Podcast appearances and mentions of Jon Anik

Just three days remain until one of the most stacked non-PPV cards in UFC history comes to Austin, Texas! So, with that in mind, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by a pair of fighters from Saturday's card in former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum and lightweight Drakkar Klose. Making his return to welterweight for the first time in nearly seven years, Kelvin Gastelum joins Unfiltered to talk at length about the lessons he's learned from previous issues with weight cutting. Confident from the durability he has shown against hard-hitting middleweights, Gastelum explains what he expects from 9th-ranked welterweight Sean Brady in their fight on Saturday before discussing how his significant experience edge over Brady comes with a string of injuries that have changed Gastelum's approach to training camps. Later on, the guys are joined by Drakkar Klose — who shares his excitement over the upcoming birth of his second son before ultimately sharing his thoughts on what it's like to fight an opponent who shares the same manager as him. Jim and Matt wrap up the episode by making predictions for the majority of Saturday's card.

Superstar UFC play by play commentator Jon Anik joins Adam Schein to talk about his love for Boston sports, the fall of his New England Patriots, Mac Jones, Bill Belichick, the Boston Red Sox future, his favorite UFC calls, and the meme of him, Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan. Adam and Bob Stew make 9 predictions for NFL week 13 and the College Football Championship games. Adam celebrates his DFS win by the slimmest of margins. 

EP. 451 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. FIRST, JA & KenFlo discuss the major headlines in MMA including no less than 7 new PFL world champions being crowned and given million dollar checks last weekend.  THEN, Jon & Kenny chat with newly crowned PFL king Impa Kasanganay about his last win, the ups and downs of his career to this point, and who is next for him in 2024. AFTER, the boys chat with show staple Ray Longo on the state of MMA, PFL's 2023 season, his next few weeks in the gym and a recovery update from the legendary coach. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, Brian Petrie, aka, the BIG GUN joins to give picks against Kenny Florian for the UFC's return to Texas at #UFCAustin  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:02:21) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik, @KennyFlorian  (00:28:26) - Impa Kasanganay joins the show to talk PFL 2023 (00:44:07) - More PFL 2023 Talk with JA/KF (00:47:15) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (01:04:22) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA (01:41:29) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL APPAREL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

Episode 136 was originally scheduled to be just one episode, but in typical Take It Personal fashion, it's now become a 2-part Boston Tribute.  We've got music from MC Keithy E, The Gang Starr Posse, Sir Jake, T.D.S. Mob, Joint Ventures, Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, 7L & Esoteric, Insight, Krumbsnatcha, Big Shug, Termanology, Reks, Scientifik, Almighty RSO, Top Choice Clique, T-Max, L Da Headtoucha, Skitzofreniks, Slaine, Statik, and a very special tribute to Ed OG.  Plus special guests Dart Adams and Esoteric of Czarface stop by to discuss all things Boston.  Grab yourself a cannoli from Mike's Pastry, some chowda from Union Oyster House or a Fenway Frank. Hit up Newbury Street for some comics and a fresh tee out the oven from Johnny Cupcakes. Hop in the whip and take a ride from Roxbury to the Natick Mall bumpin' Life of a Kid in the Ghetto cuz this one's special.  We've covered a lot of different regions and cities on Take It Personal, but it was long overdue we showed love to Beantown. Part 2 drops early December with special guests Edo G. and Jon Anik.  TIP rock knots and got props like Norm Peterson. ⁠www.takeitpersonalradio.com⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram @takeitpersonalradio Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TakeItPersonal 

Feeling rejuvenated by the stem cell treatment he received in Colombia, guest co-host Jason Parillo joins Matt Serra and Jim Norton for a fun episode of UFC Unfiltered as the guys recap Saturday's fights and talk through coach Parillo's process of guiding Marlon “Chito” Vera to victory in next year's scheduled rematch against Sean O'Malley for the UFC bantamweight title. The guys begin their recap of UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig by debating whether referee Mike Beltran's premature decision to wave off the fight in Trey Ogden vs. Nikolas Motta merited NSAC to rule Saturday's lightweight bout a no contest. After breaking down more fights and talking through Brendan Allen's impressive submission win over Paul Craig in the middleweight main event, Parillo opens up about his role as a coach. The guys wrap up the show by looking at Marlon “Chito” Vera's growth as a fighter and how the five-round fight against newly-crowned bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley could play out.

EP. 450 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. FIRST, JA & KenFlo recap Brendan Allen's huge win over Paul Craig at #UFCVegas82 as well as discuss a number of fights from the card. THEN, Jon & Kenny chat with newly signed PFL athlete Derek Brunson ahead of the PFL Championships on PPV this Friday, November 24th in Washington, DC.  Jon & Kenny then dive more into the card which features OAM vs Clay Collard, Kayla Harrison vs Aspen Ladd and much more! AFTER, the boys chat with show staple Ray Longo on the state of MMA, Bellator's final show, the upcoming World MMA Awards and whatever else comes to mind.  LAST BUT NOT LEAST, actor, speaker and UFC Superman Spencer Miller pops in to bring all the laughs and talk about the UFC amongst other topics.  450 EPISODES AND COUNTING!! RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:02:21) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik, @KennyFlorian  (00:37:46) - D.B — @DEREKBRUNSON joins the show to talk PFL! (00:54:07) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (01:26:44) - SPENCER MILLER (@THESPENCERMILLER) from “Designated Survivor” and More! (01:40:49) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL APPAREL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by lightweight Chase Hooper and middleweight Brendan Allen ahead of their fights on this Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Craig card. Right out of the gate, Jim and Matt find themselves on opposite ends of a quick debate regarding whether or not UFC matchmakers should rethink the previously-planned Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic heavyweight title fight due to Tom Aspinall's scintillating performance last Saturday. Then, Chase Hooper hops on the show to discuss how the friendly interactions he's had with Jordan Leavitt at the UFC Performance Institute are something he'll have to look past as the two gear up to fight each other in Saturday's featured bout in Las Vegas. The guys finish up the show by interviewing Brendan Allen ahead of his main event fight atop Saturday's card on ESPN+. The 10th-ranked middleweight breaks down his stylistic matchup with Paul Craig before explaining how fatherhood and seeing a sports psychiatrist have helped him mature as a fighter.

Fresh off a history-making night at Madison Square Garden, Jim Norton and Matt Serra return for today's episode of UFC Unfiltered to react to UFC 295 as they speak to two guest fighters — bantamweight John Castaneda and injured light heavyweight Jamahal Hill. Matt and Jim open the show with their immediate takeaways from Saturday's fights — including whether or not referee Marc Goddard's decision to stop the fight was unfair to Jiří Procházka. Shortly thereafter, Castaneda hops on the show while enjoying his extended stay in New York following his win on Saturday's prelims. Castaneda opens his interview by assessing his performance against Kyung Ho Kang before ultimately explaining why he's eyeing a fight with Adrian Yanez next. Jim and Matt revisit some of their UFC 295 predictions and break down fights up and down the card before finally being joined by former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill. Eyeing a return from his ruptured Achilles sometime in the second quarter of 2024, Hill provides his thoughts on what he brings to the table in a title fight against newly-crowned light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira — a fight that Dana White has seemingly confirmed will be next for the two of them.

EP. 449 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only)  FIRST, JA & KenFlo recap the massive #UFC295 PPV banger from NYC with standout performances from newly crowned champs Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall, amongst many others. THEN, Jon & Kenny talk to Ray Longo about a forgettable night at MSG as his team looks to regroup following a tough skid. We talk the camps, fights, and aftermath for Frevola, Sadykhov and Buzukja and spin it forward to what's next for LAW MMA. Ray also talks about his highlights from the NYC week and the crazy fight card.  AFTER Longo, we bring back “The Greatest Living American” Brian Stann as we do when a card such as UFC 295 shows an evolution of the fight game and sport as a whole. Stann gives his thoughts on “Poaton” and “The Honey Badger” as well as the UFC's growth and his own new professional goals.  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:02:21) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik, @KennyFlorian  (00:14:17) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (00:44:06) - IN STANN WE TRUST: @BrianStann (01:05:44) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA (01:40:43) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

Just days away from this Saturday's return to Madison Square Garden for UFC 295, Matt and Jim get two fighters from the card to hop on the show in women's strawweight Mackenzie Dern and lightweight Jared Gordon. Looking to build momentum off her unanimous decision win over Angela Hill in May, Dern explains why Saturday's fight against Jéssica Andrade is her most important fight yet as Dern discusses the type of pressure that comes with fighting a former champion looking to avoid dropping her fourth straight fight. The guys then shift their eyes to Saturday's stacked UFC 295 card and dole out some of their picks for the two title fights atop the billing. Then, Queens, New York native Jared Gordon joins the show, reflecting on the perseverance it took to battle through life's low points to be where he is today — gearing up to fight Mark Madsen in Madison Square Garden; the legendary stadium where his grandfather boxed as a professional back in the day. Finally, the guys finish the show with the rest of their predictions from the main card and a few other notable fights from the prelims.

