Eric Nicksick looks ahead to UFC 312, catching up w/ Chael Sonnen

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra invite Phoenix Carnevale on as a guest co-host for a show that features a pair of winners from over the weekend in bantamweight Payton Talbott and featherweight Youssef Zalal. The show begins with the three co-hosts issuing their takeaways from Rose Namajunas’ unanimous decision victory over Amanda Ribas in Saturday’s women’s flyweight main event at the UFC APEX. Shortly thereafter, the guys are joined by Payton Talbott for a chat that sees the unbeaten bantamweight prospect discuss how he gets into a calm “flow” state that allows him to both perform as a martial artist and excel in various action sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, and surfing. After explaining how DJing has become a newfound passion, Talbott circles back to his MMA future while sharing his thoughts on calling out bantamweight opponents after victory. After Payton leaves, the trio use the time between interviews to share their thoughts on Andre Lima’s decision to follow up his DQ win with a trip to a tattoo parlor to get Igor Severino’s bite mark tattooed on his bicep. Then, Youssef Zalal hops on the show fresh off a statement 2nd-round stoppage win that saw him become the first person to submit Billy Quarantillo in the Octagon. Phoenix looks back on Zalal’s MMA beginnings with LFA as her, Matt and Jim get Youssef to reflect on the lessons he’s learned about himself now that he’s found his way back into the UFC for a second stint. The show wraps up as Matt gets Jim and Phoenix to share their other takeaways from up and down the UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs. Namajunas card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Mars 202456min

Matt Serra and Jim Norton reunite for a Wednesday episode of UFC Unfiltered that sees the two chop it up with 8th-ranked UFC women’s flyweight Amanda Ribas and country musician Michael Ray ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs. Namajunas card at the APEX in Las Vegas. Matt begins the show with his best attempt at humbly bragging about dominating Jim in the head-to-head fight predictions battle between the two co-hosts.  Shortly after, the guys invite Amanda Ribas onto the show to hear the Brazilian veteran’s thoughts on what it means to finally be headlining a UFC card. Ahead of her first-ever UFC main event, Amanda discusses her thoughts on bouncing back and forth between flyweight and strawweight and why she’s expecting the very best version of Rose Namajunas as the two prepare for an all-action fight at 125 pounds. Not too long after Amanda’s interview ends, country music star and UFC superfan Michael Ray joins the show to reflect on his MMA fandom while talking about his friendship with various UFC fighters. As the conversation shifts to Michael’s music career, the guys talk in depth about the state of the music industry and how Michael has adjusted his strategy of releasing hit records like the one he just dropped two weeks ago called “Nothin’ Else”. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap up the show with three fight picks from atop Saturday night’s card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 Mars 20241h

With Jim Norton out for the day, it’s a Serra-Longo type of day on UFC Unfiltered as the great Ray Longo saves the day as guest co-host for an episode featuring lightweight Mike Davis and comedian Mike Glazer. Longo shares his perspective of this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura as someone who was in Las Vegas for the duration of the card. While recapping the card, Matt explains what he thinks he could see being the next course of action for Tai Tuivasa now that the Australian heavyweight has been stopped four straight times. Shortly thereafter, Mike Davis hops on the show to recap his 2nd-round submission win on Saturday’s card over Natan Levy, using the backend of his interview to call out a popular lightweight similarly jockeying for a spot in the UFC’s 155-pound rankings. When Davis leaves the show, Matt and Ray invite Mike Glazer on to talk to the comedian about the recent release of his special, “Life Rules!”, on YouTube. While Glazer’s comedy keeps him from being a full-on MMA practitioner, Matt still manages to identify an interesting martial arts discipline that Longo and Glazer have in common. Matt and Ray end the show by sharing their thoughts on the news that Rio de Janeiro’s UFC 301 co-main event will see Jose Aldo take on Jonathan Martinez in the Brazilian legend’s first MMA fight since retiring after a loss to Merab Dvalishvili in 2022.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Mars 202455min

UFC welterweight Bryan Battle and comedian Jesus Trejo join Matt Serra and Jim Norton for today's episode of UFC Unfiltered! With just three days until he fights in the co-main event slot of Saturday night's UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura card, Bryan Battle previews his matchup against Ange Loosa and reflects on an 8-year weight cutting journey that began as a 300-pound ex-football player and now continues as a 170-pound professional fighter eyeing his third straight win in the UFC. Right after Battle's interview ends, Jim and Matt bring comedian Jesus Trejo on. Jim and Jesus relate over their jobs as touring comics, sharing their own methods of how they keep up with UFC events that air simultaneously as their Saturday night gigs. Jesus wraps up the interview by sharing his thoughts on UFC 299. With Jim creeping up on Matt in the fight pick standings, the guys wrap up the episode with some more predictions — this time for this Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Mars 20241h 2min

On today's episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra unpack the action from Saturday's exciting UFC 299 card in a show that features two guest callers in ESPN MMA journalist Brett Okamoto and rising bantamweight Kyler Phillips. The first half of the show sees Jim and Matt work their way down the card alongside Okamoto, who shares his perspective as someone who was in Miami for the duration of Saturday's event as the host for the UFC Post Show. Among the topics the guys discuss: "Suga" Sean O'Malley's options for his next bantamweight title defense, Dustin Poirier's place in the lightweight title picture, Michael "Venom" Page's successful UFC debut, and Jack Della Maddalena's post-fight callout of fellow welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. After the guys dish their main takeaways from UFC 299's prelims & early prelims, Brett stays on the call as UFC bantamweight Kyler Phillips hops on the show to take a Monday morning victory lap after cruising to a unanimous decision win over 13th-ranked Pedro Munhoz on Saturday's prelims. While Brett hops off halfway through the interview, Kyler stays for longer and goes on to explain how mountain biking became his go-to supplemental hobby alongside his MMA training regiment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Mars 202455min

With Jim Norton traveling for the day, Matt Serra is joined by award-winning MMA writer John Morgan for today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered — which sees rising welterweight Jack Della Maddalena join for a chat ahead of his fight on the UFC 299 pay-per-view card in Miami. Facing his toughest test yet in fourth-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns, Jack assesses Gilbert’s game while expressing confidence in his ability to hold his own both standing up and on the ground. Aware that a win could do wonders for his #11 ranking in the 170-pound division, Jack explains why he thinks a win over Burns could set up an intriguing No. 1 contender matchup against Shavkat Rakhmonov. The rest of the show sees John and Matt go through an in-depth preview of Saturday’s stacked UFC 299 card — with John and Matt on opposite ends of several evenly-matched fights.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Mars 202458min

With UFC 299 fight week upon us, today's episode of UFC Unfiltered sees Jim Norton and Matt Serra bring along a pair of fighters from Saturday's card on to the show in welterweight Kevin Holland and lightweight Mateusz Gamrot! But first, Matt and Jim unpack the action from over the weekend by dishing out their main takeaways from UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev. Shortly after, friend of the show Kevin Holland makes his eleventh appearance on UFC Unfiltered. Set to take on Michael "Venom" Page in the British southpaw's UFC debut, Holland explains what he's expecting out of the upcoming matchup with a fellow striker like Page and why it should make for an enticing clash on the feet. As Holland catches up with the guys on life outside of the cage, the welterweight veteran wraps up the interview by opening up about the life lessons he's learned from getting into hunting. Once Holland leaves, the guys waste no time by bringing Mateusz Gamrot on for the second and final interview of the episode. Fighting a former champion for the first time in his UFC career, Gamrot talks about how unique it is to have gone from being a Rafael Dos Anjos fan to now being scheduled to fight him on one of the most stacked UFC cards of the year. To end things off, Jim and Matt put a bow on today's show by examining the UFC 299 card in entirety and picking some fights from the card that Jim hopes will be able to help him catch up to Matt in their head-to-head standings of fight picks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Mars 20241h 2min

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton are joined by UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov and comedian Ginger Billy! Joining the show first is Umar Nurmagomedov, and the unbeaten bantamweight explains why beating Bekzat Almakhan on this Saturday’s main card is the first step to getting back on track to big fights like his previously-scheduled matchup against Cory Sandhagen that was scrapped due to Umar’s shoulder injury. Not too long after, comedian Ginger Billy hops on the show to discuss how he went from his 13-year career as a respiratory therapist to touring around the country as a stand-up comedian — all while explaining how he fell in love with jiu-jitsu in the process. Finally, Jim and Matt end the show by picking the main and co-main events from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev card.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Feb 202455min