It is Monday, the twentieth of January twenty twenty. I feel like that's some kind of weird date in the Mayan calendar. I don't even know. Welcome everyone. My name is Louke Thomas and it is time for Morning Combat. Hosting this program alongside my trustee Steeden, co host from CBS Sports, had a trending video on YouTube.

It is Monday, the twentieth of January twenty twenty. I feel like that's some kind of weird date in the Mayan calendar. I don't even know. Welcome everyone. My name is Louke Thomas and it is time for Morning Combat. Hosting this program alongside my trustee Steeden, co host from CBS Sports, had a trending video on YouTube.

Hey, four million people can't be wrong.

Hey, four million people can't be wrong.

All right, it's pretty good. Brian Campbellhi, Brian, how are.

All right, it's pretty good. Brian Campbellhi, Brian, how are.

You fired up? Fresh off the plane from Vegas yesterday evening? And dude, I hate to you know red panties. Yeah, they we're back. The business is back. I mean, give you feel the rush. It's back.

You fired up? Fresh off the plane from Vegas yesterday evening? And dude, I hate to you know red panties. Yeah, they we're back. The business is back. I mean, give you feel the rush. It's back.

It was bit. We have a lot to get to today UFC two forty six related and beyond housekeeping notes, of course, please give the video thumbs up. Hit that subscribe button. We're trying to meet some goals to help us get that out there and read some gains if you will, gains, goals and everything between. Tell a friend about it as well. All right, Brian? You ready, I'm fired up? Let's do it, my friend? Shall we here we go? Don't you go dieing on?

It was bit. We have a lot to get to today UFC two forty six related and beyond housekeeping notes, of course, please give the video thumbs up. Hit that subscribe button. We're trying to meet some goals to help us get that out there and read some gains if you will, gains, goals and everything between. Tell a friend about it as well. All right, Brian? You ready, I'm fired up? Let's do it, my friend? Shall we here we go? Don't you go dieing on?

I got my cup condom.

I got my cup condom.

I'm ready, I'm ready go topic number one. This one is very easy. Connor McGregor wins at UFC two forty six only forty seconds into the very first round, stopping Donald Soerrony with strikes. Referee Herb Dean was the one who intervened Brian the question, I think that we need to start today and we can go a lot of different directions. I'll go first on this one. What would be the biggest takeaway from the win of Connor McGregor, And I will say this, We all said he had to win going into the weekend. When he does, but there was a question about what is actually really achievable with the win if you get a split decision, and what can you really say about that if you dominated but it goes the distance? Another set of narratives emerge. But what about the one where you beat Donald Serony faster than anyone's ever beaten him? What if you do it and he doesn't even land a glove on you. I still I do think we need to have some managed expectations. We didn't see his gas tank checked, we didn't see him go into a third round to see if his game developed so in any kind of new way. In fact, I did it for dissected. What we saw on Saturday was just kind of for the most part Shulder strike's notwithstanding kind of classic Connor McGregor. But here's what I will say is my biggest takeaway in terms of what was achievable and in terms of what the goal was, get a win, reinspire the fan, braise base, get some good pr because he needed it, and show that even in a tight window, that forty second window, you are a force to be reckoned with. Again, I think he succeeded wildly. I think on all of those terms, he succeeded. Now, did I see anything in there that told me he can beat Jorge Masbadol? It was forty seconds. I just didn't see a lot. Did I see anything in there Brian Campbell that told me he could beat a beabnmer Gaminoff? It was forty seconds. There was no wrestling. I just can't make that kind of determination. Did I see, though, a guy who reignited passions in the fan base, who got good press, who got an important win in his third weight class, who set himself up in the catbird seat to reinspire imagination and get people to gough the turnstile at the box office. He did all of it, and then some everything that was possible he did. That is my biggest takeaway.

I'm ready, I'm ready go topic number one. This one is very easy. Connor McGregor wins at UFC two forty six only forty seconds into the very first round, stopping Donald Soerrony with strikes. Referee Herb Dean was the one who intervened Brian the question, I think that we need to start today and we can go a lot of different directions. I'll go first on this one. What would be the biggest takeaway from the win of Connor McGregor, And I will say this, We all said he had to win going into the weekend. When he does, but there was a question about what is actually really achievable with the win if you get a split decision, and what can you really say about that if you dominated but it goes the distance? Another set of narratives emerge. But what about the one where you beat Donald Serony faster than anyone's ever beaten him? What if you do it and he doesn't even land a glove on you. I still I do think we need to have some managed expectations. We didn't see his gas tank checked, we didn't see him go into a third round to see if his game developed so in any kind of new way. In fact, I did it for dissected. What we saw on Saturday was just kind of for the most part Shulder strike's notwithstanding kind of classic Connor McGregor. But here's what I will say is my biggest takeaway in terms of what was achievable and in terms of what the goal was, get a win, reinspire the fan, braise base, get some good pr because he needed it, and show that even in a tight window, that forty second window, you are a force to be reckoned with. Again, I think he succeeded wildly. I think on all of those terms, he succeeded. Now, did I see anything in there that told me he can beat Jorge Masbadol? It was forty seconds. I just didn't see a lot. Did I see anything in there Brian Campbell that told me he could beat a beabnmer Gaminoff? It was forty seconds. There was no wrestling. I just can't make that kind of determination. Did I see, though, a guy who reignited passions in the fan base, who got good press, who got an important win in his third weight class, who set himself up in the catbird seat to reinspire imagination and get people to gough the turnstile at the box office. He did all of it, and then some everything that was possible he did. That is my biggest takeaway.

Absolutely, look what this was on paper. In an era in UFC with great match making where you don't make get well fights, this was a celebrity puffed up get well fight. Obviously there was potential for him to lose it. There was some certain level of intrigue of Cowboy being a live dog and all that. But UFC's goal with this fight was to revive Connor McGregor's pay per view brand, and from that standpoint, this was an absolute grand slam. You want to talk about giving at least the illusion. You're right, in forty seconds, we can't answer any of those questions. Is the legitimate welterwait, gas tank wrestling, all that stuff. But yet in forty seconds a complete return, putting all the air back into the balloon of this guy being a dominant finisher. And I think at the end of the day, even though Connor can talk, and that's a big part of who he is, the fact that he finishes elite level opponents, usually after predicting and claiming it is the number one calling card of why people keep coming and why he's such a great pay per view band and brand, and to return to that and to remove you know, we talked about the crossroads where we're at here. If Connor didn't win this fight, if this was any kind of loss, it was disastrous. He would then become the Hey, let's fight Nate and let's find an exit strategy. What he did in those forty seconds was completely remove that. That's off the table. Whether he beats Masvidal or or Habibe or Gaygee or anybody else next or not, that's off the table. He's not a train wreck. He is somebody who seems like excess took a toll on him over the last couple of years, but he regrouped and put that back. And then you want to talk about from a marketing point of view, what this means for the rest of twenty twenty forty seconds is forty seconds people are going to go, oh, man, I didn't really learn what I came to learn. Oh, it was entertaining, but I wanted more. I wanted two rounds of action. From a business perspective, that's the best way that fight could have finished because those same questions we had coming in is he all these things? We now push that ahead to the next fight, and that level of intrigue will keep you coming back, I think at a higher pace than had he spent two rounds in there decimating him. It's almost like there's still a little bit of that illusion left and we come for McGregor to see the show. But because he's so polarizing, there's always going to be that cut of the population who comes for the chance to say I told you so, he's not that guy. And when you win in forty seconds, you still leave some of those questions out there. Genius for marketing the way it played out. I don't think you have seen Dana White could be doing anything but bathing in dollars after this I've been.

