Unlocking The Cage with Jimmy Smith

https://www.siriusxm.com/channels/siriusxm-fight-nation

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier joins Chris Weidman to discuss wrestling, MMA judging, the expectations for Jon Jones at heavyweight and why 2022 was the year of the underdog in mixed martial arts. 

Jimmy Smith examines whether 2022 was a successful or down year the UFC (0:21) and share's his reaction to TJ Dillashaw breaking his silence on his retirement (19:25).

RJ Clifford and Angela Hill talk judging, Francis Ngannou, and the fights this weekend with Xtreme Couture's Eric Nicksick on MMA Today (0:29). And Jimmy Smith gets an update on the contract status of Francis Ngannou from BloodyElbow.com's John Nash on Unlocking the Cage (18:09).

Din Thomas & UFC Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith are joined by UFC Featherweight Billy Quarantillo to discuss his big win at UFC 282 and what he expects for himself in 2023, plus, Anthony discusses what's next for him after Dana White announced the new title fight at 205lbs between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill.

The Bellator bantamweight grand prix finalists join the podcast, as Jimmy Smith speaks to Patrick 'Patchy' Mix on Unlocking the Cage (:30), and RJ Clifford and Din Thomas chat with interim champion Raufeon Stots (16:11), after the two stamped their tickets to the finals at Bellator 289. 

Chris Weidman is joined by Laura Sanko to break down all of the weekend action from UFC 282, plus take a deep dive into the scoring from the Paddy Pimblett/Jared Gordon fight and the Jan Blachowicz/Magomed Ankalaev fight. 

Jimmy Smith gets a preview of Bellator 289 from Bellator analyst, Josh 'The Punk' Thomson on Unlocking the Cage (0:27). And on MMA Today, RJ Clifford and Angela Hill catch up with UFC middleweight Eryk Anders to discuss his win at UFC Orlando (22:02).

Din Thomas catches up with Ill Will Brooks to discuss his career, working his way back to the UFC, and the state of the lightweight division on MMA Today (0:32). Plus, Jimmy Smith speaks to UFC welterweight, Rafael dos Anjos, about his win at UFC Orlando (18:47) and discusses a great year for BKFC with their president, David Feldman on Unlocking the Cage (34:12)

Jimmy Smith is joined by two special guests as he goes over the ins and outs of the Cain Velasquez case with TV personality, Jenn Brown, and former prosecutor, Francey Hakes, who have released an audio series on Audible titled 'Breaking Justice: The Cain Velasquez story' (0:31). Plus, RJ Clifford and Din Thomas catch up with newly crowned PFL featherweight champ, Brendan Loughnane to discuss the million dollar prize, beef with Charles Rosa, and plans for the 2023 season on MMA Today (25:04).

Today on Won't Back Down Radio, Chris Weidman is joined by UFC WW Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson fresh off his UFC Orlando main event win over Kevin Holland to discuss the fight, any injuries he sustained and how active he wants to be in 2023, PLUS, UFC FW Billy Quarantillo joins the show ahead of his UFC 282 fight with Alexander Hernandez. 

Was the missed fight between Conor McGregor and Rafael dos Anjos, the biggest missed fight in UFC History? Jimmy Smith debates it on today's podcast (0:33), plus, Jimmy and his staff of producers review an article about 7 signs your significant other is "micro cheating" on you, and see what we agree with and what they think is toxic advice (12:14).

Jimmy Smith speaks to Bellator Bantamweight, Danny Sabatello, to discuss his upcoming Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix finals matchup with Raufeon Stots at Bellator 289 (0:30), and catchup with newly crowned PFL featherweight champion, Brendan Loughnane to discuss his win against Bubba Jenkins at the PFL World Championships (17:18).

Din Thomas and Anthony Smith are joined by PFL FW Aspen Ladd to discuss her promotional debut and win over Julia Budd and what life is like in the PFL. Also, Anthony discusses his March 11th main event with Jamahal Hill.

A pair of newly crowned PFL champions join the podcast today to talk about their wins in the 2022 PFL World Championship, as Andreas Hale and Din Thomas catch up with lightweight winner, Olivier Aubin-Mercier, on MMA Today (0:27), and Jimmy Smith speaks to the new light-heavyweight king, Rob Wilkinson, on Unlocking the Cage (17:27).

Chris Weidman is joined by UFC Welterweight Contender, Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, ahead of his UFC Orlando main event to discuss his matchup with Kevin Holland, the current state of the welterweight division and what special guest will be walking him out on Saturday night.

