The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast

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

With the UFC on hiatus both this weekend and the last, the Co-Main Event Podcast saddles up for another episode of All Questions Considered. It’s simple, really. You send Ben and Chad your email questions and they answer as many of them as they possibly can in an hour and change. From Joe Warren’s Bellator bantamweight title victory to Jake Shields’ WSOF win over Ryan Ford to Mayhem Miller’s continuing meltdown, it’s all covered. In fact, this bad boy is so quick and painless, the guy’s might just start doing AQC every single week. Nah, probably not, but thanks for all your emails, all the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yet another UFC doubleheader Saturday leaves the Co-Main Event Podcast feeling spent. On this episode, Ben and Chad discuss Rory MacDonald’s victory over Tarec Saffiedine in an apparent welterweight title eliminator. It seems like fans will tacitly accept MacDonald as the next challenger for the 170-pound title, if not exactly welcome him with open arms. Rick Story notched a big upset win as well, undressing Gunnar Nelson over in Stockholm. So there’s that. Also, the guys dip into the question of whether Cung Le’s recent positive drug test raises issues with the UFC’s testing policies, regardless of Le’s guilt or innocence. All that, plus AYFKM, MasterTweet Theatre and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the heels of the stellar UFC 178 card, the Co-Main Event Podcast once again finds itself with a good kind of problem: too many compelling storylines to cram into one episode. As usual, Ben and Chad make the best of the time allotted, talking about Conor McGregor’s big win over Dustin Poirier, all the weirdness in the Yoel Romero-Tim Kennedy fight and Eddie Alvarez’s disappointing UFC debut. They also find time to discuss awesome comebacks from Cat Zingano and Dominick Cruz, as well as World Series of Fighting’s plan to split pay-per-view revenue 50/50 with its fighters. Oh yeah, and Chad signed a book deal, so that comes up, too. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So, Chris Weidman broke his hand and his fight with Vitor Belfort is pushed back to February? Man, you guys, the Co-Main Event Podcast is starting to feel responsible for this stuff, as one again (!) some big news in the MMA world broke just after Ben and Chad were done recording the show. Without the revelation about Weidman’s busted paw, the guys talk about Eddie Alvarez finally making it to the UFC (and the stakes therein), Conor McGregor going head-to-head with Dustin Poirier and the long-awaited return of Dominick Cruz. What’s that you say? The UFC 178 main event? Yeah, they talk about that, too, though perhaps the billing here gives you some idea how we’re all feeling about that. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast is back … on Mondays! With both Ben and Chad just hanging around town doing nothing special this week, we’re back to our normal schedule. You know what that means … some big news should break in three … two … one … In any case, on episode 120, your dudes talk about Andrei Arlovski’s big knockout win over Bigfoot Silva in Brazil last weekend. They also speak on Emmanuel Newton’s spinning backfist KO of Joey Beltran (surprised? Don’t be.) and Bellator’s ongoing perception problem. Sprinkled in there is a little talk of Mark Hunt’s coming main event against Roy Nelson, TUF 20 and Nick Diaz’s recent arrest on suspicion of DUI, as well. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, Tips for the Well-Rounded Fight Fan, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Ben safely returned from the wilds of Maine, the Co-Main Event Podcast produces what it hopes is its last delayed show for some time. Lucky thing, too, since the MMA world just proves too capable of breaking hella news from Tuesday to Tuesday. We all look forward to getting back to the normal Monday to Monday sched., where news breaks right AFTER the podcast comes out. This week, Ben and Chad talk up Jacare Souza’s big win over Gegard Mousasi from last Friday, Bellator’s shocking unmasking of ... some dude during its own show and Ben Askren’s weird appearance on AXS TV’s Inside MMA. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now back to irregularly scheduled programming. For the next two weeks, the CME will come out on Tuesdays, which for the record was how the show was conceived in the beginning, before public pressure and the harsh realities of life forced it onto Mondays. In any case, episode 118 sees Ben and Chad breaking down TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight title win over Joe Soto at last Saturday at UFC 177. Wait, who? Exactly. In addition, the guys also look ahead to this Friday’s Fight Night 50 main event between Jacare (Jacare!) Souza and Gegard “Sweet and Sassy” Mousasi, when the UFC and Bellator will run dueling cards in the state of Connecticut. All that plus AYFKM and Just Sayin Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not gonna lie, after another UFC doubleheader Saturday, the Co-Main Event Podcast felt a little bit like Cung Le fresh from three-plus rounds with Michael Bisping. Ben woke up super early to write MMA Junkie capsules for the Fight Night 48 card in Macau (MACAU!), while Chad … ah, hell, who are we kidding? Chad slept in and then took his time getting around to watching Rafael dos Anjos take out Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 49. Still, it felt like a long day. All of the above is discussed on this week’s show and the guys also look ahead to the forthcoming UFC 177. Will a show headlined by an immediate rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Renan Barao sink or swim at the box office? That’s what they want to know. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 21 empty, listless days with no shows, the UFC returned with a vengeance this past weekend. With an event scheduled for every Saturday from now (last weekend, actually) through the end of the month, the dog days of summer expect to be … well, empty and listless, but at least replete with face-punching. On this episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben and Chad discuss Ryan Bader’s win over Ovince St. Preux from Saturday night and look ahead to next weekend’s doubleheader, including Benson Henderson’s main event against Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Bisping’s Fight Pass bout against Cung Le. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With one CME host returning to town just as the other skeddadled out the back door, Ben and Chad had to squeeze in episode 115 during the short window when both dudes were still in the One True Time Zone. As a result, this installment of the Co-Main Event Podcast was recorded at Ben’s house, on Saturday and before noon. So, yeah, your dudes weren’t really awake yet, were swilling coffee and trying to keep their voices down while a bunch of babies took naps. Other than that, you won’t notice a difference. Covered in this week’s show are Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier literally threatening to literally kill one another from opposite ends of a Sportscenter live feed, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz literally getting booked to literally fight and the UFC literally doing a show literally from Bangor, Maine where Ryan Bader and Ovince St. Preux literally re-define the meaning of the term “Maine Event.” Get it? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know the Co-Main Event Podcast has a lot to discuss this week, what with Anthony Johnson’s fearsome punching power and Alexander Gustafsson’s torn meniscus crying havoc with the light heavyweight pecking order. Daniel Cormier (his own bum knee in tow) is subbing in for Gustafsson in a title fight against Jon Jones, but what now will become of Gustafsson? And what, for that matter, of Johnson, who flattened Roger Nog at last weekend’s UFC on Fox 12 show, only to leave us scratching our heads about who he might fight next. There was also the small matter of Robbie Lawler coming out on top of his dogfight against the better-seen-and-not-heard Matt Brown. We couldn’t squeeze any more MMA into this damned show if we tried. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MMA’s charmed month of July rolled on, as Conor McGregor and 9,500 of his closest, most Irish-est friends blew the roof off O2 arena in Dublin over the weekend. The Co-Main Event Podcast was not in attendance, so had to live vicariously through all the other media types who went over there and partied the night away on the Isle of Erin or whatever. Even from afar, the whole thing had an intoxicating effect and was almost enough to make us forget that just last Wednesday Donald Cerrone knocked out Jim Miller in a main event from Atlantic City and said he was going to go drink a bunch of Budweiser. Speaking of which, has anybody heard from Donald? Do we need to send somebody on a welfare check? All that is discussed, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the pleasant dream that was last weekend (no shows! zero!), it’s once again fight week, as MMA fans gear up for two UFC events. Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 45 is headlined by Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller. So, that’s probably not going to suck. Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 46/UFC: MeGregor vs. Brandao/UFC: Dublin is a little more difficult to get your arms around. With a main event pitting Conor McGregor against replacement opponent Diego Brandao and the UFC still seemingly sending mixed messages about whether it actually wants anyone outside the fictitious nation of Ireland to tune in, Ben and Chad aren’t sure what to make of it. Plus UFC 176 got “postponed” so maybe they’ll surprise us and have that on Saturday night instead. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast has never smelled so clean, nor felt so fresh in its … uh … groin … area. Be warned, CME Universe, this week Ben and Chad record the show under the influence of Dude Wipes, which came in the mail as a thoughtful gift from listener Coleen H. Or maybe it wasn’t so thoughtful. Maybe it was just her subtle way of telling them they stink. In any case, there is a lot of non-odor related MMA news to discuss as well, what with Chris Weidman putting it in the haters’ faces, Ronda Rousey playing Andre Arlovski to Alexis Davis’ Paul Buentello and Frankie Edgar mopping up what was left of B.J. Penn’s career and wringing it out like the tears of a thousand tarnished angels. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Look, Ben and Chad need to get this episode of the CME recorded quick, so they can make it down to Cub Swanson’s Bar and Grille before the two-for-one appetizer happy hour ends, OK? Before they shuffle off, they discuss newly minted featherweight No. 1 contender Cubbie Sampson’s victory over Jeremy Stephens last week at UFC Fight Night 44 and look ahead to UFC 175 (you know, the one with Chris Weidman, Lyoto Machida, Ronda Rousey and soap opera character Alexis Davis). They also talk up Chael Sonnen forever, forever-ever failing drug tests, timberjack Nate Marquardt’s win over James Te Huna and Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn III or IV or whatever. There’s probably more stuff in this episode, too, but who can keep them straight anymore? All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The winners of the second annual White Elephant Essay Contest are finally announced this week, so after a couple of weeks of stalling from Ben and Chad, winners must now begin the interminable wait for those dudes to actually put their prizes in the mail. In any case, thanks to all who entered, it was a fine crop of essays this year, and the guys had a legitimately difficult time picking winners. In actual MMA talk, this episode of the CME takes on Scott Coker’s arrival at Bellator, Wandlerlei Silva’s arrival and departure in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the arrival of two more UFCs in one day. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demetrious Johnson put Ali Bagautinov under his spell on Saturday at UFC 174, battering yet another top five flyweight into oblivion. Can the UFC’s 125-pound champion have a similarly dominating effect on fans? Ben and Chad discuss that topic on this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, as well as Rory MacDonald literally putting Tyron Woodley’s back against the wall during their bout on the same card. Plus, the fast, sad end of Chael Sonnen’s fighting career gets some discussion as well. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast had the strangest dream, you guys. We dreamed Diego Sanchez went out and got lit up pillar to post by Ross Pearson this weekend at UFC Fight Night 42 and somehow walked out with a split decision victory. We woke up screaming about how we wanted to challenge Nate Diaz to a fight in Mexico, but after a shave, shower and a strong cup of joe, we realized none of it could possibly be true. So, what’s in the news today … well, for episode 107 of the CME, Ben and Chad talk up Benson Henderson’s stoppage(!) victory over Rusty Cables and Demetrious Johnson’s upcoming flyweight title defense against Ali Bagautinov. What’s that you say? We normally do three rounds? Ah, I’m sure we’ll think of something for round two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real talk, Universe? Sometimes Ben and Chad wish they could invent a suspended animation machine, that would freeze all MMA news from breaking between the time the Co-Main Event Podcast is recorded and when it comes out. That’s would've been hady to a small portion of episode 106, with the UFC now claiming that Jon Jones doesn’t even want to fight Alexander Gustafsson, but would rather test his skills next against Daniel Cormier. That pretty much renders moot a discussion from this week’s listener mail, but whatevs. They’re used to it by now. In addition to that talk, the boys discuss the current bizarre status of the Chael Sonnen-Wanderlei Silva-Vitor Belfort love triangle, Stipe Miocic closing out 10 and a half hours of fights with a 35 second KO of Fabio Maldonado and this weekend’s UFC card in the ABQ. Most of it is still relevant, they promise. All that, plus the return of MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tylor Jeffery Dillashaw, everybody! The Co-Main Event Podcast was not expecting to spend nearly an entire round talking about that young man during episode 105, but that’s what happened after Dillashaw spent the entirety of the UFC 173 main event slapping Rena Barao around at will last Saturday. No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world indeed! Also Daniel Cormier’s fullscale roughhousing of Dan Henderson gets a lot of talk, as does this coming weekend, when the UFC will do two shows in one night. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fight cards like Bellator 120 are pretty much tailor-made for discussion on the Co-Main Event Podcast. With a little bit of quality action and a whole lot of weirdness, Ben and Chad dig deep into the fight company’s first pay-per-view effort. From Tito Ortiz’s embarrassing choke-out of Alexander Shlemenko to Will Brooks’ upset of Michael Chandler to Rampage Jackson’ iffy victory over King Mo Lawal, it’s all here. In addition, the guys talk up Daniel Cormier’s coming title eliminator against Dan Henderson at UFC 173 and Renan Barao’s title defense versus TJ Dillashaw. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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