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The Ariel Helwani Show

The Ariel Helwani Show

729 episodes — Page 13 of 15

Ep 127Is Jon Jones the UFC's $30 million man? Dana White joins Meta's board, more | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back kicks off with Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC) discussing Joe Rogan's claim that Jon Jones would need to be paid $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall... and the immediate retraction (11:52).Then, they touch on Dana White joining Meta's board (34:35), before turning attention to PFL slashing their tournament prizes from $1 million to $500,000 (42:08).Next, they preview UFC Vegas 101 (51:09) and Mysterious Frank joins to make their picks for the weekend (1:04:33). GC also reveals his 2025 futures (1:10:13).Finally, The Boys give their P4P rankings of months of the year (1:30:41) and answer your questions (1:56:28).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Jan 9, 20252h 13m

Ep 126Emotional Dave Feldman in studio interview, Payton Talbott, Matt Hamill, Moses Itauma, On the Nose

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Ariel Hewani and The Boys In The Back answers all your questions in 2025's debut edition of On The Nose (14:13).Moses Itauma discusses his path as boxing's top heavyweight prospect, why he's confident he can break Mike Tyson's record, whether he regrets skipping the Olympic path, meeting Ariel in Paris, who he wants to fight next and more (01:04:21).BKFC President Dave Feldman shares unbelievable stories from his past and discusses KnuckleMania V, his relationship with Mike Perry, Conor McGregor's status and more in a must-watch in-studio interview (01:35:36).Payton Talbott discusses his UFC 311 fight against Raoni Barcelos, acting in a recent short film, drinking expired dog food, having dinner with Frank Ocean, his experience on a YouTube dating show and more (02:24:20).Matt Hamill discusses his incredible news of being able to hear for the first time due to powerful new hearing aid technology, the next generation of Hamills venturing into combat sports, his history with Jon Jones and more (02:53:07).EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/uncrowned Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee

Jan 8, 20253h 45m

Ep 125Ariel x Ade, episode 7: first annual boxing awards show

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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo celebrate the year in boxing with their first annual awards show.The duo hands out 14 awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Promoter, Event, and more. Plus each man makes one wish for 2025.

Jan 8, 20251h 44m

Ep 124Darren Till crashes Anthony Taylor's interview, WWE Netflix debut reaction with Kazeem Famuyide, Cain Velasquez, Kevin Lee, darts recap

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Kazeem Famuyide grades WWE's Netflix debut and discusses The Rock's return, Hulk Hogan getting booed out of the building, whether the show grabbed new fans, what's next for Roman Reigns and more (06:41).Kevin Lee discusses the latest with the GFL, chasing Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov fights, wanting to rematch Tony Ferguson in 2025, his brother's success, "coward" fighters who are afraid to speak up for themselves and more (37:48).Cain Velasquez discusses his new GFL gig, Tom Aspinall's predictable patterns, his UFC career and short-lived WWE stint, lessons he's learned over the years, his upcoming sentencing and more in a wide-ranging interview (01:04:59).Darren Till crashes Anthony Taylor's interview in an explosive back-and-forth ahead of their Misfits Boxing main event on Jan. 18 (01:33:11).Finally, Ariel Helwani and Petesy Carroll react to darts phenom Luke Littler's dominant performance at the PDC World Darts Championship (02:01:30).

Jan 7, 20252h 42m

Ep 123The 12th Annual Helwani Nose Awards: 2024 Edition

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back celebrate the year that was with the long-awaited, never-duplicated 12th Annual Helwani Nose Awards. The gangs hands a monster list of 25 MMA awards for 2024, including Fighter of the Year, Knockout, Submission, Fight, Upset and much, much more.

Jan 6, 20253h 49m

Ep 1222024 European MMA Recap: Ilia Topuria's rise, Conor McGregor civil case, more | The Craic

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The Craic caps off 2024 by looking back at the year in European MMA.Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby to discuss the biggest winners and losers.The show begins with Ilia Topuria’s strong case for Male Fighter of the Year and his recent talk of moving to lightweight (03:13).Next, the discussion centers on Dakota Ditcheva’s meteoric rise through the PFL tournament and her Female Fighter of the Year candidacy (10:01).The conversation turns to Tom Aspinall’s presence at Jon Jones’ UFC 309 title fight and whether he’ll be able to force the heavyweight showdown (18:56).Then, they touch on the continued dominance of fighters from Dagestan (23:48) and the success of PFL’s efforts in Europe (27:16), including the potential future for England’s Lewis McGrillen (31:15).Finally, they close with a discussion on the fallout from Conor McGregor’s civil case (41:30).

Jan 3, 202547 min

Ep 120Helwani Reacts: Classic interview stories including Rampage Jackson, Nick Diaz, the infamous Undertaker x Brock Lesnar run-in, and more

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In this special episode, Ariel Helwani looks back at some of his classic interviews and tells the untold stories behind each, including:Nick Diaz before his Strikeforce fight against Paul Daley in April 2011 (09:05)Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller in Las Vegas right before UFC 84 in May 2008 (28:09)Rashad Evans in the immediate aftermath of UFC 128, where former teammate turned rival Jon Jones defeated Shogun Rua to become UFC champion in March 2011 (35:14)The infamous Undertaker interview seconds after Brock Lesnar’s defeat at the hands of Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 in Oct. 2010 (43:51)Pro wrestling royalty including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bill Goldberg Jim Ross, and Paul Heyman speak after Brock Lesnar’s incredible comeback against Shane Carwin at UFC 116 in July 2010 (57:03)King Mo’ Lawal’s emotional locker room interview after beating Gegard Mousasi to become Strikeforce champion in April 2010 (01:06:57)Rampage’ Jackson in rare form after his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 135 in Sept. 2011 (01:15:33)

