The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast

This week’s Co-Main Event Podcast is recorded in the immediate wake of UFC 192 and immediately in advance of what everyone believes will be Jon Jones’ reinstatement to the UFC. Current champion Daniel Cormier just got a big win over Alexander Gustafsson over the weekend and Ryan Bader spoiled the return of former champ Rashad Evans. So it’s pretty safe to say there’s a lot going on right now, light heavyweight-wise. Ben and Chad talk about all that stuff, as well as welterweight Johny Hendricks’ failure to make weight and the ramifications that might have on his intended opponent, Tyron Woodley. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we record this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, just imagine Josh Barnett seated at the head of a viking banquet table, full-up on honey mead and eating stew from a bowl made of the skull of his enemy. Then imagine Roy Nelson in an I-Hop, waiting for his third plate of blueberry pancakes. Pretty much the same scenario, when you think about it, after two different outcomes at UFC Fight Night 75. This week, Ben and Chad breakdown Barnett’s victory, Nelson’s loss and puzzle over what they could possibly mean for both guys. In addition to that, they revisit more startling/not startling Vitor Belfort drug test revelations and look ahead to Saturday’s UFC 192, where Daniel Cormier defends the light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad rolls into this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast straight from the road, after nearly a week being in Iowa with his family. He needs a vacation from his vacation, but instead he gets more than an hour of MMA talk with Ben, all for your listening pleasure. This was something that needed to happen, if not for everyone’s mental health than simply because last weekend’s Bellator event left us with so much to discuss. There is Phil Davis’ sudden resurgence to discourse as well as the overall look and feel of Bellator’s strange “Dynamite” fight card. In addition to that, the guys look ahead to UFC Fight Night 75, where Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson will meet in a heavyweight clash in Japan. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking news into the Co-Main Event Podcast just as the show goes on the air this week, and Ben and Chad offer up some instant reaction to the Nevada State Athletic Commission handing Nick Diaz a five year ban for marijuana on Monday. Or maybe the extra-stiff punishment came because Diaz had the audacity to try to show up and actually defend himself? How’s that for some discourse? In addition to that, Bellator MMA takes front and center as its four-man, one night light heavyweight tournament goes down on Saturday. Who will win and what kind of No. 1 contender will they be for the victor of Liam McGeary’s title defense against Tito Ortiz the same night? Only time (and the CME) will tell. Your dudes also look into troubling reports about the UFC’s new drug testing partner and what that might mean for the fight company’s new in-house testing program. All that. plus Just Sayin’ Stuff, AYFKM and Master Tweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demetrious Johnson went out last weekend at UFC 191 and proved he’s still the most capable 125-pound mixed martial arts fighter on the planet--and the Co-Main Event Podcast breaks down every painstaking second of it. Nah, just kidding. Ben and Chad talk about Johnson’s impressive win over John Dodson for a couple minutes and then move on to the more vexing and interesting question of just what the heck the UFC should to with Johnson. It’s vexing. And interesting. In addition to that, your dudes look at the clusterfuck that still is the heavyweight division, now caught in yet another delay because the NEW champion needs some time off. Also, they look at Anthony Johnson’s most recent outburst to the media because … wow, that dude just doesn’t get it, huh? All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and--you ready?--Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast can’t have one week where it doesn’t talk about Ronda Rousey, can it? Just when Ben and Chad thought we all had Rousey’s future set, the UFC done went and changed it again late last week, announcing the Rowdy One’s bout against Holly Holm would be moved up from Jan. 2 at UFC 195 to mid-Nov.’s UFC 193. This is being done to accommodate the recent injury to welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and--we guess--desperately try to fill some big stadium in Australia. Why, you ask? Ostensibly to break some sort of made-up-sounding UFC live attendance record, but we’re guessing the real reason is millions of dollars. Anyway, so that’s begging to be discussed. In addition, your dudes talk about Demetrious Johnson’s pending rematch with John Dodson at UFC 191 and a smattering of happenings this week in Bellator. Is good. You like. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even with no UFC event scheduled for this next weekend, the Co-Main Event Podcast has plenty to talk about. On this episode, Ben and Chad break down Max Holloway’s anti-climactic win over Charles Oliveira from the main event of UFC Fight Night 74 and discuss the literal ins and outs of the often overlooked but vitally important esophagus. They also look into Michael Bisping spoiling much of the positive political capital he’d built up recently when he questioned the cojones of sudden UFC retiree Frankie Perez. In addition, they discourse on Ronda Rousey’s newly announced bout with Holly Holm. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By now, the cat is probably well out of the bag that there is no new CME this week, after Ben decided to go on vacation with his family to some mountain lake. Just picture him, swinging comfortably in his hammock sipping Jameson, not a care in the world as his bedraggled wife chases their two children around the cabin, trying to keep them from eating rat poison or tumbling down a set of stairs. Meanwhile, Old Man Fowlkes sways in the breeze, oblivious. But look, Ben and Chad didn’t want to leave you high and dry this week with no CME-related entertainment at all. For that reason, they’ve planned a special announcement regarding NEXT week’s podcast, as well as a chance for you to revisit one of the more unique and popular single episodes in the show’s history. What’s the announcement, you ask? Wouldn’t you like to know, you grubby little orphans. To find out, you’ll have to experience it in audio format ... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The MMA world will get a chance to catch its breath this weekend, or maybe come down from the weird herky-jerky meth high that was watching Glover Teixeira choke Ovince St. Preux unconscious on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 73. This coming weekend will be the first Saturday in some time without a UFC event, so now is your chance to take your kid to the zoo, maybe sit down and have dinner with your people, like a real damn family. Unfortunately, since we know you guys, we know you’ll spend it watching old King of Cage events on Fight Pass. Ben and Chad will be here for you, though, because Ben and Chad will always be here to discuss things like Teixeira’s prospects, Ronda Rousey’s suddenly Robust-ish contender crowd and the latest effort to unionize UFC fighters. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rondamania is running wild as Ben and Chad sit down to record episode No. 165 of the venerable old Co-Main Event Podcast. It’s no wonder that the UFC’s dominant women’s bantamweight champion dominates much of the conversation this week, just as Ronda Jean Rousey dominated the shit out of Bethe Correia last Saturday at UFC 190. Your dudes break down the actual fight and the terrifying possibility that the competitive gap between Rousey and her peers is actually widening, then attempt to deal with her budding superstardom and whether the UFC can keep the Ronda Train rolling if she continues to pick the bones of one of its shallowest divisions. Also, you didn’t think crazy-ass SOB Rousimar Palhares was going to escape notice, did you? Oh, because the CME has some shit to say about that dude, too. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Saying Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s CME podcast finds Ben and Chad sorting through the rubble of TJ Dillashaw’s destruction of Renan Barao--read: Reen-an Barrio--at Saturday night’s UFC on Fox event. As you may recall, that rubble sits atop the rubble left behind by Dillashaw’s first victory over Barao from last year. Somehow, however, this rubble feels heavier. Weightier. Like Barao is buried deeper. Once that grim task is complete, they look ahead to the rubble which will surely be left behind by Ronda Rousey’s coming destruction of Bethe Correia at this weekend’s UFC 190. In the middle there, they talk about Dana White’s recent tirades and question whether we’re starting to see the rubble pile up around the longtime UFC president. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With the world still reeling from two seismic events--Ronda Rousey’s 14 second win over Cat Zingano and the birth of Ben Fowlkes’ second child--the CME delivers a very special episode. This week, Ben and Chad have you covered on a bunch of health-related topics, such as 1) Revel in the fact you have two working arms, CME Universe, because you never know when the UFC might call you to fight Ronda Rousey. Seriously, they’re kinda running out of people for the job. 2) Don’t get too caught up in your shockwaves and your dejavus, it may cost you your Bellator light heavyweight title. 