The Co-main Event Podcast

Matt Brown saved us all from what felt like the longest UFC card in history on Saturday night, and the Co-Main Event Podcast is grateful because of it. On episode 103, Ben and Chad talk about Brown’s comeback victory over Erick Silva, which was pretty rad by almost any measure. They also discuss Eddie Alvarez’s concussion and the crumbling of this weekend’s Bellator pay-per-view. Like a couple of Red Priests trying to read the future in the fire, they attempt to figure out just where in the hell Bjorn Rebney and his wacky band of Cirque du Soleil performers can go from here. All that, plys AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One thing the CME can always count on: MMA dudes will be beefin’. This week, Ben and Chad take on yet another mysterious phonenapping, as Josh Thomson’s Twitter account talked some junk about Nick Diaz, only for Thomson to later say his phone was stolen while he was at dinner. Nate Diaz wasn’t buying that, and the whole escapade resulted in the kind of #GoodTime that the Co-Main Event just can’t turn down. In addition to that, there is Matt Brown’s impending UFC main event against Erick Silva to discuss as well as Rousimar Palhares bowing out of his World Series of Fighting bout against Jon Fitch in order to take care of his mom. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 101 of the Co-Main Event Podcast sneaks in before Ben Fowlkes takes his family on a fabulous Florida vacation this week (must be nice, amirite?). Ben and Chad have more than enough to fill all three rounds, after Jon Jones sprinted past Glover Teixeira, Anthony Johnson reduced Phil Davis to ruin and Ronda Rousey said more weird stuff about Cris “Cyborg” Justino (only to be later backed up by even weirder stuff from her boss). All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huffing and puffing like a couple heavyweights at a local MMA show, Ben and Chad stagger into the championship rounds during the second half of CME 100. As if the first hour wasn’t action-packed enough, this installments finds your dudes discussing Bellator’s finalized pay-per-view card, UFC President Dana White trying to light a fire under Phil Davis prior to this weekend’s bout with Anthony Johnson and Jon Jones’ UFC 172 title defense against Glover Teixeira.  All that plus MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates episode 100 this week. In order to honor the show’s vast listening audience for its attention and good graces, Ben and Chad bust out a doublewide show, going five rounds, two hours and two parts in order to get it done in style. In part one of this week’s CME, the guys unleash a boatload of announcements, including the Breakfast of Champions, this year's White Elephant Essay Contest and some exciting new merchandising opportunities for you, the fans. In addition, they discuss Tim Kennedy’s big win over Michael Bisping from the TUF: Nations live finale and Fabricio Werdum’s big win over Travis Browne from UFC on Fox 11. Get it? Got it? Good. All that, plus listener mail and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deep breath, fight fans, this shit is about to get hectic. The Co-Main Event Podcast dives into the thick of the UFC’s spring schedule this week, with talk of Roy Nelson’s win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as well as this Wednesday’s bout pitting Michael Bisping vs. Tim Kennedy and Travis Browne’s Saturday No. 1 contender fight against Fabricio Werdum.   Along the way, Ben and Chad also take on Ronda Rousey’s newly booked title defense against Alexis Davis as well as Tyrone Spong’s horrific injury during last weekend’s Glory kickboxing event.   All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Great MMA Drought of 2014 is nearly over as Ben and Chad sit down to record episode 98 of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Friday in Abu Dhabi the UFC ends its uncharacteristic period of inactivity with Fight Night 38, featuring Roy Nelson's heavyweight main event against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. That show will be live on Fight Pass, so naturally the dudes must devote a round of this week’s CME to breaking down its many ins and outs. Of course, that’s not all. With Jake Shields getting unexpectedly cut from the UFC and Holly Holm winning the Legacy FC women’s bantamweight title on Friday, there is plenty to discuss. Oh yeah, the parenting style of Fedor Emelianenko and this week’s Lingerie Fighting Championship event also garner a mention. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ah, the doldrums of Spring. With the MMA calendar in a bit of a down cycle this week, the Co-Main Event Podcast breaks from its typical format with one of its favorite diversions--All Questions Considered. That means Ben and Chad put the content of this week’s show in your hands and pull off 72 odds minutes of nothing but listener mail. You asked, and now the boys will answer. Sort of. If they feel like it. Reserving the right for lengthy departures and a wee bit of good-natured mockery. Back to your regularly scheduled CME next week. Maybe.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A day late and several dollars short, episode 96 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finally makes its way to the streets on Tuesday, after a 24 hour delay caused by Ben Fowlkes’ duties as a newspaperman for U.S. Today. Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise however, as the tardiness gives Ben and Chad the opportunity to discuss Chris Weidman’s injury and the rescheduling of his middleweight title fight against Lyoto Machida. In addition, the guys look back at Dan Henderson’s win over Shogun Rua at UFC Fight Night 38, the banishment of Will Chope from the UFC roster as well as the happenings of Bellator 113 (yes, they watched it). All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Co-Main Event Podcast of the post-Georges St-Pierre era goes in the books easily enough. God knows there’s enough to discuss, with Johny Hendricks’ masterpiece victory over Robbie Lawler to claim the vacant welterweight title at UFC 171. There’s also the mess behind Hendricks in the 170-pound division to consider, after Carlos Condit injured his knee to concede victory to Tyron Woodley in Saturday night’s co-main event. Nick Diaz has started showing up to UFC events again to heckle people from the crowd and St-Pierre himself stopped by the MMA Fortnight to further clarify the terms of his indefinite sabbatical. Oh yeah, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Dan Henderson scrap this Sunday night in the last gasp of TRT in the Octagon.