McMahon, his relationship with AEW’s Tony Khan, the state of the industry, and more (03:54). Ariel is joined The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to answer your On The Nose questions, with topics including Mike Perry’s next move, Joe Rogan interviewing losing fighters, Nate Diaz’s BMF status, and more (1:00:59). David Benavidez is back to preview his bout against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, talking about moving up to cruiserweight, why the Dmitry Bivol fight didn’t materialize, Jai Opetaia signing with Zuffa Boxing, sparring with Bivol previously, training with NBA star Damian Lillard, and more (1:36:44). Unified lightweight champion Caroline Dubois returns to recap her win over Terri Harper, respond to Alycia Baumgardner’s recent comments, double down on her callout of Baumgardner, express interest in fighting Elif Nur Turhan, and more (2:03:58). Arman Tsarukyan is our final guest of the day, looking back at his RAF match against Urijah Faber, saying he wanted to hurt Faber during their viral fall off the mat, before discussing potential wrestling matches against Colby Covington and Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria’s comments about him and whether they’ll end up fighting next, his bet with Ryan Garcia, his American Airlines incident, and more (2:32:08). Ariel and the Boys return for more On The Nose questions (3:17:26), reaction to the Senate hearing regarding the Ali Revival Act, (3:39:24) and Super Chats (3:53:26).
Jason Solomon is back and has mixed feelings on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, as well as changes needed for it going forward, and ESPN's Andreas Hale not being credentialed for WrestleMania (05:47). He reviews both nights of WrestleMania, focusing in on how TKO does business, writing off the dumb Pat McAfee angle, ending strong with an outstanding Sunday main event, and Brock Lesnar’s possible retirement (15:52). Plus, a new opponent for Roman Reigns heading into Backlash, a big tease for a future Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk match, and a series of NXT callups on Raw (45:01). Then, thoughts on Darby Allin squashing MJF in two minutes to win the AEW world championship on Dynamite, the way they built up to it, and why this was not a “burial” of MJF (55:32). Closing out with news on why former UFC champion Josh Barnett is shuttering his Bloodsport shows, and the death of a former WCW star (1:05:07).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by touching on the NBA playoff battle between his New York Knicks and GC’s Atlanta Hawks, as well as Jiri Prochazka’s latest statement (02:25). Youssef Zalal is back to preview his UFC main event against Aljamain Sterling, talking about how the fight came together, having trained with Sterling in the past, wanting to win by submission, his “receipts” for Alexander Volkanovski, planning to be champion by 2027, and more (18:14). Old friend Darren Till stops by to discuss leaving Misfits and signing with BKFC, whether he’ll eventually fight Mike Perry, facing Aaron Chalmers in his BKFC debut, Dana White’s ego when addressing the media, the “disastrous” state of UFC, Tom Aspinall teaming with Eddie Hearn, and more (49:36). Charles Jourdain joins after a big win over Kyler Phillips to talk about his online persona, his disappointment about not being ranked, calling for a fight against Marlon "Chito" Vera, the upcoming UFC debut of his brother, and more (1:39:18). Renato Moicano returns, discussing his promo after beating Chris Duncan earlier this month, his relationship with the fans, content strategy on his YouTube channel, the White House card, his thoughts on AI, Conor McGregor’s next fight, and the usual plunge into economics, religion, and politics (1:57:48). Jasmine Jasudavicius is our final guest of the day, recapping her victory over Karine Silva in Winnipeg, revealing what was in her mouth during the fight, then talking about the mysterious “Jas Choke,” who she wants to fight next, and more (2:41:12). Ariel and The Boys in the Back cover some recent news (3:06:11), before closing the show with your Super Chats (3:16:16).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to the biggest moments from UFC Winnipeg and WrestleMania 42 (12:53). Mike Malott is back after his big win over Gilbert Burns in Winnipeg, recapping the fight, then touching on the experience of headlining again in Canada, receiving support from Pierre Poilievre, controversy surrounding an incident with the Canadian flag after the fight, the success of teammate Jasmine Jasudavicius, and more (59:07). Josh Barnett returns to discuss his decision to wind down Bloodsport, coaching UFC fighter Victor Henry, his thoughts on the state of the wrestling industry and WrestleMania 42, and more (1:26:00). RAF founder Chad Bronstein joins to talk about the promotion’s rapid growth, UFC allowing its athletes to participate, the signing of Khamzat Chimaev, potential for a meeting between Chimaev and Bo Nickal, his level of interest in signing names like Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and Brock Lesnar, and more (2:06:42). Urijah Faber stops by to break down his RAF match against Arman Tsarukyan and the viral moment where Tsarukyan tackled him off the stage, before discussing competing for RAF, GFL potentially coming back, his own promotion A1 Combat, Cub Swanson’s retirement as the last remaining WEC fighter, and more (2:34:50). UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria returns to the show, talking about his mental state after dealing with personal issues, his upcoming fight against Justin Gaethje at the White House, rooting for Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, still wanting to fight Islam Makhachev and even submit him, not being threatened by Arman Tsarukyan, a potential fight against Conor McGregor, his ownership of WOW FC, and more (3:01:24). The Boys in the Back join Ariel to cover some news and notes (3:38:04), before answering your Super Chats (4:35:10).
Solomonster is back with a WrestleMania 42 recap for Night 2 in Las Vegas with an incredible main event capping off a much better show and Roman Reigns winning the World Heavyweight Title.  He also has news on Roman's schedule moving forward on Monday nights.  Plus, a MAJOR surprise with Brock Lesnar seemingly retiring after his loss to Oba Femi, Rhea Ripley and Trick Williams with big title wins and a crazy ladder match.  But as with Night 1, the show was not without its issues.
First up, Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri discuss Ben Whittaker’s puzzling professional career after another one-sided win. What is his true potential and who could he fight in the next few months to get him ready for world-class opposition (02:17)? Alycia Baumgardner picked up a hard-fought win over Bo Mi Re Shin on Friday night in NYC and continued to call out Katie Taylor for a mega fight in Ireland. With Caroline Dubois lurking at lightweight, could we get that fight in the fall (29:55)? As expected, Conor Benn signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, which will cover his next five fights. The question now is – will Eddie Hearn and Matchroom threaten to sue over breach of contract (46:26)?
Solomonster is here with a WrestleMania 42 recap for Night 1 in Las Vegas with Cody Rhodes retaining the WWE title over Randy Orton in a match that turned into something of a mess psychology-wise and where things stand with Pat McAfee, new champions crowned including the return of a big women's name, Bron Breakker costs Seth Rollins, and Bianca Belair returns to make a MAJOR announcement.  Turns out she's going to be out of the ring quite a bit longer, but for a good reason!
The Craic returns with Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes back together as usual. After catching up, the lads react to Dana White’s comments insisting the UFC’s White House event is not political (8:48). Following reports that Saudi Arabia has pulled its funding from LIV Golf, the boys explore what it could mean for combat sports’ ties to the country and its boxing figurehead, Turki Al-Sheikh (38:23). Paddy Pimblett also stirred interest by revealing he’ll be fighting at International Fight Week, which is rumored to feature Conor McGregor’s return. The trio map out what that card could look like (46:59). Another UFC star making headlines was Arman Tsarukyan, after a viral video surfaced showing him being kicked off a flight, which prompts a reaction on the show (51:01). Ronda Rousey’s return to MMA has also sparked debate, with her comments on the UFC and Kayla Harrison giving the lads plenty to unpack (55:18). The trio preview this weekend’s combat sports fixtures, including UFC Winnipeg headlined by Gilbert Burns vs. Mike Malott (01:04:30), before answering your Super Chats (01:07:58).
We open the show discussing Dan Canobbio’s experience at the MVP MMA press conference, interviewing Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou, and all the behind the scenes scenes for the upcoming Netlfix card on May 16 (01:17). With Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani quickly approaching, Dan and Chris Algieri look at the storylines around what is the biggest fight in Japanese history. Can Nakatani pull off the upset? Will Inoue go to featherweight after the fight (13:46)? Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are in serious talks for a summer showdown in Las Vegas. The fight would be for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title and would be big business. But what happened to the Devin Haney rematch (34:29)? Shakur Stevenson recently showed interest in going back down to lightweight to fight the IBF champion, Raymond Muratalla. The guys debate if that is the right move for Shakur and what weight class he could settle in at (43:07). Finally, we hit the latest in the light heavyweight division, where Callum Smith-David Morrell was postponed and Ben Whittaker will now be the main event. How far away is he from title contention (46:57)?
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reading your five-star podcast reviews (02:13), before jumping into the beef between Ronda Rousey and Kayla Harrison, prompted by Rousey going off on Harrison during yesterday's Netflix press conference (08:16). Next, they tackle news and notes from the combat world (41:12) and debate whether UFC's heavyweight division has new life (51:05). Then, they preview UFC Winnipeg (1:02:00) and PFL Belfast (1:20:48), make picks (1:22:13), and deliver their P4P burns (1:26:33). Finally, The Boys listen to your voicemails (2:06:11) and answer your Super Chats (2:40:06).
Ariel Helwani answers your On The Nose questions — with the help of The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll — to start the show (06:29). Next, he’s joined in studio by MMA pioneer Gina Carano to discuss her motivation for fighting Ronda Rousey, mental and physical changes ahead of the fight, negotiations with Dana White and UFC before landing with Netflix, and more (30:12). Mike Perry is back in studio with Ariel, talking about his return to MMA against Nate Diaz, his contract status with BKFC, Darren Till signing with the promotion, a potential fight against Conor McGregor, dealing with the IRS, his Michigan upbringing, his predictions for the Netflix card, and more (1:20:45). CJ Perry is up next, previewing WrestleMania 42 from top to bottom, talking about her husband Rusev’s WWE career, working in the worlds of wrestling and acting, including her own WrestleMania memories, her friend Liv Morgan getting into the music industry, and more (2:17:59). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll come back to finish up On The Nose and answer your Super Chats (2:59:37).
The Solomonster is back and he's not happy about the Pat McAfee follow-up on Smackdown, which has consumed the entire Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton story (4:37). Then it's into a preview and predictions for WrestleMania 42, including thoughts on Raw's final showdown between CM Punk and Roman Reigns, Oba Femi's big night on the microphone, addressing his match with Brock Lesnar (11:06). Then he reviews the AEW Dynasty PPV, where it was a GOOD NIGHT TO BE A BAD GUY, plus thoughts on why he thinks Darby Allin could very likely win the AEW world championship from MJF this week on Dynamite (51:04). Plus an update on the alleged stabbing at an independent show in Chicago last month, with local police ruling there was no such stabbing, but that didn't stop the venue where it happened from losing its license to host wrestling shows (1:21:57).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by reacting to the faceoff between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven (04:12). Boxing champ Alycia Baumgardner, who headlines the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Friday, joins Ariel in-studio to preview her bout against Bo Mi Re Shin, then discuss not being in the Ring P4P rankings, potential superfights against Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, Caroline Dubois’ recent win, believing Mikaela Mayer can beat Claressa Shields, accusations made by fighters and fans due to her physique, ongoing conversations with WWE, and more (09:54). Ariel and the Boys in the Back tackle some recent news and notes, including one fan’s stunning Jon Jones tattoo, the latest UFC rankings, and more (46:28). Plus, your Super Chats (1:22:38). Paulo Costa is back following his massive win over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327, talking about his beef with Josh Hokit, whether he could be fighting for UFC gold while Carlos Ulberg heals up, his feeling on Ulberg’s performance against Jiri Prochazka, his reaction to Prochazka saying he showed Ulberg “mercy,” believing Israel Adesanya should retire, having one fight remaining on his UFC contract, and more (1:38:32). Deathcore artist and Slaughter to Prevail frontman Alex Terrible is in-studio with Ariel to discuss his family life, being on tour and experiencing burnout, his upcoming BKFC fight, the meaning behind his tattoos, grappling with tigers and bears, and more (2:11:04). Eddie Hearn returns to react to the performances of Tyson Fury and Conor Benn’s fights on Netflix, then reveals details from the night, including Anthony Joshua being asked to go into the ring and ongoing negotiations for the Fury fight. Plus, he reviews the latest Zuffa Boxing events, accepts Dana White’s challenge to a boxing match, gives an update on Tom Aspinall, and more (3:04:50). Ariel wraps up with a few more Super Chats (3:59:43).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show recapping a huge combat sports weekend, starting with UFC 327. Joined by the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, the gang discusses Carlos Ulberg’s incredible one-legged knockout of Jiri Prochazka, Josh Hokit stealing the show all week, and the rest of the card (16:41). Newly-crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg stops by to reflect on the massive victory and knee injury he suffered in the fight, respond to Prochazka saying he showed “mercy,” calling him a “pretender,” look ahead to his recovery, and more (1:01:06). Cub Swanson is back to break down his storybook retirement fight, including the buildup to the moment, the fight itself, the reception from fans and fellow fighters, celebrating the win with his family, and more (1:31:59). Daniel Rodriguez returns to reveal details about his long hiatus, being detained in Mexico while crossing the border with marijuana, support he received while in jail, finding ways to exercise and make the best of his conditions, remaining motivated, how he was able to negotiate his release, and more (2:05:37). Kevin Holland joins following his impressive performance against Randy Brown at UFC 327, talking about his ranch and horses, his younger brother getting into the fight game, Brown’s ability to fight off submissions, wanting another crack at both Mike Malott and Daniel Rodriguez, and more (2:37:37). City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman is back on the show, discussing Ulberg’s UFC 327 win, their camp for the fight, his real-time thoughts after Ulberg’s injury, his reaction to Prochazka’s “mercy” comments, Ulberg potentially fighting Magomed Ankalaev in his first title defense, his feelings on Israel Adesanya’s next move, and more (3:01:04). WBO super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is our final guest of the day, reacting to Conor Benn’s performance against Regis Prograis, being stripped of the WBC title and the politics involved, who he hopes to fight next, and more (3:36:14). Ariel closes the show with some other news and notes (3:57:29), before answering your Super Chats (4:58:22).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri are back breaking down Tyson Fury's win over Arslanbek Makhmudov and whether we will finally see the Anthony Joshua fight. Joshua was ringside for the win, but did not enter the ring or accept the fight which leads to even more speculation (03:18). Conor Benn got a win over Regis Prograis -- but did not look good -- raising even more questions about his future in the sport. Could a fight with Ryan Garcia be next for Benn? Should Benn take an easier route or "cash out" against a notable champion at welterweight (30:03)?
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall are joined by Ben Fowlkes to react to a wild UFC 327 card, starting with Carlos Ulberg's shocking KO of Jiri Prochazka, despite blowing out his knee (01:59). The lads also discuss Paulo Costa's upset of Azamat Murzakanov (17:58), the Fight of the Year contender between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes (22:43), Cub Swanson's storybook ending (37:10), and the rest of the card (44:01). Before signing off, they touch on Gable Steveson signing with the UFC and debuting in July (45:01), Tyson Fury's Netflix win and Anthony Joshua callout (51:27), Conor Benn's lackluster showing (54:18) and results from PFL Chicago (59:53).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri are back and open the show addressing the pushback Chris received over his criticism of the Wilder vs. Chisora fight and what could be next for Wilder, followed by some thoughts on the recent Xander Zayas vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis press conference in Brooklyn (01:06). DAZN and TNT Sports announced a partnership that will bring boxing back to linear television, with their first offering being the rumored July 4 show featuring Abdullah Mason vs. Joe Cordina (13:19). We move to preview mode as Tyson Fury steps back into the ring for the first time in 15  months against Arslanbek Makhmudov. How much does Fury have left? Will he finally look to fight Anthony Joshua with a victory (22:18)? The co-main event features the return of lightning rod Conor Benn, taking on veteran Regis Prograis in a 150-pound bout. Should Benn win, he has a ton of big-name opponents waiting at welterweight (42:10).
Jason is back and he's got a LOT to say about the WrestleMania 42 card reveal on ESPN this morning (00:38) as well as the bizarre Pat McAfee reveal on Smackdown last Friday, his inclusion in the Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton story, the TKO executive responsible for it happening and the REAL thing this company needs to be saved from (15:01). Thoughts on another CM Punk pipe bomb promo on Raw last night where he went SCORCHED EARTH on Roman Reigns, The Rock, Pat McAfee, TKO and their outrageous ticket prices (30:28). News on the new Shawn Michaels documentary dropping next week, his appearance on Carmelo Anthony's podcast discussing why he and The Rock never had a match and the truth about the heat between the two of them, plus news on the Hulk Hogan docuseries premiering on Netflix later this month (38:39). Thoughts on Chris Jericho's return on AEW Dynamite and choosing AEW over WWE (42:52), and previewing AEW Dynasty this Sunday from Vancouver with predictions for each of the matches (49:24). Injury updates on a pair of AEW stars (55:00) and thoughts on the controversy around Mercedes Mone dropping her last independent wrestling belt without losing it in the ring (58:24). Other news and notes on a shocking title change in New Japan, why the reigning TNA champion could be leaving the company soon, Alberto El Patron arrested for domestic violence AGAIN and the former WWE star deemed fit to stand trial for his wife's murder (1:04:15).
We open the show reacting to Deontay Wilder’s win over Derek Chisora in what was a sloppy, bar-room type brawl in the UK. Will Wilder fight on vs. the likes of Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk (00:28)? Floyd Mayweather recently put his fight with Manny Pacquiao in limbo, saying the fight an exhibition while Netflix and Team Pacquiao maintain the fight will go on their official records. Is Mayweather looking for a way out (23:09). Next up, Dan and Chris go over the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven and which leads to a discussion on how fighters are ranked by the WBA and WBO (31:55). Finally, it was reported Keyshawn Davis will return in a rematch with Nahir Albright, scheduled for mid May which Chris believes is a “nothing burger” (41:26).
We open the show discussing the viral video of Deontay Wilder describing how his daughter was conceived and how Dan thinks this is a clear sign that Derek Chisora should win the fight (02:42). Next up, MVP has their first all-women card from London featuring Caroline Dubois vs. Terri Harper and Ellie Scotney vs. Rayelli Mosquero. Will Dubois call out Alycia Baumgarder should she win (19:46)? Zuffa Boxing returns on Sunday from the UFC Apex in Vegas with an underrated card that could produce some wild moments – most notably – Azat Hovhannisyan vs. Eduardo Baez (37:55). We end the show discussing the big fight announced between unified super welterweight champion, Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis, set for June 27th in Brooklyn, New York. Is this too much too soon for the 23-year old Zayas (44:27)?
The Craic is back for a special Wednesday edition, with Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes as usual. The lads kick things off by reacting to Israel Adesanya’s loss to Joe Pyfer and what it could mean for the next phase of his career (05:00). From MMA to wrestling, the guys discuss Arman Tsarukyan vs. Uriah Faber being booked in RAF (20:15). Tsarukyan also made some bold comments on The Ariel Helwani Show, suggesting Max Holloway would get knocked out by Conor McGregor in their rumoured bout, which the trio dig into (31:27). Petesy then gets Chuck and Ben’s take on Alexa Grasso’s highlight-reel knockout-to-submission sequence (38:49), before the conversation turns to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments on women in MMA nearly simultaneous to Grasso’s stunning finish (44:06). Attention then shifts to the PFL, with the promotion reportedly considering a rebrand, including a potential return to the Bellator name. The boys brainstorm their own ideas (51:00). To close, the lads preview Derek Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder (01:02:07), then get to your Spring Break Super Chats (01:08:00).
Jason is back with thoughts on Sid Vicious and Bad News Brown getting Legacy inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame (01:54), as well as John Cena being chosen to host this year’s WrestleMania, why it’s happening and how Tom Brady could be involved (12:39). Thoughts on Monday Night Raw from Madison Square Garden, including the latest interaction with CM Punk and Roman Reigns, why Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi feels like the real main event right now for Las Vegas, Gunther finally returns to TV and gets his WrestleMania opponent, and possible explanations for why he would target this person (17:13). New tag team champions crowned as the plight of LA Knight continues (29:33), while Smackdown offers up the WORST show of the year and the fans continue to cheer for Randy Orton despite all of the nefarious things he’s been doing (43:31). Ronda Rousey speaks on her AEW appearance while Josh Alexander speaks on the “severe” injury that’s going to keep him out for a while and why Kyle Fletcher may soon be joining him on that list (1:00:55). A scary end to the TNA Sacrifice main event on Friday night and praise for how the referee handled the situation, plus major news for Scott D’Amore and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (1:10:10). And he ends with TWO crazy stories, one about a possible STABBING at an independent show this past weekend as one of the wrestlers was attacked by a fan (1:15:33) and another about an NYC school teacher who embezzled millions of dollars for, among other things, buying WWE tickets (1:18:44).
Ariel Helwani is joined right away by new UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson, who kicks off the show discussing training with Khamzat Chimaev, his YouTube channel, Israel Adesanya's loss, and more (05:24). Eddie Hall joins Ariel to preview his Misfits boxing match against Tommy Fury and discuss how the fight got made, retiring at 40, having new fights already lined up, and more (34:22). Lance Gibson Jr. makes his show debut following a big weekend at UFC Seattle, discussing his rural lifestyle, battling peace at home versus violence at work, beekeeping, sparring Demetrious Johnson, and more (1:02:21). Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych joins us in-studio to discuss being banned from the 2026 Olympics, the helmet that got him banned, and being the first Ukrainian skeleton racer to qualify for the Winter Olympics (1:38:08). Johnny Eblen checks back in following a successful night at PFL Pittsburgh to discuss his win over Brian Battle, a potential rematch against Costello van Steenis, bringing back the Bellator name, and more (2:29:21). Terrence McKinney joins the show to talk about his big knockout win at UFC Seattle, having the shortest average fight time in history, never getting a UFC bonus, what's next for his career, and more (3:09:04). Ariel finishes the show alongside Conner to discuss a potential PFL rebrand and Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 3, then wraps up by answering your Super Chats (3:29:39).
Ariel Helwani begins the show recapping UFC Seattle with Conner, who talks about his UFC Seattle experience live from the arena. Ariel discusses Israel Adesanya’s loss and Michael Chiesa’s retirement fight, they recap the post-fight press conference where Dana White talked Conor McGregor, and more (16:59). Arman Tsaryukyan joins Ariel, breaking down his RAF 7 win over Georgio Poullas and donating the $10,000 given to him by Poullas, teasing a new UFC fight, a potential Dillon Danis grappling match, wanting to fight six times per year, an Ilia Topuria fight, and more (1:01:19). Moses Itauma joins the show, reflecting on his knockout win this weekend over Jermaine Franklin Jr., discussing his next fights, not being nervous competing in Manchester, boxing keeping him sane, meeting Mike Tyson, and more (1:44:21). Flyweight great Alexandre Pantoja gives us the latest update on his recovery, his return to the title picture, his unfortunate elbow injury against Joshua Van at UFC 323, a future rematch against Van, and more (2:08:12). Joe Pyfer joins Ariel to reflect on a huge win at UFC Seattle against Israel Adesanya, discussing his new belief in God, changing his way of life, potential for a UFC Philadelphia fight, and more (2:40:14). The newly retired Michael Chiesa stops by after his magical hometown sendoff, discussing retirement plans, his last fight being perfect, continuing his career as a coach, the Kevin Lee beef, and more (3:19:51). Casey O’Neill joins the show to talk about her long-awaited UFC comeback, discussing her knockout win, fighting in two left-handed gloves, dealing with her knee injury, living in Thailand for two months, and more (3:50:11). Ariel then finishes the show by breaking down Dana White's response to Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov's latest comments about women's MMA, before answering your Super Chats (4:17:06)
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open up the show by reacting to Sebastian Fundora’s dominant stoppage victory over Keith Thurman, discussing his chances against the top talent at super welterweight. Is he ready for a Vergil Ortiz, 'Boots' Ennis or Xander Zayas (00:47)? Next up, they discuss 21-year-old prodigy Moses Itauma's knockout of Jermaine Franklin. Who will he fight next and could he one day share the ring with heavyweight icon Oleksandr Usyk (28:38)?
The Craic is back with it’s familiar trio of Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes. First up, the lads dive deep into UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer (3:45). There’s PFL action this weekend too. Chuck sheds light on his chat with promotional newcomer Bryan Battle ahead of his bout against Johnny Eblen (27:55). Another promotion making noise is RAF. The trio look ahead to the upcoming wrestling match between UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas (50:01). After previewing this weekend’s boxing fixtures (01:04:00), they round things off by answering your Super Chats (01:12:35).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri open the show discussing the recent update with the Muhammad Ali Revival Act and how it will reshape the sport. Will other promoters set up UBOs moving forward?. Will they form a coalition against Zuffa (02:58)? The IBF officially stripped Jai Opetaia of his cruiserweight belt which led to a bigger discussion of how Zuffa and the sanctioning bodies will coexist. Could Ring Magazine also strip Opetaia who has not fought a top-five ranked opponent in over three years (11:43)? Next up, it’s time for a Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman title fight preview – with betting odds, analysis and predictions from the entire PPV.com fight card. Can Thurman turn back the hands of time or will it be more dominance from Fundora (30:29)? Lastly, discussion turns to heavyweight phenom Moses Itauma and his fight with veteran Jermaine Franklin. Itauma is widely looked at as the next best heavyweight and a stoppage win over Franklin would be a massive statement (51:06).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show talking about their experience so far at Muckleshoot Casino Resort (02:54). Then, they dive into their previews of UFC Seattle (14:25) and PFL Pittsburgh (1:01:13), before making picks (1:11:58). After touching on some recent news and notes (1:18:25), The Boys deliver their P4P reigns (1:24:54), listen to your voicemails (1:47:54) and answer your Super Chats (2:26:59).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with breaking news of Gable Steveson signing with RAF, then brings in The Boys in the Back — live from the Seattle area — and Petesy Carroll to answer your On The Nose questions, with topics including White House card announcements, Conor McGregor continuing to tease his return, whether a Jorge Masvidal comeback is in the works and against who, Jon Jones amplifying support from Francis Ngannou, Paul Hughes being forced out of his next fight, and more (6:54). Colby Covington joins Ariel for the first time in a long time, previewing his upcoming RAF 7 match against Dillon Danis, discussing his relationship with the UFC, not being selected for the White House card, his beef with Bo Nickal, challenging Georges St-Pierre to a grappling match, whether he’d ever ask for his UFC release, and more (1:01:32). PFL’s Dalton Rosta makes his show debut, breaking down his upcoming fight against Impa Kasanganay and wanting to earn the next title shot with a win, then talking about his early days in amateur wrestling, how the loss of his father impacted his life and career, fighting in his hometown of Pittsburgh, and more (1:33:56). KSW double champ Salahdine Parnasse checks in, discussing his decision to re-sign with KSW despite UFC offers, fighting Kenneth Cross on the MVP card on Netlfix, forays into the fashion and music worlds, his interest in boxing, whether he will again attempt to capture a third title in the future, and more (2:03:04). Muhammad Mokaev is back on the show, talking about his matchup against Adriano Moraes on Netlifx, the strength of the card overall, grappling Arman Tsarukyan at Hype FC, believing Kyoji Horiguchi is UFC’s best flyweight even over champion Joshua Van, talks of fighting Demetrious Johnson, being offered a UFC BJJ match against Mikey Musumeci, training with Moraes previously, and more (2:33:54). Oscar De La Hoya returns, detailing Golden Boy’s new broadcast deal with DAZN and the state of his relationship with Vergil Ortiz Jr. following Ortiz’s lawsuit against Golden Boy, then giving his opinion on Zuffa Boxing, their belt and the Ring Magazine belt, before discussing Ryan Garcia potentially fighting Devin Haney next, the Ali Revival Act advancing through Congress, his ongoing feud with Dana White, and more (3:01:19). Ariel answers a few more On The Nose questions (3:35:12) and ends with your Super Chats (3:41:18).
Jason is back with thoughts on the death of Dennis Condrey, one half of the Midnight Express, and his contribution as one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time, as well as the death of actor Chuck Norris and his involvement in the wrestling world (02:25). News on Dennis Rodman being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and his history with WCW, as well as breaking news on another induction, "Sycho" Sid Vicious, who joins their legacy class of 2026 (09:02). Then, key takeaways from Monday Night Raw in Boston, with Roman Reigns destroying CM Punk, Oba Femi once again leveling Brock Lesnar, and Gunther being MIA for the third straight week (15:59). Plus, news on a successful WWE ticket promotion for 3/16 Day (47:41), Tony Khan bidding to acquire WWE in 2023 when the company was up for sale (52:17), fallout from AEW Revolution, with an update on Ronda Rousey, and Ricochet's apology after his embarrassing tweet (58:39). Also, former WWE star Ted DiBiase, Jr. acquitted of all charges in his Mississippi fraud case, while another former WWE star speaks with Ariel Helwani about the incident that ended his recent run with the company (1:10:44). The show ends with some listener Q&A on Cody Rhodes' potential heel name, the Bret Hart WrestleMania match that we almost got in 1986, and why one of DDT Pro Wrestling's biggest stars was just forced into an early retirement (1:18:19).
Ariel Helwani starts today’s show with reaction to Most Valuable Promotions announcing the rest of its Netflix card, including some recognizable names and rising prospects, and reports of Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi being booked for June (03:58). Featherweight contender Jean Silva is next, reacting to the UFC London main event, discussing whether it should be him or Movsar Evloev getting the next title shot, wanting to defend fellow Brazilian Jose Aldo’s legacy against Alexander Volkanovski, why Evloev can’t be trusted to headline the card, suggesting he’d leave the UFC if he he loses to Volkanovski, and more (36:19). PFL CEO John Martin is back in-studio, talking about the promotion’s debut in Madrid, the potential return of Cedric Doumbe, progress PFL is trying to make in the U.S. market, including negotiations for its next broadcast deal, conversations he’s had with Eddie Hearn, PFL parting ways with Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul, rooting for the success of Netflix’s first MMA card, being open to co-promotion, and more (1:14:55). Sebastian Fundora joins ahead of his WBC title fight against Keith Thurman, discussing his unconventional training methods, being motivated by the success of his sister Gabriela, his impressions of Zuffa Boxing so far, his love of pro wrestling, the future potential of his youngest sister, excitement in the 154-pound division, and more (2:05:21). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to cover recent news, including Golden Boy re-signing with DAZN, Katie Taylor once again teasing a Croke Park fight, Alistair Overeem’s comments about PEDs and testing, the Ali Revival Act passing through the U.S. House of Representatives, and more (2:26:26). Francis Ngannou is our final guest of the day, talking about his PFL departure, critics claiming he’s damaged his legacy, the recent wave of fighters — including Ronda Rousey — speaking about UFC’s pay and practices, Jon Jones deserving to be paid more than he was reportedly offered for the White House card, Tom Aspinall teaming up with Eddie Hearn, potentially fighting Jake Paul, and more (3:00:12). Ariel answers your Super Chats to end the show (3:53:58).
Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to recap a busy weekend, but first they check in on GC, as he makes good on cooking Venezuelan arepas for the crew (07:42). They transition to UFC London, breaking down Movsar Evloev’s win over Lerone Murphy in the main event, whether Evloev or Jean Silva will fight Alexander Volkanovski next, and the overall response to the card from the UK fanbase (12:45). Next, they touch on Jon Jones’ latest statements regarding negotiations for the White House card, Conor McGregor’s potential return in July, and more (48:01). PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis joins to recap his finish of Fabian Edwards at PFL Madrid, talking about fighting on the same card as his brother Gino, Real Madrid stars showing up to the event, wanting to fight Johnny Eblen again, believing he can beat UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, and more (1:15;12). Iwo Baraniewski makes his show debut following a first-round knockout against Austen Lane in London. He discusses the big win, training with fellow Polish fighter Jan Błachowicz, hoping to have three fights in 2026, getting his start in judo before transitioning to MMA, Jon Jones being his favorite fighter, and more (1:36:22). Michael "Venom" Page is up next, talking about his UFC London performance against Sam Patterson and admitting frustrations, before explaining what potential improvements he could make, whether his recent string of decisions adds pressure, his recent comments about fighter pay, why he felt disrespected with his placement on the card, having one fight remaining on his contract, who he wants to fight next, and more (2:00:14). Shanelle Dyer speaks to Ariel for the first time, reflecting on her impressive UFC debut, then discussing having attended the past six UFC events in London as a fan, starting in Muay Thai after having reservations about MMA, why she parted ways with PFL, getting a post-fight bonus, the story behind her “Nightmare” nickname, and more (2:29:09). Ariel reacts to more news, including the latest verbal jabs between Dana White and Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua training with former foe Oleksandr Usyk, BKFC teasing a massive event, Arman Tsarukyan linking up with IShowSpeed and Khamzat Chimaev, and more (3:06:48). The show ends with your Super Chats (3:33:38).
This week Dan Canobbio is joined by boxing personality Naji Grampus for a fun conversation based around the biggest topics in the sport. The guys begin reacting to Carlos Adames and Lester Martinez’s big wins and forecast what's next (01:38). Next up, Dan and Naji debate who could potentially give Shakur Stevenson his toughest fight, who he might fight next, and if a mega fight with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis could ever come to fruition (22:10). The conversation then moves to the heavyweight division, where Oleksandr Usyk is ready to fight kickboxer Rico Verhoeven for the WBC title. Is this fight warranted? Will Usyk fight Agit Kabayel? Where does Usyk rank among the all-time greats (42:22)? Finally, the guys discuss the upcoming fight between Sebastian Fundora and Keith Thurman at 154 pounds (1:00:43).
The Craic is back! This time, it’s the duo of Petesy Carroll and Ben Fowlkes. To start things off, the lads react to the passing of martial arts icon Chuck Norris (02:21). Then, they size up UFC's White House event against Netflix’s Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card (13:05). Another fight on the Netflix card is Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry. Petesy provides an update on Conor McGregor’s return now that Diaz has been ruled out as an opponent (30:51). Amid ongoing unrest around fighter pay, several retired UFC veterans have spoken out against the promotion’s model, giving the guys plenty to dig into (50:02). There’s fights this weekend too. Petesy and Ben break down PFL’s big media push for their Friday night Madrid card (55:36), and preview UFC London’s main event: Lerone Murphy vs. Mosvar Evloev (01:02:42).
The boys are back! Dan Canobbio and Chris Algeri start the show by reacting to Top Rank’s new partnership with DAZN – what are the details, what it could mean for future fights and DAZN’s imprint in the US (03:04). Next up, PBC announced their full undercard for the May 2 card headlined by Gilberto Ramirez vs. David Benavidez and it features all high-energy fights that will not disappoint (35:09). Finally, the guys preview the weekend fights – Lester Martinez vs. Immanuel Aleem and Carlos Adames vs. Ammo Williams (41:31)!
The Boys in the Back cover some recent news, including UFC appointing the Association of Boxing Commissions as regulator for the White House event (02:16), Robert Whittaker saying he's got a light heavyweight opponent lined up (06:25), and more. Then, they start their UFC London preview, discussing Jean Silva's looming shadow over the main event (10:52), whether Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy will earn a title shot (16:02), and the rest of the card (41:19). After previewing PFL Madrid (1:08:03), the Boys make picks (1:13:03), deliver their P4P lists of British slang (1:18:10), listen to your voicemails (1:40:56), and answer your Super Chats (2:29:16).
Ariel Helwani is joined by the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to quickly recap Venezuela’s stunning upset over the United States in the World Baseball Classic. Then, they tackle On The Nose, answering questions about March Madness, Joe Rogan’s recent comments on UFC fighter pay, Ronda Rousey suggesting Dana White isn’t UFC’s decision maker, Nate Diaz potentially returning to the UFC, and more (13:14). Sean Brady joins next, recapping his performance against Michael Morales, explaining why he believes Ian Machado Garry should get the next title shot, discussing his interactions with upcoming opponent Joaquin Buckley, predicting how Morales would do in a fight against Islam Makhachev, and more (1:32:08). Rising boxing star Moses Itauma is back to preview his bout against Jermaine Franklin, reflect on not being able to break Mike Tyson’s record for being the youngest heavyweight champion ever, express his desire to fight the division’s top names, including Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, and more (2:01:23). Top Rank President Todd duBoef joins Ariel in studio following the announcement of the promotion’s new broadcast deal with DAZN to discuss the inner workings of the partnership, other networks that they spoke to during negotiations, Top Rank’s stable of young stars, the state of the boxing business, the Ali Revival Act and Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport, and more (2:28:47). Jeremy Stephens is the final guest of the day, talking about returning to the UFC against King Green, whether he’ll fight again for BKFC, financial struggles over the last few years, his timeline for retirement, and more (3:31:06). Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (4:03:14).
Jason Solomon is back and he opens with his thoughts on the terrible OVW incident, where a referee suffered a mid-match seizure (2:24). Then he reviews AEW Revolution (13:13), with MJF retaining his championship in a Texas Death Match over Hangman Adam Page, major returns on the show including Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, and a surprise appearance by Ronda Rousey (19:28). On the WWE side, news on internal discussions regarding the status of their upcoming Saudi Arabia shows, as war remains ongoing in the Middle East (43:06). Then it's onto Monday Night Raw, with Oba Femi accepting Brock Lesnar's open challenge for WrestleMania in a tremendous segment (47:31) and the weakest confrontation yet between Roman Reigns and CM Punk, which already feels like it's running out of gas (55:48). Randy Orton's BRUTAL heel turn on Cody Rhodes on Smackdown, what made it work so well, why it might have worked better at Mania, and who Orton might have been seen on the phone with on Raw (59:19). News on Pat McAfee's future with WWE from the man himself, plus some listener Q&A, and a great story about Jake "The Snake" Roberts approaching 14 years of sobriety (1:13:42).
Ariel Helwani starts the show briefly touching on the fan reaction to Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry and the promotional tribalism forming (01:15). Mick Conlan joins the show ahead of his WBC International title defense against Kevin Walsh in Belfast to preview the fight. But first, some Saint Patrick's Day trivia, with Mick taking on our very own Petesy’s Carroll (06:16). Aiemann Zahabi returns to discuss his upcoming White House fight against Sean O’Malley, explaining how it came to be, his plan to have Drake walk him out, what it means to have Georges St-Pierre in his corner, and who could be next with a win over O’Malley (31:50). Mike Perry is back following the massive announcement that he’ll be fighting Nate Diaz on Netflix’s first MMA card, talking about how long the fight had been in the works, his return to MMA after five years, getting the biggest payday of his career, how he expects Diaz to approach the buildup, wanting to finish Diaz inside three rounds, and more (1:03:24). Carlos Prates joins to discuss his upcoming fight against Jack Della Maddalena, buzz around a potential Conor McGregor bout, witnessing the madness at Hype FC in Brazil, today being the 14th anniversary of his MMA debut, hoping for a title shot if he beats Della Maddalena, and more (1:33:39). BKFC’s Gzim Selmani, formerly known as Rezar during his time in WWE, is our final guest of the day, breaking down his journey through combat sports, how he got his nickname, ‘The Albanian Psycho,’ being recruited by WWE, the end of his wrestling career, getting back to fighting, and more (2:01:45). Ariel answers your Super Chats to end the show (2:38:29).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by reacting to breaking news that Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry has been added to the Rousey vs. Carano card on Netflix, how it impacts the event’s potential, and whether the UFC could have a new rival. Plus, the crew gives their thoughts on UFC’s latest round of announcements, including Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland, recap UFC Vegas 114, and more (08:39). Kyle Daukaus is first up, discussing his UFC White House meeting with Bo Nickal, how the fight came together, noise coming from Colby Covington about the matchup, fan reaction to his placement on the card and the event overall, and more (1:08:29). Coach Eric Nicksick returns to talk about some of his athletes, including Chris Curtis’ UFC Vegas 114 fight, Sean Strickland’s win over Anthony Hernandez and upcoming matchup against Khamzat Chimaev, and Francis Ngannou’s recent demeanor and addition to Netflix’s first MMA card (1:35:20). After tackling some other news and notes (2:09:17), Ariel connects with old friend Anderson Silva to discuss his new dramatic series, being offered a spot on the Netflix MMA card, only wanting to box moving forward, his commitment to becoming a police officer, and more (2:17:36). Kevin Vallejos joins following his big win over Josh Emmett, breaking down the finish, expressing his desire to fight in front of a sold-out arena, calling for a rematch with Jean Silva, giving a timeline for when he plans to compete for UFC gold, and more (2:44:37). Alex Pereira and coach Plinio Cruz are back in-studio, touching on Pereira’s knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch, how long he planned his move to heavyweight, whether he was offered a fight against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, signing a new UFC deal, where winning a third belt would put him in the GOAT conversation, potentially fighting Jones in the future, the honor of being on the White House card, and more (3:05:28). Ariel wraps up the show with your Super Chats (4:20:36).
The boys are back and kick off the show recapping Najee Lopez’s wild win over Manuel Gallegos, its Fight of the year worthiness and Chris’ experience being on the call for it. Could Lopez climb the ranks at light heavyweight and what does this mean for ProBoxTV (02:39)? Next up, we dive into the full weekend of boxing from Golden Boy’s show, featuring wins from Arnold Barboza, Alexis Rocha, Gabby Fundora, Oscar Collazo and Anthony Caccace overseas (18:03). Lastly, we take your voicemails! Calls ranging from HBO Boxing content, Ryan Garcia-Devin Haney, to the current state of club level shows in the US (27:09)!
The Craic returns with its regular trio: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes. The boys get straight into the recent wave of fight announcements, including Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland for the UFC middleweight title (02:45). At the press conference for the Netflix superfight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, Rousey weighed in on the state of the UFC and its matchmaking. The lads share their thoughts on her comments (19:40). Another superstar potentially nearing a comeback is Conor McGregor, raising the question of whether recent fan discontent has pushed the UFC to move on his return (31:27). With the UFC’s White House card approaching, concerns have begun to surface over the stability and security of the event amid the current political climate, giving the guys plenty to unpack (44:45). That leads to another question: which event looms larger, UFC’s White House card or Netflix’s Rousey vs. Carano? The lads make their cases (49:21). To round things out, Chuck shares details from his recent conversation with UFC Apex headliner Kevin Vallejos ahead of his fight this weekend (1:07:00), before the boys answer your Super Chats (1:14:21).
The boys are back! Dan Canobbio and Chris Algeri go back to their roots and talk about the fights! What are the five fights we are most excited about? From Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani to an all-out heavyweight war between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois – which fight takes the cake (04:02)? Next up, Gervonta Davis vs. Pitbull Cruz has made the rounds on social media, sparking speculation about a return to the ring. If 'Tank' is really back, could we see him finally face off with Shakur Stevenson (47:05)? We round out the show with a weekend preview and reaction to a chaotic scene at Hype FC in Brazil (53:08)!
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to some recent UFC fight announcements (03:24) and other news (10:55). After recapping the madness at Hype FC (18:23), they discuss potential options for Islam Makhachev's next opponent (32:39) and preview UFC Vegas 114 (56:22). The Boys make picks (1:17:45), deliver their P4P letdowns (1:22:07), listen to your voicemails (2:00:51) and close with your Super Chats (2:37:11).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping his experience hosting the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano press conference, including a few revelations (05:31). Legend Mike Tyson joins the show next to talk about the Mike Tyson Invitational, which is his amateur boxing event in Las Vegas, his upcoming exhibition bout against Floyd Mayweather, spending time with Conor McGregor, the aftermath of the Jake Paul fight, and more (31:46). The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to discuss other MMA news, including Jon Jones asking for his UFC release, ongoing negotiations with Conor McGregor, the Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev rivalry heating back up, Ronda Rousey’s comments about the UFC, and more (47:18). Ariel wraps up the show with your Super Chats (1:40:10).
The Boys in the Back tackle major MMA stories, including Jon Jones asking for his UFC release (02:11), Ilia Topuria claiming Islam Makhachev ducked him (43:29), Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland potentially happening in May (1:07:18), and more. Plus, watch alongside the Boys as they livestream the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano press conference and react in real time (1:10:08). Finally, the Boys answer your Super Chats (2:21:58).
Jason Solomon has thoughts on a BIG change to the Smackdown writing team, with Road Dogg (Brian James) QUITTING his role, and what it could mean for the quality of the show moving forward (3:46).  Then he discusses the MAJOR title change on Friday with Cody Rhodes regaining the WWE championship from Drew McIntyre, the anger online from some fans, including reviewing bombing and paid bots, the original plan for Cody and Drew at WrestleMania and more (10:59). Next, he addresses the social media controversy involving Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill, what is being reported, why he's not buying into a lot of it, and thoughts on their first promo together on Smackdown (23:00). Plus, thoughts on Monday Night Raw and a BIZARRE open with Seth Rollins and his Power Rangers putty people, a strong segment with CM Punk and The Usos, Finn Balor is finally kicked out of the Judgment Day, and news on AJ Styles' new role behind the scenes (30:25). News on WWE potentially setting a record this year with more women's matches at WrestleMania than ever before (48:38), plus an AEW Revolution preview and match predictions for this Sunday's PPV (52:45). Mance Warner and Steph De Lander GONE from TNA Wrestling, why it happened and what De Lander had to say about her now ex-boss, TNA President Carlos Silva, and the lack of a proper medical team in the company (1:07:52). Solomonster wraps up with a sad health update on wrestling legend Konnan, plus some listener Q&A on topics including which NXT women have the brightest futures on the main roster and sports betting on pro wrestling (1:18:59).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping massive MMA news, starting with Francis Ngannou being added to the Rousey vs. Carano Netflix event (06:26), then touching on the UFC White House card announcement (11:52), negotiations with Jon Jones and Ilia Topuria for the card (27:38), Conor McGregor’s upcoming negotiations (46:31), the BMF title losing meaning (53:01), fan sentiment that Ngannou “fumbled” (59:25), and Tom Aspinall teaming with Eddie Hearn (1:12:40). Sean O’Malley joins to discuss his bout against Aiemann Zahabi at the White House, explaining how the fight came together, Petr Yan being his top choice, not being offered Cory Sandhagen, and then discusses his recent fighter pay comments (1:30:21). Bo Nickal is next, breaking down his own White House fight, touching on the fan reaction, surprise about Kyle Daukaus being the opponent, Colby Covington turning down the opportunity, criticism of the card overall, whether President Trump requested his inclusion on the card, and more (2:00:24). Eddie Hearn is back to discuss the launch of Matchroom Talent Agency and Tom Aspinall being its first signing. Hearn talks about Aspinall’s UFC contract status, potential for negotiating opposite Dana White, other MMA fighters reaching out for representation, White’s recent comments about Hearn, including challenging him to a fight, Conor Benn’s deal with Zuffa Boxing and Jai Opetaia’s debut, needing to book a fight for Katie Taylor at Croke Park, and more (2:29:38). Tom Aspinall is the final guest of the day, discussing his partnership with Hearn, his UFC contract compared to his earning potential, whether he plans to box, the state of his relationship with Dana White, the latest on his eye and a timeline to return, his reaction to Jon Jones asking for his release, and more (3:40:40).