3) It’s cool if you get super nervous and trembly before your UFC debut. It might even disqualify you from being recruited for the job we mentioned in No.1, which is probably a good thing. All of that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The technical term for this weekend’s MMA slate is “stacked” or, if you’re a true purist, even “stacked-ass.” Nope, not to confuse the layman out there, but this is one stacked-ass weekend of MMA action. As usual, the Co-Main Event Podcast has you covered, with at least as much of it as will fit into an hour and change of prime podcasting time. We’ll kick off on Friday, when The Big Homie Manny Newton defends his light heavyweight title against Liam McGeary at Bellator 134. That same night, Cris “Cyborg” Justino returns to the cage to face Charmaine Tweet at Invicta 11. On Saturday, Ronda Rousey will be in action, putting her women’s batamweight title and status as No. 1 female fighter in the world on the line against Cat Zinganno. In the CME of that event, Holly Holm makes her Octagon debut against Raquel Pennington. You better believe your boys Ben and Chad talk about it all. Plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know what? Much respect to Benson Henderson for taking all our minds off our troubles for a little while on Saturday night, when he choked out welterweight Brandon Thatch in the fourth round of their UFC Fight Night 60 main event. For the Co-Main Event Podcast, it provided a sweet respite between thinking about PED busts, PED meetings and PED press conferences. But, back to the real world for this week’s episode, where Bendo’s win will be discussed alongside the UFC’s scheduled Wednesday press conference to address drugs in the sport as well as Sunday’s hot main event pitting … Frank Mir against Bigfoot Silva. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Saying stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All right, Co-Main Event Universe, Ben and Chad are going to do things a bit differently this week, for venerable episode Olde No. 140. As depressing as it is to admit, Anderson Silva’s failed drug test of a week ago is still the biggest news of the day, with this weekend’s uninspiring UFC Fight Night 60, WSOF and Bellator cards all failing to engender enough excitement to knock it from the headlines. As they do every so often, your dudes elect to eschew the CME’s normal three-round format this week, spending the first half of the show talking about Silva’s drug issues and then the second half juggling some UFC and Bellator talk. Along the way there is as much listener mail as they can wedge into the conversation. Oh yeah, and MasterTweet Theatre happens as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anderson Silva is back, Nick Diaz is still crazy, John Lineker and Kelvin Gastelum still can’t make weight and Chris Weidman is injured again. Does that about cover it? Oh yeah, some big news will probably break just as soon as Ben and Chad drop this new episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. So, pretty much business as usual. UFC 183 was still loads of fun though, what with Diaz trying to get in Anderson Silva’s head like he was, well, Anderson Silva or some damn thing. So your guys talk about all that, plus the weird decision in Miesha Tate’s win over Sara McMann, the rising cost of UFC pay-per-views, the awesomeness of Al Iaquinta and Thiago Alves serving some instant karma to Jordan Mein. Sound like a lot for one hour? Imagine how your intrepid hosts feel. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast isn’t feeling well, you guys, but Ben and Chad still got it together to record episode 138 for you, the fans. Just too much stuff going on not to give er the ol’ CME try. For starters, Anthony Johnson put those hands on Alexander Gustafsson on Saturday at UFC on Fox 14. End result? We have a new No. 1 contender to Jon Jones’ light heavyweight title. In addition, the cowboy that is Dan Henderson may finally have let the bucking bronco of his professional MMA career ride him off into the sunset. Oh and hey, did you guys know Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz are going to fight this weekend at UFC 183? Yeah, they are, and the guys talk about that, too. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an odd-ball Sunday night UFC event, the Co-Main Event Podcast finds itself still shaking off the hangover of Fight Night 59. Ben and Chad squint for a long time at Conor McGregor’s victory over Dennis Siver, trying to see if there’s anything to make of it, besides the fact McGregor will now fight that one guy in the front row. There’s also Donald Cerrone’s controversial decision victory over Benson Henderson to try to put in context and--just when they’ve got that sorted--this New Business about Alexander Gustafsson fighting Anthony Johnson next Saturday in Stockholm. We’re back in it, folks, and we’re back in it deep. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In classic Co-Main Event fashion, the new podcast smell hadn’t even worn off last week’s episode before UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones tested positive for that candy cane. You know, that gutter glitter? That paradise white? Anyhoo, Ben and Chad weren’t going to let an opportunity like that go by without busting out their best Scarface jokes. Their best Boogie Nights jokes. Their best New Jack City jokes. Especially after the Nevada State Athletic Commission spent the next week playing the Gee Money to Jones’ Nino Brown. Oh yeah, there is also another event of mixed rules fighting happening this weekend, when Conor McGregor takes on Dennis Siver and Donald Cerrone steps in on--what else--short notice to fight Benson Henderson. All that, plus Just Sayin’ Stuff and AYFKM. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plots are thick for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, recorded just a couple of days after Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier finally settled their beef at UFC 182. Well, they fought, anyhow. Not sure there was a ton of beef-settling, as both Jones and Cormier appeared to dislike each other just as much after they’d fought as before. Ben and Chad take a running leap at the topic--shouting “Cannon ball!” as they soar gracefully through the air--spending not one, but two rounds on it. After a fight like that, it just seemed necessary, you know? Also on the docket? Donald Cerrone’s victory over Myles Jury at the same event. 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 was recorded in the middle of a g.d. blizzard, and Ben and Chad hope just a bit of that cozy holiday splendor somehow seeps into your earholes. God knows there is enough other stuff going on to light a fire under you. For this final CME of 2014, your dudes discuss with glee the coming UFC 182 matchup between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, as well as Donald Cerrone taking on Myles Jury. In addition to that, they look back at 2014 and wonder if/how 2015 will prove itself superior. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad feel your pain, CME Universe. You have, what? One or two more days of work before the bosses let you cut out for Xmas? You’re sitting in your office right now, paging through best-of-year slideshows online, just trying to pass the hours until quitting time. Here, let the Co-Main Event Podcast help with that. On this special holiday episode of the show, your dudes discuss Lyoto Machida’s one-kick wonder over CB Dollaway at Saturday’s Fight Night 58, the small business of that pending class-action lawsuit against the UFC and Rampage Jackson’s possible return to the Octagon, so long as a judge decides it’s OK. All that, plus Tip for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast gets back on its normal schedule this week. With everyone present and accounted for, Ben and Chad turn their attention to the latest happenings in MMA, both confirmed and otherwise. There is plenty of live action to get to, including Carla Esparza’s championship performance at the TUF 20 finale, Nate Diaz’s disappointing turn against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 13 and the heavyweight bonanza that occurred on that same card. That’s about it, though, nothing else to see here … err … wait a second. What are these reports about an impending class action lawsuit against the UFC? Uhh, that seems sort of important. The guys spend a few minutes talking about that, too. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Ben’s lengthy business chasing down hashtag lifestyle pieces in Las Vegas finally concluded, he and Chad get back on the wild, bucking horse that is the Co-Main Event Podcast on Friday. Better late than never, right, you roughnecks? Even with Ben safely ensconced back in the one true time zone, the show finds itself in an unusual position, with 10 not-so-slow days of MMA news to catch up on. For that reason, for one episode only your dudes dispense with the show’s normal 3-round format and just make it a free-for-all. From the UFC’s new Reebok deal and CM Punk to TUF 20, UFC 181 and UFC on Fox 13, they take on all comers. Think of this as a CME done by UFC 1 rules, where guys just brawl it out in one long continuous round until one guy taps out or gets his tooth kicked into the front row. This one’s for you, Superfoot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a week off to nurse their Thanksgiving food hangovers and Thanksgiving hangover hangovers, Ben and Chad return with a new Co-Main Event Podcast, and not a moment too soon. See, gentle listener, UFC 181 and its twin bill of title fights looms on Saturday night. How you gonna know what to expect/who to root for/what to think if the CME doesn’t swoop in to hand out them ass-whippings to their maximum effect? Don’t worry, though, we got you, troop. On this installment, your guys talk about Johny Hendricks returning from injury to defend his welterweight title in a rematch against Robbie Lawler and Anthony Pettis returning from injury to defense his lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez. Oh, and because you gave them a pass last week, they also circle back to go over Frankie Edgar’s victory over Cub Swanson as well. Deal? Deal. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad delayed the recording of this week’s CME by some 25 minutes, hoping to be able to hear the UFC’s big #TheTimeIsNow announcement, so they could discuss it as BREAKING NEWS during the intro to the show. But, as it turned out, the time was not now. The time will be somewhat later. In the future. That’s when the time will happen. That’s right, the UFC punted on its own big announcement today, with UFC President Dana White telling the gathered crowd that the fight company “didn’t get it done” yet. “You can all go home now,” White quipped. If only! Instead, your boys went ahead and did the whole show, discussing last weekend’s jam-packed MMA slate, including Fabricio Werdum capturing the interim UFC heavyweight title, Tito Ortiz edging Stephan Bonnar at Bellator 131 and next weekend’s featherweight main event featuring Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No time to mince words for the Co-Main Event Podcast this week, what with the MMA schedule more jam-ass-packed than even is normal. Is normal. Ben and Chad have, frankly, too much on their communal CME plate, but do their best to cram as much into their hour and change as possible. From Luke Rockhold and Ovince St. Preux scoring big UFC victories over the weekend, to Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum preparing to square off over possession of the cursed UFC heavyweight title, there’s a lot of ground to cover. On top of all that, there’s this damn Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar fight, which apparently is actually going to happen on Saturday as well. Also, news broke on Monday that crazy. crazy Wanderlei Silva is going to show up at the Bellator fan fest this weekend in San Deigo. So, CME road trip? CME road trip! All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast records another Tuesday morning episode this week, as Ben’s tenure as a juror in a local trail plays havoc with the schedule. He joined Chad for coffee and fight talk as soon as he was able, and there was no shortage of stuff to discuss. Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping’s Friday-night UFC main event took center stage, but the guys manage to squeeze in some speculation about Shogun Rua vs. Ovince St. Preux as well. Then there is the small matter of Nov. 15 to reckon with, when the UFC, Bellator and World Series of Fighting will all stage events during the same day. Did the guys come up with a battle plan for how MMA fans should attack that day? Only one way to find out. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s that chill you feel in the air, gentle listener? Why, it’s the super-scary, mega-terrifying Halloween episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Just pull up a squeaky old rocking chair and try to listen to Ben and Chad talk about the week’s mixed martial arts news over the spooky sound effects of a howling wolf, the screech of an opening door or, like, a laughing devil or something. This week’s topics include Jose Aldo’s successful title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 179 in a fight-of-the-year caliber brawl, Phil Davis’ odd call-out of Anderson Silva and the longstanding curse surrounding the UFC heavyweight championship. So, yeah, it’s pretty spine-tingling. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin' Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the soaring high that was last week’s All Questions Considered episode, Co-Main Event Podcast No. 125 crashes back to earth, reverting to the crippling normalcy of just having Ben and Chad talk about stuff. Luckily for everyone, there’s actual stuff to talk about this week. The guys address Jose Aldo’s upcoming UFC 179 rematch against Chad Mendes, wondering if anything has changed that would make them believe that this time Mendes might pull off the upset. In addition, they talk about Phil Davis’ bout against Glover Teixeira, agreeing it’s pretty much a must-win for “Mr. Wonderful.” In round three, they get a little philosophical on the topic of the UFC’s 2015 schedule and a recent Sports Business Journal article about the fight company. Only after finishing recording did they immediately realize that said article had a super big typo in it about how many PPVs the UFC has sold in the last few years, so you’ll have to bear with them on that little mistake. All that plus AYFKM, Just Sayin Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices