UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

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Neil Magny & Elizeu Zaleski discuss welterweight crossroads bout w/ guest co-host RJ Clifford Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

RJ Clifford jumps in as a guest co-host for one of those rare UFC Unfiltered episodes where we talk to a pair of fighters days away from fighting each other.

Neil Magny drops in to reflect on his 35th UFC bout and what it means to fight another seasoned vet. Then later, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos makes his Unfiltered debut with the help of a translator to discuss his mindset heading into the matchup and how he plans to overcome Magny’s reach.

Between interviews, Jim, Matt, and RJ dive into the recently announced light heavyweight headliner between Dominick Reyes and Carlos Ulberg in Perth. Could it be a #1 contender fight? Reyes is chasing his fourth straight win, while Ulberg looks to solidify his case as the next title challenger after Ankalaev vs. Pereira II.

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Matt-stradamus strikes again w/ PERFECT Abu Dhabi picks! Davey Grant & Andrew Tackett join the show Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Jim and Matt kick off the show recapping Saturday’s UFC card in Abu Dhabi, where “Matt-stradamus” Serra stays red hot with another perfect night of picks.

They react to Reinier de Ridder’s razor-close win over Robert Whittaker, Petr Yan’s bounce-back performance, and Steven Nguyen’s record-setting knockdown spree before welcoming back Davey Grant to discuss his gritty win over Da’Mon Blackshear and what’s fueling his late-career surge.

Finally, inaugural UFC BJJ welterweight champ Andrew Tackett joins ahead of his first title defense this Thursday. The middle Tackett brother reflects on growing up in a grappling-obsessed family and shares why his aggressive style makes him a fan-friendly champion for a UFC BJJ ruleset already designed to deliver action.

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Mateusz Gamrot, Jared Cannonier, Abu Dhabi fight picks! Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

It’s a loaded Wednesday on UFC Unfiltered as Jim and Matt welcome two top-10 UFC contenders and gear up for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi!

First, 7th-ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot joins the show just two months after his dominant win over Ludovit Klein. The American Top Team standout reflects on teammate Dustin Poirier’s recent retirement before unpacking his place in the stacked lightweight division’s current logjam at the top.

Then, 7th-ranked middleweight Jared Cannonier jumps on to preview his August 16th bout with Michael “Venom” Page. Fresh off a 4th-round KO over "RoboCop" that snapped a 2-fight skid, Cannonier compares MVP’s style to prior opponents before ultimately putting on his analyst hat with a pick in this Saturday’s Whittaker vs. de Ridder main event.

The guys wrap things up with three fight picks of their own for Saturday’s early-start Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.

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Coach Mike Brown on Poirier’s farewell, Alan Jouban puts a bow on UFC 318 w/ Jim & Matt Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

An event as wholesome as Dustin Poirier’s farewell fight deserves a show just as impactful — so Jim and Matt bring in two people who know “The Diamond” better than most to help unpack all the emotion and action of UFC 318.

First, American Top Team head coach Mike Brown shares what it was like cornering Dustin for the final time, reflecting on their journey together from shared fight cards to title runs — and what made Saturday night in New Orleans so unforgettable despite the loss to Max Holloway.

Between interviews, Jim and Matt talk through some of their predictions before Lafayette’s own Alan Jouban hops on to put a bow on UFC 318. Jouban offers his perspective on the crowd, atmosphere, and standout performances throughout the card. It’s a full-circle episode that wraps up UFC 318 the right way.

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Michael Johnson, Jimmy Crute, UFC 318 picks Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Jim and Matt are back on UFC Unfiltered with veteran guests Michael Johnson and Jimmy Crute ahead of UFC 318.

Michael discusses his resurgence at 39, including a new mindset, stem cell treatments in Cancun, and how he’s embracing the gatekeeper role while aiming for one last title push. Matt, fresh off his own stem cell therapy, is especially curious about the impact ahead of Michael’s fight with Daniel Zellhuber.

Later, Aussie light heavyweight Jimmy Crute joins the show — and Matt immediately crowns him a fellow Kimura Savage. Crute opens up about bouncing back from a five-fight winless streak, adjusting to the New Orleans time zone, and what to expect in his bout against veteran Marcin Prachnio.

Jim and Matt wrap with their UFC 318 picks — including the BMF title trilogy between Holloway and Poirier, and other must-watch matchups.

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NBA player Pete Nance, Tuco Tokkos, UFC Nashville recap Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt are joined by NBA forward Pete Nance and UK-born light heavyweight Tuco Tokkos.

Maximizing his Summer League experience in Las Vegas, Nance calls in from the UFC P.I. to discuss his family’s NBA lineage and how attending a UFC event in Newark accelerated his growing fascination with the sport.

