Daniel Cormier TV - Daniel Cormier & Ben Askren on Merab Dvalishvili BEATING Umar, Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Daniel Cormier TV - Daniel Cormier & Ben Askren on Merab Dvalishvili BEATING Umar, Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Host/Authors: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, former MMA champions Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren engage in an in-depth discussion about recent significant events in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world. The primary focus revolves around Merab Dvalishvili's surprising victory over Umar and the anticipated matchup between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. Throughout the episode, Daniel and Ben provide expert analysis, personal anecdotes, and critical insights into the fighters' performances and future prospects.

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Merab Dvalishvili's Upset Victory Over Umar

Performance Analysis:
Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren begin by dissecting Merab Dvalishvili's unexpected triumph over Umar. Dvalishvili entered the fight as a 3 to 1 underdog but managed to secure a win that surprised many pundits and fans alike.

• Daniel Cormier (03:49): "How impressed were you by his performance in a fight where he was a 3 to 1 underdog? It was plus 25, and he went out a beautiful fight."

Betting Lines and Odds:
The hosts examine the initial betting odds and how Dvalishvili's performance influenced the betting landscape.

• Daniel Cormier (05:01): "What they do is, and you know what they do is we set a line or the odds makers set a line. They set a line hoping that you get two-way action..."

• Ben Askren (05:18): "That's fair."

Dvalishvili's Fighting Style:
A significant portion of the discussion centers on Dvalishvili's relentless pace and strategic aggression, which pressured Umar throughout the match.

• Daniel Cormier (06:31): "What he does though is every second of the fight he is just attacking your will... He just attacks your will till eventually you start going, man, do I really have what I have to have."

• Ben Askren (06:48): "And you know, great example, Daniel, is Umar..."

Cardio and Endurance:
The conversation highlights Dvalishvili's exceptional cardio and endurance, enabling him to maintain a high pace for the entire duration of the fight.

• Ben Askren (07:14): "He just attacks your will... To defend Marab a little bit."

• Daniel Cormier (07:50): "He's up and walking, he's going to continue to press you and try to chase you down to get you."

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Implications for the Bantamweight Division

Dvalishvili's Dominance:
Daniel and Ben discuss the implications of Dvalishvili's victory on the bantamweight division, questioning the readiness of other fighters to challenge his dominance.

• Daniel Cormier (11:22): "You could say in their prime. You just can, man. Merab is the bantamweight goat..."

• Ben Askren (12:00): "Yeah, no, well, it's because Dan. And that was why I think he was so pissed about Umar getting a title shot so fast..."

Future Matchups and Potential Superfights:
The hosts speculate on potential future fights, including a possible matchup between Sean O'Malley and Dvalishvili, and the challenges such fights would entail.

• Daniel Cormier (13:00): "Alex, he's not... unless it's for a title, I don't think it's a super fight if not a title fight."

• Ben Askren (13:26): "I kind of think that's a really fun fight."

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Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

Upcoming Fight Analysis:
The discussion shifts to the highly anticipated fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, with both hosts expressing excitement and skepticism about the outcome.

• Daniel Cormier (22:09): "Hey, talking about Alex Pereira. He's got his next fight, bro. He's finally fighting Michael..."

• Ben Askren (22:27): "That's funny. And actually, the discussion came up at my house when me and my buddy was watching my fight..."

Pereira's Striking vs. Wrestling Concerns:
Daniel raises concerns about Pereira's wrestling abilities, suggesting that his striking prowess may be his downfall against a strong wrestler like Ankalaev.

• Daniel Cormier (26:12): "I'd go forward, press, throw like a left hand or an overhand right. Just diving on his legs as much as I could..."

• Ben Askren (26:46): "Alex is so fun. It's so funny to me because on the one hand, I kind of think his wrestling still sucks..."

Potential Outcomes:
The duo debates potential outcomes of the fight, considering both fighters' strengths and weaknesses.

• Daniel Cormier (27:47): "He's been the champion two times in two weight classes. He has defended the belt in multiple divisions..."

• Ben Askren (28:26): "Yuri has proven, though, he's the man..."

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Wider Implications for MMA and Fighter Development

Shift in Wrestling Talent:
Ben offers insights into the current state of wrestling talent in MMA, noting a decline in elite wrestlers transitioning into the sport.

• Ben Askren (26:59): "A lot of the American wrestlers have now they can get paid enough where they actually want to stay in wrestling..."

Future of the Bantamweight Division:
The hosts reflect on the future landscape of the bantamweight division, emphasizing the need for talented wrestlers to challenge Dvalishvili.

• Daniel Cormier (28:57): "I don't know if standing the whole fight with Alex Pereira is the greatest idea."

• Ben Askren (29:32): "It was a competitive fight. I guess you could do that..."

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren wrap up the episode by reiterating the significance of Merab Dvalishvili's victory and the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev fight. They emphasize the changing dynamics in the MMA landscape, particularly in the bantamweight division, and the critical role wrestling plays in determining future champions.

• Daniel Cormier (31:22): "Like, I'm just saying, unless Sean makes wholesale changes, I don't know how he's gonna."

• Ben Askren (31:38): "To defend Marab a little bit. Right."

The episode concludes with both hosts expressing anticipation for future fights and the ongoing evolution of MMA talent.

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Notable Quotes

• Daniel Cormier (03:49): "How impressed were you by his performance in a fight where he was a 3 to 1 underdog? It was plus 25, and he went out a beautiful fight."

• Daniel Cormier (06:31): "What he does though is every second of the fight he is just attacking your will... He just attacks your will till eventually you start going, man, do I really have what I have to have."

• Daniel Cormier (11:22): "Merab is the bantamweight goat..."

• Ben Askren (26:59): "A lot of the American wrestlers have now they can get paid enough where they actually want to stay in wrestling..."

• Daniel Cormier (28:57): "I don't know if standing the whole fight with Alex Pereira is the greatest idea."

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Key Takeaways

1. Merab Dvalishvili's Dominance: Dvalishvili's victory over Umar marks a significant shift in the bantamweight division, highlighting his exceptional striking and endurance.
2. Wrestling's Role in MMA: The decline of elite wrestlers transitioning into MMA poses challenges for fighters like Dvalishvili facing strong wrestling opponents.
3. Upcoming Fights Impactful: The Pereira vs. Ankalaev fight is pivotal, with potential implications for the division's hierarchy based on the wrestlers' performances.
4. Future Champions: The discussion underscores the necessity for MMA to cultivate and integrate top-tier wrestlers to maintain competitive balance.

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This episode provides listeners with a comprehensive analysis of current MMA events, blending technical fight breakdowns with strategic insights. Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren offer a nuanced perspective on fighter performances and the evolving nature of the sport, making it invaluable for MMA enthusiasts seeking deeper understanding.

Transcript

[Adnan Burke]

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[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music. Music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Burke]

What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virkin Demers, Jason Demers here. And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out. Hey, I got a lot to say here, too, okay? Each week we'll get together, chat with the sport that we love. Tons of guests are going to join in too. But we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies, we're talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on le Table. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Vir and demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Volume Daniel.

[Daniel Cormier]

All right, guys, welcome to a brand new episode of Funky the Champ. I'm Daniel Cormier. That is the funky man, Ben Askren. What's up, Ben? I saw you A couple weeks ago in Colorado. Man, that was nice. P and L was a great event. I thought my kids wrestled tough. We got a lot of second places, and a lot of those second places were to you. And it pissed me off. I kept seeing you across the map from me.

[Adnan Burke]

I think we just got lucky and we just had some good guys you were at or something.

[Daniel Cormier]

You had some good kids that. You had some good kids wrestling? My kids, man, it was very good. Important for him. But as I told my kids, guess where they're going.

[Adnan Burke]

You're apparently seeing me.

[Daniel Cormier]

Where they spending the week at?

[Adnan Burke]

You said you're coming to see me.

[Daniel Cormier]

Aspen Wrestling Academy.

[Adnan Burke]

Let's go.

[Daniel Cormier]

I'm taking advantage of these founding clubs. I'm sending them to Valiant. I'm sending them to Askren. I'm sending them to all you guys for a week. Might as well take advantage of it. We should do that more. We should do more cross training with each other to help our kids kind of grow. That'll be a good thing. All right, Ben, we're here to talk MMA. Last weekend was UFC 311, and obviously when the fight ended or the night ended, it was all about Islam Mahachev because he defended his belt in tremendous fashion. But as you and I were getting ready to talk on this show, your take was, I want to talk Marab.

[Adnan Burke]

Like, I think it's all about Rob.

[Daniel Cormier]

How impressed were you by his performance in a fight where he was a 3 to 1 underdog? It was plus 25, and he went out a beautiful fight.

[Adnan Burke]

See, here's my. My wonderful wife just brought me some coffee. I told you how wonderful she is.

[Daniel Cormier]

Amy. Amy. If Amy.

[Adnan Burke]

She doesn't want to say hi.

[Daniel Cormier]

Amy. If only you knew. Amy. He was crapping on you again. He was crapping on you again. Amy.

[Adnan Burke]

All right, she's gone. She's gone. No. Hey, Marab. I made a video that morning saying I have no idea how in the hell you idiots are betting Merab to a 3 to 1 underdog. Because, you know, betting lines work. Betting lines work means everyone's betting for Umar. But it's like, okay, we've seen Umar fight one really good guy in Corey Sandhagen, but no one else. And I always think, you know, if we haven't actually seen it, I don't really believe it. I want to see it for real. Like, against. And then you look at Marab's resume. This dude fought. I mean, because you're looking like, who's he gonna fight next? And then you look at him like, oh my God. He's already fought, fought everybody. John O and Peter Yan and, and Naga Medov and Cejudo.

[Daniel Cormier]

Like he's all doing. He's, he's literally fought everyone except for Cory Sandhagen.

[Adnan Burke]

Except for Cory San. But Cory Sanhagen's coming off a loss.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, I think he's gonna fight Sha Malley next again, which is, which we'll get into. But Ben, I thought. Okay, so I was, I was of a different belief than you. For me, it wasn't. I have to see it with Umar because I knew how good he was. I just.

[Adnan Burke]

That's fair.

[Daniel Cormier]

I believed that the only reason he fought one guy in the top five was because it was the only one that was willing to fight him. And that's a lot of times how it goes with those Russian guys because they think you just take them down. Yeah, I was having a little bit of trouble with the betting line because I don't know that you can bet anyone up to a three to one favorite against me, Rob, because of the way he fights. And it seems like the only way to beat him is by completely shutting out the lights. Because if he's up and walking. Yes. As long as he's up and walking, he's going to continue to press you and try to chase you down to get you.

[Adnan Burke]

So that kind of pace is so special. I even think about like, I know wrestling is a seven minute match, but it is, it's a little harder per minute because you hands on almost the whole time, you know. Yes, but people who have a pace like marab are really special. Like whether it's wrestling or fighting, there's not a lot of them. It's very, very few. And you know, you fought 25 minutes. I fought 25 minutes. I had good cardio. It is freaking hard to go that hard for 25 minutes.

[Daniel Cormier]

We have, we had good cardio for wrestlers because we were the ones setting the pace.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

What he does though is every second of the fight he is just attacking your will.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

He just attacks your will and he attacks your will and he attacks your will till eventually you start going, man, do I really have what I have to have.

[Adnan Burke]

And you know, great example, Daniel, is Umar. Because, you know, I started seeing, because my thing in wrestling was gassing people out. So I, I am aware the very faintest signs of them starting to get tired. And at the beginning of the third round, I said, umar's getting tired. Everyone else watching.

[Daniel Cormier]

By the end of the second, when he walked back to the, to the stool I was like, oh my God, I think he's tired.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes. And everyone else said like, nah, I don't think so, or not quite. And then by the end of the third round they're all like, oh, I see what's.

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, he's exhausted. Yeah. It's crazy. It's crazy how it changes, right? You go from like, it's like the door gets opened on a guy being fatigued, right? Like I remember fighting and you're in there with a guy, right? Like who did I, I went 25 minutes with Alexander Gustafson.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

And the first round it's like good, it's, I'm cruising. But he's dangerous, right? He's fast, he's strong. And then the second round I'm like, ah, he took me down a couple times, but I can start to sense him getting a little fatigued. And about the third round I'm just chasing him. And then by the fourth and fifth now he's almost in survival mode and he's just kind of running, you know.

[Adnan Burke]

I think sometimes about in the fifth round and actually this happened with Umar. So when, when they're in the third round, there's like, there's 15 minutes left. How the hell am I going to go another 15 minutes? Exactly. But by the time they get to like two minutes left, they're like, eff it, I can do two minutes. You know what I'm saying?

[Daniel Cormier]

Like, did look a little better at the end of the fifth round because.

[Adnan Burke]

You get to that point where there's only two minutes you're left and you're like, I can do two more minutes. When you say there's 15 minutes left, you're like, oh my God, how am I going to do 15 more minutes?

[Daniel Cormier]

You look at that damn clock. Like when you're in there and you look up and you're like, holy shit, There's a minute, 45 seconds left in this round. It's crazy. Then you go run to the clinch. But for me it's this, it's like watching this dude fight a guy who's expected to win. So here's how betting works, Ben.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

What they do is, and you know what they do is we set a line or the odds makers set a line. They set a line hoping that you get two way action, right? They make it appealing to one side and then they make it appealing to the other side. So with Islam, when they announced the fight with Jonathan, they made a minus 600. I said, that's going to balloon by tomorrow morning because at minus 600. If you know Islam and you know, huh, it seems like it's free money.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Fifteen minutes later it was minus 900. It was minus nine. That's how many people had bet on Islam. Makhachev.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

Because they wanted it at that price. So what they started that line at from a Robin, Umar and Luis. You could throw that in the chat for me. Just like the opening odds line from Arab versus Umar. I bet it was relatively close. Yeah, maybe Umar was a slight favorite and then fans or people would go and bet him up to that number. But at the end of the day, those people don't really know. And honestly I didn't think Umar fought bad. I thought he fought a great first two rounds. Clearly he broke his hand very bad. Yeah, he fought a really good first two rounds, but I just don't know who can keep mob off of them. Dude, like he just kept on attacking. He shot. Ben, he shot 27 times.

[Adnan Burke]

I know. And you know what? In Umar's defense or as a compliment, his wrestling defense was really good at times, but Marab was just so persistent that he's. I mean you had a really good one of these, but there's not a lot of people who are really good where they do that little head outside and a quick dump, you know, and they give like, man, he is so effective there. And you know, you. Umar was doing good things, but he was still getting the takedowns.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, he, you know what the, you know what he does really well, Ben? He shoots with no intent to finish. Yeah, he'll shoot. Grab your leg. You gotta defend, right?

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

And he comes out, he throws an overhand right, then he shoots and you got to defend again.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

So you're never doing this like I'm a punch and throw. You're constantly doing this, dropping your hands, dropping your hands, dropping your hands and defending this man off of you. But I mean, he was very impressive. And when you start to think about something you said a little bit earlier, who's next? It's like, well, he's kind of fought everybody and dude, you know what's crazy? Henry Scudo and you and I are teammates, Olympic teammates of Henry. Henry doesn't really throw out compliments much. Henry called him the bantamweight goat. I mean, at this point he won't accept that because he believes it's Al Jermaine Sterling because he loves Aljo. Yeah, but Henry Cejudo said he's having a hard time not considering Al Jermaine Sterling, the bantamweight greatest of all time. What do you think?

[Adnan Burke]

Wait. I think that Henry. Henry thinks that Merab is sorry.

[Daniel Cormier]

Henry is the great. This is what Cejudo said. He said Jan O'Malley Cejudo. When Cejudo considers overall resume, he's comfortable with reaching the conclusion. Murab is the greatest bandwidth of all time. Yan O'Malley, Cejudo, Umar Morais, Aldo, he's fought everybody. Cejudo said on his podcast with Kamaru Usman. Pound for pound, he beat everybody in his division. You could say in their prime. You just can, man. Merab is the bantamweight goat, at least in my eyes. And he only has one title defense.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, no, well, it's because Dan. And that was why I think he was so pissed about Umar getting a title shot so fast, because he fought freaking everybody before they gave him a stupid title shot. But Al Joe was there. I understand. Yes, but then even once Aljo cleared when he lost O'Malley, they gave Cheeto the shot over morale.

[Daniel Cormier]

That was odd.

[Adnan Burke]

That.

[Daniel Cormier]

That. That would have pissed. That would have pissed me off if I was Morocco.

[Adnan Burke]

That was preposterous because was the guy.

[Daniel Cormier]

That should have got that tit.

[Adnan Burke]

Sure. So, yeah, I mean, you know, one thing we talk about on the show a bunch of times is so many of these champions want to change weights and do these super fights right away. And I always say clean out your damn division, then go fight someone else. So if Marab wanted to do a super fight, I'd say, well, you clean out division too small. But there's no obvious. There's. He beat everyone else up.

[Daniel Cormier]

There's no obvious would be too much for.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, but we think to pour is really, really good. And he already said he's not going to make the weight. So like, what about like Marab vs. Volkanovski or something?