Din Thomas and Anthony Smith are joined by UFC Heavyweight Contender Curtis Blaydes to discuss the Jon Jones return rumors, how a fight between him and Jon would look and his place in the title mix, PLUS, the guys discuss MMA media and how Anthony keeps getting trapped in clickbait headlines.

It's a jam packed lineup today on the podcast as Jimmy Smith talks to PFL & Former WWE announcer, Lilian Garcia, about the PFL world championships coming up on November 25th (0:34), speaks to rising star and UFC strawweight, Vanessa Demopoulos, about her future after her win at UFC Vegas 65 (0:21), and catches up with American Kickboxing Academy head coach, Javier Mendez, to discuss AKA's recent run of success with Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov (37:38).

Chris Weidman is joined by UFC Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith to discuss his injury recovery, his next fight & the latest with the betting controversy surrounding James Krause, PLUS, Maverick MMA Featherweight Champion Dennis Buzukja joins Chris to discuss his weekend title win, recovering from COVID and his path to the UFC. 

RJ Clifford and Din Thomas catch up with UFC bantamweight, Chris Gutierrez, to talk about his win at UFC 281 , playing spoiler to Frankie Edgar's retirement fight, and what's next for him in the division on MMA Today (0:30). Plus, Jimmy Smith speaks to Bellator MMA color analyst, Big John McCarthy, to preview Bellator 288 and talk about the stoppage in the main event of UFC 288 on Unlocking the Cage (14:49).

Ryan McKinnell and Anthony Smith speak to Fight Nation's own Angela Hill about the strawweight title fight at UFC 281, state of the division, and her upcoming fight against Emily Ducote at UFC Orlando on MMA Today (0:31). Plus, Jimmy Smith answers YOUR questions on UFC 281 and how to break into broadcasting from the Midweek Mailbag, on Unlocking the Cage (18:12).To submit a question to the Midweek Mailbag, e-mail it to UTCMailbag@Gmail.com to have it answered Wednesdays on Unlocking the Cage.

Jimmy Smith catches up with UFC lightweight, Renato Moicano, to discuss his win over Brad Riddell at UFC 281, epic post-fight interview, and the future of his career on Unlocking the Cage (:30). Plus, Jimmy analyzes whether the UFC should bring back the underground king, Eddie Alvarez, into the promotion (17:29).

Chris Weidman is joined by UFC LW Matt Frevola, fresh off a huge win at UFC 281 to discuss what it was like fighting at home at MSG and who he wants to fight next, PLUS, Chris gives his thoughts on last weekend's main event where Alex Pereira upset Israel Adesanya to become the UFC MW Champion.

Jimmy Smith analyzes why UFC strawweight champ, Carla Esparza seems to be getting so much unjustified hate from MMA fans ahead of her title defense against Zhang Weili at UFC 281 (0:32). Plus, Jimmy speaks to City Kickboxing head coach, and fight mastermind, Eugene Bareman about Adesanya vs Pereira and the City Kickboxing invasion of Madison Square Garden on Saturday (21:08).

Jimmy Smith speaks with MMAJunkie's Nolan King about Cain Velasquez finally being granted bail at his latest hearing and the reaction from the MMA community (0:31), plus Jimmy answers listener questions from the midweek mailbag (16:30).   To submit a question to the Unlocking the Cage Midweek Mailbag, just e-mail it to UTCMailbag@gmail.com!

Ryan McKinnell and RJ Clifford speak to rising Lightweight, Grant Dawson about his win at UFC Vegas 64 (0:26) Plus RJ Clifford and Anthony Smith check in with Neil Magny after his record breaking win at UFC Vegas 64 on Saturday (15:14).

Today on Won't Back Down Radio, Chris Weidman is joined by UFC Light Heavyweight Contender Dustin Jacoby to discuss his controversial split decision loss to Khalil Rountree at UFC Vegas 63 and breakdown this weekend's UFC 281 main event between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, PLUS, Chris discusses all of the action going down at MSG this weekend and which fights he's looking forward to the most. 

Ryan McKinnell & Andreas Hale catch up with UFC Welterweight, Max Griffin, to discuss his win at UFC Vegas 63, get an update on his hand injury, and get his thoughts on the welterweight division (0:30). Plus they discuss the 5 year anniversary of GSP's middleweight title win against Michael Bisping at UFC 217 (22:08)

RJ Clifford & Din Thomas are joined by Kill Cliff Fight Club's Greg Jones to talk how wrestling translates in MMA, the most common mistakes when it comes to MMA wrestling and the hype around Bo Nickal, PLUS, RJ & Din debate if Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz will sell after what we saw from Jake Paul in the Anderson Silva fight.