Ahead of UFC 295 on Saturday, Daniel Cormier sits down with MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to preview the upcoming event where he'll call the fights alongside Jon Anik and Joe Rogan. Cormier gives his thoughts on Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall potentially being an even more competitive fight that the previously scheduled matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Cormier also previews Alex Pereira going for his second UFC title while facing Jiri Prochazka in the main event. Cormier addresses Francis Ngannou's recent performance against Tyson Fury while admitting his options to return to MMA are pretty limited right now. The former two-division UFC champion also addresses his work on the broadcast team and the recent addition of Laura Sanko to the rotation. All this and more with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 295. Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of UFC 295 on Saturday, Daniel Cormier sits down with MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to preview the upcoming event where he'll call the fights alongside Jon Anik and Joe Rogan. Cormier gives his thoughts on Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall potentially being an even more competitive fight that the previously scheduled matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Cormier also previews Alex Pereira going for his second UFC title while facing Jiri Prochazka in the main event. Cormier addresses Francis Ngannou's recent performance against Tyson Fury while admitting his options to return to MMA are pretty limited right now. The former two-division UFC champion also addresses his work on the broadcast team and the recent addition of Laura Sanko to the rotation. All this and more with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 295. Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of UFC 295 on Saturday, Daniel Cormier sits down with MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to preview the upcoming event where he'll call the fights alongside Jon Anik and Joe Rogan. Cormier gives his thoughts on Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall potentially being an even more competitive fight that the previously scheduled matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Cormier also previews Alex Pereira going for his second UFC title while facing Jiri Prochazka in the main event. Cormier addresses Francis Ngannou's recent performance against Tyson Fury while admitting his options to return to MMA are pretty limited right now. The former two-division UFC champion also addresses his work on the broadcast team and the recent addition of Laura Sanko to the rotation. All this and more with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 295. Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by featherweight Dennis Buzukja ahead of his fight on the UFC 295 undercard before catching up with a comedian and podcasting icon in Adam Carolla. Set to fight Jamall Emmers in the very first fight of Saturday's card, Long Island's own Dennis Buzukja expresses his excitement to fight in front of friends and family at Madison Square Garden before looking back on his journey to the UFC. As Jim and Matt shift the conversation to how thankful they are to be able to make a living out of their passions, Buzukja reflects on how long drives from his construction job to tough training sessions with the Serra-Longo Fight Team created the opportunity for him to fight full time. Shortly after Buzukja leaves, Adam Carolla hops on the show for his second appearance on UFC Unfiltered. Adam and the guys catch up and talk about a multitude of topics — including how the prevalence of smartphones has changed human behavior.

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to preview Saturday's UFC 295 card, talks Jon Jones' withdrawal, Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title, Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira getting promoted to the main event, Francis Ngannou's future after his fight with Tyson Fury, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev's wins at UFC 294, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to preview Saturday's UFC 295 card, talks Jon Jones' withdrawal, Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title, Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira getting promoted to the main event, Francis Ngannou's future after his fight with Tyson Fury, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev's wins at UFC 294, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to preview Saturday's UFC 295 card, talks Jon Jones' withdrawal, Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title, Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira getting promoted to the main event, Francis Ngannou's future after his fight with Tyson Fury, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev's wins at UFC 294, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 447 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only) THEN, Jon & Kenny discuss the last UFC event in São Paulo with standout performances from JAILTON ALMEIDA, NICOLAS DALBY, Vitor Petrino, and more! PLUS, Ray Longo's weekly segment includes UFC Lightweight Matt Frevola who is fighting on the UFC 295 card. We talk his fight, as well as teammates Dennis Buzukja and Nazim Sadykhov as the LAW MMA squad gears up for the MMA return to MSG. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast (00:02:21) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik, @KennyFlorian (00:17:17) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (00:40:37) - MATT "THE STEAMROLLA" FREVOLLA joins the show (00:54:03) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