Dec 30, 20241h 33m

Ep 1212025 European MMA Predictions: Jones vs. Aspinall? Topuria in Spain? | The Craic

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Petesy Carroll is joined by journalists Andy Stevenson, Chisanga Malata, and Donagh Corby on The Craic to preview the upcoming year in European MMA. The conversation begins with predictions on whether Tom Aspinall will finally get a crack at Jon Jones (03:58) and if Ilia Topuria will be able to bring a UFC event to Spain in 2025 (10:03).Next, they discuss whether Shavkat Rakhmonov will be able to capture UFC gold (18:00) and Leon Edwards' place in the welterweight title picture (26:15). Then they look outside the UFC and forecast what the future holds for Dakota Ditcheva, Paul Hughes, and Muhammad Mokaev (28:44). Finally, they break down the rumored boxing match between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul, discussing whether it will happen and the potential magnitude of that event (42:05).

Dec 27, 202450 min

Ep 1192025 MMA prediction show: Will McGregor fight again? Fights we must see? FOY Awards? Much more

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Ariel Helwani is joined by The Boys in the Back — NewYorkRic and GC — and Petesy Carroll to look ahead to 2025.They list fights they need to see (04:26) and discuss what will be the biggest stories of next year (19:12).Then, they forecast Breakout Fighter of the Year (31:58), how many new UFC champions will be crowned (49:53), Female Fighter of the Year (53:41), and Male Fighter of the Year (01:02:12) for 2025.Finally, they each make one bold prediction for the year (01:17:23).

Dec 23, 20241h 28m

Ep 118Usyk vs. Fury 2 post-fight show: What's left for Usyk? Do we finally see Fury vs. AJ?

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The Boys in the back react to Oleksandr Usyk's win over Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch.Uncrowned's Keith Idec joins The Boys to talk about the judges scores (03:17), Fury's strategy and reaction in the aftermath (04:48), and who Usyk could fight next (06:23).Next, Keith discusses whether it's finally time for Fury to face Anthony Joshua (08:32), where Usyk ranks all-time (10:16), whether AI judging can take hold (14:25), and if Moses Itauma could be the future face of British boxing (16:43).Finally, the Boys take a look at the official scorecards (21:17) before signing off.

Dec 22, 202428 min

Ep 117Do we believe Dana on Jones vs. Aspinall? Conor vs. Logan? Usyk vs. Fury 2, Paul Hughes US tour | The Craic

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Chuck Mindenhall joins Petesy Carroll on the latest episode of The Craic to sink his teeth into forecasting whether Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will happen in 2025 (03:54). The lads also discuss the build-up to Usyk vs. Fury 2 (19:14), the sentiment (or lack there of) for Logan Paul vs. Conor McGregor (35:49), Paul Hughes in the US (51:26) and another big sell-out show in Paris (59:40).

Dec 20, 20241h 6m

Ep 116Latest on Conor McGregor vs. Paul brothers, Alex Pereira's cryptic posts, Usyk vs. Fury 2 preview, more | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC), react to Alex Pereira's cryptic social media posts about not fighting Magomed Ankalaev (01:07).Then, they dive deep into the highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury (23:10).In honor of Usyk, Fight Feasts visits Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, before GC gives out a few picks for the weekend (58:11).The Boys, now joined by Mysterious Frank, give their P4P rankings of 'New Year, New Me' script flips and answer your questions (16:34).Finally, Ariel Helwani crashes the party to give an update on Conor McGregor's rumored fight with Logan Paul (01:55:13).

Dec 19, 20242h 19m

Ep 115Tyron Woodley, Kai Kara-France, Paul Hughes in studio, Johnny Fisher, On The Nose

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Johnny Fisher previews his heavyweight fight against Dave Allen on the Usyk-Fury 2 undercard and discusses his time in Saudi Arabia, Turki Alalshikh, his history sparring Allen before his rise as a top prospect and more (04:13).Tyron Woodley discusses signing with the Global Fight League, the details of his GFL contract, his first MMA matchup in 2025, advice to Joaquin Buckley and Merab Dvalishvili, untold early stories of Colby Covington and more (33:50).Paul Hughes joins in-studio to preview his Bellator lightweight title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov and discuss Christmas in Ireland, Nurmagomedov's past drug-testing failure, what makes a perfect Guinness pour and more (01:08:27).Kai Kara-France discusses the state of the UFC flyweight division, his case for a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja, why Manel Kape needs to be taught a lesson and more (01:53:27).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about 2025 fights, relationship advice, end-of-day routines, who's going to end Cody Rhodes' title run, Dana White's involvement in the modern day UFC product, holiday traditions and much more (02:25:20).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned

Dec 18, 20243h 40m

Ep 113Is Conor McGregor x Logan Paul actually real?! Plus, Aljamain Sterling, Sean Brady and Usyk x Fury 2 preview with Adam Smith

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DAZN commentator Adam Smith previews Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (03:29).Aljamain Sterling discusses his UFC 310 loss to Movsar Evloev, what's next in his career, whether he's considering retirement, concerns about Merab Dvalishvili's emotions before the Umar Nurmagomedov fight and more (37:15).Sean Brady discusses the state of the UFC welterweight division, why a fight against Leon Edwards in London makes the most sense, Belal Muhammad's chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov, reassessing Ian Machado Garry after his loss to Rakhmonov and more (01:11:29).Ariel Helwani discusses the Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul rumors and whether there's any truth to McGregor's claims (01:48:00).

Dec 18, 20242h 33m

Ep 114Ariel x Ade, episode 6: full Usyk x Fury 2 preview, feat. interviews with both men, plus what else to watch for this weekend

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Ariel x Ade is locked in on the year's biggest boxing match, the heavyweight rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.To begin, Ade Oladipo reflects on his time so far in Riyadh, site of the fight, including the reaction on the ground to the massive event and his run-in with Usyk at the hotel gym (05:11).Next, hear Ade's exclusive sit-down with Fury, followed by Ariel's reaction to the interview and Ade's insight into Fury's demeanor (14:36).The duo discuss what's at stake for both fighters and Ade predicts Saturday could be Usyk's final fight (24:22).Following another exclusive sit-down, this time Ade's conversation with Usyk (34:42), Ariel reacts to the emotional moment in which Usyk references his father and wonders where Usyk fits in the conversation of greatest heavyweights ever (40:34).Then, the pair react to DAZN's broadcast team for the event, including 'The Voice of Boxing' Adam Smith and Ade himself (48:08).The undercard gets its moment, as Ariel and Ade break down important fights for Johnny Fisher and Moses Itauma (51:10).Finally, the show closes with a recap of Dillian Whyte's win over Ebenezer Tetteh and Bruno Surace's shocking knockout of Jaime Munguia (01:17:48).

Dec 18, 20241h 20m

Ep 112Darren Till, Jiří Procházka, Cub Swanson, Patricio Pitbull, full weekend recap; is Colby Covington finished?

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the weekend in combat sports, headlined by Joaquin Buckley's one-sided win over Colby Covington at UFC Tampa (09:11).Darren Till discusses Tommy Fury's bizarre withdrawal from their Misfits boxing match, Fury's "shameful" behavior, why he's devastated by the situation, potential replacement opponents and more (01:04:10).Jiří Prochazka previews his UFC 311 fight against Jamahal Hill and discusses a potential middleweight move, Hill's recent run-in with Alex Pereira, fans shaving their heads to mimic his unique hairstyle, his new shoe brand, fighting his ego and more (01:31:17).Patricio Pitbull discusses the latest with Bellator fighters' ongoing frustrations with the PFL, makes a plea to Donn Davis to formally request his release, targets several UFC standouts and more (02:02:19).Cub Swanson discusses his spectacular UFC Tampa win over Billy Quarantillo, whether he's planning to retire, his legacy in MMA and much more (02:33:01).

Dec 16, 20243h 42m

Ep 111GFL skepticism, disgruntled Bellator fighters, Colby vs. Buckley stakes | The Craic

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Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned colleagues Chuck Mindenhall and Ben Fowlkes to forecast potential issues GFL may face ahead of its proposed April launch date (00:30). Fowlkes shares details on his recent report regarding a growing number of disgruntled Bellator fighters (34:28) and Mindenhall provides key takeaways from his recent interview with Colby Covington (49:03).

Dec 13, 20241h 11m

Ep 110Is this the end of Colby Covington's run? Full UFC Tampa preview, more | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back — Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic), Conner Burks (GC) and Mysterious Frank — kick off the show with a recap of the Yahoo holiday party and GC's book club (02:25).Then, The Boys preview UFC Tampa (09:09), headlined by Colby Covington vs. Joaquin Buckley, and wonder what's next for Covington with a win or loss. Is this the end of his run as a top fighter?Next, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys to make their parlay picks (01:07:39) and reveal their P4P rankings of holiday movies.Finally, they close the show by answering your Super Chat questions.

Dec 12, 20242h 5m

Ep 109Breaking news: New MMA organization revealed, Alexandre Pantoja, Helwani responds to Belal & Shields, OTN

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Ariel Helwani responds to recent comments by Belal Muhammad and Jake Shields, before bringing in The Boys In The Back to answer your On The Nose questions, including the gang's most desired boxing fights, best holiday gifts, and much more (25:41).Alexandre Pantoja discusses his UFC 310 title defense over Kai Asakura, his callout of Demetrious Johnson, potentially facing Kai Kara-France or Deiveson Figueiredo next, why he'd smash Sean O'Malley and more (58:15).GFL founder Darren Owen announces the launch of the Global Fight League, unveils a massive roster that includes seven former UFC champions, plus many more details about MMA's newest team-based organization (01:33:12).Anthony Pettis and Kevin Lee explain why they signed with the GFL and answer questions about the new team-based MMA organization (01:59:57).Finally, The Boys in the Back rejoin to react to the GFL news (02:13:46) and answer more questions (02:35:27).

Dec 11, 20243h 18m

Ep 108Ariel x Ade, episode 5: Usyk vs. Fury 2 is rapidly approaching!, is Klitschko really coming back?, what's up with Tank Davis, and Joseph Parker joins us

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Ariel x Ade is back! Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo kick off the show with a temperature check on the building excitement around Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 (04:24). Then they discuss whether a potential Wladimir Klitschko comeback makes sense for the winner (10:20).Next, they digest the early rumblings of a fight between Teofimo Lopez and 'Boots' Ennis, before Helwani proposes Keyshawn Davis vs. Andy Cruz take place on the same card (20:55).Sparked by Richardson Hitchins win over Liam Paro, the two talks about a potential pairing of Hitchins with George Kambosos (32:17).Heavyweight Joseph Parker joins the show to preview his upcoming bout against Daniel Dubois and express his desire to face the winner between Usyk and Fury (42:33).The duo dives deep on 'Tank' Davis' recent comments about retiring after 2025 during the press conference for his fight against Lamont Roach, wondering what's going on with Davis (01:02:51)?Finally, they react to Tommy Fury pulling out of his fight with Darren Till and whether his explanation passes the smell test (01:10:57).

Dec 11, 20241h 26m

Ep 107Merab Dvalishvili, Arman Tsarukyan, Renato Moicano, Randy Brown & Ilia Topuria leaving featherweight?!