[Daniel Cormier]

That sounds fun. For what though, right? Just for a fun fight. Marabi.

[Adnan Burke]

Okay, so now you. You hate. You hate super fights now?

[Daniel Cormier]

Oh, I'm just saying, unless it's for a title, I don't think it's a super fight if not a title fight. Hey, listen. So Marab is going to fight Sean O'Malley next, according to Dana White. Interested or do you think it's going to be rinse and repeat?

[Adnan Burke]

You know who I was actually thinking would be a fun one here? But then, yes, I don't know who Marab gets. And I know Merab wants to stay active because Murab is beating everybody, I think. I sure thought Shawn vs. Umar would be a lot of fun.

[Daniel Cormier]

Umar broke his hand, I think. And it was a bad handbreak. I think he's going to be out for a while.

[Adnan Burke]

Didn't Shawn have, like, labrum surgery or something?

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, he was hurt, too. They all. They all get hurt. Did you see Umar's hand?

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, it was. It was big. It was really at all. I spilled my coffee, Daniel. Son of a gun.

[Daniel Cormier]

How much? Where'd you drop it at? On your desk.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, give me 10 seconds.

[Daniel Cormier]

No, you can't go nowhere. You can't do this. This is live television. Ben Askren. Hey, don't pause Luis. Don't pause Luis. He's a dunce. But, guys, listen, I think unless Sean O'Malley makes some wholesale changes to his wrestling, to his grappling, to his defensive ability, off of his back, all right?

[Adnan Burke]

I'm a real professional.

[Daniel Cormier]

Very, very difficult. You can't come back and just jump in right when I'm in the middle.

[Adnan Burke]

I'm ready.

[Daniel Cormier]

I didn't pause it. I just said that unless Sean makes wholesale changes, I don't know how he's gonna. Hey, let me ask you this. Do you believe. And this is like, I think it needs to be to this degree. Do you believe that Sean O'Malley, if he is to fight Marab Dwallish Wheelie, needs to be in a place like maybe your academy or my academy or at, like, Valiant Prep? Like, instead of being in an MMA gym, wrestling, he needs to be wrestling with these kids in a wrestling stand. I mean, Valiant is in Arizona. He could train there. And he needs to be doing it almost full time. Right. To defend Marab a little bit. Right.

[Adnan Burke]

I don't want to make it sound hopeless, but, like, I complimented Umar's wrestling. His wrestling was pretty damn good.

[Daniel Cormier]

But did Sean O'Malley do what Umar did?

[Adnan Burke]

Even if he does, does he still lose?

[Daniel Cormier]

Right?

[Adnan Burke]

I mean, Umar. Because Umar is a really good striker, too, you know, and that's where it's like, you know, and this is one of those things where maybe at this point, because we've seen Marab have really impressive performances lately, maybe we're putting him even higher than he actually is. But this, I mean, you said. You said that. You know, some of those times he's not even really pursuing the takedown. He just does it to throw his opponent off.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Adnan Burke]

Puts him down and made him get back up. And it's like, okay, he fought 25 minutes with Sean, and he fought 25 minutes with Umar. 50 minutes of fighting. He didn't get clipped one time.

[Daniel Cormier]

No, he's got. Well because again, dude, he's going forward.

[Adnan Burke]

You know, so hard to hit him.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, it's hard to hit him. And he's going forward the whole time. And the whole time you're just reacting and responding. But, like. Like I said.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

I think for the next year, right, Sean O'Malley needs to be in a wrestling gym.

[Adnan Burke]

Yes.

[Daniel Cormier]

To try to learn how to defend. Because if he can defend takedowns at the rate that Umar did, he'd have a comfortable saying that O'Malley has bigger punching power than Umar Mega Mehta.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, but I. I kind of. I told you, I kind of want to see Umar versus Sean now. I think. I kind of think that's a really fun fight.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, I don't know that. I don't know that. I don't know that O'Malley would do that. I just don't. I don't know that it's.

[Adnan Burke]

You don't think you would fight Umar?

[Daniel Cormier]

Why? Whenever you're. They said that they're going to give you.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, yeah. So. Okay, I understand. I understand if he.

[Daniel Cormier]

You know what I'm saying? Like, why. When they say they're going to give you a title fight. But that would be a fun one. I mean, I would love loses.