Coach Eric Nicksick's Fury v. Ngannou Recap & Behind-The-Scenes with Anik & Florian | A&F Ep 446 EP. 446 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only) Jon Anik & Kenny Florian talk to coach Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and most recently, the corner of Francis Ngannou. The boys talk "Battle of the Baddest" and what's next for one of the baddest men on the planet. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! --- Stay up-to-date at DraftKings Network: https://dknetwork.com Subscribe to DraftKings on YouTube: https://youtube.com/draftkings/?sub_confirmation=1 Follow DraftKings on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DraftKings Follow DraftKings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draftkings/ Follow DraftKings on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@draftkings Like DraftKings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draftkings/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Norton returns for this Wednesday's episode of UFC Unfiltered alongside Matt Serra to a show that invites rising Brazilian middleweight Caio Borralho on ahead of his fight on Saturday's card in São Paulo. Borralho, who is set to fight middleweight Abus Magomedov on Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis card, dishes his thoughts on his upcoming fight — unpacking the stylistic matchup before dishing his thoughts on his opponent's most recent outing against Sean Strickland. On the topic of Strickland, Borralho explains what it was like sparring the newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion as he explains the thought process behind his accurate pre-fight prediction that nailed the outcome of Israel Adesanya's loss to Strickland at UFC 293. To wrap up the show, Matt and Jim strike a conversation regarding Leon Edwards and whether the UFC welterweight champion's gym was justified in disallowing Ian Machado Garry to continue training there.

EP. 445 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only)  THEN, we talk the “Battle of the Baddest” as FRANCIS NGANNOU (almost) shocks the world with the massive brawl against Tyson Fury. Anik & Florian are joined by Ray Longo to talk about what's next for Ngannou and how he fared in the massive bout.  PLUS, we've got “Big Gun” Brian Petrie at the ready for some #UFCSaoPaulo picks against Kenny Florian who Is heating up just in time for this final UFC stretch!  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:02:21) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik, @KennyFlorian  (00:19:21) - Jon's new studio with Jason Anik (@bostonAnik)  (00:30:17) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (01:07:03) - Jon & Kenny chop it up on this week's MMA news. (01:09:29) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA (01:36:03) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

With Jim Norton out for the day, friend of the show Phoenix Carnevale steps on up as a guest co-host for Monday's episode of UFC Unfiltered alongside Matt Serra for chats with coach Plinio Cruz and rising UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer. Matt and Phoenix waste no time by bringing coach Plinio Cruz on to the show to listen on as the former Brazilian heavyweight fighter discusses the brotherly dynamic he and former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira both have as coaches for former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira. Seeking to help Pereira become a two-division champion in a second sport, Cruz walks through the elements that make Alex's upcoming light heavyweight title fight against Jiří Procházka a special matchup to sit atop the UFC 295 card at Madison Square Garden — the very same building where Pereira won both his UFC debut and middleweight title. Then, Pennsylvania's own Joe Pyfer joins the show to talk about how his rough upbringing shaped him into the fighter and man he is today before dropping a couple of names of top-15 middleweights he'd be interested in fighting to crack into the division's rankings.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra react to the monumental news about UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones' injury with guest caller and former UFC welterweight Ben Askren. Jim and Matt begin the show by immediately diving into the ripple effect of Jon Jones' torn pectoral tendon injury. With Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall agreeing to fight each other in an interim heavyweight title co-main event at UFC 295, Jim and Matt look into what another delay could mean for former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic as he looks to return to the cage for the first time since March of 2021. Ben Askren joins the show shortly after, filling the guys in on how he balances his post-retirement life as a father and wrestling coach with interest in writing books and investing. While listing all of the things keeping him busy without fighting, Askren names the one and only veteran fighter he'd willingly end his retirement for.

EP. 444 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only) —  THEN, we recap #UFC294 with Islam Makhachev's incredible head kick KO victory ending an Abu Dhabi night full of violence. Jon & Kenny are joined by show staple Ray Longo to talk the weekend's PPV and much more. PLUS, rising UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry talks to Anik & Florian about his globetrotting, nomadic camp and the team around him, as well as what's next for “The Future” in the future.  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:32:52) - Ray Longo Minute: @RayLongoMMA on #UFCVegas81  (00:58:57) - Longo Out (01:04:57) - #11 Ranked UFC Welterweight Ian Machado Garry aka “The Future” @IanGarryMMA (01:24:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

On this episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra recap all things UFC 294 with longtime MMA writer and journalist John Morgan, who joins for the duration of the show as today's guest co-host. The guys open the show with initial thoughts on how Kamaru Usman looked on short notice in his majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev in Saturday's middleweight co-main event. As a collective group of three, the guys then shift the conversation to Saturday's cageside doctor, sparking a spirited debate about whether or not Johnny Walker was in a position to keep fighting after Magomed Ankalaev struck him with a knee. After singing the praises of Alexander Volkanovski for his courage to accept a difficult lightweight title fight rematch against Islam Makhachev on short notice, Matt unpacks what went wrong for Volkanovski before the guys chime in with their thoughts on whether Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje has a better chance at becoming the UFC's new 155-pound king.