Absolutely, look what this was on paper. In an era in UFC with great match making where you don't make get well fights, this was a celebrity puffed up get well fight. Obviously there was potential for him to lose it. There was some certain level of intrigue of Cowboy being a live dog and all that. But UFC's goal with this fight was to revive Connor McGregor's pay per view brand, and from that standpoint, this was an absolute grand slam. You want to talk about giving at least the illusion. You're right, in forty seconds, we can't answer any of those questions. Is the legitimate welterwait, gas tank wrestling, all that stuff. But yet in forty seconds a complete return, putting all the air back into the balloon of this guy being a dominant finisher. And I think at the end of the day, even though Connor can talk, and that's a big part of who he is, the fact that he finishes elite level opponents, usually after predicting and claiming it is the number one calling card of why people keep coming and why he's such a great pay per view band and brand, and to return to that and to remove you know, we talked about the crossroads where we're at here. If Connor didn't win this fight, if this was any kind of loss, it was disastrous. He would then become the Hey, let's fight Nate and let's find an exit strategy. What he did in those forty seconds was completely remove that. That's off the table. Whether he beats Masvidal or or Habibe or Gaygee or anybody else next or not, that's off the table. He's not a train wreck. He is somebody who seems like excess took a toll on him over the last couple of years, but he regrouped and put that back. And then you want to talk about from a marketing point of view, what this means for the rest of twenty twenty forty seconds is forty seconds people are going to go, oh, man, I didn't really learn what I came to learn. Oh, it was entertaining, but I wanted more. I wanted two rounds of action. From a business perspective, that's the best way that fight could have finished because those same questions we had coming in is he all these things? We now push that ahead to the next fight, and that level of intrigue will keep you coming back, I think at a higher pace than had he spent two rounds in there decimating him. It's almost like there's still a little bit of that illusion left and we come for McGregor to see the show. But because he's so polarizing, there's always going to be that cut of the population who comes for the chance to say I told you so, he's not that guy. And when you win in forty seconds, you still leave some of those questions out there. Genius for marketing the way it played out. I don't think you have seen Dana White could be doing anything but bathing in dollars after this I've been.

I'm sure you've seen it. I posted a piece of hate mail I got because I apparently refuse to call it a fixed fight. You see a lot of the fixed fight birds coming out here. I'm not suggesting that they're in number enough that anyone should be concerned, nor am I suggesting there's any real merit to the position. I don't think that there is, But that's not the point. The point being is Connor was so dominant inside that forty second win, a small window, but still he was so dominant people, particularly his critics, maybe more than just his critics, his haters, the people who just can't stand the guy. It brought them out into full force. He is a magnetism, or I should say a magnet rather for controversy in all forms, frivolous, fun, serious at everything in between. And you're going to carry as you noted that part forward. Plus we were sort of worrying about this prefight. Is he going to inspire us to reconsider his heights or about to discover what his floor is? In part to your point, the question is still kind of valid. We don't really know, but I would say people might be starting to tilt towards we might be rediscovering a little bit more of a renewed possibility here, a renewed heights.

I'm sure you've seen it. I posted a piece of hate mail I got because I apparently refuse to call it a fixed fight. You see a lot of the fixed fight birds coming out here. I'm not suggesting that they're in number enough that anyone should be concerned, nor am I suggesting there's any real merit to the position. I don't think that there is, But that's not the point. The point being is Connor was so dominant inside that forty second win, a small window, but still he was so dominant people, particularly his critics, maybe more than just his critics, his haters, the people who just can't stand the guy. It brought them out into full force. He is a magnetism, or I should say a magnet rather for controversy in all forms, frivolous, fun, serious at everything in between. And you're going to carry as you noted that part forward. Plus we were sort of worrying about this prefight. Is he going to inspire us to reconsider his heights or about to discover what his floor is? In part to your point, the question is still kind of valid. We don't really know, but I would say people might be starting to tilt towards we might be rediscovering a little bit more of a renewed possibility here, a renewed heights.

He sort of pleased everyone with the result.

He sort of pleased everyone with the result.

Ultimately he pissed off who were you supposed to piss off? And you pleased everyone who you were supposed to please. And that is some serious moments.

Ultimately he pissed off who were you supposed to piss off? And you pleased everyone who you were supposed to please. And that is some serious moments.

And on top of it, one of Connor's biggest critics during fight week was actually Dana White who all this talk about potentially Orge next or potentially all these other things which we can get into. Dana was still steadfast through Thursday, I'm sorry, through Friday. After the way, and when he did a little mini scrum with media backstage and he told us, I don't think Connor ship flight any of these one seventies, even Cowboy is too big for him. That's the boss saying that. On Friday, when Connor went out and decimated Cowboy at one seven, Yes, they're blown up lightweights. All that is actually true. But when your proof and your eyes show you a full one hundred and seventy pounds man looking that crisp, that imaginative, that explosive, and that short window, even Dana afterwards said I'm no longer going to make those comments. You can find anybody wants like that's that's impressive.

And on top of it, one of Connor's biggest critics during fight week was actually Dana White who all this talk about potentially Orge next or potentially all these other things which we can get into. Dana was still steadfast through Thursday, I'm sorry, through Friday. After the way, and when he did a little mini scrum with media backstage and he told us, I don't think Connor ship flight any of these one seventies, even Cowboy is too big for him. That's the boss saying that. On Friday, when Connor went out and decimated Cowboy at one seven, Yes, they're blown up lightweights. All that is actually true. But when your proof and your eyes show you a full one hundred and seventy pounds man looking that crisp, that imaginative, that explosive, and that short window, even Dana afterwards said I'm no longer going to make those comments. You can find anybody wants like that's that's impressive.

So Serni went the distance with Robbie Laller. Now Connor wanted to claim that he has the wins in three different weight classes. He was the first person to do it. Well, he's the first person to do it at featherweight, lightweight, and welcome.

So Serni went the distance with Robbie Laller. Now Connor wanted to claim that he has the wins in three different weight classes. He was the first person to do it. Well, he's the first person to do it at featherweight, lightweight, and welcome.

Sell me knockouts at all three stoppage losses.

Sell me knockouts at all three stoppage losses.

But even then, Jared Cannoneer has it at heavyweight, light heavyweight, in middleweight, so he's actually not the first, but he might be the first in those divisions, and that's still impressivedent. It's own right. The only reason I bring it up is I had some concerns about his power, not that I thought it was phony, but you know, Nate dis does have a good chin, but it's just one opponent two fights would really know. And here's what I'll say. Robbie Lawler couldn't put Don Seroney away, and their fights started identically with smashing into the clunch MEI I remember that Robby Lawler kind of bombed on him early, and then that one Saronnie hung on at least to lose a decision, but he didn't get stopped. He just didn't have that opportunity here against a cowboy or excuse me, against Connor all this time later. But my point about the power, what's kind of interesting about it is I don't know exactly if he's as big a power puncher at one seventy as at one fifty five, because I want to see him fight somebody who yes, cowboy went from one fifty five to one to seventy and had ten fights at one seventy and beat good guys. But to really see, to really see, I need to see somebody who can't make one fifty five, like at tyberin Woodley. But here's what I would say, No matter what, he pretty clearly has enough firepower for one seventy. Yeah, he clearly can hold his own there one way or.

But even then, Jared Cannoneer has it at heavyweight, light heavyweight, in middleweight, so he's actually not the first, but he might be the first in those divisions, and that's still impressivedent. It's own right. The only reason I bring it up is I had some concerns about his power, not that I thought it was phony, but you know, Nate dis does have a good chin, but it's just one opponent two fights would really know. And here's what I'll say. Robbie Lawler couldn't put Don Seroney away, and their fights started identically with smashing into the clunch MEI I remember that Robby Lawler kind of bombed on him early, and then that one Saronnie hung on at least to lose a decision, but he didn't get stopped. He just didn't have that opportunity here against a cowboy or excuse me, against Connor all this time later. But my point about the power, what's kind of interesting about it is I don't know exactly if he's as big a power puncher at one seventy as at one fifty five, because I want to see him fight somebody who yes, cowboy went from one fifty five to one to seventy and had ten fights at one seventy and beat good guys. But to really see, to really see, I need to see somebody who can't make one fifty five, like at tyberin Woodley. But here's what I would say, No matter what, he pretty clearly has enough firepower for one seventy. Yeah, he clearly can hold his own there one way or.

The other when he's dialed in, which was the theme of this week, right from that first press conference on Wednesday, where we're like, okay, well Connor, are we going to get rattle Connor, aggressive, trash on Connor. No, we got gentlemen, humorous, jovial, humble Connor. And I know some of the debate all week was is that the actual guy or is this just a very smart PR campaign to sort of go up against the negative headlines of sexual assault accusations all of that. And it's not like we didn't see what happened at the press conference when they shut Morgan Campbell down. That was, you know, kick to the face of journalism, by the way, But that notwithstanding, you know what, the biggest accomplishment I think Connor had this week even better than reviving himself as a legitimate fighter, improving a fight at one seventy. This was a masterful work of pr I mean in absolutely masterful work. And you know it's true when you know your own friends in the business, your own media friends, your own friends who work for UFC, who you know are non Connor guys who are like, man, that that pos you know off the record to you are going, hey, man, if Connor acts like he just did the last couple of days publicly, more often, I love that guy. I love remember that guy. I loved that guy.

The other when he's dialed in, which was the theme of this week, right from that first press conference on Wednesday, where we're like, okay, well Connor, are we going to get rattle Connor, aggressive, trash on Connor. No, we got gentlemen, humorous, jovial, humble Connor. And I know some of the debate all week was is that the actual guy or is this just a very smart PR campaign to sort of go up against the negative headlines of sexual assault accusations all of that. And it's not like we didn't see what happened at the press conference when they shut Morgan Campbell down. That was, you know, kick to the face of journalism, by the way, But that notwithstanding, you know what, the biggest accomplishment I think Connor had this week even better than reviving himself as a legitimate fighter, improving a fight at one seventy. This was a masterful work of pr I mean in absolutely masterful work. And you know it's true when you know your own friends in the business, your own media friends, your own friends who work for UFC, who you know are non Connor guys who are like, man, that that pos you know off the record to you are going, hey, man, if Connor acts like he just did the last couple of days publicly, more often, I love that guy. I love remember that guy. I loved that guy.

So, I mean, I'm not a guy who hates Connor McGregor, but I didn't. I didn't love the way he would treat other opponents Aldo and Alvarez. I gotta tell you never liked Connor McGregor more than I liked him this.

So, I mean, I'm not a guy who hates Connor McGregor, but I didn't. I didn't love the way he would treat other opponents Aldo and Alvarez. I gotta tell you never liked Connor McGregor more than I liked him this.

Yeay, And I respect Connor. After the fight, when he was asked about that the press conference, what would happen when you if you fight if and when you fight Habibi again? And he was like, honestly, He's like, look, this is who I am. You may smart, you know, you may see me sparked again. But whether this was one hundred percent authentic, whether this was a man who in this wild three years since he was last on top of the mountain in UFC, has really gone through enough ish a lot of it self inflicted. I can believe that he's partially enough of a change man to make that feel real to me what he's saying. But even if it's bullshit, that's a masterful pr move because he kind of went through there and revived himself in a way that the best historical combat sports superstars, the ones that you cannot get enough of. I'm talking about Ali Tyson Mayweather, they were able to constantly float between being a hero and villain and the public eye and just kind of just changed genres constantly, And that gray area is really where the interest level is because it makes you care about them. If you're predetermined to hate them, you have plenty of reason to keep. If you're predetermined to worship and idle them, then they give you plenty of reason. But in between that great area, they're showing so much humanity that it's so relatable that Connor is obviously the star of this era, of this lifetime just from the standpoint of ticket sales, but I think from the standpoint of capturing our imagination, and this week was that new chapter. This is like David Bowie going, hey, I did a funk album in a rock album, let's try a country one. This was Connor sort of going, hey, let's try to be a you know, America's sweetheart. And it worked.

Yeay, And I respect Connor. After the fight, when he was asked about that the press conference, what would happen when you if you fight if and when you fight Habibi again? And he was like, honestly, He's like, look, this is who I am. You may smart, you know, you may see me sparked again. But whether this was one hundred percent authentic, whether this was a man who in this wild three years since he was last on top of the mountain in UFC, has really gone through enough ish a lot of it self inflicted. I can believe that he's partially enough of a change man to make that feel real to me what he's saying. But even if it's bullshit, that's a masterful pr move because he kind of went through there and revived himself in a way that the best historical combat sports superstars, the ones that you cannot get enough of. I'm talking about Ali Tyson Mayweather, they were able to constantly float between being a hero and villain and the public eye and just kind of just changed genres constantly, And that gray area is really where the interest level is because it makes you care about them. If you're predetermined to hate them, you have plenty of reason to keep. If you're predetermined to worship and idle them, then they give you plenty of reason. But in between that great area, they're showing so much humanity that it's so relatable that Connor is obviously the star of this era, of this lifetime just from the standpoint of ticket sales, but I think from the standpoint of capturing our imagination, and this week was that new chapter. This is like David Bowie going, hey, I did a funk album in a rock album, let's try a country one. This was Connor sort of going, hey, let's try to be a you know, America's sweetheart. And it worked.

I'll tell you this last thing about it was, I would say, is a lot of folks were worried because if you looked at the way he was before, he'd have this intensity and this animosity and this sort of verve that would carry right through into the fight. It was all kind of one note by design, and we thought, well, if he's going to be one note and he's calm, does that mean he's going to be a different fighter. Is he going to be too calm or is he going to trade off something for maturity in terms of being a fighter. Well it turns out not at all. He was as ferocious as normal when the fight began. Look had cleaned up mechanics again, a lot of classic Connor weapons, a couple of new storing in there for good measure. But I will tell you to me, it's like, look, well he stay out of trouble. Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea, but I would actually say, if you're a Connor McGregor fan, maybe you like the old days of antagonism. And I still kind of think if he gets face to face with Obib, you're gonna get a whole lot of that back.

I'll tell you this last thing about it was, I would say, is a lot of folks were worried because if you looked at the way he was before, he'd have this intensity and this animosity and this sort of verve that would carry right through into the fight. It was all kind of one note by design, and we thought, well, if he's going to be one note and he's calm, does that mean he's going to be a different fighter. Is he going to be too calm or is he going to trade off something for maturity in terms of being a fighter. Well it turns out not at all. He was as ferocious as normal when the fight began. Look had cleaned up mechanics again, a lot of classic Connor weapons, a couple of new storing in there for good measure. But I will tell you to me, it's like, look, well he stay out of trouble. Your guess is as good as mine. I have no idea, but I would actually say, if you're a Connor McGregor fan, maybe you like the old days of antagonism. And I still kind of think if he gets face to face with Obib, you're gonna get a whole lot of that back.

Any But well, if Cowboy didn't throw anything at him, we have to remember that right in the pre fight, Cowboy did nothing but be like, I respect that.

Any But well, if Cowboy didn't throw anything at him, we have to remember that right in the pre fight, Cowboy did nothing but be like, I respect that.

I assiduously avoided it. I don't think Jorge is gonna do that, and we know Kobeb's not gonna do that, at least in terms of what he represents. But here's my point. If you're a Connor fan, you should be heartened because I actually think, rather than a change being a distraction, if he is to achieve new heights Brian Campbell, I don't think he can do it without the change. I don't think he can do it without being a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit more of pick my battle smartly, stay focused in training, and we'll see if he says he's gonna go back to training after one or two days off, we'll see if that actually happens. I tend to think that it will. But to me, I likened it when my post fight show to Tiger Woods changing his golf swing and that's nerve wracking. Or how about even the.

I assiduously avoided it. I don't think Jorge is gonna do that, and we know Kobeb's not gonna do that, at least in terms of what he represents. But here's my point. If you're a Connor fan, you should be heartened because I actually think, rather than a change being a distraction, if he is to achieve new heights Brian Campbell, I don't think he can do it without the change. I don't think he can do it without being a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit more of pick my battle smartly, stay focused in training, and we'll see if he says he's gonna go back to training after one or two days off, we'll see if that actually happens. I tend to think that it will. But to me, I likened it when my post fight show to Tiger Woods changing his golf swing and that's nerve wracking. Or how about even the.

Or his women habits.

Or his women habits.

