Episode 706: What’s hugs got to do with it?

Episode 706: What’s hugs got to do with it?

Author: Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes August 18, 2026 Duration: 57:06
Is that a Tina Turner reference in the title of this week’s episode? Shut up, don’t worry about it. Anyway, Ian Machado Garry couldn’t quite get it done against Islam Makhachev over the weekend at UFC 330. Garry did a decent job getting up from the takedowns and, as the fight wore on, it actually seemed like Makhachev was the one who got ti-red. But Makhachev had the fight’s biggest moment — kicking Garry in his damn face during the second round — and otherwise was able to salt away the victory with his stifling (if not particularly dangerous) ground game. Could Garry have won it down the stretch if he showed a bit more “killer instinct,” as many (read: Dana White) are saying? Did the fact that he seemed to offer Makhachev head pats and bro hugs between nearly every round reveal something lacking in Garry’s ability to get mean enough to close the show? Is he too SAWFT to be a UFC champ? I mean, surely that’s bullshit, but we discuss. 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
Episode 688: UFC 327 was wild (some might say wooly) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:51
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Episode 687: LHW tries to reinvent itself yet again at UFC 327 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:18
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Episode 686: Breaking News: UFC puts on good event [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
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Episode 685: MVP fills out the card + UFC heads to Seattle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
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Episode 684: MVP’s Netflix card is the best story in MMA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:42
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Episode 683: White House card is UFC’s Gobbledy Gooker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:17
Months and months. The UFC spent months hyping the release of its White House event fight card. Back in July of last year, Dana White said it would be the “Sphere on steroids.” In December, the President of the United St…
Episode 682: Alex Pereira, what you doing, baby? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Episode 681: Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano … in this economy?!? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:46
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Episode 680: Why is heavyweight? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:16
On the heels of last week’s stinker between Tallison Teixeira and Tai Tuivasa at UFC 325, this weekend brought us Rizvan Kuniev vs. Jailton Almeida and, wow, holy shit did it absolutely suck. Not to beat a dead horse her…
Episode 679: Volkanovski is just too good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:32
They did it again, brother, but when it was over it sort of seemed like they probably didn’t need to go to the trouble. Once again, Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by hard-fought but clear-cut unanimous decisi…