The Head Line with Simon Head

The final UFC pay-per-view of 2020 may just have produced the fight of the year. Deiveson Figueiredo’s majority draw with Brandon Moreno at UFC 256 was an instant classic, and a fight that immediately registered as a late entry in the “Fight of the Year” debate. On this week’s show, we recap the action from the remarkable main event at the UFC Apex.

But UFC 256 wasn’t all about one event. The entire card was packed with fascinating stories, incredible performances and a bunch of talking points, and we’ll run through them all on the show, including Cub Swanson’s incredible showing, Kevin Holland’s case for “Fighter of the Year” and what could happen to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Junior Dos Santos after the two Brazilian legends both suffered damaging defeats.

We also recap the action in London, as Cage Warriors staged their second “Trilogy” series, with four titles up for grabs across three wild nights in London. And, of course, we chat about the big story that broke before we started recording, as recently released former UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero signed for Bellator - as a light heavyweight.

It was another busy week in the crazy world of MMA, and we’re here to dissect it all for you. Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts.

Enjoy the show!

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonheadsport.substack.com

After a quiet couple of weeks, the combat sports world has picked up steam again in a big way, with major headlines coming out of both MMA and boxing, and on this week’s show, we attempt to pick our way through it all.

Firstly, there’s the topic of Yoel Romero’s departure from the UFC. Sure, he’s knocking on a bit (but still younger than Simon…) but he’s still one of the world’s premier 185-pounders. So why is the UFC letting him go? There’s also the news that Romero won’t be alone, with the UFC set to cut as many as 60 fighters before the turn of the year.

The other big news is that, hot on the heels of Mike Tyson’s fight with Roy Jones Jr, another of boxing’s greats, Floyd Mayweather, is set to return to the ring for another exhibition bout. This time he’s set to face YouTube superstar and occasional celebrity boxer Logan Paul. From a sporting standpoint, it’s a horrific mismatch, but from a business standpoint, it makes all sorts of sense. We discuss both sides of the argument.

We also look back at last weekend’s UFC Vegas 16 card, as Marvin Vettori stepped in on short notice and defeated Jack Hermansson to put himself right in the mix at 185; and look ahead to an exciting fight card at UFC 256, as Deiveson Figueiredo looks to complete a speedy turnaround to make the first defense of his UFC flyweight title against Brandon Moreno.

Enjoy the show!

[Pic: @awesomegandalf]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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We’re not going to lie, it’s been a pretty quiet week in the sport of MMA. COVID deprive us of not one, but two UFC main events, and the fight card last weekend and the one coming up this week aren’t the most star-studded of affairs.

But that didn’t mean that the combat sports world wasn’t buzzing, because it absolutely was – and it was all down to a couple of fiftysomething former world champions.

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. stepped back in the ring for an eight-round exhibition fight on pay-per-view in an event, that, despite some cynicism (including from one of us!) heading into fight night, delivered the goods for the fans, and for the stakeholders who took the risk of putting on the show.

On this week’s episode of “The Brit Pack,” we look back at that fight, and our contrasting approaches to the event last Saturday night, as we recap the key takeaways from the event, and discuss the future for “legends” fights and celebrity boxing as a legitimate new vertical in the sport.

We also recap UFC on ESPN 18 last weekend and look ahead to UFC on ESPN 19 this weekend as we pick out the fights to follow. We also tease some big news coming to “The Brit Pack” in the not-too-distant future…

Enjoy the show!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonheadsport.substack.com

The 125ers took centre stage at the UFC Apex as UFC flyweight champions Deiveson Figueiredo and Valentina Shevchenko both defended their titles at UFC 255. Figueiredo showed once again his ability to finish a fight in an instant, while Shevchenko was forced to work a lot harder than many anticipated as she returned from injury to continue her reign.

On this week’s show, we take a look back at both title fights, as well as the other key matchups from the UFC 255 card in Las Vegas, as we recap the penultimate pay-per-view event of the UFC’s 2020 schedule.

There’s much to be excited about moving forward, with some huge fights booked at lightweight, including official confirmation of Conor McGregor’s return to face old adversary Dustin Poirier, plus Tony Ferguson’s upcoming clash with Charles Oliveira.

We also take a look at the best of the action away from the UFC octagon, with Bellator, Invicta FC and LFA all producing notable moments during the week.

Finally, we take a look ahead to next weekend’s UFC on ESPN 18 card, plus the boxing double-header featuring Daniel Dubois vs. Joe Joyce and the much-anticipated exhibition clash between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.

Check out the show via the player above, and don’t forget to subscribe!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonheadsport.substack.com

After a typically busy week in the world of MMA, the sport turns up the pace this week with a host of events to keep even the most hardened of hardcore MMA fans happy, and on this week’s episode of “The Brit Pack,” we take a look at what’s on offer.

First, we recap the key action from last week, as Rafael dos Anjos marked his return to the UFC lightweight division with an impressive win, while two-division champ Patricky “Pitbull” Freire marched into the semi-finals of the Bellator featherweight grand prix.

Then we take a look ahead to a feast of fights, with Bellator 253 on Thursday night, followed by a Friday night double-header on UFC Fight Pass, featuring Invicta FC and LFA, with PFL champion Kayla Harrison making her 145-pound debut, while the man who knocked out Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, looks to make an impact on his LFA debut.

Finally, we take a look at a stacked fight card in Las Vegas for UFC 255, with two flyweight title fights at the top of the card rounding off a night packed with dynamite matchups that could serve up fireworks aplenty.

It’s yet another packed slate of fights on another busy episode of “The Brit Pack,” and we’d be honoured if you’d join us.

Check out the show via the player above, or click the link under the player to listen via the podcast player of your choice. If you aren’t already a subscriber, you can join the mailing list below and get the show delivered to your inbox each week the moment it goes live. Plus, of course, you can subscribe via the usual podcast channels, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

There’s a ton of fights coming our way this week, so enjoy the matchups, and we hope you enjoy the show!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonheadsport.substack.com

By the time you read this, we’re sure you’ll have heard the news that Paul Felder has stepped in to save the show at UFC Vegas 14 by swapping commentary duties for a spot in the main event against Rafael dos Anjos after Islam Makhachev was forced out of the fight due to a staph infection.

That news dropped as we were recording this week’s episode of the show, and gave us a big talking point in an otherwise pretty quiet week for big-time MMA news.

On this week’s show, we take a look back at UFC Vegas 13, as Glover Teixeira defeated Thiago Santos and issued a compelling call for a shot at the UFC’s 205-pound title. The problem with that, however, is the UFC has already stated that newly-crowned champ Jan Blachowicz will take on middleweight champ Israel Adesanya in his first title defense. Has Teixeira done enough to put those plans on hold, or will we still get Blachowicz vs. Adesanya?

We also look ahead to Bellator 252 as the featherweight grand prix kicks back into gear, and ONE Championship 120, as John Lineker gets set for a spectacular main event against Kevin Belingon.

Then we throw forward to UFC Vegas 14, and Felder’s short-notice show-saving job swap, as we look forward to the new main event and pick out our other bouts to follow on Saturday night.

Don’t forget to subscribe (either via here or your podcast provider of choice) and give us a follow on social media at @simonhead and @SandhuMMA.

[Pic: @suckerpunchent]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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It’s been a busy couple of weeks for major MMA retirements, with Khabib Nurmagomedov announcing his departure at UFC 254, and Anderson Silva tearfully bidding farewell to the UFC octagon this weekend. But retirements aren’t always as straightforward as they seem.

For Silva, his defeat to Uriah Hall at UFC Vegas 12 may have been the last time we’ll see him inside the octagon, but the Brazilian legend was very careful to leave the door open for himself to fight elsewhere in the future. At 45 years of age.

And Khabib’s retirement, to appease his mother, may not last too long, either. UFC president Dana White seems pretty confident that the UFC lightweight champ – who hasn’t relinquished his belt, or been stripped, following his retirement – will return for at least one more fight.

On this week’s show, we discuss both situations as we offer our takes on the two UFC superstars and their respective futures in the sport.

We also look back at last weekend, where the UFC, Bellator and ONE Championship were all in action, and throw things forward to discuss the upcoming UFC Vegas 13 card at the UFC Apex this coming weekend.

Check out the show via the player above, or use the link below the player to go to the podcast player of your choice. Also, we’d love it if you subscribed to get the show, and you can do that below.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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In another bonus episode of “The Brit Pack,” Simon hopped on the phone with one of the British contingent on the Bellator MMA roster as he caught up with featherweight Saul Rogers following his victory in the co-main event of Bellator Europe 10 in Paris, France.

Rogers chats about his experience of a crazy fight week in France, as he was left completely on his own after his cornermen were sent home, and reveals what unexpected guilty pleasure he used to while away the hours when stuck in quarantine at the fighter hotel.

The Brit also shares news regarding his contractual situation with Bellator as he looks to build on his win in Paris and make his way up the promotion’s 145-pound ladder.

Check out the full chat via the player above, or via the podcast player of your choice. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review, or hit us up on social media.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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“The Brit Pack” is back to recap the historic events of UFC 254, as Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement to bring down the curtain on the UFC lightweight champion’s undefeated career.

We take a look at Nurmagomedov’s win over Justin Gaethje in the main event in Abu Dhabi, and discuss the Russian superstar’s legacy following his decision to retire from the octagon.

We also get excited over what might happen next at 155 pounds, with the ludicrously stacked UFC lightweight division left wide open for a new champion to emerge.

In addition, we run through the rest of the card and pick out our highlights, and look ahead to Bellator 250 and UFC Vegas 12, as another of the sport’s all-time greats, Anderson Silva, prepares to make his final walk to the octagon in what he has promised will be his final fight in the UFC.

Check out the show via the player above, or use the link underneath the player to get the show via the podcast player of your choice. Also, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review!

[Pic: @AwesomeGandalf]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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UFC 254 was always going to produce big headlines, but not too many people saw this one coming. Khabib Nurmagomedov has retired from the sport of MMA.

The Russian UFC lightweight champion retained his title with a second-round triangle choke submission of Justin Gaethje in the main event on Fight Island, then surprised the world by revealing his decision to retire with immediate effect.

Many of us thought there was a strong chance he’d call it a day if and when he reached 30-0, especially after the passing of his father, coach and mentor, Abdulmanap, earlier this year. But he opted to do it one fight early. His reason was a simple one – he promised his mum.

With the dust still settling on the event – and with my fingers taking a rest after covering the fight for BBC Sport in England and RT Sport in Russia – I decided to jump behind the mic to record a bonus reaction pod as I share my thoughts on Khabib’s retirement, look back at his UFC career and consider the legacy he leaves behind.

Hope you enjoy it. We’ll be back as a duo for our usual weekly show.

Cheers,

Simon

PS: If I sound knackered, it’s because I am :)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com

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