Episode 63: Poirier, Askren, Iaquinta, Connelly, Action Bronson, Zingano, Stephens, many more

Ariel Helwani's MMA Show starts off with a brief UFC Vancouver recap and Ariel's thoughts on a future Justin Gaethje/Conor McGregor matchup. The show's first guest, welterweight Tristan Connelly, joins the show to discuss his big win and how he made his way onto the Vancouver card with just five days' notice (6:01). After that, "Raging" Al Iaquinta joins two weeks ahead of his UFC 243 fight against Dan Hooker in Melbourne to discuss how the bout came together, what he learned from his last fight against Donald Cerrone and also, electric cars (33:25). Then, in one of the greatest back-to-back guest bookings in the show's history, Ben Askren speculates about the state of the welterweight division, the possibility of a Kamaru Usman/Colby Covington fight, the proposed "BMF" belt and his social media beef with McGregor and Dillon Danis (53:25). Next, about a week after suffering a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi, Dustin Poirier emotionally discusses how he's taking the loss, his biggest regrets from the fight and if he's interested in fighting McGregor the next time around (1:20:18). Cat Zingano, no longer a member of the UFC, discusses her future prospects and why she and the UFC split ways (1:49:49). And then, in ways that only he can, MMA superfan Action Bronson provides his thoughts on the latest with McGregor and other storylines surrounding the sport (2:10:58). UFC featherweight Jeremy Stephens, the headliner at this weekend's Fight Night in Mexico City, then tells Ariel about his Mexican roots and how he's preparing himself for his matchup against beloved Mexican fighter Jair Rodriguez (2:29:53). After that, Curtis Blaydes calls in to give an update on the health of Austin Hubbard, who suffered a nasty leg injury this past weekend in Vancouver (2:49:43). Lastly, UFC heavyweight Jeff Hughes calls in to share his side of the story concerning this past weekend's controversial fight against Todd Duffee (3:07:38).