EP. 443 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only) — THEN, it's the Main-Event challenge featuring picks from Kenny Florian and show handicapper “Big Gun” Brian Petrie for #UFC294: Makhachev v. Volkanovski 2 RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:06:12) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE: UFC Picks with @BrianPetrieMMA (00:39:57) - Anik & Florian on New Merch Sale (00:46:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

With this Saturday's UFC 294 pay-per-view just a matter of days away, Jim Norton and Matt Serra use today's episode to preview and predict winners for the massive fights atop the card — with 8th-ranked lightweight Arman Tsarukyan providing some additional perspective on as a guest caller. Jim and Matt waste no time by diving straight into the main card, unpacking the elements that make both of Saturday's short-notice fights intriguing. When discussing Alexander Volkanovski's readiness for a 5-round title fight, the guys assess whether or not the UFC's 145-pound king has to find a way to finish Islam Makhachev in order to dethrone the lightweight champion. Midway through the show, Arman Tsarukyan hops on the call to look back at his own experience taking a short-notice fight against Makhachev before weighing in on whether Volkanovski has a chance at pulling off the upset. Finally, the guys wrap up the show by making their picks for three fights in particular — the main event, Kamaru Usman's middleweight co-main event against Khamzat Chimaev, and the light heavyweight featured bout between second-ranked Magomed Ankalaev and seventh-ranked Johnny Walker.

EP. 442 — Anik & Florian start the show by dropping their new Merch on jonanik.com with an exclusive line for A&F fans. (Launch discount available for a limited-time only) — THEN, it's the Ray Longo Minute in your lives to talk #UFCVegas81 with your favorite MMA podcast duo. PLUS, perennial UFC legend Dominick Cruz drops in to talk Barboza v. Yusuff, the 135lbs division, and his timeline for a return to the octagon.  (Thank you to Jason Anik & Amanda Anik for their work on the new merch store!) RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:27:12) - Ray Longo Minute: @RayLongoMMA on #UFCVegas81  (01:00:57) - Dominick Cruz on Barboza v. Yusuff, UFC 135lbs Division & His Return  (01:16:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) MERCH LAUNCH SALE — LIMITED-TIME ONLY OFFICIAL WEBSITE: JONANIK.COM

EP. 441— Anik & Florian re-record the intro to Episode 441 after ISLAM MAKHACHEV agrees to take on ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI for the rematch on 10 days notice. Jon and Kenny chat with Las Vegas Insider Ronnie Pellegrino and Jason Anik on the monumental shakeups at the top of #UFC294 among other topics. THEN, we bring show handicapper Brian Petrie on to chat #UFCVegas81 Picks and Best Bets with KenFlo.  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:05:38) - Vegas Insider Ronnie Pellegrino (@CantinaVegas) and Jason Anik (@BostonAnik) join the show to react to UFC 294 news. (00:31:54) - More Anik & Florian Reactions  (00:33:57) - ‘Big Gun' Brian Petrie (@BrianPetrieMMA) on #UFCVegas81 and picks with KenFlo in “The Main-Event Challenge”  (01:10:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

Anik & Florian UFC News with Joe Pyfer, Mike Brown, and Ray Longo - #UFCVegas80 Recap - A&F EP. 440 EP. 440— Anik & Florian pull out all the stops for this one as BE Joe Pyfer joins the program to talk about his #UFCVegas80 victory, path to the UFC and his climb to the top of the rankings in the sport. THEN, we've got show staple Ray Longo talking swing bouts and the best banter in MMA. AFTER, we bring on ATT Leader of Men Mike Brown to discuss last weekend's card, upcoming fights and the life of an MMA coach (not named Ray Longo).  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:02:47) - UFC stud Joe Pyre aka BE JOE PYFER (@joePyfer) joins the show. (00:34:27) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (02:01:07) - MIKE BROWN, LEADER OF MEN AT AMERICAN TOP TEAM (01:20:09) - UFC VEGAS 80 Recap and MMA News (01:21:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

Joining Jim Norton and Matt Serra on today's episode of UFC Unfiltered is bantamweight Adrian Yanez and comedian Robert Kelly. Looking to bounce back from his first loss inside the UFC, 14th-ranked bantamweight Adrian Yanez gives a sober assessment of what went wrong as he abandoned his game plan in the midst of his one-round firefight against Rob Font. Yanez further explains how the great deal of mutual respect between himself and 13th-ranked bantamweight Jonathan Martinez will have to be put aside briefly as the two prepare to clash on Saturday night in a significant fight for the UFC's 135-pound division. Shortly thereafter, Jim and Matt are joined by a long-time friend of the show in stand-up comedian Robert Kelly, who himself is no fighter but shows an incredible ability to take Matt Serra's friendly jabs in stride while throwing some back himself in a hilarious appearance on the show. The guys wrap up the show by taking a look at Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza card.

On Episode 135, we've decided after a summer being stuck in the 90's and most recently, our Ultramagnetic MC's 2-part series, it's time for a quick reset. We're going back to our roots - our sweet spot - our comfort zone and giving you an episode to remind you why you started listening to Take It Personal in the first place. We've got music from Grand Puba, Biz Markie, Red Hot Lover Tone, Nice & Smooth, Kwest Tha Madd Lad, Gravediggaz, Black Sheep and Del to name a few.  Did you know we have brand new TIP shirts available in our online store? Check our our Marauders shirt. We also added our new Ultramag inspired tee. Plus slides, shorts, sweatshirts, pint glasses, coffee mugs and even die-cut stickers for your notepads and laptops. Go to Takeitpersonalradio.com, click on the store tab and enter promo code HALLOWEEN and you'll  save 15% off your entire order. Next up is our Boston Tribute with special guests Esoteric, Dart Adams and Jon Anik.  ⁠ www.takeitpersonalradio.com⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram @takeitpersonalradio Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TakeItPersonal

With UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green being a matter of days away, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by one half of Saturday's main event as UFC lightweight Grant Dawson joins an episode of UFC Unfiltered that also features NFL-player turned MMA super fan Ryan Clark. At the very beginning of the show, Matt is pleased to find out that Grant Dawson is as big of a Star Wars fan as him — leading to a passionate conversation about the characters and storylines that live inside of the all-time classic franchise's multimedia universe. Before wrapping up his interview, the UFC's 10th-ranked lightweight Dawson shares some of his thoughts on what it means to be headlining his first UFC main event against a tough veteran like Bobby Green who fights with a unique, one-of-a-kind style inside the cage. Shortly after, the guys are joined by retired 13-year NFL veteran Ryan Clark, who begins his conversation with Jim and Matt by explaining how a lifelong football player from Louisiana discovered a passion for consuming martial arts during Chuck Liddell's reign as UFC light heavyweight champion. Clark then goes on to share how he got involved in co-hosting the DC & RC podcast with former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, a Louisiana native himself. The guys go on to chat about big time fights they're looking forward to before closing off the show by plugging this Saturday's intriguing UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas.

EP. 439— THE UFC IS BACK, AND SO ARE WE! Anik & Florian jump back into the saddle for #UFCVegas80 as we are joined by 1/2 of the Main-Event Grant Dawson. He talks his move to Florida, career goals and his upcoming bout with Bobby Green. PLUS, Ray Longo gives us an update on his hip surgery in his weekly segment and we talk UFC bets for this weekend's card with show capper Brian Petrie.  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:27:27) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (00:57:22) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA for #UFCVegas79 (01:22:07) - UFC VEGAS 80 Headliner Grant Dawson joins the show @GrantDawsonKGD (01:38:08) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

With Jim Norton out for the day, the one and only Din Thomas steps on up as a guest co-host for Wednesday's episode of UFC Unfiltered alongside Matt Serra for chats with UFC lightweight Mateusz Gamrot and pop culture critic Kristian Harloff! After a brief introduction to the show, Matt and Din waste no time bringing Gamrot on the show to talk to him about last Saturday's TKO win over Rafael Fiziev. The sixth-ranked lightweight offers his best wishes to Fiziev in his recovery before ultimately outlining his plans inside the stacked 155-pound division, including his reasoning for why he wants to fight former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. When Gamrot leaves the show, Din and Matt take a moment to dish their thoughts on the six fighters who earned a UFC contract on Tuesday's Dana White's Contender Series episode before breaking into a discussion about why Tony Ferguson's losing skid is still no reason for unranked Paddy Pimblett to look at 'El Cucuy' as an easy matchup in the young lightweight's first fight back from ankle surgery. Matt turns into a kid in a candy store when pop culture expert and movie/TV critic Kristian Harloff hops on the show to compare notes on recently released shows and movies that Matt and Din have watched.

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by UFC bantamweight Miles Johns and VFS Academy's owner and head coach Mike Valle. Jim and Matt begin the show by recapping some of Saturday's action from the UFC Apex, with some thoughts on featherweight Bryce Mitchell's win over Dan Ige and Rafael Fiziev's knee injury in the lightweight main event that gave Mateusz Gamrot an injury TKO win. Fresh off a win on Saturday's prelims, Miles Johns joins the show for the first time ever to discuss his close fight with Dan Argueta and how his sobriety has been one of many recent changes to his life that have improved his mindset in between fight camps. While discussing his journey from childhood wrestler to professional mixed martial artist, Miles explains why mental health issues are a matter near and dear to his heart. Shortly after Miles leaves the show, Jim and Matt are joined by VFS Academy's Mike Valle, who uses his perspective as Belal Muhammad's coach to dive deeper into the upcoming welterweight title fight between defending champion Leon Edwards and two-time title challenger Colby Covington.

The Ultimate Fighter is well represented on today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, as former TUF champions Bryan Battle and Mohammed Usman join Matt Serra and Jim Norton ahead of their upcoming fights on Saturday. Coming off a 14-second knockout win in front of his hometown fans in Charlotte, UFC welterweight Bryan Battle reflects on his journey to the UFC before ultimately previewing his fight against AJ Fletcher on the main card of Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot. UFC heavyweight Mohammed Usman hops on the show shortly thereafter. The former football player-turned-MMA fighter weighs in on the idea of how high-level NFL players could do in the cage before explaining why he relishes the target that's on his back as the younger brother of the legendary Kamaru Usman. Turning his eyes to Saturday's fight against Jake Collier, Usman explains why he believes his opponent's recent string of losses makes Collier a dangerous fighter with nothing to lose going into the fight versus an up-and-comer like himself. Finally, Jim and Matt take a look up and down the bout sheet of UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot with select thoughts on what they're most excited to see during Saturday's fights.

EP. 438— Anik & Florian are just as confused as you are about the 10-8 round in last weekend's #NOCHEUFC event. Jon & Kenny talk to #9 Ranked Welterweight contender Sean Brady on his last year of fighting and injuries, his next fight and journey to this point, PLUS a surprise training partner makes a cameo in Paul Felder. THEN, Big Gun Brian Petrie pops in to give his picks with KenFlo for #UFCVegas79 with Fiziev v. Gamrot headlining the next UFC event. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:27:44) - Exclusive offer from Gametime, Download & use code “AFPOD” for discount (00:29:07) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (00:59:13) - #9 Ranked UFC Welterweight Sean Brady on his UFC Journey & Next Fight, Plus Paul “The Iron Lung” Felder with a cameo. (01:13:03) - Jon & Kenny chop it up on this week's MMA news. (01:18:22) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA for #UFCVegas79 (01:42:40) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton unpack all the action from Saturday's “Noche UFC” card in Las Vegas for an episode that serves as a victory Monday for women's strawweight Loopy Godinez — today's guest caller. With all of the talk surrounding the scorecards from Saturday's title fight rematch between women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, Jim and Matt dish their thoughts on the judges' verdicts and whether or not an immediate trilogy fight for the belt should be in store. Jim and Matt then shift the dialogue to the highly competitive fight put on in the co-main event between welterweight contenders Jack Della Maddalena and Kevin Holland. After going down the card with their takeaways from other fights, Jim and Matt are finally joined by women's strawweight Loopy Godinez — who reacts to her statement win over Elise Reed before explaining how much it meant to her to get the submission victory in front of thousands of supportive Mexican fans on a special night honoring Mexican Independence Day. Finally, the guys wrap up the show by playing matchmaker for the incredibly deep and talented women's flyweight division — with very specific thoughts on who should be getting the next shot at the title.

Jon Anik sits down with Mike Heck to talk Sean Strickland massive win over Israel Adesanya, what the #UFC293 loss means for Adesanya's legacy, and more. The UFC play-by-play man also previews Noche UFC, headlined by a title rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Anik sits down with Mike Heck to talk Sean Strickland massive win over Israel Adesanya, what the #UFC293 loss means for Adesanya's legacy, and more. The UFC play-by-play man also previews Noche UFC, headlined by a title rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton are joined by legendary comedian Carrot Top and UFC women's flyweight contender Tracy Cortez ahead of her fight on Saturday's “Noche UFC” card in Las Vegas. Before any guests make their way to the show, Matt and Jim dish their thoughts on whether women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso can win her second straight fight against former champion Valentina Shevchenko in Saturday's main event title fight rematch at T-Mobile Arena. Shortly after giving their picks for the welterweight co-main event between Kevin Holland and Jack Della Maddalena, Jim and Matt are joined by Carrot Top. Thirty-two years removed from his first big break as a comic, Carrot Top reflects on his journey that began at college campuses and has since led him to his current residency in Las Vegas for his unique style of prop comedy. Finally, the guys are joined by 14th-ranked women's flyweight Tracy Cortez, who candidly opens up about how nice it is to get back into the cage after a 16-month layoff induced by an unfortunate string of injuries. A proud daughter of two Mexican parents who immigrated to the United States, Cortez explains why she feels a tremendous amount of pride representing her roots on Saturday's special card for Mexican Independence Day and would love nothing more than sharing the cage with Alexa Grasso in Mexico sometime in the future.

