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With just over one week to go to UFC International Fight Week 2022, The Brit Pack's Simon Head is joined by MMA Junkie Radio's "Gorgeous George" and "Goze," plus Phone Booth Fighting's Richard Hunter, to preview an absolutely stacked card at UFC 276.
On a packed episode of The Brit Pack: United Nations, the lads run through each and every one of the fights set for action at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, July 2 as they discuss some of the key talking points ahead of a massive night of fights in Las Vegas.
Listen via the podcast player of your choice, or watch the video version of the show above.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com -
This week's episode of The Brit Pack: United Nations has a little something for everyone:
* Looking for reaction to last weekend's amazing UFC 275 title fights? We've got those.
* Want recommendations for places to check out in Vegas during International Fight Week? We've got you covered.
* And if you want to hear an incredible true story, brilliantly told, that involves a legendary entertainer, drug dealers and gangsters, then boy do we have an epic tale for you, too!
It's all crammed into a little over an hour of podcasty goodness, and it's all yours, right here. Enjoy!
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Saturday, June 4, 2016 was a red-letter day in the history of UK mixed martial arts, as England’s Michael Bisping stepped off a movie set on just 17 days’ notice and stunned Luke Rockhold to capture the undisputed UFC middleweight champion at UFC 199.
The event was the culmination of Bisping’s career-long quest to capture UFC gold. It was a quest that many had written off years prior. His devastating knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 led many to consider Bisping as a busted flush at the highest level.
Knockouts that big change fighters forever, and rarely for the better. But Bisping bounced back and, after enduring a string of setbacks – including losing the sight in his right eye – he managed to defeat the man he’d been chasing for years, former middleweight champ Anderson Silva.
For many – including me, if I’m honest – that seemed like the perfect time for Bisping to retire. He’d landed a fight against the man who was champion through so much of his career, and he beat him. But for Bisping it was never about the identity of the champion. It wasn’t even about earning a title shot. It was about winning the belt.
When that chance finally came, it arrived in far from ideal circumstances as he was offered the chance to step in on just over two weeks’ notice to face Rockhold, the man who had so decisively finished him two years earlier.
Bisping took his chance with both hands, arrived in LA looking remarkably relaxed, won over the fight fans in California, then knocked out Rockhold in stunning fashion to complete his dream of becoming a UFC champion.
On this special edition of The Brit Pack, I take a look back at that crazy fight week in LA as I made the short-notice trip to California to cover Bisping as he became the first (and still only) British fighter to win a UFC title. It was a remarkable wee and a spectacular night and you can recap it all, via my own experiences that week, in this pod.
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I’m back in the saddle after a week in Croatia, and the topic of Mirko Cro Cop was already underway when The Brit Pack: United Nations went on air for the latest episode.
On a show that covered a LOT of bases, Gorgeous George, Goze and I chat about a host of topics, including our approval (or otherwise) of Duran Duran’s “Wild Boys” as a walkout song.
After a hot debate over the best ever Champions League final fightback, we also recap some of our favourite MMA comebacks, before chatting about how we’d like to see Nate Diaz booked before his likely exit from the UFC.
There were plenty of other topics covered in a fun transatlantic conversation as we talked MMA, soccer and a whole lot more.
Check out the show via the video above.
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There may not have been any MMA action from the UFC, Bellator or the PFL this past weekend, but that didn’t mean MMA fans had a gap week. No siree.
While the global promotions took a weekend off, Cage Warriors stepped up and hosted a double-header of events from Charter Hall in Colchester, Essex that served up a feast of finishes on UFC Fight Pass.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two former middleweight champions in action in the two main events, but across the two nights we saw a host of entertaining bouts that delivered a succession of submissions and knockouts to almost make you forget about MMA’s big-ticket promotions.
In addition to Cage Warriors’ double-header in England, Poland’s always-spectacular KSW promotion delivered the goods from Lodz, as five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski added a highlight-reel knockout to his resume with a thumping one-punch starching of former middleweight champion Michal Materla.
On this edition of The Rundown, I take a look back at those three events, and bring you news about Bellator’s fight card for Dublin in September. Then I throw things forward to this weekend, as the UFC returns to the UFC Apex for a Fight Night show that features a battle of heavyweight strikers in the main event, and a pivotal featherweight clash in the co-main.
Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to join me for “The Brit Pack: United Nations” later this week.
Photo credit: Dolly Clew/Cage Warriors
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Bellator 281 in London saw a host of Brits return to action on home soil on a night that saw mixed fortunes for the local heroes at Wembley Arena.
The main event saw Michael “Venom” Page lose out on the scorecards as Logan Storley picked up the split-decision win to capture the interim Bellator welterweight title. It was a fight that was particularly tricky to score, and the debate has raged on since the verdict. Some, including Bellator president Scott Coker, suggested that “MVP” deserved to get the nod, while others have offered the contrasting view that Storley dominated the fight and was the clear winner.
On this special Bellator 281 reaction pod, I take a look at both sides of the argument, and share my conversation with Scott Coker backstage, where he told me why he thought Page won, and why Storley needs to evolve his game to remain at the top of the 170-pound division.
It was a memorable night for Paul “Semtex” Daley, who bowed out of his 64-fight MMA career with his 35th knockout – a blistering finish of Wendell Giacomo that almost took the roof off Wembley Arena.
And it was a big night for Fabian “The Assassin” Edwards, who produced the best performance of his career to knock out Lyoto Machida and claim a huge scalp in the Bellator middleweight division.
It was a big night, full of talking points, and I recap the best of them on this special reaction pod. Enjoy!
Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/Bellator MMA
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UFC 274 certainly served up a stack of talking points and, in their first conversation since the fights took place in Phoenix, Arizona, The Brit Pack United Nations crew shared their takes on a headline-packed night of fights.
That included the bizarre women’s strawweight title fight between Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza, as well as Charles Oliveira’s comeback win against Justin Gaethje.
Michael Chandler’s stunning knockout of Tony Ferguson got us thinking about our favourite (and best) knockouts in UFC history, and we each had different picks for our top fight finish.
We then throw forward to a packed weekend of fights, starting in England with Bellator 281 in London, where Michael “Venom” Page will take on Logan Storley for the interim welterweight title in the main event.
The action then turns to the UFC Apex, with former light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz facing hard-hitting contender Aleksandar Rakic in a pivotal clash in the 205-pound division.
It’s a packed show, and it’s all yours right here.
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UFC 274 sent us on a rollercoaster of emotions as the main card served up a real mixed bag of fights from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Charles Oliveira was stripped of his title for missing weight before his bout with Justin Gaethje, but he made sure the belt remained vacant with a superb come-from-behind first-round submission victory.
Carla Esparza is now a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion after edging Rose Namajunas via split decision after one of the most uneventful title fights in recent memory.
And Michael Chandler landed arguably the knockout of the year so far with a massive front-kick finish of Tony Ferguson, who had dropped the former Bellator champ in the opening round of their lightweight clash.
On this week’s weekend rundown, I take a look back at the big storylines coming out of UFC 274, and recap the best of the action from Phoenix, before recapping a rough night for the Brits at Bellator 280 in Paris.
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The main card of UFC 274 is absolutely stacked with must-see fights and storylines galore as the UFC prepares to host its latest pay-per-view offering at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The card is topped by two UFC championship bouts, with the lightweight title clash between reigning champion Charles Oliveira and former interim champ Justin Gaethje set to headline the card.
The co-main features a women’s strawweight title rematch between two-time champion Rose Namajunas and the woman who denied her in the inaugural UFC women’s strawweight title fight, Carla Esparza.
Also set for action on the main card is a dynamite lightweight clash with high stakes for both men, as former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler takes on former UFC interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson in a bout that both men will view as a must-win matchup.
There’s also a battle of lightweight veterans, as Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Joe Lauzon get set to kick off the main card in another eagerly-anticipated matchup.
Ahead of fight night, The Brit Pack United Nations crew convened their latest meeting to run the rule over the big fights and debate the big talking points of fight week.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com -
Danny Roberts is all set to make his 12th UFC appearance on Saturday night when he faces Brazilian veteran Francisco Trinaldo at UFC 274 in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s a bout that offers “Hot Chocolate” the chance to kick-start his 2022 in style as he faces a tough, durable opponent on one of the biggest fight cards of the year so far.
Ahead of his bout, I caught up with Danny from his hotel room in Arizona as he prepared for the 24th fight of his professional career. He’s fit, he’s in good form and he’s ready to deliver the goods for the fans back home.
Check out the full interview as we discuss everything from his preparation for Trinaldo, to his willingness to face anyone and everyone at 170 pounds, to OG status in the current crop of active British UFC fighters. We even got to chat a little football, too.
Don’t forget to check out Danny’s fight against Trinaldo on the UFC Fight Pass prelims this Saturday night. But, before he makes the walk to the octagon, check out our conversation right here.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, rate, and review. You know the drill.
Enjoy the fights this weekend, and keep your eyes peeled for another episode of The Brit Pack: United Nations, which is coming your way very soon, too.
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NFL Draft fever had the sporting world gripped on Thursday night as the first round of the draft took place in Las Vegas.
Not wanting to miss out on the fun, we at The Brit Pack United Nations gathered together to conduct a draft of our own – The Brit Pack United Nations Fantasy MMA Draft.
The format was (relatively) simple:
* 11 rounds, one fighter per weight class, from women’s strawweight to men’s heavyweight (leaving out the women’s 145 division, due to a lack of depth)
* Each team must contain at least one fighter from each of the UFC, Bellator and PFL
* Each team is allowed no more than ONE active UFC or Bellator champion
The fighters will score points for the rest of the year, earning points for our teams.
Scoring System
The Brit Pack United Nations Fantasy MMA scores are determined by an adaptation of the PFL's league scoring system.
* Fight appearance: 1 point
* Win (of any kind): 3 points
* Additional bonus points for a finish:
* Round 1 finish: 3 points
* Round 2 finish: 2 points
* Round 3-5 finish: 1 point
* Championship bonus (for winning a title fight with any of the aforementioned promotions): 5 points
Check out the show and find out who went early, who went late, and decide which lineup has the best chance of success by the end of the year.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com -
Could it be possible that a British fighter just locked up 2022’s Fight of the Year, Round of the Year AND Comeback of the Year honours in the space of just one round?
Liam Harrison’s incredible comeback against the “Elbow Zombie” Muangthai at ONE 156 was one of the highlights from an absolutely packed week of action as the world’s top promotions all put on a show (or, in Bellator’s case, two shows) for fight fans across the globe.
On the first episode of our post-weekend recap show, “The Rundown,” I take a look back at the biggest and best moments from a superb week of fights, starting with the PFL’s 2022 season curtain-raiser in Texas, continuing with ONE Championship's event in Singapore and Bellator’s double-header in Hawaii, and finishing with the UFC Fight Night event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
There’s also a little housekeeping, as I bring you bang up to date with developments with The Brit Pack, and what you can expect in the coming weeks and months.
Check out the show via the player above, and don’t forget to subscribe!
Thanks for checking out The Brit Pack MMA! Subscribe for free and get new shows sent straight to your inbox, every week.
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Welcome to the first episode of a new spin-off show, “The Brit Pack: United Nations,” as MMA Junkie Radio’s Gorgeous George and Goze join Simon to shoot the breeze on everything from upcoming MMA events to other sports and pop culture.
On the inaugural show, the trio chat about the upcoming Bellator double header in Hawaii, including the start of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix, as they offer their tournament predictions, and look ahead to Cris Cyborg’s latest title defence against familiar foe Arlene Blencowe.
The lads also chat about the upcoming World Cup, next year's Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix and ask why Simon still hasn’t made an appearance at the MMA Junkie Radio studios at Mandalay Bay…
Enjoy the show!
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UFC 273 was another stellar pay-per-view, with two enthralling title fights that saw both champions retain their titles, while the welterweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns delivered a Fight of the Year contender.
On this week’s show, Simon looks back at the big fights, and the big talking points, from Saturday night in Jacksonville as Alexander Volkanovski and Aljamain Sterling defended their belts in very different ways.
Volkanovski was a class above “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung as he finished his man early in the fourth round to extend his winning streak to 21 fights, while Sterling edged Petr Yan in a closely-contested title unification battle in the co-main event. Some complained about the scoring – Simon has his own take on the scorecards…
The show also bids a fond farewell to Sandhu, who is stepping away from the pod to focus on other projects. With increasing scheduling and work commitments making it increasingly difficult to get both lads behind the mic at the same time each week, running a “two-man booth” became untenable, and the show will now continue in a slightly different format, with Simon at the helm. And, who knows? Maybe the pair will reunite with Sandhu as a special guest at some point down the line…
We’ll have more news about what’s to come in the days and weeks ahead, but for now, make sure you subscribe to our Substack to make sure you don’t miss a thing. As always, thanks for supporting the show. Enjoy the fights this weekend!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebritpack.substack.com -
After a relatively quiet week for MMA last week (check UFC Fight Pass to catch up on two stellar Cage Warriors cards, if you missed them) the UFC is back with a bang as it brings two title fights to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for UFC 273.
Reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headlines the card as he looks to make it 21 wins in a row with victory over “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, who will be hoping the second time’s the charm as he gets a second chance to capture UFC gold, eight years after his first.
The co-main features a bantamweight title unification battle between reigning champ Aljamain Sterling and the man whose disqualification gifted the title to “The Funkmaster,” Petr Yan. To say there’s some heat in this one would be an understatement, but who will come out with bragging rights, and the belt?
Remarkably, despite the two title fights at the top of the card, the welterweight contender clash between Gilbert Burns and Khamzat Chimaev has already threatened to steal the show. The level of anticipation for this one is right up there, and may even be higher than the two title fights in terms of sheer fan interest.
It’s the acid test for Chimaev, who has looked every inch a title threat without ever actually facing elite-level opposition. That will change on Saturday when he faces No. 2-ranked Burns, who briefly had reigning champ Kamaru Usman on skates before eventually losing out to “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
It’s a big night in Florida, and ahead of UFC 273, Simon flies solo to mark your card ahead of fight night as he previews the big matchups, along with some pre-fight comments from reigning champions Volkanovski and Sterling, plus Burns, as The Brit Pack MMA Podcast sets the scene ahead of the UFC’s latest pay-per-view extravaganza.
Enjoy the fights, and don’t forget to like and subscribe!
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It’s not often we talk about ONE Championship on this show, but this week, it was more than justified, as Asia’s biggest martial arts promotion put on a bumper card of fights to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
ONE X was a 10-hour, 20-bout marathon of fight action that would have tested even the most avid of fans, but (after missing the first few bouts, which started VERY early in the morning, UK-time) Simon watched all three cards of action, and was gripped by what he saw.
Sandhu is over in Dallas, Texas, for WrestleMania, and he’ll bring us bang up to date with his travels upon his return. It means that, on this week’s show, Si flies solo to recap ONE X’s huge card, then takes a look back at UFC on ESPN 33 as Curtis Blaydes picked up a big win in the main event in Columbus, Ohio.
Simon also marks your card ahead of a Cage Warriors double-header in Manchester as the UK-based promotion takes centre stage on a relatively quiet weekend for live MMA.
Enjoy the fights, and enjoy the show!
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Oh, what a night!
After three years away, the UFC returned to London, where a card packed with the cream of British fighting talent, backed by 18,000 raucous fans, blew the roof off the O2 Arena on a memorable night in the English capital.
The Brit Pack was on the ground at UFC London, with Sandhu working as part of the BT Sport team, and Simon covering the event as part of a packed media corps – and the event surpassed all expectations to deliver an event that might just have been the best UFC show ever staged on these shores.
With the dust finally settled on a spectacular night, and with Sandhu somewhere over the Atlantic on his way home, Simon got behind the mic to fly solo for a bumper UFC London post-fight recap as he shares his thoughts from his experience watching the action from cageside at the O2 Arena.
We also hear from some of the night’s big winners, with post-fight press conference audio from Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Paddy Pimblett, and Paul Craig. By way of a bonus, we’ve also tacked Dana White’s croaky, but happy, post-fight presser onto the very end of the show.
It means this week’s edition is a biggie. But, after the biggest night of fights we’ve seen in the UK for years, we think it’s worth it.
Don’t forget to subscribe, either via our Substack, or via the podcast provider of your choice, and please hop over to your YouTube channel and hit the subscribe button so you’re all prepped and ready for when we flip the switch and go to video.
Enjoy the show!
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We’ve been waiting for three long years, but finally the UFC octagon has returned to the UK.
UFC London is all set to go down on Saturday night, with a capacity crowd of 20,000 fans expected to pack the O2 Arena for a fight card stacked with the cream of the UK’s fighting talent.
Both Simon and Sandhu will be in London to work the event, and ahead of fight night, Simon flies solo to bring you a whistlestop preview of the fight card as he breaks down the key fights on the bill, and highlights some of the most interesting storylines that underpin the matchups on Saturday night’s card.
* Will Tom Aspinall announce himself as a legitimate heavyweight title contender with victory over Alexander Volkov in the main event?
* Can Arnold Allen extend his win streak by handing Dan Hooker a defeat on the Kiwi’s return to the featherweight division?
* Will Paddy Pimblett deliver another show-stealing performance?
* Can Molly McCann add another win to her resume and edge closer to a shot at the UFC women’s flyweight championship?
* And can Paul Craig continue his impressive run of form at light heavyweight to move towards a shot at the title at 205 pounds?
We’ll learn the answers to these questions, and a whole lot more, on a packed night of fights this weekend.
Enjoy the show, and enjoy the fights!
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It takes something a little bit special to headline a UFC pay-per-view. Usually, that something special is a UFC championship bout. But sometimes, very rarely, there’s a fight that captures the imagination to such an extent that a belt isn’t even needed.
Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal is one of those fights.
The two former friends and American Top Team training partners have been an integral part of each other’s successes inside the octagon earlier in their respective careers. But the pair have drifted apart following issues within the team at Coconut Creek, Florida.
Both were banished from the gym but, while Covington went out and found a new home at MMA Masters, Masvidal eventually returned to the fold and resumed his position as one of the most senior fighting figures at the famed gym.
With the two very much separated, the bad blood started to simmer, as they took aim at each other in interviews and on social media over the last few years – all while the pair took separate roads to the top of the UFC’s 170-pound division.
But now, the pair are set to face off with a lot on the line. Each man had two separate cracks at Kamaru Usman’s undisputed UFC welterweight title, and each man fell short on both occasions as they failed to find a path to victory against the pound-for-pound No. 1.
It means that the two bitter rivals are battling not only for bragging rights, but for real championship relevance at the top of the welterweight division. Big fights will undoubtedly remain for the victor, but for the loser, things may start to look a little uncertain.
On this week’s show, we chat about that fight, as well as the fascinating situation surrounding the status of the co-main event (which has probably changed by the time you’re reading this!).
We also look ahead to the featherweight bout between undefeated grappler Bryce Mitchell and veteran striking ace Edson Barboza, and we also take a look back at Gegard Mousasi’s virtuoso performance at Bellator 275 in Dublin, and UFC Fight Night 202, where Islam Makhachev continued to build a case for a title shot at 155 pounds.
It’s a packed show, and we hope you enjoy it as part of your fight week festivities.
Enjoy the show, then enjoy the fights!
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Jamahal Hill’s fighting moniker is “Sweet Dreams,” but his punch power was anything but sweet for his light heavyweight rival Johnny Walker this past weekend.
Hill delivered a stunning one-punch knockout at UFC Fight Night 201 to announce his arrival as a legitimate threat to the division’s top names at 205 pounds, and immediately found himself in a social media war of words with former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.
On this week’s show, we take a look back at Hill’s star-making performance in his first UFC main event, and consider just how close he might be to a title shot at 205 pounds.
We also take a look back at Bellator 274, where Logan Storley put himself in pole position to fight the winner of the upcoming title clash between Yaroslav Amosov and Michael “Venom” Page, and recapped the action from BKFC’s “KnuckleMania” event, where UFC stars Chad Mendes and Mike Perry took centre stage with big performances.
We also discuss the big all-British boxing clash in Manchester as Kell Brook stopped Amir Khan in a bout that the boxing fans on Simon’s side of the pond had been anticipating for almost a decade.
Then we turn our attention to a packed weekend of fights, as Bobby Green makes a two-week turnaround to step into the main event spotlight and face the surging lightweight contender Islam Makhachev, while Dublin’s 3Arena prepares for another big night of Bellator action, headlined by Gegard Mousasi’s title defence against the undefeated contender Austin Vanderford.
It’s a packed show, as we rip through all the big talking points in a big week for combat sport. Enjoy the show, then enjoy the fights!
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