GAME ON! McGregor v. Hughes on X

Summary

Adam Carolla Show – Episode Summary: "GAME ON! McGregor v. Hughes on X"
Release Date: February 1, 2025

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Introduction

In this dynamic episode of The Adam Carolla Show, host Adam Carolla and co-host Mayhem delve into the heated world of mixed martial arts (MMA), focusing particularly on the escalating feud between Conor McGregor and Paul Hughes. The conversation spans across fighter rivalries, the evolving landscape of MMA promotions, and entertaining personal anecdotes that highlight the unfiltered humor and sharp insights characteristic of the show.

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Conor McGregor vs. Paul Hughes: A Social Media Showdown

The episode kicks off with a lively discussion about the ongoing clash between UFC superstar Conor McGregor and rising Irish martial artist Paul Hughes on Twitter (Transcript [00:23] - [01:15]). Mayhem reveals that McGregor has been aggressively attacking Hughes online, questioning his legitimacy and respect for opponents:

Mayhem: "Conor McGregor just hit him with a litany of tweets here. If we could spam them up there. Just, I don't know, just totally hates on him..."
[00:39]

Paul Hughes, in response, has maintained a level of class, challenging McGregor to prove himself in the ring rather than through social media insults:

Mayhem: "Paul Hughes is kind of responding classy to Conor McGregor, attacking him on social media and telling him show where your head's at."
[01:15]

Adam interjects with humor and curiosity about linguistic differences:

Adam: "But I have a question. I have a legitimate question. Black people say axe, not ass."
[01:36]

This exchange underscores the blend of serious MMA discussion with Carolla’s trademark humor.

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UFC vs. PFL: The Battle for MMA Supremacy

The conversation shifts to the competitive dynamics between major MMA promotions, particularly the UFC and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Mayhem suggests that the PFL is gaining traction by attracting international talent:

Mayhem: "It's becoming that level where PFL has enough money to draw a lot of the international talent away from the UFC because the brand awareness is not as big as it is in the United States..."
[03:07]

They speculate on the future of MMA championships similar to the NFL’s Super Bowl, envisioning a grand showdown between the top fighters from each league:

Adam: "At some point the jets are going to have to play the Colts to see who's the best team is. Right. And we'll call it the super bowl now."
[03:29]

Mayhem reflects on the UFC's past practices, noting the potential for inter-promotional events reminiscent of the Pride-UFC era:

Mayhem: "There’s no other way because one promoter... is pretty clever. I think that they probably will to try to stay in that position as being the super bowl of martial arts."
[05:50]

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Upcoming UFC Saudi Arabia: Fight Breakdown

The discussion moves to the upcoming UFC event in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing key matchups and fighter profiles (Transcript [06:22] - [17:24]). Mayhem provides an insightful analysis of notable fights, including:

• Israel Adesanya vs. Nasserdine Imam Imavoff: Highlighted as a significant test for Adesanya against the formidable Russian contender.

Mayhem: "He's a serious fight. And then farther down the card, the one that I'm really interested in is Bullet Magomedoff fighting against Michael Venom Page..."
[07:30]

• Bullet Magomedoff vs. Michael 'Venom' Page: A clash between the rugged Magomedoff and the seasoned striker Page promises intense action.

Mayhem: "This guy, MVP. He's one of those dudes, he's getting older now, but he has put in this karate style that just shocks the senses."
[08:23]

The hosts also touch on the cultural aspects of fighter personas, discussing Magomedoff's distinctive appearance and reputation:

Mayhem: "He's an interesting character... he's a badass dude in more ways than one."
[08:46]

Adam adds his perspective on the technicalities of MMA, particularly regarding fighters' physical attributes and fighting styles:

Adam: "So you have to kind of figure out if you're a striker or you're a submission guy, right?"
[12:04]

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The Influence of Fighter Appearances: Beards and Vaseline

A humorous yet insightful segment explores how fighters' appearances, such as beards and the use of Vaseline, affect their performance and interactions in the octagon:

Mayhem: "There is a bit of padding, but not as much to justify. I think it does pad the punches, undoubtedly..."
[12:21]

Adam contemplates the lack of regulations regarding facial hair and its impact on fights:

Adam: "But why is there not a rule on the heft of the beard?"
[11:06]

They exchange witty remarks on the practicality and implications of fighters maintaining long beards or slicked-back hair, blending technical analysis with comedic flair.

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Personal Anecdotes and Behind-the-Scenes Insights

Interwoven with their MMA discussion are personal stories and lighthearted banter that exemplify the chemistry between Carolla and Mayhem. Topics range from childhood memories involving old furniture filled with horsehair to memorable moments in fighter training camps:

Mayhem: "I front headlock a guy, I cup his chin... he's elbowed me in the face. That's the business."
[12:09]

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Looking Ahead: Future Fights and Championships

As the episode approaches its conclusion, the hosts speculate on future matchups and the potential for inter-promotional championships that could reshape the MMA landscape:

Mayhem: "The next big card should be going tonight is... UFC Saudi Arabia... there's some really good fights."
[06:55]

They also discuss the strategic alliances and training partnerships that fighters like Sean Strickland are forming to enhance their performance in upcoming title matches:

Mayhem: "Sean Strickland will have in his corner, Alex Pereira... Strickland credits him for getting him a lot stronger in the gym."
[17:24]

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Conclusion

In this episode of The Adam Carolla Show, listeners are treated to an engaging blend of MMA analysis, fighter rivalries, and the hosts' signature humor. From the fierce McGregor-Hughes Twitter feud to the strategic maneuvers of major MMA promotions, Carolla and Mayhem provide a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of the sport's current landscape. Whether you're a hardcore MMA fan or new to the fight game, this episode offers valuable insights and plenty of laughs, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts worldwide.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Mayhem on McGregor's Attacks:
  "Conor McGregor just hit him with a litany of tweets here. If we could spam them up there. Just, I don't know, just totally hates on him..."
  [00:39]

• Adam's Linguistic Curiosity:
  "But I have a legitimate question. Black people say axe, not ass."
  [01:36]

• Mayhem on PFL's Growth:
  "It's becoming that level where PFL has enough money to draw a lot of the international talent away from the UFC because the brand awareness is not as big as it is in the United States..."
  [03:07]

• Discussion on Fighter Beards:
  "There is a bit of padding, but not as much to justify. I think it does pad the punches, undoubtedly..."
  [12:21]

• Mayhem on Future Fight Strategies:
  "Sean Strickland will have in his corner, Alex Pereira... Strickland credits him for getting him a lot stronger in the gym."
  [17:24]

---

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, notable quotes, and the engaging dynamic between Adam Carolla and Mayhem. Whether dissecting fighter tactics or sharing humorous takes on everyday topics, this episode exemplifies why The Adam Carolla Show remains a top choice for millions of listeners worldwide.

Transcript

[A]

It's time for Corolla and Mayhem. Game on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What's going on? Mayhem.

[B]

Ah, man, all kinds of stuff. Fight news. You know how we do on BET online. Yeah, yeah. Hey, you want the fun spicy one first?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Conor McGregor's coked up, allegedly. And just firing shots at Paul Hughes, the new big star of Ireland martial arts.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

He's the PFL badass. He took out A.J. mcKee, a longtime training partner of mine. I'd known him since he was a kid.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. Help, help work him out into the champion he is today. And then, yeah, he just shows up and he's badass. Paul Hughes is kind of responding classy to Conor McGregor, attacking him on social media and telling him shows where your head's at. But Conor McGregor just hit him with a litany of tweets here. If we could spam them up there. Just, I don't know, just totally hates on him because he actually showed respect to his opponent Nurmagomedov, one of the Dagestanis. He showed some respect and yeah, he hit him with. Get that flag off you.

[A]

Uh huh. Oh, that's Conor. You do a Conor McGregor.

[B]

Lick my arse. I'm fighting in your face, foreign hairy ass. Arse licker. Arse licker. Arse licker. Yeah, yeah. And then here comes Paul Hughes.

[A]

Now they. Hold on. Yeah, they wouldn't say ass, they would say arse.

[B]

That threw me off arse.

[A]

But I have a question. I have a legitimate question. Black people say axe, not ass.

[B]

Ask me a question. Yep.

[A]

Do they think the all over body spray is called axe? I wonder if it's a two way street. And do Irish people say the people that set the fires in Malibu are assness? Because they say arse when they mean ass. But do they say ass when they mean the words this is axe and axe and listen, I'm just asking. I'm not really. I don't have a dog.

[B]

Nobody asked you.

[A]

You. Thank you. So he's saying ours.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And then look, he comes back, real class. He always said you were the goat. Paid homage at every opportunity. But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.