Yeah that too, but how about the Pelicans teaching Zion Williams and how to run again? Yes, I mean these are very You think, wow, that's really scary. What if you don't get that right? But it turns out that those kinds of changes under the right conditions, under the right sort of leadership or in that particular case, medical supervision. This is a little bit different case, those are actually what you need to take the next step. And for me, I gotta tell you only did I like the way he was acting on a fight week. I don't know what the situation is with the sexual assault allegations. We'll see what happens. But in terms of I think setting himself up to maximize his potential, that is the that's the Connor McGregor at age thirty to thirty one that he needs to be to get the best out of himself and cannot do it doing the same old things.

Yeah that too, but how about the Pelicans teaching Zion Williams and how to run again? Yes, I mean these are very You think, wow, that's really scary. What if you don't get that right? But it turns out that those kinds of changes under the right conditions, under the right sort of leadership or in that particular case, medical supervision. This is a little bit different case, those are actually what you need to take the next step. And for me, I gotta tell you only did I like the way he was acting on a fight week. I don't know what the situation is with the sexual assault allegations. We'll see what happens. But in terms of I think setting himself up to maximize his potential, that is the that's the Connor McGregor at age thirty to thirty one that he needs to be to get the best out of himself and cannot do it doing the same old things.

I want to say this when you you know, when we give takes on any polarizing athlete. You get half of the population being like, oh, you're a you know you're a and certainly you always have to put in play this when a star is on the level of Connor, when he wins in his back like this, Yes, it helps everybody. It helps our careers, it helps everybody. We put that out there just to say it. But one thing, I don't want to believe the image that he put through. I don't know if he saw the interview with Ariel Hajwani last Monday on ESPN, when Connor talked heavily about, you know, drinking in the training camp for Habib getting into like a real sparring situation without headgear, knocking people out, and then taking three days off and going out and partying. It's obvious that that version of him at two twenty nine, whether or not Habib would always beat him or not, right, that's not the best possible version of Connor McGregor. He was living the omni king life at that point. The fact that, look, he's such a great loser. Connor Gregor is the best loser UFC has ever seen, because there's a few of them. But he gets right back on track. He wants to rematch right away. He wants to publicly kind of talk it out and figure out what went wrong and share with you. I think he was doing that again, saying I wasn't some pretty bad things in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen. I was believing my you know, hype train a little bit too much. The fact that he seems to come around full circle on that. I'm not here to completely advocate him as a human. I'm here to tell you that this is a compelling story that's ongoing, and it's hard not to be behind, if not cheering for him to win, which we don't really care for win and lose in journalism, obviously there's a reason not to, but sharing for him to be relevant and to be there at the table and to be the very best of him. I got to give him credit for what he was able to do this weekend.

I want to say this when you you know, when we give takes on any polarizing athlete. You get half of the population being like, oh, you're a you know you're a and certainly you always have to put in play this when a star is on the level of Connor, when he wins in his back like this, Yes, it helps everybody. It helps our careers, it helps everybody. We put that out there just to say it. But one thing, I don't want to believe the image that he put through. I don't know if he saw the interview with Ariel Hajwani last Monday on ESPN, when Connor talked heavily about, you know, drinking in the training camp for Habib getting into like a real sparring situation without headgear, knocking people out, and then taking three days off and going out and partying. It's obvious that that version of him at two twenty nine, whether or not Habib would always beat him or not, right, that's not the best possible version of Connor McGregor. He was living the omni king life at that point. The fact that, look, he's such a great loser. Connor Gregor is the best loser UFC has ever seen, because there's a few of them. But he gets right back on track. He wants to rematch right away. He wants to publicly kind of talk it out and figure out what went wrong and share with you. I think he was doing that again, saying I wasn't some pretty bad things in twenty eighteen and twenty nineteen. I was believing my you know, hype train a little bit too much. The fact that he seems to come around full circle on that. I'm not here to completely advocate him as a human. I'm here to tell you that this is a compelling story that's ongoing, and it's hard not to be behind, if not cheering for him to win, which we don't really care for win and lose in journalism, obviously there's a reason not to, but sharing for him to be relevant and to be there at the table and to be the very best of him. I got to give him credit for what he was able to do this weekend.

On that year, you could have gone down the path of self destruction. And again, the jury is still out, we're still very early into the process. That's the best decision. This is great.

On that year, you could have gone down the path of self destruction. And again, the jury is still out, we're still very early into the process. That's the best decision. This is great.

I mean, the amount of noise that Jay is letting into my ear holes now is just the point.

I mean, the amount of noise that Jay is letting into my ear holes now is just the point.

The point being is this and we'll move on to topic two, which is, I'll say this again, the journey's not over. It's going to be a long while before he can really find something to really say. He's a brand new person. He's gonna have to stay out of trouble. So certainly all that is the case, But he could have gone down that path of self destruction. He had the financial wherewithal, he had the career accomplishments, and something about the whole situation again, his own mouthfeasts included, has sort of forced this change. I want to see it brought to its full potential. But you have to kind of commend that. You have to commend a guy who made a choice, and he took the harder, more difficult approach of the two in terms of rebuilding some things that had been law.

The point being is this and we'll move on to topic two, which is, I'll say this again, the journey's not over. It's going to be a long while before he can really find something to really say. He's a brand new person. He's gonna have to stay out of trouble. So certainly all that is the case, But he could have gone down that path of self destruction. He had the financial wherewithal, he had the career accomplishments, and something about the whole situation again, his own mouthfeasts included, has sort of forced this change. I want to see it brought to its full potential. But you have to kind of commend that. You have to commend a guy who made a choice, and he took the harder, more difficult approach of the two in terms of rebuilding some things that had been law.

People love winners first and foremost the casual public that buys pay per views, they love redemption stories even more. I mean, that's really the bottom line.

People love winners first and foremost the casual public that buys pay per views, they love redemption stories even more. I mean, that's really the bottom line.

He has that potential and the redemption story will continue. Here we go to topic two, which is, Okay, great win for Connor, superb win really, but again, best I think you could have done given the circumstances. So what's next? He is saying he's not looking at opponents. He's saying he's looking at the calendar. Maybe March, maybe May. We'll have to see. But the two finalists, Brian Campbell go first on this one. They are Habib Nimber made out at one fifty five, which danat White says, whether we agree or not, he is entitled to a title shot Connor McGregor or at one seventy with jorgem masitdol who should be next for Connor McGregor.

He has that potential and the redemption story will continue. Here we go to topic two, which is, Okay, great win for Connor, superb win really, but again, best I think you could have done given the circumstances. So what's next? He is saying he's not looking at opponents. He's saying he's looking at the calendar. Maybe March, maybe May. We'll have to see. But the two finalists, Brian Campbell go first on this one. They are Habib Nimber made out at one fifty five, which danat White says, whether we agree or not, he is entitled to a title shot Connor McGregor or at one seventy with jorgem masitdol who should be next for Connor McGregor.

I gotta give Dana credit, all right, Dana is who he is, right, He's the greatest you Carnival Barker of our era, in our generation. I don't know if you heard the speech he gave at the postfight press conference. Go back and listen to it if you haven't. It's the most lustful, energized, yet detailed and passionate speech of why Habib needs to be next. We all kind of, no matter what you prefer in this question or Habib or Gauge, g or Ny or whatever in the spot, I think you're all going to agree that the most money is in Habib. So by default we're sort of saying it's probably gonna up going that way. Dana is consistent in saying that. But to hear Dana break down and compare this type of rivalry to you know, Ali and Fraser in terms of the hatred between them and the importance of this, it does remind you that it's rare to ever get a fight or a fight series or a rivalry up to that level where it crosses, you know, beyond sports fans, where it is front page news for everybody, where you just have to see it because you have a vested interest in, Oh, that guy through the dollar through the window at that guy said bad things about that Religiou the guy's religion, or that guy's cousins attacked him out. You know, you're on one side of the fence on this when you have a window to make that when both brands are potentially if Habib gets through Tony in April and doesn't get injured, both brands are ready and they're active, and they're coming off wins and their prime, and you have a chance to run that back again when you're more or less guaranteed it's going to break the pay per view level. And when Dana boasts like saying, I think this can move three million pay per views. This ain't Bob Aarram saying Tyson Fury Too is gonna do two million, or Joe test were saying it's gonna do four or five. This is a legitimate claim if this is promoted right. This is an insane sort of all time level beef that has legitimate connections to each of their legacies, Habib's unbeaten record, Connor's redemption story, trying to come back here after sort of falling out of line of being a real fighter of the last three years and trying to put it back on the tracks. Obviously, they have clashing styles, clashing personalities, clans, clashing nations, clashing fan groups. This fight means so much more than a one night one off of a Mozwitt LBMF fight that I think you go all costs, in all lengths to make it so there's no chance something happens that would stain it a little bit. And I'm not just talking about its financial you know, potential, I'm talking about its importance level. It's now, it's time.

I gotta give Dana credit, all right, Dana is who he is, right, He's the greatest you Carnival Barker of our era, in our generation. I don't know if you heard the speech he gave at the postfight press conference. Go back and listen to it if you haven't. It's the most lustful, energized, yet detailed and passionate speech of why Habib needs to be next. We all kind of, no matter what you prefer in this question or Habib or Gauge, g or Ny or whatever in the spot, I think you're all going to agree that the most money is in Habib. So by default we're sort of saying it's probably gonna up going that way. Dana is consistent in saying that. But to hear Dana break down and compare this type of rivalry to you know, Ali and Fraser in terms of the hatred between them and the importance of this, it does remind you that it's rare to ever get a fight or a fight series or a rivalry up to that level where it crosses, you know, beyond sports fans, where it is front page news for everybody, where you just have to see it because you have a vested interest in, Oh, that guy through the dollar through the window at that guy said bad things about that Religiou the guy's religion, or that guy's cousins attacked him out. You know, you're on one side of the fence on this when you have a window to make that when both brands are potentially if Habib gets through Tony in April and doesn't get injured, both brands are ready and they're active, and they're coming off wins and their prime, and you have a chance to run that back again when you're more or less guaranteed it's going to break the pay per view level. And when Dana boasts like saying, I think this can move three million pay per views. This ain't Bob Aarram saying Tyson Fury Too is gonna do two million, or Joe test were saying it's gonna do four or five. This is a legitimate claim if this is promoted right. This is an insane sort of all time level beef that has legitimate connections to each of their legacies, Habib's unbeaten record, Connor's redemption story, trying to come back here after sort of falling out of line of being a real fighter of the last three years and trying to put it back on the tracks. Obviously, they have clashing styles, clashing personalities, clans, clashing nations, clashing fan groups. This fight means so much more than a one night one off of a Mozwitt LBMF fight that I think you go all costs, in all lengths to make it so there's no chance something happens that would stain it a little bit. And I'm not just talking about its financial you know, potential, I'm talking about its importance level. It's now, it's time.

It would be basically, how competitive do you think a second fight would because that's part of the equation here.

It would be basically, how competitive do you think a second fight would because that's part of the equation here.

I don't know oh, because Connor was unable in forty seconds to answer a lot of the questions that we needed, and to a certain degree, Cowboy was never going to be able to provide hard enough questions to get those answers. But again the fact that we don't know that yet, believe Connor is revived and believed in our hearts. If you do believe this by watching his interviews, that two twenty nine was not the very best of him. I think it's very syllable that he can win that fight, and I think that drama alone. Look, I love Jorge. When Connor says Jorge has a history of I'm sorry. When Connor says Tony and Habib have a history of pulling out and that he doesn't even think that fight is gonna happen, I mean, what the hell. Habib's fought seven times in six years. That's not a lot. That's a track record of injury and issue staying out. But if Abe beats Tony and he's healthy, you won million percent cash of that in right now. And it's not just about the money. I love the Jorge fight, but that's that's a one nighter. That's to me, is a one time one off thing where I think, like with Connor and Habib, you're creating the rivalry of this era. DC John Jones moves me unlike any valry, But that rivalry is still kind of one sided. This has the potential to be something next level.

I don't know oh, because Connor was unable in forty seconds to answer a lot of the questions that we needed, and to a certain degree, Cowboy was never going to be able to provide hard enough questions to get those answers. But again the fact that we don't know that yet, believe Connor is revived and believed in our hearts. If you do believe this by watching his interviews, that two twenty nine was not the very best of him. I think it's very syllable that he can win that fight, and I think that drama alone. Look, I love Jorge. When Connor says Jorge has a history of I'm sorry. When Connor says Tony and Habib have a history of pulling out and that he doesn't even think that fight is gonna happen, I mean, what the hell. Habib's fought seven times in six years. That's not a lot. That's a track record of injury and issue staying out. But if Abe beats Tony and he's healthy, you won million percent cash of that in right now. And it's not just about the money. I love the Jorge fight, but that's that's a one nighter. That's to me, is a one time one off thing where I think, like with Connor and Habib, you're creating the rivalry of this era. DC John Jones moves me unlike any valry, But that rivalry is still kind of one sided. This has the potential to be something next level.

That rivalry is one sided. I mean that our first fight between d C and Jones went the full distance, this one with Kabebe and Connor did not. Now to your point about whether or not the second one would be competitive, uh, certainly. I would never want to count out the possibility of Connor to get better, to have a different kind of mindset if he's locked into one fifty five, the kind of extra training and really focused dieting that's required as a general life focus in general or is a framework, Yes, that would be part of it as well. But I gotta tell you, I think you got to go with jorgem masmul And the reason why is you say we should shouldn't let anything get in front of it. But they already did. They already booked Kulbie, Nemba, made off, taken on Tony Ferguson, and just like Frankie Edgar Ill advisedly taking the fight against Chance Sung jung All. That's a bit of a different thing. But the point I'd made was, even if even if Frankie gets through that fight, you're not getting out of there unscathed. Do you really think that Habibi is gonna get out of there with a Tony Ferguson fight?

That rivalry is one sided. I mean that our first fight between d C and Jones went the full distance, this one with Kabebe and Connor did not. Now to your point about whether or not the second one would be competitive, uh, certainly. I would never want to count out the possibility of Connor to get better, to have a different kind of mindset if he's locked into one fifty five, the kind of extra training and really focused dieting that's required as a general life focus in general or is a framework, Yes, that would be part of it as well. But I gotta tell you, I think you got to go with jorgem masmul And the reason why is you say we should shouldn't let anything get in front of it. But they already did. They already booked Kulbie, Nemba, made off, taken on Tony Ferguson, and just like Frankie Edgar Ill advisedly taking the fight against Chance Sung jung All. That's a bit of a different thing. But the point I'd made was, even if even if Frankie gets through that fight, you're not getting out of there unscathed. Do you really think that Habibi is gonna get out of there with a Tony Ferguson fight?

Well that's taking Can I amend quick and just tell.

Well that's taking Can I amend quick and just tell.

You guy's never been knocked down, he's never been cut. I get you.

You guy's never been knocked down, he's never been cut. I get you.

You ask me what's the pick? The choice is Habib. But you're right there is many ways in back.

You ask me what's the pick? The choice is Habib. But you're right there is many ways in back.

