The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast

With Ben traveling to Australia to cover UFC 243 for The Athletic, there won't be a normal CME this Monday. We hope to be able to deliver a long-distance podcast for you later in the week, depending on his schedule and whether the internet with cooperate with us. For now, please accept this latest episode of the CME Movie Club to keep you entertained. If you like it and want to hear more like it,...

We discuss Yair Rodriguez and Jeremy Stephens' main event fight from UFC: Mexico City ending in a no-contest after just 15 seconds. Due to Ben's travel schedule, we also look ahead to UFC 243's Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya and try to preview a loaded weekend of MMA action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Justin Gaethje's first-round TKO victory over Donald Cerrone and his ensuing call-out of the winner of a championship fight that hasn't even been booked yet. In addition to that, we look at Tristan Connelly's surprise win over Michel Pereira and then turn our attention to UFC: Mexico City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Khabib Nurmagomedov tapped-out Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, we all have to give it up for the guy. He remains one of MMA's more complex and polarizing figures, but he's really good at this stuff. We discuss that, plus what one listener refers to as "some real Bellator-ass shit" and Cerrone vs. Gaethje is this weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov's and Dustin Poirier's bout to unify the UFC lightweight title this weekend in Abu Dhabi, plus what Zhang Weili's strawweight title win over Jessica Andrade means for the UFC and why you -- yes, you -- should watch the Bellator featherweight grand prix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Conor McGregor's apology and the MMA world's appetite to see him return to the cage, Matt Mitrione's loss via mouthpiece distraction at Bellator 225 and look ahead to UFC on ESPN+ 15. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of Stipe Miocic reclaiming the title from Daniel Cormier at UFC 241, we talk about what's next for the heavyweight division. We also marvel at the return of Nate Diaz and discuss Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero getting weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Mike Perry's terrible broken nose (and his reaction) after his fight with Vicente Luque, the return of Nate Diaz and what Daniel Cormier is going to have to do to beat Stipe Miocic a second time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Colby Covington’s suffocating victory over Robbie Lawler and how important Covington’s odious schtick has been to getting him where he is today. Plus, Cris Cyborg’s “production team” undercuts our goodwill for her and the UFC heads to Uruguay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Max Holloway's impressive decision win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 240, where Cris Cyborg might land next and try not to get our hopes up for possible schadenfreude from Covington vs. Lawler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about Leon Edwards' unanimous decision win over Rafael dos Anjos from UFC on ESPN 4 and what it's going to take "Rocky" to break through in the minds of MMA fans. Plus, UFC 240 goes down Saturday in Edmonton and -- sigh -- Jon Jones is in trouble again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes it seems like Germaine de Randamie is forever shrouded in controversy. Even her 16-second TKO win over Aspen Ladd Saturday at UFC Fight Night 155 likely won't be good enough to make her a No. 1 contender, owing to outcry over an early stoppage. In addition to that, we talk about Urijah Faber's surprise win over Ricky Simon and look ahead to UFC on ESPN 4. Learn more about your ad choices...

We discuss all things UFC 239, including: Jon Jones' lack of urgency against an injured Thiago Santos, Amanda Nunes pulling a Holly Holm on Holly Holm, Jorge Masvidal becoming a "breakout" star after 16 years and 47 fights and much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Francis Ngannou dusted Junior dos Santos in 71 seconds at UFC on ESPN 3, is he a little bit of takedown defense away from being a transformative figure in the heavyweight division? Plus, we look at UFC 239's dueling title fights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We look at Chan Sung Jung's big win over Renato Moicano, investigate the buyers' remorse of the people who tuned in to see Artem Lobov vs. Paul Malignaggi at BKFC 6 and look forward to the heavyweight banger at UFC on ESPN 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss Rory MacDonald advancing to the final of the Bellator welterweight grand prix, Chael Sonnen calling it a career all over again and Fedor Emelianenko announcing his "farewell tour." Wait, is that a thing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A full slate of UFC 238 recap, including Cejudo's shocking come-from-behind men's bantamweight title win and Donald Cerrone losing a fight by blowing his nose. Plus, Bellator 222 is a snapshot of everything Scott Coker loves, for better and worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad talk about their decisions to join The Athletic as senior writers. Plus, Lusty Gusty calls it quits, Cowboy and El Cucuy prepare to throw down and Henry Cejudo attempts to become the champ champ champ champ champ champ champ ...  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take listener questions about the UFC release of Justin Willis and Elias Theodorou, which fights we're looking forward to at UFC 238 and which items we'd choose for an MMA time capsule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rafael dos Anjos and Kevin Lee journeyed to hell and back in the main event of UFC: Rochester. Or, at least, RDA made it back. Lee didn't sound like he was so sure in his post-fight comments. That, plus Felicia Spencer's win over Megan Anderson and Sage Northcutt's painful OneFC debut on this week's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rose Namajunas was piecing-up Jessica Andrade until the new champ knocked her out cold with a slam. What does that say for the future of both fighters in the 115-pound division? Plus, it was a crazy weekend in MMA and we discuss all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Cerrone ages like a fine wine against Al Iaquinta, the way forward at lightweight seems as straight forward as ever (though is it ever easy?) and Jessica Andrade opens as a slight favorite over champion Rose Namajunas at Saturday's UFC 237. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad discuss Jack Hermansson crashing the middleweight title picture with his surprising victory over Jacare Souza, the newly gentle-of-spirit Rory MacDonald retaining his Bellator welterweight title after a majority draw with Jon Fitch--maybe not GREAT for the ongoing tournament, you guys--and this weekend's upcoming UFC card from Ottawa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

With Bellator 220 airing on DAZN and UFC: Jacare vs. Hermansson airing ... somewhere, it shapes up as a big weekend for hardcore MMA fans. Also, in no great surprise to anyone--including, it seemed, Aleksei Oleinik--Alistair Overeem got a big win in St. Petersburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben and Chad discuss UFC 236's stellar interim title fights, including what should rightfully happen next for Dustin Poirier, Max Holloway, Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum. In addition to that, they look at a number of Classic Dana Moments from the weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices