The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast

Well, CME Universe, we saw it. CM Punk totally fought in the Octagon at UFC 203. And it was a thing that absolutely happened. And you know what? Ben and Chad understand if you’re not sure exactly what to make of it. Frankly, that’s what the Co-Main Event Podcast is here for. Let the professionals break down the subtleties of Punk’s game for you. Nah, jokes, as everybody on the planet could see, he looked very much like a 38-year-old man with roughly two years of MMA training and no other competitive athlete background to speak of. But because MMA, your dudes are obliged to talk about it here, and probably not for the last time. Aside from that, heavyweight weirdness involving Fabricio Werdum, Travis Browne, Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem gets a real serious look. Though, admittedly, serious is not the right word. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Well, last week’s Co-Main Event Podcast got bombed out of relevance fairly quickly by The Irish Gentleman Conor McGregor, eh, Universe? The paint was barely dry on the shingle offering CME No. 201 for your attention before McGregor tweeted his weirdo retirement announcement last Tuesday. The ensuing week has been largely swallowed by McGregor-o-mania, so you know your dudes Ben and Chad are going to discuss that during episode No. 202. There are other topics demanding their attention too, however, including the long-awaited and somewhat underwhelming return of Jon Jones at UFC 197--though perhaps the real culprit there was our own raised expectations. Also, Demetrious Johnson made an Olympic gold medalist look fairly hapless inside the Octagon. So, you know, ho hum. Just Mighty Mouse doing Mighty Mouse things. All that, plus AYFKM, JSS and the return of MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is aware of a situation involving Episode 201 and a local business establishment--and that situation is that the episode is out and it’s fucking awesome. On this week’s show, your boys Ben and Chad talk about Glover Teixeira’s slobber-knocking victory over Rashad Evans, as well as his cunning call-out of Anthony Johnson. In addition to that, they look ahead to Jon Jones’ “interim light heavyweight title fight” against Ovince Saint Preux this Saturday at UFC 197. They also discuss Benson Henderson’s coming Bellator MMA debut and what that could mean for the future of free agency. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like UFC 200 itself, perhaps Co-Main Event Podcast No. 200 doesn’t feel like quite as a big a deal as CME No. 100, but it’s still pretty goddamn great. For starters, Ben and Chad kick off the show by announcing the first ever run of CME T-shirts, which you can buy right now over at Cotton Bureau. In addition to that, they have a long list of loyal listeners to thank for various CME 200 gifts and well wishes. Oh, and the actual fighting? yeah, there’s some of that too. Your dudes talk about Junior dos Santos getting right back in the heavyweight title hunt with his victory over Ben Rothwell last weekend. In addition to that, they look ahead to the aged main event fights on this coming Saturday’s UFC on Fox 19 and talk about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s long-awaited return to the cage against a short notice replacement opponent. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plenty to talk about on this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast. Your guys Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier took care of that. It was a pretty shitty week for the UFC 197 main event all the way around. First, Jones spent a couple nights in the sneezer owing to a potential probation violation for racin’ in the streets. Then, just when it seemed like the Albuquerque court system wasn’t really gonna do shit and we were out of the woods, Cormier pulled out with a leg injury. I mean … c’mon, UFC 197! Finally, things went from bad to weird when Ovince St. Preux stepped-up to take an interim title fight (wait, the fuck?) with Jones and that not even he seems to think he’ll win. Ben and Chad discourse it all. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even during another relatively slow week, there is more than enough MMA news to whet the palette of the Co-Main Event Universe. On this week’s show, Ben and Chad discuss Nate Diaz’s recent declaration that chasing UFC championships is just a misguided “fairy tale, man.” Is Diaz right? Is he wrong? Have we all just been imagining those UFC titles around people's waists this whole time? In addition to that, they also discuss the fitness of Jason “Mayhem” Miller and the upcoming Venator FC card he’s going to headline as well as Monday’s breaking news that Cris “Cyborg” Justino will finally make her Octagon debut. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a few consecutive weeks where #aintshitgoingon suddenly the Co-Main Event Podcast finds itself in a brave new world where #shitgoingon. Almost #toomuchshit. Never to be cowed by the twists of circumstance, however, your dudes Ben and Chad are game to talk about it all. Or at least as much of it as they can fit into an hour and 15 minutes. This week’s CME reverts to its normal, three-round format as your intrepid hosts discuss plans for a rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at UFC 200, Mark Hunt’s walkoff knockout of Frank Mir last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 85 and Neil Magny’s borderline scary TKO over Hector Lombard at the same event. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s be honest, CME Universe--ain’t shit going on this week. Sure, there’s UFC Fight Night 85 from Australia, with Frank Mir fighting … Mark Hunt, maybe? Dunno, let Ben and Chad check up on that and get get back to you. For the most part, though, a week this slow (at least until the Tuesday curse unfurls its claws and really digs in) calls for another fairly free form episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Grand Olde Episode 196 finds your dudes taking your questions--handily grouped according to subject, kind of--for the full hour and change. You know what? You motherfuckers asked some good questions, too. I mean, don’t get a big head over it or anything but, yeah, adequate work this week, you guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Universe spoke with a loud, clear voice this week. And what did you tell us? That the only things you cared about from the past week were Conor McGregor’s loss to Nate Diaz and Holly Holm’s loss to Miesha Tate, both at UFC 196. Seriously, there’s no way to overstate the amount of listener mail you sent to Ben and Chad on those topics and the complete dearth of listener mail you sent on nearly any other topic. As a result, your guys are breaking with their normal format this week and devoting this entire episode to answering your questions on those two events. Also, Ben broke Chad’s doorbell. So that gets discussed. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot has changed since Ben and Chad sat to record the Co-Main Event Podcast just last week. Rafael dos Anjos is out and Nate Diaz is in against Conor McGregor at UFC 196 which only made things more sweary and less give-a-fucky. Never fear, though, because Holly Holm and Miesha Tate are both still on the card, so at least SOME PEOPLE are still acting like sober professionals. In addition to discussing both those fine fights, your dudes also look back at Michael Bisping’s unanimous decision victory over whoever that guy was pretending to be Anderson Silva last weekend. Also it’s leap day! All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, it was a certain kind of weekend wasn’t it, Universe? What with Bellator MMA getting down to its nitty, gritty freakshowiest best, while Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000 did Kimbo and Dada things and Royce and Ken proved they’re both probably still crazy. You think Gracie celebrated his big win like a 50-year-old man who hits the game-winning double in his softball tournament? You think he went to the bar, put Toby Keith’s “I Ain’t As Good as I Once Was” on the jukebox, cracked a couple of sodie pops and told all the young fellas how he’s still got it? The CME Podcast would like to believe he did. Elsewhere, Donald “The Cowboy” Cerrone defeated Alex “The Cowboy” Oliveira at one of those anonymous UFC events everybody will forget by next weekend. Oh, and speaking of next weekend, Silva vs. Bisping? You KNOW Ben and Chad are gonna talk about THAT. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Admit it, you’ve basically waited your entire life to listen to the Co-Main Event Podcast discuss a Cowboy vs. Cowboy fight. If that’s the case, gentle reader, you are in luck, as this week Ben and Chad take a good, hard look at the UFC Fight Night 83 main event, featuring Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone taking on Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira. In addition to that, you KNOW they weren’t going to let this final episode go by without taking a moment to break down all the hot action at Bellator 149, featuring Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie and Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000. The CME also conducts the rare serious round, as your co-hosts remember recently passed UFC veteran Kevin Randleman and try to put his time in MMA in some sort of historical perspective. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both co-hosts of the Co-Main Event Podcast are sick this week--co-sick, you might even say--but Ben and Chad still rally the troops for an hour and change of hard-hitting mixed martial arts talk. How could they resist, with Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson’s eye-opening win over Johny Hendricks at UFC Fight Night 82 still so fresh in their minds? In addition to that apparent changing of the welterweight guard, they discuss Mickey Gall winning the CM Punk sweepstakes prior to UFC 199/UFC 200 as well as Bellator MMA’s decision to bring Chris Leben out of retirement and into the fold. With that much stuff going on, it wasn’t as though they were going to let a couple of colds keep them from you, dear listener. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast delves heavily into the backlash against Sage Monroe Northcutt after his easy-peasy loss to Bryan Barberena on Saturday at UFC on Fox 18. Were the “haters” just being too “mean” to the 19-year-old “kid” after he “lost” his “fight” via “choke” and then told everyone he had “Strep throat”? In addition to that, Ben and Chad discuss the Dark Lord Ben Rothwell and his continued acquisition of power with his choke-out victory over Josh Barnett. Once all that sordid business is taken care of they look ahead to UFC 196/UFC Fight Night 82 and try to figure out exactly how bad it would be for Johny Hendricks if he lost to Wonderboy Thompson. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and the return of Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, Ben and Chad drew up plans for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast and then tore them up and started again after Cain Velasquez pulled out of UFC 196 with an injury. Then they tore THOSE plans up and started again a few minutes later when Fabricio Werdum also pulled out of UFC 196 with an injury. At this point, by the time you listen to this episode someone will probably have been added to UFC 196 and then pulled out with an injury. In addition to that ridiculous talk, they also look back on Conor McGregor’s command performance at the UFC 197 press conference (and the UFC’s own less-than-command performance). There is also a UFC on Fox event this weekend--even though it doesn’t feel like it--where Anthony Johnson fights Ryan Bader and … maybe … Josh Barnett fights Ben Rothwell. But one of those guys will probably get added to UFC 196 before he pulls out with an injury. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were a lot of strange happenings over the weekend at UFC Fight Night 81 and where do you go when things get strange? That’s right, my precious, you come to the Co-Main Event Podcast to hear the two strangest dudes in the MMA industry make sense of it all. This week, Ben and Chad marvel over the culmination of Dominick Cruz’s amazing comeback, as he took the UFC men’s bantamweight title off T.J. Dillashaw. They also review Eddie Alvarez’s successful gambit of wrestling a victory away from Anthony Pettis and Travis Browne trying to reach inside Matt Mitrione’s skull in an attempt to grab his brain. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast begins with the twisted tale of UFC 197 and who may or may not end up competing at that most bedraggled fight card. A week ago, we thought the whole event could be a goner. This week? We’re wondering if it’s going to mean Red Panty Night on multiple continents. In addition to that, your dudes Ben and Chad talk about this Sunday’s men’s bantamweight title fight between TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz as well as the return of Pretty Tony Pettis in a must-win bout against Eddie Alvarez. Somewhere in there, also find out why Ben was afraid to ring Chad’s doorbell when he showed up to record the CME. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit straight up did the damn thing last weekend at UFC 195, Universe. These two evenly matched welterweights put it all on the line for 25 minutes of greuling MMA action and emerged … well … they emerged more or less as equal as before the fight started. That’s not optimal, but it was sure fun to watch. On this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad look back on the awesomeness of Condit-Lawler and then look ahead to try to figure out exactly what the UFC will do now at 170-pounds. In addition to that, they ponder fondly the weird spectacle that was Rizin Fighting Federation’s inaugural events and try to figure out exactly what’s on deck for Fedor Emelianenko. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You hold in your hands--metaphorically, at least--the last CME podcast of 2015. With no way to adequately sum up the rollercoaster ride of this year in MMA, Ben and Chad don’t even try. Aside from some short recollecting during listener mail (listener mail!) this episode sticks pretty much to business as usual. Because business never stops, right? This week your dudes take a look at Saturday’s UFC 195 welterweight title bout between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit, which promises to be good fun for everybody except maybe the guy who loses. In addition, they puzzle over the debut of Rizin Fighting Federation (including, after all this time, Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jaideep Singh) and the strange Christmas Eve announcement that Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping will fight on The Fight Pass Dot Com in February. All that, plus AYFKM and JSS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Co-Main Event Podcast Christmas special. On this very special episode of the CME we all sit around a roaring fire sipping cocoa with marshmallows while we think back fondly on the year gone by. Nah, not really. You think Ben and Chad have an ounce of Christmas spirit in them? This week, like every damn week, your dudes soberly break down the latest MMA action, including Rafael dos Anjos’ successful UFC lightweight title defense over Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz calling out Conor McGregor and Alistair Overeem cruising into free agency by putting Junior dos Santos on ice. OK, fine, not that soberly. They wanted to make it worth your while, after all. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, CME Universe, how about that Conor McGregor, huh? Turns out he’s pretty good at throwing the old left hand. So good, in fact, that he’s the new UFC featherweight champion, the company’s biggest star and perhaps the first fighter ever with the proper ability, smarts and grapefruits to twist the organization’s arm until it pays him what he’s actually worth. Sad thing about Jose Aldo, though. He collapsed on the canvas like a tipped-over stack of bricks just 13 seconds into a fight we’d all been waiting nearly a year to see. Was that a letdown? That’s just one of the approximately 1 million McGregor-Aldo related topics Chad and Ben take on during this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Give it a listen. We guarantee you’ve never heard a CME quite like this before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast ain’t hurting for topics this week, what with three UFC events on back-to-back-to-back nights. From Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor finally (we hope) doing the damn thing at UFC 194, to Chris Weidman defending the middleweight title against Luke Rockhold to Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes to Page and Sage renewing the love affair for the ages--it’s going to be a pretty big week. In accordance, the CME podcast is also going big. Ben and Chad do five rounds for episode 182, trying to squeeze in all this hot MMA action. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Benson Henderson’s UFC career come to a close last Saturday in South Korea, with a split decision victory over Jorge GAMBRED Masvidal? As always with The Man They Call Bendo, it was kinda hard to tell. There were some mixed (?) messages being sent, but your boys at the Co-Main Event Podcast are here to try to do some decipherin’. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look at Jon Jones’ return to the land of walking-based interviews as well as the fact that UFC 194 is just sort of quietly sneaking up on us--ready to jump across the lectern and snatch our belts away when we least expect it. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and Master Tweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is awash in the weird come-down after UFC 193, a heady period where the likes of Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum are thrust forth as a main event fight for a televised card from the world’s largest mixed martial arts promoter. You know what? It was long--long as shit, if you want to know the truth--but the Magny-Gastelum fight itself wasn’t half bad. In addition to that, Ben and Chad look ahead to Benson Henderson’s bout with Jorge GAMEBRED Masvidal, which at least knows its place on The Fight Pass dot com. In case you haven’t noticed, there are also some strange happenings over in The World Series of Fighting. You dudes take a look at allegations being made on that side of the street to close out the show. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, what in the good goddamn just happened? That’s probably what you’ve been asking yourself these past few days since witnessing Holly Holm’s shocking second-round knockout of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Have to be honest, Co-Main Event Universe, your intrepid CME co-hosts have been asking themselves the same thing. And do you know what Chad and Ben ultimately decided? Why, they decided there was just no good way to discuss the crazy happenings of last weekend without going FIVE ROUNDS. So here it is, probably more CME Podcast than you ever wanted or ever deserved. On this supersized episode, your dudes talk about what kind of champion Holm figures to be for the UFC, where Her Rowdiness goes from here and exactly what the hell the women’s bantamweight division is supposed to do now. In addition to that, they talk about Joanna Jedrzejczyk's victory over Valerie Letourneau and then, because they absolutely must, look ahead to Neil Magny vs. Kelvin Gastelum at next Saturday's UFC Fight Night card. Do they have it in them? Only one way to find out. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the big enchilada, Co-Main Event Podcast fans. On Saturday night at UFC 193, Ronda Jean Rousey puts her women’s bantamweight championship on the line against Holly Holm, allegedly at some mondo stadium in Australia. Per usual, that means your dudes Ben and Chad talk about all the things that might happen when these two finally meet. In addition to that, they recap Vitor Belfort’s victory over Dan Henderson on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 77 and puzzle over Bellator’s latest bookings. Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie? Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000? That’s just ridiculous ... #wouldwatch All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the MMA world prepares to dive back in for the push to the New Year, the Co-Main Event Podcast steels itself for what lies ahead. On this week’s episode, Ben and Chad look at Vitor Belfort’s main event bout against Dan Henderson in Brazil this weekend. It’s pretty much the last chapter (maybe) in MMA’s dalliance with testosterone replacement therapy. They also talk about the surprising fun to be had in Jon Jones’ ongoing Twitter beef with UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. Also, there’s a Bellator MMA event on tap this weekend. The dudes discuss what a good and interesting card it is and then wonder if Bellator is really in the business of putting on good and interesting MMA cards. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back to form this week for the Co-Main Event Podcast. Even though there still #aintreallyshitgoingon, Ben and Chad get deep into three rounds of mixed martial arts discussion. How is Ben holding up in the wake of his recent birthday? Can Chad make it through the show, considering his lingering cold? There’s a lot of subtext happening here. In addition to that, your dudes discuss the impending (and now official) return of Jonathan Dwight Jones, the injury mishaps that befell UFC Fight Night 76 and just Whas Really Goin’ On with the UFC’s apparel partnership with Reebok. Don’t know if y’all noticed but, man, they really stepped in it again last week. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week where there #AintShitGoingOn, but the Co-Main Event Podcast bravely marches on. Pretty noble, right? Ben and Chad forge ahead into another week of listener questions. All are considered, but only the strong pass muster. On this very special GRAB BAG edition of the CME, your dudes field queries about Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey’s mom, Ronda Rousey’s coach and Ronda Rousey’s love life. In non-Ronda Rousey talk, they also discuss the Nick Diaz White House petition, TJ Dillashaw’s ongoing feud with Urijah Faber and when the time will be right for Bellator MMA to make its move. Plus much, much more. All that, plus Sir Nigel Longstock stops by for MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s up to you this week, podcast pals. The Co-Main Event shifts into All Questions Considered mode for its latest episode and you know what that means--ain’t shit else going on. Ben and Chad put the trajectory of the show in your hands, answering as many of your questions as they can in one hour, fifteen minutes. As you might imagine, things get pretty random. Not only do they take your queries about Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Paige VanZant, Sage Northcutt and others, but they also talk a little Game of Thrones, the world of other podcasts and even hand out some advice for newlyweds. This is not your father’s CME podcast. It’s all your questions all the time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices