UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

Din Thomas fills in for Jim Norton alongside Matt Serra on an episode of UFC Unfiltered featuring two welterweight veterans with remarkable life stories.

First, Daniel Rodriguez joins ahead of his August main event against Uroš Medić to discuss the experiences that shaped his mindset long before he ever stepped into the Octagon. Rodriguez gets candid about his eight-month stint in a Tijuana jail and explains why the pressure of professional fighting has never rattled him the way real-life survival situations once did. The 39-year-old veteran also reflects on starting MMA at age 25 and wh...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of UFC 328 winners to today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered.

First, friend of the show Grant Dawson joins fresh off his late third-round submission win over Mateusz Rębecki in Newark. The American Top Team lightweight reflects on the in-fight circumstances that set up his bounce-back stoppage win before getting his usual pop culture fix from Matt.

Then, 6th-ranked welterweight Sean Brady returns after a dominant win over Joaquin Buckley. Brady breaks down how he imposed his grappling, credits the coaches who...

No shortage of topics to discuss on today’s UFC Unfiltered, as Jim Norton and Matt Serra recap an exciting Fight Night card filled with finishes and react to the announcement of Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11.

But first, Jim and Matt are joined by 4th-ranked middleweight Brendan Allen ahead of his June 6th co-main event against Edmen Shahbazyan at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Allen explains why he accepted a risky matchup against an unranked opponent despite knowing a loss could jeopardize his plac...

Today's episode of UFC Unfiltered sees Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome two British contenders with fights on this Saturday's card at the Meta APEX.

First, 7th-ranked featherweight Arnold Allen joins ahead of his first UFC main event assignment of 2026. Allen reflects on the razor-close losses that have defined parts of his recent run, explains why he still believes he beat both Movsar Evloev and Jean Silva, and discusses the challenge of defending his ranking against a surging opponent like Costa.

Then, light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas checks in after...

Today's show sees Jim Norton and Matt Serra unpack UFC 328 — with Jim offering his perspective from Saturday night as a fan inside the building.

But first, newly ranked #12 lightweight Quillian Salkilld joins after his hometown win at UFC Perth from the week prior against Beneil Dariush, reflecting on the biggest victory of his career and his post-fight callout of Mateusz Gamrot.

Then, Kody Steele checks in after securing his first UFC win with a slick kneebar submission in Perth, discussing his elite grappling background, his close ties with the Ta...

Consider it a caffeinated episode of UFC Unfiltered as Ben “The Bane” Davis brings the energy stepping in alongside Matt Serra for a show that previews Saturday’s UFC 328 card while welcoming two veterans competing on the lineup.

First, 9th-ranked welterweight Joaquin Buckley checks in before his pivotal matchup against Sean Brady. Buckley discusses traveling to Florida to train with former opponent Kamaru Usman and the Kill Cliff FC team following their fight, the adjustments he’s made ahead of another grappling-heavy challenge, and why he approaches every fight like his job depends on it.

Jim Norton and Matt Serra react to the fallout from UFC Perth before welcoming two returning guests to the show.

First, Nikolas Motta checks in following a long recovery from jaw surgery that sidelined him after his last fight. Motta opens up about discovering the injury, the challenges of the recovery process, and what it means to finally be cleared to return to full training.

Then, Malcolm Wellmaker returns for his third appearance on the podcast as he prepares for his May 16 matchup against Juan Diaz. He reflects on what he learned...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off the show by making their picks for this weekend’s UFC Perth card before bringing on two fighters riding serious momentum.

First, undefeated middleweight Baisangur Susurkaev makes his UFC Unfiltered debut. He reflects on his journey from Chechnya to the UFC, discusses his 2-0 start in the promotion, and previews his upcoming fight at UFC 328. Susurkaev also shares what he’s learned training alongside Khamzat Chimaev as he prepares to fight on the same card as his teammate once again.

Then, Francis Mars...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra react to Saturday’s UFC Fight Night before welcoming two standout performers from the card.

First, Aljamain Sterling returns to the show for his 19th appearance following a dominant win over surging featherweight Youssef Zalal in last Saturday’s main event. “Funk Master” breaks down how he controlled the fight from start to finish, where he sees himself in the 145-pound title picture, and what he wants next as he eyes a shot at gold.

Then, Davey Grant joins fresh off another Fight of the Nigh...

Two fighters gearing up battle join Jim Norton and Matt Serra for an episode that looks ahead to this weekend’s action at the Meta APEX.

Matt kicks things off by sharing his perspective on the featherweight main event between Serra-Longo’s own Aljamain Sterling and Youssef Zalal before he and Jim make picks up and down the card.