[Adnan Burke]

So if Sean loses to Morav again, then. Then where do you put him?

[Daniel Cormier]

You're screwed. He's kind of in that same position as Yuri.

[Adnan Burke]

Yuri, bro.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yuri was like, talking about how good, you know, he's ready to fight Pereira again. And I'm like, I don't think I've seen many changes. Did you see many changes?

[Adnan Burke]

I mean, his head movement did look better. He was very evasive. Jamal had a hard time at times. At times, he had a hard time hitting him. There was other times where obviously Jamal connected and Jamal doesn't hit with the same amount of power that Alex does. So if Alex hits you in certain instances, you're probably going to fall over. But, yeah, no, I thought he looked good. I think it was fun. But no, I don't really want to see a third fight there, which is the problem. When you lose to a champion twice and they're still the champion, there's kind of nowhere to go.

[Daniel Cormier]

There's. If you lose to the champion twice, there's still the champion. There's nowhere to go. If you get finished by the champion twice, that's a real problem.

[Adnan Burke]

That too. Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

I mean, I think they fought twice, and the fights have lasted maybe four rounds total. Yeah, they were scheduled for 10 rounds of fighting. They haven't made it to half. So Yuri has proven, though, he's the man. So the conference championships are upon us, and once again, I'm partnered up with the DraftKings sportsbook to give all new customers a fantastic offer. Bet $5 or more and get $200 in bonus bets instantly when you sign up using my promo code, dctv. Guys, only four teams are left, so why not get in on the action at the DraftKings sportsbook and show your friends that you're more knowledgeable while you're getting paid at the DraftKings sportsbook, where the crown is yours. Once again, guys, sign up using my promo code, DCTV. Bet $5 or more and get $200 in bonus bets instantly at the Trafficking Sportsbook.

[Adnan Burke]

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[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but, like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it and the heart's a little pink.

[Adnan Burke]

It felt like I told you I loved you.

[Bobby Bones]

I'm gonna be honest. It was a little pink.

[Adnan Burke]

There was something sentimental when you. When you send it. It was like, do I send the heart now?

[Bobby Bones]

I don't like the color of edition.

[Adnan Burke]

It's extremely pink.

[Bobby Bones]

Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition Podcast. The Daily Show Podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Burke]

What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL Unscripted with Perkin Demers. Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy, oh boy, does Daddy have a lot to say. I love you, by the way. On NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right? Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what, Tons of back and forth on all things NHL. Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We're into all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL. Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Ferkie. That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burkin Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's going on, everybody? This is Justin Pennock from John Boy Media, the host of the Football Today podcast alongside Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We're rolling three times a week, on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays. Breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're talking about the MVP race. Is Josh Allen going to pull it out?

[Jon Stewart]

Lamar Jackson?

[Adnan Burke]

Can Saquon Barkley even break the rushing record? Can the Steelers keep up their momentum? We talk about everything. We break it down. Stats, analytics. And of course, Chris Rose is bringing his perspective on being a pro in the media world as well. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and you will be glad you did. Hope you could join us for the postseason run.

[Daniel Cormier]

Hey, talking about Alex Pereira. He's got his next fight, bro. He's finally Fighting Michael, man. Goliath, I mean, finally, right? Like, Uncle, I have got to be breathing a sigh of relief. Like, thank God I'm finally getting this title fight.

[Adnan Burke]

Seriously. I can't remember last time we were talking, they were going to give it to someone else, weren't they?

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, because remember, Alex was like, it's still not going to be Uncle Live. He was just kind of messing.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, that's what it is. That's what it was. Okay. Okay, good.

[Daniel Cormier]

So, Uncle, I have said yesterday, Alex, he said he's not. Wait, they said he's not MMA fighting. Said he's not wasting any time letting anyone know that he means business. He went to X and he said, you just signed your death certificate. I'm going to punish you for ducking me, and I'm going to make you look like a guy who works in a tire shop, not a professional fighter.

[Adnan Burke]

Huh. You know, that. That's. That's funny. And actually, it. The discussion came up. The discussion came up at my house when me and my buddy was watching my fight. It's like, Alex is so fun. It's. It's so funny to me because on the one hand, I'm like, he should be in goat conversation, right? Like as double Goat. Double as on one hand. But then on the other hand, I'm like, I kind of think his wrestling still sucks, and if you fight someone who's a good wrestler, he's going to get torched. So it's like. It's like such a weird balance. Like, I don't know which way I actually feel. You know, it's like, if he gets torched by Uncle, I have. Do we say it was really a mirage the whole time? I mean, obviously his standup is about as good as it gets, and he hits about as hard as you can hit. But it is a weird. It's weird to try to hold both those positions at once because it doesn't feel like they make sense, because generally, nobody gets to the top of mixed martial arts with fighting someone in every skill set.

[Daniel Cormier]

So this. Luke Thomas made a point the other day, and I got this sent to me on submission radio. He said this. Listen, can you hear me?

[Adnan Burke]

I can hear you.

[Daniel Cormier]

Okay, hold on. Well, Luis will put it, but he goes. Luke Thomas goes. People get mad when I say this, and I don't really care because I know I'm right. If you looked at this 20, 25, and I made it at 24, but he put it 10 years ago in the UFC's lead heavyweight, light heavyweight division, Had Bader, Phil Davis, Lyoto Machida, Glover. Yeah. Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. I have terrible news for you. Alex Pereira is not a champion in that era. Not beating Anthony Johnson. And if he does, I do for sure. Shit doesn't think he beats D.C. and I even say if he beats D.C. 2014, Jon Jones, you can go fuck yourself. That was Luke Thomas on submission radio. He said he doesn't feel that. And the only reason he feels so strongly and he's that convicted is that we all had wrestling. And it feels like because we all had wrestling, there would be problems for Polaton. Yet with all that being said, Uncle, I have said he's not wrestling him, Ben.

[Adnan Burke]

If he does that, he's a. I don't know him, so hopefully he's not a.

[Daniel Cormier]

He said he's not wrestling, but he also said he goes to all the UFC fights to get free alcohol and camera time. On the other hand, I've been training so hard. March 8, the alcohol will not help you. This is what Uncle, I was saying to Pereira, but if he stands with them, I mean, why. Why would you stand with him?

[Adnan Burke]

I have no idea. Yeah, I don't know. He's. He's just bullshitting. There's no way. He's not.

[Daniel Cormier]

He's gonna just take him now. Would that be crazy if he just keeps shooting on him? He didn't take the last guy fought. I swear to God, if I was fighting Oxford, I would shoot on him from the moment the fight started.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah. For real.

[Daniel Cormier]

I would go forward, press, throw like a left hand or an overhand right. Just diving on his legs as much as I could, just to try to see how his takedown defense would hold up. And here's my thought, though. He's got to have gotten better, right? He's been training with Glover all these years in the wrestling. Yeah.

[Adnan Burke]

But the only instances of wrestling we've seen in his UFC career have been not all that great. He got taken on, held down by Adesanya, who no one thinks has good wrestling, and he got taken down by Blowitz and was down a whole round. And, you know, like I said there, there, he had. Really hasn't fought any wrestlers because no one would say, oh, yeah, those two have really high level wrestling. So he has. You know, that's why it's weird. It's like, on the one hand, he's like kind of the goat. It's. He's amazing. On the other hand, you're like, yeah, but if he fights a good wrestler, you Know he's going to get killed. But there are no good wrestlers at 205.

[Daniel Cormier]

Currently, there's hardly any good wrestlers at all in the heavier weight classes in the UFC right now. Yeah, it's actually very surprising, right, like, that there aren't good wrestlers anymore. There was always good wrestlers in the higher weights in fighting.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah, I mean, I think I. You know, my take is that a lot of the American wrestlers have now they can get paid enough where they actually want to stay in wrestling. So there have been very few of the elite ones who have crossed over. Whereas during our era, say, you know, starting in was a five through 12 or whatever, a lot of them, you know, even, you know, like the step down below the Olympic level, where it's, you know, Phil Davis was a very, very good wrestler, Ryan Bader, and you can kind of go through like, a list of, like, guys who were maybe not elite enough to make an Olympic team, but they were, like, really, really good. And for whatever reason, now, I think with all these RTCs, the good wrestlers aren't really making the transition MMA as often.

[Daniel Cormier]

They're making good money in wrestling right now. So what do you think? Do you think Alkali beats Pereira or do you think Pereira beats him? If Pereira beats him, Yeah.

[Adnan Burke]

I mean, then it's over. Who's. Who's gonna beat him?

[Daniel Cormier]

Like, who's gonna beat him?

