Episode 630: Islam + Umar big favorites at UFC 311

Episode 630: Islam + Umar big favorites at UFC 311

Author: Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes January 15, 2025 Duration: 1:06:48
Oddsmakers really like Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov to win their respective title fights this weekend at UFC 311. Maybe that’s understandable since, along with ya bois Khabib and Usman, the former students of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov are a combined *checks notes* 91-1 in professional MMA fights. That’s pretty good! Hold on, though. Arman Tsarukyan (who fights Makhachev for the lightweight title) and Merab Dvalishvili (who defends HIS men’s bantamweight title against Umar) are also both pretty good! So, what gives? Also, uh, we sure this shit is gonna go down at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, UFC? Because the whole shit down there in that region is on fire. Plus, is Mackenzie Dern at risk of finally living up to her potential? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s no shortage of opinions in mixed martial arts, but there’s a distinct difference between hot takes and informed conversation built on years of watching fights from press row. That’s what you’ll find each week on The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast. Hosts Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes, both veteran journalists who have covered the sport for more than a decade, break down the latest news without the filter of corporate hype or predictable fanboy reactions. Their discussions feel like the post-event analysis you’d have with the most knowledgeable person you know-if that person also had a sharp sense of humor and a healthy skepticism for the industry’s usual narratives. This isn’t a scripted recap show; it’s an irreverent, meandering, and deeply insightful dialogue that covers everything from the UFC and Bellator to the broader landscape of combat sports. You’ll hear them debate fight outcomes, analyze promotional politics, and question the week’s biggest stories with a perspective that only comes from having seen it all before. The chemistry between Dundas and Fowlkes turns each episode into a compelling conversation, making this podcast a staple for fans who prefer substance over shouting. It’s the kind of listen that doesn’t just tell you what happened, but makes you think about why it matters.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 672: Arman Tsarukyan forces the issue with Ilia Topuria [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:43
Prior to Arman Tsarukyan’s win over Dan Hooker on Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Qatar, we figured Tsarukyan was still on the outside looking in at the lightweight title picture. He’s long come off as a fairly nondescrip…
Episode 671: Islam Makhachev left JDM with no plan B [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:17
Yeah, so, Islam Makhachev is your new UFC welterweight champion. Not a huge surprise, considering the former lightweight titlist was a solid favorite to dethrone Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 over the weekend. What we…
Episode 670: UFC 322 is the big banana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:41
It’s November in the UFC, and you know what that means! We’re headed out to Madison Square Garden with a fairly stacked card. UFC 322 features a pair of championship fights in its main and co-main events, where two reign…
Episode 669: The UFC & combat sports enter ‘Plato’s Cave’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:26
What’s even real anymore? That’s the question we ended up asking ourselves after last weekend’s slate of combat sports chaos. For starters, Isaac Dulgarian’s first-round submission loss to Yadier del Valle at Saturday’s…
Episode 668: UFC 321: It doesn’t get any more heavyweight than that! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:38
How does Tom Aspinall still have an eyeball right now? Dude, Ciryl Gane went two-knuckles deep in Aspinall’s left eye (while pulling off the rare double-eye poke!) during their heavyweight championship fight at UFC 321 o…
Episode 667: UFC 321 is a must-win for Aspinall, the UFC & the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:20
Let’s be honest, if the current version of the UFC heavyweight title is going to maintain any shred of credibility, Tom Aspinall pretty much has to win this weekend at UFC 321. Even if that happens, we’ll still only real…
Episode 666: Charles Oliveira is the new king of Rio! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:21
Chucky Olives pretty much wore Mateusz Gamrot around like a button during their main event fight at last weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Rio de Janeiro. It didn’t feel like there was a single second where Gamrot was winning…
Episode 665: Chama lives! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:30
Well, that was just disrespectful. Alex Pereira went out there at UFC 320 on Saturday with absolutely no regard whatsoever for Magomed Ankalaev. Bullied him. Dropped him. Pounded him out. Then did the “look at you now” h…
Episode 664: UFC 320 preview + Wanderlei gets KTFOed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:17
The PPV era is (maybe!) winding down, and on Saturday, we’ll all celebrate by (maybe!) shelling out our hard-earned dollars to watch UFC 320, where Magomed Ankalaev will defend his light heavyweight title in a rematch ag…