Podcasts about contender series

After taking Monday off in observance of Memorial Day, Jim and Matt dive right into Wednesday's episode of UFC Unfiltered with two returning guests: 4th-ranked flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield and middleweight finisher Zachary Reese. Erin reflects on bouncing back from her first UFC loss to Manon Fiorot, shares how she's grown more comfortable in five-round bouts, and breaks down her matchup this Saturday against fellow contender Maycee Barber — a fight with major title implications. Later, Jim and Matt offer their picks for the UFC Fight Night card before welcoming Zachary Reese, who talks about life in small-town Shiner, Texas, his plans to deliver another first-round finish, and why Dusko Todorovic is the perfect dance partner for a crowd-pleasing scrap.

It's a jiu-jitsu kind of show today! Matt and his jiu-jitsu buddy Jimmy welcome a pair of elite grapplers for their first-ever appearances on UFC Unfiltered in Ffion Davies and William Tackett. Set to headline next Thursday's UFC Fight Pass Invitational 11, Ffion shares her journey into submission grappling and what it means to ink an exclusive deal with the UFC. With her Australian rival Adele Fornarino looking to even the score after a 2022 loss, Ffion breaks down her mindset heading into their rematch. Later, William Tackett joins the show to talk about growing up in a family that eats, sleeps, and breathes jiu-jitsu — and how that led to marrying a fellow grappler. He previews his upcoming clash with 18-year-old phenom Achilles Rocha and reflects on life, love, and grappling under pressure.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by two familiar friends of the show: lightweight Jared Gordon and women's bantamweight champion Julianna Peña. Fresh off a decisive first-round stoppage win, Jared breaks down the finish and reflects on how his recovery journey has strengthened his mindset inside the cage. After revealing he's now a proud girl dad to a 4-month-old daughter, Jared gets a laugh out of Matt's hilarious (and slightly scathing) story about a young YouTuber who kicked off their interview by asking Matt what it's like to be the same height as a kid — prompting Matt to jokingly offer up his daughter for a grappling match with the young content creator. Shortly after, Jim and Matt's interview with Julianna Peña kicks off with some sparks, as she joins mid-sentence — just as the guys are in the middle of complimenting her, saying she's not getting the respect she deserves ahead of UFC 316. Once they clear up the misunderstanding, the conversation shifts into an engaging breakdown of her matchup with Kayla Harrison. Julianna talks about being an underdog throughout her career, staying focused through the noise, and how she's preparing for Kayla's unique skill set. Plus, she weighs in on the looming possibility of a high-stakes trilogy with Amanda Nunes.

Jim and Matt are joined by two fighters slated for action at this Saturday's UFC APEX card. They kick off the show reacting to the just-announced, stacked UFC 317 lineup. Next, Cuban featherweight Yadier Del Valle drops in to share how watching old UFC VHS tapes in Cuba inspired his martial arts journey. He talks about earning his UFC shot on Dana White's Contender Series and previews his debut matchup against Connor Matthews. Later, featherweight veteran Julian Erosa joins the show to explain why he took a quick turnaround just 35 days after his most recent first-round finish. Now in his third UFC stint, Erosa reflects on his mindset shift and prepares for a showdown with Melquizael Costa—a clash of fighters riding three-fight win streaks. Finally, Jim and Matt close out the episode with their picks for Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales.

