On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at the “Fight of the Year” candidate of Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. Was there any controversy in the decision? Additionally, there’s finally an opportunity to talk about the Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Merab Dvalishvilli fight at UFC 311, and the guys brought receipts! All this and more ...

Timecodes
0:00 – Introduction
1:26 – Usman Nurmagomedov downs Paul Hughes in perhaps surprisingly competitive fight
9:13 – Was Mike Beltran’s point deduction warranted?
15:09 – Momentum swing in the championship rounds
20:30 – How perception can affect evaluation
24:25 - Eric reveals his intriguing method for scoring fights
29:01 – One word for the PFL: Rematch
33:01 – Vadim Nemkov a future UFC fighter?
35:21 - Revisiting Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 311 win
45:03 – Renato Moicano shows his character
47:34 - BKFC highlights, and college wrestling controversy
59:54 – Previewing Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan break down the main and co-main at UFC 311. Islam Makhachev is coming in as a huge betting favorite over Arman Tsarukyan, and the guys discuss why they feel this fight is way more competitive.

Will this fight shake out the same way as their first meeting, or will things be different? Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his title again Umar Nurmagomedov. Will Dvalishvili be able to weaponize his cardio and pace against Nurmagomedov like he has against all his previous opponents? All this and more.

0:00 – Will UFC 311 take place in Los Angeles or Las Vegas?
6:58 – Should Islam Makhachev be such a massive favorite over Arman Tsarukyan?
11:24 – Breaking down the Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan rematch
25:28 – A quick note on Kimbo Slice and “Dark Side of the Cage”
32:02 – High anticipation for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
40:07 – Breaking down the Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov matchup
50:21 – Most anticipated matchup outside of the title fights?
59:35 – A quick review of a fantastic UFC Fight Night 249

Combat sports legend and Philadelphia’s own Eddie Alvarez is predicting bad things for opponent Jeremy Stephens when the two meet in the main event of BKFC Knucklemania V on Saturday, January 25 at Wells Fargo Arena in “The City of Brotherly Love” and streaming live on DAZN.

Ahead of that matchup, Alvarez joins Grind City Media’s John Morgan to preview the matchup, including the surprisingly tense buildup between the two veterans, and to discuss what the future holds for “The Underground King.”

0:00 – Thrill of fighting in Philadelphia for the first time since 2010
1:59 – Is the Wells Fargo Arena’s gate record in jeopardy
4:07 – “The fans are going to want me to end him”
7:01 – Establishing the Newtown Performance Institute
9:53 – Retirement looming? “I don’t think there’s going to be a time where my name’s not in the hat.”
10:34 – BKFC’s recipe for success
13:17 – Putting it on for Philadelphia
SOCIAL CLIP: Eddie Alvarez breaks down what it takes for a startup to make it in the combat sports world:
11:04 - 11:53 (starting with “A lot of the beginning” and ending on “well-known and broke”

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan start 2025 by surveying the MMA landscape and seeing what the future might hold for the unified PFL and Bellator brands, the upstart Global Fight League, and of course the industry powerhouse that is the UFC.

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes looks like it might just be one of the best fights lined up for any promotion in January. Can the PFL and Bellator build momentuem from a matchup that is stirring old feelings from both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor?

Before that, UFC 311 features a couple of incredible title fights. Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev appear to be on a collision course, and 2025 could be loaded with big moments. All this and more.

0:00 – Eric waxes poetic on Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo
4:17 – Is Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev the right fight to make?
11:43 – Some honest concern ahead of the Global Fight League debut
26:59 – PFL announces a rule change for 2025 – was it a good one?
34:37 – Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes reignites Dagestan-Ireland rivalry
47:41 – Looking ahead to UFC 311 and Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2
52:22 – Laying out the groundwork for 2025

Veteran combat sports analyst and commentator Robin Black joined Grind City Media’s John Morgan to help preview the upcoming series “Dark Side of the Cage,” which premieres January 8 on VICE TV, as well to discuss the continued growth of Karate Combat, Black’s own personal media channels, and more.

