Ben Askren, Holly Holm & UFC 239 Picks

Matt and Jim unpack the action of UFC 319 on an episode of UFC Unfiltered that invites two victorious fighters from the card in Drakkar Klose and Loopy Godinez. Joining first is Klose, and the lightweight calls in to discuss the keys to his unanimous decision win over a tricky veteran like Edson Barboza. Drakkar touches on the memory of his deceased brother and how honoring him in victory helps him stay grounded. Between guests, the guys dish out some of their takeaways from UFC 319 and play matchmaker before finally bringing in Loopy Godinez for a chat. Matt sings the praises of Loopy’s striking as the 11th-ranked strawweight details what a victory over a former champion like Jéssica Andrade does for her confidence.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Aug 48min

There is no replacing Matt Serra. But when the champ can’t make the show, it’s never a bad idea to get another champ to fill in — and that’s exactly what today’s Unfiltered episode delivers with Forrest Griffin talking UFC 319 w/ guest callers Geoff Neal and Chase Hooper. First up, 11th-ranked welterweight Geoff Neal reflects on his inspiring journey from a life-threatening ICU stay in 2020 to competing at the highest level in the UFC. He breaks down his upcoming matchup with Carlos Prates and weighs in on whether “MMA math” applies when comparing each of their recent losses to Ian Machado Garry. Then, Chase Hooper — just 25 years old and already entering his 12th UFC fight — talks about taking on Alexander Hernandez, a dangerous striker with only one submission loss in 24 pro bouts. Usually on dad duty 50+ weeks a year, Chase shares how his locked-in fight-week mentality has brought out his best performances since moving up to 155 pounds. Having seen many of UFC 319’s fighters up close in his role at the UFC Performance Institute, Forrest offers sharp analysis for a comprehensive breakdown of the sneaky-good matchups that round out Saturday’s stacked card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Aug 54min

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, we break down the massive Paramount + TKO deal — a jaw-dropping 7-year, $7.7 BILLION U.S. rights agreement starting in 2026. First, Jim and Matt catch up with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis — gearing up for his fourth straight title fight and third defense. Dricus weighs in on Saturday’s epic UFC 319 title showdown against Khamzat Chimaev and shares whether he thinks his unique style is finally getting the respect it deserves. Next, the guys chat with viral slam KO artist Elijah Smith. Now $50K richer after sending a message to the bantamweight division, the 22-year-old talks about his journey from football to MMA. In the back half of the interview, Elijah’s ex-UFC fighter dad joins in to share his perspective as Elijah’s trainer and mentor. Listen in as the guys break down the wild action from last weekend’s UFC Fight Night and make their picks for Saturday’s UFC 319 card!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Aug 1h

With a fight card to look forward to, Jim and Matt invite a pair of all-action veterans on to the show in Andre Fili and Roman Dolidze. A longtime friend of the show, Andre Fili returns to UFC Unfiltered for the first time as a father in one of his most thoughtful interviews yet. He talks about the life changes since welcoming his son Valor, how fatherhood has shifted his mindset inside and outside the cage, and his upcoming matchup with Christian Rodriguez. Then, Roman Dolidze joins ahead of his middleweight main event against Anthony Hernandez. He talks about rebounding from back-to-back losses to a strong win streak, what’s at stake this weekend, and what it is about the Georgian UFC fighters that keeps them so driven. Stick around as Matt and Jim make their picks for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Aug 52min

Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered delivers a powerful mix of rising talent and personal triumph as Jim and Matt welcome UFC featherweight prospect Austin Bashi and DWCS hopeful Jimmy Drago. First up is Bashi, fresh off his first UFC victory — a slick first-round submission over John Yannis. He reflects on bouncing back from his debut loss, chasing a dream he’s had since childhood, and what it was like mimicking Alexander Volkanovski in Diego Lopes’ camp. Between guests, Jim and Matt break down highlights from UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park — including standout performances from Tatsuro Taira, Chris Duncan, Esteban Ribovics, and more. Then, Jimmy Drago joins ahead of his Dana White’s Contender Series debut on August 12th. The Yonkers native shares his incredible story — from losing his father, a 9/11 first responder, to battling addiction and surviving eight overdoses. With sobriety, discipline, and grit, Drago turned a goal of just winning one pro fight into a legitimate UFC dream — and he’s one win away from making it real when he faces Ty Miller on the first DWCS card of 2025.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Aug 53min

RJ Clifford jumps in as a guest co-host for one of those rare UFC Unfiltered episodes where we talk to a pair of fighters days away from fighting each other. Neil Magny drops in to reflect on his 35th UFC bout and what it means to fight another seasoned vet. Then later, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos makes his Unfiltered debut with the help of a translator to discuss his mindset heading into the matchup and how he plans to overcome Magny’s reach. Between interviews, Jim, Matt, and RJ dive into the recently announced light heavyweight headliner between Dominick Reyes and Carlos Ulberg in Perth. Could it be a #1 contender fight? Reyes is chasing his fourth straight win, while Ulberg looks to solidify his case as the next title challenger after Ankalaev vs. Pereira II.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

31 Juli 41min

Jim and Matt kick off the show recapping Saturday’s UFC card in Abu Dhabi, where “Matt-stradamus” Serra stays red hot with another perfect night of picks. They react to Reinier de Ridder’s razor-close win over Robert Whittaker, Petr Yan’s bounce-back performance, and Steven Nguyen’s record-setting knockdown spree before welcoming back Davey Grant to discuss his gritty win over Da’Mon Blackshear and what’s fueling his late-career surge. Finally, inaugural UFC BJJ welterweight champ Andrew Tackett joins ahead of his first title defense this Thursday. The middle Tackett brother reflects on growing up in a grappling-obsessed family and shares why his aggressive style makes him a fan-friendly champion for a UFC BJJ ruleset already designed to deliver action.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Juli 52min

It’s a loaded Wednesday on UFC Unfiltered as Jim and Matt welcome two top-10 UFC contenders and gear up for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi! First, 7th-ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot joins the show just two months after his dominant win over Ludovit Klein. The American Top Team standout reflects on teammate Dustin Poirier’s recent retirement before unpacking his place in the stacked lightweight division’s current logjam at the top. Then, 7th-ranked middleweight Jared Cannonier jumps on to preview his August 16th bout with Michael “Venom” Page. Fresh off a 4th-round KO over "RoboCop" that snapped a 2-fight skid, Cannonier compares MVP’s style to prior opponents before ultimately putting on his analyst hat with a pick in this Saturday’s Whittaker vs. de Ridder main event. The guys wrap things up with three fight picks of their own for Saturday’s early-start Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Juli 1h