Level Change Podcast

Well, it's all starting. Major MMA in 2026 has officially begun and it's looking rocky. But we're not giving up on hope. We've got a lot to be concerned about, but we've got some great stuff to look forward to.

This is a solo ep this week, kids. Stephie's unavailable but we'll be trudging through the forest with a machete to try to make some sense of this mess. And maybe, just maybe, you'll have a little more hope in your hearts with this weird-ass sport.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Well, it's all starting. Major MMA in 2026 has officially begun and it's looking rocky. But we're not giving up on hope. We've got a lot to be concerned about, but we've got some great stuff to look forward to.

This is a solo ep this week, kids. Stephie's unavailable but we'll be trudging through the forest with a machete to try to make some sense of this mess. And maybe, just maybe, you'll have a little more hope in your hearts with this weird-ass sport.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

The Hatsu Basho just wrapped up this past Sunday and it was a terrific tourney. I mean, what a way to kick off 2026! That’s why we have our good friend, Tim Bissell of Sumo Stomp joining us for all the analysis, updates, and big storylines. Tim takes us through all the best moments of the tournament, including critiques of the leaders’ performances, how the other wrestlers fared, and even gave us some awards (most improved, second brightest star, etc).

Tim has his awesome storefront up and running where paid subscribers get a discount, but it’s only for non-U.S. customers currently. He’ll get us an update if/when that changes. He also has a Youtube channel, so do check him out there, as well:

Sumo Stomp on Youtube

We sincerely hope you enjoy listening and that you'll give us your patronage with a paid subscription. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you all so very much. We appreciate every one of you.

We would love it if you would become a paid subscriber to our show. This will give you access to our bonus content and it also helps us keep the lights on!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Well, it's all starting. Major MMA in 2026 has officially begun and it's looking rocky. But we're not giving up on hope. We've got a lot to be concerned about, but we've got some great stuff to look forward to.

This is a solo ep this week, kids. Stephie's unavailable but we'll be trudging through the forest with a machete to try to make some sense of this mess. And maybe, just maybe, you'll have a little more hope in your hearts with this weird-ass sport.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Well, it's all starting. Major MMA in 2026 has officially begun and it's looking rocky. But we're not giving up on hope. We've got a lot to be concerned about, but we've got some great stuff to look forward to.

This is a solo ep this week, kids. Stephie's unavailable but we'll be trudging through the forest with a machete to try to make some sense of this mess. And maybe, just maybe, you'll have a little more hope in your hearts with this weird-ass sport.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the new year, kids. Glad to be back after some turbulence and hardship, but we’ve got you this week. Tracy Cortez and Alex Pereira were in a “grand opening, grand closing“ situation, making us question where all the love in the world truly is.

Also, Ilia Topuria’s divorce proceedings are kind of messing up the championship picture. Dan Hooker and Paddy Pimblett engage in a race to the bottom on social media and Dana White is about to be as ubiquitous as Kevin Hart for some reason.

Fun times. Or something.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This holiday season, we look forward to seeing Jake Paul being sacrificed upon the altar of Dionysus. It’s the biggest turkey possible, and it is our strongest desire that it be cooked in the most violent way possible. Amen.

Also, some awful news from the world of Karate Combat, where structural and financial problems have led to fighters and staff in revolt over non-payment issues. Seems like the milk’s gone bad over there. Check out this excellent article by Timothy Wheaton for a full accounting of the issues plaguing the promotion.

Finally, we talk a little bit of TV and gaming at the end. Turns out Stephie has a small army at her disposal to waste people in PvP. Be safe, kids.

We sincerely hope you enjoy listening and that you'll give us your patronage with a subscription. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you all so very much. We appreciate every one of you.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

We’re ending the year with another good card that isn’t a PPV, and isn’t perfect. But there’s some great action and real consequences for a few divisions. Obviously we’ve got a potentially (like, very likely) awful heavyweight fight and a potentially good middleweight showcase.

We do also get to talk a bit of TV and film, and that reminds me that I really need to watch Predator: Badlands and The Running Man. As a major fan of both originals, I need to see where things are going with these.

Anyway, enjoy the fights. They should be fun!

UFC Vegas 112

* Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape 125 lbs

* Giga Chikadze vs. Kevin Vallejos 145 lbs

* César Almeida vs. Cezary Oleksiejczuk 185 lbs

* Morgan Charrière vs. Melquizael Costa 145 lbs

* Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Marcus Buchecha 265 lbs

* King Green vs. Lance Gibson Jr. 160 lbsUFC 323

* Amanda Lemos vs. Gillian Robertson 115 lbs

* Joanderson Brito vs. Isaac Thomson 145 lbs

* Neil Magny vs. Yaroslav Amosov 170 lbs

* Sean Sharaf vs. Steven Asplund 265 lbs

* Luana Santos vs. Melissa Croden 135 lbs

* Allen Frye vs. Guilherme Pat 265 lbs

* Tereza Bledá vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth 125 lbs

UFC Vegas 112 Fun Factoids

* Ranked Fights: 2

* Ranked Fighters: 5

* Fighters coming off losses: 8

* Contender Series Alumni: 7

* TUF Alumni: 2

* Road to UFC Alumni: 0

* Debut: 7

We sincerely hope you enjoy listening and that you'll give us your patronage with a subscription. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you all so very much. We appreciate every one of you.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

The Kyushu Basho wrapped up this past Sunday putting the excitement of 2025 to bed officially. We saw our two Yokozuna battle for supremacy and a third competitor that ended up besting them both to take the tournament. That’s why we have our good friend, Tim Bissell of Sumo Stomp joining us to provide all the analysis and big storylines from the 15-day event. Tim takes us through all the best moments of the tournament, including critiques of the leaders’ performances, how the other wrestlers did, and we even got him to tell us the matches he’s most thankful for over the course of the year.

One last note, Tim has a brand new contest for a super dope sweatshirt running for this month, courtesy of Cheeky Sumo, but if you’re not a paid subscriber, you really need to remedy that so you can be entered into the contest.

He also has a Youtube channel, so do check him out there, as well:

Sumo Stomp on Youtube

We would love it if you could subscribe to our show. This will give you access to our bonus content and it also helps us keep the lights on!

We sincerely hope you enjoy listening and that you'll give us your patronage with a subscription. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to reach out. Thank you all so very much. We appreciate every one of you.

Please consider becoming a paid member for bonus content and other fun perks. We need some ice cream money, because we love ice cream.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit levelchangepodcast.substack.com

Doha plays host to this week’s UFC event, and it’s a solid action card. Not too many top names, but certainly some reliable action fighters and a lot to look forward to.

Dan Hooker and Arman Tsarukyan always deliver, and after their little tiff at the weigh-ins, tempers may be flared here. Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry will tussle at welterweight…