Episodes

  • Episode 658: Khamzat smesh? Or Khamzat smush?

    Episode 658: Khamzat smesh? Or Khamzat smush?
    Aug 19 2025
    He done did it. Khamzat Chimaev basically pitched a perfect game against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, making it look EASY en route to one of the more lopsided decision wins you will ever witness in a championship fight. DDP showed up looking uniquely ill-equipped to stop Chimaev’s all-out takedown assault. And Ya Boi Borz? He looked so dominant people got mad at him for not doing more. So, now that the long-heralded Chimaev Era is finally underway at 185 pounds ... shouldn’t we be more excited? Plus, how does Michael Page keep doing this? And where are we at with Aaron Pico now? Also, what do you get when you cross one of light heavyweight’s most dangerous knockout artists with the guy who routinely gets knocked out in the funniest possible way? You get UFC Fight Night: Johnny Walker vs. Zhang Mingyang. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Episode 657: UFC’s move to Paramount could change everything (or not!)

    Episode 657: UFC’s move to Paramount could change everything (or not!)
    Aug 12 2025
    Here’s something nobody saw coming: the UFC is taking its talents to Paramount. Not Netflix. Not re-upping with ESPN. Not even a late play from Amazon or Apple. In a staggering seven-year, $7.7 billion deal, the UFC agrees to keep its programming mostly in one piece (thank you, MMA Gods!). It will stream exclusively on Paramount+, with certain events simulcast on CBS. The biggest kicker here is that, despite some conflicting reports, the traditional pay-per-view model might be going away. So … is it possible … being a UFC fan is about to get cheaper? That would be weird! Lots of ins and outs to discuss here. This deal seems great for the UFC, maybe good for Paramount, possibly good for fans … but, once again, potentially extremely shitty for fighters. Plus, what would a UFC schedule even look like without PPV? And did Paramount perhaps vastly overpay for UFC broadcast rights in order to appease the President of the United States? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 656: Every UFC fighter, ranked? What could go wrong?

    Episode 656: Every UFC fighter, ranked? What could go wrong?
    Aug 5 2025
    The big homies at Tapology this month revealed their own new computerized ranking system for MMA fighters — and, friends, they went big. The new Tapology rankings don’t just break down the Top 10 like your standard media rankings or the Top 15 like the UFC “rankings” do. Nope, they rank EVERY UFC FIGHTER IN EVERY WEIGHT CLASS. Can you imagine the potentially hilarious implications? Anyway, Very Serious Journalist Ben Fowlkes caught up with Tapology’s Gregory Saks to talk about developing the new system (sounds like it was not easy) for an article on the Uncrowned. This week on the CME, we discuss. Plus, it sucks to get cut from the UFC after a win (sorry, Martin Buday), Hector Lombard vs. Cheick Kongo in pillow fighting, and what’s with WWE bringing back Brock Lesnar not too long after he was named in the Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Episode 655: Dustin Poirier retires, Big Tom gets Ciryl Gane & Jon Jones can’t fight at the White House

    Episode 655: Dustin Poirier retires, Big Tom gets Ciryl Gane & Jon Jones can’t fight at the White House
    Jul 29 2025
    We had a lot to catch up on this week after missing last week’s show: UFC 318 and Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight; what the future holds now for Max Holloway; the recent booking of three UFC title fights — including Big Tommy Gas Hands against The Good Kid, Ciryl Gane; Jon Jones un-retiring to fight at the White House and being immediately told he won’t be fighting at the White House; whether it’s time for Bobby Knuckles to walk away and most importantly: if you attack Yoel Romero with a sword and he LIVES? He’ll see you soon, boy! Plus, an update on Ben’s travels and a spirited defense of the role of journalism in our society from … Brendan Schaub??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Episode 654: Saying goodbye to Cool Dusty P

    Episode 654: Saying goodbye to Cool Dusty P
    Jul 15 2025
    Dustin Poirier’s last fight is this weekend. You know, allegedly. All relevant disclaimers apply. Still, if anyone deserves to ride off into the sunset with his legacy intact and his chin held high, it’s Cool Dusty P. Call it cliché if you want, but they really don’t make them like him anymore. On this episode: hear our discussion of his upcoming third fight against Max Holloway this weekend at UFC 318. Plus, Derrick Lewis out here: Throwing. Them. Bungalows. And how did we know someone would correctly identify the CME as the MMA show to ask about Conor McGregor’s dick pic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Episode 653: UFC at the White House? Wow, LAME!

    Episode 653: UFC at the White House? Wow, LAME!
    Jul 8 2025
    The doddering old man who also happens to be the most powerful person in the world made an offhand comment over the 4th of July weekend that he’d like to do some UFC fights at the White House. He wants 20,000 people there. He says Dana’s gonna take care of it. And look, we’d be inclined to dismiss this as the rumblings of a crazy old grandpa who might sit next to you on the bus except, well, the scariest part of this whole fever dream is how utterly POSSIBLE it all actually seems. So … I guess we’ll see? Look, though, you know what strikes us most about the potential of having MMA fights at the White House? How fucking LAME that is. Remember when this sport used to feel cool? It used to feel underground? A little renegade? Well, that’s over now. That’s dead and gone. Suddenly, it feels like we’ve gone a little TOO mainstream. You know who loves this idea, though? Jon Jones. Soon as this MFer found out there might be a party he’s not invited to, he jumped back in the testing pool. SMDH. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Episode 652: Ilia Topuria looks more and more like That Dude

    Episode 652: Ilia Topuria looks more and more like That Dude
    Jul 1 2025
    Ilia Topuria called his shot — going out there at UFC 317 on Saturday and doing exactly what he said he was going to do to Charles Oliveira, exactly when he said he was going to do it. After a first-round knockout, Topuria claims the vacant lightweight title and becomes the 10th two-division champion in UFC history. He’s 28, undefeated, looks good getting off the bus and possesses an otherworldly calm and confidence in himself. He could be something special … … and the UFC’s apparent willingness to match him up next with Paddy Pimblett feels pretty meaningful, coming from a company that has seemed apathetic about making new stars lately. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Episode 651: Jon Jones ‘retires’ the same week as UFC 317? Lawd!

    Episode 651: Jon Jones ‘retires’ the same week as UFC 317? Lawd!
    Jun 24 2025
    So, Jon Jones is out. Like, OUT out. As in Jon Jones is retired. Or … should we say … “retired,” because ain’t nobody thinks we’ve seen the last of this dude in a cage, a ring, or a dusty circle of dirt at some county fairgrounds. In any case, Jones’ career ended (for now) the way all the great ones go out — with Dana White making a halfhearted announcement at the postfight press conference for UFC: Baku. Oh, and Jones has once again been charged with a crime — this one stemming from a February incident where he (you’re never going to believe this) allegedly left the scene of an early morning car accident. And then maybe threatened to have some police officers killed? So basically, he’s just out here living his best life, monetizing this amazing brand he’s built. Anyway, Tom Aspinall is champ now. So that’s … good? As if that wasn’t enough, UFC 317 is this weekend, and Ilia Topuria is more than a 4-to-1 favorite over Charles Oliveira. What??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 12 mins