EP. 437— Anik & Florian say buenos noches amigos as they prepare you for #NOCHEUFC going down this weekend in Vegas with Alexa Grasso defending her title against Valentina Shevchenko. PLUS, UFC Hall-of-Famer and ONE Championship executive Rich “Ace” Franklin joins the show to talk about the evolution of MMA, his own 185lbs career, what fight he shows a lady friend and much more! Brian Petrie, who attended the high school that Rich Franklin taught at, tells a hilarious story on top of UFC picks.  RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:06:54) - Exclusive offer from Draftkings to turn $5 into $200 in bonus bets (00:08:22) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE with @BrianPetrieMMA (00:30:04) - Petrie Attended High School where Rich Franklin Taught & Broke Up Fights (00:32:13) - UFC Hall-Of-Famer & ONE Championship Executive Rich Franklin talks about his UFC Fights, Post-Fight Career, Stamp Fairfax and More! (00:46:40) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

EP. 436 — Anik & Florian are BACK from a land down unda' to discuss the epic victory of Sean Strickland in Australia with head coach and leader of men Eric Nicksick. PLUS, Anik & Florian discuss the middlewight title picture and more with show staple Ray Longo. RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:06:54) - Exclusive offer from Draftkings to turn $5 into $200 in bonus bets (00:07:55) - Coach Eric Nicksick joins the show fresh off a championship win in Sydney, Australia (00:23:04) - Anik & Florian on #UFC293 Victories and Aftermath (00:36:13) - RAY LONGO MINUTE: @RAYLONGOMMA (01:14:30) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/ 

Yes… that REALLY just happened! And if there is one thing we know, it's that the great Matt Serra knows a thing or two about dethroning a champion in a MAJOR upset! On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by MMA coaching mastermind Sayif Saud of Fortis MMA — who helps the guys unpack just how newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was able to shock the world by dethroning Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. With Strickland's win opening up a multitude of possibilities for the UFC's red-hot middleweight division, the guys mull over the idea of an immediate rematch while discussing whether Adesanya's high fight activity rate plays a factor in what the former champion will do next. Later on, Matt takes us from the top of the card on down with his favorite takeaways from the other fights that happened on this exciting pay-per-view card in Sydney. The guys wrap up the show by circling back to the stakes of Strickland's win and where it stacks up with the greatest championship upsets in UFC history.

UFC color commentator Laura Sanko joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck from Sydney ahead of UFC 293 to react to making her pay-per-view debut on Saturday alongside Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier, talks how long she's known about it, the reaction from fans, Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 435 — Anik & Florian hit you square in the face with a #UFC293 Preview breaking down all the fights on the next UFC PPV, including the Adesanya v. Strickland headliner. PLUS, the latest on Irish MMA, Conor McGregor, Ian Garry and more with show regular Sean Sheehan. As always, Brian Petrie hops on to talk bets bets for the UFC 293 card with our partners at Draftkings & Draftkings Sportsbook. Be on the lookout for the Podcast Parlay on DK Sportsbook with picks from the show! RATE AND REVIEW THE SHOW ON iTUNES & AUDIO PLATFORMS! ON TODAY'S SHOW (00:00:00) - OPENING - #AnikFlorianPodcast  (00:01:57) - HEADLINES with @Jon_Anik & @Kenny Florian - MMA Headlines (00:05:11) - Show staple Sean Sheehan on Irish MMA, Conor McGregor, Ian Garry and more! (00:31:04) - Anik & Florian on McGregor/Garry and cross training in MMA (00:34:54) - Exclusive offer from Draftkings to turn $5 into $200 in bonus bets (00:40:13) - MAIN-EVENT CHALLENGE: UFC Picks for UFC 293: Adesanya vs Strickland —(@BrianPetrieMMA) (01:14:04) - OUTRO (Closing Thoughts) OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Promo Code ‘KING' for 15% off merchandise  https://www.anikflorianpodcast.com/