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

He fought number eight, Khalil Roundtree last time because there was nobody else to fight.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

How has he cleaned out that division when he's only been fighting for three years? He's been the champion two times in two weight classes. He has defended the belt in multiple divisions, and he's only been fighting for like, four years.

[Adnan Burke]

I don't know who he. When you're looking at the list of the ranked guys, I don't know who he fights. If he beats up Ankalaev, Prochazka, Blahowitz, Hill, Rocket Uberg, Roundtree Rockic.

[Daniel Cormier]

And then who?

[Adnan Burke]

Ulberg and then Roundtree Ulberg.

[Daniel Cormier]

I think Oldberg has a big fight coming up and he's new and young, but again, he's a striker. And if he's a striker, how do you think that he's going to beat Alex Pereira? I think. I think Uncle, I was going to have to try to wrestle him. I think that's kind of the thought that he's posturing, saying he's going to stand with him, trade with him, because him and Rockic had a good fight, but it was relatively competitive and he just stood with Rockic the whole time.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

Right. So it's like.

[Adnan Burke]

Yeah.

[Daniel Cormier]

I don't know if standing the whole fight with Alex Pereira is the greatest idea.

[Adnan Burke]

Uber fights Blahowitz on March 22nd.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah. So now. Now, if Yacht wins Blachowicz, that actually.

[Adnan Burke]

Could make sense because they had a competitive fight their first time.

[Daniel Cormier]

Well, it was two rounds to one. Yeah. And then Yamba Hovich just got exhausted in Salt Lake City. Remember, dude, they come in early. He got. Didn't get used to the altitude and gassed. She was crazy.

[Adnan Burke]

That's funny. But, I mean, there was. There were people arguing that. That Blahowitz actually won that fight. So I. That, you know, that's a compelling one to make.

[Daniel Cormier]

It was a competitive fight. I guess you could do that. But, hey, Ben, before we go, my kids had never experienced altitude before, dude. They were so tired. Their faces were white when they were on the mat. Like, what is happening? They never felt it before.

[Adnan Burke]

I was expecting my kids to gas a little harder, but actually, it wasn't that bad.

[Daniel Cormier]

No, my kids were gassing bad, bro. They were like, coach, one of them walked off the mat. Hey, yo, Ben. This dude. This dude was a 4 to 0 in the third period. The kid got to his leg. He gets the whole first period. They ended his position. I thought he got taken down at the end of the period, but he did because he scrambled out. He was in a treetop. He was in an irinium, dude, third period, same position. This guy gets in on Matteo's legs. Matteo goes to grab the far foot. Ben, he's so tired. He looks at me like this, and then he just bails and goes flat on his stomach with 30 seconds left. Now he's up five to three. And this dude gets taken down again. He was exhausted, and he walks over and goes, coach, I don't want to wrestle no more. I was like, dude, it's just car. I was like, it's just altitude. He was dying.

[Adnan Burke]

But I saw you didn't give him a John. You didn't give him a John Smith speech at that moment, bro.

[Daniel Cormier]

I saw it happen, son.

[Adnan Burke]

We're all wrestling in the same air. Stop being a wimp.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah, that's exactly what John would have told you. Hey, I saw it happen to Caden Velasquez in Mexico City. If it could happen to Cain Velasquez, it can happen to anybody, bro. It just doesn't happen. All right, Ben, well, I'll let you go, man. I know you got to do today. And, guys, thank you for always watching Ben and I We appreciate your support. Until next time. Like subscribe and tell your friends about my YouTube channel. And don't miss any episodes of Funking the Champ. For Ben Askren, I'm Daniel Cormier. Till next time. Peace.

[Adnan Burke]

See ya. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals on game day food.

[Daniel Cormier]

No matter what you're craving, from two for one Pizza.

[Adnan Burke]

To buy one get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply.

[Daniel Cormier]

See app for details.

[Adnan Burke]

I'm Jennifer Garner. You may know me from my other job, but I'm a business owner too. Here at Once Upon a Farm, we chose the Capital One Venture X Business Card because it makes everything we do even more rewarding. With no preset spending limit, our purchasing power adapts to meet our business needs, and unlimited double miles on every purchase means we earn more too. And when we travel, we get access to over 1300 airport lounges. The Capital One Venture X business Card. What's in your wallet? Terms and conditions apply. Find out [e-mail] venturexbusiness hey, it's Bobby Bones.

[Bobby Bones]

Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing With a Star. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.