With UFC 315 in the books, Jim Norton is joined by by guest co-host Ben “The Bane” Davis for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that invites Aiemann Zahabi and Reinier de Ridder on as guest callers. Up first is Zahabi — who calls in just days removed from his impressive unanimous decision win over legend Jose Aldo in Montreal. Aiemann shares how the last-minute weight change affected his mindset, what it meant to perform in front of Canadian fans, and how guidance from GSP has shaped him into the surging fighter he is today riding a six-fight win streak. Jim and Ben dish out some more takeaways from UFC 315 before bringing Reinier de Ridder on for a chat. The Dutch middleweight discusses the role of punishing body work in his statement win over Bo Nickal before explaining why he's confident heading into his next fight — a quick turnaround against Robert Whittaker in July's main event in Abu Dhabi.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC Vegas 106: Burns vs Morales. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Jim Norton and Matt Serra get you ready for UFC with a pair of fighters from this Saturday's card joining the show. First up is undefeated light heavyweight prospect Navajo Stirling, making his UFC Unfiltered debut. Stirling shares how his journey from warehouse work to the UFC took shape, and what it's been like sharpening his game at City Kickboxing alongside some of the best in the world as he prepares for a fight against Ivan Erslan on Saturday's prelims. Between interviews, Jim and Matt offer their takes and make a few predictions for UFC 315. Then, 9th-ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius returns to the show to preview her pivotal bout against former champion Jessica Andrade. Jasmine opens up about her current four-fight win streak, representing Niagara Top Team, and what a win in Montreal would mean for her continued climb up the rankings.

Today's episode of UFC Unfiltered sees Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off a Monday full of fight talk with bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen and featherweight standout Yair Rodriguez. First up, Sandhagen joins the show just days removed from his dominant second-round TKO over Deiveson Figueiredo. He breaks down his performance, shares what clicked in the cage, and explains why he's ready to step in as a title challenger following June's Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley rematch. Between interviews, Jim and Matt react to the weekend's biggest upset: Bo Nickal suffering his first professional loss at the hands of Reinier de Ridder. The guys break down what went wrong and what could be next for the highly touted prospect. Later, Yair Rodriguez stops by to reflect on his rebound win over Patricio Pitbull and to lay out his vision for the featherweight division. Focused more on avenging his loss to Alexander Volkanovski than chasing a grudge match with Diego Lopes, Yair also gives his take on the evolution of his training partner Belal Muhammad, who defends his welterweight title this weekend at UFC 315. To wrap up the show, Jim and Matt dish out shoutouts to the standout performances from UFC Des Moines and look ahead to a stacked week of MMA action.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC 315: Muhammad vs Maddalena. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Miesha Tate and Bo Nickal drop in for a stacked Wednesday edition of UFC Unfiltered — with UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin joining midway through to take the reins on Bo's interview. Miesha opens up about what it's like balancing motherhood with life in the Octagon during her second UFC stint after stepping away from the sport for nearly five years. She breaks down her upcoming fight against fellow longtime vet Yana Santos and reflects on what keeps her motivated after nearly two decades in MMA. Then it's Bo Nickal time, and Forrest Griffin couldn't resist hopping on to steer the conversation. Bo shares what he learned from going the distance for the first time in his career against Paul Craig, his take on Reinier de Ridder's ground game, and how he feels his skillset has developed since his amateur MMA debut. Forrest sticks around through the end of the show to hear Jim and Matt's picks for UFC Fight Night: Des Moines — chiming in on matchups as an observer without predictions of his own.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for PFL 2025 World Tournament: First Round 4. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

On today's episode of UFC Unfilfered, Jim and Matt are joined by two victorious bantamweights with very different but equally compelling stories. When Gutierrez hops on, Matt heaps praise on the veteran's poised jiu-jitsu in in this past Saturday's split decision win over John Castaneda in Kansas City. Having fought through a broken hand, Chris outlines a timetable for his subsequent return after banking two straight wins. In between interviews, Jim and Matt debate whether a victory over Carlos Prates puts Ian Machado Garry in prime position for a No. 1 contender fight against Sean Brady. Finally, undefeated Malcolm Wellmaker makes his first-ever appearance on the show fresh off a viral one-punch KO in his UFC debut. Malcolm reflects on the moment he earned a $50k bonus and what it would mean for the Augusta, Georgia native to fight on this June's upcoming Atlanta card headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC Des Moines: Sandhagen vs Figueiredo THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

