State of Combat with Brian Campbell

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State of Combat Trailer Sep 27, 2019

Show notes

Join CBS Sports insider Brian Campbell as he brawls his way through the worlds of boxing, and mixed martial arts in separate episodes each week. UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans co-hosts the MMA edition to share his fighting experience and insight. BC and his guests will share their unique takes on the hottest topics from the combat sports you love while welcoming in big-name guests. Stay tuned to the State of Combat feed for instant analysis and instant reaction podcasts surrounding the biggest moments in each sport.

WWE: The Fiend attacks, AEW Dynamite on deck (9/26) Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

Coming off a mundane week of TV, Brian Campbell and Adam Silverstein wonder whether WWE is doing enough to build Hell in a Cell or is entirely focused on relaunching its TV shows [30:45]. The guys break down The Fiend’s attack on Braun Strowman to close Raw [14:55] and what they expect to see from SmackDown on Fox next week [42:22]. BC and The Silver King also share their final thoughts ahead of the debut of AEW Dynamite [54:53] and play Hero or Zero [1:15:07] where topics include Roman Reigns, the Four Horsewomen, Michael Cole, Baron Corbin and Kenny Omega.

MMA: Rashad Evans talks comeback, Stipe-DC III and UFC Mexico fallout Sep 25, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell talks with "Suga" Rashad Evans and about his decision to return to fighting at age 40 and what might be next for the UFC Hall of Famer [1:09]. The guys also digest Daniel Cormier's comments about Stipe Miocic and debate just how big a trilogy fight would be historically [15:52]. Plus, all the fallout from a wild ending at UFC Mexico City [38:00] and a preview of UFC Copenhagen [53:08] and Bellator weekend cards [56:37].

Boxing: Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter preview PPV clash (9/23) Sep 23, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell is joined by welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. [1:25:32] and Shawn Porter [47:25] to preview Saturday's PPV unification bout from Los Angeles. The fighters talk about the transition from friends to foes in the buildup to this fight and break down why they believe they will win. Plus, Rafe Bartholomew helps break down the matchup and share his prediction [12:50]. The guys also look at the size difference between Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev [25:30], react to Ryan Garcia's new Golden Boy deal [36:30] and recap a wild brawl between Alfredo Angulo and Peter Quillin [14:40].

WWE: NXT debuts on USA, Brock Lesnar challenges Kofi Kingston (9/19) Sep 19, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell and Adam Silverstein waste little time in discussing NXT's live debut on USA Network. The guys break down whether the show stayed true to the NXT brand, what can be improved in future episodes, whether the first edition of the program was a win for WWE and everything that went down, including a title change, a big return and more. BC and The Silver King then move on to Brock Lesnar's return to SmackDown and whether him ultimately defeating Kofi Kingston for the WWE championship is a positive or negative outcome for Kingston's reign. The guys also briefly discuss the forthcoming WWE Draft before moving on to Hero or Zero where topics include The Fiend taking over Raw, Baron Corbin winning King of the Ring, the Street Profits hosting Maria Kanellis' gender reveal party, the continuation of the Roman Reigns angle on SmackDown and the burying of Cedric Alexander.

MMA: Stipe Miocic talks Jon Jones, outlasting DC; Is Gaethje ready for Khabib? (9/18) Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell sits down with UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to recap his dramatic stoppage of Daniel Cormier to regain his title [43:32]. Could Jon Jones be next for Stipe? What about a trilogy with DC? Miocic also shares the humbling nature of his day job as a firefighter and paramedic in Ohio. Plus [47:10], UFC Hall of Famer "Suga" Rashad Evans joins Brandon Wise in recapping Dustin Gaethje's win over Donald Cerrone at UFC Vancouver [5:15] and previewing Saturday's UFC Mexico City card headlined by Yair Rodriguez-Jeremy Stephens [1:02:01].

Boxing: Fury's survival, Haney's rise, Benavidez and Dirrell talk title bout Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell is joined by Rafe Bartholomew to recap a wild weekend including lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury's scare against Otto Wallin [9:13] and Devin Haney's continued rise to stardom [33:05]. Brian also chats with super middleweights Anthony Dirrell [1:02:45] and David Benavidez [1:16:20] ahead of their Sept. 28 title bout on the Spence-Porter PPV card.

WWE: Clash of Champions instant analysis; Triple H, Shawn Michaels talk NXT (9/16) Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

Just minutes after WWE Clash of Champions went off the air, Brian Campbell and Adam Silverstein convened to break down the entire pay-per-view in a loaded podcast. The guys discuss The Fiend appearing in the final seconds, failed Superman-level booking for Seth Rollins and Kofi Kingston, the surprise return of Luke Harper, why Becky Lynch-Sasha Banks was such a home run and whether a PPV like this is acceptable with WWE failing to deliver anything memorable despite 10 titles being on the line. BC and The Silver King also preview the debut of NXT on USA Network by welcoming Paul "Triple H" Levesque (1:00:45) to discuss what the show will look like on cable TV, whether Vince McMahon will be involved and what he has to say about competition going head-to-head with the yellow brand. Also joining the show is "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (1:25:19), who talks about his new role as a NXT coach, returning for one big match and why the third part of his professional wrestling career is making such an impact on his life. This is a show you do not want to miss!

WWE: Clash of Champions preview, King of the Ring update (9/11) Sep 12, 2019

Show notes

Just days before WWE Clash of Champions, Brian Campbell and Adam Silverstein break down the entire card. Will the final pay-per-view before SmackDown's big move result in numerous title changes? Is this finally the time when Becky Lynch and Kofi Kingston drop their straps? BC and The Silver King go over the builds to each match, make their predictions and discuss where WWE is going from here (53:40). But first, the guys open the show by debating whether this is indeed the third boom period in professional wrestling (2:40), the scheduled King of the Ring finals (9:39), the Kevin Owens-Shane McMahon storyline, the value of dirtsheets and AEW's first two matches for Full Gear (43:36.

MMA: Khabib-Ferguson or bust, BMFs at MSG, Cowboy-Gaethje preview Sep 11, 2019

Show notes

Brian Campbell is joined by UFC Hall of Famer "Suga" Rashad Evans and Brandon Wise to bang the drum loudly for a Khabib Nurmagomedov-Tony Ferguson lightweight superfight [17:54]. Evans goes in depth on what makes Khabib's wrestling so unique and why his demeanor is unlike any other fighter. The guys also get creative in brainstorming ways to market the BMF title that Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will fight for on Nov. 2 and debate whether Jorge's beef with teammate Colby Covington is real [1:54]. Plus, who stood out at Bellator 226 [38:20] and a preview of the violence to expect from Donald Cerrone-Justin Gaethje at UFC Vancouver [50:33].

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