To kick things off, Dan Canobbio and Chris Algeri break down Jai Opetaia’s dominant performance over Brandon Glanton and how he looked in his Zuffa Boxing debut (02:29). In the 11th hour, the IBF decided to strip Opetaia of their title, which set off a frenzy. Was this the right thing to do? Why did Opetaia sign with Zuffa if he wants to be undisputed (11:01)? We end the show with a debate on Opetaia’s chances vs. Gilberto Ramirez and David Benavidez, who fight on May 2 (30:39).
Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall, a.k.a. 3PAC, give their immediate thoughts on UFC 326, starting with Charles Oliveira's one-sided victory over Max Holloway to become BMF champion (03:57). After debating whether Oliveira's performance was worthy of the BMF moniker (15:04), they recap the rest of the card (20:25). Then, the trio reacts to the White House card announcement (24:45), with Ariel giving additional insights into how it all came together. After checking in on the post-fight press conference (47:04), they close the show with Chuck's final thoughts (54:35).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll is joined, as always, by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes. To kick things off, the lads dig into the surprise partnership between Tom Aspinall and Eddie Hearn (3:36). One partnership that hasn’t lasted is Francis Ngannou and the PFL. The boys react to the news of Ngannou’s release (32:56). With the White House card fast approaching, the crew then discuss which fights could headline the historic event (47:36). UFC 326 is this weekend too. The trio preview Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira and debate the legitimacy of the BMF belt up for grabs (52:01). To close the show, the lads give their Uncrowned UFC 326 picks (01:17:00), and answer your Super Chats (01:19:22).
Dan Canobbio and Chris Algeri kick off the show with news that Vergil Ortiz is “done” with Golden Boy Promotions after the recent ruling in favor of Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional company and their lengthy negotiations for a Jaron Ennis fight (04:08). If this fight doesn’t happen, who could Ortiz and Ennis fight (18:26)? Next up is a Jai Opetaia-Brandon Glanton title fight preview which includes the IBF’s reluctance to have their title on the line in the fight due to the ongoing war between the traditional sanctioning bodies and Zuffa Boxing. Will Opetaia vacate the IBF title? Will the fight with Glanton go the distance (30:22)? Finally, the conversation shifts to the welterweight division and the latest Devin Haney-Ryan Garcia-Rolly Romero saga which sees the trio all angling to fight each other. Which fight makes the most sense and which is most likely to happen next (48:50)?
The Boys in the Back are here to preview UFC 326, but first they react to massive breaking news, as Tom Aspinall signs with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency (11:59). Ariel Helewani joins to give his own thoughts on Aspinall and Hearn teaming up (20:43), before the Boys break down UFC 326 from top to bottom (1:12:51) and ask whether Conor McGregor could be next for the main event winner (1:29:21). Next, they touch on Zuffa Boxing 4 (2:10:01), make picks (2:20:23) and deliver their P4P Daddest Things (2:23:41). The show closes with your voicemails (2:48:53) and Super Chats (3:24:50).
Ariel Helwani kicks off his final show of the week with On The Nose, answering your questions about UFC's White House card, Zuffa Boxing’s Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia, more GC blind rankings, and more (07:56). Lone’er Kavanagh makes his show debut, recapping the massive win over Brandon Moreno at UFC Mexico, discussing his background and family, being able to speak to Jon Jones after the fight, getting love from Ilia Topuria, his prediction for Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira, and more (1:32:34). Aljamain Sterling returns to talk about his place in the UFC featherweight division, his fiery promo at RAF 6, frustrations with how he’s being booked, Sean O’Malley and others speaking about their pay after Conor Benn’s signing to Zuffa Boxing, and more (2:00:28). The show concludes with your Super Chats (2:56:04) and more of your On The Nose questions (3:17:42).
Jason Solomon is back with thoughts on an underwhelming Elimination Chamber and a good episode of Monday Night Raw, including the latest confrontation with Roman Reigns and CM Punk (5:43).  He also discusses the return of Seth Rollins, the MAJOR match signed for Smackdown this Friday, the polarizing debut of Danhausen and where things may be headed for Gunther at WrestleMania (26:39). The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 got a NEW addition yesterday in the form of Demolition and Jason explains why this one has been a long time coming, as well as another positive piece of Hall of Fame-related news this week as it pertains to an item that was stolen and has since been recovered (44:15). Additional news on WWE simulcasting parts of WrestleMania this year on ESPN and why NXT Stand and Deliver was moved AWAY from WrestleMania weekend this year, in a move that actually makes a lot of sense (55:38). Then he discusses the BOMBSHELL news that Netflix has dropped out of the bidding to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery, paving the way for a takeover by Paramount Skydance. He talks about what it means for the entertainment industry overall and, more specifically, for the future of All Elite Wrestling, as WBD serves as its media rights partner and owns a minority stake in AEW (58:43). Some AEW Dynamite news on the stipulations now decided for the AEW World championship match at Revolution between MJF and Hangman Adam Page, as well as the injury to Penelope Ford and fans online bullying Harley Cameron off of social media (1:08:44). Solomonster wraps up with more listener Q&A on topics including the actual start of the Road to WrestleMania, does the number of men's singles titles in AEW devalue its World championship and who was REALLY responsible for the downfall of TNA Wrestling on Spike TV (1:14:22)?
Ariel Helwani is back with a stacked show. Petr Yan joins first, reflecting on his massive win over Merab Dvalishvili to recapture UFC bantamweight gold, then talking about recovering from back surgery, hoping to fight on the White House card, and being willing to fight anybody, including rematches with Dvalishvili or Sean O’Malley (05:26). Petesy Carroll checks in to discuss Eddie Hearn hinting at a Croke Park event featuring Katie Taylor and Conor McGregor’s return (42:05). Rico Verhoeven is back on the show to preview his big fight against Oleksandr Usyk, talk about receiving offers to fight Anthony Joshua and Derrick Lewis, whether he could still fight in the UFC, his training for Usyk, and more (1:00:17). Dricus du Plessis reflects on the Khamzat Chimaev fight, revealing he watches it twice a week and believing he could make Chimaev quit. He also touches on whether he was offered a bout against Kamaru Usman, wanting to get back to the title, hoping to teach Brendan Allen a lesson, and more (1:32:12). Georgio Poullas joins to break down his rivalry with Arman Tsarukyan, stemming from their match and brawl at RAF 6. He also accepts Tsarukyan’s challenge to fight, responds to claims he’s wrestling dirty, then discusses how the match came together, his $1,000 takedown challenge, and more (2:05:45). Ariel answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (2:48:55).
Ariel Helwani is back from the Olympics and he starts the show with a recap of recent news and notes from the combat sports space (11:21). Jiri Prochazka joins the show to discuss his light heavyweight title fight against Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327, his thoughts on Alex Pereira vacating the belt, training at altitude in Mexico City, the upcoming birth of his child, and more (23:20). Rising PFL prospect Patrick Habirora is up next, announcing his fight against Benson Henderson in Belgium, then talking about what he hopes to accomplish in the promotion, a potential fight with Cedric Doumbe, and more (50:43). Merab Dvalishvili is back, breaking down the RAF brawl between Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas, before moving on to his own career, reflecting on his second fight with Petr Yan, expressing interest in the trilogy being next, supporting Ilia Topuria during his hiatus, and more (1:04:11). Paulo Costa returns to preview his meeting with Azamat Murzakanov, discussing how the fight came together, diving into his beef with Khamzat Chimaev, predicting the outcome of a potential bout between Chimaev and Sean Strickland, explaining the long layoff from his last fight, and more (1:35:37). Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss hot topics, including the White House card, Conor McGregor’s next fight, Zuffa Boxing and UFC fighter pay drama, Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven, UFC Mexico, and more (2:07:04). Arman Tsarukyan is our final guest of the day, going into detail about his explosive grappling match and brawl at RAF 6, opponent Georgio Poullas’ dirty tactics, UFC offering him a title fight in September, linking up with Jake Paul, and more (3:31:15). Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (3:31:15).
Inside Boxing is back with the latest from the heavyweight division, as Oleksandr Usyk announced a fight with kickboxing legend, Rico Verhoeven, despite Verhoeven only having one professional boxing match (01:47).  Is the fight really warranted? Should Usyk have fought mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel (16:10)? Next, the attention moves to the thrilling Emanuel Navarrete vs. Eduardo Nunez unification fight, as well as a full fight card recap (33:23).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes return as usual. First up, they take a deep dive into Zuffa Boxing’s recent $15million signing of Conor Benn and what it means for TKO’s first move into boxing (0:14). That eye-catching payday didn’t go unnoticed in the UFC. The trio explore the growing rumblings of discontent among fighters (44:51). Then, breaking news lands mid-show, as the lads react live to the announcement that Oleksandr Usyk is set to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Rico Verhoeven (53:00). From there, they get into Ilia Topuria and Jake Paul’s war of words (59:41), before discussing fighters speaking out about not wanting to compete at the UFC’s proposed White House event (1:03:20). There’s UFC action this weekend as well, with Petesy and the lads previewing Brandon Moreno vs. late-notice replacement Lone’er Kavanagh (1:12:54). They wrap things up by answering your Super Chats (1:19:06).
Inside Boxing is back! First up, Dan Canobbio and Chris Algeri tackle the potential $1 billion lawsuit from Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions against TKO Group and Sela and the ramifications it could have on the sport (04:25). Next, Zuffa Boxing announces that Conor Benn will fight former champion Regis Prograis as the co-main event to Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov (18:21). Lastly, the attention turns to the super featherweight title fight between Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez, including picks, betting odds and analysis (46:10).
The Boys in the Back break down the drama from the boxing world, including additional details on Conor Benn's $15 million fight (01:47), Frank Warren's $1 billion lawsuit against TKO Group and Sela (19:31), and more (31:47). Next, they discuss the latest updates on the UFC's White House card (42:18), including reports that Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje might not be the main event (49:58). Then, they preview UFC Mexico City (1:17:29), make picks (1:34:37), and deliver their P4P loners (1:41:04), before closing the show with voicemails (1:59:51) and Super Chats (2:39:46).
Ariel Helwani reacts to his own classic interviews, providing additional insights and behind-the-scenes stories for each. This volume includes early conversations with some of MMA's most notable names, including Nick Diaz (08:26), 'Rampage' Jackson (19:56), Gina Carano (32:52), Pat Barry (47:40), Dana White (56:35), and Jon Jones (1:05:49).
Jason Solomon is back with interesting notes from a recent John Cena interview, including how he nearly won his record-breaking 17th World championship at Summerslam five years ago, and why plans changed at the last minute (06:55). After announcing his retirement from the ring earlier this month, Big E spoke with Sports Illustrated and shared his reasons for stepping away. Solomonster shares that and his own thoughts on the man's career (18:36). Then, he dives into what he thought was the WORST Monday Night Raw of the year last night, which did include one great segment with the AJ Styles tribute and surprise Hall of Fame announcement from The Undertaker.  It was a show that included an injury to Bronson Reed and what it means for the future of The Vision, the underwhelming announcement of Brock Lesnar's open challenge for WrestleMania and Liv Morgan making her decision on which champion to challenge (25:39). He then gets into the final card for the Elimination Chamber this Saturday and his predictions, but not before sharing some news on another local blackout for the show in Chicago when it comes to watch parties, the same tactic they're using in Las Vegas for WrestleMania (52:50). For as boring as Raw was this week, he thought AEW turned out its BEST episode of Dynamite last Wednesday, largely off the back of a stellar main event with Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland, and a MAJOR heel turn after the match. He gets into that, plus the big stipulation added to the match with MJF and Hangman Page at Revolution (1:03:36). One person who's NOT too happy right now is the Ring of Honor Women's Pure champion, Deonna Purrazzo.  He explains why, based off her recent comments, her frustrations with Tony Khan and management there are valid. (1:12:01) Solomonster wraps up with some listener Q&A on topics including how to make AEW Collision more must-see, the men that have truly benefited from working with Brock Lesnar and when the Smackdown archives are leaving Peacock. (1:17:45)
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with some recent news and notes, including UFC 327 fight announcements (04:25), growing beef between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland (10:40), Robert Whittaker moving to light heavyweight (16:44), and more. Next, they discuss the recent wave of UFC fighters discussing their pay, on the heels of Zuffa Boxing signing Conor Benn to a reported $15 million deal (34:15) and check in on the latest UFC rankings (1:04:01). After answering a few On The Nose questions (1:14:11), the Boys are joined by Michael 'Venom' Page to talk about his upcoming Total Kombat show, his UFC career, his interests outside the cage, and more (1:37:58). The show closes with more of your On The Nose questions (2:12:19) and Super Chats (2:53:06).
The Boys in the Blizzard kick off the show with Ariel Helwani, who gives his thoughts on Sean Strickland's UFC Houston win, Zuffa Boxing signing Conor Benn, and more (00:56). Then, the Boys give their own takes on the main event (14:12), before recapping the rest of the UFC Houston card (34:03). After touching on a few UFC fight announcements (56:03), Petesy Carroll joins the show to discuss PFL revealing Paul Hughes' next fight (1:08:18) and weigh in on the Conor Benn drama (1:18:07). The Boys recap more action from the weekend, including Gable Steveson's win at MFL 3 (2:06:35), Ryan Garcia capturing WBC gold (2:15:24), and more (2:20:06). Covering other news and notes, they discuss Conor McGregor wanting a new deal (2:23:14), Khamzat Chimaev teasing a move to light heavyweight (2:28:20), and Jailton Almeida signing with ACA (2:33:43). After reacting to breaking news of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao boxing in September, (2:35:03), the Boys hit a few more news items (2:41:01) and answer your Super Chats (2:48:46).
Inside Boxing is here, reacting to Ryan Garcia's massive win (Garcia is now a legit world champion) over Mario Barrios and how he was able to completely disarm Barrios (2:37). Plus, Garcia's father and head coach had some words for Chris Algeri and his "corny ass partner" for picking against his son (12:07). The duo dives into what could be next for Garcia, from a showdown with Shakur Stevenson to highly anticipated rematches with Devin Haney or Rolly Romero (18:21). On to the news of Richardson Hitchins pulling out of his title fight vs. Oscar Duarte with an undisclosed illness. Was this because of the IBF's strict rehydration clause (25:56)? Stevenson had a lot to say about a potential clash with Garcia, alluding to the fact he believed Garcia is on performance-enhancing drugs (35:54). The discussion moves onto the undercard that saw Gary Russell defeat Andy Hiraoka and Frank Martin and Nahir Albright fight to a draw (41:11). The guys turn their attention to arguably the most shocking story in boxing: Conor Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing and what it could mean for the new promotional outfit, as well as Matchroom's Eddie Hearn (48:57). And finally, it looks like Floyd Mayweather will officially come out of retirement to continue his professional career in 2026 at the age of 49 (1:01:58).
The Craic is back! This time, it’s dynamic duo Petesy Carroll and Chuck MIndenhall holding it down. To kick things off, they react to the ongoing feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn (5:29). Then, attention turns to Netflix stepping into the MMA space with Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (32:41). They also discuss Gable Steveson’s latest first-round win and whether the UFC should make a move to sign him next (48:20). With fights on deck this weekend, Petesy and Chuck preview UFC Houston (55:49), and Ryan Garcia taking on Mario Barrios in the ring (01:05:01). To close the show, the lads answer your Super Chats (01:10:03).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with coach John Wood, who talks about Gina Carano's training ahead of her fight against Ronda Rousey on Netflix, as well as the latest on Merab Dvalishvili (05:33). They break down UFC Houston, headlined by Sean Strickland and Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez (30:16), then preview a busy boxing slate that includes Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios, Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington 2, and Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn 2 (1:04:35). Ariel checks in for an Uncrowned announcement (1:19:10) and the Boys make picks (1:29:56), before hitting major MMA news and notes (1:33:31) and delivering their P4P astronauts (1:53:30). Finally, they debut a brand new Fight Feasts, focused on Tex-Mex cuisine (2:12:44), listen to your voicemails (2:35:06), and answer your Super Chats (3:16:29).
The Uncrowned Wrestling Show is BACK with news on Cain Velasquez (yes, he used to wrestle!) being released from prison (00:19).Plus, thoughts on AEW Grand Slam Australia and the Brody King controversy after Dave Meltzer's erroneous report about Warner Brothers Discovery barring him from TV last week (03:40).Next, diving into WWE calling an emergency meeting over WrestleMania 42 ticket sales, the reasons why this is happening and the changing dynamic of the WWE audience if they continue down this path (25:17).On to Elimination Chamber updates, including the latest names to qualify, Bianca Belair's injury status and Raw’s MYSTERY CRATE (37:13).Discussion turns to LA Knight‘s rumored WrestleMania match and him still being trapped in The Vision Vortex (54:58), before focusing on TNA’s audience gains on AMC and Chris Bey‘s birthday message (1:01:14).Finally, some New Japan Pro Wrestling notes, including another departing star who may be WWE-bound (1:07:22), and Solomonster answers your questions (1:14:14)!
The Boys in the Back react to the massive news of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano being announced to headline a Most Valuable Promotions MMA card on Netflix, including Ariel Helwani's thoughts on the announcement (00:47).Petesy Carroll joins the Boys for On The Nose (54:56), before bouncing around the MMA world for news and notes, including Conor McGregor hinting at the Nate Diaz trilogy, talks of Khamzat Chimaev as a light heavyweight, and more (2:00:38).Finally, the Boys answer your Super Chats before saying goodbye (2:17:55).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with Petesy Carroll, discussing his exclusive article on Tom Aspinall's recent eye surgery and what the future holds for the UFC's heavyweight champion (03:00). Is Gable Steveson the savior the division needs in the meantime (21:22)?Next, they discuss Dana White's fiery press conference after Zuffa Boxing 3 (37:18), including the latest on the White House card (54:07).They recap Ian Mchado Garry's planned trip to Georgia (1:08:57), Cain Velasquez's prison release (1:14:34), Karate Combat's grappling match between Valter Walker and Zion Clark (1:18:32), as well as Winged C latest win (1:24:20).After coving other news and notes, including grappling ace Gordon Ryan explaining how to beat Khamzat Chimaev (1:32:38), Nate Diaz calling out Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier (1:42:01), and Zabit Magomedsharipov returning to competiton (1:54:38), the Boys answer your Super Chats (2:10:15).
On this week’s Craic, Petesy Carroll returns alongside Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes as usual.To kick things off, Petesy discusses his latest Uncrowned feature, offering an inside look at Tom Aspinall’s recent eye surgery, which he attended (2:52).With Aspinall sidelined and news of Jailton Almeida’s recent release, the UFC heavyweight division suddenly looks thin. The trio assess just how shaky the state of what was once the promotion’s premier division has become (28:02).Then, fresh from the 2026 Combat Sports Officials Summit, Ben Fowlkes shares what officials are working on to help prevent incidents like Aspinall’s eye poke and how they’re approaching MMA scoring moving forward (43:22).To round out the show, Petesy and the gang answer your Super Chats (1:07:18).
The Boys in the Back are back with a loaded show covering hot topics in the combat space, including Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev heating back up (08:03), Jailton Almeida's shocking UFC release (19:01), Tom Aspinall's latest eye surgery (29:39), Nate Diaz teasing a return to the cage (40:04), Joaquin Buckley taking on the boxing world (46:21), and more (58:14).Plus, the Boys deliver their P4P Winter Olympic sports (1:32:55), listen to your voicemails (1:52:40), and answer your Super Chats (2:32:47).
It’s the WORLD PREMIERE of The Uncrowned Wrestling Show!The Solomonster is here talking all things pro wrestling, starting with Roman Reigns and CM Punk making it clear why they own the REAL WrestleMania main event this year, and Drew McIntyre’s response on Smackdown last Friday (01:45).  He also discusses how WWE arrived at this point through LOTS of changes to the WrestleMania card, as well as the latest on Bron Breakker’s injury that may keep him off the card in Las Vegas, and an idea for a replacement match involving Bad Bunny (05:25).  He runs down the latest on all the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches, as well as rumors of internal criticism of Paul Levesque due to lagging Mania ticket sales (12:17).  Cody Rhodes revealed a recent pitch he made to WWE brass about bringing back house shows and Solomonster discusses why the pros far outweigh the cons of such a move (32:02).  AEW was in the news, too, with talk of its Double or Nothing PPV coming to New York City this year, and there’s much to say about Ricochet blasting WWE for tarnishing his legacy, as well as Grand Slam Australia predictions (32:02).  Then he closes things with news on The Sandman’s retirement match and a most unique final opponent for him this April (48:07).
The Boys in the Back begin the show with some news and notes, including Dana White saying the White House card will be done soon (03:31), Joaquin Buckley putting the welterweight division on blast (07:10), Michael Morales taking a shot at Ian Machado Garry (10:13), breaking news from the boxing world (13:26), and more.With Ariel Helwani away for the Olympics, The Boys in the Back take over On The Nose, answering your burning questions (17:07), before speaking to Dustin Jacoby (1:02:46), Mario Bautista (1:33:33), and Xander Zayas, fresh off his SuperBowl halftime appearance (2:00:56).
The Boys in the Back return after a big weekend in combat sports. First up, Ariel Helwani checks in to give his thoughts on all the action (00:54).Next, The Boys welcome in Petesy Carroll to dive deeper into PFL Road to Dubai and the big win by Usman Nurmagomedov (11:29), Mario Bautista — and others — shining at UFC Vegas 113 (33:05), BKFC's KnuckleMania 6 (1:05:02), and the Super Bowl (1:14:20).Newly crowned BKFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski joins the show to discuss the victory and open up about beating cancer (1:40:53).The show wraps up with some more news and notes (1:59:37) and your Super Chats (2:12:04).
The Craic is back! Our dynamic trio of Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes return as usual.First up, the crew react to UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria teasing his return on social media (5:18).The trio also weigh in on Justin Gaethje hinting he could face Topuria next, and possibly at the White House (13:14).Attention then turns to Dana White’s appearance in ongoing UFC antitrust lawsuits, where he shed light on the scope of his current role within the company. The guys unpack the key takeaways (31:23).UFC London tickets have just dropped. With fans unhappy about the prices, the trio ask whether UFC event costs will ever come back down (41:17).There’s plenty of MMA on this weekend, too. The boys preview PFL Road to Dubai’s main event between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alfie Davis (46:13), as well as the UFC’s latest Apex fixtures (52:47).To round things out, Ben Fowlkes sheds light on his latest Uncrowned feature: The Tale of ‘Two Ton’ Tony (1:01:54), and the lads close the show with your Super Chats (1:13:07).
The Boys in the Back return with a jam-packed show that begins by chatting with BKFC founder David Feldman about Knucklemania 6 (02:28).They also react to a slew of stories, including:Dana White revealing details about the UFC business during an antitrust evidence spoliation hearing (19:40)Ilia Topuria potentially returning (39:53)Video of Jon Jones talking about his arthritis leaking (51:58)Shavkat Rakhmonov being removed from the rankings (58:57)Michael Morales taking aim at Islam Makhachev (1:02:45)Lone'er Kavanagh stepping in on short notice against Brandon Moreno (1:07:16)Gervonta 'Tank' Davis being issued another warrant (1:17:56)Floyd Mayweather suing Showtime (1:18:43)Deontay Wilder storming out of his interview with Simon Jordan (1:21:52)MVP announcing a new deal with Sky Sports and a stacked London card (1:29:12)Next, The Boys preview UFC Vegas 113 (1:31:33) and PFL Road to Dubai (1:50:26), make picks (1:57:41), listen to your voicemails (2:07:00), and answer your Super Chats (2:39:06).
Ariel Helwani hosts a face-to-face sitdown between Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora ahead of their April 4 matchup at the O2 Arena in London.In a wide ranging conversation, both heavyweights get deep while discussing their lives, overcoming obstacles throughout their careers, and the stakes for the fight — including potential retirement for one or both.
Ariel Helwani is joined by Uncrowned's Ben Fowlkes, Shaheen Al-Shatti, and NewYorkRic for another dissection of MMA media stories.Topics include: Media's role in stories centered around fighter rights and pay (02:22), whether media should participate in a promotion's rankings panel (24:17), who Islam Makhachev should fight next (33:29), coverage of the UFC White House card (42:37), and more.
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to Uncrowned Saturday and a busy weekend in combat sports, starting with appreciation for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, discussions about who will challenge next for his belt, and whether he is greater all-time than Khabib Nurmagomedov (08:24).Then, Ariel and the Boys in the Back break down the rest of UFC 325, including Benoit Saint Denis’ big win and what’s next, before touching on the Royal Rumble, the newly announced UFC London card, news of surgery for Shavkat Rakhmonov, and more (15:44).Lerone Murphy joins next to talk about his meeting with Movsar Evloev, his thoughts on the UFC 325 main event, Volkanovski’s insistence on fighting the top contender, his game plan for Evloev, and more (1:06:34).WBC featherweight champion Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington is back in-studio following his massive win at Madison Square Garden, discussing the emotion of the moment, how the event was promoted, believing in Top Rank Boxing as his promoter, Teofimo Lopez’s behavior, Jarrell Miller’s viral hair incident, and more (1:27:27).WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán joins Ariel in-studio to talk about finding Miller’s hairpiece on Saturday, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport and the their mixed messaging, challenges the sanctioning bodies face, and more (2:06:24).Quillan Salkilld returns after another spectacular finish at UFC 325 to review the performance, talk about his rapid ascent at lightweight, staking his claim for a fight against the division’s top 15, and more (3:01:25).Robert Whittaker is our final guest of the day, evaluating Volkanovski’s UFC 325 showing, his interest in the broadcasting realm, potentially moving up to light heavyweight when he returns to action, and more (3:17:13).Finally, Ariel closes the show with your Super Chats (3:38:42).
Ariel Helwani reunites with Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall to break down UFC 325, starting with Alexander Volkanovski's dominant performance against Diego Lopes in their championship rematch (03:04).After a discussion about who Volkanovski should fight next, they touch on Benoit Saint-Denis' big win over Dan Hooker (26:47), Mauricio Ruffy finishing Rafael Fiziev (34:50), Tai Tuivasa coming up short against Tallison Teixeira (40:57), and another highlight reel win by Quillan Salkilld (46:11).The show closes with a look at the night's prelims (49:15) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:01:44).
The Craic returns with its regular trio of Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes to see you into a stacked combat sports weekend.To get things underway, the lads react to the UFC 325 weigh-ins, including the announcement of the new weigh-in protocols (6:24).Then it’s on to the main event: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes. The trio discuss Volkanovski‘s retirement rumors and what a win would mean for the Australian (16:39).Attention then shifts to the co-main event, where Petesy and the crew break down what promises to be a thrilling clash between Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint-Denis (29:02).They also preview the rest of the main card (35:34) and deliver their official Uncrowned picks for each fight (39:11).In a surprise development, Patchy Mix has been released from the UFC and signed with RIZIN, drawing an immediate reaction from the chaps (48:49).Switching to boxing, the guys discuss Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez ahead of their highly anticipated clash this weekend (54:49).To close the show, the lads preview The Royal Rumble (59:32) and respond to your Super Chats (01:16:00).
The Boys in the Back begin the show with news and notes, including the arrest of Gervonta 'Tank' Davis (02:06), Patchy Mix debuting for RIZIN (03:26), and more (14:05).Next, they preview UFC 325 from top to bottom (19:45), before diving into Shakur Stevenson vs. Teofimo Lopez (1:23:59).Finally, they make picks (1:29:41), deliver their P4P cooks (1:32:18), listen to your voicemails (1:55:00), and answer your Super Chats (2:23:29).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by reacting to breaking news of Tyson Fury’s return to the ring and the implications of it landing on Netflix (06:06).Next, Ariel answers On The Nose questions, with topics including ads running during UFC 324, Justin Gaethje’s thrilling style and Paddy Pimblett’s chin, Alex Honnold’s terrifying climb, Josh Hokit's gimmick, veteran fighters being the last of a dying breed, and more (18:51).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel for the annual Royal Rumble lottery (1:09:19).Michael Chiesa returns, discussing his Seattle Seahawks making it to the Super Bowl, his continued broadcasting work, fans’ complaints about broadcast ads, his breakdown of the UFC 324 main event, wanting to fight Colby Covington, being booked for the UFC Seattle card, talks of retirement, surviving childhood abuse, and more (1:31:45).Conor Benn is back, joining Ariel in-studio to talk about the idea of being a role model, wanting to fight Shakur Stevenson, potential options for his next fight, believing Ryan Garcia is a liability as an opponent, Tyson Fury’s return, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport, still not liking Chris Eubank Jr., and more (2:11:51).Jean Silva is our final guest of the day, breaking down his big win over Arnold Allen at UFC 324, discussing the moment when he stepped on Allen’s back, the viral video of him getting emotional while seeing the UFC belt, his prediction for Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2, and more (3:07:45).Ariel covers more news and notes, before wrapping up with your Super Chats (3:36:15).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with discussions about Rose Namajunas needing eye surgery, PFL debuting rankings and their longterm viability, and UFC 325 fight week (07:05).Josh Hokit joins following his UFC 324 win over Denzel Freeman to talk about the performance, his viral promo after the fight, his current contract status, wanting to fight Tai Tuivasa, and more (31:51).Eddie Hearn is back in-studio to break down stories from the boxing world, including the Zuffa Boxing debut and signing Jai Opetaia, his rivalry with Dana White, how the governing bodies will handle UBOs, UFC fighter pay compared to revenue, Bam Rodriguez’s contract status, whether he believes iVB is viable, Anthony Joshua’s tragic accident, what’s next for Katie Taylor, and more (57:11).Ariel gives an update on the fight between Michael Johnson and Alexander Hernandez being pulled from UFC 324 due to suspicious betting activity and Rose Namajunas undergoing successful surgery (2:14:05).Arman Tsarukyan returns to discuss his recent media tour, his hatred for Paddy Pimblett, Pimblett’s lack of skills, a proposed grappling match against Colby Covington, going down to featherweight if he doesn’t get a lightweight title shot, Dana White’s comments about him, and more (2:27:26).Ariel wraps up the show with more news and notes, before answering your Super Chats (3:10:21).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC 324. Joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, they cover the night’s main event, how it could tie into Conor McGregor’s return, UFC bonuses increasing, Paramount’s first UFC broadcast, the suspicious betting activity around Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez, and Cameron Smotherman fainting at weigh-ins, before touching on Zuffa Boxing’s debut (03:03).Alex Perez stops by following his big win over Charles Johnson at UFC 324, talks about the performance, missing weight and not being eligible for bonuses, overcoming difficulties in training camp, being confident about re-signing with the UFC, and more (1:31:17).Sean O’Malley returns, discussing his UFC 324 win over Song Yadong, the feeling of being back in the win column, his daughter being at the fight, landing significant shots to Song’s body, UFC’s increased bonuses, wanting a rematch against Petr Yan next, and more (2:02:03).Dan Hooker is back, breaking down his loss to Arman Tsarukyan, including his nose being broken by the weigh-in head-butt, explaining why he accepted a short turnaround against Benoit Saint Denis, his beef with Paddy Pimblett and their war of words, signing a new contract, the next edition of 1 Minute Scraps, and more (2:33:21).Legendary musician Travis Barker describes his love of combat sports, explains how the UFC promo he recorded came together, then gives his thoughts on UFC 324 and some upcoming fights, and more (3:06:35).Ariel wraps up the show with UFC 324 viewership numbers released by Paramount and some other news and notes, including Dana White’s latest comments about Tom Aspinall, and your Super Chats (3:41:50).
Ariel Helwani and Petesy Carroll react to UFC 324, the promotion's Paramount debut.They kick things off with the thrilling main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, which saw Gaethje become interim UFC lightweight champion (03:22).Next, they discuss this week's chatter about fighter pay and the increased bonuses announced by Dana White (20:31).After matchmaking for the UFC's lightweight division (23:52), they dive into the co-main event win by Sean O'Malley (29:30) and the rest of the card (34:23).Finally, they touch on news from the night, including referee Mark Smith tearing his ACL and the fight between Michael Johnson and Alexander Hernandez being pulled due to suspicious betting activity (49:02), before giving final thoughts on the Paramount debut (56:14).
The Craic is back! This week, the lads go all in on UFC 324.To open the show, Petesy Carroll is joined by Craic regular Ben Fowlkes and UK MMA journalist Chisanga Malata to break down this weekend’s main event: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett (2:30).One half of that main event, Gaethje, recently voiced his disappointment over not getting more money after the Paramount deal. Petesy and Ben react to his comments, the fallout that followed, and the state of fighter pay in 2026 (31:02).UFC 324 brings plenty of other key storylines. The boys debate whether Arman Tsarukyan should be next for the winner of the main event (46:38).Next, they dig into the fireworks bantamweight matchup between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong (48:42), and discuss whether Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ciryl Gane could be next up for the heavyweight title (51:01).On the back end of the show, Chuck Mindenhall joins from Las Vegas. Boots on the ground for the Zuffa Boxing debut, Chuck sheds light on how the event is shaping up (53:45).To close up shop, the boys give their UFC 324 picks (1:12:31), and respond to your Super Chats (1:16:45).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with a discussion about UFC fighter pay in the Paramount Era, sparked by Justin Gaethje's recent comments (02:35).After touching on Dana White saying he wanted a specific fighter to lose (19:53), they preview the UFC 324 main card (26:59).The Boys react in real time to White's response to Gaethje (54:14), before bringing in Ariel Helwani to talk more about fighter pay and UFC seemingly moving on from Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler (1:26:58).They break down the rest of UFC 324 (1:52:14), make picks (1:59:50), and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring cuisine from the Dominican Republic (2:04:02).Finally, the Boys deliver their P4P convenience store foods and drinks (2:16:11), listen to your voicemails (2:36:14), and answer your Super Chats (3:19:53).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by reacting to Donn Davis’ PFL departure, PFL securing additional funding, and Jake Paul’s PFL partnership coming to an end (03:33).Next, Ariel answers On The Nose questions about Dana White’s recent media tour, including his reaction to the idea of Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal, Sean O’Malley’s future, UFC’s political influence, Amanda Nunes’ return, and more (16:15).Israel Adesanya is back to break down his UFC Seattle fight against Joe Pyfer, discussing how the fight came together, whether he believes he can fight for the title again, the state of the middleweight division, training with Mauricio Ruffy, his foray into DJing, and more (1:34:36).Cory Sandhagen joins the show, dissecting the UFC bantamweight division, including major UFC 324 matchups and Sean O’Malley potentially getting a title shot, then talks about Justin Gaethje’s chances against Paddy Pimblett, his time jumping rope and climbing mountains, and more (2:05:31).Michael Chandler is our final guest of the day, addressing the buzz around the White House card and giving his thoughts on Dana White’s recent comments about Conor McGregor’s return, why he should be the one to fight McGregor, Jorge Masvidal’s entry into the conversation, Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, and more (2:34:22).Ariel closes the show with an update on the Ali Revival Act, before answering a few more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (3:00:52).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by acknowledging Indiana University’s college football national championship (05:26).Ateba Gautier is our first guest, joining ahead of his UFC 324 fight to discuss being considered a top prospect, remaining relentlessly motivated, his game plan for Andrey Pulyaev, believing teammate Lerone Murphy should have gotten a title shot, and more (12:16).Rose Namajunas returns to preview her UFC 324 meeting with Natalia Silva, talking about being one of the most tenured current UFC veterans, what motivates her now, how her style matches up with Silva’s taekwondo, potentially fighting friend and UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, and more (34:00).Dominick Cruz is back to discuss the launch of his podcast, including the former rivals he’s had as guests, whether he has the itch to fight again, fighter pay in the post-pay-per-view era, his viral social media comment about Alexandre Pantoja’s injury, potentially competing again, Conor McGregor’s potential return, and more (1:04:55).iVB founder Ed Pereira details the company’s background, then talks about working on The Ring’s Times Square boxing event, the public event they’re trying to do in San Francisco, finding a promoter for the event, shooting down rumors of Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder being booked for the main event, and more (1:51:08).Ariel wraps up the show with some news and notes, including Katie Taylor talking retirement, footage of Gable Steveson training with Jon Jones, Max Holloway’s response to Ariel’s interview with Jorge Masvidal, and more (2:34:25).Finally, your Super Chats (3:27:52).
Ariel Helwani starts the show on a somber note, reflecting on the Buffalo Bills’ season coming to an end, before reacting to a busy weekend that included major reveals from Zuffa Boxing, Paramount’s promotional efforts for UFC 324, Dana White’s recent apathy, Arman Tsarukyan’s world tour, Alex Pereira and Jon Jones exchanging callouts, and more (12:25).Jorge Masvidal returns to talk about rumors of him potentially facing Conor McGregor, wanting to fight on the White House card, not calling in a favor with President Trump to get on the card, and his response to Max Holloway’s stance on the BMF title (1:04:21).Waldo Cortes-Acosta is back, previewing his UFC 324 fight against Derrick Lewis, revealing he wanted to fight Lewis for a long time, looking back at his baseball career, and more (1:35:07).Dustin Poirier is our final guest of the day, joining on his birthday to discuss the birth of his son Kingston, life in retirement, still missing fighting, continuing to seek broadcast opportunities, his breakdown of the UFC 324 main event and Conor McGregor’s potential return, filming the "Road House" sequel, and more (2:00:37).Ariel covers more news and notes, including Conor McGregor talking about his contract status, Alexandre Pantoja being back in the gym, Nick Diaz and Sean Strickland crossing paths in Vegas, and more (2:00:37).Finally, Ariel answers your Super Chats (3:31:59).
The Craic is back with its dynamic trio. Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes reunite, kicking things off with a deep dive into how the UFC’s Paramount era will shape up (2:47).Then, the guys react to Kayla Harrison dropping out of UFC 324 (28:13), how it impacts the quality of the UFC’s debut on Paramount, and whether UFC 325 shapes up as the stronger event (36:49).With Dana White at the helm of the UFC’s new deal, the trio break down his recent media appearances and how a lack of promotional push is impacting the hype around upcoming events (46:01).While the UFC prepares for its Paramount debut next week, attention turns to KSW, where rising prospect Salahdine Parnasse is set to face Marcin Held. Petesy breaks down the matchup for the lads (56:32).To round out the show, the chaps flex their dramatic muscles by re-enacting an interaction between a UFC matchmaker and a manager (1:04:05), then answer your Super Chats (1:22:21).
The Boys in the Back bring you another stacked show, starting with reaction to the arrest warrant issued for Gervonta Davis (02:52) and Dana White's recent comments about the White House card (05:12).Ariel Helwani joins, giving his own thoughts on the latest from White and discussing Kayla Harrison's withdrawal from UFC 324, as well as the numerous names volunteering to fight Amanda Nunes as a result (17:05).The Boys cover other news, including Paddy Pimblett calling Arman Tsraukyan's grappling overrated, Sean O'Malley reacting to sliding into the UFC 324 co-main event slot, Khalil Rountree Jr. calling for a Jiri Prochazka rematch, and more (48:17).After looking at some UFC championship futures (1:05:50), The Boys deliver their P4P heartbreaking cancellations (1:28:19), listen to your voicemails (1:49:38), and answer your Super Chats (2:17:25).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering questions related to Dana White’s announcement of Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer, Kayla Harrison being out of her UFC 324 bout against Amanda Nunes, Meta getting naming rights to the APEX, and more (04:23).Joe Pyfer is back to discuss the massive opportunity against Adesanya, being the betting favorite, how the fight got made, his respect for Adesanya, training his grappling with Nicky Rod, and more (1:06:12).Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez returns to preview his UFC Houston main event against Sean Strickland, then talks about his post-MMA plans, expecting a bloody fight from Strickland, not being bothered by trash talk, feeling like he doesn’t get special treatment from the UFC, and more (1:35:25).Old friend Daniel Cormier finally reunites with Ariel to celebrate a few holidays, discuss UFC’s move to Paramount, Harrison being forced out of the Nunes fight, Gable Steveson’s potential to be UFC champion, Jon Jones coaching Steveson, coaching opposite Jones on their reality show, his continued rivalry with Jones, potentially wrestling Jones, and more (2:19:57).Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall, die-hard Denver Broncos fan, joins the show to talk trash to Ariel about his Buffalo Bills before their teams meet in the NFL playoffs (3:10:24).Ariel wraps up the show with your Super Chats (3:45:59).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to yesterday’s Arman Tsarukyan pizza party, Dana White’s upcoming announcement, PFL revealing the main event for its Pittsburgh show, Moses Itauma’s next fight being postponed, and more (04:47).Dakota Ditcheva is back on the show, detailing the hand injury that forced her to withdraw from PFL’s February event, breaking down the fight between former ATT teammates Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison, weighing in on Valentina Shevchenko’s continued success, and responding to Cris Cyborg’s callout (34:50).Charles Johnson returns to preview his upcoming fight against Alex Perez, talk about his win over Joshua Van and his feelings on Van as UFC flyweight champion, seeing himself as more than just a prospect killer, what impact the Paramount partnership could have on promotional efforts, his track and field history, and more (1:05:11).Ariel reunites with old friend and co-host Ade Oladipo to react to the buzz surrounding big wins by Agit Kabayel and Dalton Smith, the announcement of Moses Itauma’s fight being delayed, Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia being made official, David Benavidez going up to challenge Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, Zuffa Boxing’s debut show, KSI’s retirement from boxing, and more (1:30:15).Mauricio Ruffy is our final guest of the day, discussing his recent team-up with Alexander Volkanovski, suffering defeat to Benoit Saint-Denis and how he plans to bounce back, his highlight-reel knockout of King Green, preparing to face Rafael Fiziev, and more (2:04:55).Ariel closes the show with more news and notes, before answering your Super Chats (2:25:33).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with reaction to Real American Freestyle’s fifth event, headlined by Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold, and Dana White’s recent media tour (06:08).Bo Nickal, who was scheduled to compete against Yoel Romero at RAF05, joins next to discuss the event, Romero missing weight, trash talk from Covington and Rockhold, wanting to fight Covington in MMA and end his career, potentially competing on the White House card, and more (58:41).LFA CEO Ed Soares is back to detail the promotion’s new broadcast deal with VICE TV, explain why they didn’t come to an agreement with UFC Fight Pass, the promotion’s plans for 2026 and beyond, considering LFA the No. 2 promotion in the world, and more (1:20:01).UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski returns to talk about Diego Lopes getting the title shot over Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, where the conversation about his retirement came from, whether he’d ever want to challenge for the lightweight belt again, being able to really showcase his personality in recent years, and more (1:45:30).Top UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan joins Ariel in-studio to discuss his potential next fight, hoping Paddy Pimblett loses against Justin Gaethje, his rise as a content creator, before being surprised with a massive assortment of pizza (2:07:41).Ariel ends the show by covering some news and notes, including Khamzat Chimaev calling for a light heavyweight title shot, Alex Pereira’s split from Tracy Cortez, Paramount’s new pricing, Kamaru Usman’s captured conversation with Anthony Joshua, and more (3:32:19).Plus, the answers to your Super Chats (3:55:16).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll kicks off the new year alongside Uncrowned’s finest, Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al-Shatti.First up, they discuss how concerned we should be about Ilia Topuria’s fighting future following the UFC lightweight champ’s recent court proceedings (5:20).Another UFC lightweight with no title-fight news is Arman Tsarukyan. The trio react to Dana White’s interview with Robbie Fox, where he shed light on why (17:30).The 155-pound division continues to make headlines, this time with title contenders Paddy Pimblett and Dan Hooker clashing in a social media war of words. The lads break it down (28:31).From one feud to another, Petesy and the boys dissect the latest developments in the Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier rivalry (48:45).Finally, the guys highlight their biggest stories to watch in 2026 (55:54), and answer your Super Chats (1:16:18).
The Boys in the Back return to react to recent news, including PFL's former CEO departing, UFC Houston fight announcements, and LFA's new broadcast home (03:21).Next, they cover the unexpected talk of friendship between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, before discussing some of the other biggest rivalries in MMA history (13:06).Plus, the Boys debut the first annual Backie Awards (44:36), listen to your voicemails (1:19:14), and answer your Super Chats (1:56:23).
Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to review their predictions from last year, then forecast the MMA landscape for 2026.After giving their Must-See Fights (10:53), Breakout Fighters (45:39), Stories To Watch (58:58), and Male and Female Fighters (1:21:27), the crew predicts how many new UFC champions will be crowned (1:33:50), play a round of True or False (1:41:16), and each make one bold prediction (1:58:49).The show closes with a debate about the Michael Morales record controversy (2:16:21), Super Chats (2:53:43), and some other news and notes (3:05:02).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo reunite to roll out our second annual boxing awards spectacular, but first, they honor Anthony Joshua's close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (07:32).The duo hands out hardware in 20 categories, including Fight of the Year (18:26), Knockout of the Year (23:12), Trainer of the Year (1:09:08), Promoter of the Year (1:16:24) Moment of the Year (1:41:49), Female Fighter of the Year (1:53:52), Male Fighter of the Year (1:59:21), and many more.After saying goodbye to Ade, Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll for a supersized edition of On The Nose, with topics including Rico Verhoeven's next move (2:22:15), Adam Sandler vs. Will Ferrell (2:37:39), speculation about Justin Gaethje's status for UFC 324 (2:44:52), sportswashing and the state of modern journalism (3:03:21), Conor McGregor calling for a fight against Floyd Mayweather (3:17:50), Sean O'Malley setting a timeline for retirement (3:49:27), and more.Finally, Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (4:02:36).
Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy Carroll ring in 2026 with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 13th Annual Helwani Nose Awards.Before getting into the categories, the show pays tribute to MMA media member Abbey Subhan and Anthony Joshua team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele (08:28), then looks back at some of the moments we missed over the break (21:23).The gang jumps into the most comprehensive awards in sports, with categories including Performance of the Year (36:00), Fight of the Year (39:51), Knockout of the Year (52:19), Rivalry of the Year (1:33:33), Story of the Year (3:11:24), Female Fighter of the Year (3:25:18), Male Fighter of the Year (3:33:56), and many more.Finally, Ariel reacts to some breaking news about Jon Jones and rival Daniel Cormier (3:44:51) and answers your Super Chats (3:51:03).
Ariel Helwani starts the final live show of 2025 with a recap and reaction to Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the big winners and losers, before The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join him to further break down the aftermath and forecast what’s next for both Paul and Joshua (04:07).Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn is back to provide his perspective on Joshua’s knockout of Paul, Paul’s game plan and toughness, Joshua’s rising star power, potential bouts for Joshua against Tyson Fury and Rico Verhoeven, Katie Taylor’s next fight, the brewing Zuffa Boxing rivalry, and more (1:04:01).Andrei Arlovski returns to the show to give details about his run-in with streamer Jack Doherty, including who was involved, how the whole thing kicked off, his reaction to Doherty’s comments after the fact, and more. Plus, he previews his upcoming BKFC heavyweight title bout against Ben Rothwell and gives thoughts on the Paul vs. Joshua fight (1:42:49).Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian provides an update on Jake Paul’s health after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua, and discusses Paul’s next move, how the loss impacts Paul’s stock, the main event purses, accusations of fight fixing, Netflix’s reaction to the event, and more (2:08:27).One-half of the AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions, Harley Cameron, joins Ariel in-studio to talk about her ascent in 2025, her early life and knowing she wanted to be an entertainer, WWE facilitating her early wrestling training, the AEW locker room, working with Mercedes Moné, before showcasing her ventriloquism skills (2:35:17).Ariel touches on a few news items, including Andrew Tate falling short in his Misfits debut against Chase DeMoor, and answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (3:32:56).
The Ariel Helwani Show is live from Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Miami!After welcoming in the capacity crowd (00:30), Ariel is joined on stage by UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison (07:50) to discuss her upcoming fight against Amanda Nunes and more.The King of Miami, Jorge Masvidal, joins Ariel and ATT teammate Harrison on stage (29:05) to talk about the gym's dynamics, break down Harrison vs. Nunes, and tease his own 2026 comeback.Ariel wraps up the show by answering questions from the crowd (56:55).
For the final Craic of 2025, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall to round out the combat sports year.They open by previewing this weekend’s crossover fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua on Netflix (04:38).Shifting back to MMA, the duo discuss Tom “Bully” Aspinall’s message to Ciryl Gane and how the buildup to their rematch is shaping up compared to the first meeting (28:45).Then it’s over to the PFL, where news of Movlid Khaybulaev’s positive drug tests has caused ripples. The guys react to what it means for the PFL titleholder (41:35).Finally, Petesy and Chuck react to the latest Mark Zuckerberg MMA training footage, this time alongside Merab Dvalishvili (49:30).To close out the show and the year, they answer your Super Chats (55:00).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll, answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Francis Ngannou’s free agency, booking fighters on the show, corporate jargon, The Beatles, and more (11:29).‘The Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen is back to discuss John Cena’s retirement match, Ilia Topuria stepping away and the UFC lightweight title implications, Alex Pereira saying he won’t be on the White House card, Dana White’s claims about Francis Ngannou putting hands on him, Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, memories from the UFC on ESPN era, and more (1:04:51).Holly Holm returns ahead of her title bout against Stephanie Han in January to talk about her boxing career, her interest in a Ronda Rousey rematch, how a fight between Rousey and Katie Taylor would go, her own potential Taylor fight, the story behind her celebratory backflip, and more (2:02:36).Skye Nicolson joins following her win over Yulihan Luna to capture interim WBC super bantamweight gold, discussing how she’s adapted to the new weight class, her 2026 plan, including a quest to become undisputed, Devin Haney’s criticism of her and apology, Jake Paul being in danger against Anthony Joshua, how Ronda Rousey would fare in the ring, and more (2:34:57).Sam Alvey is our final guest of the day, looking back at his loss to Robelis Despaigne at Karate Combat 58, talk about the event being delayed and how it impacted his preparation, being content with the referee’s stoppage, his feelings about Karate Combat as a promotion, how long he plans to continue fighting, and more (3:03:11).Ariel closes with show with your Super Chats (3:22:36).
Ariel Helwani brings in The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to the final UFC event of the year, starting with a review of Manel Kape’s big win and whether it was enough to earn a title shot, before moving on to the best moments from the now-over ESPN era, Francis Ngannou’s interview from last week and Dana White readdressing their interaction, and John Cena’s retirement match (12:16).Rising UFC star Kevin Vallejos makes his show debut, discussing his knockout of Giga Chikadze, being awarded a performance bonus for his spinning backfist, intending to donate to Chikadze’s charity, his callout of Cub Swanson, and more (1:36:50).Patrick Habirora joins on the heels of his win at PFL Lyon, talking about his training with Georges St-Pierre, his love of anime, his soccer background, seeking the toughest challenges, his knockouts of former UFC fighters, wanting to fight Kevin Lee next, feeling ready to take over if Usman Nurmagomedov leaves the PFL, and more (2:02:51).Tyson Pedro returns with some big news, announcing his signing with PFL, then discusses his boxing run, his listed nickname being changed to “Kangaroo Paws,” James Te Huna being a mentor of his, being named after Mike Tyson, and more (2:28:00).Shakur Stevenson is back to talk about his upcoming fight against Teofimo Lopez, claiming Lopez is not really from New York, describing his respect for Lopez from their time on the amateur scene, his plans to make Lopez pay for his words, working with Eddie Hearn, how a potential fight with Conor Benn would go, his training with Jake Paul, and more (3:06:55).Ariel briefly responds to Jamahal Hill and answers your Super Chats (3:32:54).
The Craic is back! As usual, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben “Big Time” Fowlkes.This week’s biggest story is the escalating back-and-forth between Dana White and Francis Ngannou. The crew breaks down their interviews and what the exchange really means (5:05).Next up, the lads tackle whether Merab Dvalishvili still deserves Fighter Of The Year after his loss to Petr Yan, and who might take the spot instead (38:48).Another end-of-year competition comes to a close with the Uncrowned MMA picks, and Ben Fowlkes addresses his disappointing bottom-of-the-table finish (49:21).Finally, Petesy and the guys preview UFC Fight Night: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (53:21) and answer your Super Chats (1:09:30).
The Boys in the Back submit their final show of the year, starting with some news and notes, including Kron Gracie being forced out of his VFL fight (02:49) and Islam Makhachev defending a potential Kamaru Usman title shot (04:04).After a conversation about the massive amount of turnover for UFC champions in 2025 (22:42), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 112 (41:18) and PFL Lyon (1:14:39), before touching on John Cena's retirement match (1:25:45) and making picks (1:35:53).The Boys deliver their P4P lists of finales (1:40:48), then answer your voicemails (2:05:22) and Super Chats (3:00:47).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by reviewing the latest war of words between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili after it first appeared they'd buried the hatchet (02:19).Francis Ngannou returns to talk about being approached to fight Jake Paul, his prediction for Paul’s fight against Anthony Joshua, his relationship and contract status with PFL, who he might fight next, Ciryl Gane’s eye-poke on Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira’s chances against Jon Jones, and address Dana White’s claim that Ngannou put hands on him (16:50).Ariel hits some news and notes and answers a few questions (1:02:28), before welcoming Chris Duncan back to the show to discuss his thrilling UFC 323 win, feeling that Terrance McKinney fights scared, sacrifices he’s making to become a champion, Donald Cerrone being his favorite fighter, and more (1:30:16).Jalin Turner joins on the heels of his first-round finish of Edson Barboza to talk about sharing the cage with a legend, overcoming mental hurdles and personal tragedy to make it back to the UFC, plans in motion for a massive 2026, and more (2:03:59).Ariel answers On The Nose questions about champions of years past facing modern stars, timing for UFC’s White House card, and more (2:25:22).Tatsuro Taira stops by to recap his big win over Brandon Moreno, witnessing the injury to Alexandre Pantoja from cageside, believing he will fight champion Joshua Van next, being willing to fight Van anywhere but hoping for Japan, and more (2:58:31).Ariel does another round of On The Nose questions, before answering Super Chats to end the show (3:29:23).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with On The Nose, touching on the heated back-and-forth between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jamahal Hill, why MMA retirements don’t stick, how Paramount will recoup its UFC investment and how that impacts fighter pay, and more (11:24).Maycee Barber is back to break down her UFC 323 win over Karine Silva, discussing her health heading into the fight, the illegal upkicks she received, chasing a title shot, wanting to rematch Alexa Grasso, not being impressed by Valentina Shevchenko’s performance against Zhang Weili, and more (1:03:51).Mansur Abdul-Malik brings his infectious energy to the show, talking about his first-round submission of Antonio Trocoli at UFC 323, how his MMA journey started, being inspired by Rory MacDonald, why he’s so intense while preparing for fights, honoring his father and realizing his dreams, and more (1:28:16).Kron Gracie joins Ariel in-studio to reflect on his UFC career, talk about his departure from the promotion, fan reaction to him pulling guard, training with Gilbert Melendez, growing up with Rickson as a father, his unique training techniques, his perspective on earning jiu-jitsu black belts, and more (2:04:45).WBC women’s lightweight champion Caroline Dubois is our final guest of the day, discussing her signing with Most Valuable Promotions, leaving Boxxer, fighting on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card, wanting to fight Alycia Baumgardner, and more (3:10:40).Ariel answers more On The Nose questions and Super Chats to close the show (3:34:31).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with his reaction to UFC 323, including the excellence of Petr Yan in his upset win over Merab Dvalishvili, Joshua Van becoming the second-youngest champion in UFC history, Henry Cejudo’s retirement, and more (02:38).Dr. Brian Sutterer MD joins to discuss Alexandre Pantoja’s elbow injury, UFC initially suggesting it was a shoulder injury, the timetable for Pantoja’s return, MMA’s overall injury risks, Tom Aspinall’s eye injury and continued complications, and more (45:08).Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about Aspinall, and the latest updates about the White House card (59:35).Joshua Van joins on the heels of his UFC 323 victory over Pantoja to talk about becoming the second-youngest champion in promotional history, his view of Pantoja’s injury, wanting to rematch Pantoja, bringing the belt to his father’s grave, potentially fighting Tatsuro Taira, his response to those criticizing his celebration, and more (1:16:43).Coach John Wood returns to break down Merab’s performance at UFC 323, including Merab’s preparation, whether Merab relied too much on his striking, telling Merab he was ahead in the fight between rounds, plus, a check-in on Gina Carano as she returns to training, and more (1:34:57).Payton Tablott is back after the biggest win of his career to discuss Henry Cejudo’s game plan for UFC 323, their past training sessions and respect, who he wants to fight next, Merab’s performance, his wild interaction with Adin Ross, Winged C’s tattoo claims, and more (2:02:12).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to cover some news and notes, including Dana White weighing in on Terence Crawford being stripped of his WBC belt and Arman Tsarukyan’s path back to the title, UFC announcing some new fights including Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira, Conor McGregor’s linkup with Mike Tyson, and more (2:31:42).Ariel answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (3:50:27).
Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall to react to UFC 323, starting with Petr Yan's stunning upset of Merab Dvalishvili (01:48).Next, they discuss the co-main event, which saw Joshua Van become the second-youngest champion in UFC history due to Alexandre Pantoja suffering an arm injury early in the fight (26:20).After touching on the performances of Tatsuro Taira (43:50), Payton Talbott (47:12) and Jan Blachowicz (56:13), 3PAC recaps the night's prelims (58:48).The show concludes with a review of some newly announced fights for UFC 325 (1:04:22) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:28).
The Craic is back to kick off the festive season.With Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunited, they open the show by giving their take on the recent UFC on Paramount fight card announcements (4:21).Then, the lads get into this weekend’s fights at UFC 323 and debate whether a win over Petr Yan would cement Merab Dvalishvili as fighter of the year (17:03).The flyweight division is also host to some big matchups. The trio break down former champ Henry Cejudo taking on rising prospect Payton Talbott (42:30), and the co-main event barnburner between champ Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van (47:25).The guys give updates on TKO’s attempt to push the Ali Revival Act through Congress (49:08).To close out the show, the crew provide updates on Conor McGregor’s legal cases (1:02:09), make their picks for this weekend’s fights (1:04:26), and answer your Super Chats (1:10:15).
After a week away, The Boys in the Back return to preview UFC 323, but first, they discuss the TKO-backed Ali Revival Act (02:43) and some of the wild announcements and rumored bookings across the combat sports landscape (13:53).They quickly touch on UFC's new meal plan (33:20), before previewing UFC 323 from top to bottom (39:20) and making picks (1:27:36).Finally, they deliver their P4P Vans (1:38:55), listen to your voicemails (1:53:47) and answer your Super Chats (2:38:40).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to Terence Crawford being stripped of the WBC super middleweight title, Mike Tyson’s support for the Ali Revival Act, Oleksandr Usyk’s feelings on Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, and more (03:07).TNA President Carlos Silva joins to talk about the promotion’s new broadcast deal with AMC, how the deal came to be, plans for 2026, TNA’s relationship with WWE, Joe Hendry joining WWE, and more (17:44).Bill Haney is back to discuss his son, including his review of Devin’s last performance, their relationship with Eddie Hearn, potential next fights against the likes of Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn, and Rolly Romero, his stance on the Ali Revival Act, and more (47:38).Chris Bungard joins Ariel in-studio to talk about his run with Cage Warriors, being a free agent with several offers on the table, the origin of his ‘Bad Guy’ nickname, some of his thrilling walkouts, including a Bray Wyatt tribute, his love of Bret Hart and pro wrestling, wanting to fight Dillon Danis, hanging out with comedians Shane Gillis and Theo Von, and more (1:18:06).Malcolm Wellmaker returns on the heels of his UFC 322 defeat to talk about accepting the fight on short-notice, what he knew about Ethyn Ewing heading into the fight, being devastated by the loss, technical mistakes he made, when he plans to get back in the cage, and more (2:15:28).Abdullah Mason, the youngest active male champion in boxing, makes his show debut to discuss his win over Sam Noakes, his feelings on Keyshawn Davis and lessons learned, having the support of Cleveland behind him, how he got his start in boxing, and more (2:45:44).Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to cover some news and notes, including Colby Covington vs. Luke Rockhold being announced for Real American Freestyle, Henry Cejudo saying UFC 323 will be his retirement, the future of UFC on Paramount, Terence Crawford’s strong response to the WBC stripping him, before wrapping up with your Super Chats (3:08:04).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC 324 main event, Ronda Rousey’s comeback, how to convert casual fans, and more (05:14).Tom Aspinall returns for his first interview since UFC 321, responding to critics who believe was looking for a way out, discussing what he learned from the experience, his behind-the-scenes exchange with Daniel Cormier, comments about switching to boxing made by his father Andy, Ciryl Gane being a tough matchup, Dana White’s reaction after the fight, Jon Jones’ barbs, his potential timeline for return, and more (1:01:28).Sean O’Malley joins next to preview his fight against Song Yadong at UFC 324, talk about how he landed on Song as an opponent, the card order for UFC 324, Ilia Topuria being out to start the year, the footage of his sparring with Alexandre Pantoja, and more (1:59:32).Arnold Allen returns to discuss the shoulder injury that kept him out of action since 2024, his upcoming fight against Jean Silva, being offered the short-notice Aaron Pico fight, Diego Lopes getting the title shot over Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, the fan reaction to Tom Aspinall’s recent videos, his viral joke about being jumped in Montreal for not speaking French, and more (2:31:10).Ariel answers your Super Chats to close the show (3:06:47).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by recapping the massive UFC 324 and UFC 325 announcements, including reaction from fighters involved in the fights or fighters passed up for title opportunities (05:25).Joshua Van stops by during UFC 323 fight week to preview his matchup with Alexandre Pantoja, talk about his calmness before the storm and his longer-than-average layoff, react to Kyoji Horiguchi’s return and callout, and more (26:21).WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach joins Ariel in-studio ahead of his super lightweight scrap with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz to discuss his rivalry with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and a potential rematch, appealing the result of their first fight, whether he believes Davis is retired, his perspective on the Ali Revival Act, and more (46:40).Ariel addresses recent comments by Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejduo (1:16:50), before reuniting with old friend Tony Ferguson, who reflects on his win over Salt Papi in August, previews his return against Warren Spencer in December, discusses his relationship with Dillon Danis, his views on UFC’s recent matchmaking, planning to fight MMA again, his prediction for Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje, and more (1:34:55).Lerone Murphy is back to react to the announcement of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2, express his disappointment with not getting the title shot and potentially missing out on fighting Volkanovski before he retires, answer the callouts of Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling, give his prediction for the Volkanovski-Lopes rematch, and more (2:04:16).UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison returns to break down her highly-anticipated fight against Amanda Nunes, reveal a bit about their time as training partners, react to Ronda Rousey’s rumored comeback and potential boxing match with Katie Taylor, respond to Valentina Shevchenko’s callout, and more (2:26:04).Ariel and The Boys in the Back wrap up with some news and notes, including the latest on Tom Aspinall’s eye, and answer your Super Chats (3:08:30).
Ariel Helwani give his immediate reaction to Dana White's major announcement during halftime of Chiefs-Cowboys on CBS (01:05).Ariel addresses a statement by UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria about his future (02:38), before running down all the UFC 324 matchups announced by White (04:03) and the new main card start time (06:10).Then, he tackles the UFC 325 announcements (07:46), before giving his final thoughts on both cards (08:58).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the final show before Thanksgiving by acknowledging the Uncrowned team, before answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Khabib Nurmagomedov’s NFT launch, Conor McGregor and Khabib’s war of words over the NFTs, Ilia Topuria’s inactivity, Ian Machado Garry’s brash personality, and more (33:39).Wrestling legend Vince Russo stops by to promote his upcoming engagement with Juggalo Championship Wrestling, assess the current wrestling landscape for WWE, AEW, TNA and others, and tell stories from the glory days, including memories of his partnership with Vince McMahon, his beef with Eric Bischoff, and more (1:01:35).Waldo Cortes-Acosta looks back at his big win over Shamil Gaziev at UFC Qatar, including how the short-notice opportunity came about. He also touches on being the father to nine children, being fully healed after the eye-poke in his knockout win against Ante Delija, wanting to fight Curtis Blaydes or Derrick Lewis, his baseball career, and more (2:05:11).2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament Champion Aflie Davis makes his show debut, talking about how close he came to retiring before realizing his MMA dreams, his upcoming matchup with Usman Nurmagomedov, his rise through the kickboxing ranks, his friends’ viral tattoo, and more (2:33:54).Internet sensation Winged C joins the show, explaining his origins, his name, his tattoos, his love of anime, emoting, how he got onto the APFC MMA card, overcoming defeat after having his win streak snapped, his relationships with Demetrious Johnson and Death Sentence, and more (3:00:19).Ariel and The Boys return to answer more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (4:01:26).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by speaking to UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who discusses the difficulty of returning from a knee injury that required surgery, going into the Ian Machado Garry bout injured, being cleared to return early next year, being willing to fight again to prove he’s the No. 1 contender, believing he’s the hardest matchup for Islam Makhachev, and more (06:24).Devin Haney returns, talking about his big win over Brian Norman Jr., shutting up his critics, Eddie Hearn’s comments after the fight, feeling Conor Benn is not on his level, being willing to fight anybody, and more (37:13).Ben Whittaker reflects on his win over Liam Cameron in April, before previewing his fight against Benjamin Gavazi and discussing his decision to sign with Matchroom, wanting to fight in America in 2026, his prediction for a potential fight between Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez, Jake Paul choosing to fight Anthony Joshua, and more (1:03:01).Carlos Prates is next, detailing his experience in New York for UFC 322, what he was thinking during the viral photo of Leon Edwards on his back, his bow and arrow celebration aimed at Alex Pereira, his reaction to the main event between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, his desire to fight for the title next, his argument for Kamaru Usman as the welterweight GOAT, and more (1:28:12).Renato Moicano returns, talking about his new Portuguese-language YouTube channel, Dan Hooker’s callout, why he believes UFC will not make the Hooker fight, his reaction to Benoit Saint Denis’ win against Beneil Dariush and his recent resurgence, the price of Bitcoin dropping, and more (2:12:30).Arman Tsarukyan stops by after yesterday’s abrupt ending, quickly discussing the run-in between Khamzat Chimaev and Ian Machado Garry, responding to Ilia Topuria omitting Tsarukyan from a list of potential opponents, and more (2:34:21).Ariel is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to react to Jon Jones’ visit to Chechnya, including interactions with Khamzat Chimaev and Ramzan Kadyrov, before wrapping up with your Super Chats (2:42:03).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Qatar, including a debate with The Boys in the Back about whether Arman Tsarukyan and Ian Machado Garry should be next for the respective champions of their divisions (04:30).Garry then joins the show to break down his win over Belal Muhammad, discussing his takedown defense, the controversial eye-poke, whether he’s done enough to earn a title shot, Shavkat Rakhmonov or Kamaru Usman as potential challengers, his viral run-in with Khamzat Chimaev, and more (42:30).Tsarukyan is next, breaking down his own big win against Dan Hooker, talking about his desire to finish the fight, head-butting Hooker at the weigh-ins, his respect for Hooker, having his father at the fight, Paddy Pimblett potentially jumping him in line, his expensive taste, his run-in with Ilia Topuria and their brewing beef, and more (1:06:47).Most Valuable Promotions founder and CEO Nakisa Bidarian is back to discuss Jake Paul’s upcoming fight against Anthony Joshua, starting with the decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the original matchup, how the Joshua fight came together, and other potential names discussed, including Francis Ngannou, Ryan Garcia, and Terence Crawford. He also touches on how much Joshua stands to make, the risk being taken by Paul, critics of Paul suggesting his fights are fixed, Dana White’s comments about the fight and Ngannou (1:37:50).Ariel and The Boys give their Jake vs. Joshua press conference thoughts and react to some scenes from UFC Qatar, including a few fantastic impressions (2:13:24).Tyron Woodley returns to preview his boxing match against Anderson Silva, explaining how the fight came together, responding to Darren Till’s comments about the fight, reacting to the Jake vs. Joshua fight, and more (2:53:33).The show closes with mention of Rico Verhoeven’s retirement from kickboxing and his potential next move, PFL’s announcements for its first show of 2026, including Dakota Ditcheva taking on Denise Kielholtz, Yaroslav Amosov joining the UFC, and your Super Chats (3:29:44).
Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC Qatar, kicking things off with Arman Tsarukyan’s second-round submission of Dan Hooker (5:00).Next, the guys debate whether Ian Machado Garry’s decision win over Belal Muhammad in the co-main event is enough to earn him a title shot against pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, and map out the rest of the welterweight division (22:45).Ariel and the guys then turn their attention to the rest of the card, highlighting the standout performances that caught their eye (42:30).A separate storyline emerged backstage, where Garry and Khamzat Chimaev were involved in a physical altercation.To wrap up the show, the trio break down the footage and what led to the clash (57:23).
The Craic returns with its usual trifecta: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes are back to get you ready for the weekend in combat sports. To kick off the show, the guys break down UFC Qatar’s main event: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker (1:21).They also dig into the co-main event: Ian Machado Garry vs. Belal Muhammad, and discuss the stakes for the welterweight division, including what Garry would need to do to earn a title shot with a win (24:24).To wrap up their UFC Qatar discussion, the trio spotlight their favorite matchups on the rest of the card (35:23).Fresh off their first press conference, the chaps weigh in on the striking size disparity between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua after their faceoff (41:33).To close the show, the crew react to Rico Verhoeven vacating the GLORY Kickboxing heavyweight championship, and talk the latest PFL news (55:45).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with news and notes, including a UFC Qatar shakeup (01:22), Ryan Garcia's next fight (02:55), and a wild media day comment by Belal Muhammad (05:18).Then, they breakdown the welterweight title picture and the recent momentum behind Kamaru Usman (13:41), before previewing UFC Qatar top to bottom (23:00).Finally, The Boys make picks (1:14:07), deliver their P4P worst P4P lists by Mysterious Frank (1:16:37), and listen to your voicemails (1:31:45).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by celebrating the anniversaries of Dan Henderson vs. Shogun Rua and Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, two epic fights that took place on the same night in 2011 (02:30).UFC strawweight contender Fatima Kline makes her show debut on the heels of her victory over Angela Hill at UFC 322, breaking down the win, reflecting on being able to fight at Madison Square Garden as a native New Yorker, expressing her desire to face Tabatha Ricci, and more (10:29).Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the risk Paul is taking, the pressure on Joshua to knock out Paul, doing business with Most Valuable Promotions, his war of words with Simon Jordan, TKO Boxing and their efforts to pass the Ali Revival Act, the aftermath of Conor Benn’s win over Chris Eubank Jr., what’s next for Benn, and more (39:38).Former WWE star David Otunga stops by to talk wrestling and legal topics, starting with Raja Jackson’s arrest for felony assault, then touching on the controversy surrounding Andrade’s non-complete clause and the restrictions within WWE contracts, his start in reality TV, and John Cena’s retirement tour (1:25:33).Kyle Daukaus is in-studio following his big UFC 322 win, discussing his journey back to the UFC after being cut, the incredible success he’s had since returning, his propensity for the D'Arce choke and his 'D'Arce Knight' nickname, wanting to fight Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, and more (2:01:34).Conor Benn is our final guest of the day, recapping his win over Chris Eubank Jr., giving his review of Eubank’s performance, explaining where their families’ rivalry now stands, and revealing who he wants to fight next, including mention of both Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios (2:49:51). Conor’s father, Nigel Benn, also jumps in to discuss the rivalry and what he wants next for Conor (3:13:14).The show ends with your Super Chats (3:24:02).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look at the first faceoff between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker and reaction to Joaquin Buckley’s message to Islam Makhachev (03:19).UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko joins Ariel in-studio to break down her big win against Zhang Weili at UFC 322, reflect on the early days of her career, discuss how she controls her emotions, respond to critics of her fighting style, accept Amanda Nunes’ challenge to fight at 125 pounds, react to talks of Ronda Rousey’s comeback, and more (15:17).AEW boss Tony Khan sits down with Ariel for a highly-anticipated interview, touching on AEW’s upcoming Full Gear show, the state of the company, their deal with HBO Max, WWE’s efforts to counter-program their shows, their television ratings, criticism from Eric Bischoff, the absence of some top AEW stars, whether he regrets how things played out with CM Punk, and more (1:15:17).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer your On The Nose questions, including mention of Dana White saying Francis Ngannou grabbed him by the shirt, Kai Kara-France being removed from the UFC rankings, dream fights for the White House card (2:36:50).Plus, your Super Chats (3:37:42).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC 322, including Islam Makhachev’s domination of Jack Della Maddalena, the legacy comparisons between Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who could be next for Makhachev, Dillon Danis’ brawl with the Dagestani fighters, and more (05:33).Benoit Saint-Denis joins fresh off his 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush, breaking down the quick finish, weighing in on Makhachev’s move to welterweight, giving his prediction for the Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker fight, and more (1:00:35).Ethyn Ewing makes his debut following a big upset win over Malcolm Wellmaker, looking back at how the short-notice opportunity came together, having to make the weight, being called to compete at Madison Square Garden, what he wants to do next, and more (1:21:31).Bo Nickal returns to discuss his bounce-back win, how he set up the highlight-reel head kick, his placement on the UFC 322 card, his post-fight speech, when he plans to fight again, and more (1:44:12).SBG head coach John Kavanagh reunites with Ariel in-studio to discuss his new venture with Upper Sports Management, the latest on Conor McGregor, the state of the gym, and more. Then, USM’s founder and CEO Cesar Gomezlince joins the conversation to talk about Michael Morales’ massive UFC 322 win, making the case for Morales to get the next welterweight title shot, and more (2:05:17).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to react to the official announcement of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua, including the impact on Joshua’s legacy and whether Paul should be concerned about his health (2:58:57).Old friend Ade Oladipo stops by to further discuss Paul vs. Joshua, whether Paul stands a chance, the reaction to the fight in the UK, Conor Benn getting revenge against Chris Eubank Jr., having no interest in the trilogy, Joseph Parker’s positive test, and more (3:34:45).
Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena, to capture UFC gold in a second weight class (01:24).After weighing in on whether the main and co-main events were "boring" (16:38), the crew discusses incredible knockouts by Michael Morales (30:39) and Carlos Prates (35:17), before circling back to Valentina Shevchenko's shutout against Zhang Weili (38:13).They recap the rest of the stacked card (45:44), then transition to the all-out brawl between Dillon Danis and some Dagestani fighters in the crowd (58:17)The show concludes with quick mention of Conor Benn's revenge against Chris Eubank Jr. (1:09:59) and Chuck's final thoughts (1:11:26).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.After reacting to the UFC 322 weigh-in results (4:14), the lads preview the stacked MSG card top to bottom (8:11).Shifting gears to boxing, the crew break down this weekend’s Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch and question if the hype is lacking (47:05).Up next, Jake Paul is back in the headlines, this time with Anthony Joshua floated as a potential opponent. Petesy, Chuck, and Ben assess Paul’s chances in that matchup (51:13).Today also marks the 10-year anniversary of Holly Holm’s historic knockout of Ronda Rousey, so the guys reflect on what it means a decade later (1:00:02).To close out the show, the trio give their UFC 322 picks (1:09:22), and answer your Super Chats (1:13:19).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with some news and notes, including Alex Pereira challenging Khamzat Chimaev to a grappling match and TKO's new partnership with Polymarket (07:04).Then, the conversation turns to UFC 322, starting with Islam Makhachev potentially tying Anderson Silva's record for the longest winning streak in UFC history and the potential for Jack Della Maddalena to pull off the upset (19:29).After breaking down the stacked card (47:34), they make picks (1:34:27), deliver their P4P rankings of MMA grapplers (1:38:42), listen to your voicemails (1:49:39), and answer your Super Chats (2:25:52).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recognizing the anniversaries of UFC 1, UFC on FOX 1, UFC 205, and UFC 281, which all took place on Nov. 12 (03:38).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, with topics including criticism of Dana White, the relevance of 'UFC Embedded,' what happens after the studio cameras stop rolling, Thanksgiving dinner guests, and more (10:44).Jalin Turner joins to discuss his decision to return to MMA, how he landed on Edson Barboza as an opponent, overcoming mental hurdles ahead of the comeback, learning to embrace having his family at fights from Ian Machado Garry, and more (59:13).Coach Tim Welch gives his immediate reaction to reports of Jake Paul boxing Anthony Joshua, before getting into his breakdown of UFC 322, Sean O’Malleys next fight, his prediction for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan 2, and more (1:28:07).'Big' John McCarthy talks about his return to refereeing, the state of officiating in MMA, how improvements can be made and implemented, his stances on recent refereeing controversies and the Ali Revival Act, and more (1:57:24).Gareth A. Davies is back to bounce around the boxing world and discuss the Paul vs. Joshua reports, the buzz for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, plus a special guest appearance by impressionist Al Foran (2:37:47).The crew rejoins Ariel to dive deeper on the Paul vs. Joshua report and answer a few more On The Nose questions, before turning to your Super Chats (2:58:36).
Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll to discuss some news and notes, including the first faceoff between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena, Adin Ross spending time with Makhachev, Khabib, and their team, and more (06:06).Muhammad Mokaev joins on the heels of his head-kick knockout at BRAVE CF 101, talking about the foot injury he suffered in the fight, his desire to return to the UFC and the potential path back, how he would do against UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, his recent communication with the UFC, wanting to face Sergio Pettis, being offered a fight against Patchy Mix, and more (33:23).Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla makes his debut on the show, breaking down his big win over Ismael Bonfim, including his reaction when Bonfim missed weight by five pounds, explaining his recent career turnaround, the story behind his viral post-fight interview where he pleaded for a performance bonus, his beef with Daniel Cormier’s commentary, and more (59:50).Ariel reacts to Dana White’s recent comments about being non-political, talks of Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria heating back up, and then answers your Super Chats (1:33:49).Malcolm Wellmaker joins Ariel in-studio to preview his UFC 322 bout, look back at his beginnings in construction, give insight into his relationship with the fans, break down the power in his right hook and his wrestling game, predict how long it will be before he’s fighting for the UFC title, express his desire to be the one to beat Merab Dvalishvili, and more (2:34:17).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with a recap of UFC Vegas 111, including Gabriel Bonfim’s stoppage of Randy Brown in the main event and Chris ‘Taco’ Padilla’s plea for a performance bonus (07:49), before quickly touching on this weekend’s boxing, including Vergil Ortiz’s big win and action from Misfits (24:27).Leon Edwards joins to preview his UFC 322 fight against Carlos Prates, speaking about Prates having him as his phone wallpaper, facing a striker for the first time since Nate Diaz, who he hopes to face after Saturday, his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry and Jorge Masvidal, and more (33:28).‘The Bad Guy’ himself, Chael Sonnen, is back in studio to talk about his future foray into politics, Josh Hokit’s promo paying homage to Chael, the UFC’s betting scandal and potential ramifications for the promotion, his criticism for Valentina Shevchenko and how her UFC 322 fight has been promoted, who he expects to headline the White House card, Jon Jones deserving to be in the UFC rankings, Ronda Rousey’s return, and more (1:00:51).Josh Hokit makes his debut on the show, breaking down his viral promos and reacting to Chael Sonnen’s appreciation for the promos, talking about his collegiate football and wrestling careers, his callout of Valter Walker, training with Jon Jones, his exit from the PFL, and more (2:09:20).Claressa Shields returns on the heels of her massive $8 million deal to discuss the stress of being a free agent, being close to signing with Most Valuable Promotions, potential fights against Mikaela Mayer, Shadasia Green, and Franchon Crews-Dezurn, moving on from the Laila Ali fight, wanting to win a third Olympic gold medal, and more (2:35:06).The show concludes with a few bits of news and notes, including Islam Makhachev’s welterweight physique, the buzz — or lack thereof— for UFC 322 and Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2, Paddy Pimblett teasing a fight against Ilia Topuria, whether the UFC should revisit talks of Topuria vs. Makhachev, Jon Jones’ recent round of comments, and more (3:14:38).
The Craic is back! As always, Petesy Carroll is joined by regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.They open the show with the UFC gambling scandal, beginning with the ironically timed announcement of Netflix’s upcoming documentary on Dana White’s own gambling exploits (0:22).The trio then react to further developments in the scandal, including unearthed comments by Isaac Dulgarian (15:00).Switching to boxing, Petesy gets Chuck and Ben’s take on the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis on Netflix, and whether Francis Ngannou would be a suitable replacement (40:55).Another heavyweight making waves is Jon Jones, following his recent podcast appearance where he called Tom Aspinall a quitter. The guys react, and talk what’s next for the UFC heavyweight division (57:00).To round out the show, they spotlight Ben Fowlkes’ new Uncrowned feature on Frank Shamrock and answer your Super Chats (1:03:03).
The Boys in the Back begin the show with some news and notes, including Reug Reug being forced to withdraw from ONE 173 due to a car accident (01:13), Claressa Shields signing a massive new promotional deal (02:58), and more.Next, The Boys break down Jon Jones' recent comments about Tom Aspinall being a "one-trick pony" and "overrated" (4:58), before digging deeper on the UFC's betting scandal and the potential impact to the MMA gambling ecosystem (17:59).After speculating on who Jake Paul will end up fighting next (46:20), the Boys preview UFC Vegas 111 (56:40), then close the show with their P4P rankings of fight siblings (1:17:19), voicemails (1:36:34), and Super Chats (2:20:06).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering your questions about the UFC’s betting scandal, Ronda Rousey’s bitterness toward MMA, Most Valuable Promotions’ decision to remove Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis from the Jake Paul fight, and more (06:14).Promoter Lou DiBella joins Ariel in-studio to discuss boxing news, including ‘Tank’ Davis’ latest controversy and Most Valuable Promotions’ position, not being in favor of three-minute rounds for women’s boxing, TKO’s involvement in the sport, his reaction to the Ali Revival Act, gambling in combat sports and suspicions of fight fixing, and more (58:25).Michael Chandler is back to talk about his major movie role in "Road House 2," his upcoming wrestling match against Chad Mendes for Real American Freestyle, still wanting to compete on the White House card and potentially sitting out until then, his confidence in fighting Conor McGregor, his reaction to Rousey’s stance on MMA fandom, and more (1:59:23).Gable Steveson, fresh off his knockout at DBX 4, is back to break down his budding MMA career, training with and learning from Jon Jones, his next fight, Jones’ potential meeting with Alex Pereira, and more (2:29:27).After some news and notes, Ariel wraps up with more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (2:49:00).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by reacting to the cancellation of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, as well as Francis Ngannou’s emergence as Paul’s potential next fight (02:29).Norma Dumont joins on the heels of her victory over Ketlen Vieira to discuss the win, believing she’s earned a title shot, being willing to fight Julianna Peña, Ronda Ronda teasing a comeback, and more (14:37).New PFL CEO John Martin joins Ariel in-studio for an open conversation about his time as Turner CEO and his intersection with combat sports over the years, including conversations with Dana White, his perspective on the UFC’s control of combat sports, changes made to the PFL’s format once he took over as CEO, the release of Larissa Pacheco, developing homegrown stars like Dakota Ditcheva, the promotion’s partnership with ESPN, their upcoming media rights deal, and more (30:47).Aljamain Sterling returns to talk about his wedding, cornering Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320, his recent comments about Tom Aspinall and the aftermath of the eye-poke, the fan response to his take, whether he thinks the UFC gloves are an issue, his reaction to the UFC’s betting scandal, who he wants to fight next, and more (1:31:52).Coach Marc Montoya, Isaac Dulgarian’s trainer for UFC Vegas 110, joins to defend his own integrity and discuss the controversy surrounding Dulgarian’s fight due to suspicious betting activity, what he experienced on fight day, kicking Dulgarian off the team, his belief that Dulgarian will not fight again, and the success of some of his other athletes at the gym (2:06:02).Ariel closes the show with more discussion about the betting scandal, including UFC fighter accounts, and Super Chats (2:34:10).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with commiserations for the Toronto Blue Jays and their valiant attempt in the World Series (01:41), before moving on to the controversy surrounding Isaac Dulgarian’s loss to Yadier del Valle and suspicious betting activity on the fight (15:29), and the bizarre ending of the fight between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija (44:45).Mike Perry joins to talk about his win over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82, recovering from the damage he took in the fight, Frankie Edgar’s removal from the card, the latest Dirty Boxing show and Gable Steveson’s victory, wanting to return to the UFC for the White House card, calling out Nate Diaz, and more (1:00:26).Misfits co-founder Mams Taylor is back to discuss the promotion’s deal with Andrew Tate, how they landed on Chase DeMoor as the opponent, KSI’s reaction to Tate being named CEO, a potential KSI vs. Tate fight down the line, Dillon Danis and Tony Ferguson’s next fights, and more (1:35:20).Steve Garcia joins on the heels of his UFC main event win against David Onama, breaking down the fight, then addressing his pre-fight comments about Alexander Volkanovski, his criticisms of Movsar Evloev’s fighting style, his desire to be BMF champ, and his friendship with Charlie Kirk (2:04:10).Yahoo Sports Senior Sports Betting Analyst Ben Fawkes joins Ariel in-studio to dive further into the UFC’s betting scandal, including how the sportsbooks handled the situation, comparisons to recent events in other sports, and more (2:35:49).Ariel closes the show with some other news and notes, including Bo Nickal’s placement on the UFC 322 card, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis being on shaky ground and potential new opponents for Paul, Jon Jones' latest plea to fight at the White House, Ronda Rousey’s disdain for the MMA community, and more (3:12:54).
The Craic returns with its dynamic trio: Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes.Up first, a deep dive into the future of the UFC heavyweight division following the fallout from Ciryl Gane’s eye poke against Tom Aspinall (5:20).Two fighters looking to make their mark on the division are Jon Jones and Alex Pereira. The lads discuss the two MMA stars angling for a potential superfight (26:00).Pereira’s been putting in the work for that bout, but with an unexpected training partner. The crew breaks down the viral clip of him grappling with Mark Zuckerberg (34:00).Next, the trio reacts to Gervonta 'Tank' Davis’ latest legal troubles ahead of his upcoming Netflix boxing match with Jake Paul (36:09).Another controversial headline doing the rounds is Andrew Tate’s appointment as the new Misfits Boxing CEO. Petesy and the boys unpack what it means for the future of crossover fights (41:25).To close the show, the guys react to Ronda Rousey’s recent comments about MMA fans, a take that didn’t exactly land well with the community (55:08).
On this spooky edition of The Boys in the Back, the Boys reveal their costumes, before discussing Jon Jones' latest barb aimed at Tom Aspinall (07:36) and Joaquin Buckley's bizarre feud with Alex Pereira (11:20).After quickly previewing UFC Vegas 110 (14:06) and making picks (26:54), the Boys are joined by E. Casey Leydon (30:31), the newest addition to the team, about the launch of Uncrowned Films, his early days on the road with Ariel Helwani, and more.The Boys close the show with their P4P rankings of the scariest fighters in MMA history (56:30), your voicemails (1:18:33), and Super Chats (02:03:26).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with some news and notes, before reeling off some of MMA’s best post-fight speeches, inspired by the anniversary of Nick Diaz’s callout of Georges St-Pierre after UFC 137 (03:05).Devin Haney joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Brian Norman Jr., address criticism of his ability to take a punch, discuss his rivalry with Ryan Garcia, other opponents he considered before landing on Norman, the current state of Top Rank, the Ali Reform Act, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, and more (33:23).UFC veteran Matt Brown is back, speaking his mind about recent regulatory meetings related to the Ali Reform Act, the UFC antitrust lawsuit settlement, penalties for fouls in MMA, Dana White’s reaction to the UFC 321 main event, TKO Boxing’s potential impact on that sport, fighters needing additional protections, and more (1:33:20).Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman join the show for a virtual faceoff, talking about how their upcoming boxing match came about, their mutual respect, whether Silva feels he needs revenge after their MMA fights, Weidman dealing with Silva’s different styles, Silva’s admiration for the sport of boxing, reconnecting after Weidman’s leg break, and Weidman being an underdog one more time (2:15:26).L’udovit Klein makes his show debut, talking about his incredible UFC 321 win, requiring surgery for the broken ankle he suffered during the fight, considering Arman Tsarukyan a ‘dream fight,’ expecting to be sidelined for several months due to the injury, representing Slovakia on the global stage, and more (2:55:01).Ariel wraps up with your Super Chats (3:11:53).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with first-timer Quillan Salkilld, fresh off his devastating knockout of Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321, to talk about the aftermath of the knockout; being concerned for his opponent; planning to train with Jack Della Maddalena, who’s also from Perth; learning about MMA from playing the UFC video game; wanting to fight Renato Moicano, and more (05:26).Dr. Brian Sutterer is back to dive deeper into the conversation around Tom Aspinall’s eye, following the accidental poke he suffered at UFC 321, including the trauma itself, how it was handled by the doctors in the cage and at the hospital, and the timeline for recovery. He also touches on how bare-knuckle boxing compares to MMA in terms of injuries, the possibility of Ben Askren coming back to compete, and more (26:06).Charles Jourdain joins following his big win over Davey Grant at UFC Vancouver, talking about the Jean Silva loss motivating him to move to bantamweight, the impact of becoming a father, his younger brother Louis’ success on Contender Series, wanting to fight Marcus McGhee, his friendship with Aiemann Zahabi, how fouls should be handled in the cage, and more (59:35).WBO interim heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley stops by after his massive TKO against Joseph Parker, addressing the controversial stoppage, dealing with newfound fame, being confident about fighting Oleksandr Usyk next, whether the fight could headline Wembley Stadium, his respect for Parker, and more (1:32:22).Ariel brings in NewYorkRic and Petesy Carroll to answer your On The Nose questions, including more about the Aspinall eye poke, potential rule changes, the crew’s worst sport experiences, before closing the show with Super Chats (2:58:00).
Ariel Helwani opens the show with a recap of UFC 321, including his reaction to Ciryl Gane’s controversial eye poke against Tom Aspinall, how the foul was handled by officials, Dana White’s comments in the immediate aftermath, before talking about what can be done to prevent fouls moving forward, the rest of UFC 321, and more (02:39).Chael Sonnen joins to give his thoughts about the UFC 321 main event, explaining his comments on the ESPN post-show, discussing the rematch and Aspinall’s potential game plan, whether anything can be done to reduce eye pokes, and talks of Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones (1:16:40).Ariel answers Super Chats (2:20:46), before being joined by Joseph Parker, who breaks down his fight against Fabio Wardley, including his preparation, the referee’s stoppage, having no ill will toward Wardley, and who he wants to fight next (2:32:17).Jim Miller, who has been vocal about fouls and MMA gloves in the past, joins to talk about the UFC 321 main event, giving his perspective on how to penalize fighters who break the rules, responding to comments by Demetrious Johnson on the topic, outlining the potential long-term impact of eye pokes, and more (2:55:17).New UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is back to recap the big win, talk about the emotions after capturing UFC gold, how her daughter reacts to her fights, Din Thomas’ comments about the fight being “insignificant,” whether she wants to fight the division’s previous champion Zhang Weili, and more (3:24:26).Ariel wraps the show with more of your Super Chats (3:49:55).
3PAC — Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall — are back to dissect UFC 321.Reaction begins with the night's controversial ending, as Ciryl Gane accidentally pokes Tom Aspinall in the eye, leading to a stoppage and No Contest in the main event (01:07).After giving kudos to the evening's referees (30:03), the crew discuss Alex Pereira's reaction to the main event on social media (35:09) and what they expect to see from Jon Jones (36:53).Next, they break down Mackenzie Dern's win over Virna Jandiroba to capture the UFC strawweight title (39:08) and Umar Nurmagomedov surviving second-round danger to defeat Mario Bautista (44:34).They recap the rest of the card (52:13), before Chuck provides his final thoughts (1:09:12).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes get together to unpack the biggest stories in MMA.To get things underway, they preview UFC 321’s title fight headliner: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (5:30).With another championship on the line, the crew discuss the stakes in the co-main event between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (31:30).Plus, Dana White teased new UFC scheduling in a recent interview. Could this mean better start times for European fans? The trio break down what the changes might mean (48:40).And of course, Conor McGregor’s back in the headlines. Petesy and the boys dissect his recent “spiritual journey” comments (54:30).To close the show, the guys answer your Super Chats (1:06:15).
