The Co-main Event Podcast

Ugh. Yeah, so the Co-Main Event Podcast lost a bet. Because of the unbelievable drubbing Ben’s and Chad’s beloved University of Montana Grizzlies took at the hands of Ariel Helwani’s hated Syracuse Orange last week in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the CME has a slightly different soundtrack for this episode. Really, your humble co-hosts have no one to blame but themselves. They should’ve known better, taking an underdog No. 13 seed straight up against Jim Boeheim’s longstanding basketball juggernaut. The end results were not pretty. Not pretty at all. But, because The Co-Main Event Podcast Always Pays Its Debts, the guys had no choice but to adopt Helwani’s terrible yet oddly infectious theme music this week. Next week all will be back to normal, you know, barring any further riverboat gambling. For the second (or maybe third?) time in its history, the CME delivers an All Questions Considered episode this week. That means all listener mail questions all the time until the show runs out of gas. Plus,

Episode 43 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finds Ben and Chad just trying to wrap their arms around all the awesome happenings of UFC 158 and hug it all so, so tight. Maybe all the excitement goes to their heads, as at one point Ben relates the story of being locked out of his hotel by a “manifestation” in the streets of Montreal and at another, Chad tries out his new Johny Hendricks impression. Once they get down to brass tacks, the guys talk up the not-so-dark, not-so-scary appearance of Georges St. Pierre’s dark place, the (possible) end of the strange saga of Nick Diaz (his retirement, his demands of a rematch, his dreams of a fight with Anderson Silva and, oh yeah, his taxes) as well as the notion that Hendricks might well be the guy to finally wrench the title from St. Pierre’s pampered-up, manicured grasp. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Listener Mail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two exciting developments for episode 42 of the Co-Main Event Podcast: 1) The debut of the show’s new logo! and 2) Listener generated music! Both are part of Ben’s and Chad’s ongoing mission to make the CME better and more listener friendly during the two zero one three. Anyhoo, aside from the new accoutrements this episode itself is as you might expect: The guys relive last week’s epic UFC 158 prefight conference call between Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre (and those other dudes who just had to stay on the line and observe the madness), talk up the two other extremely meaningful welterweight fights on this Saturday’s pay-per-view card and discuss the topsy-turvy week in the lives of Mark Hunt and Junior dos Santos. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Listener Mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41 of the Co-Main Event Podcast comes on the heels of last Saturday’s unpredictable UFC on Fuel TV 8 card from Saitama Super Arena and leaves Ben and Chad with no shortage of things to discuss. From Wanderlei Silva’s upset win over Brian Stann (and what it portends for both their futures) to Mark Hunt’s jaw-breaking KO of Stefan Struve (seen at right) to welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre saying he’s going to unleash his dark place against Nick Diaz, the guys leave no stoned unturned. Get it? Stoned? As in,  some talk of Matt Riddle’s recent ouster from the UFC on grounds of continued marijuana use also makes the cut on this week’s show. You didn’t think a guy was going to get released from the UFC for his love of lechuga de muerta and Ben wasn’t going to have some shit to say about it, did you? All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM (which seems to be spreading to listener mail, btw) and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodically speaking, the Co-Main Event podcast turns 40 this week, amid the rush that was Saturday night’s UFC 157 and the advance jitters of next weekend’s show at Saitama Super Arena. Ben and Chad celebrate accordingly, talking up Ronda Rousey’s first round armbar victory over Liz Carmouche (and what it might mean for the overall future of women’s MMA), the stinkfest Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson forced us to suffer through and the sudden gnashing of teeth over the UFC’s release of Jon Fitch (which was pretty much the most classic response ever from the collected MMA industry). The guys also talk about Brendan Schaub’s lackluster victory over Lavar “Big” Johnson, the relative ins and outs of Johnson penile nickname and how awesome it was when Kenny Robertson tapped Brock Jardine with a DIY submission hold. Oh yeah, and Chad sends a special fuck you out to the hapless clowns in the South Dakota state government. At the risk of repeating ourselves, allow the CME to say it again: Fuck you, clowns. All tha