We got barbequed this week boys

Jim and Matt are back with a stacked midweek episode featuring two UFC vets and one of Hollywood's finest behind the camera. First up, Danish welterweight Nicolas Dalby makes his UFC Unfiltered debut to reflect on his razor-thin split decision loss, the secret to staying fight-ready at 40, and his thoughts heading into a striker's showdown with Randy Brown. Next, Gavin O'Connor — the acclaimed director behind The Accountant and Warrior — joins in a pre-recorded chat ahead of this Friday's theatrical release of The Accountant 2. Gavin and Matt swap Long Island stories before diving into how he fell in love with MMA and what makes fight storytelling so cinematic. Wrapping things up is Matt Schnell, back from a brief retirement and ready to go this Saturday. Schnell revisits his legendary comeback win over Sumudaerji and explains his motivation to return to the Octagon after previously laying down his gloves in his most recent loss to Cody Durden. With matchmaking on his post-career radar, Schnell also shares his take on the perfect sendoff for fellow Louisianan Dustin Poirier. Plus: Jim and Matt give their picks for this weekend's UFC Fight Night in Kansas City!

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC Kansas City: Garry vs Prates. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt are joined by two fighters representing different eras of Brazilian greatness. First, surging featherweight Jean Silva drops in for his Unfiltered debut to discuss his standing as a 145-pound title contender after beginning his unblemished 5-0 UFC tenure with each win coming via stoppage. Silva reflects on his statement victory over Bryce Mitchell, how Muay Thai turned his life around, and why he channels an alter ego called “Lord Assassin” every time he fights. Later, UFC legend Amanda Nunes returns for her 14th appearance on the show. Nearly two years removed from retiring on top with a win over Irene Aldana, the soon-to-be UFC Hall of Famer opens up about life outside the Octagon, balancing family and fitness, and what it would mean to dust off her gloves for a title shot against the winner of UFC 316's co-main event between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison.

In this episode of the Real Triathlon Podcast, hosts Lisa Becharas, Jackson Laundrie, Garrick Loewen, and Nicholas Chase discuss various topics including the dynamics of their team, the current political climate in Canada, the upcoming St. Anthony's race, and the potential for betting to elevate the sport of triathlon. The conversation flows from light-hearted banter to serious discussions about competition and the future of the sport. In this segment, the conversation revolves around the dynamics of upcoming triathlons, particularly focusing on the changes in race formats, the competitive landscape, and personal expectations for Ironman Texas. The participants share insights on their training, the challenges they anticipate, and humorous anecdotes about making everyday tasks competitive. The discussion highlights the camaraderie and competitive spirit among triathletes as they prepare for their respective races. In this conversation, the participants explore various themes ranging from frugal living and resourcefulness to the nostalgia of smoking sections in restaurants. They discuss the perceptions of time, particularly in relation to airports, and delve into the controversial nature of sponsorships in sports, particularly regarding nicotine products. The conversation also touches on upcoming triathlon races and the evolving structures and rankings within the sport, highlighting the complexities and changes that athletes face. In this conversation, the participants discuss the complexities of athlete contracts within the triathlon community, particularly focusing on the PTO series and the Contender Series. They explore the implications of contract acceptance and the associated penalties for athletes, as well as the payout structures and rankings that influence their decisions. The discussion also touches on rumors circulating within the community, the locations of upcoming 70.3 World Championships, and the challenges posed by course elevations. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of triathlon races and the importance of community engagement.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for PFL 2025 World Tournament: First Round 3. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Jim and Matt welcome a pair of first-time callers from California as featherweight newcomer Aaron Pico and welterweight veteran Daniel Rodriguez join the show. To kick things off, the highly-touted Pico discusses his wrestling and boxing roots, early career setbacks, and how the weight of his family's historic name shapes the fighter—and man—he is today. Jim and Matt also throw on their matchmaking hats to help fantasy-book his long-awaited UFC debut. Later, D-Rod checks in to talk about snapping a losing streak with a gritty win over Alex Morono, and why his May 3rd showdown with Santiago Ponzinibbio has Fight of the Night written all over it. He also shares stories from his tough upbringing in L.A. and breaks down how he's preparing for this high-stakes clash in Des Moines.

