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Bando's Breakdowns

Bando's Breakdowns

By: Empty The Bench Network
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 Host Zain Bando gives you his unfiltered hot takes from the world of sports from his own unique perspective

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Episodes
  • Dianna Russini OUT at The Athletic: What Happened?

    Dianna Russini OUT at The Athletic: What Happened?
    Apr 17 2026
    On this edition of Bando’s Breakdowns, Zain Bando tackles a massive slate of sports headlines starting with the seismic shift in sports media as NFL insider Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic amid the fallout of the Mike Vrabel situation. Zain provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape before diving into the frantic nature of the college basketball transfer portal and looking ahead to the rising stars of the 2026 WNBA Draft. The NFL talk heats up as Zain discusses Drew Allar’s high-profile visit to the Pittsburgh Steelers while the league waits on Aaron Rodgers’ looming decision, followed by a breakdown of 4-star Utah quarterback Kamden Lopati flipping his commitment to Michigan. The Octagon takes center stage as we recap the major results from UFC 327, discuss the latest UFC White House updates, and preview the upcoming UFC Winnipeg card while questioning if the boxing world will finally see Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua go toe-to-toe. To wrap up the show, Zain reacts to Ryan Day’s bold suggestion that college football move toward a formal draft system and delivers a sharp Zain’s Zinger aimed at Amazon Prime for the broadcast debacle during the NBA Play-In tournament.

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    33 mins
  • Final Four! 🚨 Jaden Ivey CUT + Diaz rejects Conor

    Final Four! 🚨 Jaden Ivey CUT + Diaz rejects Conor
    Apr 3 2026

    The bracket is set, the Octagon is heating up, and the sports world is grappling with a massive integrity crisis. Join Zain Bando for Episode 84 of Bando’s Breakdowns as we dive into a weekend of high-stakes finishes and controversial front-office decisions.


    We kick things off with Zain’s Overview, setting the stage for a week that bridges the gap between the madness of March and the brutality of the cage.

    The road to the National Championship has reached its final stop. We provide a comprehensive 2026 Final Four Preview, breaking down the heavyweight matchups in Indianapolis. Can (1) UConn continue its historic march toward a three-peat against a physical (3) Illinois squad? Plus, we analyze the tactical battle between (1) Arizona and (2) Michigan to see who has the edge in the quest for the nets.


    In the world of combat sports, we recap a wild night at UFC Seattle, analyzing the fallout from the main event and what it means for the divisional rankings. We also look ahead to UFC Vegas 115, identifying the sleepers and must-watch prospects on the upcoming card. Speaking of the Octagon, we address the reports that Nate Diaz officially turned down a trilogy bout with Conor McGregor. We discuss why the Stockton native walked away from the payday and what is next for the "Notorious" one.


    In our "One Thing I Saw" segment, we tackle the biggest story in the NBA: The Chicago Bulls' release of Jaden Ivey. Following his "conduct detrimental" and anti-gay comments, we ask if the Bulls made the right call by taking the nuclear option or if a suspension should have been the first step.


    Finally, we wrap up with Zain’s Zinger: A passionate plea for the NCAA to return the Final Four to its rightful home on CBS. We debate why the move to cable is hurting the "Big Event" feel of the greatest weekend in amateur sports.


    Support the Network: The Empty the Bench Network is in the final drive toward 4,000 watch hours on YouTube! You can help us reach the finish line by hitting the SUBSCRIBE button, leaving a 5-star review on Acast, and following us on social media.


    Leave a comment: Should the Final Four stay on cable or go back to CBS? And did the Bulls handle the Jaden Ivey situation correctly?


    #BandosBreakdowns #MarchMadness #FinalFour #UFC #UFCSeattle #NateDiaz #ConorMcGregor #JadenIvey #ChicagoBulls #CollegeBasketball #MMA #EmptyTheBench

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    34 mins
  • Hubert Davis OUT at UNC 🚨 + Sweet 16 & McGregor Return

    Hubert Davis OUT at UNC 🚨 + Sweet 16 & McGregor Return
    Mar 27 2026
    Welcome back to another high-octane edition of Bando’s Breakdowns as Zain Bando dives straight into the madness of March with a comprehensive overview of the current college basketball landscape on Episode 83. The stakes are higher than ever as Zain checks the pulse of his original bracket to see if his Final Four picks are still alive or if his championship dreams have officially gone bust before shifting into an in-depth preview of the Midwest Region to break down the matchups, the sleepers, and the potential bracket-busters looking to make a run. Shifting from the court to the coaching carousel, we tackle the absolute bombshell news out of Chapel Hill as Hubert Davis is officially out at North Carolina, with Zain reacting to the firing and discussing what this means for the future of the Tar Heels. Switching gears to the Octagon, we get you ready for the upcoming UFC Seattle card with a full preview of the fights to watch, plus a look at the "Notorious" one as Conor McGregor continues to tease a potential comeback that has the MMA world buzzing. In our "One Thing I Saw" segment, Zain examines the viral controversy surrounding the Illinois-Penn cheerleading video that took an unexpected political turn on social media before wrapping things up with Zain’s Zinger, where he pulls no punches arguing that the UFC is facing a massive star power crisis heading into the heart of 2026.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    37 mins
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