UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

Latest Episodes:

Edmen Shahbazyan, Loopy Godinez, UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill picks May 18, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt are joined by middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan and women’s strawweight Loopy Godinez ahead of their fights on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Edmen discusses how moving out of his hometown in California to Las Vegas and now training at the Xtreme Couture super gym has enhanced the 25-year-old middleweight’s career ahead of his co-main event fight against Anthony Hernandez.

As Jim shifts the conversation towards Saturday’s card, Matt issues a convincing argument for why Mackenzie Dern will beat Angela Hill before Loopy Godinez hops on the show.

Finally, Loopy Godinez opens up about her father’s decision to move their family from Mexico to Canada and shares how working small jobs helped her save money to embark on a professional MMA career.

The guys wrap up the show with predictions for Godinez’s fight against Emily Ducote on Saturday’s main card.

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Cody Garbrandt, Gary Owen, UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida recap May 16, 2023

Show notes

Jim and Matt are joined by former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and longtime comedian and actor Gary Owen on today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered!

Seeking his second win of 2023, Garbrandt returns to Unfiltered for the first time since almost exactly two years ago in May of 2021. After announcing a fight scheduled in August for UFC 292 in Boston against Mario Bautista, Garbrandt connects with Matt Serra as the former welterweight champion gives Cody advice on how to climb back towards the top of the ladder.

Then, the guys are joined by comedian and actor Gary Owen who plugs his two upcoming movies while explaining how he stumbled into diehard UFC fandom while on set with the Wayans brothers for the filming of the comedy “Little Man.”

Finally, Jim and Matt dive into a recap of the action from last Saturday afternoon’s fight card as the guys explain who and what impressed them the most from UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida.

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Johnny Walker, Anthony “Lionheart” Smith, UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida picks May 11, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt are joined by Johnny Walker and Anthony “Lionheart” Smith in separate interviews as the two light heavyweights approach their co-main event on Saturday afternoon’s UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida card in Charlotte.

Johnny Walker joins the show almost instantly as the 7th-ranked light heavyweight shares how two near-death experiences early in his life have given him a glass half-full outlook on life and his MMA career. The Brazilian then reflects on how meeting his wife led him to Ireland, where he and coach John Kavanagh have been crafting a game plan for the experienced Anthony Smith in Saturday’s co-main event.

Jim and Matt then dive deep into the card for some predictions from the prelims on up to the main event, but make sure to save their prediction for the co-main event until after Anthony Smith hops on to explain the importance of flying back home to his family in Omaha for weekends despite training in Colorado on Monday through Friday.

Showing off the analytical skills that have made him a rotating member of the UFC’s broadcast team, Smith then provides an in-depth assessment on Johnny Walker ahead of their fight on Saturday afternoon. As soon as Smith’s interview ends, Jim and Matt stay true to their promise by delivering their predictions for the co-main event.

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Aljamain Sterling reacts to win vs. Cejudo, UFC 288 recap w/ guest co-host Ray Longo May 09, 2023

Show notes

Jim Norton takes part in the Serra-Longo Fight Team’s victory Monday as today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered calls upon bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling for nearly 20 minutes alongside Matt Serra and guest co-host Ray Longo.

As the guys dive straight into Sterling’s UFC 288 win over former bantamweight king Henry Cejudo, Aljo discusses the mid-fight adjustments that were necessary to stave off the former Olympic gold medalist’s valiant effort during last Saturday night’s PPV headliner in New Jersey.

Sterling then dishes his thoughts on Sean O’Malley hopping into the cage immediately after his win as Ray Longo cracks up thinking about how Aljo’s good friend and sparring partner Merab Dvalishvili stole the show by climbing up the cage wearing O’Malley’s bright red jacket.

Speaking of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, Matt and Ray sing lightweight Matt Frevola’s praises after the “Steamrolla” successfully detonated his third straight 1st-round KO with a beautifully-placed punch that earned him a $50,000 post-fight bonus and a callout acceptance from Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett.

The guys wrap up the show with the rest of their thoughts on the UFC 288 card and some analysis on how Henry Cejudo stacks up in a potential fight with Merab Dvalishvili.

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Din’s Got Answers: Best post-fight celebrations, 3 Mexican champions & what’s the problem with fighters coming up too fast with Duke Roufus May 06, 2023

Show notes

After some of the most exciting cards in 2023, we are here with an episode of Din Thomas’ new podcast, Din’s Got Answers!

A little about the show:

Got questions about the UFC? Well, Din Thomas is here to answer them. Din will use his experience as a UFC veteran, analyst, comedian, coach to the biggest names in the sport, co-star of Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight, host of The Din Diaries, and more to answer your questions about everything and anything UFC related.

On this episode, Din answers three questions.

First, who has the best post-fight celebrations? Second, what’s in the water in Mexico? And third, what’s the problem with fighters coming up too fast? Plus, an additional topic, as Din answers questions from the fans!

Who has the best post-fight celebrations? Din has his answer. He looks at 5 fighters who have some of the greatest post-fight celebrations of all-time. See who Din thinks has the best post-fight celebrations.

What’s in the water in Mexico? Din has his answer. With 3 recent Mexican champions, Din breaks down what makes these 3 Mexican fighters special and why Mexican fighters have extra motivation.