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Alexander Gustafsson’s win over Jimi Manuwa on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 37-38/UFC London, the Co-Main Event Podcast celebrates a rejuvenated light heavyweight division to begin episode 94. In addition, Ben and Chad look ahead to UFC 171, where the organization will crown a new welterweight champion with a pleasing little scrap between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler. On the undercard of that PPV event, Diego Sanchez takes on the undefeated Myles Jury in a bout that seems like a must-win for the TUF 1 champion. Or does it? All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb. 27 may end up being regarded as an official holiday on the Co-Main Event Podcast calendar, as that was the day the Nevada Athletic Commission finally rid MMA of the scourge of legalized testosterone therapy. After spending the better part of this show’s lifespan calling for a ban on TRT, you better believe Ben and Chad ring in episode 93 like a couple of drunken carolers out on a Christmas Eve lark. They also discuss what could be the painful way forward for Vitor Belfort, the prewritten goodness of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s confrontation with Muhammed Lawal and the end of the UFC Fight Pass free trial period. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronda Rousey coasted off into the bright light of a six month vacation this week, after dispatching Sara McMann in one minute, six seconds on Saturday at UFC 170. The victory did not come without controversy, however, and the CME fully explores it in this week’s episode. What to make of the UFC’s contention--not to mention the opinions of seemingly most media--that the stoppage which ended McMann’s chance at winning the UFC women’s bantamweight title was A-OK? Ben and Chad discuss that vexing issue, as well as Daniel Cormier’s win over coffee man Patrick Cummins and Gilbert Melendez going to the mattresses with the UFC and coming out on top.  All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we’re being honest, there’s just too much stuff to talk about during this week’s Co-Main Event podcast. Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 36 produced dueling middleweight contenders in Lyoto Machda and Jacare Souza, but there isn’t much time to dwell on it, with UFC 170 coming up this weekend. In the main event of that pay-per-view, Ronda Rousey will defend her women’s bantamweight championship against Sara McMann, while in the co-main Daniel Cormier fights random dude Patrick Cummins. Not only that, but with Dana White’s unhinged PEDs tirade, Gilbert Melendez agreeing to terms with Bellator and Chris Leben tiptoeing right up to the brink of a Twitter meltdown, Ben and Chad have quite enough to discuss, thank you very much.  All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s not every week that news breaks during a Co-Main Event Podcast recording session, but this was one of those weeks. Ben and Chad were nearly done taping episode 90 when news floated across the wire that Jessica Eye had indeed tested positive for marijuana at UFC 166, forcing the Texas commission to relegate her decision victory over Sarah Kaufman to a mere no contest. So, round three is pretty interesting. In rounds one and two, your dudes discuss the dueling middleweight main events from this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 36--Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souzza vs. Francis Carmont. The show experienced some minor audio difficulties during the intro, but that gets cleared up by round one. Sorry bear with us. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 169 left the Co-Main Event Podcast no shortage of storyline with which to fill this week’s hour and change. From the Urijah Faber-Renan Barao-Herb Dean thumbs-up debacle, to Jose Aldo skipping town to fight Anthony Pettis at 155-pounds, to Alistair Overeem putting whoopin’ on Frank Mir, it’s all covered. Ben and Chad talk about all that stuff at considerable length, and also address whass really goin’ on in Newark, N.J. as well as the pros and cons of calling out Bork Laser after you just won your first fight since 2011. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To begin this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben tells the story of his escape from Chicago following Saturday’s UFC on Fox 10. And what a harrowing tale it is, too, friends. Once safely ensconced back in the One True Time Zone, Ben and Chad take a close look at Benson Henderson’s controversial decision victory over Josh Thomson at that same event. How does Henderson keep pulling of these weird sleights of hand, anyway? In advance of this coming weekend’s UFC 169, your dudes also break down dueling title fights between Renan Barao and Urijah Faber as well as Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas. Then there’s the matter of Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem, where both guys may well come in needing a win and also, possibly, allegedly with wildly fluctuating hormone levels. All that, plus AYFKM, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, approximately another 1 million stories for the Co-Main Event Podcast to try to cram into an hour, 15 minutes. Last Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 35 card ended with Luke Rockhold reclaiming some of his momentum with a first-round knockout of Costas Philippou, and that leads off this week’s three rounds of action. In addition, Georges St-Pierre and Dana White start a brand new war of words (not to be confused with their last one) and Josh Thomson prepares to fight Benson Henderson after the worst training camp of his life. Sounds: The music for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast comes to us from listener Lucas Ketelle, or officially from the artist Tay Off The Top & Lukie The Producer and  the album T.O.T.T. (Top of The Twamps). If you like what you hear you can get at him through his twitter account: @LukieBoxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in Co-Main Event Podcast history, World Wrestling Entertainment takes over nearly an entire round of this week’s show, as Ben and Chad discuss the merits and drawbacks of the new WWE digital network compared to UFC Fight Pass. Just a couple of days prior to Luke Rockhold’s midweek main event against Costa Phillipou, that fight also takes center stage. Also, did you guys hear nobody wants to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov? Seriously, anything to say that name over and over again on one hour-long podcast. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With very little in the way of topical MMA news going on this week, the Co-Main Event Podcast once again puts the fate of the show in the hands of you, the listener. Instead of wasting a round talking about UFC: Singapore or whatever, Ben and Chad once again pull off an episode of All Questions Considered. That’s right, this week it’s all listener mail, all the time. From the happenings on last weekend’s Fight Pass-only event, to the potential of Chris Weidman turning heel to the late breaking news concerning Dominick Cruz’s torn groin, it’s all in here. For better and for worse, the listeners plotted this show from start to finish. Except the middle, when Sir Nigel Longstock stops by to play a little MasterTweet Theatre. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices