Every Monday and Wednesday, The Athletic's Chuck Mindenhall and Shaheen Al-Shatti bring you up to speed on the world of mixed martial arts, including fight previews, recap shows and quality analysis from our team.
Shaun, Chuck, and Producer Chris record their final episode of The Man and the MITH together to reflect on the show coming to an abrupt end and thank the listeners for all their support over the last year.
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Shaun and Chuck break down UFC 250, starting at the top of the card in the main event between the Women’s MMA GOAT, Amanda Nunes, and Felecia Spencer for the Women’s Featherweight crown, and then the co-main event matchup featuring former Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and perennial contender Raphael Assuncao.
The guys continue on with a preview of the rest of the main card, including a very intriguing Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen number one contender bout at 135, asking their respective One Big Question for each fight, and make their picks, including a Lock of the Night. And, as usual, they close the show by handing out their Interim Titles of the Week.
Join The Man and the MITH for their UFC 250 Post-Fight show immediately following Saturday night’s main event on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts!
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Shaun and Chuck recap all the action from Saturday night at the UFC Apex, starting with Gilbert Burns’s domination of former Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in the main event, whether he should fight current champ Kamaru Usman next, if this is the beginning of the end for Woodley or not, and more.
Then, the guys discuss the best of the rest of the action including Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle, Mackenzie Dern’s record-setting kneebar victory over Hannah Cifers, and big wins for Jamahal Hill, Casey Kenny, Brandon Royval, and Katlyn Chookagian.
Finally, the guys close the show with a discussion about the quickly-escalating Jon Jones-Dana White war of words, as well as the likelihood that Jon really does vacate his Light Heavyweight belt.
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Shaun, Chuck, and Producer Chris preview the UFC’s return to Las Vegas at the Apex this weekend as former Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley battles the surging Gilbert Burns in the headliner and give their thoughts on what to expect from Woodley after a fifteen-month layoff following a tough loss to current champ Kamaru Usman, “Durinho” potentially sneaking his way into the title picture at 170, and how the smaller Octagon could impact the fight. Plus, highlights from the rest of the card, including Mackenzie Dern’s matchup against Hannah Cifers.
After the break, the guys run through a number of headlines including the recently announced Joseph Benavidez-Deiveson Figueiredo 2 and Dustin Poirier-Dan Hooker fights, Henry Cejudo officially being removed from the rankings, and vacating the Bantamweight title, Colby Covington’s departure from ATT, thoughts on Conor McGregor’s GOAT list, and where he fits in, and the UFC trademarking “UFSEA”. And, as always, the guys close the show by handing out their Interim Titles of the Week.
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Shaun and Chuck welcome Easton Training Center owner and head coach of the Elevation Fight Team, Eliot Marshall, to the show and discuss the culture and structure of training for the team, Justin Gaethje’s technical improvement under Trevor Wittman, whether he prefers a Khabib or Conor McGregor matchup next for Justin, Drew Dober’s big leap forward over his last several fights, particularly against Alexander Hernandez, why Alistair Overeem has been able to continue competing at a high-level now into his forties, Cory Sandhagen’s next fight, being able to use the word “failure” without being personally attached to it, and much more.
First, The Athletic MMA’s own Josh Gross joins the show to debate whether Jon Jones should fight Francis Ngannou next or not, how the fight might play out, the odds that it actually happens, and more. And, the guys hand out their second-ever unanimous Interim Title of the Week to close the show.
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Shaun and Chuck recap another eventful night in Jacksonville as the UFC completed its third event in a little over a week after returning from a prolonged coronavirus hiatus, including Alistair Overeem’s comeback win over Walt Harris, himself returning to the Octagon following a terrible personal tragedy, The Reem’s longevity in MMA, and his place in the Heavyweight division, as well as Harris’s ability to stay focused and perform well, despite the loss.
Then, the guys give their thoughts on the best of the rest of the card and the notably questionable decisions in the Claudia Gadelha-Angela Hill, Dan Ige-Edson Barboza, and Song Yadong-Chito Vera fights.