[A]

Up is ours.

[B]

Yeah, I mean look, we, we brought out a couple of choice ones but this went on for a while. Conor McGregor was just doing the buck slip of Twitter where he was non stop rattling on about how bad Paul Hughes is. He get. He even hit him with picture of boot licking Dagestanis. He like really went deep into this Reddit hole.

[A]

But you were saying he was not a UFC guy. No, no, he's a NFL guy.

[B]

Yeah. And he's. I mean, it's becoming that level where PFL has enough money to draw a lot of the international talent away from the UFC because the brand awareness is not as big as it is in the United States and maybe Dagestan, it would be argued, but you know, there's definitely some top level fighters fighting over there in the pfl.

[A]

All right, so where this is heading. I guess we know where this is heading. The NFL had championships and AFL and cfl. Well, not cfl, afl. It's not unprecedented, but at some point the jets are going to have to play the Colts to see who's the best team is. Right. And we'll call it the super bowl now. And so the best guy, but it.

[B]

Has been stopped because monopolistic business practices is pretty clever.

[A]

I get it. But ultimately, like the super bowl, there's going to be money and money once both sides figure out they're gonna get paid. And it becomes big enough when the biggest guy from the fight league fights the biggest guy from ufc.

[B]

You think, you'd think. But for many years it hasn't been like that. The last time that we had a crossover event was Pride, ufc, where the champions from Pride came to fight in ufc. That's because it benefited ufc. At the time. Pride was the much bigger company.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And had a good foothold in the. So they only did that to stretch. Now, some would argue that Dana is the. Is the problem is that he has stopped any type of intercontinental type championship.

[A]

You know, look in the world of all sports, you know, American football was around. I'm looking at Joe, but I mean, the first super bowl was like 68, 67, 68, 65. Wasn't that later? 66, 67. All right.

[B]

Jets were three and that was 69.

[A]

Yeah, right, right. So then football, professional football existed in the 20s, you know, and maybe even the teens, they put together a 40, 50 year run of not doing this, but eventually they did. Now it's the biggest thing in the world, you know, and Dana himself said, no female's gonna fight in the ufc. And he stuck to that for a while. Now that's gone. And there's plenty of female fights on every card. So just because it didn't happen doesn't mean it's not going to happen.

[B]

I can see that at some point, and I've said it before on this show, that the Ali act will be applied to mixed martial arts. There's no other way because one promoter, and I don't know how the UFC adapted. I think that they probably will to try to stay in that position as being the super bowl of martial arts. And I think they've done great, great things, but not, you know, there's been a few in. In my time, in my 20, 30 years in the sport. I've seen a few times where, oh, that guy could probably take the championship and he never got a shot, you know.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It's like it's happened, so eventually it will happen. Yeah. The. The next big card should be going tonight is. Or actually your favorite kind of card, a 9am start time to UFC Saudi Arabia. So wake up early, get your coffee, and hold it with two hands. Pay attention, because there are some really good fights. This is, this one up that you guys are showing. That's not the card that. It's UFC Saudi Arabia. If you go ahead and search.

[A]

Yeah, you have two, two plus, that's.

[B]

The next fight after that. The. This card is smaller, but arguably, like, there's some exciting fights. Like, it's very. It'll be good for a hardcore MMA fan. You know, the. The top of the card is. Is a really tough fight for Israel Adesanya. This guy, Nasserdine Imam Imavoff, he is, you know, a serious Russian beast. Like, he's, you know, doesn't stand southpaw. He's like, come straight at you with a 2, 3. You know, it's probably one of the biggest tests for Israel Adesanya, you know, and they're not giving him an easy fight because he's starring and bringing him back. This guy is serious, serious business. The betting odds are, I think, still with Izzy, but this guy is like, not a tomato can, right? Yeah, he's a serious fight. And then farther down the card, the one that I'm really interested in is Bullet Magomed off fighting against a really tough guy, Michael Venom Page. Like, this guy, mvp. He's one of those dudes, he's getting older now, but he has put in this karate style that just shocks the senses. And, you know, we had it a couple weeks ago where Magmadoff hit the guy with the double whip back elbow, sort of.

[A]

Is this the guy with the crazy eye?

[B]

Yeah. No eye. Yeah, missing an eye. He's been on the.

[A]

Who's he related to with the Magomedoff thing?

