Welcome back to another action-packed episode of Budocast! From the dojo to the octagon—we’re breaking down the most significant stories in combat sports, martial arts culture, and influencer spectacles.In this episode, we unpack the massive fallout from UFC Vegas 120, where rising lightweight Quillan Salkilld shocked the division by tapping out the No. 6 ranked Mateusz Gamrot with a spectacular first-round rear-naked choke. We also dive into Dana White’s bizarre ring card girl controversy at Zuffa Boxing 10 in Dublin. Dana explains why the UK’s modern equality guidelines—which pressured the promotion to use "ring card boys" alongside girls—led him to scrap the ring cards entirely.Next, we shift our focus to the major shakeups at UFC 331, where Arman Tsarukyan is now booked against the dangerous Mauricio Ruffy. We cover the heartbreaking reason behind Charles Oliveira's withdrawal from the original bout, following the tragic passing of his beloved teammate and flyweight veteran, Allan Nascimento.On the influencer and celebrity side, we preview the highly anticipated clash of legacies at Brand Risk 15, where Anderson Silva's son, Gabriel Silva, locks horns with Kimbo Slice's son, Kevin "Baby Slice" Ferguson Jr. in a Miami boxing ring. Plus, we discuss Bryan Battle’s split-decision victory over Dalton Rosta at PFL Charlotte and his bold call-out of Jake Paul.To wrap things up, we react to the viral footage of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg light sparring on a floating lake platform with former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, discuss the UFC's newly announced return to Utah for UFC 332, and celebrate traditional martial arts mastery as Milton, Wisconsin’s own Michael Plessel earns the prestigious title of Taekwondo Chief Master after nearly 40 years of dedication.Episode Timestamps:

• Budocast Intro: Welcome & Episode Overview
• UFC Vegas 120 Breakdown: Quillan Salkilld’s dominant submission of Mateusz Gamrot
• Zuffa Boxing 10 & Dana White’s Ring Girl Controversy
• Mid-Roll Sponsor Break: Elite Sports & Lotus by Open Black Belt
• UFC 331 Matchmaking & Charles Oliveira’s Tragic Loss
• Influencer Boxing & Mergers: Gabriel Silva vs. Baby Slice & Bryan Battle Calls Out Jake Paul
• Zuckerberg Spars Merab Dvalishvili on a Lake Platform
• UFC 332 set for Salt Lake City
• Traditional Mastery: Taekwondo Instructor Michael Plessel achieves Chief Master
• Budocast Outro: Final Thoughts & Training Takeaways

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• Submit Your Tips: Have a news tip, technical question, or local martial arts story? Send it to the team at Budocast.com.

UFC Vegas 120 results, Quillan Salkilld vs Mateusz Gamrot, Dana White ring card girls, Zuffa Boxing 10 Dublin, Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy, Charles Oliveira Allan Nascimento, Gabriel Silva vs Kevin Ferguson Jr, Baby Slice Brand Risk 15, Bryan Battle Jake Paul, Mark Zuckerberg Merab Dvalishvili lake sparring, Michael Plessel Taekwondo Chief Master, UFC 332 Salt Lake City, Budocast MMA podcast

From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast, your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition. In this episode, we cover a range of powerful stories moving the needle in the combat sports world today.We begin with a heavy heart, honoring the life and legacy of UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento, who tragically passed away at the age of 34. We discuss his career highlights, his time training at Chute Boxe, and the moving tributes from teammates like Charles Oliveira.Shifting to the pits of Karate Combat 62, we break down the gritty main event where Sam Alvey secured a bloody unanimous decision victory over Uriah Hall in a successful title defense. We also dive into an inspiring story of perseverance as Brendan Ryan, a Taekwondo black belt with Down syndrome, lands national titles and is named Para Athlete of the Year.Additionally, we look at the evolving business landscape of the Lingerie Fighting Championships (LFC) as they engage new corporate partnership strategies. We round out the episode with community-focused news, including Unity Martial Arts’ upcoming self-defense seminars for women and girls, and the spectacular opening of the 9th International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts.Episode Keywords: UFC, MMA News, Karate Combat 62, Sam Alvey vs Uriah Hall, Allan Nascimento tribute, Taekwondo, Self-Defense, Martial Arts Culture, Para Athlete, BJJ, Combat Sports Business.Our Sponsors:

• Elite Sports: Leaders in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Whether you’re rolling or striking, they’ve got gear built to move with you. Check them out at EliteSports.com.
• Lotus by Open Black Belt: The ultimate management software for dojo owners looking to optimize performance, tracking ranks, attendance, and billing. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com to start your free trial today and streamline your business so you can spend more time on the mats.

Connect With Us: Have a story, news tip, or question? Send it to us at Budocast.com.Train hard, stay humble.

In this episode of Budocast, we dive deep into the evolving landscape of combat sports, from the UFC octagon to the rising dominance of bare-knuckle rings. We start with Islam Makhachev, who has officially rejected the early retirement path of his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev is now fixated on cementing a lasting legacy, eyeing Anderson Silva’s consecutive win record as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330.We also address the developing legal situation surrounding former title challenger Anthony Smith following his arrest in Nebraska. Smith’s manager and his wife, Mikhala, have released statements clarifying that the incident stemmed from a mental health struggle, with his wife emphasizing that she has always been safe and that Smith is a "good man" and "incredible husband".In the world of crossover sports, Jake Paul has sparked a new firestorm by offering $1 million to any NFL player who can outbox him. Undefeated UFC heavyweight and former NFL player Josh Hokit has stepped up to the plate, claiming he could beat Paul in any sport "under the sun".Plus, we break down why Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) is "knocking out the competition". Following a massive merger, BKB has become the world’s largest professional bare-knuckle promotion, utilizing its patented Trigon triangle ring to ensure high-intensity action. We also recap the dominant performance by Usman Nurmagomedov at PFL New York, where he retained his lightweight title under the watchful eye of the newly merged MVP and PFL leadership.Finally, we take a global look at martial arts culture, from the USA International Martial Arts Championships in Ohio to the spectacular 9th International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts in Gia Lai, where nearly 1,000 practitioners gathered to celebrate heritage and resilience.Keywords: MMA, UFC, Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Bare Knuckle Boxing, BKB, Jake Paul, Josh Hokit, PFL, Usman Nurmagomedov, Anthony Smith, Conor McGregor, Martial Arts, Wushu, Kung Fu.Episode Sponsors:

• Elite Sports: Leaders in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Whether you’re rolling or striking, they’ve got gear built to move with you. Check them out at EliteSports.com.
• Lotus by Open Black Belt: The ultimate management software for dojo owners. Track ranks, attendance, and billing effortlessly. Streamline your business so you can spend more time on the mats. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com to start your free trial today.

Welcome to Budocast, your ultimate source for the latest in martial arts news and culture. In this episode, we break down the high-stakes drama from UFC Abu Dhabi, where Magomed Ankalaev secured a fifth-round TKO over Bogdan Guskov and immediately fired back at Paulo Costa for calling the performance a "snoozefest."We also discuss the major industry shift for Dustin Poirier, who confirmed that Bud Light terminated his sponsorship following a public intoxication arrest at an Atlanta airport. In the boxing world, Anthony Joshua narrowly avoided disaster, surviving two knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga and keep a blockbuster domestic clash with Tyson Fury on the table.The action doesn't stop there—we cover the viral debut of Amado Vargas in Bare Knuckle Boxing, where he was physically kicked out of the ring before returning a minute later to deliver a stunning knockout. Plus, we delve into Rose Namajunas’s "soul searching" as she recovers from eye surgery and the polarizing announcement of Mike Perry vs. Dillon Danis for a new mixed combat show in Florida. Finally, we wrap up with results from PFL DC, where Thad Jean successfully defended his welterweight title in a grueling war.Train hard, stay humble—this is Budocast.