Plus, a look back at Kevin Randleman’s career and thoughts on his entry into the UFC Hall of Fame, and to close the show, the guys name their three Justin Gaethje Pandemic All-Stars, given to the trio of fighters who impressed the most over the course of the trilogy of Jacksonville cards.
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Shaun and Chuck recap a rare midweek event as Glover Teixeira put himself back into the Light Heavyweight title mix with a brutal win over Anthony Smith and discuss whether Lionheart’s corner should’ve thrown in the towel, if Glover’s career resurgence is for real, and more.
Then, the guys talk about Drew Dober’s breakout performance against Alexander Hernandez, and who makes sense for him next, Ben Rothwell’s callout of Alexei Oleinik, OSP’s potential at Heavyweight, Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou going back and forth on Twitter, hinting at a potential future fight, another frustrating Michael Johnson loss, friend of the show Brian Kelleher continuing his winning ways as a Contender Series Slayer, and his callout of Sean O’Malley, and Andrei Arlovski’s uncanny ability to continue fighting at a high level for the last two decades.
Plus, a discussion about Conor McGregor’s post-UFC 249 tweetstorm, and if Justin Gaethje should fight him or Khabib next, a UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris preview, and as always to close the show, the guys hand out their Interim Titles of the Week.
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Shaun and Chuck break down all the action from UFC 249 starting with Justin Gaethje’s brilliant performance against Tony Ferguson en route to the interim Lightweight title, what could be next for El Cucuy, and whether he’ll be a changed fighter going forward.
Next, the guys talk about Henry Cejudo’s impressive win over Dominick Cruz, the legitimacy of Triple C’s retirement, Cruz accusing referee Keith Peterson of smelling like “alcohol and cigarettes”, and what could be next for the former Bantamweight champ.
Then, the guys discuss Francis Ngannou’s twenty-second demolition of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, his status as the Heavyweight division’s heir apparent, Stipe-DC 3, and Calvin Kattar’s breakout performance against Jermey Stephens.
Plus, undercard highlights including Bryce Mitchell’s twister-filled drubbing of Charles Rosa, the Vicente Luque-Niko Price bloodbath, and Showtime Pettis out-striking a game Cowboy Cerrone.
And, the guys close the show with a quick preview of Wednesday night’s card, featuring Anthony Smith vs. Glover Teixeira in the main event.
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Shaun and Chuck give their immediate analysis following Justin Gaethje’s master class victory over Tony Ferguson for the interim Lightweight title in the main event, Henry Cejudo’s surprise retirement following a second round stoppage of Dominick Cruz to retain his Bantamweight strap in the co-main, Francis Ngannou’s thunderous twenty-second KO of Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and more.
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Shaun and Chuck first break down the two title fights headlining UFC 249, the main event between two of MMA’s most feared assassins, Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje, for the interim Lightweight belt, and then the co-main event between Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo and the returning, original divisional landlord, Dominick Cruz.
The guys continue on with a preview of the rest of the main card, asking their respective One Big Question for each fight, and make their picks, including a Lock of the Night. And, as usual, they close the show by handing out their Interim Titles of the Week.
Join The Man and the MITH for their UFC 249 Post-Fight show immediately following Saturday night’s main event right here on The Athletic, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts!
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Shaun and Chuck are joined by Justin Gaethje’s head coach and trainer, Trevor Wittman, to discuss Justin’s headlining bout against Tony Ferguson for the interim Lightweight title at UFC 249, the unique lead-up to the fight set to take place inside an empty arena, Justin’s mindset throughout this whole process, the emotional roller coaster of cornering someone like Justin Gaethje, game-planning against Tony Ferguson’s unpredictability, and much more.
Plus, the guys each highlight the matchup they’re most intrigued by on the stacked UFC 249 undercard, making their picks, and their respective Lock of the Night, along the way.
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