TAKE 1 - UFC 299 Preview

·49 min·4 clips

Ilia Topuria changed his Instagram to claim he was champion a week before his UFC title fight.

Hosts Wander Bread and Ariel preview UFC 299, offering fight breakdowns and predictions for the upcoming pay-per-view card. They discuss the event's stacked lineup and invite listener feedback on their new segment. The hosts express a preference for arena events over the UFC Apex, citing the missing crowd energy. They analyze the recent UFC 298 where Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to become champion. Topuria had changed his Instagram bio to claim the title before the fight, a bold act of manifestation. The hosts note Topuria's rapid rise to international superstardom and his press tours with European soccer clubs like Real Madrid. The conversation shifts to UFC 299, which some consider a bigger card than the upcoming UFC 300. The first fight breakdown is Petr Yan versus Song Yadong, with both recognized as exciting strikers. Yan is on a three-fight losing skid, but those losses came against top-tier opponents like Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley. Song Yadong is described as a dynamic, young Chinese fighter who brings exciting performances wherever he is placed. The next matchup is Gilbert Burns against Jack Della Maddalena, referred to as JDM. Burns is a seasoned veteran who has tested every top welterweight, including taking Khamzat Chimaev to a close decision. The hosts cite a statistic that fighters over 35 have a diminished chance of winning titles, with Tyron Woodley as a rare exception. They debate whether older fighters like Burns take money fights, exemplified by a hypothetical about fighting Jake Paul for $6 million. The Kevin Holland versus Michael "Venom" Page fight is framed as an entertainer against a highlight-reel striker. Page, making his UFC debut, brings an undefeated MMA record and a spectacular kickboxing background. Holland is known for accepting short-notice fights and talking to opponents during bouts, like his fight with Jacare Souza. The hosts mention Holland's prior agreement for a stand-up-only fight with Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, which may have hindered him. The final previewed bout is Dustin Poirier against Benoît Saint Denis. Poirier is coming off a knockout loss to Justin Gaethje, which raises questions about his comeback. Saint Denis is a rising, violent contender who served in the French special forces and is on a winning streak. The hosts note Poirier's history of high-profile fights against names like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. They speculate this fight represents a pivot to lucrative matchups rather than a title path for Poirier. The tone is casual and conversational, filled with personal anecdotes and humorous tangents. The style is fan-oriented, blending informal analysis with entertainment-focused commentary. This episode is ideal for UFC fans seeking a relaxed, opinionated preview of UFC 299's key matchups and fighter storylines. Listeners preferring strictly technical analysis or avoiding speculative tangents might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A casual UFC 299 preview that stays conversational and traces how MMA study has changed.

The episode opens as a UFC 299 preview, with Wander Bread and Ariel setting up a new segment around upcoming UFC events and listener comments.

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Why you'd press play

You want a casual UFC 299 kickoff with two hosts talking fights like fans, not analysts.

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