The Level Change Podcast

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com UFC 293 is just around the corner and despite a lot of criticism, we like the card. It’s not heavy on fights that will make a sizable impact on the rankings, but where it lack importance in that regard, it makes up for it with entertainment value. What’s not to love about Carlos Ulberg vs. Dan Un Jung? Man...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Conor McGregor sure has a lot of blame to issue when it comes to why he won’t be fighting in December, but unsurprisingly, none of it rests upon his own shoulders. In a series of nearly incoherent audio rants he posted to social media Saturday night, McGregor lamented that “they” were affecting his livelih...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com This past week provided a treasure trove of news, so we tried to hit all the critical stories. There’s plenty on the three new changes to the sanctioned rules for MMA, the UFC’s totally obvious attempt at erasing Francis Ngannou AND Thierry Sokoudjou from the history books, Teddy Atlas feeling jilted by Ng...

IT’S FREE EPISODE DAY!! OUR BONUS CONTENT IS FREE TODAY!! In the latest “WTF” moment our fair sport has breathed life into, we bore witness to Utah’s athletic commission entering into a non-disclosure agreement with most of the fighters from UFC 291. What is it that isn’t being exposed? Purse amounts. For those paying attention, transparency is the necessary component to determine fair market valu...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Mike Swick may not have won a UFC title but he won a much more important battle, the one he had with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a deadly blood cancer. Swick was diagnosed a couple years ago with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but has since beaten it into remission. He talks about the extremely unconventional...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Sean Strickland, fresh off the heels of a win and a callout by Israel Adesanya for a title shot, has entered his internet harasser phase. Strickland has been launching accusations of racism in Keith Lee’s direction for a few days, saying the comment stemmed from a gym conversation the two participated in o...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Dana White is at the center of this week’s news cycle and there’s a lot to unpack. From a proposed guest spot on Andrew Tate’s podcast to allegations of trying to sabotage the Fury-Ngannou fight, Dana’s made the headlines pretty salacious, whether directly or indirectly. We also take a look at the rumor mi...

This past Saturday night, the UFC put forth one of the best cards we’ve seen in quite some time. It was action-packed and entertaining from start to finish. Every fight felt important and impactful and each one felt like I could see the delineation between the UFC and everyone else. You could throw a dart and whichever promotion’s name it landed on could be number 1 or number 25 and there’d really...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com With UFC 290 happening this weekend, and with several big announcements in boxing having happened over the last two weeks, we just had to bring back Bloody Elbow’s beloved Mookie Alexander to talk shop. We preview eight fights (now seven since Bo Nickal’s opponent changed yesterday) from UFC 290 as well as...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com It’s been a wild and crazy week in the MMA community and Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg is front and center in this week’s news cycle. This episode focuses more on Elon Musk, since both of his parents have publicly spoken out against this proposed fight. The posts from his mother are high comedy, while his...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com It’s not every day a milestone like a 250th episode is achieved so we wanted to do something special. So we brought Mookie Alexander back to help us kick off our next 250 and we have an exclusive interview with Luke Thomas to round out the show. Mookie helps us unpack last weekend’s fight card results and...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Episode 249 Topic List * UFC 289 rewind * Julianna Peña’s cageside outburst during Nune’s retirement * UFC Vegas 75/Bellator 297 select-fight preview * McGregor’s NBA finals antics in Miami * Islam Makhachev’s thoughts on P4P and the BMF title * Bigfoot takes 11th straight loss, retires again * Israel Ades...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com On December 18, 2021, three-time UFC title contender Chael Sonnen was arrested by Las Vegas PD after an altercation in the Four Seasons Hotel that was described at the time as a “ crazy rampage ” that allegedly had five victims. He was questioned and released that night, and the following January, a judge...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com UFC fight nights are a watered down mess A couple days ago, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard posted a tweet about this weekend's UFC fight night card that said: "Bet ya bloody elbow complained about the ufc card this weekend" And those 11 words told me that the UFC is paying attention to Bloody Elbow more than...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Jon Jones takes aim and fires Jon Jones has been launching zingers and barbs in Francis Ngannou's direction over the last two days, completely forgetting his own longstanding issues with the promotion he's spent the last 14 years under. Ever since Ngannou announced his historic deal with the PFL, Jones has...

The current form of the UFC and MMA, in general, leaves a lot to be desired for some and for that contingent of contingent of fans, you have options. Allow us to introduce you to Sumo, the national sport of Japan. Even with Japan's heavy investment and success with baseball, Sumo still captures the attention of millions. Sumo history Sumo's origins go back millenia. That's right, folks, it's been...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com A brief history of Colby Covington Colby Covington has been a polarizing figure for several years, garnering both followers and detractors for his political takes and trash talk. After Leon Edwards defended his title successfully against Kamaru Usman this past March, UFC president Dana White announced that...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Jessica Andrade, a brief history Jessica Andrade has been a UFC staple for just shy of a decade. She made her debut on July 27, 2013 against Liz Carmouche at bantamweight at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga , logging a loss in that effort. She'd go on to win her next three fights, defeating the likes of Raqu...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Is BKFC our new savior? For the second week in a row, the UFC is putting on another watered down card. If you thought last weekend's card was a dud, UFC Vegas 72 is even worse. Even before it was ravaged with fight cancelations and late notice replacements, it was only carrying a single ranked fight and th...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com This weekend has several combat sports events running, but the UFC Vegas 71 card is not the best among the bunch and it's not even close.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Episode 240: UFC Kansas City Preview * UFC 287 Rewind * UFC Kansas City select fights preview For our paying subscribers, we have a special treat for you. With our latest The Level Change Podcast Substack, you get some EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT right away – stay tuned after the break for THE REST OF THE SHOW...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com Episode 239: UFC 287 Preview * Dustin Poirier making his commentary debut * Cormier says 'there's good" in Jon Jones * Colby's 'brain injury' according to Masvidal * Paul Heyman digs at Conor McGregor's life expectancy * Eddie Hearn a big fan of Conor McGregor after meeting * UFC 287 preview For our paying...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com EPISODE 238 - Tuesday Edition * WWE to merge with UFC to form a super-company * Dana White's statement on the merger * Vince McMahon's statement on the merger * Triple H to receive $5M bonus, Nick Khan receives $15M bonus with merger * Conor McGregor already gearing up for a crossover * Jeremy Stephens cal...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com EPISODE 237 — Friday Edition * Hasbulla the Abuser https://www.mmamania.com/2023/3/29/23661104/midnight-mania-internet-outraged-viral-video-hasbulla-mistreating-cat-animal-abuse-ufc-espn * Dana White Claims Power Slap Getting Sanctioned “everywhere” https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2023/3/30/23662305/dana-white...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themmadrawpodcast.substack.com EPISODE 236 — Tuesday Edition Donald Cerrone inducted into UFC HOF https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2023/3/25/23656757/donald-cowboy-cerrone-inducted-into-hall-of-fame-at-ufc-san-antonio UFC San Antonio Rewind https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/96078-ufc-fight-night Perez reveals seizure led to fight c...