Another week, another increasingly jury-rigged episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast somehow finds its way into the light. This week, Ben and Chad had to resort to using the world’s oldest known computer and some free software in order to get this thing out but, damn it, here it is. Imagine Sir Nigel furiously turning a crank to keep the power on while the guys yelled into a series of increasingly large tubes and you can pretty much picture what this week’s recording session was like. Any irregularities in sound you may experience are obviously the result of this process. Same goes for the few new musical surprises headed your way during this episode. Cheesus willing, by next week Chad’s computer will be safely back in his possession and recording will resume as normal. As for now, you’ll have to accept this week’s discussions of Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche, Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida and Dana White’s sudden about face on the issue of testosterone replacement therapy with our compliments and apologies.

And so, here it is, the long-awaited episode 38 of the Co-Main Event Podcast, aka CME: The Lost Tapes. The guys got thrown for a loop this week as first the unexpected death of Chad’s computer, then Ben’s family commitments set the podcast back a full two days. Forced into a DefCon One-type scenario, they resorted to booking some time at their pal Nate’s downtown studio to record this ish and – ta-da! – this is the result. On this week’s show, your dudes talk about the performances of Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche on the first episode of their UFC: Primetime infomercial, whether Renan Barao is STILL a MONSTER and why the people involved in Bellator’s “FightMaster” (FIGHTMASTER!) either should or shouldn’t be fearing for their futures. Look, it’s a miracle you’re getting this thing at all, so … you’re welcome. Now, what the shit are Ben and Chad gonna do about next Monday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the Co-Main Event Podcast puts a temporary hold on one of its solemn vows in order to discuss the recent kerfuffle caused by the release of the UFC’s first official rankings. Seriously, though, people, don’t get comfortable thinking this talk of rankings will persist. If the guys had their way, all MMA rankings would come with a disclaimer that said something like: WARNING! THESE ARE REALLY NOT WORTH TALKING ABOUT! As the podcast turns its eye toward more relevant happenings, Ben and Chad discuss the futures of Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar after their killer bout from Saturday’s UFC 156, marvel at Alistair Overeem’s hubris catching up with him in such a violent way and note how awesome it is that Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva keeps winning these fights The Powers That Be obviously want him to lose. Let’s see, what else? Oh, right, things get dicey for a moment when it seems like Ben is going to insist we all sit down to watch his high school football highlight tape. Also, Chad gives out his secret formula

Episode 36 of the Co-Main Event Podcast is more sprint than marathon. This week Ben and Chad hit the ground running after the unadulterated awesomeness that was Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 6 card and they never look back. The guys discuss Demetrious Johnson’s transgressions during his successful title defense against John Dodson, contemplate the legacy of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and try to hash out the futures of two lightweights seemingly headed in different directions (namely, Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis). In addition, Chad finally comes clean about that one time NFL washout Ryan Leaf paid him $100 for his half-empty Bud Light. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Production of the Co-Main Event Podcast moved into the icy basement of Castle Fowlkes during the last two weeks, so if you detect any audio irregularities in episode 35 it may be just be the sound of Ben’s and Chad’s teeth rattling as they struggle to stay alive in the arctic temperatures. On this installment of the show, your co-hosts discuss Vitor Belfort’s upset of Michael Bisping, preview the coming week’s UFC on Fox card and talk about whether or not Bellator established any real momentum with its debut show on Spike last week. Along the way, Jesus is praised (you the men, Jesus) Michael Chandler’s future projected (it’s bright) and the guys drop some spoilers about the upcoming meeting between Demetrious Johnson and John Dodson (don’t tell anyone but, they’re flyweights). All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you certainly know by now, the birth of Ben’s daughter (Willa Jane Fowlkes, who is adorable, by the way) on Monday threw this week’s Co-Main Event schedule into chaos. Just when you thought they’d leave you hanging, though, your dudes got together late Tuesday night to record an impromptu episode of the CME. Maybe they just couldn’t let the opportunity to comment on the end of Strikeforce, the future of SF fighters and the beginning of the Bellator-on-Spike era pass them by. Maybe they just had nothing better to do. Anyway, Ben and Chad obviously laid this track down prior to the UFC releasing the official roster of Strikeforce combatants who’d be making the move to the Octagon (No Barnett, dudes? Really?) but most of the content remains fresh, nonetheless. So yeah, it’s Wednesday and here you go: An hour and 15 minutes of Co-Main Event goodness. Now that everybody has had their babies and gone on their family trips, maybe we can all get back to our regularly scheduled programming. Not to jinx it or anyth

