Against the Cage: A New York Post Sports Podcast

UFC Strawweight Mackenzie Dern spoke exclusively with The Post's Scott Fontana about her upcoming UFC title fight with Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321. Dern spoke about her passion of jiu jitsu and how it has shaped her as a fighter, her ups and downs in her career that finally led her to challenge for gold, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With UFC 323 finally announced as the last pay-per-view of 2025, we can finally start speculating which champions will reign in the Paramount+ era. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh take a look at the UFC’s roster of title-holders to see if the promotion can start 2026 with a bang on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With an emphatic win over Magomed Ankalaev, Alex Pereira is calling for a heavyweight move — against Jon Jones at the White House. Is the timing right? Does a heavyweight move make sense? Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break it all down and more on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira inches closer, we ask the question: Was Pereira’s last performance just an off night, or does Ankalaev have the style to consistently beat him? Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break down UFC 320, the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov, and more, on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Paul Hughes spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richer ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov for the PFL Lightweight title this Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Magomed Ankalaev spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richter ahead of his upcoming rematch against Alex Pereira at UFC 320 this weekend. The UFC light heavyweight champion spoke about the matchup, the pair's viral confrontation that put the MMA news cycle in a chokehold, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronda Rousey’s training footage and her revealing she’s “falling back in love” with the sport of MMA has left fans speculating if she’s gunning for one last hoorah in the Octagon. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break down all the latest with Ronda, preview this weekends card in Perth featuring Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes, and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more...

Merab Dvalishvili joined 'Against The Cage' and doubled down on his comments that he would try to keep the fight on the feet against his upcoming opponent, Cory Sandhagen. The Bantamweight champion of the UFC spoke exclusively with The Post's Scott Fontana about his upcoming title fight at UFC 320. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Sandhagen spoke exclusively with The Post’s Scott Fontana ahead of his upcoming title fight against UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320. With one of the best analytical minds in the sport, Sandhagen broke down his matchup with the current 135-pound king, looked ahead at what he would like to do next should he become champion, and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Le...

UFC Noche 3 is in the books, and came with some festive Mexican-themed aesthetics and plenty of Latin American talent on display in San Antonio — not the originally planned Mexico locale. But it got Scott Fontana and Erich Richter thinking on this week’s Against the Cage: Could the “Noche” concept work when applied to other cultures? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week it’s all about prospects. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh talk all about the top MMA talent that hasn’t (yet) broken into the top rankings. We also take a look back at UFC Paris coming off the heels of a win from Nassourdine Imavov, as well as looking forward to Noche UFC this weekend. Can a win from either Diego Lopes or Jean Silva warrant a title shot? We break it all down...

With no major MMA promotions putting on fights this past weekend (sorry, Dillon Danis), Dana White's Contender Series has been the only offering for nearly two weeks. Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter do a deep dive into the show: What makes it great, what leaves more to be desired, and how it affects the UFC itself on this week's episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad ch...

With Dana White revealing big news later tonight, it's time to get our last licks in as far as predictions go for Madison Square Garden in November before it may be too late. So, who will fight in the main event? Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev? Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje? We break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

After 6 years away from the cage, Dillon Danis is set to make his return to MMA this weekend at Misfits Boxing. As he gears up to fight for the promotion's inaugural MMA title, Danis spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richter. Danis talked his upcoming fight, his aspirations to fight in the UFC, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Khamzat Chimaev's dominant performance against Dricus Du Plessis on Saturday night, two back-to-back spinning elbow finishes in a row, and some gripes we need to get off our chests, there's a lot to unpack coming off the heels of UFC 319. We break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the UFC's massive broadcast deal news breaking this week, and the most anticipated fight of the year on Saturday night, we've got a lot to cover. What questions are left unanswered from what we know so far in the UFC's deal with Paramount+? With Khamzat's cardio and growth in his game up for question, are there clear holes for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis to exploit? Jake Aryeh, Sc...

With Dricus Du Plessis' fight against Khamzat Chimaev just over a week away, the South African champion sat down with The Post's Scott Fontana to talk more about his upcoming title defense. Du Plessis broke down why he believes there are "much more" opportunities to finish Chimaev than his former opponent, Sean Strickland, vowing to seek an end to the fight "from the first second to the last." Lea...

As the new calendar year inches closer and closer, the UFC media rights saga has yet to come to a close. Our own Erich Richter provides the latest updates stemming from a TKO conference call this week, and Scott Fontana breaks down the latest developments in MMA judging criteria that were approved by the ABC on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

As Reinier De Ridder, Petr Yan, and Shara Bullet all come away with wins after UFC Abu Dhabi, we take a look at the best matchups to make. And while we’re at it, lets re-hash the 155 title picture as it looks to become more and more cluttered, and callouts and ducking claims fly left and right. We also take a look at the PFL finals and UFC fight night coming up this weekend, on this episode of Aga...

Thad Jean said that he wants to be the face of the PFL by the end of the year, and with a win over Logan Storely for the $500,000 tournament prize, he would be well on his way to achieving his goal. The rising star spoke exclusively to The Post's Erich Richter about his upcoming fight and his rise to stardom as a young, hungry contender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...

After another slew of UFC fight announcements from Dana White on IG live, Erich Richter is fed up. We break down all the latest fights announced this week, sound off on the IG live nonsense, and recap Dustin Poirier's swan song sendoff over this past weekend on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Dustin Poirier's final fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway in his home state of Louisiana upon us, it's time to look back at his illustrious career. So, where does Poirier rank as an all-time lightweight? Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter break down UFC 318 and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dustin Poirier is 'proud' of all he has accomplished going into his retirement fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway. The UFC great spoke exclusively to The Post's Scott Fontana about his swan song event, looked back on his extensive career, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the first half of 2025 in the rearview mirror, it's time to reflect on the past 6 months and hand out some awards. Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter take a look back on the best fights, fighters, knockouts, and more from this year so far on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joshua Van may not have realized he was taking part in a frontrunner for fight of the year, but he delivered it nonetheless. The supremely entertaining flyweight talked exclusively with The Post about his fight on Saturday night, whether or not he's next in line for a title shot, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices