Episode 694: Dana White makes the (actual) media rounds

Episode 694: Dana White makes the (actual) media rounds

Author: Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes May 27, 2026 Duration: 1:02:10
Dana White’s everywhere right now. Time Magazine. Rolling Stone. NPR. The New Yorker. Wait, what? The New Yorker? Believe it. Leading up to the UFC’s Big Boy Birthday Bash at the White House, Dana’s on a media tour with the actual, legitimate mainstream media. Not surprisingly, he's spent a LOT of that time talking about himself and his very special relationship with ya boi D-Tiddy, and not much time at all talking about the actual fights or the fighters. No surprise there. But, wait, did Dana seriously just find out THIS WEEK during his talk with New Yorker editor David Remnick that there had previously been sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson? That might be the wildest part of this whole thing. 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: 50

The Co-Main Event MMA Podcast
Podcast Episodes
CME Live Chat: UFC 324 reactions and whatnot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:04
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Episode 678: Mike Goldberg voice: “Here … we … go!” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:49
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Episode 677: Are we ready for Paddy Pimblett, UFC champion? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:18
Just about 10 days before UFC 324, and oddsmakers still see Paddy Pimblett as a bit more than a 2-to-1 favorite to win the interim lightweight title over Justin Gaethje. I mean, damn. Does that seem right to you guys? Ho…
Episode 676: New year, new UFC? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:56
Sup, 2026. You gonna suck as bad as 2025 did? Not to start things on a pessimistic note, but if we had to guess … you know what, never mind. As it pertains to this show, 2026 means a lot of things — perhaps most importan…
Episode 675: Smell ya later, 2025! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:01
The Year of Our Lord 2025 was a weird one in MMA. Complete dogshit for the heavyweight division, obviously. You started the year with Dana White swearing up and down that he was going to get Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall do…
Episode 674: Petr Yan was perfect at UFC 323 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:20
Petr Yan showed up looking shockingly prepared for everything Merab Dvalishvili had planned on Saturday at UFC 323. Yan had the takedown defense. Yan had the stifling striking game. Yan worked the head and the body as we…
Episode 673: The UFC’s Paramount+ Era will begin … weirdly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:59
CBS gave Dana White a grand stage over the weekend, letting him announce the first fight bookings of the Paramount+ Era during halftime of the Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the Cowboys and Chiefs. Perhaps that was a…
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…