Between interviews, the guys react to UFC Nashville — including Derrick Lewis’ 35-second KO and whether “The Black Beast” could be closing in on one last title run.

Later, Tuco Tokkos hops on for his first-ever Unfiltered appearance following his gutsy win over Junior Tafa. Battling through a shoulder injury in Round 1, Tuco discusses the payoff of his second-round submission — and the light heavyweight’s chemistry with Matt keeps the UFC Hall of Famer laughing the entire way.

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Chris Curtis, Steve Garcia, UFC Nashville picks Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome back veteran middleweight-turned-welterweight Chris “Action Man” Curtis for his sixth appearance on the show.

Energized by no longer having to concede size disadvantages to larger opponents like Roman Kopylov, the 37-year-old Curtis explains why now was the right time to return to 170 pounds. He opens up about uprooting his family to Thailand to live and train overseas ahead of Saturday’s pivotal fight with Max Griffin — a durable opponent who hasn’t been stopped in nearly a decade.

Later, Steve Garcia joins us fresh off a four-mile treadmill run to talk about his co-main event showdown with Calvin Kattar at UFC Nashville. Fully aware of the urgency surrounding Kattar’s four-fight skid, Garcia shares his focused mindset and how he’s sharpening his game at Jackson Wink as he aims to steal the show and crack the featherweight rankings.

Plus, Jim and Matt preview and predict the UFC Nashville main card, including the Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira main event before spotlighting a few other matchups fans shouldn’t sleep on.

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Ep. #900: Alexandre Pantoja discusses title reign, Chepe Mariscal talks 8-fight win streak & Vegas move Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Jim and Matt celebrate 900 episodes of UFC Unfiltered with flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and surging featherweight Chepe Mariscal.

Having perfectly predicted Pantoja’s third-round rear-naked choke, Matt heaps praise on the champ — who reflects on his growth at American Top Team as the guys discuss what Joshua Van brings to the table as his next challenger.

Fresh off a move from Colorado to Vegas to be closer to the UFC Performance Institute, Mariscal joins in the second half to talk about living the dream he first had as a 9-year-old sneaking into an MMA event. Motivated by his three-month-old baby girl, Chepe shares what might be next as he looks to extend his 8-fight win streak and 5-0 UFC run.

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RJ Clifford on Topuria’s stardom, Paddy Pimblett talks title stakes w/ guest co-host Ben “The Bane” Davis Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Matt Serra and guest co-host Ben “The Bane” Davis hold it down on today’s UFC Unfiltered, starting with MMA media veteran RJ Clifford.

The guys bring RJ on to unpack Ilia Topuria’s three-fight run to superstardom before analyzing what it might take for someone to beat the promotion’s newest two-division champion. Clifford also dishes on Pantoja’s dominance and whether Joshua Van has the formula to dethrone the Brazilian flyweight king.

Later, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett joins to address rumors about a matchup with Justin Gaethje in August and speaks candidly about the history of his rivalry with Topuria. He walks through the lightweight Top 10 to explain why he’s worthy of the next title shot, then reiterates he’s ready to take on whoever if the promotion decides he needs one more win.

Matt wraps up the interview with some girl-dad advice to Paddy the…Daddy — who is now a father of twin daughters himself.

With no fights this weekend, Ben and Matt close things out with some laughs to send the Unfiltered Army into the Fourth of July weekend with a smile.

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Matt Serra & Kevin Iole recap UFC 317 w/ big winners Jose Miguel Delgado & Jacobe Smith Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

UFC 317 delivered in a big way with highlight-reel finishes, breakout performances, and a star-making moment for Ilia Topuria — and guest co-host Kevin Iole is on the mic with Matt Serra (while Jim Norton is out) to break it all down.

The episode kicks off with featherweight knockout artist Jose Miguel Delgado, fresh off a 26-second finish of Hyder Amil. The Arizona native talks about training with elite teammates at MMA Lab and explains why he’s calling his shot for a clash with William Gomis at September’s Noche UFC card.

Matt and Kevin then react to Topuria’s viral knockout of Charles Oliveira and what it means for the future of the lightweight division.

Later, undefeated welterweight Jacobe Smith joins the show to break down his submission win over veteran Niko Price — the first of his career. The 29-year-old reflects on his All-American wrestling days at Oklahoma State and how Coach Sayif Saud has helped mold him into a complete mixed martial artist.

To close it out, the guys share their biggest takeaways from UFC 317 — including Beneil Dariush’s bounce-back win and the record-setting flyweight war between Joshua Van and Brandon Royval before Kevin reflects on officially retiring from writing after an extraordinary 46-year run covering combat sports.

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