What’s the problem with fighters coming up too fast? Din has his answer. To help answer this question, Din hollers at his homie, head coach of Roufusport Duke Roufus. Duke talks about his experience grooming fighters from a young age, coaching against the youngest fighter in the UFC in Raul Rosas Jr., and why fighters typically come up too fast. You won’t want to miss Din and Duke’s answers!

To wrap up the show, Din answers fan questions in rapid style. So keep them coming and hit up Din on Twitter (@DinThomas) or Instagram (dinthomas).

Enjoy the show!

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Charles Jourdain, Matt Frevola, UFC 288 preview May 04, 2023

Show notes

With UFC 288 right around the corner, Matt Serra and Jim Norton are joined by two fighters on Saturday’s card in featherweight Charles Jourdain and Serra-Longo trained lightweight Matt Frevola.

After Matt begins the show with a recap of his trip to England that saw him reunite with former rival Georges St-Pierre, Quebec’s own Charles Jourdain hops on the show and promptly explains how GSP’s success inspired the Canadian featherweight as a pre-teen.

Ahead of his matchup against Kron Gracie of the legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu family, Jourdain explains why as a BJJ black belt himself he is prepared to defeat the youngest son of Rickson Gracie.

Then, the guys are joined by Matt Frevola, who explains how the fan-friendly matchup between him and Drew Dober on the final fight of the prelims will entice fans to buy Saturday’s pay-per-view headlined by his Serra-Longo teammate Aljamain Sterling’s bantamweight title fight vs. Henry Cejudo.

Finally, the guys wrap up the show with predictions for some of the fights from the main card of Saturday’s electric card in New Jersey.

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Guest co-host Michael Chiesa on UFC 288, Cejudo’s return to stacked bantamweight division May 02, 2023

Show notes

With Matt Serra flying back from London during the taping of today’s UFC Unfiltered episode, welterweight Michael Chiesa steps in alongside Jim Norton as today’s co-host.

After beginning the show with an update on his physical health after a lengthy layoff, Chiesa follows up with his desired plans for what’s next in the cage following the cancellation of his return fight against Li Jingliang due to his opponent’s injury.

After a brief chat about Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Simon card, Jim shifts the topic towards Saturday’s UFC 288 card, Chiesa provides his detailed opinion on what’s in store for former two-division champion Henry Cejudo as he makes his return to a stacked bantamweight division against champion Aljamain Sterling.

As Chiesa wraps up his thoughts on the main event with a prediction for the fight, the guys wrap up the show by unpacking the circumstances surrounding the short-notice co-main event between welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and Gilbert Burns.

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Cody Brundage on his underdog mentality, actor Tom Arnold Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Matt and Jim are joined by UFC middleweight Cody Brundage and actor and comedian Tom Arnold on today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered!

Just days away from his fight against Rodolfo Vieira on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Simon card, Cody Brundage opens up his interview by talking about his journey from wrestling to mixed martial arts. Reliving the day he met his former UFC fighter wife, Cody explains how it began with her being the female boxer at his gym who showed him how to properly throw combinations on a punching bag.

The guys are then joined by actor and comedian Tom Arnold, who shares how growing up in a small town in Iowa led him to a career in Hollywood. After sharing what it’s like to be guest starring in the TV remake of the 1994 film True Lies he co-starred in alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom wraps up his interview by explaining how watching UFC fights with his son is one of his many favorite parts about fatherhood.

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UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes recap, heavyweight landscape w/ guest co-host Brett Okamoto Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton are joined by ESPN MMA journalist Brett Okamoto for a detailed recap of last Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes event.

With heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich steamrolling Curtis Blaydes for a sixth-straight 1st-round knockout win, the guys discuss where Pavlovich stands in the heavyweight division and what it might take for the 30-year-old to secure a fight against legends like Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic.

Then, Jim takes the guys through the rest of Saturday’s fight results as Matt explains what he liked from fighters across the main card and prelims.

As the topic shifts to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and their decision to use instant replay and change Bobby Green’s stoppage win over Jared Gordon into a no contest, the guys engage in an insightful conversation about other problems with state athletic commissions in which Brett takes a hard stance against the idea that open scoring can fix the recent problem of poor scorecards from cage side judges.

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Bobby Green, Eddie Bravo, UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes predictions Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Matt and Jim are joined by a pair of enthusiastic guests in lightweight Bobby Green and the one and only Eddie Bravo of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

Matt feeds off Bobby’s infectious energy immediately, gleefully applauding through Green’s heated debate with Jim regarding fighter strategy in what could have been a 10-8 debate round for the lightweight scheduled to fight Jared Gordon on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes event at the UFC APEX.

Bobby wraps up his interview by dismissing Paddy Pimblett’s plans of a rematch with Jared Gordon as Bobby issues a stern warning to the Liverpool native about what would happen if the two met in the cage.

The guys are then joined by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo, who together with Matt Serra strolls down memory lane of the UFC’s earliest days in an insightful conversation about BJJ’s role in the evolution of modern MMA.

To close off the show, Jim and Matt predict several fights from Saturday night’s card, leaving room for two very specific picks in the heavyweight main event between heavy-hitting Sergei Pavlovich and seasoned wrestler Curtis Blaydes.

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