Jim and Matt ride the momentum of Saturday's UFC 314 featherweight fireworks into this Monday edition of UFC Unfiltered with two intriguing 145-pound guest callers rounding out the episode. First, Lerone Murphy makes his UFC Unfiltered debut just one week after extending his unbeaten record with a statement win over Josh Emmett. The former soccer phenom opens up about how surviving a near-fatal shooting changed the trajectory of his life, ultimately leading him to MMA — and now, an eight-fight win streak. Later, fan favorite Dan Ige calls in to reflect on his walk-off KO of Sean Woodson, respond to the online debate about the stoppage, and share where his head's at as he eyes a big second half of 2025. Plus, don't miss Matt and Jim's breakdown of all the key moments from UFC 314—Paddy Pimblett's huge finish, Jean Silva's fifth straight stoppage, and Volkanovski making history with a title-winning bounce-back performance.

Today's UFC Unfiltered episode peels back the layers of UFC 314 with two guests from Saturday's card in light heavyweight Dominick Reyes and lightweight Chase Hooper. Joining first is Reyes — whose eighth time on the show gets the veteran to reflect on his resurgence after snapping a four-fight skid with back-to-back wins. Dominick discusses the stakes of this Saturday's matchup against Nikita Krylov before chopping it up with Matt and Jim about how being family-oriented keeps him grounded. Later, rising lightweight Chase Hooper checks in — and the baby-faced 25-year-old explains how his “dad strength” has been the key to unlocking the power fueling his current four-fight winning streak. Coming off a win over Clay Guida, Hooper discusses what he's expecting from yet another veteran in Jim Miller. Finally, Matt and Jim look at Miami's stacked lineup of fights before picking winners up and down the UFC 314 card.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.comUFC 314 is a terrific card, full stop. It's got all the elements we hope for: ranked fights, plenty of ranked fighters, and we're not overrun with fighters coming off losses or from the Contender Series. The bouts are matched well and are compelling, with plenty of room for advancement. The main card is quite top heavy, with a concentration of top tier …

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for PFL 2025 World Tournament: First Round 2. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

It's a featherweight double feature on today's episode of UFC Unfiltered as Jim and Matt welcome Brian “T-City” Ortega and Pat Sabatini! Returning for his tenth appearance, Ortega shows off his new-look hair style after donating his famous long locks before discussing how being called out by a victorious Lerone Murphy fits into Brian's options at both 145 and 155 pounds. Stick around as Ortega weighs in on this Saturday's UFC 314 main event by reflecting on his two fights against Diego Lopes and Alexander Volkanovski. The guys then chop it up about this past weekend's fights before inviting Philly's own Pat Sabatini on the show to discuss what powered his completely dominant performance on the ground in his win over Joanderson Brito.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC 314: Volkanovski vs Lopes. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt and Jim welcome first-time guest Brad Tavares and returning favorite Ode' Osbourne ahead of their bouts at UFC Vegas. Jim gets Brad to break down his upcoming matchup against Gerald Meerschaert before discussing the journey that has taken a kid from Hawaii to a record-breaking career. Ode' sheds light on how he approaches his role as a veteran tasked with fighting an undefeated newcomer like Luis Gurule. Plus, don't miss as Jim and Matt react to Dana's Tuesday night announcements of the Merab vs. O'Malley rematch at UFC 316 and the Kansas City main event shakeup with welterweights Carlos Prates and Ian Machado Garry.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, lightweight up-and-comer MarQuel Mederos joins the show first to break down his dominant win over Austin Hubbard in Mexico City. The guys dive into how MarQuel's past shaped his fighting mindset, his shift from FactoryX to MMA Lab, and why staying in the gym year-round beats a traditional fight camp. Later in the show, women's strawweight contender Loopy Godinez returns for her fourth appearance following a much-needed win over Julia Polastri. Loopy talks about what it means to get back on track after two tough losses before joining Matt in a lighthearted, brutally honest assessment of the stomach issues that sparked a viral moment with her corner during the fight. Between interviews, Jim and Matt weigh in on Brandon Moreno's bounce-back performance, Raul Rosas Jr.'s rapid rise, and all the standout moments from UFC Mexico City!

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for PFL 2025 World Tournament: First Round 1. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC Vegas 105: Emmett vs Murphy. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Two fighters from this Saturday's card in Mexico City join Jim and Matt on today's episode of UFC Unfiltered! Matt saves his best “Chiwiwis” entrance for rising bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr., who opens up about the small changes in his diet and how sharpening his boxing with Canelo's coach, Eddy Reynoso, has reignited his mission to break Jon Jones' record as the UFC's youngest champion. After making their fight picks, Jim and Matt welcome Australian flyweight Steve Erceg. He previews his main event clash with Brandon Moreno and drops a brutally honest take on which celebrity lookalike he gets compared to the most.

Welcome to The Legacy Warriors Podcast! Highlighting and breaking down the two best feeder leagues to the big show, LFA and Cage Warriors. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Jim and Matt are joined by victorious welterweight contender Sean Brady and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo for this Monday edition of UFC Unfiltered! Joining first is Brady — and Matt praises the Philly native's high-level jiu-jitsu as the guys break down what Brady did to successfully outclass Leon Edwards in this past Saturday's UFC London main event. Motivated by the idea of avenging his loss to Belal Muhammad, Sean unpacks the welterweight landscape before wrapping up his interview by sharing his thoughts on teammate Joe Pyfer's upcoming clash with Kelvin Gastelum in Mexico City. Jim and Matt share their reactions to Carlos Ulberg's rise, Kevin Holland's return to form, and Molly McCann's retirement after UFC London before inviting Henry Cejudo on to the program. The former Olympic gold medalist gets candid on his current standing in the bantamweight division after a tough stretch before outlining his plans for what's next in his UFC career.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC Mexico: Moreno vs Erceg. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Welcome to The Legacy Warriors Podcast! Highlighting and breaking down the two best feeder leagues to the big show, LFA and Cage Warriors. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

London is calling, and Matt Serra and Jim Norton invite a pair of fighters from this Saturday's card in England to preview some of the action! First, bantamweight prospect Nathan Fletcher stops by to discuss his journey from The Ultimate Fighter 32 to the UFC. He reflects on his experience in the TUF house, recovering from a brutal leg injury, and making his UFC debut. Plus, he previews his upcoming fight against Caolán Loughran (a rematch from their amateur days) before sharing his thoughts on his teammate Paddy Pimblett's UFC 314 co-main event against Michael Chandler. Then, fan-favorite Kevin Holland joins the show to talk about his return to welterweight as he prepares to face Gunnar Nelson. Holland discusses Nelson's dangerous submission game, their vastly different activity levels, and how he's approaching this matchup after fighting three straight at middleweight. Before wrapping up, the guys preview UFC London, debating whether Leon Edwards can bounce back from his title loss or if Sean Brady is primed for the biggest win of his career.

Welcome to The Legacy Warriors Podcast! Highlighting and breaking down the two best feeder leagues to the big show, LFA and Cage Warriors. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton are joined by two exciting fighters fresh off major wins! First, undefeated Irish boxing sensation Callum Walsh (13-0, 11 KOs) stops by to talk about his statement-making first-round KO on St. Patrick's Day weekend. As if his rising stardom wasn't already clear, fans on the street interrupt his interview just to get a moment with him — proving he's quickly becoming one of boxing's must-watch prospects. After outlining his goals inside the ring, the Freddie Roach protégé iterates his desire to step into the Octagon one day. Then, Da'Mon Blackshear joins the show fresh off a submission victory over Cody Gibson. When he breaks down his second-round Kimura finish, Matt (aka the “Kimura Savage”) can't contain his excitement! A BJJ black belt himself, Blackshear uses his Unfiltered debut to introduce himself to listeners as a surfing fighter ready to take on any challengers in the UFC's bantamweight top-15. Plus, Jim and Matt recap the action from this past Saturday's explosive card filled with NINE stoppages.

MMALOTN is back to give you breakdowns and predictions for UFC London: Edwards vs Brady. THIS PATREON IS FOR THE FIGHT LINK DATABASE, NOT MY PICKS/BETS/WRITE UPS.

Jim returns alongside Matt for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that welcomes two fighters from Saturday's main and co-main events in welterweight striker Chidi Njokuani and middleweight contender Marvin Vettori. Stopping by first is Njokuani, who discusses his career resurgence at 170 pounds and the sacrifices he's made to make the weight cut with the help of the UFC P.I. Chidi also shares how his brother and former UFC fighter Anthony Njokuani has shaped his fighting style. Then, top-10 middleweight contender Marvin Vettori breaks down the hilarious backstory that resulted in him signing up for a rematch against Roman Dolidze. The Italian veteran discusses his return from a string of injuries and how a second win over Dolidze can put him right into the mix in a stacked division. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap up the show with three picks from this Saturday's card — with Matt finding himself just 5.5 points away from Jim's lead in their head-to-head standings.

Today's episode of UFC Unfiltered brings the dynamic duo of Matt Serra and Ray Longo together for an engaging chat with surging lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes mixed in with a recap of UFC 313! Matt and Ray unpack their main takeaways from Saturday's card before bringing Bahamondes in for his first appearance on the pod! The guys quickly learn about how Ignacio's family ties to Kenpo Karate guided him on his journey from his native Chile to the UFC. He then reflects on his current three-fight winning streak and how working alongside teammate Belal Muhammad has helped his personal and athletic growth.

Today's episode of UFC Unfiltered takes a unique look at fight week through two different lenses, as Curtis Blaydes prepares for his featured prelim bout at UFC 313 while Caio Borralho steps into a coaching role, cornering his Fighting Nerds teammate Mauricio Ruffy on the main card. Blaydes talks about his upcoming fight against UFC debutant Rizvan Kuniev, admitting he had to Google his opponent when the matchup was announced. He shares his thoughts on Kuniev's background, what he expects from him, and whether he feels like he's in a no-win situation fighting a newcomer. While Borralho isn't fighting this weekend, the Fighting Nerds captain heaps praise on Mauricio Ruffy and explains how he's locked into his role as a cornerman for his 28-year-old teammate's upcoming battle against King Green. Plus, Borralho reflects on his own recent success, including his 16-fight win streak, his grappling win over Brendan Allen, and his recent callout of middleweight legend Robert Whittaker. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap up the show with three of their own predictions for this Saturday's UFC 313 card.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and undefeated featherweight Hyder Amil! Eager to showcase what he's picked up since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker identifies the specific highly-ranked middleweight veteran that he'd like to fight next. Don't miss as Bobby Knuckles discusses the 180º turn in his relationship with Israel Adesanya before ultimately breaking down what he thinks of this weekend's Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev main event at UFC 313. Then, Hyder Amil joins the show fresh off his hard-fought win over William Gomis. He shares the incredible story of battling through multiple injuries during training camp, how his journey from the Philippines to the U.S. shaped his mentality, and what it's like being coached by MMA legend Gilbert Melendez. As the show shifts to recapping this past Saturday's card, Matt wraps up the show by patting himself on the back for a perfect 3-0 showing in his fight picks — enough to erase 12.5 points off Jimmy's early lead in their year-long, head-to-head battle.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt welcome in fighters from this Saturday's main and co-main events as middleweight Cody Brundage and flyweight contender Manel Kape join the show! Joining first is Brundage, who reflects on what he learned about himself after fighting six times in a 14-month span. The guys get Cody to discusses the stakes of Saturday's crossroads fight against a former training partner in Julian Marquez before our two bald co-hosts get their middleweight guest to wax poetic about his successful hair transplant. In between guests, Jim and Matt discuss what Dan Hooker's injury withdrawal means for UFC 313's PPV co-main event. When the guys invite Manel Kape on to the show, the ever-confident flyweight known as “Starboy” breaks down his five-round main event vs. Asu Almabayev before explaining how his unique skillset is why he doesn't get too caught up with watching film on how his opponents look against other fighters. Finally, Jim looks to extend his surprising lead in the 2025 fight pick standings as he and Matt wrap up the episode with predictions for this Saturday's card.

Fresh off the UFC's return to Seattle, Jim and Matt are back with an action-packed episode that talks to two of Saturday's biggest winners. First up, bantamweight veteran Rob Font returns for his ninth appearance to break down his latest fight, his switch to Tristar Gym, and what's next after handing the previously unbeaten Jean Matsumoto his first-ever loss as a professional. Then, Modestas Bukauskas joins the show for the first time, fresh off a statement-making KO to kick off the Seattle card. The surging light heavyweight talks about what he learned from his first stint in the UFC and how his second go-around has shaped him into the improved fighter he is today. Don't miss as the guys recap UFC Seattle's biggest moments—including Cejudo's third straight loss and Anthony Hernandez's scintillating win over Brendan Allen.

UFC Unfiltered welcomes back bantamweight brawler Ricky Simon and featherweight veteran Andre Fili ahead of UFC's long-awaited return to Seattle! Simon breaks down his matchup with Javid Basharat and talks about shaking off a tough losing streak in front of a home crowd before discussing his approach to preserving his body with cryotherapy and his at-home sauna. In between interviews, Jim and Matt take a look at this Saturday's UFC Seattle card before making some picks of their own. Finally, Fili calls in to reflect on his UFC journey and discuss how the expectant father feels more grounded as he approaches his 12th year with the promotion and a fight in his home state against Melquizael Costa.

Fresh off UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues, Jim and Matt break down all the biggest moments from Saturday's card, including Jared Cannonier's comeback TKO win over Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues. Then, surging featherweight Youssef Zalal joins the show fresh off his dominant unanimous decision victory over 10th-ranked Calvin Kattar to discuss how he successfully thwarted his opponent's game plan. With seven straight wins to his name, Youssef examines his place in the division before detailing what his spirited training sessions with Justin Gaethje taught him about himself. Later, middleweight knockout artist Edmen Shahbazyan stops by after his electrifying first-round KO win. He opens up about the $50K performance bonus, his move to Xtreme Couture, and how fatherhood has given him new motivation. Plus, Edmen reveals his plans for a busy 2025 and the former foe that he's eyeing next.

With Jim Norton out for the day, John Morgan fills in for his 10th appearance as a UFC Unfiltered co-host for an episode that features Angela Hill and Kelvin Gastelum calling in separately. Joining first is Hill, who discusses her mindset three days ahead of her fight against Ketlen Souza. The 40-year-old veteran puts on her MMA analyst hat by unpacking Zhang Weili's dominant UFC 312 title defense and stating whether it was impressive enough to warrant calling her the UFC's pound-for-pound #1 female fighter. Then, Kelvin Gastelum calls in days removed from the announcement that his five-round war with Israel Adesanya would be immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame's Fight Wing. The TUF 17 winner reflects on his relationship with Chael Sonnen after discussing his upcoming fight and divulging his weight class plans for the foreseeable future.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt break down all the action from UFC 312 and welcome two explosive guests to the show! First, light heavyweight Johnny Walker joins to give an update on his recovery after an injury forced him out of UFC 311. Now settled into his new home in Las Vegas, Walker reflects on his incredible time training in Ireland as he explains the logistical factors behind his move to Xtreme Couture. Looking to get back into contention, Walker discuses his optimistic outlook for his career moving forward. Fresh off his big win at UFC Saudi Arabia, Michael “Venom” Page stops by to discuss his impressive debut at middleweight, the possibility of future fights at both 170 and 185, and his acting ambitions. Plus, the guys dive into the dominant performances from both Dricus Du Plessis and Zhang Weili from atop this past Saturday's UFC 312 PPV card.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and NFL great Gerald McCoy call in to catch up with Jim and Matt ahead of UFC 312. After briefly contemplating amputation (yes, seriously) to deal with an infected pinky toe, Belal Muhammad details his battle with a severe bone infection that forced him out of his first-ever title defense at UFC 310. Now eyeing a return after Ramadan in May, the champ opens up about how fasting and hydration challenges push his mental game to new levels. Later, six-time NFL Pro Bowler and UFC diehard Gerald McCoy joins from media row at Super Bowl LIX to talk all things UFC 312. From breaking down the rematch between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis to making his own bold prediction for Saturday's flyweight title fight, Gerald holds his ground—even as Jim and Matt aren't seeing eye to eye with him on his co-main event prediction. The guys wrap up the show with more UFC 312 picks and a look ahead at what's next in the MMA landscape.