The Boys in the Back are locked in for UFC 321, so join them as they preview the card, starting with the main event that pits UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall against foe Ciryl Gane (01:51).After breaking down the the vacant UFC strawweight title fight between Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern (23:24), the Boys hit the rest of the stacked main card (31:40) and prelims (49:21).Finally, they make picks (1:03:14) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, in which GC searches for NYC's best fish and chips (1:15:18).
Vibes are high today on The Ariel Helwani Show, as Ariel gives his thoughts on the premiere of Uncrowned Films’ first entry, “What is BKFC?” (10:15).Wrestling legend Kurt Angle joins the show on a special date, the anniversary of his first WWE title win — against The Rock — and the anniversary of his first interview with Ariel. They discuss his upcoming commentary gig for Real American Freestyle, Hulk Hogan recruiting him for the role, Vince McMahon’s influence in shaping his WWE heel persona and promo work, Colby Covington using his entrance music, and more (16:32).Payton Talbott is back to break down his upcoming fight against Henry Cejudo, talking about the difficulty of finding opponents, his respect for Cejudo and their past training sessions together, not seeking favorable matchups and wanting to test himself, and his recent rock-climbing expedition, and more (45:02).Aiemann Zahabi returns to the show following his big win over Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera at UFC Vancouver, revealing he broke his forearm in the fight, responding to Vera’s claims he was robbed by the judges, doubling down on his Sean O’Malley callout, admitting his respect for bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, and more (1:13:05).Promoter Frank Warren is the final guest of the day, previewing the heavyweight clash between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley, then touching on Moses Itauma’s potential next opponent, Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the space, Queensbury’s 2026 plans, whether Tyson Fury will return, and shares memories of Ricky Hatton (1:51:10).Ariel answers your Super Chats to wrap up the show (2:20:23).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by celebrating the Blue Jays’ ALCS win, before pivoting to some Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane talk (03:52).Next, The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, including thoughts on the likelihood of Conor McGregor fighting at the White House, Frankie Edgar’s false start with BKFC, the mysterious phone image at UFC Vancouver, and even the debut trailer for Uncrowned’s first film (12:43)Anthony Pettis honors coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died last week, opening up about their special relationship, dealing with the emotions, and reliving memories from their championship-winning partnership (42:56).Jade Gentile, formerly known as Jazmyn Nyx during her NXT tenure, joins Ariel in-studio to discuss her early soccer career, her WWE tryout, why she decided to turn down WWE’s offer after not getting a raise, receiving reality TV opportunities, controversial comments by her boyfriend that drew backlash from the wrestling community, being open to remaining in wrestling, and more (59:10).Bo Nickal is back to preview his UFC 322 matchup with Rodolfo Vieira, speaking about not having a game plan for Reinier de Ridder and being humbled by his first career loss, his analysis of de Ridder’s loss to Brendan Allen, and the potential of fighting Khamzat Chimaev at the White House (1:57:58).Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is in-studio following an impressive victory in his 154-pound debut, touching on the difficulty of the cut to 147 pounds, his love of Philadelphia and the city’s sports teams, eyeing the Vergil Ortiz Jr. fight next, believing he’s the best in the world, the proposed Ali Revival Act, wanting to fight in the UK, training and sparring with Canelo, and makes a prediction for Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis (2:26:08).California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster joins to discuss the Ali Revival Act, defending the bill from ‘negativity’ and explaining why it would help boxing, acknowledging the potential for creation of a league format in boxing, the loss of top end boxing broadcasters and its impact on the sport’s economics, addressing the lack of boxers and boxing promoters at the CSAC public hearing, before closing with a back-and-forth about recent officiating blunders (3:11:15).The show ends with Ariel answering your Super Chats (4:04:56).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a tribute to coach Duke Roufus, who tragically died on Friday (00:10)Then, the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to recap UFC Vancouver, starting with the main event between Brendan Allen and Reinier de Ridder. After an in-depth conversation about MMA refereeing, the crew covers the rest of the card and other news and notes from the weekend (06:26).Mike Malott joins following a big win over Kevin Holland at UFC Vancouver, expressing frustration over some controversial low blows, feeling Holland embellished the groin shots and how the controversy is overshadowing his victory, reacting to Holland’s tweets after the fact, expecting to enter the UFC rankings, and more (1:02:04).Ariel visited Oscar De La Hoya at his home in Las Vegas to discuss a host of topics, including ‘Boots’ Ennis’ recent win and a potential meeting with Vergil Ortiz Jr., Top Rank not yet securing a broadcast deal, the launch of Zuffa Boxing and proposed amendments to the Ali Act, his relationship with Ryan Garcia, Jake Paul vs. ‘Tank’ Davis, Golden Boy’s next broadcast deal, and more (1:24:39).Derek Moneyberg sits down in-studio to open up about his businesses, his interest in combat sports, taking inspiration from BJ Penn in earning his black belt, his relationships with various fighters, his beef with Sean Strickland and their viral interaction, his challenge to Strickland for a public match, his upbringing and previous career as a dating coach, settling his differences with Mikey Musumeci, social media marketing and bots, and more (2:15:21).Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera returns following his loss to Aiemann Zahabi and speaks about the aftermath, feeling like he did more damage despite landing less total strikes, not being defined by his three-fight skid, leaving the arena immediately after the fight, his high hopes for fellow Ecuadorian Michael Morales, and more (3:20:28).After a few bits of news and notes, Ariel answers your Super Chats (3:56:30).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite for your weekly dose of The Craic.First up, they dive into what’s next for Alex Pereira and his possible move to heavyweight, and how it could shake up next week’s title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane (4:02).Next, the guys react to the Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva trilogy announcement set for the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis Netflix boxing event (25:46).Another surprise comeback rumor making the rounds is Ronda Rousey’s potential return. After her recent comments hinting at a 2026 comeback, Petesy and the boys weigh in (42:20).To close the show, the trio break down their favorite matchups from this weekend’s UFC Vancouver card, then answer your superchats (57:08).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Most Valuable Promotions announcing Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva will box on the Jake Paul vs. 'Tank' Davis undercard (01:11).Then, they discuss Merab Dvalishvili's 2025 run and whether, with a dominant victory in December, it will be the best year a fighter's ever had (08:29).After previewing UFC Vancouver (25:54), the Boys make picks (1:05:07), deliver their top 12-month runs in MMA (1:14:08), listen to voicemails (1:44:49), and answer your Super Chats (2:22:20).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping his experience at the Colombia vs. Canada soccer game, before Petesy Carroll joins to react to Ian Machado Garry’s comments from Tuesday’s show. The Boys in the Back jump in to discuss the appeal of Contender Series and its potential next landing spot (02:09).Sean Brady is back to talk about accepting his fight against Michael Morales, not wanting to wait around for another opponent, No. 1 contender fights no longer being guaranteed by the UFC, feeling like the promotion wants Carlos Prates to emerge from the welterweight pack, and more (38:08).Youngster Steven Spice joins to discuss “Supercar Saints,” the film chronicling his journey with a brain disorder and the celebrities he met along the way, including Daniel Cormier and John Cena. He also expresses his love of pro wrestling and asks Ariel for journalism advice (1:00:59).Boxer Danny Garcia joins Ariel in-studio to preview his fight against Daniel Gonzalez, his 10th time headlining Barclays Center in Brooklyn. After suggesting it might be the final fight of his illustrious career, he give his thoughts on Zuffa Boxing’s entry into the sport, championship belts, potential amendments to the Ali Act, the top fights of his career, boxing’s best promoters, and more (1:19:31).Journalist Jeff Pearlman is in-studio to preview his new Tupac biography, “Only God Can Judge Me,” telling never-before-told stories about the rapper’s complicated life and legacy. He touches on his other media endeavors, including his New York Times best-selling books and podcast (1:53:55).Wrestling legend Diamond Dallas Page is back on the show, this time in studio, to promote his “Change or Die” docuseries, where he helps people, including boxer Butterbean, make healthy lifestyle changes. He looks back at wrestling storylines from years past, including an angle involving Undertaker’s wife, and reminisces about career moments involving Vince McMahon, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, and others (2:55:27).
Ariel Helwani, The Boys in the Back, and Petesy open the show by talking about the latest round of UFC fight announcements, then answering On The Nose questions (29:49).Mikey Musumeci is back to discuss his UFC BJJ 3 victory, address the YouTube views controversy surrounding the event, open up about the level of scrutiny he faces, his relationship with Craig Jones, the Derek Moneyberg drama, and more (1:02:17).Paulie Malignaggi explains why he’s returning to the ring, before the conversation gets contentious when discussing Dana White and Zuffa’s entry into boxing, and Malignaggi challenges Conor McGregor to a winner-take-all fight (1:33:13).Cory Sandhagen returns to look back at his fight against Merab Dvalishvili, admitting he may have gotten cocky in second round and Merab hits harder than he expected. He also calls for the Sean O’Malley fight next (2:05:05).Ian Machado Garry explains why he’s fighting Belal Muhammad rather than Sean Brady, predicts his next fight will be for the title, explains there’s no bad blood with Belal, reacts to his son’s favorite fighter being Carlos Prates, predicts Prates ‘sparks’ Leon Edwards, and more (2:30:05).Ariel closes the show with more On The Nose questions and your Super Chats (3:05:17).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Charles Oliveira's big win at UFC Rio, and discuss whether Max Holloway should be his next opponent and if the UFC can make it happen in Hawaii. Plus, more discussion on Jose Aldo's retirement, the rest of UFC Rio, Dave Allen coming up short, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis' successful debut at 154 pounds (09:56).AEW superstar Darby Allin joins Ariel in-studio to give a taste of his extreme lifestyle, talking about climbing Mount Everest, the development of his character, how skateboarding in his youth prepared him for life, knowing he needed to go to AEW and reaching out to Cody Rhodes to get it done, previously being homeless by choice, and more (58:12).UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is in-studio with Ariel when news of him headlining UFC 323 breaks. The pair react to Dana White's announcement, look back at his win over Cory Sandhagen, including the five sparring rounds he did on fight day, and discuss his current relationship with the UFC and potentially training with Mark Zuckerberg (1:55:59).Dylan Postl, a.k.a. wrestling legend Hornswoggle, sits down with Ariel in-studio to look back at his career, including his start at 17 years old, his relationship with Vince McMahon and others from the locker room, and his new nostalgia deal with WWE. He also talks about being a dad, running his own promotion, and his beef with actor Peter Dinklage (2:54:10).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll calls on Chuck Mindenhall to talk this week's biggest headlines.They kick things off by reacting to Ariel’s loaded 2026 superfight forecast from Monday’s Helwani Show. Can 2026 live up to its decade-old predecessor, 2016? The guys break it all down (00:32).Also on this week’s programming was Ariel’s interview with Eddie Hearn, whose comments about MMA ruffled some feathers. He teased a potential promotional move into the sport, and the guys discuss how big his involvement could become (32:17).One promotion still struggling to break through is the PFL. Petesy and Chuck discuss the underwhelming buildup to one of its biggest matchups, Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov 2 (53:43).To wrap up the show, Chuck gives the lowdown on this weekend's Ice Wars and the duo answer your Super Chats (1:02:52).
The Boys in the Back start the show with some news and notes, including Malcolm Wellmaker's next assignment (02:19), Justin Tafa stepping away (03:31), Carl Froch teasing a return (05:01), and Alex Pereira returning to Brazil and the tire shop where he worked (07:21).Next, The Boys discuss Pereira's call to fight Jon Jones on the UFC's White House card and the impact it would have at both heavyweight and light heavyweight (14:37).After breaking down UFC Rio (36:53), they make picks (1:08:17) and rank their P4P New York City boroughs (1:17:07), inspired by Charles Oliveira's nickname "Do Bronxs."The show wraps as it always does, with The Boys listening to your voicemails (1:38:55) and answering your Super Chats (2:47:41).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with news from the combat sports world, including the tragic passings of Arturo Gatti Jr. and Suman Mokhtarian, plus Sean Strickland getting married (06:18).Carlos Ulberg returns, addresses Jiri Prochazka saying he turned down a fight, then talks about only having four weeks to train for Dominick Reyes, being front row for Alex Pereira and Prochazka at UFC 320, how a potential Pereira fight plays out, and more (19:27).Paul Hughes joins to discuss his rematch against Usman Nurmagomedov, the controversial scoring, referee Keith Peterson’s actions during the fight, his respect for Nurmagomedov and his team, and more (47:48).Dan Hooker is back to preview his fight against Arman Tsarukyan, explaining where his animosity toward Arman comes from, believing Arman is a rich “daddy’s boy,” responding to Arman’s comments about them being locked in a room, and discusses his 1 Minute Scraps promotion (1:17:39).Actor Channing Tatum joins ahead of the release of his new movie "Roofman," his life before acting, dealing with impostor syndrome, portraying real-life characters, working with Cung Le and their friendship, his love of MMA, and more (1:44:41).Eddie Hearn is in-studio to talk about his Netflix series, the recent signing of Ben Whittaker, his growing rivalry with Dana White, his potential interest in entering the MMA space, Chris Eubank’s claims of Matchroom delaying his ambulance and potential legal action, Shakur Stevenson’s next fight, and more (2:09:46).Wrestling legend Raven joins to discuss his upcoming documentary, whether he has any regrets, why it ultimately didn’t work out with WWE, not watching wrestling anymore, his hardcore MMA fandom, and more (3:05:04).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with On The Nose, answering questions about Ronda Rousey's return and Gina Carano as a potential opponent, whether Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones is good for Tom Aspinall, future projects for Uncrowned Films, and more (07:34).Petr Yan is back and believes he deserves the next UFC bantamweight title shot. He talks about Merab Dvalishvili's UFC 320 win, being willing to fight the champion on Dec. 6, only being 50% in their first fight due to an injured hand, and more (32:53).Joe Pyfer joins following his UFC 320 win, discussing dealing with a hand injury before the fight, why his game plan was so wrestling-heavy in the first round, his desire for a top 15 fighter next, his new nickname, and more (1:01:08).Sergio Pettis returns to talk about his highlight-reel knockout at PFL Dubai, what Khabib said to him after the win, training his spinning techniques, wanting to be PFL bantamweight champion, taking a boxing match in India, fighting for Rizin, and more (1:29:16).Ariel and the Boys in the Back react to breaking news of Conor McGregor's suspension for violating the whereabouts policy of the UFC's anti-doping program, and answer more On The Nose question, including Ariel's tortured fandom (1:50:52).Arman Tsarukyan is our final guest of the day, previewing his fight against Dan Hooker, explaining what will happen if they cross paths before the fight, reacting to Hooker saying it's on-sight, before talking about training with Khamzat Chimaev, his viral food videos, and more (2:30:58).The show closes with your Super Chats (3:10:25).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by recapping a wild weekend, starting with his experience at BKFC Newark, before moving on to UFC 320 and Alex Pereira's callout of Jon Jones (05:24).Coach John Wood discusses being in the corner for back-to-back fights at UFC 320, with Merab Dvalishvili picking up a huge win and Khalil Rountree Jr.'s valiant effort against Jiri Prochazka. Wood details Dvalishvili's dominance, the potential of Ateba Gautier, and more (1:02:53).Youssef Zalal is back after a big win, talking about the submission and Josh Emmett's verbal tap, his callout of Lerone Murphy, why it was such a long layoff between fights, wanting to return in December, and more (1:32:15).Veronica Hardy breaks down her win over Brogan Walker, opens up about gaining confidence and overcoming her own doubts, being coached by Sean Strickland, her broadcasting career, and more (1:56:18).Jiri Prochazka continues the train of UFC 320 winners, explaining why he didn't feel danger against Rountree, why he was so emotional while watching Alex Pereira's win in the main event, before revealing that Carlos Ulberg turned him down, wanting to confront Ankalaev and his manager about their social media posts, and more (2:32:32).Finally, the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll re-join Ariel to give thoughts on Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 2, circle back to Ariel's time at BKFC and UFC 320, and wrap with your Super Chats (2:57:40).
Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll to give their immediate reactions to UFC 320, starting with Alex Pereira's blistering knockout of Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch (00:26).After discussing what could be next for Pereira — Jiri Prochazka, Carlos Ulberg, heavyweight (09:16) — they break down Prochazka's own impressive win over Khalil Rountree (22:12).Next, they look at Merab Dvalishvili's dominance against Cory Sandhagen and wonder whether he's cemented himself as the bantamweight GOAT (22:56).Performances by main card winners Youssef Zalal (32:10) and Joe Pyfer (36:18) get mention, before wrapping up with a review of the prelims (40:33) and BKFC's show in Newark (54:43).
Ariel Helwani & Petesy Carroll give their immediate reactions after PFL Champions Series 2, headlined by the highly-anticipated rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes.They begin with a discussion about the main event, including the controversial scorecards (00:45) and where Hughes goes from here (33:31).Next, they cover Corey Anderson’s win in the co-main event (34:26) and Sergio Pettis‘ highlight reel knockout (34:52).Finally, they wrap up the rest of the card (36:00) and discuss PFL’s viability as an international brand (39:36).
The Craic is back! On an old school episode of The Craic, Petesy Carroll is joined by Brazilian powerhouse journalist Guilherme Cruz. Together, they react to the UFC 320 weigh-ins and talk Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev (00:49).Shifting from Brazilian MMA to Irish MMA, Petesy Carroll brings in Ireland’s top MMA journalists, Donagh Corby and Andy Stevenson, to cover the latest Irish combat sports news, starting with a breakdown of the UFC welterweight clash between Ian Machado Garry and Belal Muhammad (27:57).From one Irish MMA star to the next, the guys move on to Conor McGregor’s latest headline-grabbing interview, reacting to his claim that his fight is signed for the White House card (37:58).To close the show, the trio looks ahead to tonight’s PFL superfight: Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov (54:13).
The Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to Conor McGregor's recent update about fighting at the White House (02:12) and two huge fights announced for UFC Qatar: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker and Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry (08:06).Next, they preview UFC 320 (20:15), PFL Champions Series 2: Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 (1:19:04), and BKFC Newark (1:28:15), before making picks (1:40:30) and debuting a brand new Fight Feasts (1:45:22).Finally, the Boys deliver their P4P documentary rankings (1:59:23), listen to your voicemails (2:22:43), and answer your Super Chats  (3:10:31).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On The Nose questions (05:20).MMA pioneer Mark Kerr joins to discuss the making of the original “The Smashing Machine” documentary, why he decided to open up about his struggles with addiction, receiving the call from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about wanting to lead the new film, where he is now in life, and more (34:28).BKFC founder Dave Feldman is back in-studio to preview the promotions debut in New Jersey, including Frankie Edgar’s status and the animosity between Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens. Plus, Feldman reacts to recent comments from Darren Till and Luke Rockhold, talks about wanting to sign Jorge Masvidal, wanting to make Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz, BKFC’s current valuation, and more (1:02:29).Ariel talks more about his upcoming BKFC plans, and answers more questions about McGregor’s White House demands, the appeal of Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira, and more (1:45:01).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a brief review of "The Smashing Machine," and reaction to Artem Lobov withdrawing from his return fight (05:37).Mateusz Gamrot is back to talk about his short-notice fight against Charles Oliveira, what it was like to get the call and his emotions after, getting advice from teammate Dustin Poirier, being energized by fighting in enemy territory, and more (12:16).Fighting Nerds head coach Pablo Morão Sucupira talks about the formation of the team, their rapid ascent, handling criticism during a rough patch, believing they will still create champions, how the team takes the next step, and being in attendance for Wanderlei Silva getting knocked out (32:58)."Zombie Jr.," JooSang Yoo, makes his show debut to discuss his dedicated fan base, meeting "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung for the first time, being on "Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight," continuing to use the "Zombie" moniker, and more (1:02:46).After Ariel and The Boys in the Back share more thoughts on "The Smashing Machine," the film's director Benny Safdie joins to express his passion for combat sports, talk about the film's realism and choices he made to mirror the original documentary, including recreating specific MMA settings and props, and his mission to pay tribute to MMA pioneers (1:42:13).Amir Khan joins from Nigeria to discuss his transition into boxing promotion, putting on his first event, Dana White's entry into the sport, being comfortable in retirement, the passing of Ricky Hatton, and more (2:07:49).Tom Nolan is our final guest of the day, breaking down his win at UFC Perth before taking about training at 14 years old, overcoming his first professional loss, preparing for a championship run, and his exchange with Joe Schilling after the win (2:31:28).
Ariel Helwani is back and kicks off the show with some news and notes, including his time in Montreal for Most Valuable Promotions’ Prospects 15 card (07:33), Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Paramount (10:09), Dana White’s "60 Minutes" interview (15:56), fallout from UFC Perth and its impact on UFC 320 (33:01), Wanderlei Silva getting knocked out after his fight (48:33), and more.Demetrious Johnson returns to discuss training with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, break down Merab’s fight against Cory Sandhagen, predict whether Merab could have beaten prime Dominick Cruz, react to Ronda Rousey’s potential comeback, and more (59:35).Ariel and The Boys in the back rank Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s movies (1:23:47), before discussing Alexander Volkanovski’s next opponent (1:33:36), and who will headline the December card (1:36:16).Diego Lopes recaps his huge win over Jean Silva, before talking about the bad blood between his camp and the Fighting Nerds, the viral video of him throwing up after the fight, offering to fight Charles Oliveira on short notice, feeling like he might get the next title shot, and more (1:40:18).Ben Askren open ups about his double lung transplant and recovery, including his initial symptoms, going into the hospital and his experience there, how his family is dealing with everything, inspiring others through his journey, his long-term prognosis, the support he’s received, and more (1:59:44).Finally, Ariel and The Boys touch on Ronda Rousey (2:41:18), Conor McGregor’s White House demands (2:46:07), Terence Crawford’s run-in with police (3:00:22), and more.
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes come together a fresh edition of The Craic.They kick off the show by breaking down the verbal jousting taking place between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira ahead of their clash at UFC 320 (6:12).From there, attention shifts to Din Thomas, who floated the idea of a UFC–PFL trade: Magomed Ankalaev for Dakota Ditcheva. The crew breaks down his comments (15:48).It’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Jake Paul next. In a surprising callout, Usyk took to X to challenge Paul to an MMA fight. The guys make sense of the bizarre matchup (28:27).Then, the boys turn to UFC Perth’s underwhelming ticket sales and what they reveal about the state of UFC event pricing (40:23).One fighter at UFC Perth with momentum is Dominick Reyes. Chuck draws from his recent piece to marvel at Reyes’s resurgence after a brutal four-fight losing streak (48:32).Finally, Petesy previews his first NFL game in Dublin, with Chuck and Ben giving him their top tips for the experience (56:04).
The Boys in the Back double up this week and the show begins with a recap of all the stuff they missed since Monday, including Charles Oliveira getting Mateusz Gamrot (01:37), Jake Paul and Gervonta 'Tank' Davis facing off (07:53), PFL simplifying their title structure (19:37), Conor McGregor calling for $100 million to fight at the White House (48:38), and more.Plus, a UFC Perth preview (57:40), picks (1:23:26), P4P Three-Namers (1:27:11), voicemails (1:47:19), and Super Chats (2:22:46).
Ariel Helwani reacts to some of his classic interviews, providing additional insights and behind-the-scenes stories for each.This volume includes one of Ariel's first conversations with Chael Sonnen, prior to him becoming 'The Bad Guy' (02:50), Andrei Arlovski and the infamous 'How's Taste' moment (13:23), pop superstar Justin Bieber getting grilled (24:02), Bob Arum blasting the UFC and its fanbase during the early days (34:52), Ariel's first meeting with Jorge Masvidal (52:56), and an instant-classic Nate Diaz interview (1:04:49).
The MMA Beat is back! Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes discuss journalistic topics including the controversy around platforming Andrew Tate (04:35), Dana White's media strategy and approach to recent press conferences (18:31), the current state of MMA media (25:31), building relationships with subjects, in this case fighters (44:47), on and off the record conversations (59:11), and more.
The Boys in the Back are joined all show by Long Island own's 'Raging' Al Iaquinta, as they react to hot topics, including the hunt for Charles Oliveira's opponent (03:13), the latest news on the UFC's White House card (10:17), Raja Jackson's arrest (17:52) and Ronda Rousey teasing an MMA comeback (19:39).After talking a bit about Iaquinta's teammate Merab Dvalishvili (26:14), the trio discuss WWE's debut on ESPN (36:25), the UFC antitrust settlement (43:07), the failed GFL launch (48:34), and Frankie Edgar making his return for BKFC (49:19).Iaqtuina talks about life after retirement as a real estate agent (57:04), then transitions to the topic of TKO's proposed changes to the Ali Act (1:09:21) and what might be next for Dvalishvili (1:17:26) and another teammate, Aljamain Sterling (1:20:41).The Boys review some of Iaquinta's funniest tweets (1:22:33), before listening to your voicemails (1:37:50), and Iaquinta's recollection from the infamous Conor McGregor bus attack (1:57:37). Finally, they answer your Super Chats (2:44:21).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes begin this week’s episode by discussing the doomsday thinking surrounding The Fighting Nerds after they hit a poor run of form in UFC main events (05:57).The conversation then moves onto Raja Jackson’s arrest and the realization that he will likely be a huge commodity for fight sports promoters on the back of his streamed assault of independent wrestler Syko Stu last month (26:05).After that, the lads take a look at the viral moments that were created at Thursday’s Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn 2 press conference, with Eubank stopping promoter Eddie Hearn as he tried to pay tribute to the late Ricky Hatton (44:13).Finally, the lads pay tribute to Tom Gerbasi, a legendary scribe who had a profound impact on combat sports and particularly, combat sports writers (55:54).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show with the latest flurry of updates about the UFC's planned White House event (01:50), including Conor McGregor and Dana White hinting at McGregor headlining the card.Next, they touch on Arman Tsarukyan's comments about Ilia Topuria's wealth (35:27), before delivering their P4P crossovers (48:58), inspired by Topuria's continued war of words with boxer Terence Crawford.Finally, the Boys listen to your voicemails (1:29:23) and answer your Super Chats (2:16:50).
Ariel Helwani opens the show with a tribute to combat sports writer and friend Thomas Gerbasi, who passed away (00:22).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to answer On The Nose questions, touching on Dana White’s recent comments about Ariel on "Impaulsive," Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, Sean O’Malley’s next fight, and more (20:10).WWE Hall of Famer Torrie Wilson reflects on her career, including getting her start after being recognized by Kevin Nash, being intimidated in the early days, the development of her character, what it’s like to be backstage now, her dedication to fitness, and more (1:01:11).Julianna Peña is back to talk about her recovery from back surgery, joining the Real American Freestyle broadcast team, focusing on her MMA comeback, wanting to attend the White House card, and more (1:58:45).AEW superstar Timeless Toni Storm makes her debut on the show, discussing her wrestling journey starting at 13 years old, AEW going up against WWE, having the most fun at this point of her career, some of her notable rivalries, and more (2:31:52).Ariel and The Boys come back to react to the heated Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn 2 press conference, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta "Tank" Davis fight moving to Miami, and answer more On The Nose questions (2:59:03).
Ariel Helwani opens today’s show by reacting to Anthony Hernandez withdrawing from his Oct. 18 fight against Reinier de Ridder and Brendan Allen stepping in (05:18).British broadcaster Adam Smith is back on the show to reminisce about Ricky Hatton and celebrate his life (12:13).Shakur Stevenson returns to break down Terence Crawford’s dominance against Canelo Alvarez and discuss his own future, including potential fights against Teofimo Lopez and Ryan Garcia (37:48).Alexander Hernandez recaps his win over Diego Ferreira at Noche UFC, working with a farmer on the mental side of the game, UFC’s promotional efforts, his appreciation of spliffs, and more (1:01:25).Yoel Romero talks about his BKFC debut, wanting to fight Jake Paul and Darren Till, expecting to fight until he’s 52 years old, his incredible physique, his love of boxing, and more (1:27:59).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll join Ariel to cover the continued war of words between Ilia Topuria and Terence Crawford, matchmaking for the UFC’s middleweight and featherweight divisions, Sean Strickland’s run-in with the controversial Derek Moneyberg, and more (1:50:03).AEW star Ricochet is our final guest of the day, discussing his place in the promotion, collaboration talking place in the AEW locker room, his WWE departure, drawing the line between himself and his character, his love of anime, and more (2:59:50).Ariel wraps up with your Super Chats (3:50:43).
Ariel Helwani begins the show by touching on the death of Ricky Hatton (3:34), before recapping a loaded combat sports weekend, starting with Terence Crawford's win over Canelo Alvarez (09:25), Eddie Hearn's brewing rivalry with Dana White (16:25), White's fingerprints — or lack thereof — on the card itself (29:47), Turki Alalshikh's growing influence (39:09), Noche UFC (1:01:27), and Ilia Topuria's continued callouts of Crawford (1:06:19).Crawford himself joins next to break down the win, talking about fighting up two weight classes, reacting to Canelo's frustrations during the fight and his comparison of Crawford to Floyd Mayweather, and responding to Topuria (1:22:50).Journalist Tris Dixon, the ghostwriter of Ricky Hatton's autography, is next, speaking on his emotions following Hatton's untimely death and reminiscing with stories from his incredible life (1:44:20).Gable Stevenson returns following his successful MMA debut to recap the victory, talk about his next steps, reveal details about his withdrawal from CJI 2, and more (2:06:15).Ariel dives back in on Noche UFC (2:42:32), Dana White saying Jon Jones called him to apologize (2:43:12), and Conor MCGregor pulling out of Ireland's presidential race (2:48:48).Eddie Hearn is the final guest of the day, reacting to Crawford vs. Canelo, Ricky Hatton's death, Molly McCann's boxing debut, and the decision in the rematch between Lewis Crocker beat Paddy Donovan. Plus, he discusses his rivalry with Dana White and the next moves for both Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor (3:02:16).Finally, Petesy Carroll joins to wrap up any other news and notes from the weekend, before the crew answers your Super Chats (3:53:56).
Petesy is live from Belfast with full coverage of Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan.He gives his verdict on the decision (02:38), shares post-fight reactions from Lewis Crocker and Eddie Hearn (05:22), and sits down with Gavan Casey to break it all down (21:14).
Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes reunite to cover the week’s biggest topics.First up, Ben gives his exclusive review of The Smashing Machine, starring with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, off the back of his private screening (7:08).The crew then breaks down the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford presser, where Dana White faced pointed questions on fighter pay (26:34).The guys talk big picture about the boxing matchup, where their hype levels stand with fight night looming (49:14), and give their final picks (56:44).The other boxing fight taking place this weekend is Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan. Petesy is on the ground in Belfast with his breakdown of the highly anticipated bout (1:02:08).To finish, they turn their attention to UFC Noche. The trio dissect Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva, and whether the card is being overshadowed by Netflix’s boxing event (1:08:46).
The Boys in the Back kick off a loaded show with remembrance for 9/11, before moving on to news and notes including TKO COO Mark Shapiro revealing details of UFC's rights negotiations (04:22) and Ilia Topuria's response to Terence Crawford (09:18).Next, they preview Saturday's stacked lineup, starting with Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford (17:03) and finishing with Noche UFC (45:49).After making picks (1:11:04), the Boys deliver their P4P, with a twist (1:21:12), before wrapping up with your voicemails (1:44:53), including GC's controversial stance on the 'Phillies Karen' (1:57:38), and Super Chats (2:41:14)
Ariel Helwani begins the show by answering your On The Nose questions, with topics including Andrew Tate, Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather, and more (05:37).Alexander Hernandez joins to preview his Noche UFC fight against Diego Ferreira, discuss his new nickname, the turning point in his career, and more (1:04:03).Charles Oliveira is back to announce his new collaboration with Project Rock, then look back at his loss to Ilia Topuria, look ahead to his matchup with Rafael Fiziev, and reveal details about his weight cuts (1:27:11).WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker joins to discuss his fight with Fabio Wardley, whether he thinks he’ll end up facing Oleksandr Usyk, and more (2:00:44).Ariel reacts to Amber Dixon of Vegas PBS’ interview with Dana White, in which White was asked questions about fighter pay (2:24:44).Jaime Munguia clears the air about his false positive test following the Bruce Surace fight, detailing the process of proving his innocence and the response from the boxing community (2:42:11).Ariel and the Boys in the Back wrap up with a few more On The Nose questions and Super Chats (3:16:08).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a check-in on Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight week (03:19).Diego Lopes returns ahead of this weekend’s Noche UFC matchup with Jean Silva to break down the fight, respond to Silva’s proposed bet, talk about accepting fights against Yair Rodriguez and Aaron Pico, and more (13:46).Carlos Prates looks back at his highlight-reel knockout of Geoff Neal, before discussing a tough night in Paris for The Fighting Nerds, his upcoming meeting with Leon Edwards, his prediction for Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev, wanting to rematch Ian Machado Garry, and more (31:53).Corey Anderson joins Ariel in-studio to preview his PFL light heavyweight title fight against Dovlet Yagshimuradov in October, express frustrations about being sidelined for over a year before his last fight, call for a trilogy fight against Vadim Nemkov, react to teammate Frankie Edgar coming out of retirement, explain his passion for bowhunting, and more (57:52).Paul Craig reminiscences about his career following an emotional retirement in Paris, including his highest moments and regrets, messages from his peers and more (1:57:24).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to close out with some more news items, before ripping open PFL trading card packs and answering your Super Chats (2:23:00).
Ariel Helwani is back, starting with his reaction to UFC Paris and specifically Nassourdine Imavov’s big win over Caio Borralho (07:45).Benoit Saint Denis discusses his flawless performance against Mauricio Ruffy in Paris, bouncing back in a big way after the lows of 2024, wanting to fight Mateusz Gamrot, and more (23:10).Darren Till returns with thoughts on the state of the influencer boxing scene, potential fights against Andrew Tate and Jake Paul, his continued feud with Carl Froch, and more (51:47).Bryan Battle calls in to reveal details of his recent PFL signing, then talks about wanting to compete in the promotion’s tournament and his fears after being released by the UFC (1:27:05).Maven Huffman joins Ariel in-studio to tell stories from his WWE career, discuss his meteoric rise as a YouTube creator, whether he’d work with any wrestling promotions in the future, his upbringing, and more (1:48:35).Modestas Bukauskas rounds out the day by recapping his win over Paul Craig, including his reaction to Paul’s retirement, and looking back at his early life as a basketball player (3:12:01).
The Craic is back from its summer hiatus. Petesy Carroll is joined by Craic regular Ben Fowlkes, and they kick things off by reacting to the Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane press conference (5:08).Next, the guys unpack the fallout from Rampage Jackson’s interview with Ariel earlier this week, and Petesy and Ben weigh in on the former UFC star’s comments (28:02).The boys then talk the recent update to the potential White House UFC card, and touch on Kayla Harrison’s visit to meet the President (40:00).After that, the boys react to The Smashing Machine debuting at the Venice Film Festival and receiving a 15-minute standing ovation (46:40).To close the show, the duo react to the surprising rumors of a Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing match (56:15) and look ahead towards UFC Paris (1:09:21).
The Boys are back from vacation and jump into news and notes, including Bo Nickal getting booked against Rodolfo Vieira (01:50), Kayla Harrison's visit to the White House (04:25), and Anderson Silva's reported payout from the UFC antitrust lawsuit (11:06).Next, they preview UFC Paris from top to bottom (15:41), before making their picks (59:45) and debuting a brand new Fight Feasts focused on French cuisine (1:03:28).The Boys close the show by delivering their P4P rankings of "French" things (1:21:06) — anything with French in the name/title — and answering your voicemails (1:32:50) and Super Chats (2:09:19).
After quickly hitting some news and notes, Ariel Helwani is joined by Chael Sonnen to discuss his busy weekend with Real American Freestyle and CJI 2, the response to his initial comments on Raja Jackson, and his surprising prediction for the White House card main event (11:21).Deontay Wilder recaps his win over Tyrrell Herndon, before talking about feeling rejuvenated and wanting to fight until he's 50, teasing a potential fight against Francis Ngannou, and more (1:03:01).Luke Rockhold returns on the heels of his loss to Darren Till and addresses his future, including the topic of retirement and what life after fighting might look like. Plus, he details his backstage scuffle with Dillon Danis and responds to BKFC's David Feldman (1:30:07).Alex Pereira is back in studio to discuss the Magomed Ankalaev rematch, address Ankalaev's social media persona, reveal the truth behind his own moment of frustration on social media, and look ahead to some new projects, including his acting debut and a new non-profit charity (1:58:37).Andre Ward previews Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, talking about his commentary role for Netflix, potentially coming out of retirement to fight Anthony Joshua, his feelings on Jake Paul vs. Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, and more (2:59:38)Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson opens up about the situation involving his son Raja, revealing some of their conversations after the event, threats his family has received in the aftermath, what he expects to happen to Raja, who's to blame, and more (3:19:29).Ariel and the Boys in the Back answer your questions during On The Nose, with topics including more on the Raja Jackson situation, Francis Ngannou, and Ariel's trip to Italy (4:10:52). Finally, they answer Super Chats before signing off (4:54:06).
Ariel Helwani and the crew are back from vacation, so they start with a catch-up on all the things they missed, including reactions to Raja Jackson's situation, UFC 322 being announced, the combat sports weekend — Misfits, Real American Freestyle, and CJI events, Jake Paul vs. Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, UFC Shanghai, and more (15:50).Charles Johnson joins to discuss his big win in Shanghai, give a prediction for Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van, and more (02:02:26).Mackenzie Dern is next, previewing her strawweight title shot against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 (02:45:06).Tom Lawlor talks about his wrestling career, before tackling the Raja Jackson topic, including his own experiences in wrestling, who is to blame for the incident, and what potential repercussions to expect (03:06:46).Aljamain Sterling is the final guest of the day, breaking down his win over Brian Ortega, making his case for a title shot, and giving his stance on referee accountability (03:36:19).
On a special Thursday edition of The Craic, Petesy Carroll tackles the week’s biggest stories alongside Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.They kick things off by debating whether Khamzat Chimaev’s recent middleweight title victory over Dricus Du Plessis has fueled the perception that he’s becoming a boring fighter (2:15).Alongside Khamzat Chimaev in the main event, UFC 319 was also set to feature Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev. But Battle’s second consecutive weight miss led to the fight’s cancellation and his release from the promotion. The trio discuss what his cut says about how the UFC handles its roster (21:28).Another weight class heating up is the UFC welterweight division. Sean Brady is calling out Ian Machado Garry, while Garry is taking aim at Leon Edwards. The crew lay out how they’d match up the top of the division (27:04).Next, the guys react to the controversial announcement of Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis as the latest Netflix boxing bout (39:10).Looking ahead to the weekend’s fights, the chaps preview the under-the-radar UFC Shanghai card, including the co-main event standout, Brian Ortega vs. Aljamain Sterling (53:59).To close the show, Petesy and company size up this weekend’s PFL card, headlined by Fabian Edwards vs. Dalton Rosta, whose trash talk has been going viral online (01:05:47).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to breaking news that Jake Paul will be fighting Gervonta 'Tank' Davis in November (02:18).Sparked by Dana White announcing Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez for October, the Boys discuss who Khamzat Chimaev will face in his first title defense (10:04).After previewing UFC Shanghai (26:56), we get the official announcement for Paul vs. Davis, so the Boys give their takes on the updated details (54:07).Following a brief look at the conclusion of PFL's championship round (1:05:15), the Boys make picks (1:07:33), deliver their P4P rankings of kung fu movies (1:15:22), and close the show with your voicemails (1:34:25) and Super Chats (2:06:50).
Ariel Helwani is flying solo for this episode of Ariel x Ade, but he’s bringing three guests with him.First, trainer Ben Davison joins to discuss Moses Itauma’s first-round stoppage against Dillian Whyte, Itauma’s seemingly limitless potential, who the phenom might fight next, whether it’s too soon for the Oleksandr Usyk fight, and he gives an update on Anthony Joshua’s status (02:59).Next, Dan Canobbio stops by to give his own take on what’s next for Itauma, Joseph Parker needing to be next for Usyk, Daniel Dubois splitting from trainer Don Charles. Plus, previews of some upcoming cards, including Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, and more (28:03).Finally, Mick Conlan calls in to talk about his September return in Dublin and weigh in on other topics including whether Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul would be bad for the sport of boxing, if it’s too soon for Itauma vs. Usyk, the potential of fellow Irishman Callum Walsh and more (48:04).Ariel closes the show with a look at the upcoming schedule, before celebrating an anniversary with the Parting Shot (1:07:08).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with Lerone Murphy, who talks about his highlight-reel knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319, practicing the spinning elbow, champion Alexander Volkanovski’s callout for December, his weight cut, and more (07:53).Dillon Danis is back in studio with Ariel to discuss a variety of topics, including his upcoming Misfits fight, why he’s not facing Tony Ferguson, believing he can submit Khamzat Chimaev, the ongoing lawsuit with Logan Paul’s wife Nina Agdal, and more (31:37).Dillon’s upcoming opponent, Warren Spencer, drops in to respond and things get heated (1:13:53), then Ariel and Dillon continue their banter (1:26:22).Carlos Ulberg joins next to preview the Dominick Reyes fight, look back at his win over Jan Blachowicz and express disappointment that it didn’t lead to a title shot, break down the Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch, and more (1:58:42).Finally, BKFC opponents Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens go face-to-face, with tempers flaring and both making the case for victory in October (2:21:42).
Ariel Helwani opens the show with a full recap of UFC 319, including a response to the chatter of Khamzat Chimaev being “boring” (02:28).Paulo Costa joins Ariel in-studio to react to Chimaev’s victory, talk about the UFC’s decision not to have him front row in Chicago, his game plan for a potential Chimaev fight, their past run-ins, making his acting debut, and his faith (1:01:00).Then, Paulo dusts off the clippers to give NewYorkRic another haircut (1:58:11).Francis Ngannou is next, reacting to recent comments by PFL Chairman Donn Davis about their first event in Africa and expressing his own vision for PFL Africa. He also discusses the status of his relationship with the PFL, Jon Jones’ retirement, still wanting to fight Deontay Wilder, details from April’s motorcycle accident, and more (2:14:47).Michael "Venom" Page returns after his victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 319 to talk about the performance, whether he’ll go back down to welterweight or remain at middleweight, hanging out with Carlos Prates, potential fights against Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards, and more (2:58:48).Tim Elliott, fresh off an upset win over Kai Asakura, makes his show debut to discuss his game plan for the fight, being vocal about wanting digital scales to be used for weigh-ins, returning from a long layoff, responding to critics on social media, and more (3:10:05).Bryan Battle is the final guest of the day and he’s back to discuss UFC 319 fight week, including his weight miss that led to his bout being cancelled, believing he can still make middleweight, hoping for the fight to be rebooked for October, dealing with the blowback from fans, and more (3:39:44).Ariel and the Boys in the Back close the show with more news and notes and your Super Chats (4:05:36).
Ariel Helwani is joined by Petesy Carroll for their immediate reactions to UFC 319, starting with Khamzat Chimaev dominating Dricus Du Plessis to become UFC middleweight champion (01:24).After breaking down the fight, they wonder who Chimaev could face next, including reactions to a real-time callout by Sean Strickland (13:01).Helwani quickly recaps the rest of the card (23:37), before returning to individual performances including: Lerone Murphy's masterful knockout of Aaron Pico (30:04), Carlos Prates' return to form against Geoff Neal (38:18), another win by Michael 'Venom' Page (43:26), and Tim Elliott's major upset against Kai Asakura (48:37).Finally, they touch on Alex Hernandez's brutal finish of Chase Hooper (52:06) and dive into some reactions from Dana White and others to a memorable card (54:22).
With UFC 319 right around the corner, Petesy Carroll joins forces with Ben Fowlkes to break down the card’s biggest talking points.After reacting to the weigh-in results (7:23), they dive straight into the main event. Is this Khamzat Chimaev’s coronation, or are fans once again underestimating Dricus Du Plessis? The boys tackle it all (11:03).UFC 319’s co-main event, Lerone Murphy vs. Aaron Pico, is another intriguing matchup. Petesy and Ben debate whether UFC debut jitters could affect Pico and if Murphy is being overlooked as a betting underdog (28:14).Next, the duo break down their favorite matchups from the rest of the card, including Carlos Prates’ bid to get back in the win column against Geoff Neal (35:30) and Michael “Venom” Page’s move up to middleweight to face Jared Cannonier (38:28).Wrapping up the UFC 319 talk, Petesy and Ben share their official Uncrowned picks (44:28) before shifting to how the UFC–Paramount deal could impact fighter pay (47:52).To cap things off, Petesy and Ben react to the highly anticipated announcement of Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov (01:04:28) and the news that Conor McGregor is back in the testing pool (01:09:17).
The Boys in the Back are here to preview UFC 319, including a full breakdown of the can't-miss championship fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev (3:50).After previewing the rest of the card (41:15), the Boys briefly look ahead to the latest PFL championship fights (1:22:34) and make picks for the weekend (1:25:56).Next, they debut a brand new Fight Feasts, focused on food from the 'Windy City,' and deliver their P4P rankings of moments from the UFC on ESPN era (1:51:59), before closing with your voicemails (2:25:06) and Super Chats (3:03:07).
Ariel Helwani opens the show by reacting to PFL announcing the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes (04:52) and recent comments by Dana White about how fighters will benefit from UFC’s new rights deal (19:57), before answering your On The Nose questions (34:58).Karrion Kross joins Ariel in studio to discuss his new best-selling book and address the conversation around his unexpected WWE departure. He talks about WWE’s contract offer, speculation that his departure is kayfabe, whether AEW made an offer, reports of fan signs being confiscated, revealing his viral WrestleMania promo was a work, advice he received from Paul Heyman, and more (1:00:07).Shayna Baszler breaks her silence about being released by WWE, touching on reports of her bring spotted at NXT, offers from other wrestling promotions, being satisfied with her time at WWE, what went wrong with Ronda Rousey’s final match, and more (2:13:54).BKFC President David Feldman is back to break some news: Mike Perry will defend his King of Violence title against Jeremy Stephens in New Jersey on October 4. He also talks about big money offers to Darren Till, Luke Rockhold’s lackluster performance against Perry, responds to Artem Lobov’s claim that he’s owed money, and more (2:54:12).Paul Hughes joins to react to his rematch against Usman Nurmagomedov being announced earlier in the day. He reflects on the first fight, states his intention to spoil Nurmagomedov’s plans, responds to comments by Nurmagomedov’s manager, and more (3:18:03).Darren Till is the final guest of the day, responding to David Feldman’s comments about their past negotiations earlier in the show. He also breaks down his boxing match against Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis’ MMA fight against Warren Spencer on the same Misfits card (3:41:10).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladpio, joining from Riyadh, kick off the show with a discussion about Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte (00:45), including Whyte confronting Ade about his prediction for the fight during their roundtable (01:11).Ade’s full sitdown with Whyte (08:28) is followed by quick reaction and then his chat with Itauma (24:24) and brief reflection on that conversation. They also discuss the other heavyweight bout between Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye (44:27).Next, they touch on the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn rematch being booked for November (47:03), Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis making his 154 pound debut against Uisma Lima (51:27), and the undercard fights added to the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card (54:35).Bouncing around the boxing world, the duo discusses Boxxer landing a broadcast deal with BBC (58:53), domestic violence charges against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis being dropped (1:04:02), and the tragic deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa (1:10:09).Finally, they close the show by delivering the Parting Shot, including a spectacular feat by David Adeleye (1:13:23).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with further analysis of the UFC’s new rights deal, focusing on Dana White’s comments that fighters will benefit from the deal and a comparison between Paramount and ESPN’s distribution platforms (01:52).Carlos Prates joins ahead of his UFC 319 fight against Geoff Neal and talks about lessons learned from the Ian Machado Garry loss, his current smoking habits, the success of the Fighting Nerds, Neal predicting a first-round finish, and more (15:33).Former Miami Marlins president David Samson makes his show debut to discuss UFC’s blockbuster seven-year $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, including his doubts about the suggested timeline, potential involvement in the deal by President Donald Trump, whether the deal will benefit the fighters, his own experience in making major sports deals, and more (43:53).Chris Duncan is next, recapping his Fight of the Night-winning performance against Mateusz Rębecki, regularly crossing paths with Rębecki, who is an ATT teammate, finding purpose and motivation after overcoming his mother’s death, and more (1:16:30).Michael Chandler is our final guest of the day, describing his initial reaction to UFC leaving ESPN and heading to Paramount in 2026 and how it will affect the fighters. He also looks back at his loss to Paddy Pimblett and talks about still seeking the Conor McGregor fight, aiming to be on the UFC’s White House card, wanting to interview all of his past opponents, and more (2:01:16).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to UFC's massive seven-year $7.7 billion rights deal with Paramount, before the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll jump in to continue the discussion (05:30).Elijah Smith, fresh off his frightening KO against Toshiomi Kazama, joins the show to talk about the highlight reel slam, learning from his father, former UFC fighter Gilbert Smith, getting his start in MMA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more (46:15).Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez returns to discuss his dominant win over Roman Dolidze, calling for a title shot, talking to Dana White and Daniel Cormier during the fight, planning to be front row at UFC 319, and more (1:11:14).Salt Papi himself joins to preview his boxing match against legend Tony Ferguson. They touch on his conversations with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, who he expects to win between Luke Rockhold and Darren Till, and more (1:32:26).UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is the final guest of the day, giving his initial thoughts on UFC’s deal with Paramount and how it could affect fighters who previously shared in pay-per-view profits. He also explains how UFC 321 came together, facing Ciryl Gane in Abu Dhabi, and reacts to Jon Jones’ teasing a fight at the White House next year (2:17:30).Ariel and The Boys close the show with more on the UFC’s new broadcast deal and by answering your Super Chats (2:53:15).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll is joined by Craic regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to break down the week’s biggest headlines.First up, Charles Oliveira’s return against Rafael Fiziev. The crew debates whether it’s too quick a turnaround for Oliveira after his KO loss to Ilia Topuria just three months ago (6:12).One fight fast approaching is Driccus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev. With UFC 319 just a week away, the boys gauge excitement levels and share insights from DDP’s recent interview with Ariel earlier in the week (19:04).Next, the trio reacts to news of Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov’s return, and assess his chances heading into his bout against Zubaira Tukhugov on PFL Dubai (40:05).Petesy and the guys then shift to the recent news surrounding the TKO Ali Act amendments. They weigh in on the TKO’s statement addressing the controversial changes (54:19).To close the show, they look ahead to this weekend’s combat sports events, and answer your Super Chats (1:09:31).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to breaking news that Charles Oliveira will return to action against Rafael Fiziev in October (1:22).Then, they launch into a deep dive on recent comments made by both Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis ahead of their UFC 319 fight (09:30), including Khamzat's call to capture three UFC belts, Dricus being the division's boogeyman, and more.Next, they weigh in on ESPN's blockbuster deal with WWE and what it could mean for UFC's pending rights deal (36:51), before quickly touching on Conor Benn's callout of Ilia Topuria (54:57).After previewing UFC Vegas 109 (58:03), the Boys make picks (1:18:11), deliver their P4P social faux pas  (1:27:07), listen to your voicemails (1:58:43), and answer Super Chats (2:45:14).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to news of the five-year deal that will bring WWE's premium live events to ESPN (05:58).UFC star turned actor Keith Jardine joins Ariel in studio to reminisce about his career and discuss his latest film projects, including his major directorial debut "Kill Me Again" (13:50).Next, Ariel and the Boys in the Back answer your On The Nose questions, including more on WWE's massive deal with ESPN and the potential implications for UFC (58:37).UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis previews his UFC 319 fight against Khamzat Chimaev, reacts to some of Khamzat's past comments, and surveils the crop of upcoming middleweight title challengers (1:28:11).Keyshawn Davis, speaking for the first time since his canceled fight in June, opens up about his weight miss, viral backstage altercation with Nahir Albright, and talks about his timeline for returning to the ring (2:02:55).Finally, WWE manager extraordinaire Paul Heyman steps into the studio to pull back the curtain on the wrestling business, discuss current storylines with Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar, weigh in on John Cena's heel run, Netflix's "Unreal," the new ESPN deal, and more (2:58:08).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin the show with a reaction to talks of Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua heating up (02:54), with Ade expressing strong reservations.The duo is joined by Skye Nicolson to discuss her drop to 122 pounds, respond to comments by Most Valuable Promotions’ Nakisa Bidarian, talk about targeting a fight against Ellie Scotney and lessons learned from her loss (13:08).Xander Zayas, the youngest active world champion, comes on to recap the title win and celebration with Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico, and to discuss possible fights against Vergil Ortiz, Sebastian Fundora, and Jason ‘Boots’ Ennis (31:18).Attention then turns to a big win by Oscar Duarte and a Fight of the Year contender between Regis Prograis and JoJo Diaz (48:29).Next, Ariel and Ade break down Ryan Garcia’s latest shot at Oscar De La Hoya and the peaks and valleys of their relationship (50:04).After touching on Joshua Buatsi leaving BOXXER (54:53), they mention Terri Harper signing with Most Valuable Promotions (59:37).Finally, they review DAZN’s fall schedule (1:01:05), before delivering the Parting Shot (1:06:57).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a quick review of Tapology’s latest update and rankings (03:59).Andy Foster, Executive Director of the California State Athletic Commission, joins to discuss proposed clarifications to the MMA scoring criteria, his feelings on the The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, GFL’s canceled California events, and to review some recent controversial decisions by referees and judges (10:34).Bryan Battle is up next, touching on his move to middleweight, the heat around his UFC 319 showdown with Nursulton Ruziboev, the back and forth with Ruziboev’s fans from Uzbekistan, and a review of the latest WWE storylines (50:47).Ariel and The Boys in the Back discuss Donn Davis' proposal of a PFL vs. ONE Championship showdown of titleholders, before further diving into Tapology's new UFC rankings (1:15:30).Friend of the show Artem Lobov returns to talk about coming out of retirement for his long-awaited fight against rival Zubaira Tukhogov, his fractured relationship with Conor McGregor and their pending lawsuit, training with Paul Hughes, being interested in influencer boxing, and more (2:07:36).Ariel wraps up the show with some news and notes, before answering your Super Chats (2:52:53)
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by recapping a busy weekend in combat, including the UFC’s event headlined by Tatsuro Taira, Thad Jean’s big win in the PFL championship, WWE SummerSlam — topped by Brock Lesnar’s shocking return — and more (06:00).Renato "Money" Moicano returns to defend his viral clip about turning down the UFC lawsuit settlement money and further explain his position, talk about his loss to Beneil Dariush, and attempt to identify his next opponent (1:02:11).Martin Buday joins to discuss his surprising release from the UFC after defeating Marcus Buchecha, overcoming the death of his father just days before the Andrei Arlovski fight, his free agency and fielding offers from other promotions, plus more (1:45:51).PFL welterweight tournament champion Thad Jean is back following his big win over Logan Storley. He talks about going five rounds for the first time in his career, sleeping with the belt, who he wants to fight next, and more (2:10:33).Michael "Venom" Page is the final guest of the day, joining ahead of his upcoming fight against Jared Cannonier to discuss the UFC 319 matchup, whether he'll stick around at middleweight, refereeing KSI’s boxing challenge and more (2:33:19).Ariel and The Boys close the show with more news and notes, including Conor McGregor’s failed appeal and the latest on Jon Jones’ upcoming bench trials, before answering your Super Chats (2:57:56).
Petesy and Chuck previously promised to get an authority on the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act - the amendment the entity known as TKO boxing are attempting to have written into law - and they provided it this week as John S. Nash joins the show to give insights on the topic (04:27).The conversation then moved onto Conor McGregor's failed attempt to appeal a civil court finding that he sexually assaulted an Irish woman, Nikita Hand, in a Dublin hotel in December 2018 (34:43).The lads then discuss comments from Matt Brown claiming that Tom Aspinall is fighting to keep the heavyweight division alive when he faces Ciryl Gane on October 25th (44:27), before they take a look at this weekend's action from PFL and UFC (56:26)
The Boys in the Back kick things off with the results of Uncrowned's poker table felt auction benefitting Ben Askren.Next, Petesy Carroll joins to provide an update on Conor McGregor’s sexual assault case appeal (04:50).Then, Ben 'The Bane' Davis comes in studio to help the Boys break down all of UFC Vegas 108 (12:22), headlined by Tatsuro Taira vs. Hyun Sung Park, before hitting Friday’s PFL World Tournament Finals (33:53).After making picks (44:06), Ben discusses competing all over combat sports (49:10) and breaks down his experience as a “new threat” on The Challenge: Season 41 (58:55).They finish up by giving their P4P reality TV shows (1:46:54), listening to your voicemails (2:17:24), and answering your Super Chats (2:57:02).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On the Nose questions (07:47).Johnny Eblen is the first guest of the day, coming off his title stunner at PFL Africa against Costello van Steenis. He discusses what went wrong in the fight, why the PFL won’t book the rematch, his long layoff and more (43:46).Josh Barnett joins Ariel in-studio to discuss Bill Goldberg’s retirement match, his wrestling promotion Bloodsport and its next event, the UFC settlement deal, his MMA GOATs, and all things combat sports (1:09:14).Doctor Mike — a YouTube star, practicing family physician, and influencer boxer — is next up in the studio, and he talks the intersection of combat sports and medicine, calls for a fight with RFK Jr., breaks down Ben Askren’s recovery, looks at MMA’s most gruesome injuries, and much more (2:07:10).Ariel and the crew wrap things up by answering your Super Chats — all directly supporting Ben Askren — and more On the Nose questions (3:06:40).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin the show with a reaction to Claressa Shields’ dominant victory over Lani Daniels (1:41), discussing Shields' star status and debating who she should fight next (06:23), mentioning Laila Ali, Cris Cyborg and Shadasia Green as options.Next, they discuss the current women's pound-for-pound (11:04), before Shields herself joins to discuss Daniels' unusual tactics, her free agency, her feelings on potential opponents like Ali, Cyborg, and Green, and more (15:16).Dmitry Salita, Shields' promoter, calls in to discuss her huge weekend and weighs in on her next move (37:12).The duo touches on Xander Zayas’ win over Jorge Garcia to become the WBO junior middleweight champion (51:00), which headlined Top Rank’s final card under their ESPN deal. Then, they turn to Jaron 'Boots' Ennis' proposed fight against Josh Kelly (56:50), transition to a preview of Lewis Crocker vs. Paddy Donovan 2 (58:56), and end by delivering the Parting Shot (1:06:00).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys in the Back kick things off with updates on Ben Askren and Robert Whittaker, as well as hitting all the latest news and notes (05:54).Tatsuro Taira is the first guest and joins ahead of his headliner at UFC Vegas 108. He discusses rebounding after his first career loss, Amir Albazi’s withdrawal, Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van's anticipated matchup, and more (19:50).Newly unified super middleweight champion Shadasia Green calls in to discuss her win over Savannah Marshall and a potential next fight against Claressa Shields (38:16).Jailton Almeida joins ahead of his UFC 321 co-main event against Alexander Volkov and talks about wanting the title shot with a win, moving down to light heavyweight, his social media callouts, Ciryl Gane’s place in the division, and more (1:01:29).Canadian MMA legend Rory MacDonald calls in after a long time away from the sport to share his thoughts on martial arts fatigue, attending UFC Montreal, his relationship with Dana White, training with 'Wonderboy,' possibly fighting again, and more (1:30:45).Fernand Lopez, headman at MMA Factory, joins to break down Ciryl Gane’s undisputed heavyweight title shot against Tom Aspinall. He also gets into the controversial win over Alexander Volkov, and more (1:59:44).Ariel and the crew close things off with your Super Chats (2:31:25).
Ariel Helwani is back in your life and begins with a deep dive into the career and life of Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea. Then, the crew joins to help recap the weekend in combat sports (02:01).Wrestling legend Ric Flair calls in first to reflect on the death of his close friend Hulk Hogan and gets into how the two met, competing with him and their in-ring chemistry throughout his career, being cancer-free, and much more (48:03).Jiri Prochazka is next up, and he joins to discuss his upcoming fight against Khalil Rountree, trash talk with Magomed Ankalaev, his role as backup fighter for UFC 320's main event, turning down a fight to finish his degree, and more (1:31:20).Petr Yan calls in hot off his win over Marcus McGhee at UFC Abu Dhabi to talk his leg injury early in the fight, bringing his family in the cage, wanting a title fight next, competing in a reality show with Aljamain Sterling, and more (2:01:58).Lerone Murphy joins the program ahead of his UFC 319 co-main event against the debuting Aaron Pico. He shares his thoughts on fighting on short notice, his expectations for a title shot with a win, and more (2:31:48).UFC featherweight Steven Nguyen closes the show following his six-knockdown win over Mohammad Yahya and talks about Jason Herzog’s controversial stoppage, his start in MMA, and more (2:58:33).The gang rejoins Ariel to share their closing thoughts, recap Claressa Shields’ dominant win, and answer your Super Chats (3:20:59).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall to discuss the latest in combat sports, beginning with a reflection on the legacy of the late Hulk Hogan (06:46).They then dive into Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane. What are the key storylines heading into the matchup, and could this be the start of the Aspinall era? (21:36)Looking ahead to UFC Abu Dhabi, Robert Whittaker takes on the streaking Reinier de Ridder, and Shara “Bullet” Magomedov returns to action. Petesy and Chuck close out the show by breaking down their favorite matchups on the card (52:44).
The Boys in the Back start the show by acknowledging Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea, who died earlier in the day at 71 years old (00:34).Then, they break down UFC Abu Dhabi from all angles, starting with the main event matchup between former champion Robert Whittaker and rising contender Reinier de Ridder (04:09), before moving on to the rest of the card (23:23).Ariel Helwani joins to further discuss Hulk Hogan (54:42), looking at his momental impact on professional wrestling and pop culture, as well as his complicated legacy.Finally, The Boys transition into their picks (1:21:04) and give their P4P rankings of MMA nicknames (1:28:03), before wrapping up with with your voicemails (1:51:04) and Super Chats (2:35:48).
Darren Till and Luke Rockhold are first up and join Ariel from Manchester in an exclusive faceoff to preview their upcoming Misfits Boxing 22 fight. After Darren leaves, Luke talks about his transition into boxing (03:01).Tony Ferguson is the next fighter from the Misfits card to call in before his fight against Salt Papi. He discusses his mindset at age 41, leaving the UFC, his continued interest in Khabib, Conor McGregor’s issues, Dustin Poirier’s sendoff, and more (30:45).Ariel and the crew provide a powerful update on Ben Askren’s health via his Instagram, react to the news of the TKO-backed bill in Congress, and get to your burning On the Nose questions (56:50).ATT coach Marcos "Parrumpa" DaMatta is next up, and he breaks down Alexandre Pantoja’s run to the title and fight against Joshua Van, Renato Moicano’s loss and recent controversial decision, Arman Tsarukyan’s claim for the next title shot, and more (2:08:12).Dakota Ditcheva is the last guest after her latest win at PFL Africa, and she talks about signing a new contract, being frustrated due to inactivity, looking up to Kayla Harrison, her next fight, and more (2:39:15).Ariel and the Boys in the Back end the day with your Super Chats and some breaking news (3:09:52).
On Tuesday night, Dana White broke massive news, announcing three fights — Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen, and Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree — to take place at UFC 320, with Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane set to headline UFC 321. Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back give their immediate reactions to the fights, discuss which is the most significant booking, predicts odds for the announced title fights and more.
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show by reacting to the viral video of Daniel Dubois’ large gathering before his 5th-round TKO loss to Oleksandr Usyk (01:13), with Ade’s perspective from the event. Then, the duo make their predictions for Usyk’s next fight (08:35).Andy Lee, former WBO middleweight champion and current trainer to the stars, joins and discusses what’s next for Joseph Parker, Hamzah Sheeraz’ handwrap controversy, Ben Whittaker’s ceiling, and more (15:05).Up next is Ellie Scotney, the unified super-bantamweight champion, who talks about her huge win on the Taylor-Serrano undercard and her journey to becoming an MVP fighter (35:19).Then, Ariel and Ade turn to the rumor that Claressa Shields was offered a massive contract to fight the long-retired Laila Ali (51:49).They move on to their analysis of 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao’s draw against champion Mario Barrios (54:21), Sebastian Fundora’s stoppage of Tim Tszyu (58:37), ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’ dominant Loma-esque victory (1:01:17), and pay their respect to Josh Taylor after he announced his retirement (1:06:05).They finish off by hypothesizing what’s next for Top Rank in terms of distribution (1:09:06) and delivering the Parting Shot (1:13:18).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back are back and start by reacting to Daniel Dubois' controversial fight-day gathering (08:46).Robert Whittaker joins before his headliner in Abu Dhabi against the streaking Reinier de Ridder to discuss his dream retirement fight, having his sixth kid, Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, Australia’s UFC takeover, sparring Tim Tszyu and Jai Opetaia, and more (16:20).Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington stops by in-studio to preview his match against Mateus Heita for the vacant WBC interim featherweight title. He tells Ariel about his start in boxing, being mentored by Mike Tyson, Top Rank’s next move, his desire to fight Inoue, Jake Paul, and more (45:04).Ateba Gautier, UFC middleweight contender coming off of a bonus-winning knockout at UFC 318, joins to discuss his unreal punching power, comparisons to fellow Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, looking up to Lerone Murphy, street fights before MMA, and more (1:33:47).AJ McKee returns following his win at PFL Africa and shares his thoughts on fighting at featherweight, rebounding after a loss, his Zulu-inspired outfit, PFL’s lacking American product, retiring at 35, changing his mindset, and more (1:58:00).Ariel closes the show with a tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne and his reaction to the back-and-forth between Renato Moicano and Brendan Schaub over Moicano rejecting the UFC's settlement money (2:31:23).
Ariel Helwani starts the show by paying homage to Dustin Poirier’s career after his Max Holloway retirement fight at UFC 318. The crew joins to offer their thoughts and recap the rest of the packed weekend, including Oleksandr Usyk’s big win over Daniel Dubois and Manny Pacquiao’s shocking draw. (05:26).Newly crowned PFL middleweight champion Costello Van Steenis calls in after his fifth-round rear-naked choke finish of Johnny Eblen. He discusses the win, transitioning from Bellator to PFL, training with Mousasi, his brother’s MMA journey, and more (1:22:30).Paulo Costa is back after beating Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 to talk about coming back after back-to-back losses, shaking during the press conference, his hatred for Khamzat Chimaev, his ideal return, and more (1:50:08).Daniel Rodriguez is next after his back-and-forth victory against Kevin Holland. He speaks on the story behind his tattoos, not getting a bonus, his three-fight win streak, and more (2:14:08).TNA superstar AJ Francis is the first in-studio guest and joins after Slammiversary to share his thoughts on leaving the WWE, meeting The Rock, his NFL career, what went wrong with Hit Row, and much more (2:32:28).Eric Bischoff, chief media officer of Real American Freestyle Wrestling, joins in-studio to get into signing with Fox Nation, the stress of launching a promotion, signing Bo Nickal, Hulk Hogan’s involvement, and stories from his time with WWE and WCW (3:19:31).The legendary Dustin Poirier closes the day after his retirement war with Max Holloway at UFC 318. He discusses ending his career in Louisiana, jumping the gilly, Lil Wayne’s walkout, filming "Fightville 2," and more (4:04:29).Ariel and the crew tie a bow on the show by answering your Superchats (4:39:07).
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall react to the aftermath of UFC 318, starting with Max Holloway’s impressive victory against Dustin Poirier (01:26).After paying tribute to Poirier (10:17), who called it a career, they move on to Paulo Costa’s return to form in his victory against Roman Kopylov (14:50), Daniel Rodriguez’s back-and-forth war with Kevin Holland (20:54), Patricio Pitbull’s much-needed victory over Dan Ige (23:58), and Michael Johnson’s huge upset victory over Daniel Zellhuber to open the main card (28:00), before looking back at the prelims (29:31).Then, they switch gears and recap action from around the combat sports world, starting with 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao earning a majority draw against Mario Barrios (33:16), and a pair of rematches, with Sebastian Fundora overwhelming Tim Tszyu (34:19) and Oleksandr Usyk leaving no doubt this time against Daniel Dubois (35:54).Finally, they move to PFL Africa, with Dakota Ditcheva’s dominant win over Sumiko Inaba (44:37) and Costello van Steenis’ comeback against Johnny Eblen (49:15), before offering their closing thoughts. (52:52)
With a stacked combat sports weekend ahead, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes kick things off by debating which bout carries the highest stakes (6:22).One of those matchups is Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier. The crew dives into their favorite storylines surrounding this trilogy clash (14:03).Arguably the biggest fight of the weekend is Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2. Can Dubois upset the applecart? The trio break down how the undisputed heavyweight title bout might unfold (34:25).The PFL is also making waves with its event in Cape Town, South Africa. Petesy and the boys discuss the promotion beating the UFC to the punch in hosting an African card (47:41).To close out the show, the trifecta tackle Manny Pacquiao’s polarizing return (1:03:40), before wrapping up with Petesy’s Guinness-fueled New York vlog alongside The Boys In The Back (01:15:02).
The Boys in the Back kick off a stacked show with their reaction to Jon Jones' appearance at the ESPYS, stating he's 'back' and ready to fight at the White House (01:30).Then, they head down to the Big Easy, paying homage to the legendary career of Dustin Poirier ahead of his last dance against Max Holloway (10:53), before breaking down the UFC 318 main event in detail (24:22). They preview co-main event, Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, and the rest of the card, including the prelims (47:18).Next, they debut a brand new Fight Feasts (1:12:56), showcasing Cajun food, before turning attention to PFL Africa (1:29:09), Usyk-Dubois 2, and Manny Pacquiao's return from retirement against Mario Barrios (1:35:01).After making picks (1:40:39), they give their P4P hot sauce rankings (1:49:19), listen to your voicemails (2:06:35), and answer Super Chats (2:38:59).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with a brief celebration of GC’s birthday and by answering your On the Nose questions (08:47).Thad Jean is the first guest of the day, and he joins in-studio on his birthday before his PFL welterweight tournament final against Logan Storley. He discusses transitioning from football to MMA, his Haitian roots, becoming the face of PFL, and more (41:55).TNA superstar Mike Santana is next up in-studio ahead of his ‘Slammiversary’ main event match and shares incredible stories of his father and tough upbringing, going to rehab, leaving AEW, TNA’s growth, and more (1:22:19).Ariel turns back to your On the Nose questions and breaks some news about Darren Till and Tony Ferguson's next fights (1:55:57).Joseph Parker is next up and calls for the winner of Usyk-Dubois 2. He vents about not getting the undisputed shot, working with Frank Warren, and we hear from his fired-up coach, George Lockhart (2:16:08).Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao makes his debut on the show before his in-ring return against WBC champion Mario Barrios to discuss his four-year layoff, fighting at 46, boxing’s changes since his retirement, and more (2:38:15).Tim Tszyu closes the lineup out with a preview of his highly-anticipated rematch against Sebastian Fundora. He delves into his relationship with Australian UFC fighters, his motivations after losing his belt, and the changes to his strategy, among other topics (2:55:14).Ariel and the crew end the day by answering more On The Nose questions and your Super Chats (3:14:48).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick things off with the weekend recap, starting with Hamzah Sheeraz’s huge knockout of Edgar Berlanga (04:49) and Shakur Stevenson’s back-and-forth victory against William Zepeda (07:43), and Ade makes a bold claim for Hamzah’s next fight. Nakisa Bidarian is the first guest up and breaks down MVP’s record-breaking Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 event, highlighting its significance for women’s sports and what could be next for the biggest stars in the sport, including Jake Paul and Claressa Shields (14:43).After a quick debate about Ariel’s in-ring interview with Ramla Ali following her controversial victory (41:12), the duo is joined by Queensberry’s Frank Warren to discuss the possibility of Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Canelo Alvarez and this weekend’s undisputed heavyweight blockbuster: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 (47:01).BKFC founder David Feldman closes the show, confronting Ade over his criticism of bare-knuckle fighting while breaking down their upcoming tournament, developing young fighters, and drops some news about Conor McGregor’s return (1:01:18).Next up, they buy or sell on Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios (1:18:21), Shakur Stevenson vs. Conor Benn (1:20:11) and Gervonta 'Tank' Davis' future (1:23:01), before looking ahead to thiz weekend's action (1:25:46) and delivering the Parting Shots (1:27:11).
Ariel Helwani begins the show with some news and notes, before Chris Curtis calls in — on his birthday — to talk about his hard-fought win over Max Griffin, his return to welterweight, his altercation at Tuff-N-Uff, his struggles at middleweight, and more (06:39).Steve Garcia is next up after his big win over Calvin Kattar to discuss wanting a headliner next, fighting up the rankings, putting together a six-fight win streak, and more (28:10).Legendary wrestler Bill Goldberg joins to reflect on his final WWE bout and reveals his feelings on fighting for the heavyweight title, his disappointments in the delivery, competing on three-weeks notice, working with Gunther, his relationship with Triple H, and more (48:05).Mario Barrios joins the show before his WBC welterweight title defense against the returning Manny Pacquiao. He expresses his initial doubts about the fight, details his preparations, hopes to fight Conor Benn, breaks down Canelo-Crawford, and more (1:32:09).Ariel is joined by the crew to debate which fight is the biggest over the packed weekend (1:48:30).Patricio Pitbull joins alongside his translator and coach Eric Albarracin to preview his second UFC fight against Dan Ige and discuss what went wrong in his debut against Yair Rodriguez, opening a gym, looking toward the BMF belt, and more (2:05:05).Stephen Thompson closes out the show after his controversial split decision loss to Gabriel Bonfim in Nashville to break down fighting through his 40s, breaking Randy Couture's record, connecting with Rory MacDonald, running karate camps, and more (2:21:06).
Ariel Helwani opens the show with a recap of combat sports’ massive weekend, before Petesy and the Boys in the Back join to break down Katie Taylor’s big win over Amanda Serrano on Netflix (02:32).Shakur Stevenson returns to the studio after his statement win over William Zepeda to talk about the fight, his friendship with Terence Crawford, his promotional future, his callout of ‘Tank’ Davis, Floyd Mayweather’s mentorship, and more (45:21).Retired former champion and current analyst Chris Algieri calls in next to discuss the next month of boxing, including Manny Pacquiao's return. He also match-makes for the sport's biggest stars such as Shakur Stevenson and ‘Tank’ Davis (1:32:08).Conor Benn is next up in-studio alongside Shakur Stevenson, and the two trade verbal blows while setting the terms for a future matchup. After Stevenson leaves, Benn discusses issues with rebooking the fight against Chris Eubank Jr. and more (1:58:08).Paulo Costa joins before his UFC 318 return against Roman Kopylov to give insight into his long layoff, wanting to fight Khamzat Chimaev, his loss against Sean Strickland, defending Ariel online, and more (2:58:28).Morgan Charriere is the final guest of the show and joins after his back-and-forth win over Nate Landwehr. He gets into pausing social media, his girlfriend’s fighting career, who he wants next, and more (3:42:48).Ariel and the crew finish off with a reaction to Ben Askren’s update videos, news and notes, and by answering your Super Chats (4:01:52).
Live from Madison Square Garden, Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall give their immediate reactions to Katie Taylor claiming victory in her trilogy fight against Amanda Serrano. Soaking up the energy from the live arena, The Craic transports you cage side with live sound from the fighter announcements and results (00:13), followed by the duo breaking down the biggest storylines from the bout (04:28).
For the very first time, Petesy Carroll hosts The Craic from our New York studio!Craic stalwart Chuck Mindenhall joins him at the top of the show before Irish boxing journalist Gavan Casey arrives to preview Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3, which takes place tonight at Madison Square Garden (11:33).After that, Petesy and Chuck react to Dana White’s Full Send appearance where he discussed the possibility of Tom Aspinall fighting Jon Jones at The White House (53:17) and what will set up a meeting between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev.The lads then discuss the 10-year anniversary of UFC 189, before taking a look at Conor McGregor’s latest appearance at the BKFC press conference (59:12:28).Chuck also gives insight on ghost-writing Ben Askren’s book after the former UFC fighter revealed he “died four times” after undergoing a double lung transplant (1:02:17).
The Boys in the Back start the show with Ben Askren’s video from the hospital bed following his double lung transplant (02:20), then react to the PFL announcing a new CEO (07:08).Next up, they tackle how to fix the UFC's heavyweight division (11:47), leading into a breakdown of UFC Nashville (39:01), starting with the Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira main event, followed by the rest of the card.Then, Petesy Carroll joins the Boys in studio to open some soccer jersey mystery boxes (53:53), break down Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3 (1:00:23), and debate the implications of Jake Paul’s picture with Turki Al-Sheik (1:19:27).Finally, the crew makes picks (1:23:39), reveal their Irish culture P4P rankings (1:28:05), and listen to your voicemails (1:42:58).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back are joined by Petesy Carroll to recap his time at the Taylor-Serrano open workouts as well as cover all the latest news and notes (01:08).Combat sports ring announcer Kody "Big Mo" Mommaerts is the first of three in-studio guests, and he joins before working Taylor-Serrano on Friday. He gets into carving out his path as an announcer, competing in public speaking, his favorite fights, and more (16:22).Frank Smith, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, is next up behind the desk, and he discusses Matchroom’s rebrand, how he met Eddie Hearn, the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, Katie Taylor's possible retirement, Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul, and more (58:58).TNA President Carlos Silva is next up, and he breaks down his role as head of Anthem Sports Group, including TNA’s growth and partnership with the WWE as well as Invicta FC's place in combat sports and the possibility of a deal with the UFC (1:46:20).Petesy joins back to help answer Super Chats and end the day (2:24:47).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo are reunited in the New York studio ahead of a massive weekend in the world of boxing.They begin the show by previewing the highly-anticipated trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano (02:22), before diving into the rest of the all-women card (22:57). Next, they discuss the stacked Ring card headlined by Edgar Berlanga vs. Hamzah Sheeraz and Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda (31:09), before Ade voices his opinion on Jake Paul’s controversial WBA Cruiserweight ranking (39:15).Then, special correspondent Petesy Caroll calls in live from the Taylor-Serrano open workout to set the scene (48:17).After touching on the recently announced Ring event headlined by David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde (57:34), Ariel and Ade recap Jack Catterall’s win over Harlem Eubank (1:01:14) and deliver the Parting Shots (1:11:14).
Ariel Helwani kicks off a special all in-studio show with Petesy Carroll, who comes bearing gifts for Ariel's birthday (05:06).Craig Jones joins ahead of his grappling match against Gable Steveson and talks all things CJI 2. He also discusses mending ties with ADCC, his feud with the UFC, training with JDM and Tom Aspinall, and shares stories of his travels to Ukraine (16:00).WBA bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson joins before her unified title fight against Shurretta Metcalf on the Taylor-Serrano undercard. She discusses signing with MVP, fighting at Madison Square Garden, her Māori heritage, and more (1:19:09).Superstar Shakur Stevenson closes out the show as the final guest before his fight against William Zepeda. He shares his thoughts on Turki Alalshikh's comments, Floyd Schofield, fan criticism, Canelo-Crawford, and ends with his predictions for boxing’s biggest matchups (1:54:49).The gang rejoins Ariel and they answer your Super Chats (2:39:56).
The Craic's Petesy Carroll is in town, so he joins Ariel Helwani in studio to set the table for this weekend’s Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy fight on Netflix and discuss other major news and notes around the sport (06:10)."Butterbean" Eric Esch, boxing legend, calls in to talk about his incredible health resurgence, a potential return against Jake Paul or Brock Lesnar, fighting in PRIDE, and more (1:03:36).Frank and Bella Mir are next up, and they discuss Bella’s UFC aspirations, conversations with Dana White, following in her father’s footsteps, Olympic goals, and more (1:35:20).Next up is a preview video of the crew’s behind-the-scenes adventure at UFC headquarters during International Fight Week (2:04:14).Joshua Van joins after his barnburner against Brandon Royval at UFC 317 to reflect on fighting twice in three weeks, facing off with Alexandre Pantoja in the octagon, competing next for the UFC flyweight title, and more (2:18:27).Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian comes in studio before the all-women's boxing card on Netflix headlined by the Taylor-Serrano trilogy. He discusses the lead-up to the event, Jake Paul’s win over Julio César Chávez Jr., negotiations with Canelo, and more (2:42:19).Ariel and the crew end the show by answering your Super Chats (3:26:10).
The Boys in the Back return from Las Vegas and kick off the show with a debate about new UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria's star power and how he compares to Conor McGregor (02:17).With no event to preview, The Boys recap their picks (33:50) and jump into their P4P all-time rankings of American fighters (41:22), before listening to voicemails (52:55) and answering your Super Chats (1:19:54).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with stories from last week's Las Vegas adventure (01:46), before speaking to top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan about being the backup fighter for UFC 317, his reaction to Ilia Topuria's win, words exchanged with both Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, who he wants to fight next, and more (22:58).Next, Gregory Rodrigues aka 'Robocop' joins the show following his devastating knockout of Jack Hermansson, to talk about the big win, explain the origins of his nickname, and more (47:00)Bo Nickal calls in with breaking news about joining Real American Freestyle Wrestling and discusses potential matchups within the promotion, who he might want to fight next in the UFC, Jon Jones' retirement, and more (1:06:27).The Hardy Boyz, Matt and Jeff, join Ariel in studio to discuss their legendary careers, including their current run with TNA, memories from the WWE days, and then list their best tag teams of all time (1:41:34).Boxer Hamzah Sheeraz is the final guest of the day, reflecting on the controversial draw in his last fight, previewing his fight against Edgar Berlanga, diving into his relationship with new trainer Andy Lee, and more (2:49:10)Finally, Ariel and the Boys in the Back answer Super Chats and discuss who could be the UFC's next American star and whether Ilia Topuria's resume already rivals that of Khabib Nurmagomedov (3:36:28).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes return as usual, and kick things off by breaking down Ilia Topuria’s newly minted no. 1 spot in the official Uncrowned pound-for-pound rankings (4:03).Shifting to what’s next for Topuria, Petesy and the gang weigh in on Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaejthe, and Arman Tsarukyan as potential contenders for the lightweight champion (10:30).Conor McGregor is back in the headlines. The former champ withdrew his application to introduce new evidence in his ongoing appeal. The guys discuss the latest in McGregor’s disappointing run of recent news cycles (30:52).Looking forward to UFC 319, the trio celebrate the good news of Khamzat Chimaev finally landing on U.S. soil; a reassuring sign that his middleweight clash with Dricus Du Plessis is on track (38:10).The UFC also recently announced UFC 321’s return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The crew debate which championship fight will top the card, with Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena being the likely frontrunner (49:26).Another middleweight making waves is Sean Strickland, who was caught in a bizarre in-cage brawl at a local MMA event. The trio break down the wild footage of the incident (57:30).To wrap up the show, Petesy gets the guys’ takes on Jake Paul officially becoming a ranked WBA cruiserweight, and talk Ben’s trip to Seattle to see Wu-Tang live (1:05:28).
Our grand finale from the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas kicks off with Ariel Helwani and the gang reacting to a wild combat weekend, headlined by Ilia Topuria's monster knockout of Charles Oliveira, Alexandre Pantoja's latest title defense, Jake Paul's victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., plus much more from UFC 317 (05:25).Then, Helwani reacts to Sean Strickland's viral tussle with Luis Hernandez on the undercard of Tuff-N-Uff 145 (49:47).UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja discusses his title romp over Kai Kara-France, his likely next defense against Joshua Van, his place in MMA's pound-for-pound rankings and more (1:04:37).Tracy Cortez joins us in-studio to discuss her big UFC 317 win over Viviane Araujo, her recent health problems, her emotional post-fight message, what's next and more (1:33:15).Payton Talbott discusses his pay-per-view rebound over Felipe Lima, how he handled his first loss, his growth as a prospect, his friendship with Frank Ocean, new movie projects, potentially fighting Malcolm Wellmaker next and more (2:13:20).UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili stops by in-studio to discuss life since his second win over Sean O'Malley, Ilia Topuria's unbelievable rise, what it's like to spar Topuria, his likely next title defense against Cory Sandhagen and more (2:38:12).Ariel and the Boys in the Back close us out by answering your Super Chats, then facing off with some dangerously spicy chicken (3:37:12).
NewYorkRic and Chuck Mindenhall (with a brief appearance by GC) join forces after the conclusion of UFC 317 to recap the whole event, starting with Ilia Topuria’s blistering first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira (01:21) and then diving into who should be next for the newly crowned lightweight champ.Next up, they touch on Joshua Van’s thrilling win in a Fight of the Year contender against Brandon Royval (19:42), Alexandre Pantoja’s smothering submission of Kai Kara-France (23:12), and the likely clash between the two after their in-cage faceoff.Then, they go over Beneil Dariush’s decision win over Renato Moicano (34:58) and hit the main card opener: Payton Talbott’s bounceback win over Felipe Lima (39:18).They wrap things up with the prelims (49:17), including Gregory Rodrigues’ scary knockout of Jack Hermansson, and Chuck offers his final thoughts on the card.
Our second show LIVE from the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas kicks off with Demetrious Johnson and his wife, Destiny, who chat about what goes into being the MMA GOAT, weight-cutting stories, receiving retirement advice from GSP, and more (02:32).Ian Machado Garry joins Ariel at the table to share details about Charles Oliveira’s weight cut, fighting Belal Muhammad or Sean Brady next, Kamaru Usman’s win over Joaquin Buckley, and more (34:41).Ariel breaks up the action by answering your Super Chats (52:41).Rico Verhoeven, GLORY heavyweight champion, is up next after his most recent title defense. He talks about headlining GLORY 100, training with Tom Aspinall, completing the "iron gut challenge," hopes of fighting Francis Ngannou, and more (1:04:16).Newly crowned undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall wraps up the day with his behind-the-scenes account of Jon Jones’ retirement (1:32:55). His father, Andy, also stops by to voice his opinion on the UFC's handling of the announcement (2:12:55). The duo detail who Tom wants to fight next and more.The Boys in the Back join Ariel to complete their International Fight Week draft (3:08:33) and answer more Super Chats (3:12:19).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show from Venetian Resort in Las Vegas to talk all things International Fight Week and the news and notes from around the sport (05:10).Israel Adesanya is the first guest in today’s star-studded in-studio lineup and he joins before his UFC Hall of Fame induction to discuss his loss to Nassourdine Imavov, training with David Goggins, Jon Jones, his back and forth with Joaquin Buckley, DDP-Khamzat, and hints at his next fight (29:29).Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is next up on the mic and he gets into his UFC 317 predictions, crossing paths with Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev’s chances against JDM, his next defense, and more. Ash Belcastro, his manager and owner of Engage Apparel stops by to finish off (1:16:02).Dan Hooker is the last of the CKB gauntlet and he joins Ariel to share his thoughts on his return from injury, preparing for his viral backyard brawl event, interacting with fans, receiving his 50 drug-free test jacket, and much more (1:45:57).John Wood, head coach of Syndicate MMA, stops by along with Daniel Rubenstein, Merab Dvalishvili’s manager, to discuss building a successful team, Khalil Rountree’s win over Jamahal Hill, Nazim Sadykhov’s viral KO, traveling to Georgia, and more (2:34:17).Raul Rosas Jr., 20-year-old UFC phenom, closes the day with a chat about taking on MMA full-time after high school, fighting in Mexico, looking for a matchup in the rankings, training with Frank Mir’s daughter, and more (3:12:44).Joanne Wood, retired UFC flyweight, stops by as a surprise guest (3:48:28).
The Craic returns! In a special Wednesday edition of the show, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to break down the latest evidence surrounding Jon Jones’s recent criminal charge, including Jones’ seemingly self-incriminating posts on X (0:38).Jones’ retirement disgruntled a lot of MMA fans, including Andy Aspinall, father and head coach of newly crowned undisputed champion Tom Aspinall. Petesy discusses his sit-down with Andy, who didn’t hold back in criticizing the UFC’s handling of the heavyweight title picture (26:06).So what’s next for the heavyweight champ? The trio considers the top contenders for Tom Aspinall’s first title defense. Ciryl Gane, Francis Ngannou, and Alex Pereira are the names most fans are calling for. The guys weigh the pros and cons of each option (37:59).Jon Jones may be dominating the headlines, but UFC 317 is fast approaching. The lads preview the Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira super fight and close the show highlighting their favorite storylines heading into this weekend’s card (49:36).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo start with their reaction to the theatrics from Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford on their press tour (04:00), the rumored Jarrell Miller vs. Jared Anderson fight, and pitch their dream fights on the first Zuffa boxing card. Then, the duo discusses the announced Riyad Season card headlined by Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte before being joined by WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. (22:51) after his brutal KO win over Jin Sasaki to talk winning in Japan, Manny Pacquiao’s return, and what’s next for him.Next up, Oscar De La Hoya calls in ahead of the MVP and Golden Boy co-promoted Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. fight to break down the card, give his insight into Canelo-Crawford, and more (41:37).After briefly previewing Paul vs. Chávez Jr. (55:06), Ariel and Ade give their take on Galal Yafai’s shocking loss to Francisco Rodríguez Jr. (1:02:47) and look ahead to the weekend’s slate of fights (1:06:36), before landing the Parting Shots (1:10:14)
The Boys in the Back begin the show by reacting to body cam footage released by the Albuquerque Police Department of the alleged Jon Jones car crash scene (01:57).Then, they preview UFC 317 from top to bottom, starting with the highly-anticipated lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria (09:14). After tackling the co-main event (30:06) and the rest of the PPV card (36:20), they finish up with the night's prelims (51:06).Finally, the Boys answer your Super Chats (1:08:25), before flying off to Vegas.
Ariel kicks off the show with his reaction to Dana White's announcement that Jon Jones retired and vacated his heavyweight title (04:36).Ilia Topuria joins ahead of his vacant lightweight title bout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to discuss the fight, Islam Makhachev's decision to vacate, Paddy Pimblett, the possibility of fighting in Spain, and more (35:50).Nazim Sadykhov, Azerbaijan native, calls in after his Fight of the Night performance at UFC Baku to break down winning two bonuses, moving to New York as a kid, his beginnings in MMA, and more (1:01:38).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to give their opinions on the Jon Jones saga and its impact on Tom Aspinall. Then, they move into the biggest results from UFC Baku and the other news and notes around the sport (1:26:05).Next up on the program is Ariel’s Fanatics Fest interviews, first with Ice Cube (2:49:54), who covers everything from his Big3 basketball league to professional wrestling, and then with Georges St-Pierre (3:12:07), who weighed in on Jon Jones, his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov that nearly came to be, Islam Makhachev moving up, stories from his career, and more.Ariel and the crew wrap up the show by looking at the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez faceoff and answering your Super Chats (3:40:29).
Ariel Helwani gives his immediate reaction to Dana White announcing that Jon Jones has retired, making Tom Aspinall the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
The Craic is back with its usual trifecta! Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes get the show underway by unpacking the fallout from Conor McGregor’s latest nightclub scandal (4:23).It wouldn’t be a Craic episode without a Jon Jones segment, and this time it’s his appearance on the Nelk Boys podcast. The boys discuss his latest comments, which unsurprisingly don’t inspire much excitement for the potential Tom Aspinall matchup (25:34).Pivoting to the other side of the combat sports spectrum, Chuck Mindenhall recaps his trip to BKFC’s Ice Wars, including his rink-side feels alongside boxing legend Tommy Hearns (46:51).The UFC is back too. This time debuting in Baku, Azerbaijan. The guys break down the Xs and Os of the main event, assess Rafael Fiziev’s three-fight losing streak ahead of his bout against Ignacio Bahamondes, and spotlight a few hidden gems on the rest of the card (55:34).To round out the show, the trio dissect the viral Turki Al-Sheikh, Canelo Alvarez, Terrence Crawford family dinner photo, then answer a few viewer superchats (1:06:16).
The Boys in the Baku start the show by reacting to Jon Jones’ recent comments about Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou (02:46), before moving on to the developing drama between Joaquin Buckley and Israel Adesanya (14:36).Next they preview the UFC's debut in Azerbaijan (21:34), headlined by Jamahal Hill versus Khalil Rountree Jr., along with the next round of the PFL tournament (47:58).After highlight Big Hitters from UFC Atlanta, the Boys make their picks (52:40), and premiere the newest Fight Feasts (1:04:49), where GC went home to a Atlanta for a food tour.They wrap up by listing their P4P best hills (1:20:54), listening to your voicemails (1:34:38), featuring mailman beef and some old favorites, and answering your Super Chats (2:11:30).
Ariel Helwani begins with the news and notes before Petesy and the Boys in the Back join to answer your On the Nose questions (07:56).Cory Sandhagen calls into the program to discuss his potential title shot against Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley’s recent performance, his viral social media skits, lifestyle habits, starting an OnlyFans, and more (1:02:42).Marc Raimondi, Atlanta Falcons reporter and veteran MMA journalist, joins his old friend Ariel to discuss his new book, "Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro Wrestling's New World Order Changed America." He shares insights into his writing process, why he chose to focus on pro wrestling, and stories from his journey as an author (1:33:09).Paul Walter Hauser — Primetime Emmy winner, Golden Globe Award winner, and professional wrestler — comes in-studio to shoot on his biggest acting roles, his lifetime love of wrestling, breaking into the sport, aspirations and dream matchups, producing for Major League Wrestling, dealing with injuries, WWE storylines, and much more (2:32:15).Julio César Chávez Jr., former WBC champion, ends the day with a preview of his upcoming fight against Jake Paul. He gets into his father’s legacy, the state of his career, a rumored matchup against Darren Till, regrets around the Anderson Silva fight, and more (3:28:26).Ariel and the Boys wrap up the show by answering your Super Chats (3:51:22).
Ariel Helwani opens the show solo with a recap of Richardson Hitchins’ huge win over George Kambosos Jr. (03:34) and Eddie Hearn’s reaction to Hitchins' free agency comments (04:23).Dmitry Salita, head of Salita Promotions, calls to discuss Claressa Shields’ upcoming undisputed heavyweight title fight (10:29), MVP’s increased presence in women’s boxing (14:11), TKO’s emergence in the sport (16:37), and more.Co-host Ade Oladipo joins the show in progress (34:23), fresh off hosting duties for the Club World Cup (36:04), to spotlight Hitchins' win (40:40), before discussing Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis moving up in weight (50:01), and Deontay Wilder's mentality before his return fight (54:09).They close the show by reacting to breaking news about Jaime Munguia’s positive drug test (1:00:09), previewing this weekend’s fights (1:04:37) and delivering the Parting Shot (1:07:20).
Phil Rowe kicks off the program fresh from his UFC Atlanta comeback win over Ange Loosa and shares his thoughts on his struggles to get a fight, the stakes around his last performance, his mom’s health struggles, releasing a song, and more (05:54)."The Iron Turtle" JunYong Park, UFC middleweight contender and one of the show’s most highly anticipated guests, joins the program before his fight this weekend to discuss the origins of his nickname, his large fan base, his MMA background, training with Alex Pereira, and more (32:30).Andrei Arlovski calls in to preview his BKFC debut and talks about his reasons for leaving the UFC, his motivations to continue fighting, the GFL’s demise, picks his heavyweight GOAT, and more (1:02:11).Julianna Peña stops by after her title loss to Kayla Harrison at UFC 316. In an emotional conversation, she delves into competing with injuries, the finishing sequence, Kayla’s size, Amanda Nunes’ return, her comeback plans, and more (1:32:28).Rose Namajunas is the final guest and breaks down her big win over former training partner Miranda Maverick, bee-induced injuries, her mindset leading into the fight, chasing the belt, the Shevchenko-Zhang superfight, and more (2:02:34).Ariel and the Boys in the Back wrap up the show with an update on Ben Askren courtesy of his wife and by answering your Super Chats (2:34:22).
Khalil Rountree Jr. joins the program before his UFC Baku main event against Jamahal Hill to discuss headlining the first UFC event in Azerbaijan, almost giving up on MMA, his coach John Wood, growing after his loss to Alex Pereira, his path back to a title shot, and more (02:15).Deontay Wilder, American heavyweight great, previews his return to the ring against Tyrrell Herndon. "The Bronze Bomber" talks about dealing with betrayal, coming back from losses, speaking to a sports psychologist, his future, and more (52:55).Ariel Helwani is joined by the Boys in the Back to recap Kamaru Usman’s decision win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta, plus the news and notes from around the sport (1:40:52).Sean O’Malley calls in after his defeat to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 to break down the submission loss, his viral lifestyle changes, differences in the rematch, his future at featherweight, the state of the bantamweight division, and more (2:04:24).Malcolm Wellmaker, surging UFC bantamweight contender, joins after his devastating win over Kris Moutinho and gets into his KO streak, fighting in Atlanta, his childhood and early career, quitting his job as a pipefitter, and more (2:37:33).Michael Chiesa looks back at his hard-fought victory over Court McGee and discusses his feelings around the fight, dealing with negativity, his three-fight win streak, his change in mindset, his success in commentary, Islam vs. JDM, and more (3:08:49).The Boys rejoin to wrap up the day and are greeted by a special guest and longtime friend of the program, Jon Bier. Then they answer your Super Chats (3:46:40).
This week on The Craic, Petesy Carroll calls on Ben Fowlkes and Drake Riggs to talk combat sports’ biggest and weirdest headlines.They open the show by debating whether the inevitable Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison bout could be the biggest women’s MMA fight of all time (4:09).Next, the trio turn their attention to this weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley. Petesy and the boys unpack the key narratives heading into the matchup, including Usman’s bold three-fight plan to achieve double-champ status (26:04).It’s been another weird week for PFL. Not only does it seem they might be fumbling the Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov rematch, but they’ve also strangely been linked to Russell Brand. The guys weigh in on another disappointing spread of headlines for the PFL (43:56).To end on a high note, the chaps look ahead to a stacked weekend of combat sports action. From GLORY 100 to BKFC Ice Wars, there’s plenty for fight fans to enjoy (1:02:48).
The Boys in the Back begin the show with an update about Ben Askren (03:28), courtesy of Daniel Cormier, before discussing Merab Dvalishvili’s dominance and who has a realistic chance to dethrone the champ (05:13).Then, they preview UFC Atlanta (23:05), headlined by Kamaru Usman and Joaquin Buckley, and PFL's next tournament round in Nashville (55:45).Next, they spotlight some Big Hitters from UFC 316 (1:03:32), make their picks, and deliver their P4P ‘dawgs’ (1:13:45), a list of fighters who have that dog in them.Finally, the Boys close the show by listening to your voicemails (1:30:16) and answering your Super Chats (2:07:06).
Ariel Helwani starts with news and notes before the crew joins to answer your On the Nose questions and check in on their PFL tournament bracket predictions (08:53).Joshua Van calls in before his short-notice fight against No. 1 flyweight contender Brandon Royval to talk about his win over Bruno Silva, jumping up the rankings, buying his mom a house, training with Myanmar's Aung La Nsang, and more (1:03:20).Aljamain Sterling joins in-studio to break down his teammate Merab Dvalishvili’s huge win at UFC 316. The former champion also discusses his Funk Harbor rum, what’s next for O’Malley, Sandhagen’s chances against Merab, being on a reality show with Petr Yan, the Jones-Aspinall drama, provides an update on his return, and more (1:31:03).Sam Jones, manager of 18-year-old boxing phenom Adam Maca, stops by the studio to talk about the changing business and stories from the fighters he works with (2:43:48). Later, Adam joins the conversation to discuss his debut at The Theater at MSG, signing with Matchroom Boxing, his aspirations in the sport, and more (3:10:31).Ariel and the Boys reunite to answer your Super Chats (3:32:24).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo open the show by discussing the latest updates about the Canelo-Crawford superfight (03:31).Eddie Hearn joins the conversation to share his insight on the fight and Dana White’s involvement, the latest on Anthony Joshua, Dave Allen’s rise, Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr., and ends with his reaction to Fabio Wardley’s devastating knockout of Justis Huni, Jai Opetaia’s victory, and other fight news (11:29).The duo give their opinion on the announcement of Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte in Riyadh (41:30), break down Wardley’s dramatic comeback KO (43:46), and react to the Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos cancellation and chaotic aftermath (48:55).Next, they talk about Vasiliy Lomachenko’s retirement announcement (1:01:12), with Ade providing his favorite moments from the Ukrainian’s illustrious career, and then close with this week’s Parting Shot (1:09:07).
Ariel Helwani reacts to major news regarding Canelo-Crawford landing on Netflix, the latest back and forth between rivals Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez, and more (01:37).Joe Pyfer joins in-studio after his big win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316 to discuss stomach issues stemming from his UFC Mexico pullout, staying off of social media, his strained relationship with his father, Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, his next fight, and more (19:12).Shotzi Blackheart, former WWE star and current "indie goddess," comes by the studio to unpack the details of her WWE release, brutal injury, late father's legacy, working with NXT, wrestling with Ronda Rousey, and more (1:21:26).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to recap the day (2:22:52).
Ariel Helwani break downs the biggest results from UFC 316, including a discussion of Merab Dvalishvili’s legacy and Amanda Nunes’ highly anticipated return against Kayla Harrison (09:29).Then, he gets fired-up for a conversation regarding the latest Jones-Aspinall drama and reacts to Dana White’s press conference comments (34:43).Merab Dvalishvili calls into the program hot off his title defense against Sean O’Malley and talks about the differences in the rematch, returning to his home village in Georgia, his potential upcoming fight against Cory Sandhagen, his dream of fighting in New York, and more (1:02:02).Mark Coleman and Mike DiSabato, former Ohio State wrestlers, join in-studio ahead of the premiere of "Surviving Ohio State," a documentary detailing the 20 years of sexual assault inflicted by Dr. Richard Strauss on collegiate athletes. They discuss their experiences, the courage it took to come forward as victims, and the ongoing lawsuit against the university (1:53:34).Kayla Harrison is next up after her dominant victory over Juliana Peña to win the bantamweight title at UFC 316 and gets into her harrowing weight cut, her status as the "greatest combat athlete," and her legacy-defining fight against former teammate and soon-to-be UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes (2:58:14).Mario Bautista checks in after his UFC 316 upset over the debuting Patchy Mix to discuss the fight, not getting a post-fight interview, dealing with negativity after the Jose Aldo fight, and calls for a top-five matchup next (3:32:46).Ariel and the crew round off the show with the rest of the news (3:53:14) and results around combat, and by answering your Superchats (4:04:36).
Ariel Helwani, Chuck Mindenhall, and Petesy Carroll are back to recap UFC 316, starting with Merab Dvalishvili's incredible submission of Sean O'Malley in the night's main event (05:45).Next, they discuss Kayla Harrison's dominant showing against Julianna Peña and her inevitable meeting with former training partner Amanda Nunes (25:06), before weighing in on Patchy Mix's bizarre performance against Mario Bautista (40:33).Then, they touch on Joe Pyfer's win over Kelvin Gastelum (50:30), Kevin Holland taking out Vicente Luque (55:14) and the rest of the prelims (58:33).Finally, they react to comments from the post-fight press conference (1:00:20), harrowing news about Ben Askren's health (1:04:44), and Chuck gives his final thoughts (1:08:03).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll is joined by Craic regulars Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.The boys open the show by breaking down the UFC 316 weigh-in results and analyzing which fighters looked sharp on the scales (5:14).One fighter who had no trouble making weight was Kayla Harrison, who challenges Juliana Peña for the bantamweight title. The guys explore each fighter’s path to victory and debate whether the betting line is disrespecting the reigning champion, Peña (10:14).Despite two title fights on the card, the buzz around UFC 316 isn’t quite where it should be. The trio discuss the underwhelming ticket sales and whether the UFC is currently in a slump with fans (20:47).Shifting gears to the main event, the guys dive into the biggest storylines ahead of Sean O’Malley’s second title challenge against Merab Dvalishvili (23:42).Is Patchy Mix the best fighter to make the jump from Bellator to the UFC? Petesy and the lads break down the challenge ahead for the newcomer, as he takes on Mario Bautista in a bid to enter the top of the bantamweight sweepstakes (35:15).Jon Jones is back in the headlines! The crew react to his latest tweet storm, and weigh in on the increasingly unlikely unification bout with Tom Aspinall (49:03).To close out the show, Petesy and the guys pay tribute to the late MMA media legend Jordan Breen (56:10).
The Boys in the Back start the show with quick mention of Vasiliy Lomachenko's retirement, before diving into their UFC 316 mega preview, including the main event (3:16), co-main event (29:31), and other action on the card (53:48).Then, they're joined by Jordan Leavitt for a thoughtful and fascinating conversation about his life and career (1:04:08).After debuting a brand new Fight Feasts (1:46:13), focused on Venezuelan food, the Boys give their P4P lists of jerseys (1:59:33), listen to your voicemails (2:16:56) and answer Super Chats (2:45:48).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back answer your On the Nose questions to start the show (7:34), then GC hops on the Aviron bike, but has Sean Brady accepted the challenge?Keyshawn Davis calls in to preview his WBO lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos and talk about meeting Michael Vick and Allen Iverson in his hometown, speculation around Gervonta "Tank" Davis, Teofimo Lopez’s recent comments, his relationship with boxing, and more (1:03:21).Maycee Barber clears the air on the medical emergency that forced her to pull out of her UFC main-event fight against Erin Blanchfield and discusses what she remembers from the night (1:31:14).Robbie Lawler, soon-to-be two-time UFC Hall of Famer, joins in studio to discuss coaching, his upcoming second induction, his connection with Rory MacDonald, BKFC rumors, BJ Penn’s recent troubles, life after fighting, and relives moments from his historic career (1:54:06).The Boys check back in with Ariel and finish with more On the Nose questions and Super Chats (2:53:40).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo start the show by discussing Caleb Plant’s upset loss to Armando Resendiz and where the result leaves the Jermall Charlo fight (4:57).Next, they're joined by Justis Huni to preview his short-notice title fight against Fabio Wardley and talk about how adversity prepared him for this moment, boxing in enemy territory, and his quick rise to the top at heavyweight (12:52).Then, Richardson Hitchins joins ahead of the George Kambosos fight to discuss becoming the face of boxing in New York City, potential next opponents, and more (33:27).Ariel and Ade react to the back and forth between Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez and what it means for other stars in the division (50:12), before pivoting to Jaime Munguía’s recent failed drug test (57:27).The duo finishes the day with a look at this weekend’s slate of fights, including the return of superstar Keyshawn Davis (1:04:46), and delivers the Parting Shot  (1:08:31).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show with another angle on the conversation about the UFC being "washed" (06:26).Shawne Merriman, former NFL star, joins the show to talk about his MMA promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. He outlines his start in combat sports, competing with the UFC’s control of the industry, hosting athlete vs. athlete superfights, talks with WWE, and more (31:06).Mark Kriegel — legendary analyst, journalist, and author — joins Ariel in-studio to discuss his new book, "Baddest Man: The Making of Mike Tyson." He breaks down his start in sportswriting, his rocky relationship with Tyson, the evolution of his career, what he has learned from boxing, and dives into many more stories from his life (1:01:35).Derrick Lewis calls in as the last guest of the program leading up to his UFC main event in Nashville and talks about his decline at heavyweight, his reasons for choosing MMA instead of boxing, his fight cancellation in November, what he wants next, and more (1:58:50).Ariel and the guys wrap up by answering your Super Chats (2:44:05).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show with news, notes, and a recap of this past weekend’s UFC main event drama (03:31).Friend of the program and current "The Ultimate Fighter" coach Chael Sonnen joins the program to discuss his coaching style, working with Colby Covington, recent disagreements over social media with Ariel, interviewing Tom Aspinall and the Jon Jones dilemma, mending things with Valentina Shevchenko, working with Real American Freestyle Wrestling, and more (18:10).Jairzinho Rosenstruik calls in following his removal from the UFC after losing to Sergei Pavlovich and talks about signing with Dirty Boxing Promotions, his future in MMA, the passing of his coach Michael Babb, and more (1:11:32).Erin Blanchfield comes on after her last-minute main-event cancellation at UFC Vegas 107 to discuss Maycee Barber’s severe medical issues, fighting a big name next, learning from her loss to Manon Fiorot, and more (1:28:58).Elayna Black, formerly known as "Cora Jade," joins in-studio to discuss her shocking departure from the WWE, coming back from major injuries and hardships, dealing with intense negativity, dropping out of high school to pursue professional wrestling, her next move in the sport, and much more (1:57:14).Petesy joins Ariel and the crew to pay respect to Canadian MMA journalist Jordan Breen after his tragic passing. They wrap up by reacting to more news topics and answering your Super Chats (3:05:14).
On this week’s edition of The Craic, Petesy Carroll is joined by Ben Fowlkes and Drake Riggs.Kicking off the show, they dive into breaking news: Maycee Barber has missed weight for her fight against Erin Blanchfield, along with several other fighters on this weekend’s Apex card (4:02).Another UFC product that returned this week is The Ultimate Fighter. The guys discuss why the show feels underwhelming, even with fan favorites Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier coaching opposing teams (14:15).The trio then address the troubling news surrounding former UFC champion BJ Penn, who was arrested this week. His mother has reportedly been granted a restraining order, citing a pattern of concerning behavior (30:37).There’s also more on the potential Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones fight, but it’s not good news. Jones’s recent comments make the matchup seem even further out of reach, and the guys break down what this could mean for the long-anticipated superfight (39:28).To wrap things up, the fellas discuss Vitor Belfort’s recent Hall of Fame induction and examine the evolving narratives around drug testing in combat sports (52:35).
The Boys in the Back kick off with a look at the latest in the Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall saga, including some light-hearted social media posts (03:05).Then, they discuss Movsar Evloev's tough road to a UFC title shot and some historic comparisons for other fighters who have had to wait for their opportunity (07:30).Next, they look ahead to the UFC's loaded June schedule (31:05), before breaking down UFC Vegas 107 (39:47).Finally, the Boys make picks (57:46), give their P4P MMA haircuts (1:01:41), listen to your voicemails (1:20:43), and answer Super Chats (1:54:33).LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL: +1-415-787-2482
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On the Nose questions (14:22).Tim Welch, longtime coach and business partner of superstar Sean O’Malley, joins before their rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. He talks about opening his gym, visits from Israel Adesanya and Demetrius Johnson, Sean’s change in lifestyle, antics during the first bout, reminisces on his career, and much more (58:31).The crew comes back to answer more questions (1:39:51).Joe Pyfer previews his fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316 and discusses the illness that forced him out of UFC Mexico, his beef with Jeremy Stephens, Sean Brady's next fight, coming back from back surgery, learning from his Jack Hermansson loss, and sets the conditions for GC’s Aviron bike race against Sean (2:13:35).Dan Hooker calls in after his most recent surgery to provide insight into his return timeline and break down his newest viral venture: one-minute scraps, a winner-takes-all $50,000 backyard brawl tournament (2:48:06).Sean Grande, the voice of the Boston Celtics and former Bellator announcer, joins in-studio to talk about how he got involved in combat sports, his legendary call of Peter Queally’s walkout against Patricky Pitbull, the importance of storytelling in MMA, Bellator’s end, Olympic boxing, the future of sports broadcasting, plus many more stories from his celebrated career (3:11:57).Ariel and the Boys end the packed day by addressing your Super Chats (4:17:27).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin the show with a tribute to boxer Georgia O'Connor, who tragically died at just 25 years old (06:16).Next, they transition to the shocking retirement of Delicious Orie (11:16), before being joined by Fabio Wardley ahead of his homecoming fight against Justis Huni (17:34).Then, they react to another spectacular performance by Moses Itauma (37:42) and debut the Popcorn List, where Ariel and Ade each rank their top 10 most exciting boxers (43:08).They close the show with a check-in on the status of Tyson Fury (1:00:58), preview this weekend's action, (1:04:59) and deliver the Parting Shot (1:13:07).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back return with a recap of everything that transpired in combat sports over the weekend, including more drama between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinal (03:48)."The Welsh Gangster" Oban Elliot joins the program to discuss his fight against Seok Hyun Ko, visa issues that forced him out of his bout this weekend, participating in the UFC’s first event in Azerbaijan, Jack Della Maddalena’s title-winning performance, Islam Makhachev’s presence at welterweight, his support of Ian Machado Garry’s title run, his deal with Jon Jones, meeting with WWE stars, and more (31:11).Maycee Barber calls in before her UFC Vegas 107 main event against Erin Blanchfield to talk about falling ill and pulling out of the Rose Namajunas fight, her mental health struggles, recovery, her six-fight win streak, Valentina Shevchenko’s latest title defense, and more (1:04:26).Caleb Plant stops by ahead of his fight against Jose Armando Resendiz and discusses his awkward first meeting with Ariel, his loaded shoe collection, details of the failed booking against Jermall Charlo, his longtime relationship with music star Jelly Roll, his start in kickboxing, the state of PBC boxing, Canelo-Crawford, and more (1:33:11).Ariel and the Boys end the show by answering your Super Chats (2:14:46).
On this week’s show, Petesy Carroll is joined once again by Ben Fowlkes and the returning Shaheen Al-Shatti.With rumors swirling that Yair Rodriguez may get another crack at Alexander Volkanovski, the lads discuss whether that's the correct fight to make, what happens to Mosvar Evloev, and more (04:56).Then, the conversation shifts to news that Ilia Topuria has split from his longtime coaches (19:55), leading to discussion about whether the timing will be problematic, and comparisons to Conor McGregor regarding how the star controlled his most recent training camps (22:28).After touching briefly on the verbal spat between Islam Makhachev and Chael Sonnen (34:47), the lads weigh in on whether Makhachev and Topuria will ever meet in the octagon (48:35).Finally, the show ends with a recap of Jon Jones' recent social media posts — and how the Tom Aspinall saga has affected his legacy (50:02). Plus, the latest on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford megafight, including Dana White and TKO's involvement (1:00:11).
The Boys in the Back start the show by breaking down the timeline of Jon Jones’ recent flurry of social media activity (02:34), before debating his complicated legacy and whether retiring before fighting Tom Aspinall hurts how he's viewed (19:57).UFC featherweight and TUF winner Marion Santos joins the show after his decision victory over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC Vegas 106 to discuss the win, growing up in Brazil, being inspired by Anderson Silva and Charles Oliveira, his relationship with teammate Matheus Camilo, dreams of playing soccer, and more (32:38).The Boys rank their P4P summer activities (1:05:30), listen to your voicemails (1:27:37), and answer Super Chats (1:48:15).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back kick off the show by answering your On the Nose questions (06:57).Renato ‘Money’ Moicano returns ahead of his fight against Beneil Dariush at UFC 317 to discuss Gilbert Burns’ loss, his short-notice title shot against Islam Makhachev, opening a gym in South Florida, his viral social media posts, Arman Tsarukyan’s tough spot, Paddy Pimblett, and Jon Jones possibly retiring. He finishes with some financial insights (1:01:38).NBA veteran Michael Carter-Williams previews his May 29 boxing debut alongside trainer Jeovanny Estela and discusses how he got into boxing, meeting his trainer, transitioning from basketball, his future in the sport, keeping a close eye on MISFITS, dealing with nerves, and more (1:32:48).WWE star Karrion Kross joins in-studio to talk about his recent meteoric run, leaning into honesty, his YouTube channel and documentary, his confusingly long layoff, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event, taking inspiration from ‘The Smashing Machine,’ his limited involvement in WrestleMania 41, his issues with Logan Paul, being released and other hardships, his relationship with his wife in and out of the business, his beginnings in combat sports, the release of his book, and many more stories from his life and career (1:56:25).Ariel is rejoined by the crew to round out the show and answer your hard-hitting Super Chats (3:22:56).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with a deep dive into Dave Allen’s brutal knockout of Johnny Fisher in their rematch (01:56), and the ‘White Rhino’ joins the program to talk about the victory, being motivated by his family, potential next matchups, and gives Fisher some advice (13:57).Next, the duo discusses 20-year-old heavyweight phenom Moses Itauma’s 2025 debut against Mike Balogun (43:51), followed by a look at the recent drama surrounding the highly-anticipated Canelo vs. Crawford megafight, including Eddie’s concerning comments (47:36).Then, they touch on the rumored booking of Teofimo Lopez vs. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis and debate how the size difference could affect the fight (58:00).Finally, they debate what's next for Jake Paul, including potential KSI and Darren Till fights, before Ade shuts down an exhibition against Gervonta Davis (1:00:44).They look ahead to this weekend’s fights, including the Championing Mental Health event on Thursday and Josh Taylor’s return on Saturday (1:10:06), before wrapping things up with the Parting Shot (1:12:08).
Angela Lee Pucci, former ONE atomweight champion, joins Ariel Helwani to discuss her nonprofit organization, Fightstory, which provides mental health support for combat sports athletes. She discusses her late sister's influence, partnering with the UFC, new initiatives, misconceptions about fighters seeking help, the negative impacts of social media, getting back into training, and more (07:43).Mateusz Gamrot calls in to break down his upcoming fight against Ludovit Klein, his loss to Dan Hooker, his back and forth with Arman Tsarukyan, Paddy Pimblett’s rise through the rankings, living at American Top Team, Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira, potential matchups with other fighters in the stacked lightweight division, and more (28:36).Jose Aldo stops by after his recent retirement announcement to discuss his legendary career as champion in the WEC and the UFC, his decision to end his fighting journey in Montréal, his tough weight cuts, post-fighting plans, his recent matchups, the controversial Aiemann Zahabi loss, and his favorite memories from his 21-year professional career (1:02:50).Ryan Bader joins the program to talk about signing with RIZIN, the opportunity to fight in Japan, playing Mark Coleman in 'The Smashing Machine,' his next matchup, fighting all over the world early in his career, and more (1:47:20).Ariel and the Boys in the Back come together to answer your Super Chats (2:02:21).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back get started by debating the meaning of Jon Jones’ latest series of social media posts (09:44) and Chael Sonnen’s latest comments (25:48), along with the news and notes from around the sport.Michael Morales, undefeated UFC phenom and ranked welterweight, joins after his massive first-round KO over Gilbert Burns to discuss the quick finish, meeting fellow Ecuadorian 'Chit'o Vera, wanting to beat up Ian Machado Garry, his path to the title, and more (44:30).Ian Machado Garry returns to the program to discuss being the backup fighter at UFC 315, Jack Della Maddalena’s title victory over Belal Muhammad, Islam Makhachev moving up, a fight against Sean Brady, the depth of the welterweight division, Michael Morales’ callout, Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria, and more (1:01:54).Holly Holm calls in after announcing her return to boxing with Most Valuable Promotions and breaks down her upcoming fight and return to the sweet science, the GFL’s dissolution, her future in MMA, her legendary two-sport hall of fame career, Harrison-Peña for the 135 title, and more (1:35:39).Claressa Shields, two-time Olympic gold medalist and current three-division undisputed boxing champion, joins Ariel in the studio and gets into her upcoming bout against Lani Daniels, only sparring men, returning to the Olympics, Ade Oladipo’s comments on the quality of her recent opponents, her beef with MVP and Jake Paul, Shadasia Green, Taylor-Serrano 3 on Netflix, her relationship with Alycia Baumgardner, her short-lived suspension, fighting in the PFL, and much more (2:06:25).Jake Paul joins to preview his fight against Julio César Chávez Jr. and discuss MVP’s huge moves in women’s boxing, fighting Mike Tyson with a hurt ankle, fights falling through against Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis, the status of his long-time feud with KSI, a rematch with Tommy Fury, a megafight with Anthony Joshua next year, and more (3:05:44).
On this week’s show, Petesy Carroll is joined by The Craic alum Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes.After a brief tangent discussing Petesy’s dream journal, the fellas dive into the biggest storylines surrounding Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus du Plessis — most notably, whether Du Plessis is being slept on yet again as an underdog (8:29).From there, the conversation shifts to the PFL, which is back in the headlines — and not in a good way. The crew unpacks the organization parting ways with one of its biggest stars, Patchy Mix, and what that might signal for the promotion’s future (29:02).That leads into a broader discussion on UFC matchmaking, sparked by the aftermath of the Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev superfight that never materialized. The guys examine what it says about how marquee fights are being made today (42:24).Staying on the topic of missed opportunities, they then turn to another major bout stuck in limbo: Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones. The trio break down the potential reasons behind the holdup and what it could take to finally make the fight happen (55:44).To wrap things up, the chaps preview this weekend’s matchup between Gilbert Burns and Michael Morales — and discuss whether Morales could be the next elite contender to emerge at welterweight (1:07:29).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back begin the show by breaking down the various cases for MMA's lightweight GOAT, including where Islam Makhachev falls in that conversation after vacating his title (01:40).Then, they discuss the ongoing war of words between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria (32:31), before looking ahead to this weekend's UFC Vegas 106 (49:36).Finally, the Boys make picks (1:09:26), give their P4P lists of Chicago's best (1:22:31), listen to your voicemails (1:42:19), and answer Super Chats (2:00:42).Leave us a voicemail: +1-415-787-2482
Ariel Helwani kicks off the the show by reacting to the news that Patchy Mix has been released by the PFL (01:44).Valentina Shevchenko calls in after her UFC flyweight title defense against Manon Fiorot and talks training at Tristar gym, making a bet with Fiorot, a superfight with current strawweight champion Zhang Weili, Chael Sonnen’s problem with her, and more (03:54).A fired-up Darren Till joins to discuss his Misfits Boxing 21 fight against Darren Stewart, his future in the sport, Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, a potential fight with KSI, Tommy Fury’s pullout, Mike Perry, the lack of mega-fights in MMA, plus teams up with Ariel against Carl Froch (18:45).Ariel and the Boys get into some big PFL news and debate the future of the promotion before diving deep into your On the Nose questions (43:29).Benoit Saint Denis comes on after his rebound victory in Montreal over Kyle Prepolec and speaks on his short-notice opponent change, major additions to his corner, his quick rise through the UFC and the pressure it put on him, Mateusz Gamrot’s message, speaking to the French rugby team, and more (1:21:51).Tim Simpson, powerhouse MMA manager and founder of Chosen Advisory Group, joins in-studio to break down Jack Della Maddalena’s title-winning victory, Paul Hughes’ Belfast homecoming, matchmaking between his clients, Belal Muhammad’s strategy at UFC 315, Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight, Leon Edwards, Holloway-Poirier 3, Israel Adesanya, and more stories from managing the sport’s biggest stars (2:02:00).Former ONE Championship heavyweight champion Arjan Bhullar steps into the studio to discuss his relationship with Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, leaving ONE Championship, his relationship with Chatri Sityodtong, receiving an ultra-rare red card in MMA, TKO’s takeover of combat sports, working with one of India’s richest families on superfights, the documentary coming out about his life, future fight news, and more (2:58:14).The Boys join Ariel to answer your Super Chats and react to breaking news of Holly Holm signing with Most Valuable Promotions (3:49:06).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
On this special breaking news edition of the show, Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back react to Dana White's announcements (01:15), including, Islam Makhachev vacating his lightweight title in order for Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira to compete for undispiuted gold at UFC 317 (08:33).After discussing White's comments that Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall would be booked soon (26:35), the crew talk about Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus du Plessis being announced as the headliner for UFC 319, the promotion's return to Chicago (28:57).They close out with some more social media posts by Magomed Ankalaev, challenging Alex Pereira to a fight later this year (32:51), and one final look at the entire UFC 317 card (34:41).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo get things started by reacting to the announcement of 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao’s risky return against Mario Barrios and debate how he got the title shot (02:41).Then, Viddal Riley joins the show after his breakout win over Cheavon Clarke to win the British Cruiserweight title and talks being KSI’s trainer, nerves leading into the fight, earning the sport’s respect, difficult fight conditions, distancing himself from influencer boxing, and calls for a big spot next (16:01).Anthony Cacace calls in fresh off stopping Leigh Wood in enemy territory and breaks down his big win, reflects on his success late in his career, calls for a superstar fight, and teases the possibility of O'Shaquie Foster in Belfast (38:22).Next, the two talk over women’s boxing P4P powerhouses Chantelle Cameron and Savannah Marshall signing with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (55:24), and get into what should be next for Claressa Shields. They move into Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen 2 (1:00:49), Darren Till’s return (1:06:39), and the fall of influencer boxing. Finally, they end things on a high note with the Parting Shot (1:09:28).
Ariel Helwani kicks off a loaded show with Bill Haney, father and coach of boxing champion Devin Haney, who joins Ariel in studio and defends his son’s victory in Time Square over Jose Ramirez, slams Ryan Garcia for his loss and excuses, and talks Benn-Eubank Jr., the negative press after Devin's fight, the state of Devin’s rematch against Garcia, the PED problem in boxing, his feud with Oscar De La Hoya, and more (03:35).Vitor Belfort calls in after his UFC Hall of Fame announcement to discuss his part in building up MMA as a mainstream sport, moving from Brazil to pursue his dream, meeting Muhammad Ali, his ambitions for the future of combat sports, what should be next for Jon Jones, and more (48:16).Jasmine Jasudavicius returns on a win-streak after her submission of former champion Jessica Andrade at UFC 315 and talks fighting in Montréal, receiving her black belt, her path to the title shot, Niagara Top Team’s success, and more (1:10:52).Jack Della Maddalena, newly crowned UFC welterweight champion, joins Ariel in the studio to discuss his Fight of the Year candidate against Belal Muhamad, life since winning the title, his coach’s viral advice, transitioning from rugby to MMA, coming back from his brutal injury, a superfight against Islam Makhachev and other matchups, Volkanovski’s championship return, plus answers some Perth-related questions (1:27:20).Mike Malott rounds things off after his second-round KO of Charles Radtke at UFC 315 and gets into his conflicting emotions after his win, the trash talk before the fight, what he’s learned since his loss to Neil Magny, the state of Canadian MMA, Jasmine’s success, his brother Jeff’s NHL career, and more (2:23:01).Ariel answers some Super Chats and reacts to Jon Jones’ recent comments to end the show (2:48:53).
Ariel Helwani and the Boys in the Back start with a breakdown of UFC 315 and the aftermath of Jack Della Maddalena’s huge title fight win over Belal Muhammad, PFL Belfast, and more news from around the sport (07:03).Sean Brady calls in to talk about the welterweight division after JDM’s win, Belal’s confusing strategy, a possible fight with Ian Machado Garry, GC's relentless Aviron bike callouts, Islam Makhachev moving up, Jeremy Stephens' diss track, and more (1:16:04).Aiemann Zahabi reunites with his doppelganger following the biggest win of his career to defend his Jose Aldo victory and discuss surviving the legend's onslaught in the third round, the weight-cut drama, Aldo’s retirement, having GSP in his corner, fighting in Montréal, and more (1:41:24).Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff check in to talk about their new venture Real American Freestyle Wrestling, and discuss starting a promotion in an unexplored market, creating superstars out of amateur wrestlers, attracting a mainstream audience, Hulk’s relationship with the wrestling fanbase, Ben Askren’s involvement. Then they're joined by their third founder, legendary wrestling coach Izzy Martinez, to finish off with more (2:06:43).Paul Hughes joins to discuss his quick KO over Bruno Miranda at PFL Belfast, his massive support in Ireland, his calls for a rematch against Usman Nurmagomedov, his support of mental health charities, working with Carl Frampton, and more (2:45:58).Ariel and the Boys in the Back answer Super Chats to end the show (3:15:19).
Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall recap UFC 315, starting with new UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena dethroning Belal Muhammad (04:06) and the immediate reaction from Islam Makhachev (11:01), who hopes to challenge for that title.After talking about the main event scorecards (18:00), the duo transitions to the co-main event (24:55), which saw Valentina Shevchenko defend her UFC women's flyweight title from Manon Fiorot.Next, they discuss the wild war between Jose Aldo and Aiemann Zahabi (33:15), including whether the judges got it right.Finally, they react to Zhang Weili's post about the co-main event (41:30), before breaking down the rest of the card (43:29) and acknowledging Vitor Belfort's entry into the UFC Hall of Fame (46:52).
Petesy Carroll is joined by familiar faces Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to talk all things UFC 315.The lads kick off the show by breaking down the fallout from Jose Aldo’s weight struggles, including how it could impact his chances against Aiemann Zahabi (3:02).After debating whether the tail end of Aldo’s career is being mishandled, Petesy shifts the focus to this weekend’s main event. The trio discuss Belal Muhammad finally earning the respect of the oddsmakers, and whether Jack Della Maddalena is being overlooked as the challenger (20:01).The result of the UFC 315 main event will also determine Islam Makhachev’s next move, so the chaps unpack just how much intrigue his subplot adds to the card (22:55).There’s also plenty of attention on the co-main event. Chuck recaps his conversation with title challenger Manon Fiorot, offering fresh insight into how she sees her clash with Valentina Shevchenko playing out (38:38).Despite the strong matchups, UFC 315 might struggle to fill the arena. The lads weigh in on lackluster ticket sales and whether the UFC is pricing out local fans with steep prices (48:48).To close the show, Petesy touches on Paul Hughes’s homecoming fight against Bruno Miranda, as well as some unfortunate headlines surrounding the PFL (1:01:05).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back have returned from Des Moines to preview UFC 315, but first, they touch on recent social media posts by Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev (01:53) and the PFL canceling its upcoming Paris event (04:26).Next, they dive into the UFC 315 main event (23:12), co-main event (36:18) and the rest of the card (41:50), before making their picks (55:09).Then, they close the book on UFC Des Moines with winner Montel Jackson, who opens up about his life, career, and mission to inspire the next generation (1:00:38) and debut a brand new Fight Feast from their Iowa trip (1:31:23).Finally, they give their P4P lists of cereals (1:47:08), listen to your voicemails (2:07:14), and answer Super Chats (2:38:59).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with some UFC and PFL breaking news, and the Boys in the Back join to answer your On the Nose Questions (04:39).Retired UFC fighter, veteran, and former FOX commentator Brian Stann checks in to discuss his move from broadcaster to CEO. He reminisces about fighting on Memorial Day weekend, his start in MMA, potentially running for president, the current state of the sport, Bo Nickal’s setback, his Khamzat Chimaev prediction, Jon Jones, and more (1:01:22).Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Sean “X-Pac” Waltman joins the show to talk getting through a dark period in his life, WrestleMania 41, his experience as a heel, Marc Raimondi’s new book on the NWO, his relationship with WWE, some adventures from his storied career, his infamous chop taunt, being a fan of MMA, and more (1:32:34).Canadian MMA legend David Loiseau stops by ahead of UFC 315 in Montreal this weekend to break down the card and discuss training fighters, writing a self-help book, his relationship with GSP, the lack of opportunities in Canadian MMA, teaching Jon Jones, his life-changing accident, former boxing champion Jean Pascal’s callout, and more (2:19:06).Ariel and the Boys end by answering some Super Chats (2:53:34).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo are joined by Conor Benn for a conversation about his thrilling bout against Chris Eubank Jr. and his feelings on the rivalry now that the dust has settled. Then, he reacts to the Times Square boxing card and teases the Eubank Jr. rematch for September (03:02).The duo discusses the Times Square show and the disappointing performances from its biggest stars, including Ryan Garcia’s shocking loss to 'Rolly' Romero, before they debate the possibility of Garcia's rematching Devin Haney and 'Boots' Ennis meeting Teofimo Lopez (26:12).Next, move on to Canelo Alvarez’s victory over William Scull and Ade shares his frustration with the champion (44:46), before discussing the official announcement of Canelo taking on Terence Crawford in September (47:34).Finally, they react to Naoya Inoue’s thrilling showing against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday (54:56), preview the long-awaited return of Nottingham’s Leigh Wood (1:00:32), and end with the Parting Shot (1:04:03).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick things off by discussing Islam Makhachev’s next fight and some big team news (05:49).Leigh Wood, the pride of Nottingham, calls in ahead of his homecoming fight against streaking IBO super featherweight champion Anthony Cacace on Saturday to discuss his return to the ring, Premier League drama, life after fighting, and more (15:33).The Larry O’Brien Trophy, the NBA's championship prize, graces Ariel and the Boys with its presence on set. Plus, Yahoo NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor joins in-studio to talk playoff basketball (37:49).Bo Nickal joins for his first interview since falling short against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines to reflect on losing his undefeated MMA record, dealing with backlash from fans and fighters, the best advice he’s received, how wrestling shaped his mindset on losing, what’s next for his career, and more (1:23:53).Julianna Peña, UFC women's bantamweight champion, reconciles with Ariel before previewing her UFC 316 title fight against Kayla Harrison and breaking down being a massive underdog, Kayla’s tough weight cut, new additions to her camp, Amanda Nunes claiming she’s returning to fight the winner, and more (1:58:01).Ariel and the Boys in the Back end things by answering your burning Super Chats (2:29:22).
Ariel is joined by the Boys in the Back, fresh off their trip to Des Moines, to unpack the huge weekend in combat sports, including Cory Sandhagen’s big win, Bo Nickal’s shocking loss, the underwhelming Times Square card, Canelo’s victory and next fight against Terence Crawford under TKO Boxing, Naoya Inoue’s scary performance, and more (06:15).Cory Sandhagen is back following his main event against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines to discuss his injury-induced victory, his social media breakout and lifestyle changes, writing a sci-fi book, his claim to a title shot, Bo Nickal’s loss, and more (1:31:33).Daniel Rodriguez stops by following his knockout of Santiago Ponzinibbio to talk about why the result was so important, opening a gym in his hometown, recording rap music, turning his life around through MMA after time in jail, a fight with Jake Matthews, and more (2:01:49).Smilin’ Sam Alvey is back after shocking legend Tyrone Spong to discuss becoming a two-division Karate Combat champion, changing camps, his pre-fight traditions, calling out Eddie Hall, the possibility of fighting Jake Paul, his favorite cheat meal, taking on a gorilla, and more (2:59:21).Alexander Volkanovski returns as a two-time UFC featherweight champion after his win over Diego Lopes to break down what it meant to regain the belt, getting back on track after back-to-back knockout losses, a potential fight with Movsar Evloev, the state of his division, his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, wanting the Ilia Topuria rematch, Belal Muhammad vs. fellow Aussie Jack Della Maddalena, and more (3:31:08).Ariel and the Boys finish off by answering some Super Chats (4:12:34).
The Craic is back! Petesy Carroll is joined by the usual suspects, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes, to break down all the latest headlines.They kick things off by discussing Ilia Topuria, who’s set to fight at UFC 317 on June 28 — but who’s his opponent? The lads weigh in on who they think would make for Topuria’s most exciting matchup (03:58). One of those opponents is Islam Makhachev, but does Makhachev want to fight Ilia, or move up to welterweight to face the winner of Jack Della Maddalena vs. Belal Muhammad? The trio explore what the lightweight champion‘s options are (07:52). Staying with the welterweight division, the conversation shifts to Ian Machado Garry’s recent decision win over Carlos Prates. The chaps discuss Garry’s bold push for a title shot and break down the current pecking order for a crack at the 170-pound title (11:42). Meanwhile, over in the PFL, Dakota Ditcheva is making waves — not in the cage, but online. Her recent social media posts suggest growing frustration. The crew unpacks the situation and what it might mean for the promotion’s image (20:35).Next, the focus turns to UFC Des Moines, where Ben Fowlkes shares insights from his recent conversation with Reinier de Ridder, ahead of his bout with Bo Nickal. Can RDR derail the hype train? Plus, the team spotlights other intriguing matchups on the card (35:02).Switching gears, the lads react to the headline-grabbing Times Square boxing card, featuring Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero — a spectacle as strange as it is compelling (49:02). To wrap things up, they react to the trailer for The Smashing Machine — the highly anticipated Mark Kerr biopic starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Could this be one of the best MMA films ever made (54:35)?
The Boys in the Back kick things off with a conversation about Tom Aspinall’s record-breaking tenure as UFC interim heavyweight champion and tackle Jon Jones' looming absence (01:56).Malcolm Wellmaker, fresh off his bonus-winning KO in Kansas City, joins to discuss making his UFC debut, quitting his job, future plans, and a potential slot on the upcoming Atlanta card (29:30).Next, the Boys prepare for their Iowa trip by breaking down UFC Des Moines (51:28), and then preview the Times Square boxing card (1:32:15).Finally, they deliver their P4P tourist traps (1:45:29), craft their parlay (2:17:58), air your voicemails (2:25:23), and answer Super Chats (2:51:23).
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin joins the show to discuss going from athlete to interviewer, his Hall of Fame match against Bret Hart, Logan Paul’s WrestleMania 41 offer, his opinion on the state of the business, John Cena’s heel turn, and reflects on his most memorable career moments (15:43).French football legend and former Manchester United star Patrice Evra previews his MMA debut and goes into why he chose to sign with the PFL, debuting in Paris, calling out Luis Suárez, his future in the sport, his relationship with Khabib, training with Paul Pogba and other stars, and more (59:12).Eddie Hall rejoins after his vicious 30-second TKO of Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 and talks about his MMA future, the controversial finish, the size difference, a possible rematch, Dillon Danis and Misfits Boxing, another 2 vs. 1 match, Francis Ngannou, pro wrestling, and wraps up by answering a burning question (1:31:26).Quinton "Rampage" Jackson checks in to discuss the cancelation of his boxing match with Rashad Evans, coaching against Henry Cejudo at Friday's UFL event, his feud with Ian Machado Garry, his Kevin Holland diss track, his favorite career fight, his classic PRIDE powerbomb, and more (1:56:27).Harrison Rogers, founder of the United Fight League, calls in to discuss launching the promotion, making the team format work in MMA, the league’s structure, giving back to the fighters, and Friday's event (2:36:15).Ariel and the Boys end things by answering your On The Nose questions and Super Chats, before squaring off on the Aviron bike (2:59:15).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo start this stacked show by reacting to Chris Eubank Jr.’s massive win over Conor Benn (01:22) and Eubank Sr.’s shocking arrival at the event (04:52). Then, they debate the possibility of a rematch as Ade voices some concerns (16:03).They break down Friday's card in Times Square (28:41), headlined by the return of Ryan Garcia, and discuss his potential rematch with Devin Haney (31:18). Ade makes a bold prediction for the Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. fight, before circling back to Garcia and Haney’s returns. Next, they preview Canelo’s fight in Saudi Arabia against William Scull (41:18) and Jaime Munguia’s must-win rematch against Bruno Surace (45:37). Plus, they touch on Martin Bakole’s return against Efe Ajagba (47:53) and Naoya Inoue rounding out the weekend with his undisputed title fight against Ramon Cardenas (49:01).Finally, the duo discusses Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 this summer (51:21), Joseph Parker’s claim to undisputed, and Eddie Hearn’s update on Anthony Joshua and a future fight with Tyson Fury (58:04), before wrapping up with the Parting Shot (1:03:28).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show with the latest news and notes in combat, including Tom Aspinall’s tenure as longest reigning interim champion (6:33).Ryan Garcia checks in ahead of his return to the ring against Rolando 'Rolly' Romero on Friday to talk about the changes he’s made, fighting in Times Square, rematching Devin Haney in October, his feud with Bill Haney, his relationship with Romero, his removal from the RIZIN card, his status with Golden Boy Promotions, Tank Davis’ controversial draw, and more (14:20).Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn joins Ariel in studio to discuss all things boxing, including the Eubank-Benn megafight; growing up around his father, who played a role in the history of the fight; and the status of the rematch. Hearn also hits Garcia’s return at the star-studded Times Square event, the UFC’s recent stagnation, Dana White’s TKO Boxing plans, the potential of Fury-Joshua, Taylor-Serrano 3 headlining an all-women boxing card on Netflix, and more (34:11).Jeff Molina tells his side of the story following his three-year suspension for his role in the James Krause betting scandal, including Darrick Minner’s injury controversy. Molina opens up about dealing with dark times, Krause’s legacy in the sport, his release from the UFC, the rumors of federal intervention, the support he’s received since coming out, signing with BKFC, and more (1:38:15).