Join us for a deep dive into a massive week for combat sports! We break down the major results from UFC Oklahoma City, where Dricus Du Plessis secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Kamaru Usman. We also examine Usman’s frustration with the 50-45 scorecard and his thoughts on a potential return to the welterweight division.In this episode, we provide a full update on Conor McGregor’s torn ACL and meniscus, including why he believes this injury mirrors his 2013 comeback trail. We also look at the rising stock of Christian Leroy Duncan after his statement win over Jared Cannonier and the brutal reality of the Octagon as Austin Bashi reveals multiple facial fractures following his recent bout.Plus, we cover the physical altercation between Colby Covington and Belal Muhammad at the RAF 11 post-fight press conference, a somber tribute to the late Hannah Rapp, and the viral social media post from Paramount+ comparing the 2026 World Cup final to the infamous Namajunas-Esparza rematch.This episode is proudly sponsored by Elite Sports, your leader in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA—visit them at EliteSports.com. If you have a story, news tip, or question, head over to Budocast.com.

Welcome to the arena of the future, where a legend’s comeback ends in agony and a robot’s head flies into the crowd! Tonight, we’re breaking down a seismic shift in combat sports—from the crushing heartbreak of Conor McGregor at UFC 329 to the metallic, high-stakes debut of the world's first professional humanoid robot fighting league.In this episode, we tackle:

• The 69-Second Disaster: We dive into the shocking return of Conor McGregor, whose five-year hiatus ended in a devastating knee injury just seconds into his main event bout against Max Holloway. We'll discuss his emotional reaction—describing the experience as "hell"—and his firm denial of claims that he entered the Octagon with a pre-existing injury.
• The Birth of URKL: Move over Real Steel, because the Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend (URKL) has officially arrived. We take you to the opening night in Shenzhen, where 1.73-meter-tall T800 robots weighed in at 75kg to trade "all-iron" blows.
• Donnie Yen and the "Head-Kick" Heard 'Round the World: We analyze the presence of international action star Donnie Yen at the URKL debut and the moment that went viral: a robot named "White Bear" landing a spinning kick that literally decapitated its opponent, "Matador."
• Flesh vs. Steel: Are robots actually more entertaining than MMA? We explore the unique rules of robot combat—where engineers get points for "taunting" and "provocations"—and why experts believe these violent clashes are the ultimate stress test for the future of Embodied AI.

Whether you're here for the human drama of the Octagon or the mechanical mayhem of the ring, this is the future of the fight.

From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast, your source for the latest in martial arts news and culture. In this episode, we break down the historic and heartbreaking fallout of UFC 329 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The long-awaited return of Conor McGregor ended in a nightmare 69-second TKO defeat after a devastating knee injury. We dive deep into the medical reports of a "right-knee internal injury" and address the conspiracy theories regarding pre-existing conditions that McGregor, Dana White, and coach John Kavanagh have adamantly denied. We also look at the polarizing reactions from the MMA world, including Chael Sonnen’s claim that McGregor can never main event again, and Sean Strickland’s controversial steroid theories.Meanwhile, the co-main event saw the definitive arrival of a new superstar.

Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett silenced critics with a 52-second submission of Benoit Saint Denis. We discuss Paddy’s claim to be the new face of the UFC and the "two-faced" accusations leveled against him by heavyweights in the aftermath.Plus, we cover Charles Oliveira’s aggressive campaign for a Justin Gaethje title fight, Tom Aspinall’s looming return at UFC Paris, and the hilarious broadcast blunder involving boxing star Shakur Stevenson.

Keywords: UFC 329, Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, Paddy Pimblett, Knee Injury, ACL Tear, MMA News, Dana White, Chael Sonnen, T-Mobile Arena, D'Arce Choke, BMF Title, Lightweight Division, Martial Arts.

SPONSOR INFORMATION

• Elite Sports: Leaders in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Whether you’re rolling or striking, they’ve got gear built to move with you. Check them out at EliteSports.com.
• Lotus by Open Black Belt: The ultimate management software for your dojo. Streamline ranks, attendance, and billing so you can stay on the mats. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com to start your free trial today.

If you’ve got a story, news tip, or question—send it to us at Budocast.com. Train hard, stay humble.

From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast. In this high-stakes episode, we break down the massive UFC 329 headliner between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. As McGregor aims to paint a "masterpiece" in his first walk to the octagon in five years, Holloway is promising to take the Irishman into "deep waters" for an old-school Hawaiian beating. We also celebrate Independence Day by honoring the "Ultimate American," Don Frye, preview the amateur chaos of Border Wars 19, and debate the top MMA legends in a Mexico vs. England showdown.

Show Notes

UFC 329 Main Event: McGregor vs. Holloway 2

• The Return of "The Notorious": Conor McGregor returns to action on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a welterweight clash against Max Holloway.
• Masterpiece vs. Deep Waters: McGregor claims to be in "stellar" condition and ready to put on a clinical performance. Conversely, Holloway predicts "fireworks" and intends to outlast McGregor in the later rounds.
• Expert Predictions: Two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes McGregor will be dangerous early, but expects Holloway to eventually "drown" him if the fight reaches the championship rounds.
• The Backup Plan: Surging contender Mauricio Ruffy, often compared to McGregor for his striking style, has confirmed he is traveling to Las Vegas to serve as the official backup for the main event.

• Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett: Following his dominant stoppage of Michael Chandler, Pimblett returns to face No. 5 ranked Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event.
• Vintage Vibes: UFC reporter Megan Olivi shares her insights after visiting McGregor’s camp in Dublin, stating she is convinced "Vintage Conor" and the "Mystic Mac" persona will show up on fight night.

• Don Frye — The Ultimate American: On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the legend of Don Frye, the first athlete to finish three UFC opponents in less than one minute and the winner of two tournaments in a single year (1996).
• Border Wars 19: We preview the grassroots intensity of the Border Wars 19 amateur boxing event in Casselberry, Florida, featuring a main event title fight between Quan and Marvin.
• Mexico vs. England: A deep-dive comparison between the top 5 MMA fighters from each nation, featuring legends like Michael Bisping and Cain Velasquez alongside current stars like Leon Edwards and Alexa Grasso.

• Jaron "Boots" Ennis: Analysis of the potential blockbuster fights for Ennis, debating whether he should chase a showdown with Devin Haney or Vergil Ortiz Jr..
• July 4th Boxing Results: Predictions and previews for Mason vs. Bell and the rest of the holiday fight cards.

• Elite Sports: Leaders in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Gear built to move with you. Visit EliteSports.com.
• Lotus by Open Black Belt: The ultimate management software for your dojo. Streamline ranks, attendance, and billing. Start your free trial at OpenBlackBelt.com.
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UFC 329 Co-Main & Underdog Stories Independence Day Specials & Combat HeritageBoxing & Fantasy Matchups Sponsors:

Connect with us: Have a story or a question? Reach out at Budocast.com.Train hard, stay humble.

From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast. In this episode, we break down the finalized bout order for Conor McGregor’s massive return at UFC 329 against Max Holloway. We also dive into the wild scenes at UFC Baku, where Rafael Fiziev scored a legendary knockout while virtually blind in one eye. Plus, we discuss the controversial salary disclosures from PFL San Diego, Dan Hooker’s theory on why Khabib Nurmagomedov really retired, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis's dominant performance in the boxing ring.

Show Intro Official Budocast opening: Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition.

UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Official The UFC has confirmed the full fight card for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena. We discuss the main event—Conor McGregor's first fight in nearly five years—and the stacked main card featuring Paddy Pimblett, Cory Sandhagen, and the highly anticipated debut of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.

UFC Baku Debrief: Fiziev’s Visionary Finish Rafael Fiziev details how a jab to his left eye left him seeing double, forcing him to land his Round 2 spinning wheel kick on Manuel Torres essentially "blind". We also highlight Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev’s stunning 8-second knockout, which earned him a $100,000 bonus.

The Mid-Roll Break (Sponsors) A message from our sponsors: Elite Sports (EliteSports.com) for premium fight wear and Lotus by Open Black Belt (OpenBlackBelt.com) for dojo management software.

The Khabib Retirement Debate Dan Hooker stirs the pot, claiming Khabib Nurmagomedov retired because he "mastered the game" and knew when to stop rolling the dice, rather than solely due to a promise to his mother. We also look at Conor McGregor’s recent jab at Khabib regarding the "lack of courage" in refusing rematches.

PFL San Diego: Salaries and Retirements A deep dive into the 90,000paygapbetween∗∗A.J.McKee∗∗(100k) and his opponent Salamat Isbulaev ($10k). We also pay tribute to Ariane Lipski da Silva, "The Queen of Violence," who announced her retirement following her loss to Jena Bishop.

Training Roundup: Strickland and Jubli Sean Strickland shares his unfiltered thoughts after training with India’s Anshul Jubli at the UFC PI, praising the lightweight for "bringing it".

Tha Boxing Voice: Jaron "Boots" Ennis Reigns Supreme Breaking down Boots Ennis’s dominant 7th-round stoppage of Xander Zayas in Brooklyn to become the new unified WBA/WBO junior middleweight king.[27:30] – Outro Closing remarks: Train hard, stay humble.

In this episode of Budocast, we dive into the psychology and business of elite combat sports. Conor McGregor is back in the spotlight, claiming he "sonned" Max Holloway years ago and that the former champion only reached the top by "adopting" his moves. Meanwhile, the MMA world is buzzing after Justin Gaethje’s historic undisputed title win over Ilia Topuria, prompting legend Georges St-Pierre to urge him to retire while on top. We also discuss the fallout of Topuria’s first loss, Paddy Pimblett’s skepticism about his comeback, and the Professional Fighters League’s massive roster expansion, including the retirement fight for the legendary Cris Cyborg

[00:00] – Intro: From the Dojo to the Octagon Welcome to Budocast. Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition.[01:15] – The Return of "The Notorious" vs. "Blessed" 2

• Conor McGregor discusses his upcoming UFC 329 main event against Max Holloway on July 11.
• McGregor claims Holloway "adopted" his moves to win the world title after their 2013 bout.
• Analysis of the transition to 170 pounds and McGregor’s belief that he is mentally and physically superior.

• Justin Gaethje secures undisputed gold with a corner-stoppage victory over Ilia Topuria.
• Legend Georges St-Pierre (GSP) urges Gaethje to retire on top, stating he has "done it all".
• The discussion on Gaethje’s quest for equity in a new UFC-owned company for long-term financial stability.

• Paddy Pimblett critiques Topuria’s ego following his first career defeat at UFC Freedom 250.
• A look at the physical toll: Topuria suffered facial fractures and a broken nose in the loss.
• Pimblett questions if Topuria has the "cojones" to return from such a dominant defeat.

• Elite Sports: Premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Visit EliteSports.com.
• Lotus by Open Black Belt: Dojo management software for tracking ranks and billing. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com.

• Cris Cyborg announces her retirement fight against Ketlen Vieira for PFL Tampa on August 22.
• A look back at Cyborg’s 20-year legacy as a champion across five major promotions.
• The PFL roster expansion: 18 new signings including UFC veteran Javid Basharat.

• Coach Andre "Dida" discusses Brunno Ferreira’s preparation to neutralize Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Baku.
• Analysis of Alex Pereira’s loss to Ciryl Gane, highlighting the disadvantage of losing his range advantage at heavyweight.

[05:30] – The Gaethje Legacy: To Retire or Not?[10:00] – Adversity in the Octagon: The Fall of Topuria[13:30] – Mid-Roll Break: Support Our Sponsors[14:45] – PFL’s Global Expansion & Cyborg’s Last Dance[19:30] – Coach’s Corner: UFC Baku and the Heavyweight Landscape[22:15] – Outro: Train Hard, Stay Humble That’s it for this episode of Budocast. Thanks for joining us. We’ll be back soon with more news and insights.