Then, 3rd-ranked women’s bantamweight Norma Dumont joins with the help of a translator to discuss her Sanda roots, her journey through the sport, and her upcoming co-main event matchup agains...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome two lightweights to today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered as 25-year-old Gauge Young and surging veteran Alexander Hernandez join the show.

Fresh off his second straight UFC win, Gauge Young checks in for his first appearance on the podcast to break down his split decision victory over Thiago Moises. He discusses bouncing back from a tough opening round, trusting his adjustments, and why he’s confident he belongs at this level.

Then, Alexander Hernandez returns to the show riding a five-fight winning streak at l...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra take a closer look at this Saturday’s UFC Winnipeg card with two fighters slated for main card action in Charles Jourdain and Dennis Buzukja.

First, Jourdain joins ahead of his co-main event against Kyler Phillips to discuss how his move down to bantamweight has unlocked a new level of focus as he seeks a third straight stoppage win in a loaded division.

Then, Buzukja returns as he prepares for his first fight in over a year, breaking down the challenges of a long la...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by a pair of winners from Saturday’s UFC 327 card as featherweight Aaron Pico and welterweight Kevin Holland call in.

Fresh off his first UFC win, Pico breaks down how sticking to a disciplined, footwork-heavy game plan helped him neutralize a dangerous counterpuncher in Patricio Pitbull. Jim also suggests a few potential ranked featherweight opponents as Pico looks to rewrite any lingering narratives from his debut loss to Lerone Murphy.

Then, Kevin Holland returns for his 16th appearance on the show following hi...

Jim Norton is joined by recently retired Michael Chiesa — who fills in for Matt Serra as guest co-host for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that blends reflection with reinvention.

Who better than Chiesa, fresh off his own retirement win in Seattle, to guide the conversation with Cub Swanson as he prepares for the final fight of his career? The longtime fan favorite opens up about what this moment means to him, reflects on the journey that got him here, and shares the mindset behind stepping into the Octagon one last time.

Back from touring the globe and spreading his comedy, Jim Norton links back up with Matt Serra for an episode that invites two fighters at very different (but equally compelling) stages of their careers.

Establishing a name for himself as destroyer of unbeaten prospects, bantamweight Ethyn Ewing joins fresh off the 3rd-round body-shot KO against Rafael Estevam that secured him his second UFC win in as many appearances. Ethyn walks through his patient approach to breaking down Estevam and how discipline has been the foundation of his rapid rise.

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Matt Serra is joined by Phoenix Carnevale — who makes a triumphant return to the show as a guest co-host in place of Jim while he’s out on tour — for an episode of UFC Unfiltered featuring two fighters competing on this Saturday’s card.

The first is none other than the main event himself: 10th-ranked lightweight Renato Moicano. After a previously-planned fight vs. Brian Ortega fell through, “Money” Moicano breaks down Saturday’s five-round bout against Chris Duncan and the unusual challenges that come with preparing for an American Top Team teammate.

Then...

Matt Serra is joined by Din Thomas for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that blends two interviews with a full slate of fight recaps — highlighted by Din’s firsthand perspective from Joe Pyfer’s corner in Seattle.

First, Jiří Procházka calls in to discuss his upcoming vacant light heavyweight title fight against Carlos Ulberg at UFC 327, sharing his thoughts on the matchup and what it means to compete for a belt in a reshaped division following Alex Pereira’s move to heavyweight.

Then, Matt and Din unpack Seattle’s main event...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome Dominick Reyes and Ignacio Bahamondes to UFC Unfiltered ahead of their upcoming fights.

First, Dominick Reyes returns to the show and discusses the small adjustment he’s made following his first-round loss to Carlos Ulberg that has him feeling confident heading into his April 11 matchup against Johnny Walker at UFC 327 in Miami. Reyes also talks about balancing fatherhood with fight life, how video games help him decompress, and why he enjoys hands-on work — including a recent bathroom remodel with his father and brother.

Then...

What’s it like to fight at home? Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered answers that question through two fighters who know the feeling firsthand — with Din Thomas joining Jim and Matt as a guest co-host.

First, British strawweight Shanelle Dyer calls in fresh off a successful UFC debut in London, reflecting on the energy of fighting in front of a home crowd and how she handled the moment.

Then, Ontario’s own Mike Malott joins to preview his upcoming UFC Winnipeg main event against #11-ranked Gilbert Burns on April 18...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by two fighters at opposite stages of their careers on this episode of UFC Unfiltered in lightweight Shem Rock and middleweight Eryk Anders.

