The Clinch Podcast
Welcome to The Clinch Podcast, your go-to source for all things combat sports! Im your host Chey, and this podcast dives deep into the world of mixed martial arts, boxing, and everything in between. Whether you're a seasoned fan, an aspiring fighter, or just starting to explore the sport, I've got you covered.
Each episode, I break down the biggest fights, the most exciting up-and-comers, and the stories behind the athletes who live and breathe the fight game. From interviews with fighters, coaches, and analysts to in-depth discussions about the strategies, training, and culture that shape the world of combat sports, The Clinch brings you the pulse of the fight world with a unique perspective.
No topic is off-limits – whether it's the hottest fight night previews, game-changing industry news, or tackling the personal journeys of those in the ring and beyond, The Clinch Podcast always delivers fresh, exciting, and honest conversations.
Get ready for powerful discussions, intense analysis, and the raw energy of combat sports. Join me and step into the clinch – where the action happens.
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The Clinch Podcast
Ep 53: New! Introducing: The Clinch Sesh
In this episode, we recap UFC 310. From Kennedy Nzechukwu's electrifying knockout to Clay Guida's impressive resilience against Chase Hooper, we break down all the unforgettable moments. We also highlight Joshua Van’s standout performance, my disappointment in Bryan Battle vs. Randy Brown, and give props to Aljamain Sterling’s technical brilliance.
For our NEW segment, Death Scrolls, we sift through the hottest MMA headlines on social media, including Ilia Topuria’s latest callout and UFC 312 headliners. Finally, we preview UFC Tampa, sharing our fight predictions and the bouts Im most hyped for. Tune in for all the breakdowns, pet opinions, and bold takes!
what's up guys, welcome. Welcome back to the Clinch Podcast. If you hear purring, this is my cat, starboy. He was crying as soon as I started recording so I just had to put him in my lap. I can't wait for you guys to all meet my pets, for you all to meet my pets. Once I start doing the YouTube series, they'll definitely be making a lot of appearances, so I can't wait for that. But today I wanted to just try something new with you guys and hopefully we all like it. But basically all I wanted to do today, especially after the past couple of weeks going over a lot of crazy UFC conspiracy theories and some background on Conor McGregor. That just blew me away. So if you haven't heard those, go back and listen. But if you are in more of a chill mood, more conversational mood, this is going to be your episode today.
Speaker 1:And also, if you don't know me personally, I am in college. I went for a while in 2015, starting in 2015, and then life got very lifey, so I am now continuing that journey. That journey I don't want to sound like that, but I did just finish the semester too, so I've been enjoying time off school, even though I did enjoy school thoroughly and that semester I just finished, I ended with all as, so I'm super excited. So I just want to celebrate that with you guys by just talking about the fights last weekend and talking about some UFC news in a new segment that I will introduce a little later on. So I want to go ahead and just start. Ooh, y'all heard that, y'all heard that. Crazy, I promise, I'm past puberty. But yeah, so let's go ahead and start off with Kennedy. But yeah, so let's go ahead and start off with Kennedy.
Speaker 1:I always get tongue tied, as I'm sure a lot of other people do, but in oh gosh, okay, versus, also another hard one. Also another hard one, lukasz Breszki. So I heard it all throughout. You know Fight Camp and all of that, but to actually pronounce it when I'm talking about it is a whole different story. And yes, my dog is playing in the background. That's just the space we have right now. So enjoy his playing sounds.
Speaker 1:But it was a crazy way to kick off fight night. I really thought that that was just a perfect way. I know Kennedy will eventually start, you know, consistently being on main cards just without you performs. And I didn't know a lot about brushreschke before I watched that fight, you know. So going in I was leaning Kennedy and it just worked out. You know he knocked him clean out and it was such a good fight.
Speaker 1:And Clay Guida also did much better than I thought. Not, I don't mean that in a bad way. I do love Clay Guida and he has been one of the consistent figures since I started enjoying the whole MMA world. So I don't want you guys to think that I thought he was going to suck, because obviously he is Clay Guida. Like he always shoots out like a little cannonball is how I see him. It's like as soon as the ref says go or fight, uh, he just kind of like turns into a little Tasmanian devil cannonball. So I I love Clay Guida, um. So I am glad that he just consistently shows that he's not done and that he does have fight in him, you know. But Chase is just a really sneaky problem. He's super unsuspecting but he has just immense energy in the octagon. So it was a really good fight. I really liked it. I liked seeing some more of Chase, since he's relatively new to the UFC and of course I always love seeing Clay Guida, it's always a pleasure.