Timecodes
0:00 – Introduction
1:20 – The evolution of Karate Combat, a combat sports alternative
3:02 – The impact of “The Pit” on both striking and grappling
5:38 – Tracking down stories for “Dark Side of the Cage,” including the “definitive” Nick Diaz interview
9:32 – Balancing the “dark side” of MMA while also penning a love letter
13:35 – The future of VICE Sports
16:09 – Living the dream in combat sports

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan take advantage of the brief UFC off-season to discuss the matchups they’d most like to see booked in 2025.Who should Jon Jones fight next? What’s going on with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis? Is there a spot on the UFC roster for Patricio “Pitbull” Freire? Islam Makhachev, Belal Muhammad, Kayla Harrison, Justin Gaethje – all this and more ...

Timecodes
0:00 – Zippy, the extra special elf
3:33 – The flyweight matchup that already got made: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
9:46 – Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira
20:45 – Is Francis Ngannou a viable wildcard option?
28:19 – Does Dricus Du Plessis have a better option than Sean Strickland?
34:21 – What happens if Patricio “Pitbull” Freire gets his wish?
37:04 – Max Holloway and another BMF
44:08 – Lining up the biggest women’s fight to be made right now with Kayla Harrison
50:35 – A light heavyweight banger that makes a whole lot of sense
53:31 – Rapid fire: Leon Edwards vs. Ian Machado Garry, Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan 2
55:27 – Justin Gaethje at welterweight? Belal Muhammad facing a teammate?
1:00:18 – FURY Professional Grappling 12 and “Dark Side of the Cage”

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape spoke with Grind City Media’s John Morgan to recap his incredible UFC Tampa win over Bruno Silva, his thoughts on his new spot at No. 6 in the official UFC rankings update, his conversations with UFC CEO Dana White, teases what’s coming next, and more.


0:00 – Was UFC Tampa Manel Kape’s best performance ever?
1:23 – UFC, Dana White “going to give me what I want”
4:20 – Kape rules out trilogy bout with Kai Asakura
5:13 - What in the world is going on with Israel Adesanya?
7:03 – Pay no attention to the rankings – they’ll be changing soon
7:54 – Breaking down Alexandre Pantoja
9:10 – Laying out 2025 and understanding the big picture

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap UFC on ESPN 63 from this past weekend. Joaquin Buckley looked spectacular in his main event vs. Colby Covington – but could Covington have turned it around heading into rounds 4 and 5?  What is next for both headliners? Meanwhile, the 41-year-old legend Cub Swanson does it again with a walk-off KO in the co-main event. Is this his last fight? Looking ahead to next year’s first pay-per-view with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. All this and more. 

0:00 – Introduction
2:03 – Did UFC Tampa prove there’s a Colby Covington bias?
9:01 – Eric’s LeBron James story
11:31 – Would Covington’s cut have stopped a fight in Las Vegas?
18:57 – How does the fight play out if it goes past round 3?
24:35 – Is Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman the fight to make?
30:43 – Cub Swanson continues to defy the odds
37:54 – Manel Kape with a statement-making victory
40:15 – Looking ahead to UFC 311
52:27 – Launching the Tennessee Martial Arts Hall of Fame

Ahead of her UFC 312 title shot against current champion Zhang Weili, No. 1-ranked strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez joined Grind City Media’s John Morgan to discuss the journey she’s faced ahead of this long-awaited title fight, preview the much-anticipated matchup, and discuss her preparation for the event, which takes place Feb. 9 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia (and airs one day earlier in North America).

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap a fun UFC 310 pay-per-view from Las Vegas. Alexandre Pantoja remains the dominant flyweight champion after beating two-time Rizin FF champion Kai Asakura.  What is left for Pantoja at 125 pounds? Shavkat Rakhmonov was heavily tested in a high-level matchup vs. Ian Machado Garry. Even in defeat, Machado Garry should have earned everyone’s respect. Bryce Mitchell does Bryce Mitchell.

All this and more. 

0:00 – Iowa dominates at CFFC Match Day
3:41 – Alexandre Pantoja is the best flyweight in the world
6:24 - Could Demetrious Johnson be next for Pantoja?
9:50 – Shavkat Rakhmonov victorious, but Ian Machado Garry proves a lot of people wrong
21:47 – An in-fight uniform change and a disgusting other first to see this past week
26:38 – Was Alexander Volkov robbed against Ciryl Gane? Did Jon Jones prosper?
31:02 – Bryce Mitchell memorable once again
40:55 – Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling put on high-level grappling display. Should Ilia Topuria be worried?
47:02 – Have we seen the last of Anthony Smith?
55:21 – Jamahal Hill has settled nicely into his heel role
58:27 – Up next, UFC Tampa and CFFC 138