Fresh off his pro-boxing debut and win over Le'Veon Bell, Uriah Hall joins Ryan McKinnell & Angela Hill on MMA Today to talk about his big win, why he wants a fight with Jake Paul next and if he thinks Jake Paul is genuine in his comments about fighter pay.

RJ Clifford and Anthony Smith catch up with Ben Askren, to talk about his new book, FUNKY, Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva, and more on MMA Today (0:30). Plus, Jimmy Smith goes over  the state of the featherweight division with two of its top contenders, Arnold Allen (24:16) and Josh Emmett (40:55) on Unlocking the Cage.

Chris Weidman is joined by MMA Coach Ray Longo to discuss what's next for his fighters; UFC BW Champion Aljamain Sterling and UFC BW Contender Merab Dvalishvili, PLUS, Chris gives his thoughts on Jake Paul beating Anderson Silva and a potential fight between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz in the future. 

Jimmy Smith sits down with UFC bantamweight champion, Aljamain "Funkmaster" Sterling, to discuss his win over TJ Dillashaw at UFC 280,  Dillashaw's comments about his injury, and the treatment he gets from MMA fans.

Jimmy Smith speaks to BKFC president, David Feldman, about one of the biggest Muay Thai fights ever made, between Buakaw Banchamek and Suphachai “Saenchai” Saepong, going down for BKFC in March (0:30). Plus, Jimmy teams up RJ Clifford to interview one of the best American wrestlers in the game. David Taylor (17:06).

On Unlocking the Cage, Jimmy Smith catches up with top 5 welterweight, Belal Muhammad to discuss his rise in the division after beating rising prospect Sean Brady at UFC 280 (0:33). And on MMA Today, Ryan McKinnell and Angela Hill speak to another big winner from UFC 280, Beneil Dariush, to discuss where he stands in the lightweight title picture after his win over  Mateusz Gamrot (17:04).

RJ Clifford & Anthony Smith discuss the scoring for Petr Yan vs Sean O'Malley at UFC 280, and whether there's an argument to be made for Suga Sean getting the nod from the judges on MMA Today (0:33). And On Unlocking the Cage, Jimmy Smith speaks with MMA analyst, Dan Hardy, to discuss Dana White's recent comments about him, and the state of the MMA's business practices (18:22).

Chris Weidman is joined by Al Iaquinta to discuss Aljamain Sterling's latest BW title defense, TJ Dillashaw's injury and Sean O'Malley's controversial split decision win over Petr Yan, PLUS, Chris previews this weekend's boxing match between his former opponent Anderson Silva and Jake Paul.

Jimmy Smith breaks down the undercard (0:17) and the two title fights (9:00) on the stacked UFC 280 main card with the Thugjitsu Master himself, Yves Edwards, on Unlocking the Cage.

Jimmy Smith catches up with Fight Nation Alum and host of Morning Kombat, Luke Thomas, to break down the biggest storylines heading into UFC 280 on Unlocking the Cage (0:29).  Plus, it's a meeting of the coaching minds as Din Thomas talks UFC 280 and the coaching life with Xtreme Couture's Erick Nicksick on MMA Today (17:52).

On Unlocking the Cage, Jimmy Smith examines why some people take more heat than others for popping positive for PEDs and whether TJ Dillashaw can shake the cheater tag that has followed him with a win at UFC 280 (:30). Plus Jimmy answers listener questions submitted to the UTC Midweek Mailbag (28:29).

Din Thomas and Anthony Smith discuss the likelihood of Jon Jones returning at the end of the year and what a matchup with Stipe Miocic might look like on MMA Today (0:34). And On Unlocking the Cage, Jimmy Smith examines what the landscape might be like at 145lbs if Alexander Volkanosvki moves up take on the winner of Charles Oliveira & Islam Mahkchev after UFC 280 (20:26).

It's the debut of 'Wont Back Down Radio' on SiriusXM Fight Nation! Former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman is joined by UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling ahead of his title defense against TJ Dillashaw, PLUS, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski joins Chris to discuss being the backup for the LW title fight this weekend and what his future plans are at 145 and 155 pounds.