First, Liverpool’s Shem Rock makes his Unfiltered debut as he eyes his first UFC win in his second fight with the promotion. Rock talks about embracing his Scouser identity as a fighter, what he learned from his debut loss, and how he plans to bounce back on Saturday in front of a London crowd on a card with teammate Luke Riley.

It’s a winning-streak kind of show as Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by a pair of surging contenders riding streaks of at least 7-straight wins.

First, bantamweight contender Aiemann Zahabi calls in to preview his upcoming matchup with Sean O’Malley on the White House card. Eyeing an eighth straight win, Canada’s own Zahabi discusses the revenge angle for a country that’s come up short against the United States in multiple recent gold medal matchups and a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal, while also breaking down how he matches up with one...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra get one half of Saturday’s main event as Josh Emmett calls in first on a show also featuring heavyweight newcomer Steven Asplund.

Emmett previews his matchup with rising prospect Kevin Vallejos, reflecting on the experience he’s gained from years of facing elite competition and why his trademark power remains a dangerous equalizer even at 41 years old.

Later, Steven Asplund makes his UFC Unfiltered debut. A son of a fighter himself, Asplund walks through how he went from team sports to obesity issues, all...

A pair of former opponents at 145 pounds join today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered as newly-established lightweight Kyle Nelson and featherweight contender Steve Garcia call in to chat with Matt Serra and Jim Norton.

First, Kyle Nelson returns to the show to discuss his decision to move back up to lightweight after his 2024 loss to Steve Garcia. Fresh off a win over Matt Frevola, Nelson breaks down his upcoming matchup with Terrance McKinney at the UFC Seattle card on March 28 and shares what it’s like preparing for a fighter whose bouts almost always end...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of veteran finishers to UFC Unfiltered ahead of Saturday’s UFC 326 card in Las Vegas.

First, lightweight Drew Dober returns for his eighth appearance on the show to preview his matchup with Michael Johnson in a clash between two of the division’s most experienced fighters. Convinced veterans like him are often underestimated for their ability to adapt, Dober explains how the constant search for self-improvement fuels him. That and a good old-fashioned post-fight donut.

Later, Cody Garbrandt calls in ahead of h...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome two lightweights at very different stages of their careers.

First, 27-year-old Francis Marshall joins the show following his first-round submission win in Mexico City. Marshall breaks down surviving an early spinning wheel kick before locking up the finish and reflects on bouncing back after a difficult stretch in the Octagon. In his UFC Unfiltered debut, Marshall and Matt connect over their shared ties to the Northeast fight scene, including Marshall’s experience competing on Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat — the long-running proving ground for fighters from New Jersey...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome both sides of a key lightweight matchup as Daniel Zellhuber and King Green join the show ahead of their clash at UFC Mexico City.

First, Mexico’s own Daniel Zellhuber discusses fighting at home in the altitude for the second time, what he learned from his Fight of the Night war in 2024, and how he’s approaching a pivotal bout after back-to-back losses. The 26-year-old “Golden Boy” explains why he’s hoping to face the best version of the 39-year-old veteran and what a win in front of his home c...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra recap UFC Houston before welcoming two welterweights at very different stages of their careers to UFC Unfiltered.

First up, Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani reflects on his hard-fought split decision win over Phil Rowe in his UFC debut. The Hermosa Beach native discusses the weigh-in faceoff tension, the lone dissenting judge’s scorecard, and what he learned from going three full rounds inside the Octagon.

Later, former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos makes his fifth appearance on the show — his first since August 2023. RDA shares his thou...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome two rising welterweights to UFC Unfiltered ahead of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Houston.

The guys kick off their preview of this weekend’s card by breaking down the main event between Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez — with Jim offering up a prediction of his own.

First up, Serbian knockout artist Uroš Medić makes his Unfiltered debut. “The Doctor” reflects on his journey from Serbia to Alaska to the UFC before outlining what he expects from 12th-ranked Geoff Neal in their fan-friendly co-main even...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by Michael Chiesa for a wide-ranging conversation centered around his upcoming return to action in Seattle and the balancing act of being both an active UFC fighter and one of the promotion’s most trusted analysts.

Chiesa talks about fighting in the Pacific Northwest, what’s fueling his current 3-fight win streak, and how his mindset has evolved at this stage of his career.

Chiesa reflects on the adjustments that have led to renewed momentum, the challenges of flipping between fighter and broa...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by friend of the show Chase Hooper and UFC BJJ bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci on today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered.

