The Ringer MMA Show

The Ringer MMA Show

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The Ringer MMA Show episodes

  • Tommy Aspinall’s Push for Immortality, Tyson Fury Looks to Damage Francis Ngannou’s Legacy, and Will the UFC Sign Dillon Danis?

    Another week, another UFC pay-per-view card reshuffled. On today’s episode, Ariel Helwani, Chuck Mindenhall, and Petesy Carroll get into the UFC 295 shake-up, the strange interim heavyweight title tag on the massive fight between fan favorite Tom Aspinall and the Russian destroyer Sergei Pavlovich, and how the short-notice nature of the fight will affect the outcome. Then, the guys get into Saturday’s massive fight between boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou before talking Dillon Danis rumors and taking a Discord question.

    TOPICS:

    • Intro (00:00)
    • How each member of 3PAC found out about the new UFC 295 card (04:00)
    • Why Pavlovich vs. Aspinall shouldn’t be an interim title fight (09:58)
    • Whether we’ll ever see Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic (22:02)
    • Excitement levels for Fury vs. Ngannou (34:41)
    • How Fury and Ngannou have handled fight week (36:18)
    • How Ngannou’s fighting legacy will be affected by this fight (42:55)
    • If Ngannou loses badly, will this be the end of boxing vs. MMA? (51:33)
    • Predictions for Fury vs. Ngannou (54:18)
    • Whether the UFC will go after free agent Dillon Danis (56:06)
    • Discord question (01:03:10)
    • Ariel learns that Ireland invented Halloween (01:08:22)


      • Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall

      Producer: Troy Farkas

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      1 hr 15 min
    • UFC 294 Reaction: Islam Makhachev KO's Alex the Great! Plus, Kamaru Usman Finds the Khamzat Chimaev Blueprint and Another Bizarre Johnny Walker Moment!

      After a strong showing against Islam Makhachev in February, Alexander Volkanovski made the world believe he could pull off a legacy-defining upset today in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately for him, the exact opposite scenario unfolded: Makhachev stunned Volkanovski with a first-round headkick that crashed the unflappable Volkanovski to the canvas, stealing the crown of invincibility away from Volk and instead placing it on himself.

      In today’s UFC 294 reaction episode, the kings of The Ringer Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall discuss the shocking main event, whether Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje should get the next crack at Makhachev, Kamaru Usman’s (unexpected) incredible performance against Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event, whether Chimaev or Dricus Du Plessis deserves the title fight with Sean Strickland, and so much more.

      TOPICS:

      • Intro (00:00)
      • Islam Makhachev’s stunning knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski (01:00)
      • Whether Volkanovski will regret taking this fight on short notice (09:18)
      • Comparing Makhachev’s resume to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s (16:52)
      • Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira next for the lightweight title? (21:00)
      • Kamaru Usman’s moral victory against Khamzat Chimaev (32:37)
      • How Dricus Du Plessis might feel about the Chimaev title shot case (40:27)
      • The debacle between Johnny Walker and Magomed Ankalaev (51:34)
      • What’s next for Muhammad Mokaev (01:03:12)
      • Volkanovski’s emotional words after the fight (01:10:10)
      • Male Fighter of the Year so far in 2023? (01:16:11)


        • Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall

        Producer: Troy Farkas

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        1 hr 30 min
      • UFC 294 Preview: “Alex Volkanovski Shouldn’t Have Taken This Fight!” Volk’s Quest for Legacy and Khamzat Chimaev’s Final Test. Plus, Dillon Danis Made a Fool of Himself!

        On Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski will look to become the fifth double champion in UFC history. To get there, he faces old foe Islam Makhachev in the house that his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov built in Abu Dhabi. To celebrate the occasion, Ariel, Chuck, Petesy, and LST discuss Volkanovski’s crazy quest, whether we’re surprised by his ballsy decision to accept this fight at the last minute, and whether Volkanovski has it in him to dethrone the Muslim world’s beloved champion.

        Then, the guys break down the co-main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman, debating what kind of threat the former welterweight champion Usman poses to the bulldozing Chimaev. Plus, the guys talk about the stakes for Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker before taking some Discord questions and tending to the madness that was last weekend’s Misfits Boxing card in Manchester, England. Oh, and some breaking news about Showtime’s decision to leave the combat sports business and what this means for the future (or fate?) of Bellator.

        • (00:00) - Intro
        • (03:55) - The end of Showtime Sports
        • (16:04) - Volkanovski’s crazy decision to accept this fight
        • (24:27) - What makes Volk different from other fighters
        • (35:30) - Why Islam Makhachev doesn’t connect well with the audience
        • (40:38) - Predictions for the UFC 294 main event
        • (44:33) - The stakes for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman
        • (54:32) - Irishman Johnny Walker’s journey to the UFC title
        • (1:00:50) - Discord questions
        • (1:09:22) - Embarrassing performances from Dillon Danis and Tommy Fury last Saturday


          • Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall

          Producer: Troy Farkas

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          1 hr 37 min
        • Charles Oliveira Is Out at UFC 294! Will Badass Alexander Volkanovski Become the New Pound-for-Pound King? Plus, Dillon Danis’s Lifelong Fame-Seeking Moment Is Upon Us!

          Late last night, UFC president Dana White announced a historic shake-up of next weekend’s UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. On today’s episode, Petesy, Chuck, and TST react to the news by getting into the following:

          • Alexander Volkanovski’s decision to step in on 10 days’ notice and what this says about the featherweight champion (2:23)
          • Whether this fight will bring more excitement and eyeballs than the original lightweight title fight scheduled between Islam Makhachev and fan favorite Charles Oliveira (6:13)
          • Whether the beloved Oliveira will ever receive another lightweight title shot again (15:33)
          • If Paulo Costa is unable to fight Khamzat Chimaev, would losing Costa be a bigger loss for the card than losing Oliveira is? (21:10)
          • Some WILD ideas about who the UFC could replace Costa with (25:33)


            • Plus, influencer boxing journalist Donagh Corby educates the lads on Saturday’s must-see Misfits boxing event, which pits KSI against Tommy Fury and the oft-criticized Dillon Danis against the also oft-criticized Logan Paul (33:54). Then, the guys talk about Danis’s controversial fight promotion tactics and whether they think Danis will actually step into the ring across from Paul.

            Hosts: Petesy Carroll and Chuck Mindenhall

            Guest: Donagh Corby

            Producer: Troy Farkas 

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            1 hr 9 min
          • Why Bellator 300 Marks the Beginning of the End for Another MMA Promotion. Plus, Tyson Fury DISRESPECTED Francis Ngannou!

            When an MMA fan thinks of Strikeforce, they can’t help but look back on fond memories of Luke Rockhold, Daniel Cormier, and so many more. But when you think of Bellator … does anything come to mind? As Saturday’s Bellator 300 ominously approaches (with the proposed sale to PFL looming), Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall wonder: What is Bellator’s lasting legacy? Its identity? Does it even have one?

            Plus, the guys get into:

            • Ariel’s interview with Tony Ferguson and whether the new-and-improved El Cucuy has the guys feeling any differently about his UFC 296 fight with Paddy Pimblett (40:45)
            • The booking of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk, why it’s a major slap in the face to Francis Ngannou, and how it has watered down the stakes of Fury vs. Ngannou (45:00)
            • Some Discord questions about Cédric Doumbé’s electric PFL debut, Doumbé’s potential, and Islam Makhachev’s desire to fight the UFC welterweight champion (55:25)


              • Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, and Chuck Mindenhall

              Producer: Troy Farkas

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              1 hr 18 min
            • Mixed Feelings on Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett, the Shocking Resurrection of Dillon Danis, and Is Israel Adesanya Having his Jon Jones Moment?

              Reunited after Petesy’s week off spent upsetting French locals in boulangeries, Ariel, Chuck, and Petesy gather once more to discuss the following on today’s episode:

              • Why Petesy is adamant that Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett is the perfect fight for each guy (6:27)
              • Whether the booking of Shavkat Rakhmonov for Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is punishment for Thompson refusing to take the fight against Michel Pereira (24:37)
              • If Vicente Luque is the logical next step for Ian Machado Garry, or if another matchup would have made more sense for the rising Irish star (28:29)
              • The changing perception of Dillon Danis in the lead-up to his October 15 fight against Logan Paul, and whether Paul regrets how he’s handled all this (36:14)
              • Drunk driving charges against former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, if the guys think this affected Adesanya’s poor UFC 293 performance, and whether this is the beginning of Izzy’s downfall (49:13)


                • Plus, Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou is flying under the radar and the guys answer some Discord questions about Brian Ortega’s mysterious absence, the suspected PFL and Bellator merger, Bryce Mitchell’s bizarre behavior, and social media influencer courses (59:34).

                Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall

                Producer: Troy Farkas

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                1 hr 17 min
              • Dana White Announces STACKED UFC 295 and UFC 296 Cards! Plus, When Will We See Conor McGregor Again?

                On the heels of Dana White’s avalanche of fight news announced last night, Ariel, Chuck, and TST are here to react to all of the following and more:

                • Why Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 295 is the fight we’re looking forward to the most (7:24)
                • Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington at UFC 296 and why, with the benefit of hindsight, this feels like the right title fight to make at welterweight (23:48)
                • Official confirmation that Conor McGregor will not fight in 2023 (as previously predicted by our own Blanchstradamus) and the predicament this leaves Michael Chandler in (35:15)
                • If Valentina Shevchenko deserves another crack at Alexa Grasso or if it’s time for the women’s flyweight division to move on (43:48)


                  • Plus, some Discord questions about Bellator, UFC 300, and Paul Felder’s speculated return (57:25). Also, a quick preview of the litany of fights going down this weekend.

                  To read 3PAC’s pound-for-pound rankings for the month of September, click here.

                  Hosts: Ariel Helwani and Chuck Mindenhall

                  Producer: Troy Farkas

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                  1 hr 15 min
                • Sean Strickland Had Us Fooled! Plus, Valentina Shevchenko Seeks Revenge Against Alexa Grasso, and the WWE-UFC Merger is Official!

                  With their heads still spinning after an unpredictable UFC 293, Ariel, Chuck, and Petesy return to discuss the following on today’s episode:

                  • The creation of the TKO group, which merges the UFC and WWE under the parent company of Endeavor, and what this deal means for the front-facing product, the UFCs popularity, future broadcast deals, and whether the UFC will need to dial down some of its right-leaning politics now that it is a publicly traded company (6:22)
                  • Why we’ve failed to give Sean Strickland credit for how smart and calculated he actually is, and why he’s finding so many fans now (23:45)
                  • What should happen next for Strickland, Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, and the winner of Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 (36:20)
                  • Saturday’s UFC Noche event in Las Vegas and whether another loss for Valentina Shevchenko signals the beginning of the end for the women’s flyweight GOAT (53:33)
                  • A fascinating matchup between fan favorite Kevin Holland and rising star Jack Della Maddalena in the co-main event (1:03:13)


                    • And more!

                    To support the show:

                    • You can purchase TST’s book 'Surrender' here on Amazon
                    • Join our Discord!


                      • Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall

                      Producer: Troy Farkas

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                      1 hr 29 min
                    • Holy Sh*t! Sean Strickland is the UFC Middleweight Champion. Biggest Upset in UFC History? Should Israel Adesanya Get a Rematch? Is Strickland's Win a Nightmare for the UFC? | UFC 293 Reaction!

                      Moments after watching America’s darling Sean Strickland dethrone the heavily favored Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight championship in Sydney, Ariel, Petesy, Chuck, and TST offer instant reaction to what is undoubtedly one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. The guys discuss:

                      • Adesanya’s surprisingly lackluster performance, his strange approach to fight week, and if Izzy's activity as champion ultimately hurt him in this fight (10:42)
                      • Whether Strickland winning a UFC belt is a disaster for the promotion (15:42)
                      • Whether Adesanya should get an immediate title rematch like UFC president Dana White believes he deserves (31:40)
                      • How the outcome of this fight shakes up the stakes for next month’s middleweight showdown between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294


                        • 3PAC also weighs in on Alexander Volkov’s incredible performance in his win over Tai Tuivasa in the chief support fight (51:00). Plus, the curse of The Craic lives on.

                        Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall

                        Producer: Troy Farkas

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                        1 hr 18 min
                      • UFC 293 Preview: Israel Adesanya’s Return Down Under, and How Will Sean Strickland Handle the Spotlight?

                        3PAC is finally back! It’s only fitting that the star-studded trio of Ariel, Chuck, and Petesy reunite in the midst of what we expect to be one of the umm … more uncomfortable fight weeks in recent memory. On today’s UFC 293 preview show, the lads discuss:

                        • Excitement levels for the main event between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, considering the fight wasn’t booked until just a few weeks ago (5:22)
                        • Sean Strickland’s psyche, his readiness for this massive moment on Adesanya’s home turf, and why Ariel believes Strickland is the “For You” page of MMA (11:13)
                        • If Adesanya gets by Strickland as expected, will Dricus Du Plessis get his title shot, or will the winner of Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev have something to say about that? (28:42)
                        • Official predictions for the fight (40:53)


                          • Plus, with all eyes on Tai Tuivasa in the chief support fight, the guys wonder whether the beloved heavyweight is still a major player in a division teeming with young stars (46:47). The guys also take a couple questions from our Discord (1:04:09).

                          Hosts: Ariel Helwani, Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall

                          Producer: Troy Farkas

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                          1 hr 23 min

                        About The Ringer MMA Show

                        From the publisher's feed

                        Top MMA voices Petesy Carroll, Chuck Mindenhall, and Troy Farkas discuss the biggest events in MMA, boxing, and more! Plus, the guys offer instant reaction podcasts to every UFC pay-per-view on…