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Randy Brown reacts to his controversial UFC 310 loss to Bryan Battle and Battle's viral comments after badly missing weight for the bout, calls for judging reforms in MMA and more (09:04).Merab Dvalishvili, the UFC bantamweight champ, vows to slap Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 311's wild kickoff press conference, previews the title matchup he never wanted, explains his explosive altercation with a UFC 310 attendee and much more (36:41).Arman Tsarukyan previews his UFC 311 title rematch against Islam Makhachev and discusses grappling Khamzat Chimaev, what it's like to have Khabib Nurmagomedov sitting in Makhachev's corner, a potential Charles Oliveira rematch and more (01:05:53).Renato Moicano vows to finish Beneil Dariush at UFC 311 and discusses all of the latest MMA news, from Ilia Topuria teasing a lightweight move to his prediction of Belal Muhammad upsetting Shavkat Rakhmonov and more (01:31:15).Finally, Ariel and The Boys in the Back answer some YouTube Super Chats, including the Fight Feasts budget, chicken shop rankings, and more (02:10:41).

Dec 10, 20242h 31m

Ep 106Ian Machado Garry, Demetrious Johnson, full UFC 310 reaction, Bryan Battle, Michael Chiesa, Chase Hooper

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down UFC 310 from all angles, including Alexandre Pantoja's impressive win over Kai Asaura and callout of Demetrious Johnson, Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry, Uncrowned's latest pound-for-pound rankings and more (10:35).Bryan Battle reflects on his UFC 310 win over Randy Brown and discusses his bad weight miss, his struggles in camps, playing the heel role, why he wouldn't have accepted the bout in Brown's position and more (01:02:56).Chase Hooper discusses his big UFC 310 win over Clay Guida, how Mikey Musumeci taught him the armbar technique, criticism from the UFC commentary booth, what it's like fighting a legend, his growth in the UFC and more (01:23:40).Michael Chiesa stops by after his UFC 310 win over Max Griffin and discusses the likelihood of returning for UFC Seattle, chasing Demian Maia's UFC record for rear-naked choke submissions, already having a name he wants next and more (01:44:36).Demetrious Johnson discusses Alexandre Pantoja's win at UFC 310 and subsequent callout, which promotion offered him $2 million to come out of retirement, whether there's a number that could bring him back to MMA and more (02:02:31).Ian Machado Garry looks back at his UFC 310 fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov, responds to Kamaru Usman and much more (02:36:44).Finally, Ariel and the boys wrap up a very busy weekend in combat sports: from the explosive UFC 311 press conference to Dana White’s comments on Conor McGregor to Tommy Fury pulling out of the Darren Till fight (03:07:54).

Dec 9, 20243h 59m

Ep 105UFC 310 post-fight show: Shavkat Rakhmonov prevails, Alexandre Pantoja calls out Demetrious Johnson, full reaction

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On the UFC 310 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani reacts to Alexandre Pantoja's impressive finish of Kai Asakura, including a discussion on who could be next for the dominant champion. Would Demetrious Johnson come out of retirement for a flyweight face-off (02:40)?Next, Helwani reflects on Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry's close fight in the co-main event and Rakhmonov's faceoff with champion Belal Muhammad (13:51).Then, a review of the controversial scorecards in Ciryl Gane's win over Alexander Volkov (26:01) and a recap of the rest of the card (27:36).

Dec 8, 202456 min

Ep 104UFC 310 weigh-in reaction, Ian Garry’s chances and picks | The Craic

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Petesy Carroll is joined by Uncrowned colleagues Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al Shatti to look ahead to UFC 310 and debate whether Ian Machado Garry has a real chance of beating the 170-pound boogeyman, Shavkat Rahkmonov.Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned

Dec 6, 20241h 4m

Ep 103Reaction to UFC 311 news, UFC 310 preview, P4P MMA headwear, more | The Boys in the Back

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The Boys in the Back kick off the show by reacting to the surprise announcement of UFC 311's top two fights (00:41).Plus, Petesy Carroll joins The Boys to preview Saturday's stacked UFC 310 fight card, including the intriguing co-main event between Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov (43:51).Next, a brand new Fight Feasts featuring Kazakh cuisine and The Boys make their parlay picks (01:10:07).Finally, pound-for-pound rankings of the best headwear in MMA history and your questions answered (01:49:05).

Dec 5, 20242h 14m

Ep 102Inside the Yahoo! talks, Marcelo Garcia breaks news, Wade Plemons, Henri Hooft, On the Nose

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Ariel Helwani answers your On The Nose questions about Syracuse alumni, Islam Makhachev's future, the state of Uncrowned's Yahoo partnership two months in, Carl Froch's offer, the gang's reactions to Ariel's beefs, Ian Machado Garry's self-belief, Dubai chocolate, Ariel's compost saga and more (11:30).Wade Plemons previews his Misfits Boxing debut against HSTikkyTokky on Jan. 18 and discusses his damaged relationship with KSI, how the opportunity came together, his fight night swerve for the announcement, his bet proposal to KSI for the Misfits fight and more (35:07).Marcelo Garcia announces his ONE Championship comeback against Masakazu Imanari and discusses his battle with stomach cancer, Dillon Danis' departure from the gym, steroid culture in jiu-jitsu and more (01:30:35).Henri Hooft, head coach of Kill Cliff FC, discusses Shavkat Rakhmonov's fight against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, the viral sparring footage Rakhmonov and Garry, the two's relationship in the gym and more (01:58:37).

Dec 4, 20243h 9m

Ep 101Ariel x Ade, episode 4: Turki Alalshikh drops massive news regarding future Riyadh Season fights, including Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

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On a wild episode of Ariel x Ade, Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo begin with a tribute to Israel Vazquez, who died after battling cancer (03:09).Then, the pair react to the stacked fight card being made official for Feb. 22 in Riyadh, headlined by the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch and featuring Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker in the co-main event. Next, they discuss Boots Ennis' notable omission from the card (06:32).Turki Alsheikh drops in for a one-of-a-kind interview on a variety of topics (40:02) including how the Feb. 22 supercard came together, why Boots is not fighting, a potential Wladimir Klitschko comeback, Francis Ngannou potentially facing Deontay Wilder or... Jon Jones?!Then the two interview Liam Paro, who battles Richardson Hitchins in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Dec. 7 (01:07:10).Finally, the duo recap the Galal Yafai and Sunny Edwards fight, including the audio from Edwards' corner and his retirement announcement, before closing on the revelation that Wade Plemons for Misfits Boxing (01:15:18).

Dec 4, 20241h 28m

Ep 100Full UFC 310 preview, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Petr Yan, Michael Chiesa

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Shavkat Rakhmonov previews his UFC 310 fight against Ian Machado Garry and discusses how the bout came together, why an interim title isn't on the line, who else turned down the opportunity, the infamous sparring sessions between he and Garry, and more (08:27).Petr Yan discusses what's next after his UFC Macau win over Deiveson Figueiredo, his callout of Merab Dvalishvili, a potential rematch with Sean O'Malley, why Umar Nurmagomedov isn't ready for a title shot, whether he regrets fighting Dvalishvili while injured and more (17:47).Michael Chiesa previews his UFC 310 fight against Max Griffin and discusses his winding journey through the sport, his special connection with Bruce Buffer, why Joaquin Buckley is the dark horse at 170 pounds, his prediction for Rakhmonov vs. Garry and more (46:11).Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Ben Fowlkes preview UFC 310 from all angles, including Kai Asakura's attempt to make history against Alexandre Pantoja, Ian Machado Garry's chances against Shavkat Rakhmonov, overlooked gems on the card and much more (01:09:43).

Dec 3, 20242h 26m

Ep 99Ian Machado Garry, Ciryl Gane, Eric Bischoff, Dakota Ditcheva, Ariel responds to Froch, what's wrong with PFL?

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back reflect on Dakota Ditcheva's $1 million win over Taila Santos and debate where she ranks among the best fighters in the world, whether or not PFL's system is working, whether Ditcheva is the new face of the promotion and more (19:06).Dakota Ditcheva looks back on her brutal knockout of Taila Santos, her future in PFL, where she ranks among the greatest female fighters in the world, whether she'll jump back into tournament again in 2025 and more (46:56).Eric Bischoff discusses his latest project with MLW, how WWE's Bloodline storyline compares to the NWO, why there's no hope for AEW, the business of wrestling and more (01:13:58).Ciryl Gane previews his UFC 310 rematch against Alexander Volkov and discusses his inactive 2024, Jon Jones' win over Stipe Miocic, who stands a better chance against Jones between Alex Pereira and Tom Aspinall, whether the Jones loss haunts him and more (02:06:40).Ian Machado Garry previews his UFC 310 co-main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov and goes scorched earth on Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman and much, much more (02:34:55).Ariel Helwani responds to Carl Froch over the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson saga and reveals how Froch responded to his offer (03:24:36) .

Dec 2, 20244h 0m

Ep 98Michael Chandler, Bryan Battle, On the Nose, McGregor reaction, Thanksgiving rankings

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about PFL's ongoing issues with Bellator fighters, proper public bathroom protocol, UFC's continued support of Kron Gracie, Ariel's cameo on Netflix show "The Cage," Uncrowned's coverage of Conor McGregor's sexual assault verdict and more (06:43).Michael Chandler reacts to his UFC 309 loss to Charles Oliveira, criticism he received from UFC commentators for back-of-the-head punches, his viral leg injury, why the loss was so painful, the status of a potential fight with Conor McGregor, his Thanksgiving pound-for-pound and more (01:00:53).Ariel rates the gang's Thanksgiving pound-for-pound rankings and gives his own definitive list for the holiday feast (01:34:59).Bryan Battle previews his UFC 310 fight against Randy Brown and discusses his viral heel promo at UFC Paris, his nickname change, memorable experiences being a bouncer, why he enjoys crushing someone's hopes and dreams in front of their family and more (02:02;25).Join us on the bike: avironactive.com/uncrowned

Nov 27, 20243h 30m

Ep 97Ariel x Ade, episode 3: Reaction to Feb. 22 super card rumors. Shakur's next move, Eubank-Benn official? George Kambosos Jr. joins

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Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo react to the massive plans for Feb. 22, with a fight card reported to be headlined by Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker, with the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch and Boots Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz expected as well (05:09).Then, they discuss who Shakur Stevenson and Conor Benn respectively will fight next, followed by a deep dive on the Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai rivalry (24:50).Next, they check in with George Kambosos Jr. for an interview about his future, before closing with the news of Olympian Pat Brown signing with Matchroom and preview of Misfits & DAZN: X-Series 19 from Qatar (47:10).

Nov 27, 20241h 28m

Ep 96Ryan Garcia, Mike Perry, Rosie Perez, Brendan Loughnane, news & notes

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Mike Perry discusses his recent arrest, the launch of Dirty Boxing Championship, why he's trying to emulate Dana White as a promoter, criticism from the Karate Combat president, why Yoel Romero makes perfect sense as Jake Paul's next opponent and more (16:45).Rosie Perez discusses her experience calling Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul, the criticism her commentary received, what haunts her about the event, Tyson's performance, her career as an Emmy Award winning actress and more (01:02:22).Brendan Loughnane discusses his PFL championship bout against Timur Khizriev, the $1 million prize, how he played peacemaker for Ariel and Darren Till, the wave of criticism PFL is receiving from high-profile Bellator fighters and more 01:34:57).Ryan Garcia discusses his Jake Paul callout, whether he's serious about the fight, his upcoming exhibition against Rukiya Anpo, lifestyle changes he's made since his suspension from boxing, why he'll whoop Devin Haney even worse in a rematch and more (01:54:35).

Nov 26, 20242h 28m

Ep 95Rampage Jackson, Chris Weidman, Eddie Alvarez, Conor McGregor trial reaction, weekend recap

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In Back discuss the Conor McGregor verdict, the latest fallout from McGregor's case, Petr Yan's big win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau, the Jiri Porchazka vs. Jamahal Hill booking for UFC 311 and more (07:44).Chris Weidman discusses losing his UFC 309 booking against Eryk Anders on fight day, what happened, whether he was paid for his efforts, his continual run of bizarre luck, getting re-booked for UFC 310, Merab Dvalishvili's rise as UFC champion and more (01:15:29).Quinton "Rampage" Jackson discusses a potential comeback fight against Rashad Evans, why he's pissed off at Jake Paul, the saga of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, why he thinks Stipe Miocic was a tougher challenge for Jones than Aspinall could ever be, his love life and more (01:44:35).Eddie Alvarez discusses his BKFC KnuckleMania main event against Jeremy Stephens, why Tom Aspinall would have nothing for Jon Jones if their bout hit the mat, the mistakes MMA promoters continue to make outside of the UFC, Conor McGregor's BKFC ownership and more (02:29:41).

Nov 25, 20243h 45m

Ep 94Breaking: Conor McGregor civil trial reaches verdict; here’s everything you need to know | The Craic

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Conor McGregor lost his sexual assault civil case. Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Ben Fowlkes react to McGregor being found liable for a December 2018 sexual assault in Dublin.

Nov 22, 20241h 3m

Ep 93UFC champion Julianna Peña joins The Boys in the Back, plus Figgy vs. Yan and PFL Championship previews

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The Boys in the Back preview UFC Macau (02:24), headlined by Deiveson Figueiredo taking on Petr Yan in a fight that could produce the next bantamweight title challenger, before looking ahead to next week's PFL Championship (56:21). Next, UFC women's bantamweight champion and honorary Parlay Pal Julianna Peña joins the show to discuss her expected matchup with Kayla Harrison, wanting the trilogy fight against Amanda Nunes and to make her pick for the week (01:04:58). Finally, Mysterious Frank enters the mix for The Boys' way too early P4P rankings of Thanksgiving dishes and to answer your questions (01:38:42).

Nov 21, 20242h 12m

Ep 92Darren Till, Gable Steveson, Nakisa Bidarian, Dagestan x Ireland 2 coming up

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys in The Back begin On The Nose with questions about Jake Paul's next fight, the trio of Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira, who on the show would be the best companion for a long road trip, and more (12:17). Plus Petesy provides an early look at Dagestan x Ireland 2 in the form of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes.Gable Steveson discusses his WWE exit, what really happened, his foray into the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, helping Jon Jones prepare for Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, whether an MMA fight is in his future, his return to collegiate wrestling with the University of Minnesota and more (01:01:20).Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian discusses Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, Netflix's streaming issues, the unprecedented commercial success of the event, the impact it had on boxing, Francis Ngannou's comments, Michael Irvin claiming the fight was rigged and more (01:47:50).Darren Till discusses fighting Tommy Fury, the chaos with John Fury at the kickoff press conference, why he signed the contract without knowing his purse, his plans in boxing, whether he'll really throw a kick if the fight is going poorly, training with Tyson Fury in the past and more (02:32:55).

Nov 20, 20243h 28m

Ep 91Ariel x Ade, episode 2: Paul vs. Canelo next? Eddie Hearn drops nuggets, more

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On the debut episode of Ariel x Ade, the duo unite in studio to discuss the biggest topics from the world of boxing.First up, the aftermath of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, including Tyson's fitness, who Paul should fight next and the event's success on Netflix (03:23).Then, they tackle the fallout from the controversial result of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, before talking about the newly announced bout between Tommy Fury and Darren Till, including the madness of their first press conference (24:01).Eddie Hearn joins the show to talk about Katie Taylor's win, give his own feelings on Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, and forecast whether Jai Opetaia and Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez will end up meeting (43:56).The pair close the show with a recap of Riyadh Season Latino Night (58:45), who Canelo could fight next, and a reaction to the latest Ryan Garcia news (01:17:37).

Nov 20, 20241h 26m

Ep 90Chael Sonnen in studio, Mikey Musumeci, Conor McGregor trial update, Ian Garry's title hopes

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss the latest in Conor McGregor's civil trial, the drama between Darren Till and Tommy Fury at their kickoff press conference, the importance of Nov. 19 in MMA history, the state of the UFC welterweight division, and more (07:11:).Chael Sonnen joins in-studio to discuss the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga, Mike Tyson's loss to Jake Paul, how Chael nearly ended up managing a young Francis Ngannou, Donald Trump's UFC ties, the strategy behind contract negotiations, and much more (33:30).Mikey Musumeci discusses his defection to the UFC, what went wrong in ONE Championship, the state of his old promotion following a rash of criticism from former fighters, UFC's future plans for high-level jiu-jitsu, pizza preferences, and more (01:59:20).

Nov 19, 20242h 44m

Ep 89Tom Aspinall, UFC 309 & Tyson x Paul reaction, Bo Nickal, Oban Elliott in studio

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back react to Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul (11:24) and UFC 309 (48:00), breaking down every angle of Netflix's entry into combat sports, Jon Jones' one-sided title defense over Stipe Miocic, whether a Tom Aspinall fight is going to actually happen, and more.Bo Nickal discusses his UFC 309 win over Paul Craig, the boos, criticism from Daniel Cormier, why the crowd's "overrated" chant was a compliment, his assessment of his performance, whether he's ready for the Khamzat Chimaevs of the division, what's next, and more (01:35:44).Oban Elliott discusses his UFC 309 knockout win over Bassil Hafez, making history as a Welshman at Madison Square Garden, his family's reaction to the weekend, Chael Sonnen's advice before Saturday's walkout, Derek Cleary's wild scorecard, and more (02:01:43).Tom Aspinall discusses his week at UFC 309, Jon Jones' win over Stipe Miocic, his assessment of Jones' performance, whether Miocic's loss is more because of his age or Jones' abilities, how he would've fared against Saturday's version of Jones, sitting next to Jones' family on fight night, and more (02:59:09).

Nov 18, 20243h 54m

Ep 88UFC 309 post-show: What's next for Jon Jones & Stipe Miocic

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On the UFC 309 Post-Fight Show, Ariel Helwani reacts to Jon Jones' dominant performance against Stipe Miocic and weighs in on whether Jones will face interim champ Tom Aspinall (01:03).Next, Helwani recaps the co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler and forecasts what could be next for each, including a potential rebooking of the Conor McGregor fight for Chandler (18:06).Finally, he touches on Bo Nickal's win over Paul Craig (21:44) and the rest of the card's notable performances (25:17) before bringing in The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks, to cap off the night from Madison Square Garden (30:37).

Nov 17, 202451 min

Ep 87Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Post-Show: Did it disappoint? Taylor vs. Serrano robbery?

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On the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Post-show, Eric Jackman and Conner Burks react to Jake Paul's decision win over Mike Tyson and whether the fight lived up to expectations. Was it a success for Netflix and who will Jake Paul fight next (00:42)?Then, they recap another instant classic fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, including the controversial scoring and refereeing (25:10).Finally, they end by reacting to breaking news related to UFC 310 and the new co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garr (33:47).

Nov 16, 202439 min

Ep 86The Craic: Jon Jones’ bizarre media-day, ‘A**hole’ Tom Aspinall, Tyson vs. Paul presser

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Chuck Mindenhall returns to The Craic to discuss a bizarre UFC 309 media day from Jon Jones and to look forward to a blockbuster weekend of combat sports.Petesy and Chuck try to wrap their heads around Jones’s comments on Tom Aspinall, the size difference he cites while also calling for bouts with light-heavyweights Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill and him being complicit in the fight week focus not being on Stipe Miocic (2:27).The lads also give their thoughts on Tyson vs. Paul and how Paul’s promotion of Amanda Serrano has some Irish pundits sweating (48:56).

Nov 14, 20241h 8m

Ep 85The Boys in the Back: Old UFC gloves back?! UFC 309 and Mike Tyson vs Paul Paul previews

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The Boys in the Back kick off the show with Ariel Helwani to discuss the drama surrounding UFC 309 and the mysterious return of the old UFC gloves (2:19).Next, they break down the rest of the card, including a look ahead at what could be next for Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic (38:01). Tom Aspinall? Alex Pereira?Then they debut Fight Feats from New York institution Katz's Deli (01:31:42), followed by a preview of the boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul airing on Netflix (01:41:31).Finally, Mysterious Frank joins the Boys to give picks for the weekend and run down their P4P lists of celebrities who could've been fighters (02:16:16), before answering your questions (02:38:44).

Nov 13, 20242h 55m

Ep 84Aljamain Sterling and Oban Elliott in studio, Carlos Prates, UFC 309 preview

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, Jon Jones' latest comments, the crew's spirit fighters, the top five MMA regional promotions, Ariel's experience attending the infamous Montreal Screwjob, hot dog preferences, plumbers, and more (12:43).Oban Elliot joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 309 showdown against Bassil Hafez, linking up with Chael Sonnen, the story behind his mugshot, what his family would think of his success, why he still works on the railway from time to time, his experiences with WWE, and more (01:23:06).Carlos Prates discusses his UFC Vegas 100 win over Neil Magny, the origin of the Fighting Nerds team, his obsession for cigarettes, his journey through martial arts, his year-end goals for 2025, and much more (02:17:54).Aljamain Sterling joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 310 fight against Movsar Evloev, Merab Dvalishvili's win over Sean O'Malley, making his own walkout song, his motivation at featherweight, why he would've likely retired if he lost to Calvin Kattar, reaction to his meeting with UFC officials on the "Fight Inc." documentary, and more (02:35:39).

Nov 12, 20243h 56m

Ep 83Michael Chandler in studio, Stipe Miocic, Bo Nickal, Eddie Hearn; Is Jon Jones ruining his legacy?

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down a big combat sports weekend that saw Carlos Prates, Jaron "Boots" Ennis, and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez pick up wins, plus more (04:28).Eddie Hearn discusses Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, his distaste for the fight, Jaron "Boots" Ennis' lackluster win over Karen Chukhadzhian, whether a Terence Crawford fight will actually happen, the potential impact of Netflix's move into boxing, and more (27:21).Stipe Miocic discusses his UFC 309 fight against Jon Jones, the lack of respect he's being given, why he called Jones a "b*tch" and Jones' viral reaction, whether he fights again after UFC 309, the Tom Aspinall dilemma, and more (01:01:45).Bo Nickal discusses his UFC 309 fight against Paul Craig, his relationship with Donald Trump, Khamzat Chimaev's win over Robert Whittaker, recent wins by Shara Bullet and Reinier de Ridder, Darren Till's criticism, the massive betting odds for the Craig bout, and more (01:32:20).Michael Chandler joins in-studio to discuss his UFC 309 fight against Charles Oliveira, why his loss to Oliveira is one of his most painful memories, the latest in the Conor McGregor saga, why he blames himself for how the McGregor situation played out, and more (02:01:46).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the latest in the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga (03:09:11).