Speaker 1:And then Michael Chiesa for some reason, he surprises me every time he wins. I don't know why. I'm just like, well, okay, didn't see that coming every single time he wins, you know. But he deserves a lot more credit than I usually give him. You know, he made Max look kind of bad out there. So, you know, just props to him, and I just need to have more faith in Kiesa because he has a really good record.
Speaker 1:I've. You know what it is. I probably just saw his last few losses before he beat Tony, and I have a super weak memory. You know, I have recency syndrome real bad, you know. So I probably just forgot about his win streak before that. So, you know, you win some, you lose some. But I think for me, when I'm looking at fighters currently, I kind of look at their like most recent streaks and if they're like losses or if they're wins and what they look like. And that's how I form my decisions. Everyone's different, you know. Some people have a better memory and they're like, oh well, from 2021 to 2020, whatever, you know, he won this way, this way and this way and I'm like, okay, I forgot what I had for breakfast this morning. So thank you, you know. But yeah, so I have to just have more faith in him. This fight definitely just woke me up to Michael Chiesa again, you know. So I really liked it.
Speaker 1:And then Joshua Vann versus Cody Durden, and every time I see his last name I just think like I don't know, I just kind of think of Holland for some reason, like Durden, like Cody Durden, durden, durden, durden, you know, like I don't know what it is. I'm really sorry. You just had to listen to that, but you know we're all just hanging out and just talking about fights, and if you were actually hanging out with me, that is what you would be dealing with. So it was just a really cool fight to watch. Uh, van is the one who kept it exciting for me. He just kind of broke Darden down throughout the entire fight in just all the ways, in many different ways, and he showed a lot of durability and technique and it was a highlight fight for him. He really got to showcase his skill, and what helped that image too is that Cody didn't really like totally suck either. You know he got some really good moments in there too, so it just further highlighted Van. I thought in that sense too, and oh, that was probably crazy to listen to too.
Speaker 1:Um, I was really disappointed in Brian Battle. I'm sure a lot of you share that feeling. I just think that the fight should have turned out so differently and could have turned out so differently had he made weight, and I think they should have. The UFC should have just rescheduled the fight in my opinion, because he, had he made weight, it would have been fight in my opinion, because he had he made weight, it would have been. I think that Randy would have walked straight through battle just based on how battle was performing, given the advantages that he had. I mean, the whole fight was just really underwhelming for me and with Brian battle's whole I'm the butcher persona like and coming in heavier should have been enough to set him up for a completely dominant performance and that just didn't happen, not in my opinion. But you know what do I know? You know, I think that Randy held his own the entire fight and just mathematically fight. Mathematically. That would have equaled a more dominant Randy Brown had the scales been more even.
Speaker 1:And then what also sucks is that the fight itself felt like it was just at a stalemate because of Randy being the better fighter and Bryan having the unfair advantage. You know, just kind of put that fight at a stalemate and it just made it kind of boring. So I'm not even sure where he booked the fight, which super sucks. So just an anticlimactic, anticlimactic end to what I really thought was going to be fight of the night. I felt that in my core that it was going to be fight of the night. I felt that in my core that it was going to be fight of the night. And then this happens and it just sucks, so whatever.
Speaker 1:And then we had Aljamain Sterling versus Musar Evloev. I'm pretty sure I'm pronouncing that wrong too, but it is what it is. All I can do can do is try, you know, but that fight was really good, like michael kiesa kind of. I forgot how good aljo was, is, and so I was just super like invested in this fight and just watching his technique and how amazing it is, how really beautiful and flawless his wrestling was. And I do want to say I do have more faith in him than I had in Chiesa. Like I understood that Aljamain Sterling is good, like he is Aljamain Sterling, but I just kind of forgot that he was that good. I mean, he's up against mosar, who is just a incredible wrestler, just a glued to you kind of guy like you know. Habib, habib, habib never get made of and you know the like you. So I I really enjoyed seeing how Aljo performed in in harmony with that, so I liked it.
Speaker 1:And then Dominic Reyes versus Anthony Smith pretty much went exactly how I thought it would go. And Anthony, just to me, he just kind of has a soft chin and you know, dominic Reyes went toe-to-toe with Jon Jones. So I was just confused on the matchup as a whole, because I kind of look at Anthony Smith a little side-eyed just because he's a really decent commentator but as far as his fighting goes it's just like a why are you still doing that kind of thing? And I know that sounds so rude and I'm sorry, but that boy out, that boy's chin is soft. And to match him up against Dominic Reyes of all people, I mean not that I feel like Reyes is some shining star, but he obviously has the talent to get even the slightest nod of praise from Jon Jones. So it was just weird to me. It was a bizarre matchup but it went how I thought and it was entertaining. It was just kind of a little sad at the same time. But you know, if you're an Anthony Smith fan, I'm sorry for you. Um, good luck next time.
Speaker 1:But now I want to talk about bryce mitchell versus cron gracie. That also went pretty much how I thought. I mean bryce mitchell's just kind of undeniable. At this point I feel like I mean, I'm still not like a Bryce super fan, nor do I think I ever will be, but he's fun to watch. He's, he's gimmicky and he, he's just he's bizarre. I don't know, I I'm using that word a lot today in this episode, but it was just weird. It was just weird a weird card.
Speaker 1:And then, uh, cyril Gon versus Alexander Volkov. That one I I wanted Cyril gone to win, but I kind of don't think he did, and I think a lot of us agree. I think you know what Okay, I thought he had. I think the first round, from what I remember, was kind of like eh, so I can see how it was scored for him. I just I don't know, I don't know. I really think Volkov won that. But who knows, I'm not a judge. The judges even shouldn't be judges. They get stuff wrong so often. But I'm just not sure that this fight was so so far off that it. It's like oh okay, this is like I've seen. I've seen more wrong fights, I've seen more wrong decisions. I mean like I've seen far worse. So I don't know. I want to hear what you guys think, though. Let me know if you think that Saragon actually won and how, how you scored it. Let me, yeah, let me know how you scored it, so that I can kind of like analyze it next to my mental notes. So I don't know, that'll be fun, let me know.
Speaker 1:And then Shafqat Rahmana versus Ian Machado Gary. I thought that the Ian Gary train was going to start to slow down a little bit, and I think this fight kind of showed that. I think it was just kind of he's not as big and bold as he was trying to set himself up to be. I think he wanted to step into Conor McGregor's shoes, but that is just a nearly impossible shoe to fill. So I and and many aspects, but in this one in particular, in the cage, just because Connor had that energy, the entire event, like you knew, it was just Connor air. It was like you were breathing in Connor McGregor's energy, at any event, even just watching from, like watching a TV, and Ian Gary just doesn't have that, but he also just doesn't have the technical ability that Connor had when he's at his prime.
Speaker 1:I mean, I'm sure he still has that technical ability. That I don't think is something that a lot of that can be easily lost throughout time. I think that if Connor were to come back, that he would still have amazing precision and technique and just muscle memory. Really. I mean, the way he moves is just so signature, but I just think that there's going to be some way that he is lacking. And going back to Ian Gary, I think that he just kind of doesn't really reach that particular caliber at this time, at this time. I don't think that you're ready to be the next Kana. So yeah, I just don't think that's going to happen.
Speaker 1:And then Alexandra Pantoja Is he Brazilian? He's not Brazilian. Pantoja Pantoja versus Kai Asakura. So this one, I mean I wasn't really excited about it. Okay, so he is Brazilian, so it's Pantoja. I wasn't really excited about it. I mean, it's just I was surprised that Pantoja even won the belt, but not because of his skill he's obviously very talented it's just because of the my familiarity with him. So yeah, I I mean it was a fight, a fight was had and he won it. So very cool. That's all I have to say about that one. But that was UFC 310. It was, I think, kind of a mid card, but I mean, I don't know, let me know what you think. I, I want to know what you guys think. It definitely was an odd way, I feel like, to kind of close the year on pay-per-views. So I don't know, let me know what you guys think.
Speaker 1:And now I just wanted to do a quick segment, a new segment called the death scroll. So it's just kind of like a joke I have with myself, really, because I don't really like to be on social media too much and I just kind of get bored from it after a little bit. But sometimes I'll get in these moods where I'm just scrolling. Everyone does it, you know. But I call it the death scroll because I just it's like you get sucked into a time machine, but not like the cool kind where you can go back and fix stuff, or maybe that's not so cool, but more of like a wow, three hours have passed. No, I don't think I'm ever on the phone that long, but I do call it a death scroll just because I do lose track of time and so I just wanted to go through just some Instagram pages MMA new page, sorry. Mma news pages, espn MMA, mma Junkie you know all of those.
Speaker 1:And today I wanted to just go through ESPN MMA and just look and see what we have. Oh, ilya Teporya challenges Charles Oliveira at 155 pounds. That would be super fun. I think that would be a cool one to watch, he says, since Islam is going to fight in January and he's not going to be ready for April or May, I would like to fight the number one contender, which is Charles Oliveira. Yeah, I'm down to see that. That would be crazy. That would be fireworks for sure.
Speaker 1:And also the reason I'm doing this segment is because it's just like kind of chilling and scrolling through MMA news and just want, like the things that I think about when I see these and don't have anyone nearby, you know, to talk about it with, but I just kind of just scroll past it and don't really get time to chew on it or elaborate my thoughts on certain. You know to talk about it with, but I just kind of just scroll past it and don't really get time to chew on it or elaborate my thoughts on certain you know little posts, so I do hope you enjoy this. Let me know. So we'll do a couple more, a few more. Let's see.
Speaker 1:Let's see, see, ooh, shavka Rahmanov had a torn MCL going into UFC 310. So a lot of you have probably seen this already. Um, I saw it a little earlier. This was so crazy to me. It made me think, like how, how do you fight with, with torn muscles like that? That sounds excruciating. Shafqat's just made out of something else. And people who fight like with injuries like he has, like I believe Uriah Hall fought with like a completely broken toe that was like L-shaped one time. And of course, you have Robbie Lawler, who fought with a completely just split lip, a split, you know. So it's just, it's insane to me. Uh, let's see. Um, yeah, dana white seems to have agreed that volkov won that fight. He seemed to have thought that that was a robbery as well. Let's see. Oh, yeah, lots of posts about that. Volkov's very angry. Okay, let's see Alexandra Pantoja to Demetrius Johnson. I thought that this was a weird. This was weird when I read it. You know it.
Speaker 1:If you've heard past episodes, you know how odd it is to me when fighters call out other fighters who are retired. Um, keep, keep the competition going where there are challengers. You know it's, it's kind of just. It should just kind of be fate. If you are not, my cat Hello, hello Clinch Crew. He's saying hello Everyone. Say hi, starboy. Okay, so I don't know, just leave the retired fighters alone. Um, feed, feed the challenger. Stop feeding people who've already, you know, made their own tables Like I don't know. Are you following me? Yeah, are you really feeling me? You know, but he said I'm the goat in here. If you want to prove you're the goat, come back. He, he did already. And he said go, come back. He, he did already. And he said uh, anthony johnson said anthony johnson, demetrius johnson said guys, I got offered two million dollars to fight. I turned it down, I don't care to fight anymore. Yeah, it just leave. Leave him in happy retirement. Chase some young blood. You know, keep the competition fresh and and challenging.
Speaker 1:Ooh, zhang Weili versus Tatiana Suarez. That is set for February 8th in Sydney and that'll be for USC 312. That'll be such a good fight. I really think that'll be great. Hopefully Suarez stays injury free With the rate and amount of injury she's experienced. I'm curious to see how she does against Zhang Weili, because Zhang Weili is just an immovable force. I feel like you know so. But also Tatiana Suarez is very, very swift, very um witty when it comes to fighting. So I I think it'll be. I think it's a good matchup. I think that if I had to, if I was betting, I would bet Zhang Weili, but we'll definitely see. That'll be fun watch.
Speaker 1:Sorry, I know, I said I'd only do a couple or a few more, but there's been a lot of news added this week and it's looking really good out here in the fight realm. Let's see. Let's do one more, okay, yeah, we also have Drakus Drikus Duplessis versus uh Sean Strickland, and that uh will be a rematch and that will also be um at UFC 312. I wonder if this is the main event. It looks like this will be the main event, so that'll be exciting. I am not particularly excited about either fighter, but Jukka Suplassis has proven to be another fighter who has fought to stand where they stand um in as only as far as MMA is concerned, and I think that it'll be entertaining. I mean, sean Strickland is usually entertaining. As long as I'm not listening to anything he says, as long as I'm just watching him fight it'll be fine, but I know I'll definitely be harping when it comes. You know fight week and you'll hear me complain. So I'm super excited about that fight.
Speaker 1:I think that that will be a good card. I'm curious to see who else they add to it. And, like I said, ufc 310 was was pretty cool. I thought it was a little subpar, but I think a lot of that has to just do with how excited I was for Randy Brown versus Brian Battle and how disappointing that ended up being. So take that with a grain of salt and we do have UFC fight night. It looks like that is Colby Covington versus Joaquin Buckley. Y'all know I'm rocking with Buckley a thousand percent if I'm betting, and I'm just going through those that card.
Speaker 1:Right now Davey Grant is fighting. How about that? I've been watching Davey Grant um in the UFC since his time in on the ultimate fighter, of course, ron Rossi hello hi, um, but sorry about that, and so I'm super excited about that. I think Davey's always fun to watch um and Ramon Tavares he is pretty good too. So I'm I'm excited. I think Ramon might have it, so we'll see. And Miranda Maverick back in the octagon, that'll be fun. I think she's super talented. I think that this will be a pretty decent fight. It looks like she's fighting Jamie Lynn Horst. I'm not familiar with who that is, but I guess we'll find out. Let's see who else.
Speaker 1:Miles johns versus felipe lima another good matchup. Miles johns might take it. Let's see sean woodson versus fernando padilla. Um, oh, he's got an interesting funky smile. Go check that out on ufccom that that'll give you a little laugh. And Joel Alvarez versus Dracar Close. Very good fight, very good matchup. Not sure I think I'd go Joel here.
Speaker 1:Michael Johnson versus Ottoman or Ottoman Ottoman Empire, ottoman Azatar yeah, I think this is another good one. Michael Johnson, how do I think you're going to do against Ottman? I don't know, I think Ottman's got it. I'd say Ottman. He's just a little bit more sturdy, I feel like. So That'll definitely give him the edge. Let's see Navajo Sterling. I think I've heard of him, but I can't recall any fights that he's been in that I've seen he's fighting Tuco Chocos. I'm not familiar with him at all, so we'll find out.
Speaker 1:Adrian Yanez versus Daniel Marcos that's another really good matchup. I would say Adrian Yanez on this one. Vitor Petrino versus Dustin Jacoby oh, that'll be interesting. I am not sure I'd say Vitor. I'd say Vitor on this one. Manel Cape versus Bruno Silva, bruno Silva, 1,000 million percent.
Speaker 1:Cub Swanson, cubby versus Billy Guarantijo, let's see, I'd say, oh, I don't know, I don't know that's going to be a good fight. Please, don't let anything happen. Both these fighters make weight injuries. Please, please, no world ending nothing. Come on. Cub Swanson versus Billy Guarantijo, that will be fire. Um, cub Swanson, uh no, I keep. Okay, maybe Cub, I don't know, Billy's so good, I don't know. I'll get back to you guys on that one, I'll, I'll let you know. And, of course, colby Covington versus Joaquin Buckley. Like I said earlier, joaquin Buckley, all the way, my friends. So that pretty much wraps up this episode.
Speaker 1:Guys, thank you so much for hanging out and just listening to me rant and rave about fights and just talk about what I'm excited for coming up and listening to my pets make their comments. They're very opinionated. Listening to my pets make their comments, they're very opinionated, more opinionated than me, if you can believe it. But yeah, thank you guys. So much for listening. I hope you enjoyed this style. I look forward to when I start my YouTube and we do these kinds of sessions. It'll be super fun. I really enjoy just being super relaxed and talking to you guys about fights. I definitely can't wait for you guys to hear this new series that I'm working on, as well as thinking of some or looking up, looking into some more conspiracy theories in the MMA community and let me know what you guys want to hear. I am always open to your opinions, your critiques, your suggestions. It means so much to me to interact with everybody and just to build this community. I appreciate you guys so much.
Speaker 1:If you don't follow me already, I'm on Instagram as Shay my name with two Y's and Shay and I'm on Twitter as Shaolin Shay. I'm also on Patreon and let's see what I'm on there. I believe I am Shay. I'm as, actually, the clinch podcast, yep. So if you just look on there at the clinch podcast, it looks like there's two from an old one that I did that I don't know how to get rid of.
Speaker 1:If you're tech savvy, uh, please let me know how to do that. But it's the one with me with a pink thing on my head and that just has a $2 tier um, super, super inexpensive. And that's just, you know, to help build this podcast and it's just a really, you know, inexpensive way to you know, help boost this. I can create more for you guys. I want to, you know, eventually get some clinch merch in your hands and, you know, get a nice studio set up for you guys and just enjoy doing this, and I just love making this podcast and enjoy everyone who listens. So, um, that wraps it up with me here and until next time I will see you in the clinch. Thank you, bye.