Ariel Helwani starts the show with a deep dive into his life-changing experience announcing a draft pick for the Buffalo Bills, before the Boys join in to react to UFC Kansas City and Ian Machado Garry's win (04:36).Georges 'Rush' St-Pierre — Ariel’s MMA GOAT and Canadian legend — discusses his new hot sauce company, the UFC’s return to Montreal, the slump in Canadian MMA, cornering Aiemann Zahabi, the harsh reality of retiring from the sport, his relationship with Dana White, Belal’s claim to GOAT status, Tom Aspinall’s future, and more (33:37).Ian Machado Garry joins the program to discuss his short-notice decision win over hard-hitting Carlos Prates, their post-fight interaction, being the backup fighter at UFC 315, his title aspirations, potential future fights against Islam Makhachev and Shavkat Rakhmonov, his issues with Joaquin Buckley, how he learned Portuguese, and more (1:04:01).The Boys in the Back join Ariel to discuss all the drama leading up to the fight of the year candidate Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn, including Chris and his father reuniting before the bout, the weight miss, the prospect of a rematch, and more (1:25:12).Dustin Poirier looks ahead to his UFC 318 trilogy fight against Max Holloway and talks about running into Ariel at the draft, his reaction to Benn-Eubank, the decision to retire, fighting Max for the third time in 13 years, his mindset going into his final walk, Ilia Topuria’s future at lightweight, filming a potential sequel to the 'Fightville' documentary, his final walkout plans, and more (2:01:41).Randy Brown calls in after his UFC Kansas City knockout of Nicolas Dalby to discuss the issues between them, rebounding after his loss, breaking his hand in the first minute of the fight, returning to Jamaica, and more (2:57:38).The Boys rejoin Ariel to wrap up the show with a breakdown of the rest of the news and results from around combat, including Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2, before answering some Super Chats (3:08:27).
Petesy opens the show by teeing up the biggest stories of the week, then dives into an exclusive sitdown interview with rising Irish star Paul Hughes (06:17).Hughes kicks things off by sharing how it feels to headline his homecoming fight at the SSE Arena in Belfast. He and Petesy take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about Paul’s roots in the local amateur scene.The Irishman gets real about his hopes for a rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov, and lays out how he thinks that fight would play out (16:36).Next, Hughes gives his take on the rising talents of Europe. He breaks down the upcoming bout between fellow Irishman Ian Garry and Carlos Prates (32:02), reacts to Paddy Pimblett’s shocking win over Michael Chandler (36:16), and talks sparring sessions with Ilia Topuria (37:36).To wrap things up, Hughes gets candid about the fallout from Conor McGregor’s comments on his moment of respect with Khabib Nurmagomedov (43:03). He highlights how much his Northern Irish roots mean to him and how he stays focused on the positives, despite the noise.On the back end of the show, Petesy is joined by Andy Stevenson of Severe MMA (50:18). The two break down the importance of Paul Hughes’s rise, Ian Garry’s short-notice fight against Carlos Prates, and much more.Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back begins with a conversation about Dricus du Plessis teasing fight news (04:16), before jumping into a comprehensive preview of Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates and the rest of UFC Kansas City (23:44).Next, they break down all angles of the highly-anticipated grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn (1:04:56).Then, give their picks for the weekend (1:35:55), list their top P4P fighting games (1:44:55), listen to your voicemails (2:11:23), and answer Super Chats (2:44:33).
Ariel and the Boys break down the latest Ilia Topuria title fight news, what’s next for lightweight’s biggest stars, preview the massive weekend in combat sports, and answer your burning On The Nose questions (18:24).Dion Dawkins — Buffalo Bills babyface, Pro Bowl tackle, and combat sports fan — joins the show to talk WrestleMania 41, his potential future in boxing, previews the upcoming season, and reveals Ariel’s big news regarding the NFL Draft (28:50).TNA Heavyweight Champion Joe Hendry makes his triumphant return to the program following his huge WrestleMania 41 debut against Randy Orton to discuss what led up to the match, his future in WWE, John Cena’s advice, his thoughts on the main event, and more (1:00:07).Smilin’ Sam Alvey previews his upcoming Karate Combat heavyweight title defense against Tyrone Spong, provides insight into his recent career resurgence, life as a Karate Combat fighter, earning his jiu-jitsu black belt, sparring Sean Strickland, and offers advice to upcoming fighters (1:27:46).Caio Borralho joins to discuss the Fighting Nerds' recent success, his back-and-forth with Khamzat Chimaev, difficulties with his potential next fight against Nassourdine Imavov, the state of the middleweight division, Carlos Prates’ massive headliner against Ian Machado Garry, and more (2:04:10).BOXXER headman Ben Shalom dissects Ben Whittaker’s win against Liam Cameron, Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr., the storylines surrounding the fight, his relationship with Eddie Hearn, Eubank Sr.’s comments, the state of women’s boxing, and more (2:36:11).Tai Tuivasa checks in to update Ariel on his hangout with Action Bronson, his new business ventures, touring around the U.S., adjusting his mindset before a return to fighting, his reaction to Alexander Volkanovski regaining the featherweight belt, training with Alex Pereira, and more (3:04:23).Ariel is rejoined by the Boys and they round things out by answering more On the Nose questions and Super Chats (3:39:24).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo reunite and kick off the show with Eddie Hearn, who previews the long-awaited Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conner Benn grudge match (04:49). He also reacts to Jake Paul's fight against Julio César Chávez Jr. and gives an update on Shakur Stevenson.Then, they react to Chris Eubank Sr.'s recent comments about his son (36:54), diving deeper into the strained relationship and the history of the Eubank-Benn rivalry.Next, they break down Ben Whittaker’s stoppage victory against Liam Cameron and the aftermath (50:54), before discussing Frazer Clarke’s return (58:36), and circling back to Stevenson's rumored falling out with Matchrooom (59:56).Finally, they touch on Edgar Berlanga vs. Hamzah Sheeraz being announced (1:02:34), Paul against Chávez Jr. (1:04:38), and wrap up with the Parting Shot (1:17:44).
Ariel and the Boys In The Back kick off Tuesday’s show with a discussion of WWE’s record-breaking weekend, Chael Sonnen suggesting that Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is agreed upon, the latest news around Ilia Topuria and International Fight Week, and more (05:02)WWE legends Lex Luger and Diamond Dallas Page join Ariel to discuss Lex’s delayed Hall of Fame induction, Dallas’ role in helping other wrestlers gain recognition, Lex’s devastating spinal injury and how Dallas aided his recovery, the evolution Lex’s relationship with Vince McMahon, and more stories and insights from their unbelievable careers (57:26).Marlon 'Chito' Vera previews his UFC 316 bout against Mario Bautista and discusses his headspace coming off of two losses, his decision to take almost a year off, how he got into modeling, his new camp structure, the Merab vs. O’Malley title rematch, and more (2:15:40).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick things off with an honest assessment of WrestleMania 41 and preview Monday’s episode of Raw (02:19).Anthony Smith breaks down his retirement bout against Zhang Mingyang at UFC Kansas City, his mindset going into his final fight, the passing of beloved coach Scott Morton, post-UFC plans, and more (26:10).Scott D’Amore — Canadian wrestling legend, Uncrowned Columnist, and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling founder — joins Ariel to discuss WrestleMania 41, John Cena’s heel turn, his experience in the wrestling business outside of the US, and more (1:03:49).Ariel and the Boys in the Back discuss international fight week possibilities, the latest gossip surrounding Khamzat Chimaev, Ilia Topuria, and other UFC stars, Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr., Ben Whittaker’s grudge match, the long-awaited Benn vs. Eubank Jr. fight, and more (1:42:58).Fabian Edwards talks about his TKO victory over Impa Kasanganay, how the fight almost fell through, advancing to the PFL middleweight tournament semi-final against Josh Silveira, having his brother in his corner, the drama with the PFL, the quick turnaround and tournament format, and more (2:34:10).
In another special episode, Ariel Helwani looks back at some of his classic interviews and tells the untold stories behind each, including:- Chael Sonnen, after beating Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, and on the verge of igniting his rivalry with Anderson Silva (07:07)- Dana White, embarrassed and disgusted by Anderson Silva's performance against Demian Maia at UFC 112 (20:27)- Josh Koscheck, moments after being sucker punched by Paul Daley at UFC 113 (32:20)- Boxing great James Toney, before his MMA debut against Randy Couture at UFC 118 (42:52)- Sensei Steven Seagal, in the immediate aftermath of Anderson Silva's iconic front kick KO against Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 (58:19)
On a special Wednesday edition of The Craic, Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and The Sun Sport’s Chisanga Malata to discuss what the future holds for Paddy Pimblett following his dominant win over Michael Chandler (5:24).They dive into Pimblett’s backstory and reflect on how unbelievable it is that he’s reached this level, before exploring the potential matchup teased by his post-fight callout of Charles Oliveira (18:19).Next, they unpack the release of Ilia Topuria’s highly anticipated interview with Joe Rogan, and weigh in on Khabib Nurmagomedov claiming Arman Tsarukyan would be tougher competition for Islam Makhachev than Topuria (30:14).Chuck and Petesy then break down the official Uncrowned pound-for-pound rankings, including the controversial omission of Alexander Volkanovski—despite his record-breaking reclaiming of the UFC featherweight title (36:32).To wrap up the show, the crew discusses the golden opportunity the PFL has to make a splash this weekend with no UFC card on the schedule (43:38).
Ade Oladipo hosts the show solo this week, beginning with an interview with Hamzah Sheeraz (02:34), who breaks his silence after the controversial split draw against Carlos Adames in February. He opens up about being 'let down' by some members of his team, mentally resetting, and his new pairing with coach Andy Lee.Next, Ade reacts to Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis’ big win over Eimantas Stanionis (20:45) and wonders what's next for the welterweight, before touching on Raymond Ford blanking Thomas Mattice on the same card (23:34).Commentator Adam Smith joins to cover a bevy of topics (29:39), including the 40th anniversary of Hagler-Hearns, the Taylor-Serrano trilogy, Eubank-Benn drawing near, Anthony Joshua's next fight, and more.Finally, Ade reacts to reports of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 being targeted for July 12 (1:04:37) and closes the show with the Parting Shot (1:10:59).
The Boys in the Back kick off with a discussion about the impending UFC rights deal (01:56), before turning to the debate over MMA's featherweight GOAT (17:41).Then, they're joined by Meadowlark Media's Anthony Calatayud to play matchmaker for UFC 314's winners and losers (1:02:12).After recapping last week's picks (1:25:06), The Boys deliver their P4P lists of professional wrestlers (1:34:49), inspired by WrestleMania 41.Finally, your voicemails (1:54:55) and Super Chats (2:14:12) get the shine.
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by reacting to everything UFC 314, including huge wins by Alexander Volkanovski and Paddy Pimblett (3:36).Jean Silva discusses his big stoppage win over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314, barking in Mitchell's face after choking him unconscious, what's next, a potential fight against Volkanovski and more (46:36).Dominick Reyes discusses his knockout of Nikita Krylov at UFC 314, his big career turnaround, overcoming deep vein thrombosis, how close he is to returning to title contention and more (1:13:58).Ian Machado Garry discusses his UFC Kansas City headliner against Carlos Prates, accepting the short-notice opportunity without even knowing the opponent, Sean Brady's recent comments, how the Jack Della Maddalena situation is fueling him and more (1:32:28).Yair Rodriguez discusses his dominant UFC 314 win over Patricio Pitbull, his beef with Diego Lopes, why he deserves the next title shot, skipping over Movsar Evloev and more (2:18:35).File with TurboTax before the tax deadline, April 15th! https://intuit.me/3GbvNM2
3PAC — Ariel Helwani, Chuck Mindenhall, and Petesy Carroll — are back for the UFC 314 Post-Fight Show.They begin with reaction to Alex Volkanovski reclaiming UFC featherweight gold (06:03), including who's next for the champ and where he stacks up against Jose Aldo in the featherweight GOAT convo (13:52).Ariel gives the scoop on Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria (17:47), as well as what's looking likely for the main event of International Fight Week.Ignited by Paddy Pimblett's star-making performance against Michael Chandler (23:14), the boys wonder whether Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje or even Conor McGregor might be in Pimblett's future (28:27).Next, they discuss Patricio Pitbull coming up short in his UFC debut (37:15) and whether Yair Rodriguez vs. Diego Lopes is now the fight to make (41:09).Finally, they recap Jean Silva's electric win over Bryce Mitchell (42:49), Dominck Reyes being all the way back (52:58), and the rest of the action from the prelims (57:30).File with TurboTax before the tax deadline, April 15th! https://intuit.me/3GbvNM2
With Petesy Carroll away from the helm, Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes man the ship to preview UFC 314.The duo kicks things off by reacting to the official weigh-ins where all main card fighters successfully made weight (01:15).Then, they break down the paths to victory for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes (02:30) and speculate whether a loss could spell retirement for the Australian former champ (12:28).Lopes appears to have his sights set on a different opponent — surprisingly, Yair Rodriguez — despite the two not being matched up. Chuck and Ben dissect their press conference mix-up and explore the potential ramifications heading into their respective fights (19:26).Next, the duo turns their attention to Rodriguez’s bout against UFC debutant Patricio Pitbull, before diving into Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler, the biggest test of the Scouser’s career so far (28:44).Then, it’s on to the most bizarre matchup of the weekend: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva. Chuck and Ben unpack the biggest storyline surrounding the fight, Mitchell’s wild fight week comments (41:28), before discussing the rest of the card and spotlighting a few matchups they’re excited about (51:27).Finally, the guys address the predictable mess surrounding GFL’s cancelled events and debate whether the organization has a future in the fight game (54:10).
The Boys in the Back are joined by Ariel Helwani to discuss the breaking news about GFL's future (02:51), before bringing their best Miami vibes to a UFC 314 mega preview (27:55).Plus, they make their picks (1:11:36), roll out a Fight Feasts focused on pie... or is it pi? (1:40:33), and give their P4P pie rankings (1:52:38).Finally, they debut the brand new voicemail segment (2:08:16) and answer your Super Chats (2:21:15).
Ariel and the crew answer all your latest On The Nose questions and preview UFC 314 (07:09).WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther joins us in-studio ahead of WrestleMania 41 to discuss his program with Jey Uso, his path through professional wrestling, working under Vince McMahon, re-signing with WWE and more (1:00:00).Brandon Moreno discusses his big win over Steve Erceg, the state of the UFC flyweight division, his Pokemon cards, plans for Noche UFC, Joe Pyfer's comments about Mexico and more (2:02:23).Chase Hooper discusses his UFC 314 showdown against Jim Miller, fatherhood, criticism of the UFC APEX, why he doesn't want his daughter to become an MMA fighter and more (2:27:45).File with TurboTax before the tax deadline, April 15th! https://intuit.me/3GbvNM2
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with a quick recap of Ade's chat with Frank Warren and his missed handshake with Daniel Dubois' brother (02:58).They react to Dmitry Bivol vacating his WBC title to pursue the Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight (06:46) and wonder where that leaves David Benavidez (11:41).The discussion turns to talks of Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda (14:25), what's next for Joe Joyce after another loss (19:34) and the controversial ending of David Adeleye vs. Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva (25:06).Liam Cameron joins the show to discuss his rematch against Ben Whittaker (29:31), before the duo reacts to the heat between Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller (48:11), punctuated by Ade's sitdown with Miller (55:00). Finally, they preview Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis (1:01:31), spotlight Tim Tszyu and Keith Thurman being on a collision course (1:05:40), and wrap with the Parting Shot (1:13:59).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show with a lively discussion about the UFC's lightweight title picture (05:37).Undefeated featherweight Max Holzer discusses his viral win — and celebration — at Oktagon 69, the backstory behind the chaos, what happened afterward, his unique walkouts, his MMA dreams and more (29:50).Merab Dvalishvili discusses his UFC 316 title rematch against Sean O'Malley, why he feels bad for the former champ, adjustments he's making for the second fight, nearly falling off a cliff and more (1:05:51).Phil Davis discusses his PFL first-round tournament matchup against Rob Wilkinson, his experience in the Bellator-to-PFL transition, why so many of his fellow Bellator fighters abandoned ship, his longevity in MMA and more (1:37:04).Thad Jean discusses his first-round knockout of Mukhamed Berkhamov in the opening round of PFL's welterweight tournament, his road to MMA, his crush on Dakota Ditcheva and more (2:01:14).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by reacting to the latest from the combat sports weekend, including Lerone Murphy's big win over Josh Emmett at UFC Vegas 105, and reflecting on the anniversary of UFC 223, the wildest fight week in history (04:58).Kayla Harrison discusses her UFC 316 title showdown against Julianna Peña, why she wants to respect Peña but struggles to do so, being a heavy betting favorite as the challenger, her pursuit of Amanda Nunes and more (30:13).Lerone Murphy discusses his UFC Vegas 105 main-event win over Josh Emmett, criticism of the fight, the state of the featherweight division, who he wants next and more (1:02:02).Sean O'Malley discusses his UFC 316 title rematch against Merab Dvalishvili, injuries he took into that first bout, quitting social media, his fiery message to critics of the booking and more (2:02:56).Carlos Prates discusses his UFC Kansas City showdown against Ian Machado Garry, how his smoking habit has changed with his run of five-round main events, his insane training plan for the Irishman and more (2:38:16).Chris Eubank Jr. discusses his April 26 grudge match against Conor Benn, his viral egg slap and the historic punishment he faces for it, his relationship with his father and more (3:00:45).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Sean O’Malley is getting a second shot at bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili, but some people aren’t happy about it. Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes kick off the show discussing the UFC 316 rematch (4:40).With Manel Kape’s meeting with Brandon Royval being the only fight announced for UFC 317, the big international fight week card, the lads contemplate a potential super fight between Merab and Alexandre Pantoja, who have both effectively cleared out their divisions (19:22).On the topic of UFC 317, comments from Islam Makhachev's camp have claimed that he will await the winner of Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena before making his next move. Does that obscure the chances of his highly anticipated meeting with Ilia Topuria (23:52)?Looking forward to the weekend, Chuck shares insights he gained from speaking to Lerone Murphy ahead of his clash with Josh Emmett (40:31), before the trio give their verdicts on the revamped PFL (54:11).Finally, Ben discusses his fabulous European vacation, sharing thoughts about the waffles in Belgium, his mastery of the French language and accidentally wandering into Amsterdam’s red light district (1:03:40). Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back react to announcements of the UFC 316 main and co-main event, plus Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates (02:26).Then, they discuss UFC's new technology partnership with Meta – including Dana White's tease of brand new rankings (28:36).Next, they preview UFC Vegas 105 (54:47), headlined by Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy, and the first event of the PFL season (1:21:12).Finally, they make picks (1:40:19), give their P4P ride rankings (1:44:22), and answer your questions (2:11:54).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by walking through his wild past 24 hours, including some breaking news from the UFC (00:30).Comedy great Andrew Schulz joins us in-studio to discuss his viral WWE spot with Logan Paul, his latest Netflix special, why Floyd Mayweather is the GOAT, bringing Ariel and Dana White together again, plus more (12:37).NCAA champion Wyatt Hendrickson discusses his historic upset of Gable Steveson, Daniel Cormier's delirious call on the broadcast, whether MMA or professional wrestling await in his future, his mustache and more (1:30:09).PFL commentator and former champion Sean O'Connell previews the promotion's upcoming season (2:21:30), then the boys each make their picks for this year's tournament winners, March Madness style (2:52:31).Finally, Ariel and the gang answer all your latest questions during On The Nose (3:10:42).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off a stacked show by reacting to the official launch of Queensberry Promotions on DAZN (02:06) and previewing the upcoming heavyweight scrap between Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic (10:14).Pat Brown joins the show on the heels of his spectacular pro debut (13:35) and discusses whether he's ready to carry the mantle as the face of British boxing.Then, Deontay Wilder breaks his silence (32:58), discussing his comeback, whether a Francis Ngannou fight is still in the cards, and who remains on his hit list.After the duo reacts to Wilder's words (1:03:30), they recap wins by Mikaela Mayer (1:04:46) and William Zepeda (1:08:50) over the weekend, before delivering the Parting Shot (1:12:49).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show (00:45).Eddie Hall, the 2017 World's Strongest Man, discusses his massive KSW fight against Mariusz Pudzianowski, training with Tom Aspinall, beating the Neffati brothers in a viral 2-on-1 and more (07:26).Ryan Bader discusses his PFL release, what's next for his career, his old UFC rivalry with Daniel Cormier, landing the role of Mark Coleman in The Rock's new Mark Kerr biopic and more (35:30).Yoel Romero discusses his knockout victory in the official Dirty Boxing debut, his viral "go" interview before the Israel Adesanya fight, advice he'd give to Adesanya after the former champ's latest loss and more (1:02:10).Former UFC title contender Jessica Eye break news of her BKFC signing and discusses her plans in bare-knuckle boxing (1:39:57).Wrestling royalty Bret Hart discusses his latest (and third!) WWE Hall of Fame induction, his legendary match with Stone Cold Steve Austin, his view on modern wrestling, Hulk Hogan's recent criticism and more (2:00:59).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by reacting to the latest GFL news (04:22).Jorge Masvidal goes all-in on a potential UFC comeback fight against Leon Edwards. He also discusses Colby Covington's latest loss, his boxing adventure with Nate Diaz, why Tom Aspinall could be the one to finally give Jon Jones problems, plus more (15:19).Loopy Godinez discusses her big win over Julia Polastri at UFC Mexico, getting sick in Mexico and dealing with bathroom-related issues during the fight, what's next and more (42:31).Mike Perry discusses the latest with BKFC and Dirty Boxing Championship, getting offered an MMA fight against Dillon Danis under the Misfits banner, potentially challenging Robbie Lawler in bare-knuckle and more (1:01:10).MMA legend Urijah Faber discusses his decision to return to active competition, his GFL trilogy fight against Renan Barao, the big money involved with GFL, life after fighting and more (1:39:34).Ariel and the crew react to the busy weekend in combat sports, including Brandon Moreno's big win at UFC Mexico (2:17:10)EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
There was a lot of negativity around last week’s London event, so it was only fair for Petesy and Chuck to have veteran U.K. journalist Chisanga Malata back on to give his firsthand impression of what it was like to be in The o2 to witness Sean Brady’s dominant win over Leon Edwards, that put the cherry on top of a rough night for the Brits (1:50).Following the UFC London debrief, Chuck and Petesy give their thoughts on the lightweight title picture and weigh in on who should fight Islam Makhachev next, Ilia Topuria or Charles Oliveira (30:47).Finally, the lads move on to Conor McGregor’s run for Irish presidency, and whether his latest comments mean that we’ve seen the last of “The Notorious” as a combat sports athlete (49:46).
The Boys in the Back try to untangle the log jam at the top of the UFC's lightweight division (03:12), including who's going to be next for Islam Makhachev? Then they dive deep on UFC Mexico City, starting with the main event between Brandon Moreno and Steve Erceg (27:58), before moving on to the co-main event (53:29) and Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer (1:01:47).Plus, the Parlay Pals make picks (1:27:19), list their P4P Mexican dishes (1:40:00), and Super Chats (2:01:14).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with more thoughts on Cain Velasquez's sentencing, including a statement from Velasquez's longtime agent Mike Fonseca (05:18).During On The Nose, the gang answers all your latest questions about the coverage of Conor McGregor, fallout from the James Krause betting scandal, Donn Davis' big money offer to Jon Jones, and more (10:50).Longtime WWE star Baron Corbin, aka Thomas Pestock, discusses his WWE departure, being blindsided by the whole experience, signing with MLW, whether the WWE locker room dislikes Logan Paul and more (1:18:25).Charles Oliveira discusses Ilia Topuria's recent attacks, the state of the UFC lightweight division, whether it's title shot or bust next, a target date for his return and more (2:03:22).Norma Dumont discusses her rise to UFC bantamweight title contention, discovering that her husband/coach cheated on her before Noche UFC, wanting Kayla Harrison next and more (2:35:26).Alex Pereira joins in-studio for his first interview since UFC 313, discussing what went wrong in his loss to Magomed Ankalaev, what he wants next, why he contemplated pulling out of the fight, plus much more (3:00:29).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani goes solo for this edition of Ariel x Ade, kicked off by Darren Barker's sitdown interview with Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren (05:26).Barker joins the show (18:27) to go behind the scenes and discuss hot topics including Daniel Dubois' next fight (20:22), Dana White and TKO entering the boxing arena (23:43), whether now's the time for Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury (27:13), and more.Hall of Famer Jim Lampley joins the show (43:16) to pay tribute to legend George Foreman and tell stories from their time as colleagues and friends.Finally, Helwani recaps big wins by George Kambosos Jr., Tiara Brown, and Cherneka Johnson (1:06:49), before looking ahead to a busy boxing weekend (1:09:11).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show with the latest news on Cain Velasquez and the James Krause betting scandal (07:47).Raul Rosas Jr. discusses his UFC Mexico City return against Vince Morales, how he got Carl's Jr. to give him his own burger, chasing Jon Jones' fabled UFC record and more (32:28).Steve Erceg discusses his UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno, battling imposter syndrome, his disdain for "diva" Muhammad Mokaev and more (59:34).Former two-time GLORY Kickboxing champion and Contender Series alum Artem Vakhitov discusses why he spurned a UFC contract and announces his GLORY return against Rico Verhoeven (1:28:31).Olympic champion and head coach of the Oklahoma State wrestling program David Taylor discusses Wyatt Hendrickson's monster upset of Gable Steveson, Hendrickson's future and more (1:58:27).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show by looking back at the weekend in combat, including Sean Brady's victory over Leon Edwards at UFC London (08:38).Tom Aspinall discusses his much-anticipated meeting with the UFC brass in London, the latest in the Jon Jones saga, Leon Edwards loss to Sean Brady and more (42:10).Nathaniel Wood discusses his big win over Morgan Charriere at UFC London, battling intrusive thoughts before the fight, ditching "The Prospect" nickname, who he wants next and more (1:14:07).Sean Brady discusses his monster performance against Leon Edwards at UFC London, his animosity with Edwards after the fight, Ian Machado Garry's complaints, a potential title shot and more (1:34:17).Teddy Atlas discusses the passing of George Foreman and reflects on the life of the boxing legend (2:06:42).
3PAC is back! Ariel Helwani, Chuck Mindenhall, and Petesy Carroll reunite to react to UFC London, starting with Sean Brady's spectacular submission of Leon Edwards in the main event (03:57).Next, they move to the co-main event, which saw Carlos Ulberg edge out a decision against Jan Blachowicz (32:11), before moving on to Kevin Holland's bounce back win over Gunnar Nelson (41:06).The trio take a detour to discuss Petesy's night out with comedian Shane Gillis (47:28) and then get back on track to wrap up the rest of the card (53:36).They close the show with a tribute to legend George Foreman (1:00:38) and touch on results from around the combat sports world (1:05:03) before saying goodbye.
Veteran U.K. journalist Chisanga Malata of The Sun joins the show to talk about the buzz in London (2:43) ahead of Leon Edwards’ main event clash with Sean Brady. After Michael Bisping claims that Sean Brady was a nightmare matchup for the former welterweight champion, Petesy and Chuck weigh-in on how they feel the two match up (21:29).After speaking with surging light-heavyweight Carlos Ulberg in the lead up to his co-main event meeting with Jan Blachowicz, Chuck talks about the impression Ulberg gave him ahead of the biggest test of his career (33:20). The lads look at the rest of the card and discuss some interesting storylines they are excited to see play out (40:50).Petesy breaks the news to Chuck about KSI pulling out of his boxing bout with Dillon Danis (47:28), before they take a look at the fights GFL announced for their debut event in May (48:51).Finally, the lads give their picks for the main event and the co-main event of UFC London (01:07:00).
The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to Magomed Ankalaev hinting at the Alex Pereira rematch already having a date (02:21).They preview UFC London from top to bottom (08:28), before being joined by Ariel Helwani for some breaking news (1:10:06).Then, they deliver their UFC London picks (1:31:42) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring an English breakfast (1:40:02).Finally, The Boys list their top P4P British fighters (1:57:47) and answer your questions (2:16:07).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a look back at Jon Jones stopping a mugger on the anniversary of his world title win at UFC 128 (03:14).Ariel and the gang answer all your latest On The Nose questions about Tom Aspinall continuing to wait for the Jones fight, Sean O'Malley's chances at featherweight, and more (13:51).GLORY Kickboxing CEO Marshall Zelaznik breaks some big news and outlines the promotion's plans for 2025 (1:15:40).GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven teases his next fight and discusses his dominant kickboxing run, potential progress on a Francis Ngannou matchup, plus more Rico (1:32:29).Cory Sandhagen previews his UFC Des Moines main event against Deiveson Figueiredo and discusses his push for Sean O'Malley, lessons from Umar Nurmagomedov, brutal body shots, plus more (1:46:43).Wrestling legend Bill Goldberg guarantees a WWE retirement match in 2025, tells crazy stories about the WCW and early MMA era, talks potential feuds with Gunther and Roman Reigns, plus more (2:17:23).The show closes with more On The Nose questions (3:11:22) and Super Chats (3:31:51).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin the show with a discussion about Alycia Baumgardner joining Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (08:04).They look back at Saturday's card at Caribe Royale, featuring Edgar Berlanga's big knockout (16:45), Omari Jones' sensational performance — and ring attire, and Austin 'Ammo' Williams victory in the main event (24:59).Then, they react to 'King' Callum Walsh's latest win and the level of opposition he's faced thus far in his career (27:06).Next, they're joined in back-to-back interviews by Sebastian Fundora (31:38) and Cherneka Johnson (47:03) ahead of their fights this weekend.Next, a look at Nick Ball's win (1:01:30) — and kick — leads to a conversation about whether Ball should be Naoya Inoue's next opponent (1:05:32).Finally, the show concludes with a conversation about reports of Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach running it back (1:11:27). Plus, the Parting Shot from Jack Turner (1:17:56).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show with the latest news and notes in combat, including a deep dive into Conor McGregor's White House visit and the reaction to it back in Ireland (7:07).Gunnar Nelson previews his UFC London fight against Kevin Holland and discusses his two-year MMA layoff, the way in which his relationship with Conor McGregor has changed, plus more (30:50).Jalin Turner opens up about his MMA retirement in a wide-ranging and remarkably candid must-see interview (1:00:47).Morgan Charriere looks ahead to his UFC London return against Nathaniel Wood and discusses the rise of MMA in France, fighting in enemy territory, his pirate diamond chain and more (1:35:55).The crew rejoins Ariel to discuss John Cena's heel promo in Brussels and the crowd reaction (2:03:09), before closing the show by answering some Super Chats (2:28:49).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show with a little of college basketball bracket talk (01:10).Jeremy Stephens discusses his surprise UFC signing, taking another gamble on himself with a one-fight deal, his future with BKFC and more (08:30).Leon Edwards previews his UFC London main event against Sean Brady and reflects on his title loss to Belal Muhammad (34:03).Edwards' longtime head coach, Dave Lovell, then joins us to do the same (59:01).Bo Nickal discusses his May 3 bout against Reinier de Ridder at UFC Des Moines, the problem with the UFC APEX, his issue with UFC's rankings, trolling Khamzat Chimaev and more (1:31:45).Gordon Ryan discusses Tom Aspinall's grappling, trolling Dillon Danis, working with Bo Nickal, rampant steroid use in jiu-jitsu, competing for UFC and more (2:07:43).Petesy Carroll joins us to ring in St. Patrick's Day the proper Irish way (2:44:46) and reaction to Conor McGregor visiting the White House.
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned’s Ben Fowlkes to discuss Beniel Dariush potentially leaking Dustin Poirier meeting old rival Max Holloway in his retirement fight (8:39).Just after getting the show underway, the news hits of three weigh misses for this weekend’s Apex card (14:40), before the conversation returns to Poirier (19:59).The lads ponder when Ilia Topuria will make his 155-pound debut with Charles Oliveira’s camp claiming that the Brazilian has a fight booked for International Fight Week (29:15).In the wake of UFC 313, Petesy and Ben weigh-in on the changing narrative around Alex Pereira, with the likes of Daniel Cormier claiming the defeat to Magomed Anakalev underlined how the knockout artist is simply too small for heavyweight (39:56).With the announcement of Paul Hughes’ homecoming bout against Bruno Miranda taking place in Belfast in May, Petesy asks Ben if he thinks PFL fumbled the bag by not immediately booking the Irishman’s rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov (50:58).Finally, the return of Jeremy Stephens is brought into focus and the lads wonder if his re-signing to the UFC is a bad thing for BKFC on the back of his highly publicized knockout of Eddie Alvarez in Philadelphia (59:58).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to a few bits of breaking news: Naoya Inoue has his next fight (01:41) and Jeremy Stephens is back in the UFC (03:48).Then they dive deep, aiming to answer a simple question: Does the UFC have a star problem (09:46)?Plus, they preview UFC Vegas 104 (1:34:05), make picks (1:45:09), deliver P4P rankings (1:53:26) , and answer your questions (2:11:55).
Ariel Helwani answers all your On The Nose questions about Dana White and TKO's foray into boxing, the Tate brothers at UFC 313, Justin Gaethje calling for a title shot, and more (09:18).MMA legend and old friend Mayhem Miller reunites with Ariel to discuss his challenging road to recovery, the harsh reality of life after MMA, the current state of UFC champions and more (1:02:20).Rising flyweight Joshua Van discusses his big UFC 313 win over Rei Tsuruya, his placement on Uncrowned's "Top 25 under 25 for '25" list, his street fighting past and more (1:33:38).Jan Blachowicz discusses his UFC London return against Carlos Ulberg, Bryce Mitchell's disgusting comments, his emotional double shoulder surgery, Magomed Ankalaev as champ and more (1:59:12).Undefeated Irish heavyweight Thomas Carty joins in-studio to discuss Sunday's boxing match against Dajuan Calloway on the Callum Walsh vs. Dean Sutherland undercard, training with Tyson Fury, the decline of Conor McGregor, Dana White and Turki Alalshikh's boxing plans, plus more (2:26:40).The show closes with more of your On The Nose Questions (3:06:44) and Super Chats (3:45:54).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with their reactions to another press conference for the Times Square card and wonder why Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney aren't fighting (07:00).Next, they listen to comments from Oscar De La Hoya (10:16) and Eddie Hearn (14:00) about Dana White and TKO teaming with Turki Alalshikh and react to the promoters' thoughts.Prompted by comments from Ariel's interview with Lou DiBella (20:30), the duo debates the recently floated idea that boxing is 'broken.'Then, they discuss Chris Eubank Jr. being fined £100,000 for slapping Conor Benn with an egg (27:02) and whether the punishment fits the crime.Vergil Ortiz Jr. joins the show to recap his recent performance, look ahead to what's next — could it be Terence Crawford — and talk about his love of the Harry Potter series (31:46).Finally, the show closes with reactions to NYSAC denying Lamont Roach's appeal for the Gervonta Davis fight (51:31), Dmitry Bivol vs. David Benavidez talks heating up (55:32), Tyson Fury's tease (1:00:22), and Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen 2 being announced (1:03:37). Plus, the Parting Shot (1:14:33).
Ariel and the gang kick off the show by debating Uncrowned's latest pound-for-pound MMA rankings update following Alex Pereira's loss to Magomed Ankalaev (02:36).Longtime boxing promoter Lou DiBella stops by in-studio to discuss the state of the sweet science, how TKO's new boxing venture will change the industry, why the current system is broken and more (10:56).WWE superstar Natalya Neidhart joins in-studio to discuss her emotional WWE journey, becoming the women's GOAT, how Triple H changed the company, John Cena's heel turn and more (1:18:51).Rafael Fiziev discusses his short-notice loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 313, why he's mulling a featherweight move and more (2:20:05).
Ariel Helwani reacts to everything UFC 313, from Magomed Ankalaev's title win over Alex Pereira, to Justin Gaethje's "Y'all Must've Forgot" performance, and more (01:54).Mauricio Ruffy stops by following his Knockout of the Year worthy win over King Green to discuss his harrowing road through MMA, how Neymar assisted with his highlight-reel KO, his pursuit of Islam Makhachev, the success of the Fighting Nerds team and more (1:07:24).Jiri Prochazka talks shop about Alex Pereira's loss to Magomed Ankalaev, the new champ's post-fight comments, his past run-in with Ankalaev and more (1:32:31).Dillon Danis joins in-studio to discuss his upcoming fights against KSI and Tony Ferguson, training with Alex Pereira before the Magomed Ankalaev bout, how much he's making to face KSI, Logan Paul's lawsuit, battling alcohol addiction, getting blackballed from UFC and more (2:02:03).
Ariel Helwani joins The Boys in the Back to react to UFC 313, beginning with Magomed Ankalaev shocking Alex Pereira in the night's main event (00:30).The crew wonders what's next for Pereira (09:14) and whether the outcome was good for the UFC (16:07). Could this be the end of Pereira's reign (24:30) and where does he fit into the UFC's plans for Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall (28:06)?Next, they discuss the thrilling co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev (30:07), before recapping the rest of the card, including Ignacio Bahamondes' slick submission (39:30) and Mauricio Ruffy's spectacular knockout (42:11).
With all the talk of what lies beyond UFC 313 for Alex Pereira, are we discounting the fact that Magomed Ankalaev is by far his hardest test at 205 pounds? Petesy Carroll, Ben Fowlkes and Shaheen Al-Shatti discuss how a victory would impact the iconic Brazilian striker’s legacy (4:03).As for the chief support, the lads ponder whether Justin Gaethje will be a changed man following his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway when he rematches short-notice stand-in Rafael Fiziev (29:56).The conversation then turns to TKO and whether its boxing revolution will be as easily executed as most people are anticipating (44:32).Petesy shares thoughts from the homeland about Katie Taylor’s big Croke Park fight never coming to fruition, as her trilogy bout with Amanda Serrano has been confirmed for July at Madison Square Garden (59:11).Finally, the trio predict what Ilia Topuria is teasing with a recent post online (1:07:25) and try to formulate a way to destroy Chuck Mendenhall’s reign as Uncrowned’s king of picks (1:14:22).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo are together again in studio to react to the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull press conference (03:43).They look ahead to Alvarez's planned showdown with Terence Crawford (05:57), before doubling back to analyze the faceoff between Alvarez and Scrull (10:19).After highlighting the significance of The Ring Magazine belt (11:17), the duo discusses Bruno Surace and Jaime Munguia running it back (20:50) and Martin Bakole's return against Efe Ajagba (25:59).Next, they react to the announcement of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano booking their trilogy bout (28:56) and wonder if Claressa Shields could wind up on the undercard (32:32).The conversation shifts to the WBC ordering Dmitry Bivol to fight David Benavidez (46:41).Finally, the show closes with speculation about who could headline the newly formed TKO boxing promotion's supercards (49:55), including mention of UFC champion Alex Pereira potentially facing Oleksandr Usyk.
The Boys is the Back kicks off with breaking news that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano have booked their trilogy fight at Madison Square Garden (02:04).Then, they break down the UFC 313 main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev from all angles (07:01), jump to the event's co-main event (50:42), and speculate on whether Oleksandr Usyk could be Alex Pereira's next fight (59:30).Next, coach Brandon Gibson, joins to analyze Pereira's wrestling and whether he'll be able to hold off Ankalaev's attack (1:16:43). Plus, he provides an update on Aaron Pico's status with the PFL and gives thoughts on Jon Jones facing either Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira.The Boys visit a Brazilian churrascaria for Fight Feasts (1:44:52) before making picks (2:00:58), delivering their top P4P faceoffs (2:13:33), and answering your questions (2:40:00).
Ariel and the gang react to the breaking news of TKO and Turki Alalshikh partnering to create a new — and potentially revolutionary — boxing promotion (06:03).First Round Management's Malki Kawa checks in with the latest on star clients Jon Jones and Ilia Topuria, as well as Mike Perry's Dirty Boxing Championship and more (1:05:57)."Big" John Fisher, father of boxer Johnny Fisher and leader of the Romford Bull Army, discusses his viral fame, Johnny's career as a heavyweight contender, Chinese food and more (1:36:07).Ade Oladipo joins us in-studio to debate the latest in the boxing world and take on GC in a nail-biting Aviron challenge (2:02:32).Ariel answers all your latest On The Nose questions about UFC 313, the big boxing news, and much more (3:18:09).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
On a special edition of Ariel x Ade, live from the press conference for the Times Square boxing card, Oscar De La Hoya joins to give his immediate reaction (02:35).Then, Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo give their own reactions to the press conference (13:06) and ponder the logistics of how an event in Times Square can be pulled off (23:21).Next they check in on earlier action from London, where KSI slapped Dillon Danis with a pancake during their press conference (24:40).Looking back to the weekend that was, the duo discusses the controversial Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight (29:01) and Davis seemingly alluding to a potential fight against Jake Paul (42:57).Continuing the rewind, they address Paddy Donovan's disqualification against Lewis Crocker (49:22) and the fallout from Chris Eubank Jr. slapping Conor Benn with an egg (56:49), before delivering the Parting Shot (1:01:27).
Valentina Shevchenko previews her UFC flyweight title defense against Manon Fiorot, discusses the chances of a Zhang Weili superfight next and more (04:08).Oban Elliott talks his new UFC contract, the options for his next fight, Jorge Masvidal, John Cena's heel turn and more (35:47).ESPN's Marc Raimondi previews his new NWO book and discusses how Cena's heel turn compares to Hulk Hogan's, Alex Pereira's chances against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, and more (1:05:19).Ariel and The Boys in the Back react to KSI slapping Dillon Danis with a pancake at their press conference (1:38:28).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the program by reacting to the Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs. Lamont Roach controversy,  John Cena's shocking heel turn, UFC Vegas 103 and more (06:11).Rafael Fiziev eases us into UFC 313 fight week by previewing his short-notice rematch against Justin Gaethje (41:01).Uncrowned's Keith Idec checks in with the latest on the Davis vs. Roach controversy and what's next for "Tank" (1:03:25)Daria Berenato — aka WWE's Sonya Deville — joins us in-studio to discuss her WWE departure, why a potential MMA return may be next, her terrifying experience with a stalker and more (1:37:34).MMA legend Tony Ferguson calls in to break news of his GFL bout against Dillon Danis and discuss his emotional UFC release, rejecting the KSI boxing match and more (2:44:48).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to discuss TKO’s imminent arrival in the boxing world, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia (2:50), and TKO president Mark Shapiro suggesting the Ali Act is flawed.During the show, news broke of a massive boxing card taking place in Times Square, so the lads give their thoughts on hosting an event in that unique location (35:12), before the conversation turns to the UFC’s media rights, which will be up for grabs before the end of 2025 (44:48).Finally, Petesy asked Chuck and Ben if the build-up to Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn has made a splash across the pond (58:42).
The Boys in the Back, react to another Wednesday night news drop by Dana White (02:47), including Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree headlining UFC Kansas City, Justin Gaethe vs. Rafael Fiziev 2 getting slated for UFC 313 and Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva being booked for UFC 314.Next, they discuss news of a deal being close with Saudi Arabia to launch a TKO boxing league (22:39), check in on the Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn press conference (29:47), preview UFC Vegas 103 (35:44) and make their picks for the weekend (49:03).Finally, The Boys deliver their P4P lists of movie fight scenes (1:00:48), and answer your questions (1:31:48).
Ariel Helwani and the crew kick off the show by answering all your latest On The Nose questions about options for Tom Aspinall if the Jon Jones fight doesn't materialize, Patricio Pitbull's potential to become a UFC champ, and some show production behind-the-scenes (11:39).Sean Brady checks in ahead of his UFC London bout against Leon Edwards and discusses how the fight came to be, Belal Muhammad's recent comments and more (01:32:36).Jean Silva discusses his sensational showing at UFC Seattle, his journey through MMA, a potential UFC 313 short-notice fight next week and more (02:01:42).Joseph Parker discusses his second-round knockout of Martin Bakole, his chaotic week in Riyadh, Daniel Dubois' mysterious withdrawal, a potential Anthony Joshua rematch and more (02:31:11).Alexander Volkanovski previews his UFC 314 vacant title bout and discusses his MMA future, how many fights he has left, how his year off impacted his thoughts on retirement and much more (02:59:02).
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show by reacting to the explosive press conference for Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn (2:16), which culminated with Eubank Jr. slapping Benn with an egg during their faceoff.Then they react to other moments from the press conference (9:44), before bringing in Josh Padley, fresh off his admirable showing on Saturday's supercard from Riyadh (25:09).The duo dives deeper on The Last Crescendo, starting with the main event which saw Dmitry Bivol claim revenge against Artur Beterbiev (44:08), and discuss whether a trilogy or David Benavidez should be next (47:20).Focus shifts to Joseph Parker's short-notice knockout against Martin Bakole (54:40) and where the win places Parker in the pecking order.Next, they touch on Vergil Ortiz's victory over Israil Madrimov (1:05:42), the controversial draw between Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (1:09:05), and Agit Kabayel stopping Zhilei Zhang (1:12:04).Finally, they preview Gervonta 'Tank' Davis' upcoming about against Lamont Roach (1:15:23), before delivering The Parting Shot (1:24:01).
