The Co-main Event Podcast

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets primed for UFC 203 this week, as Ben and Chad discuss Stipe Miocic’s pending heavyweight title fight against Alistair Overeem. The way they figure it, you take hometown hero Miocic and have him defend his belt for the first time in a city with a sports tradition as proud as the one in Cleveland, Ohio and there’s just NO WAY that turns out to be a heartbreaker. Speaking of heartbreakers, the guys also discourse CM Punk’s (finally) forthcoming MMA debut and try to figure out the odds that it will be worth watching. Oh, and aside from that, there’s this guy, Georges St-Pierre? He’s thinking about returning to fighting but says he can’t get anybody from the UFC to call him back. So that’s pretty weird. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s up, Universe? Did y’all see Paige VanZant go upside Bec Rawlings’ head with that kick this past weekend on UFC on Fox 21? If you did, Ben and Chad expect you know some of what’s coming on this week’s CME. If you didn’t? Well, let your guys pull your coat to what happened. Or maybe you should run out and watch the fight card itself real quick first, since it’s totally worth it also to see what Demian Maia did to Carlos Condit in the main event. Wore him around like a button, fam, like a hat. Also, did you guys know Benson Henderson had his second Bellator fight last weekend? And that next weekend Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski fight in Germany, on a Fight Pass Dot Com event that will air in the states in the middle of the afternoon/early evening? Well, hop on board, let’s discourse. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, CME Universe, they done did it. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz did the damn thing at UFC 202. We saw it--some of us--and we saw that it was good. This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast spends the lion's share of its time talking about what the fight means for both guys. McGregor, obviously, answered a lot of questions about his fitness as the UFC's biggest male star. Meanwhile, Diaz proved that his Diaz-ish-ness is arguably both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness as a fighter. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look ahead to this weekend's UFC Fight Night event, which features Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia in the main event. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Batten down the hatches, CME Universe. This week gives us the spectacle that will be UFC 202 and then every weekend after that will be full up with action in the Octagon until like mid-October. Consider this your last chance to take that big breath and hold it. Will be a while before we can come up for air again. On this episode, Ben and Chad start at the beginning, with discussion of Conor McGregor’s looming rematch with Nate Diaz on Saturday. They also discuss the bummer of having Glover Teixeira and Anthony Johnson slotted as the Co-Main of that show and then look ahead to the return of Georges St-Pierre. That seems pretty real now that GSP has thrown himself into the USADA testing pool. All that, plus JSS, AYFKM and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Universe, if you sat through the interminable six-fight main card of UFC Fight Night 92 on Saturday night and you’re still hungering for more MMA talk/action, the Co-Main Event Podcast salutes you. If you are checking out this episode, however, Ben and Chad have a few ideas as to why that might be: Yair Rodriguez! Teruto Ishihara! Conor McGregor vs. WWE! Yeah, all those things/dudes happened this past week. And you know what? It actually made things kind of interesting, in spite of it all. So your dudes break down those events during this week’s episode, plus debate the notion of the UFC abandoning belts and Nick Diaz’s recent claim that somebody drugged him before his fight with Georges St-Pierre. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another new champion in the UFC. For episode No. 216, the Co-Main Event Podcast unexpectedly finds itself penning a eulogy for the title reign of Robbie Lawler, who got himself KOed by Tyron Woodley in 2 minutes, 12 seconds last weekend at UFC 201. In addition to that, the guys discuss Ben’s trip to Washington last weekend to watch WSOF and the weird brother vs. brother matchup between Caros Fodor and Phoenix Jones. Afterward, he and Chad look ahead to UFC Fight Night 92 and its strange lack of star power as the fight company makes a return trip to Salt Lake City. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the Co-Main Event Podcast picks up the shattered pieces of what was once the UFC women’s bantamweight division and tries to put them all back together in a way that seems somehow appealing. It’s a tough assignment. In addition to reflecting on Holly Holm’s stunning loss to Valentina Shevchenko last Saturday at UFC on Fox 20, Ben and Chad look ahead to Robbie Lawler’s UFC 201 welterweight title defense against Tyron Woodley and wonder if another upset is on deck. They also consider the newly-booked middleweight title fight between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson and try to make sense of Hendo’s claims he’ll walk away from MMA after this fight win, lose or draw. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA scene slumps back to normal this week, after a gala UFC 200 celebration that saw the fight company stage three events on consecutive days. What does “normal” mean exactly? Well, you know, just the usual stuff: The UFC put on just one live event this week (its fourth in, like, seven days) and then a human man got the front of his forehead crushed in by the knee of another human man. Everybody survived, so that was good. Here, the Co-Main Event Podcast tries to make sense of all of it. That means Ben and Chad talk about the gruesome injury Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos suffered at the hands (and knees) of Michael Page at a Bellator MMA event in London. They also chat about John Lineker’s big win over Michael McDonald and then look ahead to Holly Holm’s bout with Valentina Schevchenko. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 2 of CME episode 213, where the guys discuss the happenings of UFC 200 and the late-breaking sale of the UFC to WME-IMG. Did you listen to part 1 first? No? You better get on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s see, where to even start? Well, UFC 200 happened, mmmkay? It took three days, there were a boatload of fights and a bunch of noteworthy stuff happened. But even before that there was Wednesday evening, when news broke that Jon Jones had been flagged by USADA for a “potential anti-doping violation” and pulled from his fight with Daniel Cormier. Wasn’t that some shit? Long story short, Cormier ended up fighting Anderson Silva--we know, right?--and the bout itself was kind of a stinker. Also, Brock Lesnar returned, Amanda Nunes won the women’s bantamweight title, Eddie Alvarez upset Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight crown, Joanna Champion really earned her nickname and Jose Aldo beat Frankie Edgar for a second time. So, does that about cover it? Oh, wait, no THEY SOLD THE FUCKING UFC THAT’S WHAT THEY DID. As a result, Chad and Ben have no choice but to go five rounds during this week’s CME. The show is broken up into two parts, so after you finish listening to this one, you’ll have to find and play par

How to even make sense of this monster UFC 200 fight week, CME Universe? The Co-Main Event Podcast split the damn thing over two episodes and it still feels too big to even deal with. This week, Ben and Chad pretty much offer up wall-to-wall UFC 200 talk from start to finish and some stones are still left regrettably undisturbed. At least the largest, heaviest dagger-chest-tattooed stones get a thorough investigation. On episode 212, your guys talk about Daniel Cormier’s light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar’s return to the cage after a lengthy absence and Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar meeting for the interim (?) featherweight championship. All that, AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast basically clears its schedule this week to begin a two-episode dive into the UFC 200 mega-card. With the much-ballyhooed lineup for the July 9 extravaganza set, Ben and Chad start off by taking a wide-angle look at how the thing actually came together before closing in on the UFC 200 week’s championship aperitifs--featuring Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha and Rafael dos Anjos vs. Eddie Alvarez, respectively. Hold up, though, there is plenty of Bellator madness to discuss, as well. From Michael Chandler’s KO title win over … uh … one of the Pitbull brothers to Matt Matrione’s KO … uh ... win to the recent allegations of unseemliness percolating under the second-string fight company’s cartoonish surface--oh yeah, they talk about that, too. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UFC appeared headed for new ownership late Monday, just as the Co-Main Event Podcast sat to record this week’s episode. Naturally, reports that Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta would be loading up their saddlebags with multiple billions of dollars and riding off into the sunset piqued Ben’s and Chad’s ears. So, in case you’re wondering, yeah, they talk about that potential sale a little bit on the CME. There is also plenty of normal business to discuss. First of all, some aging person pretending to be Fedor Emelianenko eked out a victory over Fabio Maldonado at an over-the-top Eurasia Fight Night event on Friday afternoon. The next night at UFC Fight Night 89, Steven “Wonderman” Thompson defeated Rory “Wonder What Now, Man?” MacDonald in the main event and Donald Cerrone took out Patrick Cote in the co-main. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets back to business this week--if indeed business ever slowed down--with a return to its usual format. The death of Kimbo Slice still looms large over the MMA world, as does the return of Brock Lesnar to face off with Mark Hunt at UFC 200. Ben and Chad discuss both those topics and also look ahead to this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 89, where Steven The Wonderman Thompson’s bout with Rory MacDonald feels like it really snuck up on us. In addition to that, they take a final look at Ariel Helwani’s “lifetime” ban from the UFC as well as efforts to bring the Muhammad Ali Act to MMA. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For about 15 minutes on Saturday night the CME Podcast was fired up to do a show all about how unexpectedly awesome UFC 199 was. From Michael Bisping’s upset victory over Luke Rockhold to Dominick Cruz slamming the door on his rivalry with Urijah Faber to the sudden return of Brock Lesnar, it was all pretty (refreshingly?) great. But then the UFC went and banned Ariel Helwani, Esther Lin and E. Casey Leydon “for life” (cool NWO throwback, UFC) so instead Ben and Chad had to spend like half the show talking about that bullshit. It’s not that fun, but it needed to be done. Plus, they still got jokes. All that, plus listener mail and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast shows up for this memorial day episode feeling a little shaky and touch hungover, but it showed up nonetheless. Ben and Chad just aren’t going to leave you hanging, you know? Besides, there is plenty to discuss. From Cody Garbrandt’s easy-as-pie starching of Thomas Almeida on Sunday at UFC Fight Night 88 to Renan Barao’s unsuccessful return to featherweight, it’s all in here. In addition to that, the guys look ahead to next Saturday’s UFC 199 and the two title fights it will bring. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben is returned from the woods and the Co-Main Event Podcast goes on as scheduled. While his personal appearance--normal, un-grizzled--is a bit of a letdown for Chad, who was hoping for something more Grizzly Adams-ish, there is a lot of business to discuss. For starters, this matter of Michael Bisping finally getting a shot at the middleweight title. Also, the fact that motherfuckers STILL won’t stop trippin’ about this Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather bullshit. In addition to that, Chad tries to get Ben pumped up for Thomas Almeida vs. Cody Garbrandt in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event with … limited success. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to squeeze another episode in between vacations, the CME got together early on Monday to lay down No. 205 before Ben slipped off to his literal cabin in the literal woods for some literal R&R. Luckily, he and Chad don’t think you’ll mind if an episode drops ahead of schedule for a change. Plenty to discuss here, obviously, with dueling UFC and Bellator events over the weekend. The guys talk over Stipe Miocic’s heavyweight title victory over Fabricio Werdum, Cyborg Justino’s long-awaited Octagon debut, Phil Davis’ big win over King Mo and Jacare Souza’s battering of Vitor Belfort. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for your patience, CME Universe. Nah, jokes, patience is not your motherfuckering virtue, guys, you know that? You grumbled and groaned the whole week Chad was off visiting his in-laws in Florida and then grumbled and groaned some more when Ben caused a delay on Wednesday. We’d like to say we love you for it, but … no, that’s not quite right. It’s more like begrudging respect. We begrudgingly respect your tenacity when it comes to demanding the podcast. So thanks for that kind of. In any case, there’s plenty to talk about here, from rumors of a UFC sale, to Anderson Silva’s recent gall bladder problems--what the hell is a gall bladder, anyway?--to big wins over the weekend from Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve. It all sort of nicely sets the stage for Saturday’s UFC 198 pay-per-view, where Fabricio Werdum will defend the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic. We promise after this no more delays. Except maybe next week. Maybe. We’ll see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice

Another week where #aintshitgoingon. I mean, #notreally. Itleads your guys Ben and Chad to pull out another All QuestionsConsidered episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. And yeah, sure,there’s that Fight Night event this weekend where Andrei Arlovskiis fighting Alistair Overeem and Stefan Struve is fighting BigfootSilva, but since you guys sent in exactly zero questions regardingthat event, they figured you didn’t care all that much. Thequestions, per usual, were good. On this episode, the dudes talkabout TUF 23, the UFC’s weirdo women’s flyweight fight, ConorMcGregor (of course), Jon Jones (of course) and some other stuffthat was tickling your mindbrains enough to send in questions.Plus, they engage in an impromptu Tips for the Well-Rounded FightFans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices