The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast

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

It’s not every week that news breaks during a Co-Main Event Podcast recording session, but this was one of those weeks. Ben and Chad were nearly done taping episode 90 when news floated across the wire that Jessica Eye had indeed tested positive for marijuana at UFC 166, forcing the Texas commission to relegate her decision victory over Sarah Kaufman to a mere no contest. So, round three is pretty interesting. In rounds one and two, your dudes discuss the dueling middleweight main events from this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 36--Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souzza vs. Francis Carmont. The show experienced some minor audio difficulties during the intro, but that gets cleared up by round one. Sorry bear with us. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 169 left the Co-Main Event Podcast no shortage of storyline with which to fill this week’s hour and change. From the Urijah Faber-Renan Barao-Herb Dean thumbs-up debacle, to Jose Aldo skipping town to fight Anthony Pettis at 155-pounds, to Alistair Overeem putting whoopin’ on Frank Mir, it’s all covered. Ben and Chad talk about all that stuff at considerable length, and also address whass really goin’ on in Newark, N.J. as well as the pros and cons of calling out Bork Laser after you just won your first fight since 2011. All that, plus AYFKM, Just Sayin’ Stuff and MasterTweet Theatre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To begin this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast, Ben tells the story of his escape from Chicago following Saturday’s UFC on Fox 10. And what a harrowing tale it is, too, friends. Once safely ensconced back in the One True Time Zone, Ben and Chad take a close look at Benson Henderson’s controversial decision victory over Josh Thomson at that same event. How does Henderson keep pulling of these weird sleights of hand, anyway? In advance of this coming weekend’s UFC 169, your dudes also break down dueling title fights between Renan Barao and Urijah Faber as well as Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas. Then there’s the matter of Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem, where both guys may well come in needing a win and also, possibly, allegedly with wildly fluctuating hormone levels. 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

Another week, approximately another 1 million stories for the Co-Main Event Podcast to try to cram into an hour, 15 minutes. Last Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 35 card ended with Luke Rockhold reclaiming some of his momentum with a first-round knockout of Costas Philippou, and that leads off this week’s three rounds of action. In addition, Georges St-Pierre and Dana White start a brand new war of words (not to be confused with their last one) and Josh Thomson prepares to fight Benson Henderson after the worst training camp of his life. Sounds: The music for this week’s Co-Main Event Podcast comes to us from listener Lucas Ketelle, or officially from the artist Tay Off The Top & Lukie The Producer and the album T.O.T.T. (Top of The Twamps). If you like what you hear you can get at him through his twitter account: @LukieBoxing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in Co-Main Event Podcast history, World Wrestling Entertainment takes over nearly an entire round of this week’s show, as Ben and Chad discuss the merits and drawbacks of the new WWE digital network compared to UFC Fight Pass. Just a couple of days prior to Luke Rockhold’s midweek main event against Costa Phillipou, that fight also takes center stage. Also, did you guys hear nobody wants to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov? Seriously, anything to say that name over and over again on one hour-long podcast. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With very little in the way of topical MMA news going on this week, the Co-Main Event Podcast once again puts the fate of the show in the hands of you, the listener. Instead of wasting a round talking about UFC: Singapore or whatever, Ben and Chad once again pull off an episode of All Questions Considered. That’s right, this week it’s all listener mail, all the time. From the happenings on last weekend’s Fight Pass-only event, to the potential of Chris Weidman turning heel to the late breaking news concerning Dominick Cruz’s torn groin, it’s all in here. For better and for worse, the listeners plotted this show from start to finish. Except the middle, when Sir Nigel Longstock stops by to play a little MasterTweet Theatre. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Co-Main Event Podcast prepares to ring in 2014 this week with the first ever installment of CME: After Dark. What’s that mean, you ask? Eh, just that Ben and Chad had to record a couple hours later than normal, it was actually dark outside and they cracked open a couple of the Xmas beers they received in the mail from Danny Downes. So if you feel like this week’s podcast is, I don’t know, sexier than normal, that’s why. With UFC 168 ending in Anderson Silva’s horrible leg injury and Ronda Rousey’s triumph last Saturday night, the MMA talk comes fast and loose. After properly dispensing with event-related talk, the guys look back on 2013 and ahead to the new year, as Ben totally hijacks round three and talks about TRT or something for like seven minutes. So, sorry about that. All that, plus AYFKM (of the year!) and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise! Just because the Co-Main Event Podcast wants you fools to have a very happy holiday (and because Chad has to go out of town next week) Dundas and Fowlkes got together to record episode 83 a little early. And why not? It’s not like recording it on Friday rather than the following Monday meant they were going to miss any big news, right? Oh God, they hope they don’t miss any big news. Not like the show needs any more content anyway, with UFC 168 on tap and Chris Weidman defending his middleweight title against Anderson Silva. Here’s hoping that sentence still feels as backward to read as it does to type. Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate are going to go at it at that same event as well, which will provide a nice aperitif to the main event. Oh yeah, and also Bigfoot Silva got popped for elevated levels of testosterone, thereby ruining one of the best fights of the year. Not to paraphrase Boyz N the Hood or anything, but can’t we have one night without nobody testing positive? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC on Fox 9 left a lot on the Co-Main Event Podcast’s plate, Ben and Chad don’t mind telling you. First Urijah Faber proves he’s still the man to beat at bantamweight by throttling Michael McDonald. Then, much maligned champion Demetrious Johnson comes out like a house of fire and knocks out Joseph Benavidez to retain his “World Championship.” Oh yeah, and in case you didn’t hear, this fellow by the name of Georges St. Pierre decided to take an indefinite leave from this MMA thing of ours, setting off a feeding frenzy of fresh match-ups in the welterweight division. So, the guys have to reconcile themselves with all that in just over an hour’s time. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One show on the Fox family of networks down, another one coming this weekend. Episode 81 of the Co-Main Event Podcast finds Ben and Chad reveling in the unexpected glory of Mark Hunt’s slugfest with Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva last Saturday on Fox Sports 1. Twas that rare heavyweight fight that goes a full five rounds, while seemingly getting better at every step along the way. In addition to that, they inspect Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s revitalizing knockout of James Te Huna, wondering aloud if the “old Shogun” could truly be “back.” With the time remaining, they look forward to next Saturday’s card on Fox Heavy, where Team Alpha Male sends everybody on the roster into the fray. All that plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you had to come up with an official slogan for the Co-Main Event Podcast, it might well be: Motherfuckers be acting silly. In that way, episode 80 dovetails nicely with the week’s MMA news. This week Ben and Chad take on the awesomeness that was Nate Diaz’s performance against Gray Maynard at Saturday’s TUF 18 Finale, before, during and after the actual fight. In addition, they talk about Ronda Rousey’s performance at the same event and try to put a finger on exactly why it didn’t feel quite as steeped in the same awesomeness. Because they are obliged to do so, they then turn their attention to this Friday’s UFC event from Brisbane Australia, where Mark Hunt will take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in a fight nobody asked for, but nobody is complaining about. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the rollercoaster of the last few weeks it feels almost refreshing to return to the normal MMA news cycle, with the Co-Main Event Podcast sleuthing around for suitable topics with which to fill the hour. That is to say, this should be considered a slow week in mixed fighting circles as there is only one UFC event, and it’s sort of a minor one. Nonetheless, Ben and Chad spend a round of episode 79 “breaking down” (in a manner of speaking) Saturday night’s forthcoming main event between Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz. In addition, they talk about Jon Jones’ recent proclamations that he wants to fight Cain Velasquez “within a year” and that he wants to retire by age 30. Ben Askren’s Monday meeting with the UFC is also a topic of conversation, though the show was recorded before any news could break there. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big week for the Co-Main Event podcast, considering all the fallout from UFC 167. During episode 78, Ben and Chad discuss the hotly contested welterweight title fight between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks, including the bout’s various twists and turns as well as the somewhat questionable decision. Oh yeah, and then there’s all the other stuff that happened. From GSP’s bizarre sort-of retirement to UFC President Dana White’s Kill-Em-All attitude at the postfight presser, there is a lot to digest. Also, all the OTHER, OTHER things that went down at UFC 167 (remember that?) including Robbie Lawler’s win over Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley sending Josh Koscheck into the spirit world and Rashad Evans handling a disinterested-looking Chael Sonnen. All that, plus AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the listener, perhaps the best part of plowing through episode 77 of the Co-Main Event Podcast will be hearing Ben cough and choke his way through the full hour like somebody’s 70-year-old grandma with a carton-a-day habit. Or perhaps not. Tough to say, really. Whatever the case, Ben had a frog in his throat, you guys. Luckily, that didn’t stop the kid and/or Chad from taking on a boatload of MMA news this week. Vitor Belfort’s 2013 career resurgence is the hot topic of conversation, as is next week’s UFC 167 main event between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks. If that doesn’t work for you--spoiler: you are probably a weirdo--the guys also do a bit of reminiscing about the early days of the UFC and chop up the pros and cons of the Zuffa-produced vanity peice “Fighting for a Generation” (or whatever) that aired on Fox Sports 1 this past week. All that, plus MasterTweet Theatre, AYFKM and Just Sayin’ Stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And so the UFC begins its hard push to the new year this week, with shows on both Wednesday and Saturday, to be followed up by two more events this month and then three during the month of December. Not only that, but there’s Bellator 106 to consider, as the bridesmaid fight promotion’s most anticipated event underwhelmed for much of its three-and-a-half hour broadcast over the weekend. Until … until, until ... Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler hit the stage and showed everybody exactly why they were the headlining act. Obviously all that stuff gets discussed in more or less painstaking detail during this week’s episode of the Co-Main Event Podcast. Also discussed are Ben’s recent trip to an in-state grappling tournament, Chad’s latest short story publication and how every time they go to the store both guys seem to get stuck behind an old lady who insists on scratching the world’s slowest check. 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