Episode 682: Alex Pereira, what you doing, baby?

Episode 682: Alex Pereira, what you doing, baby?

Author: Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes March 4, 2026 Duration: 1:05:26
Alex Pereira announced last week that he is vacating the UFC light heavyweight title. Why? Well, nobody has said for sure but … we’ve got some ideas. Ya boi Poatan isn’t just going to give up the strap for no reason. He must be chasing something and, honestly, the only thing for Pereira to chase outside of 205 is a heavyweight title fight (probably at the White House) against one of three men: Jon Jones, Cyril Gane or Tom Aspinall. We know Aspinall is still out trying to get his eyes put back in his head, so that leaves Jones and Gane — Jones obviously being the more palatable choice. So, the questions are: Would Poatan have a chance in that fight now that we know Jones’ hip is “covered with arthritis” or whatever? Will the UFC make Jones’ White House dreams come true after all? And, if not, would the UFC really stoop to giving us Pereira vs. Gane? Probably. They probably would. Plus, UFC 326 is this weekend! Yay! 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 659: Raja Jackson goes nuts at pro wrestling show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:51
So, Quinton Jackson’s son went on a crazy, uh, rampage at an independent pro wrestling event over the weekend. Raja Jackson — a person we’d barely ever heard of before — got into a backstage beef with a wrestler named Sy…
Episode 658: Khamzat smesh? Or Khamzat smush? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:23
He done did it. Khamzat Chimaev basically pitched a perfect game against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, making it look EASY en route to one of the more lopsided decision wins you will ever witness in a championship fight.…
Episode 656: Every UFC fighter, ranked? What could go wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:04
The big homies at Tapology this month revealed their own new computerized ranking system for MMA fighters — and, friends, they went big. The new Tapology rankings don’t just break down the Top 10 like your standard media…
Episode 654: Saying goodbye to Cool Dusty P [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
Dustin Poirier’s last fight is this weekend. You know, allegedly. All relevant disclaimers apply. Still, if anyone deserves to ride off into the sunset with his legacy intact and his chin held high, it’s Cool Dusty P. Ca…
Episode 653: UFC at the White House? Wow, LAME! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:35
The doddering old man who also happens to be the most powerful person in the world made an offhand comment over the 4th of July weekend that he’d like to do some UFC fights at the White House. He wants 20,000 people ther…
Episode 652: Ilia Topuria looks more and more like That Dude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:18
Ilia Topuria called his shot — going out there at UFC 317 on Saturday and doing exactly what he said he was going to do to Charles Oliveira, exactly when he said he was going to do it. After a first-round knockout, Topur…
Episode 651: Jon Jones ‘retires’ the same week as UFC 317? Lawd! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:41
So, Jon Jones is out. Like, OUT out. As in Jon Jones is retired. Or … should we say … “retired,” because ain’t nobody thinks we’ve seen the last of this dude in a cage, a ring, or a dusty circle of dirt at some county fa…
Episode 650: Accusations, innuendos and inferences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:27
So, there’s still some fight left in this old dog, Kamaru Usman — as Joaquin Buckley found out the hard way in their UFC Fight Night main event on Saturday. The 38-year-old Usman defied the odds and many expectations wit…