With the Seahawks fresh off their Super Bowl LX victory, it’s only right that Seattle’s own Hooper calls in ahead of his first fight back in the Emerald City in nearly nine years, as the UFC brings a Fight Night card to Seattle on March 28 headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer.

Hooper talks about balancing fatherhood with life as a U...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of first-time guests to the show as they gear up for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira card at the Meta APEX.

First, middleweight Marc-Andre Barriault joins the show to discuss his MMA journey and the roots of the toughness that has defined his fighting style. The Kill Cliff FC staple also breaks down his upcoming matchup with Michał Oleksiejczuk and what fans can expect when the two heavy hitters share the Octagon.

Later, flyweight contender Amir Albazi makes his...

Jim Norton is joined by guest co-host RJ Clifford for a full recap of UFC 325, breaking down the card from top to bottom and reacting to the biggest performances from Sydney.

But first, the guys welcome featherweight Colby Thicknesse to the show. Thicknesse reflects on a massive weekend for two of his closest teammates, sharing his perspective on Alexander Volkanovski successfully defending his featherweight title and Mauricio Ruffy’s statement win at lightweight.

Having spent much of his life training alongside Volk — who has cornered him in both of his...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off the episode by breaking down UFC 325 from top to bottom, locking in their picks and debating key matchups as the promotion gears up for one of the most anticipated cards of the year.

After the picks, the guys are joined by one of the most dynamic power couples in the fight game — women’s strawweight Tabatha Ricci and Zuffa boxer Callum Walsh. Before diving into their careers, the conversation begins with a look at their unique farming lifestyle and how life outside the spotlight helps keep them grounded amid the chao...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of familiar faces back to the show in women’s strawweight Gillian Robertson and men’s featherweight Jean Silva.

First up, Robertson calls in to discuss her long-awaited return to the Octagon. After a frustrating stretch of delays, postponements, and bad luck with opponents, she previews her rescheduled matchup against Amanda Lemos — now set for March 14 at the Meta APEX — and explains why staying active moving forward is a top priority as she eyes a fifth-straight win.

Then, fresh off his win over...

After a six-week wait for live UFC action, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are back and ready to dive in. On today’s episode, the guys break down UFC 324 from top to bottom — locking in three official picks each for their first predictions of the year and setting the tone for what promises to be a loaded night of fights for the first card of the Paramount era.

Then, former title challenger Alex Perez joins the show ahead of his Saturday matchup against surging flyweight Charles Johnson. Perez opens up about life outside the Octa...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome back lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett, who joins the show ahead of his interim title showdown with Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. Paddy breaks down why he believes this is the right moment to make a statement, how he sees the matchup playing out, and what an interim belt could mean with Ilia Topuria’s future still unresolved.

Between interviews, Jim and Matt also touch on the day’s biggest news: Kayla Harrison’s neck injury forcing the cancellation of her women’s bantamweight title defense against Amanda Nunes.

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Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by Urijah Faber for a wide-ranging conversation about his continued impact on the sport — both as a competitor and a coach.

Faber talks about still competing at 46 years old, including his upcoming combat jiu-jitsu and wrestling matchups scheduled for January and February of 2026. The UFC Hall of Famer explains how his mindset has evolved at this stage of his career and why staying active continues to fuel his passion for competition.

Urijah also dives into his role coaching Song Yadong and explains wh...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of veterans gearing up for key matchups as the UFC schedule ramps up in early 2026.

Featherweight Arnold Allen joins the show to talk about how he spent 2025 rebuilding his body and earning his black belt from the coach who first introduced him to MMA. Set to fight for the first time in nearly 18 months, Allen discusses his high-stakes matchup with Jean Silva on the main card of UFC 324.

Later, light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby stops by to discuss his second UFC run...

Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off 2026 with a pair of rising contenders who have their sights set on big years ahead.

First, light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas joins the show to talk about the momentum he’s built during his recent run and what’s at stake as he prepares for a crucial matchup against Nikita Krylov at UFC 324. Modestas breaks down the work he’s putting in, provides an update on the Tom Aspinall eye injury holding back his close friend and training partner before circling back to why this fight vs. 13th-ranked Krylov...

For the final episode of UFC Unfiltered in 2025, Jim Norton and Matt Serra put a bow on the year that was and look ahead to what 2026 might hold.

The guys open the show by revisiting their 2025 predictions, breaking down how the season played out after a razor-thin race in their season-long picks competition. Matt finished ahead on total points, while Jim led in correctly predicted winners — setting the stage for plenty of friendly back-and-forth.

From there, Jim and Matt hand out eight end-of-year awards, including four official #UFCHonors categories that fans can begin voting on De...