[B]

Well, I mean, is he related to.

[A]

The other mega made off or is everyone just have the same sounding name?

[B]

Everybody has that same name, man. It's just. They ran out of names over there and in the Eastern block. And so everyone's a VOV or a Mauve or a maga. Madoff. Yeah.

[A]

Huh.

[B]

Yeah, he, you know, he's got that flashy style. He knows how to wrestle, too. He got thrown out of Dagestan, this guy. I, you know, in research for the show today, I just realized this guy has a lot of stories. Like, he's just. He is an interesting character roles of some real gangsters out there in the Eastern bloc countries. He's a. He's a badass dude in more ways than one. I think we have some footage of him meeting Christian Ronaldo. So if you're in a bus, the soccer player, the soccer player. Biggest soccer player in the world.

[A]

I hate that soccer. So big.

[B]

I know. It's so weird. Easy. How are you playful? Double leg.

[A]

Got a big beard.

[B]

Yes. Yeah, they actually threw him out of the Mega Madoff gym because they asked him to cut his hair.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah. And he said no.

[A]

It's been discussed on the show. But when you got three inches of heft on your beard, that's gonna absorb. It's gonna take a three ounce glove and make it a four ounce glove.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, I don't get it. Like, someone said, look, there's a. There's a mattress and it's empty. My dad had a house. My dad had a sofa. Whenever I say. When I start a sentence with my dad, it always gets really depressing. But we never bought any new furniture ever. My dad had this old scratchy, fucking horrible sofa that was green, and I swear to God it was filled with horse hair. They used to fill. Well, they didn't have foam rubber. Yeah, there was no foam rubber. They filled stuff with a horse hair. So if you took my dad's sofa and you took all the horse hair out of it, then you'd just be sitting on the floor. But if you packed it full of something, then you'd be sitting on a sofa. Yeah, well, the beard is just horse hair. Like, why doesn't. Here's what I'm saying. If I took my dad's sofa pillow, took all the horsehair out of it and held it in front of my face and you punched me, then you would knock me out. If I filled it with horsehair and put it against my face, then you wouldn't knock me out. So why is there not a rule on the heft of the beard?

[B]

You know what? I'd buy a bean bag chair full of magomedoff beard.

[A]

Yeah, I would, too. And I'M also. So here's. All right, here's what. Okay, here's how it's gotta wear. You know how it's gotta roll?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, it's gotta roll like the NFL. If you would like to have long dreads, you may have long dreads. When you break away, someone may tackle you by your long dread.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's part of your uniform. If you would like to have a long beard, you may have a long beard. Someone is allowed to grab your beard and punch you in the face.

[B]

I'll tell you what, that is a thing because I front headlock a guy, I cup his chin. If you got a beard, he ain't getting free. It is double edged sword.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

There is a bit of padding, but not as much to justify. I think it does pad the punches, undoubtedly, but I don't think it pads them enough to be a night and day.

[A]

But it's easier to get out clean shaven.

[B]

Damn right.

[A]

So you have to kind of figure out if you're a striker or you're a submission guy, right?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, that was the biggest drama, that GSP was all greased up, bald head. So hard to get him in triangle. Impossible. That was my strategy. Nope, didn't work, right? Yup, just a little bit of ass.

[A]

Oh, you were gonna get GSP in a triangle.

[B]

Yeah, that was the strat. That was my strategy. And I said in the middle of the fight to Big John, I said, hey, he's greased up, right? I said it to him and he's fine. Yeah, he's fine. He's whooping my ass. He's elbowed me in the face. That's the business.

[A]

Well, it is, but you're right, I mean, you're bald head, you're clean shaved and you know they do the Vaseline.

[B]

Nah, it's my game of like centimeters, you know, so like the Vaseline is a difference, you know? You know this from boxing. Vaseline is the difference between a gaping cut or it just slipped off your eyebrow.

[A]

Yeah. But you also see guys when they're dry, they're a lot easier to submit, and when they start getting sweaty, they're. They can wiggle out of things. And so that makes sense that GSP would go bald, clean shaven and then whatever. That Vaseline that they smear around your eyes.

[B]

I know, but he smeared it on his head. Like there's a lawsuit that BJ Penn sued the UFC about it.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah, because the same thing happened to him and he was fired up.

[A]

Yeah, well, BJ Penn fought at that weight.

[B]

Yeah, he went up. I know there was an era of BJ Pennsylvania and I'll tell you what it is. And we talked about on the show before J. Penn was like, I don't know, 55.

[A]

It seemed like GSP was like 70. Yeah, I guess it's not that much.

[B]

An era because BJ Penn's boxing skills were such that they were. And his jiu jitsu skills he had. This is the era before everybody was cross training as seriously as they are today. But back in those days, BJ Penn was such a clever boxer from being from boxing since he was a kid and fast that his jiu jitsu would save him if his boxing didn't work and vice versa. So he was one of those guys. But then when GSB was ready, he said, okay, I'm going to take this guy down and I'm going to take this guy down and I'm going to take this guy down. And you know, he was slippery enough to not get caught in any submissions.

[A]

Well, the, the Vaseline, I mean look, they do it with baseballs, you know, there's always a little something they're trying.

[B]

To, you know, you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. That's why I wasn't even mad at him. Like I was like, yeah, that's the business. Like he got away with it. The commission let him get away with it. That's how it is.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And you know, it's one of those things the, the rest of the card has. Oh, you might like this Sergey Pavlovich, that big giant Russian dude, you know who he is. And then your Zeno Rosenstrek, you remember this big black guy with the weird name who just a hammer. Both guys are just rock em, sock em.

[A]

So I love me a big heavyweight battle.

[B]

It's a good one.

[A]

Big heavyweight battles always, always enjoyable.

[B]

So if anything else goes wrong on the card, you got that one. More than likely these guys and they're not like eye pokers or anything, they're just sluggers, you know, there's a couple of guys that get after it, you know, for as long as they can knock out high, high rated knockouts from both guys. Just, just beasts, just monsters, you know.

[A]

Yeah, they're both, I don't know, they're.

[B]

Not that tall, but they're just thick dudes.

[A]

Like it's 6:2 and 6:3 in the heavyweight division in the modern era is not that big a dude.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But thick. And who's favorite here?

[B]

Yeah, that I'm pretty sure Pavlovich is up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He definitely is 330 to 255. So he's favored. But the interesting line, you know, and I going back to that Bullet versus MVP for a second, that is the interesting1 Because MVP, the older guy is underdog, but 148, like not a big underdog, you know, now and Bullet is coming in under 192. So, you know, I don't know. That's a tough fight. That's a tough fight for Bullet. I think they're kind of overlooking MVP a little bit. Back to this Rosenstreak fight. The. Yeah, that's one of those where if Rosenstruck doesn't wear himself out because he's prone to do that, it seems like he'll go see, see, like he has the finish, like try to get there and burn himself out and they end up in a clench fest the rest of the fight. That happens to him, you know.

[A]

Yeah, they're Both right at 260. I mean, they're both like the dimensions are pretty much the same with the. Both these guys.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And once South Paul, you know, the southpaw stand, it's going to be that classic battle. Let's see if the southpaw versus Orthodox, it turns into the same thing. One guy drifting one way, the other guy drifting the other, trying not to hit each other with the straight.

[A]

God, it's going to be a good. It's a good card.

[B]

It is. And look, the next one, the next card of there you guys put up earlier. Interesting thing that Sean Strickland will have in his corner, Alex Pereira. Yeah. So I hope he's ready to hear some chama.

[A]

Why. Why Alex Pereira in this, coach?

[B]

Well, I'll tell you this, that because the Extreme Couture Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada takes, you know, brings in a lot of top talent. And for training camps, Alex showed up there. So him and Sean Strickland have formed a friendship and they, their training partners train a lot. You remember back when Shama was middleweight, he, he defeated Sean Strickland and you know, it's like one of those can't beat him, join him type of deals. So Strickland credits him for getting him a lot stronger in the gym, you know, getting a lot of higher level striking. So, you know, it will show up or it won't in the DDP match.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

For the title.

[A]

When is that slated for?

[B]

I think it's March or the 8th of February.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

I believe so, yeah.

[A]

Coming up. That's gonna be a good fight.

[B]

Is that.

[A]

Where is that fight? It's gonna be somewhere normal.

[B]

Australia, mate. Yep. So wake up early, get your coffee, get your slippers on at Dr. Drew's house, figure out the TV remote and make it happen. Corolla.

[A]

All right. On a depressing note.

[B]

All right, come to my house, then. No Apple Deckers, though.

[A]

Come to your house. Penthouse.

[B]

Okay, thanks.