Nov 11, 20243h 50m

Ep 82The Craic: Jon Jones snubs Tom Aspinall, the future of UFC Apex, dangers of Tyson vs. Paul

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Petesy Carroll is joined by Shaheen Al Shatti and Chuck Mindenhall to discuss Jon Jones’ comments on Tom Aspinall not proving enough to be granted a title shot (0:00), the future of the UFC Apex on the eve of it’s (alleged) 100th event (40:22), and the fear they have for Mike Tyson next week (57:06).

Nov 8, 20241h 8m

Ep 81The Boys in the Back: Celebrating UFC Apex 100, apex predator P4P rankings, more

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The Boys in the Back, Eric Jackman (NewYorkRic) and Conner Burks (GC), are on the road to UFC Apex 100, so they're reminiscing about some of the best moments at the illustrious venue (01:54).Then, Mysterious Frank joins The Boys make parlay picks (52:16) give their P4P rankings of apex predators (01:00:53), and answer your questions (01:26:56).

Nov 7, 20241h 41m

Ep 80Reaction to Dana White x Donald Trump, latest on Conor McGregor, plus Brandon Moreno, Katie Taylor and Bam Rodriguez

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the UFC's future with Dana White's close ties to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, the latest in Conor McGregor's sexual assault case, UFC Vegas 100, and more (04:24).Katie Taylor discusses rematching Amanda Serrano on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul card, criticism of the Tyson vs. Paul fight, concern for Tyson, landing on a U.S. stadium show before competing at Croke Park, fighting at a catchweight, potential retirement plans, and more (44:21).Brandon Moreno discusses his vintage UFC return against Amir Albazi, braving the Edmonton cold, his hiatus from MMA, having negative thoughts during his losing streak, his new coffee hobby, his focus on regaining the UFC flyweight title, and more (01:04:30).Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez discusses his WBC super flyweight title defense against Pedro Guevara, where he ranks on the pound-for-pound list, his first interaction with Eddie Hearn, Japanese McDonald's, Naoya Inoue, criticism of Saturday's matchup, why Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul isn't a real fight, and more (01:28:34).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back answer your On The Nose questions about Conor McGregor's ongoing civil trial, controversy with Mysterious Frank's in-show drops, Sage Northcutt's bizarre career, WWE Crown Jewel, the difference between McDonald's in Ireland, the UFC's current lack of spectacular champions, and more (01:53:31).

Nov 6, 20243h 10m

Ep 79Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson preview, Andy Foster, Frank Warren, Todd DuBoef, Youssef Zalal

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back discuss how they're feeling about Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul as the big fight looms (15:21). Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, discusses his concerns for Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, the new changes to the Unified Rules of MMA, the impetuous for the changes, whether Jon Jones' only career loss should now be overturned, further changes MMA needs, and more 39:35). Frank Warren, headman at Queensberry Promotions, discusses his blockbuster broadcast deal with DAZN, whether the deal gets done if he hadn't mended fences with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, Daniel Dubois' next fight, news for 2025, thoughts on Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, and more (01:15:20). Youssef Zalal discusses his big win at UFC Edmonton over Jack Shore, his roller-coaster road back to the UFC, how brother's untimely passing affected his career, being inspired by past opponent Ilia Topuria, considering early retirement, the night he picked up boxing, kickboxing, and MMA wins in the same evening, and more (01:39:51). Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank, discusses Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2, what it's like to work for Bob Arum, the state of the business, the effect of Saudi Arabia money in boxing, Naoya Inoue's future, Keyshawn Davis, Top Rank's upcoming broadcast deal, Dana White's criticism, and more (02:10:41).

Nov 5, 20243h 5m

Ep 78Shavkat Rakhmonov, Valentina Shevchenko, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Aiemann Zahabi, Sayif Saud, weekend recap

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Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back break down the state of the UFC welterweight division following Belal Muhammad's injury withdrawal from his UFC 310 title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov (09:36).Shavkat Rakhmonov discusses Belal Muhammad dropping out of their scheduled UFC 310 title fight, how he found out about the news, what happens next, the option of fighting for an interim title, Ian Machado Garry, Muhammad's title victory over Leon Edwards, and more (31:07).Ariel Helwani and The Boys In The Back recap the highs and lows of UFC Edmonton (01:08:22).Jasmine Jasudavicius discusses her big UFC 310 win over Ariane da Silva at UFC Edmonton, why she walked out to "La Bamba," her mindset, running into Tracy Cortez, her fight night routines, getting a post-fight bonus, kicking trees, and more (01:27:47).Aiemann Zahabi discusses his UFC 310 over Pedro Munhoz, his five-fight UFC win streak, the running joke about how much he looks like Ariel, how working with a mindset coach has changed his career, Georges St-Pierre's role in the gym these days, and morev (02:01:29).Sayif Saud discusses Brandon Moreno's vintage win over Amir Albazi at UFC Edmonton, Moreno's path back to the belt depending on what happens at UFC 310, how difficult life is in the UFC flyweight rankings, Pantoja vs. Asakura, Geoff Neal's recent win over Rafael dos Anjos, and more (02:30:40).Valentina Shevchenko discusses recapturing the UFC flyweight title with a win over Alexa Grasso, her world travels since winning back the belt, her determination to make a statement in that trilogy fight, people's narratives leading into the bout, a potential Zhang Weili superfight, and more (03:05:29).

Nov 4, 20244h 0m