The logo for the first meeting of the Co-Main Event Podcast book club really sets the tone, don’t you think? Racy, exciting, a little bit dangerous. The truth is, the whole thing is kind of a blur. What we know for sure is that Ben, Chad and Sir Nigel spent an hour and change breaking down “Bar Brawler,” the debut novel from David Lee “Tank” Abbott and the first volume of the purported “Befor [sic] There Were Rules” trilogy. After all that time, did the guys come any closer to understanding the nature of the work? To ferreting out the intent of one of the more enigmatic pieces of “fiction” to cross their desks in some time? Probably not. What did happen, though, was a good deal of pre-tuning and a whole lot of fun. Frankly, this episode was all about you, as this was without a doubt the strongest showing ever from the CME Universe. The listener contributions to this show were flat-fuckin’-outstanding, so kudos to you. Ben and Chad provide their theories, Sir Nigel performs some dramatic readings (both from t

The Co-Main Event Podcast may well have dodged another baby bullet this week, as Ben’s wife still had not gone into labor as he and Chad recorded episode 33. Unless Mr. and Mrs. Fowlkes’ kiddo is petulantly late, it appears as if the first round of CME offspring were kind enough not to disrupt the podcast schedule. On this installment, the guys reminisce a bit about Strikeforce prior to the zombie promotion’s final show this weekend, talk about the debacle that was InvictaFC’s first try at an internet pay-per-view and discuss the even bigger catastrophe that appears to be Eddie Alvarez’s current contract situation with Bellator. Numerous sirens are consumed, jokes are cracked and no one will ever be the same again. Plus Just Sayin’ Stuff and the return of Sir Nigel Longstock for another round of MasterTweet Theatre. Don’t forget: On 1/9/13 the first ever episode of the Co-Main Event Book Club is also set to drop. There’s still time to finish up Tank Abbott’s “Bar Brawler” before Ben, Chad and Sir Nigel spen

Through the magic of tape delay the Co-Main Event Podcast’s first installment of 2013 is also the last episode of 2012, as the guys got together bright and early on New Year’s Eve Day to crank this puppy out. As the calendar turns, Ben and Chad are still flying high on the rush that was UFC 155 … at least, you know, the last two fights of it. During episode 32 the dudes talk at length about Cain Velasquez reclaiming the UFC heavyweight title from Junior dos Santos, Jim Miller and Joe Lauzon totally saving the day after the first few fights of the UFC 155 PPV stunk the joint up and Dana White’s most substantive discussion of performance enhancing drugs in recent memory. They also dole out some suggested new year’s resolutions for a few members of the MMA community, talk about how much of the best action of UFC 155 came from the cornermen and discuss whether or not Ben’s jiu jitsu gi has a stash pocket for his weed. You know, normal stuff. All that, plus AYFKM, listener mail and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more a

Not even Christmas can stop the Co-Main Event express, as America’s favorite mixed martial arts podcast thunders straight through the holiday season with episode 31. In the lead up to this weekend’s UFC 155 card, Ben and Chad discuss the coming do-over between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, the return of Chris Leben to the Octagon and take a long lens look at how much things have changed since the end of 2011. Your dudes won’t lie to you, CME Universe, it’s been a tough year for the UFC and MMA in general. Will 2013 be any different? Only one way to find out. During this last real episode of 2012 (Ep. 32 drops on Jan 1, you see) the guys also discuss Roy Nelson’s desire to go at least two more rounds with JDS, the politics of having Tito Ortiz as your manager and what it might be like to do a bunch of blow with MMA referee Kim Winslow. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff, uploaded while visions of sugar plums danced through your heads and whatnot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap

After so angering the CME Universe last week by choosing to go out of town with his family, Chad hopes to make amends by heading straight from the airport to Co-Main Event Studios to record episode 30. Once everyone is present and accounted for, he and Ben have a lot of ground to cover, so much in fact that this week only five rounds will do. On the docket for the latest installment of the CME are last week’s dueling TUF finales, Benson Henderson’s win over Nate Diaz (not to mention Toothpick-gate), the quizzical lineup for UFC 158 and whether or not doing three shows in 10 days is a good or bad thing for the world’s largest MMA promoter. Somewhere along the way, the guys wonder aloud who will coach TUF: India and Chad confesses that he spent much of Friday worrying about a specific UFC fighter’s brain. Oh, and Ben finds a way to bring up oral sex. Again. Also, turns out Co-Main Event Studios is no Universal Studios. Just sayin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First the bad news, kids: There will be no Co-Main Event Podcast next week, since Chad will screw everyone by being out of town. Now that we’ve all processed our grief from that little disappointment, however, we may celebrate the life of this week’s episode of the CME. And what a life it is. Installment No. 29 sees Ben admit that his wife’s pregnancy (and resulting lack of drink) has really made her go over the top in the Christmas decorations department. Meanwhile, Chad does his best to put the jinx on the entirety of the upcoming UFC on Fox 5 card. The guys break down Benson Henderson’s lightweight title defense against Nate Diaz, puzzle over the legacy of BJ Penn and try to figure out whether it’ll be Alexander Gustafsson or Shogun Rua (Rua!) who ends up getting screwed when Jon Jones fights Chael Sonnen instead. All that, plus listener mail, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Seriously, you better get two weeks’ worth of enjoyment out of this before the lean times cometh. Learn more about your

Exciting times, you guys, as this week the Co-Main Event Podcast makes arguably the most electrifying announcement since the advent of the White Elephant Essay Contest. What is it, exactly? Well, you’ll have to listen to episode 28 to find out. You know what people are constantly saying about the CME, though: That it’s easily the most innovative MMA podcast recorded in Montana in a guy’s living room at a consistent monthly financial loss? Well, the show has outdone itself this time. Anyway, aside from that mind-blowing revelation, Ben and Chad discuss Strikeforce champions dropping like flies prior to the organization’s last scheduled show, UFC bantamweight Nick Denis pulling the plug on his MMA career in order to save himself from further brain trauma and the sport’s ongoing battle for the hearts and minds of the “casual fan.” All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Download it now, or you’ll be completely lost at your next Williamsburg cocktail party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f

Where to even begin with episode 27 of the Co-Main Event Podcast? After a week filled to the brim with MMA action, Ben and Chad have no shortage of topics to discuss: From Georges St. Pierre showing no ill effects from a blown ACL or 18 months away from the cage in dispatching Carlos Condit at UFC 154, to Anderson Silva proclaiming he’s “here for fight” with the newly returned welterweight champion, to Ronda Rousey officially becoming the only fighter in the UFC’s 135 pound women's division, it’s pretty much on. Oh yeah, plus some idiot college basketball analyst busted out a couple of 2001’s best anti-MMA jokes on his Twitter, so you know that wasn’t going to escape their notice. Not to mention, Sir Nigel Longstock drops by to dispel some internet rumors during another thrilling installment of MasterTweet Theatre. All that, plus listener mail, Tips for the Well Rounded Fight Fan and Just Sayin’ Stuff.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only one word to describe episode 26 of the Co-Main Event Podcast: Gargantuan. With UFC: Macau (Macau!) now nothing but a memory and UFC 154 waiting in the wings next weekend, Ben and Chad have plenty to talk about, and not even Ben’s lingering (and Chad-induced) cold can stop them. Oh, and you didn’t think your dudes would let the week where the plug is finally, mercifully pulled on the old bag of bones that is Strikeforce and not comment on it, did you? If you did, you’ll be sorely disappointed. As time allows, they also discuss the politics of wearing jeans and work boots to a UFC weigh-in, waking up at 7 a.m. to watch some “fun” fights and how much Georges St Pierre is making from endorsement deals. Hint: It’s a lot.  Plus, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Seriously a gargantuan show, you guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices