After losing it's big heavyweight affair, UFC 215 lost it's headlining title fight of Demetrious Johnson v. Ray Borg the night before the weigh-ins. Thankfully, Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko had a plan to save the night! Not. The refs had a plan to save the night! Not.
Read MoreConor Who? People, Demetrious Johnson is going to make history on Saturday! DJ stands alone as the best in the business. Hoping to move into that category on the women's side, Amanda Nunes faces down Valentina Schevchenko to defend her Bantamweight Strap. Both DJ and Nunes faced the wrath of one Mr. Dana White and now try to make hay headlining a card together. Conspiracy? All that and more on The Hurt Take!
Read MoreSomewhere in between the hype that McGregor would put Mayweather away within four and the reality that Mayweather TKO’d the Irishman in the 10th, the feeling is that everyone in the equation won. Also, Jon Jones managed to make news during such a hyped-up week for all the wrong reasons.
Read MoreThe fight some thought would never happened has arrived. The boxing great, 'Pretty Boy' Floyd 'Money' Mayweather takes on 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor in a matchup of the two most-hypable fighters in combat sports. This week on The Hurt Take, Rhys is joined by the ubiquitous Mitch Bayliss to talk how we got here, what the hype has dished out, and what we may see come Saturday. Hold on to your butts!
Read MoreTwo weeks out from the biggest crossover bout of the 21st century (and ever), all the news in the MMA sphere right now is about the Notorious one, Conor McGregor. Whether it's his fresh new rivalry with Paulie Malignaggi, accusations of racism, or folk songs, he's all anyone wants to talk about. So, of course, Rhys talks about him...and other stuff.
Read MoreThis here is the 1st official episode of 2017 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Don't fret though. Another 5 will still follow here in the rest of 2017. This particular edition is the first of a 2-episode theme with songs of the celestial- ie dealing with or alluding to outer space and all the various orbital/flying objects found in it.
Read MoreAfter the fervor of UFC 214, UFC Fight Night: Mexico City wasn't going to look as good. But it tried! Seven first round finishes and a couple of narratives worth paying attention to, from Sergio Pettis making his case as the next contender at 125, Rashad Evans looking more washed than your old pair of Levi's. Subscribe the to show on iTunes!
Read MoreThe king is back. Jon 'Bones' Jones was stripped of his title nearly two years ago and this weekend at UFC 214, he took it back in the same dominating fashion that he won and defended it. We talk what the future holds for Bones and lament the legcy of DC, which will forever be punctuated by his losses to Jones. Rhys examines about Tyron Woodley v. Damian Maia, Cris Cyborg, Robbie Lawler, Donald Cerrone - the whole gang!
Read MoreYou smell that? That's the smell of victory, a Chris Weidman victory. The former Middleweight found a way to exorcise his demons rallying over Kelvin Gastellum at UFC Fight Night: Long Island. But what's got Rhys fired up is the big one: UFC 214. The grudge match to end all grudge matches. Jon Jones v. Daniel Cormier, Volume II.
Read MoreConor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather went on a four-city World Tour and the Earth managed to stay intact. The tour had it's ups and it's downs, but did it manage to sell the fight? Rhys also tackles the recent card in Glasgow (FREEEEDOOOOOM!) and the card this weekend in Long Island.
Read MoreTwo UFC cards in two days had the potential for a glorious weekend. Instead, we get a card-breaking case of sinusustitututs. Ok, we also got Justin Gaethje, destroyer of worlds, and the 40-year-old who most makes you ashamed of your own athleticism, Yoel Romero, squaring off against Bobby The Reaper Knuckles (a.k.a. Robert Whitaker). All in all, an up-and-down weekend in the world of MMA. But that's kind of the way we like it.
Read MoreThis here is the 6th episode of 2016 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Finally back from sabbatical, S&G is finally bestowing that final one from a year ago on you. This particular edition is a stand-alone theme just for this episode and it's songs that centre on the postal service side of things, i.e. sending off a letter, delivering a message, shipping a package. You catch my drift?
Read MoreA double knockdown, poop, and a floppy ankle (with a prime stool-pull gag), were only a few of the highlights of one of the stranger weekends in MMA. Rhys ponders his reality after finding himself in the Twilight Zone for 48 hours. Join him this week on The Hurt Take!
Read MoreIt finally happened. The fight that for so long felt like a fantasy is now coming true...even if it's still a fantasy. Conor McGregor will box Floyd Mayweather on August 26 in Las Vegas and Rhys is fired up about it. Too much to talk about, so you'll have to listen. What else is on the episode? What else matters!? Rhys talks Cyborg getting a crack at the 145 belt, the bizarre from last weekend UFC Fight Night in Singapore, and....ah, who cares? You want McGregor/Mayweather talk. Just listen up.
Read MoreOn paper, UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Hunt did not have a lot of flash. But boy, did it sure have some bang, from the brutal to the too-tired-to-carry-on (a.k.a. The Dada). Rhys touches on some of the other big topics in the MMA sphere, from Demetrious Johnson's Cold War with Dana White and the UFC to Conor McGregor hitting the Forbes top 25 highest paid athletes list. Never a dull week.
Read MoreRhys forges on alone this week! It's for the best, though. The result of Jose Aldo v. Max Holloway made it difficult for Rhys to be around people. How did the Hawaiian toppled the Brazilian? What does this mean for Aldo's legacy? Also on the UFC 212 card, Claudia Gadehla looked damn good and is poised for another crack at gold. Rhys also takes a moment to chat about Alexander Gustafsson's big win and the upcoming Fight Night: Lewis versus Hunt card.
Read MoreFinally, Rhys, Mitch, and Taylor are in the same place, at the same time. This week, they review UFC 211, pondering the legacies of Stipe and Joanna, where Frankie Edgar ranks having crushed the hottest featherweight prospect, and what to make of the GSP and Michael Bisping cancellation.
Read MoreThe boys are back in town - literally! After time away, Rhys and Mitch return to the show this time in person for the very first time for the greatest UFC 211 preview show of all time! Heavyweight king Stipe Miocic seeks to tie the record for title defenses in that class at two - yes, two - in a rematch against Junior Dos Santos, who toppled him once before. In the co-headliner, Joanna Champion looks to further establish her legacy as the best female MMA fighter ever against perhaps her toughest challenge to date, Jessica Andrade. Also, Mitch writes a love letter to Frankie Edgar and ponders why Dana White is showing boxing so much love.
Read MoreCub's, Platinum's, Lionheart's, Darth's, King Mo's, Mr. Wonderful's, and so on and so forth. Another week has come and gone and the MMA wheel keeps on spinnin'.
Read MoreTwo weeks made two UFC cards with significant implications. After the madness of UFC 210, UFC Fight Night: Kansas City was steady, solid, sane and awesome. Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson tied the UFC record for title defences and reputation as the Pound-for-pound king (ten exclamation points and counting...), Robert Whitaker put himself firmly in the title conversation at middleweight, and Rose Namajunas does the same at women's strawweight. Plus, drama, drama, everywhere! Cormier, Jones, Cyborg!