So let me get to that again with Tony Ferguson again. Have you never got made off, never been cut, never been knocked down? He's gonna get one of those? One of those is gonna happen to him in that fight's first of all. Second of all, it takes place in May with Ramadan. Sorry what am I saying with Ramadan? Unless they had a super quick turnaround, now, it's not going to happen until August or so, maybe even September. That doesn't fit Connor's particular narrative. Third, I noticed something this past week before the fight, so the fight had not even taken place. I saw that the scrum of Jorge Massa all the night he was launching his mescal went and trended on YouTube. I've never seen that before. I've seen many, many times after a fight of video trends from Connor or de Diaz or Jorge or whoever. But Jorge wasn't fighting on the card, wasn't fighting at all, just showed up, promoted his liquor, and that video hit a million views and trended on YouTube. The big momentum right now is behind that guy. There's no guarantee that Habib is gonna beat Tony, and even if he does, he's not gonna be ready on a three fight season schedule. That Connor is talking about the biggest fight you can make right now in terms of just sales, it could be Habib if it's promoted right, I agree. But I mean, if we're talking turnaround, about getting assets to market, about getting pen to paper, well that's Jorgemen Massitol. He's gonna be much readier, much quicker. Plus here's the other part about it. If you're Connor McGregor, think about kamar Usman. Kamar Usman's already beaten Tyront, He's already beaten Leon. He's already beaten Kolby. He's already beaten, already a The only guy he hasn't beaten is Jorgemen Maswital. Now I'm not saying this would be fair Brian Campbell, but fairness saying god fuck all to do with it. Connor's around, obviously. If Connor beats Jorgemen Massvedal, dude, he's getting that title shot against Kamar Usman. Whether he should or he should deal, he got that. He's already got like, he's already got the habib one in the bag. You go. When you beat Jorgey Maswadal, Dude, you have I'm in the world at that.

So let me get to that again with Tony Ferguson again. Have you never got made off, never been cut, never been knocked down? He's gonna get one of those? One of those is gonna happen to him in that fight's first of all. Second of all, it takes place in May with Ramadan. Sorry what am I saying with Ramadan? Unless they had a super quick turnaround, now, it's not going to happen until August or so, maybe even September. That doesn't fit Connor's particular narrative. Third, I noticed something this past week before the fight, so the fight had not even taken place. I saw that the scrum of Jorge Massa all the night he was launching his mescal went and trended on YouTube. I've never seen that before. I've seen many, many times after a fight of video trends from Connor or de Diaz or Jorge or whoever. But Jorge wasn't fighting on the card, wasn't fighting at all, just showed up, promoted his liquor, and that video hit a million views and trended on YouTube. The big momentum right now is behind that guy. There's no guarantee that Habib is gonna beat Tony, and even if he does, he's not gonna be ready on a three fight season schedule. That Connor is talking about the biggest fight you can make right now in terms of just sales, it could be Habib if it's promoted right, I agree. But I mean, if we're talking turnaround, about getting assets to market, about getting pen to paper, well that's Jorgemen Massitol. He's gonna be much readier, much quicker. Plus here's the other part about it. If you're Connor McGregor, think about kamar Usman. Kamar Usman's already beaten Tyront, He's already beaten Leon. He's already beaten Kolby. He's already beaten, already a The only guy he hasn't beaten is Jorgemen Maswital. Now I'm not saying this would be fair Brian Campbell, but fairness saying god fuck all to do with it. Connor's around, obviously. If Connor beats Jorgemen Massvedal, dude, he's getting that title shot against Kamar Usman. Whether he should or he should deal, he got that. He's already got like, he's already got the habib one in the bag. You go. When you beat Jorgey Maswadal, Dude, you have I'm in the world at that.

Point, he gets a title shot in any division he wants without going through anybody.

Point, he gets a title shot in any division he wants without going through anybody.

He'll get it right now against Kimora.

He'll get it right now against Kimora.

Yeah he could, he could, He won't, Dude, he was a Aldo might be getting a title shot.

Yeah he could, he could, He won't, Dude, he was a Aldo might be getting a title shot.

So that's my first fansom weight. That's not well.

So that's my first fansom weight. That's not well.

Rod Lesner was coming back from a steroid test and was guaranteed to a shot a title shot. You get, okay, Number one, number two. Connor has had a magical way look of always not just being a great loser, but having a built in excuse. Right while I moved up two weight classes to fight Nate on short notice, right, That's it's a perfect excuse to say, well, that may have not have been the real Connor even losing to Habib as one sided that he did and then taking fifteen months off, he's already kind of turning the wheels and saying, well, yeah, but I was drinking too much. He's the master at sort of setting it up. So depending on which lane he takes Habib one fifty five Jorge one seventy, a potential of a one sided loss kind of removes him from the discussion in that weight division right away. As for a title, right so if he loses to one of them, he's got to go back to the other division. I think it would be smarter to try to get him right back in there with Habib if it could be made, because it's the biggest fight you could ever make. And if he should lose it, then you.

Rod Lesner was coming back from a steroid test and was guaranteed to a shot a title shot. You get, okay, Number one, number two. Connor has had a magical way look of always not just being a great loser, but having a built in excuse. Right while I moved up two weight classes to fight Nate on short notice, right, That's it's a perfect excuse to say, well, that may have not have been the real Connor even losing to Habib as one sided that he did and then taking fifteen months off, he's already kind of turning the wheels and saying, well, yeah, but I was drinking too much. He's the master at sort of setting it up. So depending on which lane he takes Habib one fifty five Jorge one seventy, a potential of a one sided loss kind of removes him from the discussion in that weight division right away. As for a title, right so if he loses to one of them, he's got to go back to the other division. I think it would be smarter to try to get him right back in there with Habib if it could be made, because it's the biggest fight you could ever make. And if he should lose it, then you.

Just said many fights do you how many how many boys? If he should Mayweather? Excuse me, how many buys does mass what all versus McGregor sell do you think it is?

Just said many fights do you how many how many boys? If he should Mayweather? Excuse me, how many buys does mass what all versus McGregor sell do you think it is?

If he should lose it. If he should lose it, Luke, then he just moves up to one seventy officially, and it's like nothing happened, and you can still do the most all.

If he should lose it. If he should lose it, Luke, then he just moves up to one seventy officially, and it's like nothing happened, and you can still do the most all.

You can just go the other way to one fifty five if you lose to mask.

You can just go the other way to one fifty five if you lose to mask.

And you can do on the flip side. So wouldn't you do the one that would make more money? Look the no, you may do.

And you can do on the flip side. So wouldn't you do the one that would make more money? Look the no, you may do.

The one that's less consequential, and you would wait for the other guy to get ready. After a fight with Tony Ferguson and Ramadan, we're the.

The one that's less consequential, and you would wait for the other guy to get ready. After a fight with Tony Ferguson and Ramadan, we're the.

UFC and you just learned in a three year gap of McGregor's on predictability that he has the potential to make more money than he knows what to do with that can keep him out of the cage. You have a chance to do this, Abib one you do it, Luke. And by the way, these decisions cannot be made until April because you have to see if Habib can win and not get hurt. And then you're telling me, well, then that would push the timeline too far. Do you know the little trinket that can give to Connor? They can say, how about you open Raiders Stadium in Vegas and August against Abib and it'll be outside in front of sixty thousand sight.

UFC and you just learned in a three year gap of McGregor's on predictability that he has the potential to make more money than he knows what to do with that can keep him out of the cage. You have a chance to do this, Abib one you do it, Luke. And by the way, these decisions cannot be made until April because you have to see if Habib can win and not get hurt. And then you're telling me, well, then that would push the timeline too far. Do you know the little trinket that can give to Connor? They can say, how about you open Raiders Stadium in Vegas and August against Abib and it'll be outside in front of sixty thousand sight.

But Ramadan twenty twenty goes until late in May. Basically he wouldn't be ready to fight until late June early August.

But Ramadan twenty twenty goes until late in May. Basically he wouldn't be ready to fight until late June early August.

Okay, so we do that in August. You still allow Connor a chance to fight in December if you did that, And by the way, that fight could be boxing, it could be anything. You can't make this decision until April. You cannot, and you wait to see what happens. And I agree with you that there's many ways that this this Bibe fight can fall apart. Right now, based on that Tony fight, I agree with you, But if everything works out, they're going in that direction, and they should go in that direction.

Okay, so we do that in August. You still allow Connor a chance to fight in December if you did that, And by the way, that fight could be boxing, it could be anything. You can't make this decision until April. You cannot, and you wait to see what happens. And I agree with you that there's many ways that this this Bibe fight can fall apart. Right now, based on that Tony fight, I agree with you, But if everything works out, they're going in that direction, and they should go in that direction.

I think you go Jorge next, because if he loses a one to seven, if he wins it one seventy, holy shit, the world will be set on fire. If he loses, he can go right back to one fifty five. And it makes no difference to me. Now we got to move on because.

I think you go Jorge next, because if he loses a one to seven, if he wins it one seventy, holy shit, the world will be set on fire. If he loses, he can go right back to one fifty five. And it makes no difference to me. Now we got to move on because.

On which which brand do you think is bigger long term potential for the UFC, Habib or Jorge.

On which which brand do you think is bigger long term potential for the UFC, Habib or Jorge.

Well, neither particularly Jorge is a little bit too old thirty four, he'll be He's still very competitive. But how many years left hard to say. And Habib, I don't know that he has much longer. He's much younger see thirty thirty and thirty one. I just don't know how much longer he wants to do it, So that's a little bit harder to say. Plus Qorte would be good for Latin American markets. We already know what about the story about Habibib. Let's move on to the third of those fights. Because they were asking about this at the post fight press conference, would you take a boxing fight? Connor McGregor in twenty twenty and he said, we'll see, because the way it could go Brian is whether it's Habib or Jorge next, we'll have to end up seeing. Doesn't mean he has to fight Kbib. What if Habib's not ready? What if, on the other hand, Brian Campbell, Yeah, sorry, it ends up being Many Pakiao or Floyd Mayweather. What would you say is, let me ask you the question in this way, what would you rather see if he's going to take a boxing fight, would you rather see him rematch Floyd or would you rather see him fight Manny? Do you have a preference there or would you rather see him just avoid that altogether.

Well, neither particularly Jorge is a little bit too old thirty four, he'll be He's still very competitive. But how many years left hard to say. And Habib, I don't know that he has much longer. He's much younger see thirty thirty and thirty one. I just don't know how much longer he wants to do it, So that's a little bit harder to say. Plus Qorte would be good for Latin American markets. We already know what about the story about Habibib. Let's move on to the third of those fights. Because they were asking about this at the post fight press conference, would you take a boxing fight? Connor McGregor in twenty twenty and he said, we'll see, because the way it could go Brian is whether it's Habib or Jorge next, we'll have to end up seeing. Doesn't mean he has to fight Kbib. What if Habib's not ready? What if, on the other hand, Brian Campbell, Yeah, sorry, it ends up being Many Pakiao or Floyd Mayweather. What would you say is, let me ask you the question in this way, what would you rather see if he's going to take a boxing fight, would you rather see him rematch Floyd or would you rather see him fight Manny? Do you have a preference there or would you rather see him just avoid that altogether.

I would rather see him avoid it all together. As a fan in me, I want to see him come back and fight three times in MMA and see if he can have a legitimate second chapter of his career all the things we're talking about, be a title contender in two divisions, all that. There's way too much money on the table for him not to take a boxing match this calendar year. I firmly, one hundred percent believe he will close the year win or lose in his second fight of this year in MMA. He will close the year in a boxing match. It just seems to match up with the priorities of Dana White in this fledgling ZUFA boxing thing that he wants to get off the ground. It would just make a ton of sense that way. I know people are interested in the idea of a many Pacio fight because they haven't seen it yet. Here's the problem, man, He's still too good. He's still too great. He would absolutely destroy McGregor. He would attack from the same angles and quickness that dropped Keith Thurman. Right, you're unbeaten Walter Way champion at that point, McGregor would have a hell of a time with despite the size advantage, if he's going down the boxing road, I think Floyd Maywether's the fight to make. You're adding extra level of intrigue because Floyd will be forty three. He will have been out of a competitive environment going all the way back to the twenty seventeen first McGregor fight, and you're putting on the line Floyd's fifteen to oh record. Floyd built his entire marketing campaign around that zero TB all of that stuff. If he would somehow retire with one loss and it was to an MMA, obviously, that's how you That's the cell right there. And I think with the years gone by, Connor may have overachieved in that first fight. Maybe Floyd didn't turn it onto late. There's a lot of things you can say, but he didn't embarrass himself. And I'm not here to say I love this and I want this, but I'm here to say it's happening, and I'm here to say Floyd brings much more compelling opportunities in there of why the bizarre and farcical thing of putting a boxing against an MMA guy actually has historical implications Because Floyd, this is not an exhibition. This would be a real fight and Floyd zero would be lunch.

I would rather see him avoid it all together. As a fan in me, I want to see him come back and fight three times in MMA and see if he can have a legitimate second chapter of his career all the things we're talking about, be a title contender in two divisions, all that. There's way too much money on the table for him not to take a boxing match this calendar year. I firmly, one hundred percent believe he will close the year win or lose in his second fight of this year in MMA. He will close the year in a boxing match. It just seems to match up with the priorities of Dana White in this fledgling ZUFA boxing thing that he wants to get off the ground. It would just make a ton of sense that way. I know people are interested in the idea of a many Pacio fight because they haven't seen it yet. Here's the problem, man, He's still too good. He's still too great. He would absolutely destroy McGregor. He would attack from the same angles and quickness that dropped Keith Thurman. Right, you're unbeaten Walter Way champion at that point, McGregor would have a hell of a time with despite the size advantage, if he's going down the boxing road, I think Floyd Maywether's the fight to make. You're adding extra level of intrigue because Floyd will be forty three. He will have been out of a competitive environment going all the way back to the twenty seventeen first McGregor fight, and you're putting on the line Floyd's fifteen to oh record. Floyd built his entire marketing campaign around that zero TB all of that stuff. If he would somehow retire with one loss and it was to an MMA, obviously, that's how you That's the cell right there. And I think with the years gone by, Connor may have overachieved in that first fight. Maybe Floyd didn't turn it onto late. There's a lot of things you can say, but he didn't embarrass himself. And I'm not here to say I love this and I want this, but I'm here to say it's happening, and I'm here to say Floyd brings much more compelling opportunities in there of why the bizarre and farcical thing of putting a boxing against an MMA guy actually has historical implications Because Floyd, this is not an exhibition. This would be a real fight and Floyd zero would be lunch.

First of all, you're abolutely right about Manupacie. For folks who didn't realize this, he's been on fire of late. I know he's forty years old plus at this point, but he is. He hasn't looked this good in years. Ever since he beat Lucas Matista, he has been on an absolute tear. This is not the time for McGregor to fight a guy like that period. The answer is obviously Floyd for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus I'll keep on it one more. Yes, forty three would able to be I mean, I don't know how competitive it was the first time. It's to a degree up for interpretation. It would be more competitive this time. I firmly believe that. But here's the real reason why you want to do it, beyond the fact because look what a McGregor Pakyaw fight sell. Yeah, it would do really big business. Maybe not as much as one with Floyd for a rematch, but still good enough. But here's the reality, Brian. You know this as well as I do. Floyd is the MMA boogeyman. He rains. No boxer has grabbed the consciousness of MM fans more than Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather drives MMA fans crazy because he trolls them, because he beat their most celebrated star in a fight that was designed for him to look good. Then he goes to Japan and beats all of the Japanese hardcore m fans delight in Tenson Escala and so on and so on, and he keeps antagonizing them, and he keeps egging them on. And to a degree, you have to admit the blueprint that Mayweather built for himself in terms of his self permit as well as his financial aggrandizement. Connor followed a lot of it. It's smartly. I'm not even bagging on him. It was the right thing to do. Look at the success of it, right. So Floyd is the guy that MMA fans want to see lose more than anyone. You have to make it that direction. It's more competitive, it might make more money, and it means more to the community. Because Pacquiao, frankly to MMA fans kind of revered. They really like his all action style. They may not have been keeping up with his more recent fights, but if you ask him, do you have a positive view of Manny Pacquiao. Well, the fight against Mayweather suck, but in general he's got good knockouts. He goes for it. Dana White was saying it was his favorite boxer. He bought the Manipaquio shoes, the whole nine yards. So you have to go in the Floyd and may with a direction. Now do I want them to go in that direction? I'd like to see a year where he fights Serroney, masvid All and then never enough. To me, that would be the best year he could possibly have. But I get it. Suva Boxing was supposed to have an announcement in October. October pass, November past, December past, where now in January they're still kind of hinting at it. They need those two to put some electrical charge into that.

First of all, you're abolutely right about Manupacie. For folks who didn't realize this, he's been on fire of late. I know he's forty years old plus at this point, but he is. He hasn't looked this good in years. Ever since he beat Lucas Matista, he has been on an absolute tear. This is not the time for McGregor to fight a guy like that period. The answer is obviously Floyd for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus I'll keep on it one more. Yes, forty three would able to be I mean, I don't know how competitive it was the first time. It's to a degree up for interpretation. It would be more competitive this time. I firmly believe that. But here's the real reason why you want to do it, beyond the fact because look what a McGregor Pakyaw fight sell. Yeah, it would do really big business. Maybe not as much as one with Floyd for a rematch, but still good enough. But here's the reality, Brian. You know this as well as I do. Floyd is the MMA boogeyman. He rains. No boxer has grabbed the consciousness of MM fans more than Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather drives MMA fans crazy because he trolls them, because he beat their most celebrated star in a fight that was designed for him to look good. Then he goes to Japan and beats all of the Japanese hardcore m fans delight in Tenson Escala and so on and so on, and he keeps antagonizing them, and he keeps egging them on. And to a degree, you have to admit the blueprint that Mayweather built for himself in terms of his self permit as well as his financial aggrandizement. Connor followed a lot of it. It's smartly. I'm not even bagging on him. It was the right thing to do. Look at the success of it, right. So Floyd is the guy that MMA fans want to see lose more than anyone. You have to make it that direction. It's more competitive, it might make more money, and it means more to the community. Because Pacquiao, frankly to MMA fans kind of revered. They really like his all action style. They may not have been keeping up with his more recent fights, but if you ask him, do you have a positive view of Manny Pacquiao. Well, the fight against Mayweather suck, but in general he's got good knockouts. He goes for it. Dana White was saying it was his favorite boxer. He bought the Manipaquio shoes, the whole nine yards. So you have to go in the Floyd and may with a direction. Now do I want them to go in that direction? I'd like to see a year where he fights Serroney, masvid All and then never enough. To me, that would be the best year he could possibly have. But I get it. Suva Boxing was supposed to have an announcement in October. October pass, November past, December past, where now in January they're still kind of hinting at it. They need those two to put some electrical charge into that.

Frankison, let me ask you this. Let's say we did that fight in December for whatever, Floyd Maymac two. Here we go, let's say Connor second fight. He loses, but loses respectfully. Okay, so the brand is not damage. He just lost a hell of a fight against a Bieber or whatever. Okay, we go in five million pay per view buys for Maymac two or would it be muted and go down to about three and a half because we've seen it already. I mean, the potential if you market this right, I mean, I don't know the perfect storm of that media tour, that show time so well put on. By the way, the first two stops incredible performance. Are the last two I want to forget they ever happened. That was a perfect storm within it, within a perfect storm like that was just the you know, talk about selling a fight, could you could you grind it up to actually exceed.

Frankison, let me ask you this. Let's say we did that fight in December for whatever, Floyd Maymac two. Here we go, let's say Connor second fight. He loses, but loses respectfully. Okay, so the brand is not damage. He just lost a hell of a fight against a Bieber or whatever. Okay, we go in five million pay per view buys for Maymac two or would it be muted and go down to about three and a half because we've seen it already. I mean, the potential if you market this right, I mean, I don't know the perfect storm of that media tour, that show time so well put on. By the way, the first two stops incredible performance. Are the last two I want to forget they ever happened. That was a perfect storm within it, within a perfect storm like that was just the you know, talk about selling a fight, could you could you grind it up to actually exceed.

The four point four I'll tell you this one. If he loses, let's say he fights Masvidal and loses, but loses respectfully, I think you end up doing less. But let's say he goes out there and starches Masvidal one punch KOs and flat sif the whole nine yards Jose aldos All maybe not thirteen seconds, but similar kind of just you know, frozen body, the kind of way that Masoudall left, Ben Askron, I think in that particular context, you actually might be able to do more. To me, it really hinges on how he looks in his next fight. Is he really back back or is he back in that? Did he stopped the bleeding that's really the question how much, because really, if it was, if it was going to be more than the last time, you have to give them a good reason to think that. A good way to show that would be to change your lifestyle and then have the results match the lifestyle to say, aha, Now when we circle back here, because time is a flat circle, Brian Campbell, Now we have a chance. Now, we have a chance to do things a little bit differently this time. But if he goes in there and he kind of shows us that we already saw his ceiling, I tend to think not there you go fair, very fair, all right, you're fair, but you're firm.

The four point four I'll tell you this one. If he loses, let's say he fights Masvidal and loses, but loses respectfully, I think you end up doing less. But let's say he goes out there and starches Masvidal one punch KOs and flat sif the whole nine yards Jose aldos All maybe not thirteen seconds, but similar kind of just you know, frozen body, the kind of way that Masoudall left, Ben Askron, I think in that particular context, you actually might be able to do more. To me, it really hinges on how he looks in his next fight. Is he really back back or is he back in that? Did he stopped the bleeding that's really the question how much, because really, if it was, if it was going to be more than the last time, you have to give them a good reason to think that. A good way to show that would be to change your lifestyle and then have the results match the lifestyle to say, aha, Now when we circle back here, because time is a flat circle, Brian Campbell, Now we have a chance. Now, we have a chance to do things a little bit differently this time. But if he goes in there and he kind of shows us that we already saw his ceiling, I tend to think not there you go fair, very fair, all right, you're fair, but you're firm.

Here we go, yeah, no nineties and no dongs. We're on a good run.

Here we go, yeah, no nineties and no dongs. We're on a good run.

It's never late. But okay. So that it takes us to our fourth topic. Now, one piece of news that was big. You were there all fight week was not about Connor McGregor, believe it or not, but it was about what's coming down the horizon for the UFC's calendar. In March UFC two forty Eightive memory serves it is going to be Israel Attasanya defending his title against Joel Romero, and they didn't make a data official, but it appears that UFC Bantamway champion Henry Shudo it's gonna fight Jose Aldo. Now what's the common denominator between both of those? Brian Campbell, Jol Romero coming off of a loss, a heart fought loss, a controversial loss, but a loss just the same Jose Aldo. You can say the same thing about Marlon Mirisch. People have said, is this the end of meritocracy? Are there any is there anything different about the two scenarios. I have to tell you this is where I come down. I have no problem whatsoever with Atosania versus Romero. I have every problem with Aldo versus Suhudo. Let me tell you why I and see where I want to see where you come down on this. Here's why I think there's a critical difference. One he has miss waited a few times. That's not great, which credit to Jose Aldo. He made this one time. A bands some wait no issue. But in Joel Romero, while he is long in the tooth and he has had weight issues, he's also made it before as well. Only he's always a problem. But more importantly, he's got a long decorated history down there. He has been at middlewait a very long time. Two He's beaten many former champions. At two of five was where he was a champion, but he stopped with strikes Leoto Machieda, he stopped Chris Widman, he stopped Luke Rockold, and so on and so forth. He has been shown to be devastating against that division's elite year every year. I'm sure he lost to Robert Whitaker, but I thought he won the second fight against Costa coin flip could have gone either way, all right, which you could see the same for Aldo and Marish. But fine, he beat you. I'll let you make that claim. But the point being is this, he has shown to be a demonstrated winner down there against very very clear opposition too. Most importantly, there's no one in front of him. If you want to go through the rankings perspective, that's one way. Of course, it should be Costa. That's the way it would go. But he's not ready out there. But he just lost, and obviously he's got some issues he has to work it with, so that's a separate issue. There's no other real contender out there in front of him. I know cannony Or is close. He might have been the fighting till we'll have to see how that whole thing goes. But from a position of the guy's been down there, the guy's beaten champions, and really there's no one else in front of him. The UFC has a choice to make here. They want to keep out a sign you're busy. This is the way to go. Aldo, to me is totally different. He has no record at bantamwaite other than one fight, which he lost. Granted it was close, you could have gone either way, but that's it. Okay, he made weight and that's fine. But the other part is if you look in the rankings, Aldo, do you know where he's sitting right now in the rankings?