Ariel Helwani and the gang react to breaking news of Dan Hooker's injury withdrawal from the Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 313 (04:39).Patricio Pitbull discusses his much-anticipated UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez, DMs he sent to Rodriguez, his challenge to Aljamain Sterling, whether he would've retired if UFC said no, plus more (31:30).Song Yadong discusses his UFC Seattle main event win over Henry Cejudo, the fight-ending eye-poke, Cejudo's comments since and more (57:51).Yair Rodriguez previews the other side of UFC 314's bout against Pitbull and responds to Pitbull revealing their DMs (1:31:58).Aiemann Zahabi looks ahead to his UFC 315 bout against Jose Aldo and discusses how the fight came together (2:09:15).
Ariel Helwani and the gang break down every angle of the busy weekend in combat sports, from UFC Seattle and the main event's controversial ending due to an eye poke, to Bivol vs. Beterbiev 2 and beyond (08:41).Boxing legend Jim Lampley joins us in-studio to discuss the historic weekend for the sweet science, his new book, his adventures through boxing history and much more (1:01:56).Michael Chandler previews his UFC 314 bout against Paddy Pimblett and talks llia Topuria's lightweight move, Conor McGregor's latest, Patricio Pitbull's move to the UFC and more (1:59:16).Austin Vanderford discusses his successful short-notice UFC Seattle debut, Nikolay Veretennikov's post-fight dramatics, his wife Paige VanZant's recent run with Power Slap and more (2:30:02).Diego Lopes previews his UFC 314 bout for the vacant featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski and talks Topuria's decision to drop the belt (2:51:16).
The Boys in the Back are joined by Uncrowned's Keith Idec to react to a massive night of fights from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The conversation begins with Dmitry Bivol's redemption, beating Artur Beterbiev in their rematch to become undisputed light heavyweight champion (06:13).Next they touch on showcase performances by Joseph Parker (11:01) and Shakur Stevenson (14:39), playing matchmaker for each in their respective divisions.Finally, they discuss controversial scorecards in the fight between Carlos Adames and Hamzah Sheeraz (18:41), which resulted in a draw, and Agit Kabayel's big win over Zhilei Zhang (20:41).
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall are joined by Drake Riggs, who is on site in Seattle for Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong, to discuss a crazy week of news in the combat sports world.First, they look at Ilia Topuria vacating the featherweight title, leading to Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes competing for gold in the UFC 314 main event (06:12), before the conversation switches to Paddy Pimblett’s biggest fight to date against Michael Chandler (22:16).The discussion turns to the welterweight shake-up that saw Jack Della Maddalena granted a title shot against champion Belal Muhammad (40:32), with Sean Brady stepping in to replace JDM against Leon Edwards in London.Reacting to yesterday’s episode of The Boys in the Back, the lads consider NewYorkRic’s comment on the obvious size difference that will exist between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria should their clash happen (48:51).Finally, Riggs gives insight on the biggest storylines from Seattle (1:00:00) before Mindenhall discusses whether the short notice replacements have affected Saturday’s boxing blockbuster from Riyadh (1:07:00).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back are joined by Ariel Helwani to recap a massive night of UFC news (01:46), including including Ilia Topuria vacating his title, the UFC 314 and UFC 315 main events, and more.Then, they address recent social media posts by Johnny Eblen and the trend of disgruntled PFL fighters (01:01:35).Next, they preview Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 (01:07:55) and UFC Seattle (01:27:03), before Ariel rejoins to break news of Bryce Mitchell's next move, a grappling match against Israel's Ilay Barzilay at Karate Combat 53 (01:41:16).The breaking news continues, as plans for Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen to headline a UFC Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa are revealed (02:12:08).The Parlay Pals give their picks (02:19:43) and debut a brand new Fight Feasts celebrating some Seattle staples (02:26:40).Finally, The Boys deliver their P4P rankings of fantasy fight card locations (02:44:18) and answer your questions (02:59:11).
Ariel Helwani reacts to breaking news from UFC president Dana White on Wednesday night: Ilia Topuria has vacated the UFC featherweight title, making way for Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to battle for the belt at UFC 314 in Miami (00:41).Ariel reveals rumblings of Topuria potentially facing UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (01:23), before breaking down the rest of UFC 314, including Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett (02:57) and Patricio Pitbull's UFC debut coming against Yair Rodriguez (03:27).But that's not all, London will be getting Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady (05:02) due to Jack Della Maddalena sliding into the UFC 315 main event against UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (05:57).
Muhammad Mokaev kicks off the show by discussing his road since exiting the UFC, his recent run-in with Dana White, whether the relationship is repairable, his salary in Brave FC and more (05:34).ONE bantamweight kickboxing champion and former two-division Muay Thai champion Jonathan Haggerty previews his Thursday title defense against Wei Rui and discusses his future goals in MMA (38:46).Caio Borralho discusses the state of the UFC middleweight division, his continued surprise at Dricus du Plessis, training with Alex Pereira and Khamzat Chimaev, teaching math, plus more (01:03:32).Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about  Aaron Pico's free agency, the crew's recommendations, relationship advice, hockey fights, the latest in the composting saga, wild hypotheticals and much more (01:50:29).
It's a massive fight week on Ariel x Ade and Mr. Oladipo joins live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.The show begins by looking back at big wins by Keyshawn Davis (03:14) and Arnold Barboza Jr. (10:13) and recapping the grand arrivals for Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 (12:23).Ade sits down for conversations with Joseph Parker (19:30) and Daniel Dubois (36:12) before the duo discusses Oleksandr Usyk saying he plans to fight the winner, as well as UFC champion Alex Pereira (42:14).They react to breaking news of Floyd Schofield withdrawing from his fight against Shakur Stevenson (45:28) and speculate on who Stevenson could potentially fight on short notice (46:15).Ade's interviews with Dmitry Bivol (52:10) and Artur Beterbiev (58:49) are followed by predictions for the card (01:05:07).Next, some news and notes, including the booking of Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron 2 (01:12:38), Teofimo Lopez headlining a card from Alcatraz prison (01:13:58), and Ryan Garcia fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square (01:16:36).Finally, the show closes with Keyshawn Davis' stoppage win as the Parting Shot (01:18:26).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by laying out MMA's own version of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off tournament (06:46).Dricus du Plessis discusses his latest UFC middleweight title defense over Sean Strickland, Belal Muhammad's recent comments, his game plan to stop Khamzat Chimaev and more (31:23).Jared Cannonier discusses his "y'all must've forgot" win over Gregory Rodrigues, how he's somehow still competing at an elite level at age 40, what's next in his UFC career and more (01:06:51).George Lockhart, Joseph Parker's nutritionist, previews Saturday's gigantic boxing card and Parker's upcoming challenge against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, plus more (01:31:01).The Boys in the Back rejoin Ariel to discuss outstanding news and notes, including an update from Eric Nicksick on his relationship with Sean Strickland (02:06:41).
Ariel Helwani and the gang react to the busy weekend in combat sports (23:53).Youssef Zalal discusses his big UFC Vegas 102 win over Calvin Kattar, why he believes Kattar and his team were cheating, his road back to the UFC after his failed first stint, Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2 and more (41:13).Bruce Buffer discusses his UFC Hall of Fame reveal, the remarkable road that led him down this path, how much longer he has left before retirement, his brother Michael Buffer and more (01:03:13).Keyshawn Davis joins in-studio to discuss his WBO lightweight title win, the culprit of the racist package left at his hotel room during fight week, harrowing struggles with mental health, Gervonta Davis and more (01:39:25).Song Yadong discusses his UFC Seattle main event against Henry Cejudo, his fast-improving English, the state of the bantamweight division and more (02:43:45).Dominick Cruz discusses the emotional decision behind his UFC retirement, injuries he's suffered throughout his career, what's next for him, surprising messages of support he's received, favorite memories and more (03:12:16).
Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindehall give their thoughts on the split between Sean Strickland and Eric Nicksick (4:36), on the back of the UFC middleweight claiming he would no longer have the Xtreme Couture head coach in his corner after UFC 312.While pondering wether the two would reconcile, the conversation shifts to Anthony Smith and Rampage Jackson (31:36) squashing their beef that arose from Smith’s criticism of Jaxxon Podcast’s handling of an interview they had with controversial featherweight Bryce Mitchell. The lads discuss what impact the growing number of fighter publications has on journalism and consider whether situations like this will happen more because of it.Not a single MMA fighter made Sportico's list of the 100 highest-paid athletes for 2024, so Petesy and Chuck weigh-in on whether that is a shocking revelation or completely expected (43:06) and forecast if discussions about fighter unions will likely sprout around the time of the UFC’s new broadcast deal being announced.Finally, they take a quick look at this weekend’s Apex extravaganza (54:23).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to Sean Strickland saying coach Eric Nicksick will no longer be in his corner (05:32).Then, with Valentine's Day approaching, the Boys play matchmaker for several of the UFC's recently announced fight cards (14:03).Next, they discuss Oleksandr Usyk saying he wants to fight Alex Pereira (37:47) and preview UFC Vegas 102 (43:32)Finally, The Boys make picks (01:03:50), give their P4P rankings of matches made in heaven (01:12:00), and answer your questions (01:32:01).
Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about Dana White's stance on free speech, whether UFC fans being priced out at live events,  romantic gestures for Valentine's Day, and more (08:16).UFC analyst Megan Anderson discusses Eric Nicksick's viral comments about Sean Strickland, Zhang Weili's win over Tatiana Suarez, Manon Fiorot potentially getting skipped in favor of a Valentina Shevchenko superfight and more (33:37).UFC legend and ONE Championship executive Rich Franklin discusses the latest ONE news, his MMA legacy, whether he'd entertain a comeback with GFL, getting grounded knees to the head legalized in North America and more (01:02:28).Matchroom's Eddie Hearn discusses Anthony Joshua's next move, Jake Paul's drama with Canelo Alvarez, the upcoming Feb. 22 super-card, whether Tank Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson happens in 2025 and more (01:33:46).Aleksandre Topuria discusses his successful UFC 312 debut, what it's like being the brother of UFC champion Ilia Topuria, his MMA journey, whether GC actually looks like Guram and more (02:08:28).Ariel picks back up with all your On The Nose questions about whether Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall will happen, the ongoing Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud, fights thats belong in the UFC Hall of Fame, the lightweight GOAT,  and more (02:36:02).
Ariel x Ade kicks begins with thoughts and condolences to the family of Irish boxer John Cooney, who tragically died after suffering a brain injury following his title fight (02:55).Then, Ariel and Ade break down the dramatic Canelo Alvarez negotiations (05:25), the finalized four-fight deal — including a highly-anticipated Terence Crawford fight (14:08) — and what's next for Jake Paul (27:20)?The duo looks ahead to Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. (29:16), before being joined by Catterall's manager Sam Jones for a lively chat (32:39).Next, they preview Keyshawn Davis vs. Denis Berinchyk (50:22) and recap Derek Chisora’s win against Otto Wallin (55:05).Finally, they review Queensbury's opening schedule (01:01:09) and provide a Parting Shot, which wonders who Chisora could face in his 50th fight (01:10:38).
Ariel Helwani and the gang kick off the show by discussing UFC's impending media rights negotiation, Top Rank Boxing and ESPN parting ways, and PFL's upcoming schedule (05:07).Combat sports lawyer Erik Magraken discusses the resolution of the UFC anti-trust lawsuit, how fighters can get their money, TKO's recent comments about boxing's Ali Act, the tragic situation with Lei Zhenhuan and more (18:16).Bubba Ray Dudley, WWE Hall of Famer, discusses his role on WWE's new "LFG" series, Jey Uso's decision to challenge Gunther for WrestleMania 41, who should win Elimination Chamber and face Cody Rhodes, the greatest tag teams ever and more (48:34).KSI discusses his March 29 boxing match against Dillon Danis, the notable opponents who turned him down, Jake Paul's failed pursuit of the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez fight, the profitability of Misfits Boxing and more (01:06:41).Eric Nicksick discusses Sean Strickland's unsuccessful title rematch against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, Strickland's poor performance, criticism Strickland has received since the event, the latest on Francis Ngannou and more (02:07:04).
Ariel Helwani reacts to UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili's one-sided title defenses against Sean Strickland and Tatiana Suarez, what's next for both, plus more (06:57).Din Thomas discusses his criticism of Sean Strickland's performance at UFC 312, Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev, how he became the UFC's cageside corner analyst, the lightweight GOAT debate and more in an in-studio appearance (01:34:23).Rory Karpf and Din Thomas discuss working on UFC's "Dana White Lookin' For A Fight," the release of their new action thriller "Grace Point," and much more in a joint in-studio interview (02:14:00).Luke Rockhold discusses Sean Strickland's tepid performance against Dricus du Plessis, his past gym run-in with Strickland, whether Strickland had staph infection, getting traded in GFL to pave the way for a Chris Weidman rematch, and more (02:44:54).Zhang Weili discusses her UFC strawweight title defense over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312, why she asked to fight Suarez, a potential superfight with Valentina Shevchenko next, acting in her first big movie, her relationship with Joanna Jedrzejczyk and more (03:15:13).
Ariel Helwani joins the Boys in the Back on the UFC 312 Post-Fight Show to react to Dricus du Plessis' domination of Sean Strickland in their rematch (01:45) and the champion's future appointment with Khamzat Chimaev (13:00).Next, they move on to the spectacular performance of Zhang Weili against Tatiana Suarez in the night's co-main event (18:08), before recapping the rest of the card (27:38).
Ariel Helwani joins The Craic to give insight on Canelo Alvarez signing with Riyadh Season, his bout with Jake Paul not coming to fruition and the emerging rivalry between MVP and Turki Alalshikh (00:16). Uncrowned’s Shaheen Al-Shatti and Ben Fowlkes then give their takes on all the developments described by Helwani (20:09), before the conversation turns to UFC 312 (31:33).The lads ponder whether Sean Strickland’s staph infection (49:51) will take a toll on him during his rematch with champion Dricus Du Plessis and discuss Tatiana Suarez finally getting her opportunity to fight for a title against Zhang Weili (51:52). After, the trio give their picks on the main event and co-main event of UFC 312 (1:01:50) before the conversation turns to the retirement of legendary bantamweight, Dominick Cruz (01:06:04).
The Boys in the Back preview UFC 312, starting with the main event matchup that pits champion Dricus du Plessis against challenger Sean Strickland (01:13), while also addressing Khamzat Chimaev's looming presence (23:27).Then, it's on to the co-main event between champion Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez (36:51), before debuting a brand new Fight Feasts focused on Australian cuisine (47:42).Denis Shkuratov of Submission Radio gives The Boys insights from fight week, including the potential arrival of Chimaev in Sydney (01:05:18).Next, they react to news that Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is already off after being recently reported for September (01:34:06), Jake Paul's role in the shakeup (01:42:16), and Jon Jones' teased announcement (01:48:01).Mysterious Frank joins to make picks (01:53:01), unveil P4P mustache rankings (01:58:54), and answer your questions (02:25:11).
Ariel Helwani answers all your latest On The Nose questions about UFC 312, including Sean Strickland's media day comments, plus Conor McGregor's team potential intervening, a query about the show's credits, and more (08:51).Vinicius Oliveira discusses his big UFC Saudi Arabia win over Said Nurmagomedov, origins of his "LokDog" nickname, embracing his "Russian Hunter" gimmick, how he'd fare against Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov, Mega Pizza orders and more (35:42).Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan have a heated virtual face-to-face ahead of their March 29 rematch (01:04:13).Jasmine Jasudavicius discusses her UFC Saudi Arabia win over Mayra Bueno Silva, her experience dealing with the paint fumes in the Saudi locker room, potential fights against Erin Blanchfield, Alex Grasso and Maycee Barber, plus more (01:31:49).The Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll rejoin Ariel to answer more On The Nose questions and YouTube Super Chats (01:53:34).
Ariel x Ade kicks off with a discussion about Derek Chisora's 'last stand' (05:42), before being joined by his promoter Frank Warren (09:37), who also touches on Tyson Fury's future, Daniel Dubois' next fight, and more.Next, they address the reported September bout between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford (28:07) and whether Jake Paul could play spoiler in a potential bout against Alvarez (30:45).Recapping the weekend, the duo wonders what's next for David Benavidez after his win over David Morrell (45:11) and who will be able to challenge Claressa Shields (54:41).The conversation moves to potential opponents for Anthony Joshua (59:59) and the duo delivers the parting shot (01:11:32), before closing on the newly announced KSI vs. Dillon Danis fight (01:14:23).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to breaking news that KSI will box Dillon Danis (06:57), before addressing  Dana White's recent comments about hate speech (27:14). Then, Helwani and the Boys in the Back react to Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford being finalized and whether Jake Paul can play spoiler (47:26).Chael Sonnen goes off about Conor McGregor's decline and why the UFC can't book him, Bryce Mitchell's controversial comments, Israel Adesanya's losing streak, the WWE Royal Rumble, why Jon Jones can't retire, UFC's superstar shortage and much more in a classic unfiltered "American Gangster" conversation (01:02:34).Finally, the show closes with a discussion about Patchy Mix requesting his PFL release and proposed UFC-PFL trades for Mix (02:10:49).
Ariel Helwani reacts to Israel Adesanya's stunning loss at UFC Saudi Arabia, David Benavidez's big win over David Morrell Jr., the WWE Royal Rumble, Bryce Mitchell's disgusting comments, plus much more from the chaotic weekend in combat sports (09:54).Michael Page discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia win over Shara Magomedov, what's next, whether a move to light heavyweight is actually feasible, Magomedov's post-fight excuses and more (01:02:33).Terrance McKinney discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia knockout of Damir Hadzovic, why he's somehow never gotten a UFC post-fight bonus, how paint fumes in the Saudi locker room affected fighters' performances and more (01:22:24).David Benavidez discusses beating David Morrell Jr., his pursuit of Canelo Alvarez, fighting the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2, why Terence Crawford is going to upset Alvarez and more (01:42:54).Karolina Kowalkiewicz joins us in-studio to discuss her UFC status, rebounding from her five-fight losing streak, retirement rumors, Bryce Mitchell's abhorrent comments and more (02:05:07).Joe Hendry discusses his WWE debut at the 2025 Royal Rumble, John Cena's life-changing advice, wrestling Robert Whittaker and getting help from Chael Sonnen, his backstage encounter with Triple H, plus much more in a special in-studio interview (02:54:01).Join us on the bike: http://avironactive.com/uncrowned
UFC Saudi Arabia is in the books, so the Boys in the Back and Petesy Carroll give their immediate reaction to Israel Adesanya's stunning defeat at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov, including what to make of Adesanya's skid and what could be next for both fighters  (00:44).Then, they discuss Michael 'Venom' Page stopping Shara Bullet's undefeated streak and whether the UFC would be wise to push Page (21:56).Finally, they recap the rest of the card, including another fun performance from Vinicius 'LokDog' Oliveira (39:17), Fares Ziam's upset win (41:25), Shamil Gaziev's big KO (46:00), the reliably quick work of Terrance McKinney (49:13), Jasmine Jasudavicius becoming a contender  (50:13), and more.
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned’s Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to discuss Bryce Mitchell and Conor McGregor’s latest controversies.The trio discuss Bryce Mitchell’s outlandish statement about Adolf Hitler being “a good guy” (3:11) and consider whether Dana White’s reaction to the situation is sufficient (04:16).Then, they look at differing reactions from the MMA community, with Jan Blachowicz offering to educate Mitchell (23:44) and Conor McGregor offering compassion to the featherweight (25:11).The conversation then moves onto the vitriolic tweet from McGregor, laced with racial slurs, going after his old foe Khabib Nurmagomedov (36:01) and question what the Irish fighter has left to give to the sport of MMA (46:02).Finally, the trio gives their thoughts on UFC Saudi Arabia (50:26) before giving their picks for the main event (59:08).
The Boys in the Back start the show by reacting to Bryce Mitchell's recent antisemitic and homophobic remarks (01:38).Then, they preview UFC Saudi Arabia, headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov and featuring Shara Bullet vs. Michael 'Venom' Page  (06:55).Next, they touch on the boxing match between David Benavidez and David Morrell (49:16), as well as WWE's Royal Rumble (52:21), the two other events on a packed combat sports Saturday.The growing feud between Conor McGregor and Paul Hughes is discussed (55:34), before turning attention to a brand new Fight Feasts, featuring a review of four of Philadelphia's best cheesesteaks (01:01:37).Mysterious Frank joins for the Boys to make picks (01:23:17), give their P4P pirate rankings (01:37:13), and answer your questions (02:06:24).
Michael 'Venom' Page previews his UFC Saudi Arabia fight against Shara Bullet and discusses how he plans to exploit Magomedov's striking patterns (03:07).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer all your questions in the latest edition of On The Nose (20:32).Paul Hughes discusses his Fight of the Year contender against Usman Nurmagomedov, whether a rematch is next, and responds to Conor McGregor's nationalist attacks after the UFC star's latest social media tirade (59:37).Boxing legend Jim Lampley breaks down all angles of David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr. and discusses the state of the sweet science (01:32:47).Finally, On The Nose resumes to close out the show (02:35:46).
Ariel x Ade is back with two guests ahead of a big fight weekend.First, the duo discusses the highly anticipated showdown between David Benavidez and David Morrell (08:24).The GWOAT Claressa Shields joins the show to preview her battle with Danielle Perkins for undisputed gold and respond to chatter about Amanda Serrano and Laila Ali (12:18).Skye Nicolson joins to break news of her title defense against Tiara Brown in Sydney, Australia on March 22 (32:50).Next, they react to the full Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn fight card announcement (51:08), Jaron ’Boots’ Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis being booked (53:15) and ponder what's next for Naoya Inoue (55:30) and Diego Pacheco (01:00:28).Finally, they circle back to Benavidez vs. David Morrell and speculate on whoever is victorious facing the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch (01:03:33), and give this week's parting shot (01:08:17)
Chris Weidman discusses his GFL signing, expectations for the new MMA organization, the GFL fights he wants most, how much the promotion is paying fighters and more (06:00).BKFC founder Dave Feldman discusses the success of KnuckleMania, Ben Rothwell and Jeremy Stephens' free agency, Conor McGregor, whether Mike Perry vs. Robbie Lawler is next and more (32:11).GFL founder Darren Owen discusses the promotion's inaugural draft, the results leaking early, whether the draft was predetermined, the Rashad Evans situation, pay-per-view and event plans, likely matchups for 2025 and more (01:00:35).Ariel and The Boys In The Back kick off their annual WWE Royal Rumble lottery (01:28:31).Israel Adesanya discusses his UFC Saudi Arabia fight with Nassourdine Imavov, his evolving relationship with Alex Pereira, his new connection with Robert Whittaker, why he handled past beefs poorly, dealing with fame and more (02:04:14).
Ariel Helwani reacts to BKFC KnuckleMania 5, Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes and much more from a loaded combat sports weekend (20:35).Ben Rothwell discusses his BKFC heavyweight title win and reveals he's a combat sports free agent — with sights on some big names next (01:29:42).Dan Hooker previews his UFC 313 fight against Justin Gaethje and discusses finding out from Gaethje's YouTube channel, his odd UFC 300 experience, Islam Makhachev's win over Renato Moicano and more (02:01:29).Jeremy Stephens discusses his BKFC KnuckleMania 5 win over Eddie Alvarez, the hostile reception he got from the Philly fans, his road to bare-knuckle success and more in an emotional interview. He also reveals that he, like Ben Rothwell, is now a free agent (02:33:17).Alex Pereira discusses his UFC 313 title defense against Magomed Ankalaev, his conversations with Jon Jones, his run-in with Jamahal Hill at the UFC Performance Institute, his sister's fighting career and much more in a special in-studio interview (03:04:25).
On today’s episode, Petesy is joined by fellow Irish media members Andy Stevenson and Donagh Corby.Corby, who is on the scene in Dubai, gave his account of the incident between Irish and Dagestani fans at the PFL’s weigh-in for the fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes (3:00).Stevenson underlined the impact a Hughes win could have on Irish MMA (18:00), before rebuking claims that this is a one-fight card (23:00) and lads gave their picks for the main event (32:00).The conversation moves to Arman Tsarukyan’s sticky situation with the UFC and whether the lads believe he should lose his title opportunity due to an eleventh hour UFC 311 withdrawal (40:00).They also discuss the idea of Sean O’Malley meeting Cory Sandhagen instead of the former champion facing Merab Dvalishvili in a rematch (47:00).Finally, the lads rank what event they’re looking forward the most this weekend between PFL, BKFC and the highly anticipated GFL Draft (51:45).
The Boys in the Back are heading to Philadelphia for BKFC KnuckleMania V, headlined by Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens. They break down the card (01:43) and reveal their Philly plans, including a cheesesteak tour, a potential showdown with GC's new rival Sean Brady, and more (20:39)Next, they react to the new videos of Conor McGregor interacting with the Jake and Logan Paul (29:05).Petesy Carroll joins to preview the incredible matchup between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes headlining PFL's Road to Dubai Championship Series (49:46).Finally, The Boys gives their picks (01:09:23) and P4P sandwich rankings (01:20:48) before answering your questions (01:59:39).
Ariel Helwani kicks of the show with a super-sized edition of On The Nose, with topics including a potential superfight between Alexandre Pantoja and Merab Dvalishvili, Dana White saying Arman Tsarukyan won't get the next title shot, Conor McGregor palling around with Jake and Logan Paul, and more (33:38).Jeremy Stephens joins to preview his BKFC KnuckleMania V main event against Eddie Alvarez and tell some old school stories, including the time Dana White nearly bailed him out of jail on fight night (01:32:44).NewYorkRic and GC jump on the Aviron bike for the latest chapter in their competition and Sean Brady crashes the show to call next (02:13:48)!Robert Whittaker is back to talk about his newly-found friendship with Israel Adesanya, break down the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland, and discuss his recovery after the Khamzat Chimaev fight (03:02:33).Jack Della Maddalena outlines his own recovery and looks ahead to his UFC London showdown against Leon Edwards (03:34:25).Join us on the bike: http://avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel x Ade kicks off with a reaction to the news of Keith Thurman's planned comeback (07:35).Then, the duo discusses the fact that Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney will compete on the same card, but not against each other (10:44).Next, they touch on talks of Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford heating up (20:54), before bringing in Conor Benn to preview his potential showdown against Chris Eubank Jr. (30:25).Finally, they recap Misfits X Series 20,  including Darren Till's win against Anthony Taylor and KSI's short-lived matchup with Wayne Bridge (59:32).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss the status of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall and react to the latest combat sports news (05:38).Anthony Smith announces his retirement fight, tells a powerful story of receiving support from Bryce Mitchell before his most recent bout, reveals he asked the UFC brass to compete in Power Slap and more (31:39).Aljamain Sterling discusses Merab Dvalishvili's big win over Umar Nurmagomedov, why Merab will be the 135-pound GOAT, a potential fight against Patricio Pitbull, Payton Talbott's first career loss and more (01:35:06).
Ariel Helwani breaks down UFC 311 from all angles, including Islam Makhachev's title win over Renato Moicano and Merab Dvalishvili's remarkable performance against Umar Nurmagomedov (02:52).Merab Dvalishvili discusses his UFC 311 title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov, why Nurmagomedov wasn't his level, the champ's various injuries, how he tricked the California commission into letting him fight, his relationship with Dana White and more (33:49).Merab Dvalishvili's coach John Wood discusses nearly pulling the champ out of UFC 311, why the Umar Nurmagomedov fight ended up being "easier than expected," Dvalishvili's game plan and more (01:07:39).Arman Tsarukyan discusses the back injury that forced his UFC 311 withdrawal, Dana White's comments, potential fights against Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, plus more (01:33:04).Josh Barnett breaks down Islam Makhachev's UFC 311 submission and discusses why UFC fighters are stupid, weight cutting in MMA, past experiences with Donald Trump, how he'd fix AEW and more in a wide-ranging in-studio interview (02:00:48).Renato Moicano discusses his UFC 311 title loss to Islam Makhachev, the whirlwind day that led to the opportunity, how his goals have changed, "spoiled brat" Paddy Pimblett's reaction and more (03:02:36).Jiří Procházka discusses his UFC 311 win over Jamahal Hill, why he was motivated by Hill's trash talk, sharing a drink with Hill afterward, shaving his hair for fan battling cancer, what it'll take to get a third Alex Pereira fight and more (03:33:40).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
On the UFC 311 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani joins the Boys in the Back to  react to Islam Makhachev's dominant performance against Renato Moicano (06:21).Next, they discuss the co-main event, which saw Merab Dvalishvili finish strong to hand Umar Nurmagomedov his first career defeat (16:51).Ariel gives an update on Dana White's comments from the post-fight press conference, including his declaration that Arman Tsarukyan would not be next for Makhachev (25:56).They touch on Jiri Prochazka's highlight reel knockout of Jamahal Hill (32:40), before recapping the rest of the card (39:35).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes for an episode jam-packed with breaking news.Fowlkes speaks about the mystique surrounding Team Khabib and the Dagestan collective (04:06) after covering them for Uncrowned. Then, the lads react in real time to the breaking news that Arman Tsarukyan has withdrawn from the UFC 311 main event due to injury (13:46).Mindenhall gives insights on Merab Dvalishvili after spending time with the bantamweight champion at Syndicate ahead of his clash with Umar Nurmagomedov (27:22).News of Renato Moicano stepping up to face Islam Makhachev breaks (37:28), before the conversation returns to the co-main event (43:09) and Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill (53:22).Reports surface about Tsarukyan's injury, leading to Ariel Helwani giving intel on the situation (57:55), before more news breaks, with Chris Weidman announcing his retirement on the UFC's weigh-in show (01:07:26).Finally, the lads react to Islam Makhachev's social media post regarding the eleventh hour change of opponent (01:11:56).  Join us on the bike: http://avironactive.com/uncrowned
The Boys in the Back can't wait for UFC 311, so join them for a mega preview. Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) & Conner Burks (GC) begin by breaking down the main event rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan (00:37), before being joined by Ben Fowlkes to discuss the dominance of the team from Dagestan, led by Khabib Nurmagomedov (28:46).Next, they break down the rest of UFC 311, including the incredible co-main event that matches Merab Dvalishvili with challenger Umar Nurmagomedov (44:45).Fight Feasts for this week samples Armenian cuisine (01:24:40) for an unforgettable experience, while Ric finally gets his wish of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn being booked (01:39:47).Frank joins the fun to make picks (01:47:34) and the Boys reveal their P4P lists of must-make rematches (01:54:55), followed by your questions answered (02:13:21).
Ariel Helwani kicks off the show by reacting to PFL's new format being revealed (05:04) and the highly-anticipated fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn being signed (08:16).Then Ariel answers all your burning questions in the latest edition of On The Nose (19:47).Patricio Pitbull discusses his departure from PFL, what it took to finally get released from his contract, his goals as a free agent, top targets for a potential UFC debut and more (40:14).Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr. go face-to-face in a virtual showdown ahead of their Feb. 15 final eliminator bout in Manchester (01:02:53).Chuck Mindenhall previews everything UFC 311 and discusses his Uncrowned features on Payton Talbott and Merab Dvalishvili (01:28:10).Action Bronson discusses working out with Joe Rogan, the Khabib Nurmagomedov plane incident, calling out Bad Bunny for a WWE match, On-Air Jordan's matzo balls and much more in an instant classic in-studio interview (01:58:05).Holly Holm discusses her UFC exit, why she asked for her release, what she wants next, whether a return to boxing is in the cards, surprising street fight stories from her childhood and more (03:09:29).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
Ariel x Ade is back, beginning with the hosts' reaction  to Tyson Fury announcing his retirement (05:47) and whether they're buying it. Will Fury end up facing Anthony Joshua and if not, is there anybody for AJ to fight next (14:44)?Next, they discuss the biggest news emanating from Ring Magazine's recent awards show, including Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn talks heating up (24:19).Ariel's conversation with Shakur Stevenson produced callouts of Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Lomachenko (40:49), while Ade sat down with Daniel Dubois for an exclusive interview (46:52).Then, they react to Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney crossing paths at the Ring awards (59:13), whether Canelo vs. Terence Crawford has momentum to get done (01:03:29), and 'Tank' Davis' absence from the mix (01:07:16).Finally, they close the show with Moses Itauma's wishlist (01:10:26 ) and a parting shot that looks back at Jai Opetaia knockout of David Nyika (01:17:33).
David Benavidez and David Morrell, the WBC interim light heavyweight champion and WBA light heavyweight champion, go face-to-face in an explosive virtual showdown ahead of their Feb. 1 title bout (05:53).John Wood, Syndicate MMA head coach, discusses Merab Dvalishvili's preparation for Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, what's next for Khalil Rountree Jr., Tim Welch's shouting from the corner and more (31:45).O'Shea Jackson Jr., award-winning actor and wrestling superfan, discusses the latest with WWE, Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, working with so many pro fighters on Den of Thieves 2, his feud with AEW fans and more (01:02:54).Mackenzie Dern discusses her revenge win over Amanda Ribas, being open to returning to jiu-jitsu with CJI, Tatiana Suarez's strawweight title bout against Zhang Weili, UFC's push into competitive jiu-jitsu and more (01:50:51).Ariel Helwani reacts to breaking news of Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull finally being released from his PFL contract (02:33:25).
Ariel Helwani breaks some news about the future of Bellator and PFL, discusses Tyson Fury's retirement announcement and more (07:33).Cesar Almeida discusses his monster knockout at UFC Vegas 101, his path through the sport, how UFC's $50,000 bonus check changed his life, what's next and more (44:54).Shakur Stevenson previews his Feb. 22 fight against Floyd Schofield and discusses why Gervonta "Tank" Davis seems to dislike him so much, potentially fighting Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2025, criticism from Timothy Bradley and more (58:08).Dominick Cruz discusses his UFC Seattle return against Rob Font, whether it'll be the final fight of his legendary MMA career, his roots in the sport, what happened with Henry Cejudo, why he admires Demetrious Johnson's career beyond the cage and more (01:31:12).Matt Cardona stops by in-studio to discuss a possible WWE or AEW return, his collectibles obsession, stories from the indies, his infamous death match with Nick Gage, the creation of his Zack Ryder character and much more (2:12:39).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Chuck Mindenhall returns to The Craic, joining Petesy Carroll to discuss a potential location shift for UFC 311 due to the California wildfires (03:07).The lads also give their takes on reports from Brazil claiming Alex Pereira will move to heavyweight (07:36) to take on Alexander Volkov at UFC 313 and reports that PFL will half the prize money for their tournament in 2025 (28:17).They also ponder why Dominick Cruz will not be taking on Henry Cejudo next month in Seattle (45:40), before briefly touching on this weekend’s Apex card headlined by McKenzie Dean vs. Amanda Ribas 2 (51:30).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrownedEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
The Boys in the Back kicks off with Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) discussing Joe Rogan's claim that Jon Jones would need to be paid $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall... and the immediate retraction (11:52).Then, they touch on Dana White joining Meta's board (34:35), before turning attention to PFL slashing their tournament prizes from $1 million to $500,000 (42:08).Next, they preview UFC Vegas 101 (51:09) and Mysterious Frank joins to make their picks for the weekend (1:04:33). GC also reveals his 2025 futures (1:10:13).Finally, The Boys give their P4P rankings of months of the year (1:30:41) and answer your questions (1:56:28).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Ariel Hewani and The Boys In The Back answers all your questions in 2025's debut edition of On The Nose (14:13).Moses Itauma discusses his path as boxing's top heavyweight prospect, why he's confident he can break Mike Tyson's record, whether he regrets skipping the Olympic path, meeting Ariel in Paris, who he wants to fight next and more (01:04:21).BKFC President Dave Feldman shares unbelievable stories from his past and discusses KnuckleMania V, his relationship with Mike Perry, Conor McGregor's status and more in a must-watch in-studio interview (01:35:36).Payton Talbott discusses his UFC 311 fight against Raoni Barcelos, acting in a recent short film, drinking expired dog food, having dinner with Frank Ocean, his experience on a YouTube dating show and more (02:24:20).Matt Hamill discusses his incredible news of being able to hear for the first time due to powerful new hearing aid technology, the next generation of Hamills venturing into combat sports, his history with Jon Jones and more (02:53:07).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo celebrate the year in boxing with their first annual awards show.The duo hands out 14 awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Promoter, Event, and more. Plus each man makes one wish for 2025.
Kazeem Famuyide grades WWE's Netflix debut and discusses The Rock's return, Hulk Hogan getting booed out of the building, whether the show grabbed new fans, what's next for Roman Reigns and more (06:41).Kevin Lee discusses the latest with the GFL, chasing Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov fights, wanting to rematch Tony Ferguson in 2025, his brother's success, "coward" fighters who are afraid to speak up for themselves and more (37:48).Cain Velasquez discusses his new GFL gig, Tom Aspinall's predictable patterns, his UFC career and short-lived WWE stint, lessons he's learned over the years, his upcoming sentencing and more in a wide-ranging interview (01:04:59).Darren Till crashes Anthony Taylor's interview in an explosive back-and-forth ahead of their Misfits Boxing main event on Jan. 18 (01:33:11).Finally, Ariel Helwani and Petesy Carroll react to darts phenom Luke Littler's dominant performance at the PDC World Darts Championship (02:01:30).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back celebrate the year that was with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 12th Annual Helwani Nose Awards. The gangs hands a monster list of 25 MMA awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Submission, Fight, Upset and much, much more.
The Craic caps off 2024 by looking back at the year in European MMA.Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby to discuss the biggest winners and losers.The show begins with Ilia Topuria’s strong case for Male Fighter of the Year and his recent talk of moving to lightweight (03:13).Next, the discussion centers on Dakota Ditcheva’s meteoric rise through the PFL tournament and her Female Fighter of the Year candidacy (10:01).The conversation turns to Tom Aspinall’s presence at Jon Jones’ UFC 309 title fight and whether he’ll be able to force the heavyweight showdown (18:56).Then, they touch on the continued dominance of fighters from Dagestan (23:48) and the success of PFL’s efforts in Europe (27:16), including the potential future for England’s Lewis McGrillen (31:15).Finally, they close with a discussion on the fallout from Conor McGregor’s civil case (41:30).
In this special episode, Ariel Helwani looks back at some of his classic interviews and tells the untold stories behind each, including:Nick Diaz before his Strikeforce fight against Paul Daley in April 2011 (09:05)Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller in Las Vegas right before UFC 84 in May 2008 (28:09)Rashad Evans in the immediate aftermath of UFC 128, where former teammate turned rival Jon Jones defeated Shogun Rua to become UFC champion in March 2011 (35:14)The infamous Undertaker interview seconds after Brock Lesnar’s defeat at the hands of Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in Oct. 2010 (43:51)Pro wrestling royalty including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg Jim Ross, and Paul Heyman speak after Brock Lesnar’s incredible comeback against Shane Carwin at UFC 116 in July 2010 (57:03)King Mo’ Lawal’s emotional locker room interview after beating Gegard Mousasi to become Strikeforce champion in April 2010 (01:06:57)Rampage’ Jackson in rare form after his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135 in Sept. 2011 (01:15:33)
Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby on The Craic to preview the upcoming year in European MMA. The conversation begins with predictions on whether Tom Aspinall will finally get a crack at Jon Jones (03:58) and if Ilia Topuria will be able to bring a UFC event to Spain in 2025 (10:03).Next, they discuss whether Shavkat Rakhmonov will be able to capture UFC gold (18:00) and Leon Edwards' place in the welterweight title picture (26:15). Then they look outside the UFC and forecast what the future holds for Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes, and Muhammad Mokaev (28:44). Finally, they break down the rumored boxing match between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul, discussing whether it will happen and the potential magnitude of that event (42:05).
Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back — NewYorkRic and GC — and Petesy Carroll to look ahead to 2025.They list fights they need to see (04:26) and discuss what will be the biggest stories of next year (19:12).Then, they forecast Breakout Fighter of the Year (31:58), how many new UFC champions will be crowned (49:53), Female Fighter of the Year (53:41), and Male Fighter of the Year (01:02:12) for 2025.Finally, they each make one bold prediction for the year (01:17:23).
The Boys in the back react to Oleksandr Usyk's win over Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch.Uncrowned's Keith Idec joins The Boys to talk about the judges scores (03:17), Fury's strategy and reaction in the aftermath (04:48), and who Usyk could fight next (06:23).Next, Keith discusses whether it's finally time for Fury to face Anthony Joshua (08:32), where Usyk ranks all-time (10:16), whether AI judging can take hold (14:25), and if Moses Itauma could be the future face of British boxing (16:43).Finally, the Boys take a look at the official scorecards (21:17) before signing off.
Chuck Mindenhall joins Petesy Carroll on the latest episode of The Craic to sink his teeth into forecasting whether Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will happen in 2025 (03:54). The lads also discuss the build-up to Usyk vs. Fury 2 (19:14), the sentiment (or lack there of) for Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor (35:49), Paul Hughes in the US (51:26) and another big sell-out show in Paris (59:40).
The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC), react to Alex Pereira's cryptic social media posts about not fighting Magomed Ankalaev (01:07).Then, they dive deep into the highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury (23:10).In honor of Usyk, Fight Feasts visits Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, before GC gives out a few picks for the weekend (58:11).The Boys, now joined by Mysterious Frank, give their P4P rankings of 'New Year, New Me' script flips and answer your questions (16:34).Finally, Ariel Helwani crashes the party to give an update on Conor McGregor's rumored fight with Logan Paul (01:55:13).
Johnny Fisher previews his heavyweight fight against Dave Allen on the Usyk-Fury 2 undercard and discusses his time in Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalshikh, his history sparring Allen before his rise as a top prospect and more (04:13).Tyron Woodley discusses signing with the Global Fight League, the details of his GFL contract, his first MMA matchup in 2025, advice to Joaquin Buckley and Merab Dvalishvili, untold early stories of Colby Covington and more (33:50).Paul Hughes joins in-studio to preview his Bellator lightweight title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov and discuss Christmas in Ireland, Nurmagomedov's past drug-testing failure, what makes a perfect Guinness pour and more (01:08:27).Kai Kara-France discusses the state of the UFC flyweight division, his case for a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja, why Manel Kape needs to be taught a lesson and more (01:53:27).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about 2025 fights, relationship advice, end-of-day routines, who's going to end Cody Rhodes' title run, Dana White's involvement in the modern day UFC product, holiday traditions and much more (02:25:20).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned
DAZN commentator Adam Smith previews Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (03:29).Aljamain Sterling discusses his UFC 310 loss to Movsar Evloev, what's next in his career, whether he's considering retirement, concerns about Merab Dvalishvili's emotions before the Umar Nurmagomedov fight and more (37:15).Sean Brady discusses the state of the UFC welterweight division, why a fight against Leon Edwards in London makes the most sense, Belal Muhammad's chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov, reassessing Ian Machado Garry after his loss to Rakhmonov and more (01:11:29).Ariel Helwani discusses the Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul rumors and whether there's any truth to McGregor's claims (01:48:00).
Ariel x Ade is locked in on the year's biggest boxing match, the heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.To begin, Ade Oladipo reflects on his time so far in Riyadh, site of the fight, including the reaction on the ground to the massive event and his run-in with Usyk at the hotel gym (05:11).Next, hear Ade's exclusive sit-down with Fury, followed by Ariel's reaction to the interview and Ade's insight into Fury's demeanor (14:36).The duo discuss what's at stake for both fighters and Ade predicts Saturday could be Usyk's final fight (24:22).Following another exclusive sit-down, this time Ade's conversation with Usyk (34:42), Ariel reacts to the emotional moment in which Usyk references his father and wonders where Usyk fits in the conversation of greatest heavyweights ever (40:34).Then, the pair react to DAZN's broadcast team for the event, including 'The Voice of Boxing' Adam Smith and Ade himself (48:08).The undercard gets its moment, as Ariel and Ade break down important fights for Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma (51:10).Finally, the show closes with a recap of Dillian Whyte's win over Ebenezer Tetteh and Bruno Surace's shocking knockout of Jaime Munguia (01:17:48).
Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the weekend in combat sports, headlined by Joaquin Buckley's one-sided win over Colby Covington at UFC Tampa (09:11).Darren Till discusses Tommy Fury's bizarre withdrawal from their Misfits boxing match, Fury's "shameful" behavior, why he's devastated by the situation, potential replacement opponents and more (01:04:10).Jiří Prochazka previews his UFC 311 fight against Jamahal Hill and discusses a potential middleweight move, Hill's recent run-in with Alex Pereira, fans shaving their heads to mimic his unique hairstyle, his new shoe brand, fighting his ego and more (01:31:17).Patricio Pitbull discusses the latest with Bellator fighters' ongoing frustrations with the PFL, makes a plea to Donn Davis to formally request his release, targets several UFC standouts and more (02:02:19).Cub Swanson discusses his spectacular UFC Tampa win over Billy Quarantillo, whether he's planning to retire, his legacy in MMA and much more (02:33:01).
Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned colleagues Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to forecast potential issues GFL may face ahead of its proposed April launch date (00:30). Fowlkes shares details on his recent report regarding a growing number of disgruntled Bellator fighters (34:28) and Mindenhall provides key takeaways from his recent interview with Colby Covington (49:03).
The Boys in the Back — Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC) and Mysterious Frank — kick off the show with a recap of the Yahoo holiday party and GC's book club (02:25).Then, The Boys preview UFC Tampa (09:09), headlined by Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley, and wonder what's next for Covington with a win or loss. Is this the end of his run as a top fighter?Next, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys to make their parlay picks (01:07:39) and reveal their P4P rankings of holiday movies.Finally, they close the show by answering your Super Chat questions.
Ariel Helwani responds to recent comments by Belal Muhammad and Jake Shields, before bringing in The Boys In The Back to answer your On The Nose questions, including the gang's most desired boxing fights, best holiday gifts, and much more (25:41).Alexandre Pantoja discusses his UFC 310 title defense over Kai Asakura, his callout of Demetrious Johnson, potentially facing Kai Kara-France or Deiveson Figueiredo next, why he'd smash Sean O'Malley and more (58:15).GFL founder Darren Owen announces the launch of the Global Fight League, unveils a massive roster that includes seven former UFC champions, plus many more details about MMA's newest team-based organization (01:33:12).Anthony Pettis and Kevin Lee explain why they signed with the GFL and answer questions about the new team-based MMA organization (01:59:57).Finally, The Boys in the Back rejoin to react to the GFL news (02:13:46) and answer more questions (02:35:27).