The Co-main Event Podcast

Like Frank Mir’s standing as a top UFC heavyweight, the Co-Main Event Podcast is back! Back in your lives after a short seven-day respite, yet without having accomplished anything nearly as impressive as Mir’s knockout of Todd Duffee from last Wednesday. Ben and Chad can only sit back and marvel at Mir’s sudden rebound, and also note it's very much in keeping with the sudden rebounds of the rest of the elder statesmen of the UFC heavyweight division. In addition to that, they talk about Michael Bisping’s victory over Thales Leites from Glasgow, Scotland over the weekend and look ahead to TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight title defense against Renan Barao. As always, there’s a lot to discuss. All that, plus AYFKM an Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is back in the building, ready to sweep up after all these damn Irishmen practically wrecked the place. It’s going to be a big job. On this episode, Ben and Chad find themselves with just too much to squeeze into an hour long show, but they do their best. They talk about Conor McGregor’s interim featherweight title victory over a short-notice Chad Mendes at UFC 189 and now McGregor’s impending title unification bout with Jose Aldo. Somehow, the UFC is gonna squeeze a season of The Ultimate Fighter into The Notorious One’s schedule, too. Heck, though, it’s starting to seem like if anybody can do it, it’s him. In addition, the CME looks at the epic welterweight title clash between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald, wherein both dudes got their whole shit broke. Also, Stephen “Wonderman” Thompson kicked Jake Ellenberger in the face on a completely different UFC event probably about four people watched to its conclusion. Ben and Chad discourse on that as well. All that, plus AYFKM, Just

It has been a real white-knuckle thrillride, this lead up to UFC 189, but as Ben and Chad sit down to record this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast they are secure in the knowledge it is almost over. From Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise, to Jose Aldo’s injury and Chad Mendes stepping in, the guys do their best to grapple with it all. Oh, hey, did you know there is also another title fight on the UFC 189 card? Yeah, Robbie Lawler is going to fight Rory MacDonald for the welterweight strap in a bout that has featured exactly zero injury replacements (knock on wood). In addition to talking about that, the guys circle back around to last week’s Reebok product launch for its new UFC apparel line to double check and make sure it really was as bad as we all thought at the time. Yep, it was.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just so much news this week that is right in the Co-Main Event Podcast’s wheelhouse, you guys. Seriously, sometimes it seems like the MMA Gods are scripting this shit just so Ben and Chad can poke fun of it on their unscripted weekly podcast. From Jose Aldo’s broken, not broken ribs to Yoel Romero maybe, possibly warning people not to go with “Gay Jesus,” this week was a doozy. But the MMA world’s depressing unbelievable weirdness is your gain. On this episode, your dudes talk up all that stuff, plus wonder about the future of the 37-year-old Lyoto Machida, who dropped to 1-3 in his last four at the hands of Romero last Saturday. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Call episode 159 of the Co-Main Event Podcast the first of the Kimbo Slice Era of mixed martial arts. Errr, wait, the second Kimbo Slice Era of mixed martial arts? Whatever. The Sliceman knocked Ken Shamrock into the black land on Friday at Bellator 138, setting promotional cable television ratings records and making us all kind of feel bad about ourselves for watching. In the aftermath of The Greatest Fight of All Time, many people have cried “fix!” because, well, they were looking for ways to seem like bigger suckers than just watching the thing in the first place. In other news, your girl Joanna Jędrzejczyk laid a straight up Eastern European beatdown on Jessica Pe-NAY on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 69. Ben and Chad talk about that, and then look ahead to Lyoto Machida vs. Yoel Romero at next weekend’s Fight Night 70. Cuz this shit just never stops, you know? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast bows down before new UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum this week. Werdum defeated Cain Velasquez as something approaching a 5-to-1 underdog on Saturday at UFC 188 and at this stage Ben and Chad can only marvel at how it all seemed like too much for Velasquez--the altitude, the layoff, Werdum’s all-around skills. In addition to that, your guys discuss Eddie Alvarez’s amazing comeback performance against Gilbert Melendez in the evening’s lightweight co-main. And that’s about it. Oh, wait. What’s that you say? Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice are also fighting this coming Friday? You didn’t think the CME was going to record a whole episode and NOT spend a round talking about that … did you? … like some suckers? Nah, you guys know better than that. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to record this week’s episode of the CME, Ben interrupts a madcap schedule of dancing to indie rock bands and Chad pauses his white-knuckle wait for the birth of his son. Really, they have no choice. What, you thought they were going to ignore Old Man Dan Henderson’s big win over Tim Boetsch last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 68? You thought they might not catch the UFC announcing the very sort of drug testing program the CME has been asking for for years? You thought Cain Velasquez’s heavyweight title unification bout against Fabricio Werdum this weekend at UFC 188 might fly under their radar? Fat chance. The guys serve of an hour’s worth of sizzling hot MMA news and commentary just for you.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Picture it, CME Universe. There you are, walking along, minding your own business, just doing your thing, landing your low kicks, everything going your way, when--boom--all of the sudden Carlos Condit jumps out of nowhere and elbows you … right … in … the ... face. That would suck, wouldn’t it? Yeah, that would suck. Also, in this situation, you are Thiago Alves (Pronounced: AL-vez, it turns out). This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast follows the re-routed road map that was Alves’ face after his bout with Condit last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 67, and takes a few moments to mourn the testicles of Ryan Jimmo, which had arguably an even shittier night than Alves’ nose. In addition, Ben and Chad look ahead to next weekend’s Fight Night 68, where Dan Henderson will fight Tim Boetsch for some damn reason. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Cormier and Chris Weidman are your UFC champions in the light heavyweight and middleweight division (respectively), CME Universe. Both guys came to UFC 187 on Saturday ready to do the damn thing, whereas opponents Anthony Johnson and Vitor Belfort (respectively) did not. As Ben and Chad sit down to record episode 155 of The Co-Main Event Podcast they are struck (respectively) by the fact Cormier and Weidman appeared to be championship material while Johnson and Belfort appeared lacking. In addition to that, they look ahead to UFC Fight Night 67, where Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves both look to take the next step in their (respective) comeback stories.  All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frankie Edgar--just so damn good at winning fights according to the unified rules of mixed martial arts. The former lightweight champion and presumptive featherweight No. 1 contender proved that all over again on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 66, besting Urijah Faber by entertaining unanimous decision. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad go over Edgar’s dominance over “The California Man” and then look ahead to the twin title bill on this weekend’s UFC 187. Will Daniel Cormier finally cash in on his championship dreams? Will Chris Weidman finally be done with Vitor Belfort once and for all? There’s a lot of “finallys” floating around. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, we knew the this day would come eventually. This week, the Co-Main Event Podcast spends a good portion of its hour-and-change talking about fashion. Clothes. “Kits” as the young people say. Ben and Chad take a close look at the UFC’s new “outfitting” partnership with Reebok, after last week’s release of the official numbers. Not to spoil it for you, but there just doesn’t seem like a lot of positive things to say. In addition, they discuss Stipe Miocic’s beatdown of Mark Hunt from Saturday night, which was both impressive and sad all at once. They also look ahead to next week’s UFC Fight Night 66, where Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber will fight in the Philippines in the middle of the morning here in the states. So, a real Breakfast of Champions, if you will. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA guns fell mostly silent over the weekend, to allow the splendor and spectacle of Floyd Mayweather’s boxing fight against Manny Pacquiao dominate the national media cycle the way only a boxing fight can … once every 20 years or so. Starting next weekend, however, the UFC gets back on the horse and will not relinquish the reins for eight weeks or so. On Saturday, it’s UFC Fight Night 65, featuring Mark Hunt’s heavyweight tussle with Stipe Miocic from Australia, live on The Fight Pass Dot Com. There are also the small matters of injuries to Alexander Gustafsson and Khabib Nurmagomedov still floating around in the ether. You better believe the Co-Main Event Podcast has stuff to say about all that. Oh, right? That thing where Jon Jones got stripped of the title and suspended indefinitely after running away from an auto accident in New Mexico? There’s some mop-up needs to be done on that, too. Ben and Chad hold you down, son. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

As Ben and Chad sat down to record Co-Main Event Podcast episode 151 on Monday afternoon, the whereabouts of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones were still unknown. Jones is sought by Albuquerque police in connection with a mid-morning hit-and-run accident that occurred on Sunday. All of this is to say, listen to the damn podcast NOW, before current events make it obsolete. In addition to Jones’ new legal woes, your intrepid hosts break down last weekend’s UFC 186, including the performances of both Demetrious Johnson and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luke Rockhold was the man of the hour on Saturday at UFC on Fox 15, battering Lyoto Machida en route to an important second-round victory. No surprise he continues to be the hot topic of conversation as of this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. On Grand Ol’ Episode 150, Ben and Chad discuss Rockhold putting the clobberin’ on Machida, as well as what that means for the middleweight title picture, after Jacare Souza was forced to go slumming against Chris Camozzi. In addition to that, your dudes look ahead to UFC 186, where Demetrious Johnson once again finds himself in the worst position at the worst time. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new week dawns for the Co-Main Event Podcast with--wait, what’s this?--Mirko Cro Cop as a potentially relevant member of the UFC heavyweight division?!? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but the 40-year-old Croatian Copper did stave off his inevitable athletic demise on Saturday, with a come from behind victory over Gabriel Gonzaga. Ben and Chad take up that subject on episode 149, as well as what fans might be able to expect from UFC Fight Pass moving forward, now that the digital subscription service is well into its second year of operation. In addition, your dudes discuss Yoel Romero dropping out of UFC on Fox 15 and being replaced by Chris Camozzi against Jacare Souza. Oh yeah, and Luke Rockhold taking on Lyoto Machida in a presumed No.1 contender fight at the same event ... that should be pretty good.   All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ever wanted to jump on the mic and tell 5,000 Virginians to go f--k themselves, Al Iaquinta lived your dream last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 63. If you’ve ever wanted to jump on the mic and tell one friend to go f--ck himself while the two of you sit at your dining room table, well, the Co-Main Event Podcast lives your dream every week. On this episode, Ben and Chad talk about Iaquinta’s potty-mouthed star turn during last weekend’s event and also break down Chad Mendes’ unenviable position as (maybe) the second-best featherweight who’s ever featherweighted. Once they get done with that, they look ahead to UFC Fight Night 64 in Krakow (KRAKOW!) next weekend. Such as it it. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even with no UFC event last weekend, there is still plenty on the Co-Main Event Podcast’s plate in this latest episode. For starters Ben and Chad talk about Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor wrapping up their “world tour” promotional swing for UFC 189, where they made crazy eyes at each other from city to city, until Dana White threatened he’d turn this goddamn car around and drive straight home. Then there was what turned out to be an action-packed weekend in smaller MMA organizations, from Bellator getting good stuff from LC Davis and Hideo Tokoro, to Joe Warren dropping the bantamweight strap via high-pitched scream and Justin Gaethje and Luis Palomino having a barnburner at WSOF 19. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s Chad Mendes’ brunch date with Ricardo Lamas right around the corner at UFC Fight Night 63. So ... big wheel keep on turning … All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a surprise Sunday Co-Main Event Podcast for all the little Co-Main Event Maniacs who’ve been saying their prayers and taking their vitamins out there in radio land. Also, because Chad has his annual doctor’s check-up on Monday and there was no other way. Anyhoo, he and Ben sit down for a nice, cozy Sunday afternoon chat about Ryan LaFlare making Demian Maia look like Brock Lesnar with the takedowns, Josh Koscheck making Erick Silva look like … uh … Demian Maia and all the crazy happenings in the women’s bantamweight division. Is good. You like. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week long excursion in Florida, Chad gave up on turning his life into a Zac Brown Band song and returned to Co-Main Event World headquarters on Wednesday. He and Ben turned out the following episode of the podcast, a few days late but still just current and just a poignant as usual. They discussed Pretty Tony Pettis’ stunning loss to Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 185, as well as Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s beatdown of Carla Esparza. They also looked ahead to UFC Fight Night 62, such as it is. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 185 comes to the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Tex., this weekend, and while you probably can’t be there in person, the Co-Main Event Podcast transports you there via … the sound of their voices? Look, it’s whatever. In any case, Ben and Chad take an in-depth look at what should be a solid top-to-bottom card for the world’s largest MMA promotion. Sporting a twin bill of title defenses from lightweight champ Anthony Pettis and strawweight champ Carla Esparza (plus Johny Hendricks vs. Matt Brown!) there’s not a lot to dislike about this event. Hear about all of it, including whether Rafael dos Anjos and Joanna Jędrzejczyk (you know we had to get that name in there at least once) have a chance to unseat the UFC titlists. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices