Cageside with John Morgan

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC Fight Night from London. Does Movsar Evloev finally get his shot, or does Jean Silva have something to say about that? Looking ahead to UFC this weekend from Seattle, is this Joe Pyfer’s breakout moment, or will Israel Adesanya prove once again why he is widely considered the middleweight GOAT? Is Ronda Rousey helping or hurting herself going after the UFC? All this and more ...

0:00 – How do you score Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy?
7:13 – Does Evloev get the title shot over Jean Silva?
13:29 – Michael...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Mogan look back at what is the UFC “Card of the Year” so far. Kevin Vallejos continues to impress with another first-round TKO, this time over the vet Josh Emmett. Marwan Rahiki and Harry Hardwick go to absolute war, ending with a corner stoppage due to a  very badly broken jaw. Looking ahead to UFC from England and the announcement of Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry on Netflix. All this and more ...

0:00 – Kevin Vallejos dominates Josh Emmett
4:05 – Eric’s regret from Marwan Rahiki vs. Harry Hardwick
16:56 - Hardwick aftermath and meeting...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap a wild weekend in the world of combat sports. The UFC’s White House card was revealed – is it a hit or a miss? What was the fight that dropped out, and do you believe Jon Jones was never going to be on the card? Charles Oliveira dominates Max Holloway at UFC 326 en route to becoming the new BMF champion. All this and more ...

0:00 – Was Jon Jones the fighter that fell off the UFC White House card?
8:31 – Is Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje the right main event?
9:49 – What to ma...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap an incredible weekend of action, including Lone’er Kavanagh’s big win over Brandon Moreno in Mexico, as well as a few other standout performances from the card, while also discussing the madness that unfolded at Real American Freestyle 06 and what it means for Arman Tsarukyan and his shot at a UFC title moving forward. The guys also look forward to this weekend’s UFC 326, where BMF champ Max Holloway takes on Charles Oliveira, and lay out what lies ahead for Alex Pereira after vacating his light heavyweight title. All this and mo...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap Sean Strickland’s brilliant UFC Fight Night victory in Houston and lay out the reasons he’s likely next for middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev. After discussing the rest of the night’s standout performances, the pair also previews the UFC’s trip to Mexico City and breaks down the surprise announcement that Ronda Rousey is returning to face Gina Carano on Netflix. Also, did the UFC do Bruce Buffer dirty? All this and more ...

0:00 – Celebrating U.S. gold in hockey
5:47 – Sean Strickland delivered perhaps his best performance yet
16:28 –...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC Fight Night from the Meta Apex, where Mario Bautista shined bright over Vinicius Oliveira. The PFL was in Dubai, and Usman Nurmagomedov retained his lightweight world title. Where does Usman sit in the overall lightweight MMA rankings? Looking ahead two weeks to Sean Strickland vs. Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez. 

All this and more ...

0:00 – CFFC 150 review
6:25 – LFA provides Eric with an MMA first
10:01 – Mario Bautista shines in breakout win over Vinicius Oliveira
17:37 – Meta Apex expansion makes it a must-visit venue
23:44 – Where does Usman Nurmagome...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap an incredible performance from Alexander Volkanovski in his rematch with Diego Lopes at UFC 325. Jon Anik labeled Volkanovski the featherweight GOAT, but is he right?

The guys also recap the rest of the card, take a look at the UFC’s return to The Meta Apex this Saturday, talk the future of the PFL, preview CFFC 150, and more.

0:00 – Alexander Volkanovski not slowing down at 37 years old
10:41 – Benoit Saint Denis steps up against a puzzling Dan Hooker
17:55 – Where does Arman Tsarukyan fit in the lightweight picture
21...

Professional Fighters League CEO John Martin spoke with Grind City Media’s John Morgan. With five months at the helm of the organization Martin outlined several key changes and labeled 2026 the most important year in the history of the mixed martial arts promotion, which hosts its first event of the new year on Saturday, February 7, live on the ESPN App.

Martin talked about recent personnel changes at the company, the importance of an additional fundraising round, a new deal with Fox, the implementation of fighter rankings, and much more – including the possibility of a Cris Cyborg vs. Dakota Ditc...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at the start of the Paramount+ Era, where Justin Gaethje battered Paddy Pimblett in a five-round epic battle. “Suga” Sean O’Malley gets back on track and calls for a title shot vs. Petr Yan. Looking ahead to UFC 325 from Australia with Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes II.

All this and more ...

0:00 – Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett kick off the Paramount+ Era in style
8:06 – Pimblett proves he belongs even in defeat
16:16 – Will Ilia Topuria be forced to wait for the White House in June?
18:19 –...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan discuss the excitement surrounding Real American Freestyle and what the future holds for them. Colby Covington and Luke Rockhold team up to bully Bo Nickel. Looking ahead to UFC 324 and why you shouldn’t count out the GOAT, Amanda Nunes.

All this and more ...

0:00 – Eric talks life on the road in Europe
4:45 – Celebrating the Ferguson Invitational and a grand gesture from Alan Belcher
7:39 – Real American Freestyle takes the spotlight, but can it survive?
20:50 – Could the UFC end up supporting RAF?
29:05 – UFC 324's most intriguing matchup: Kay...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look ahead at what the UFC’s scheduled in 2026 might look like. What should the UFC do with the heavyweight division, and would it be crazy to add an interim tag to the Derrick Lewis vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta fight at UFC 324?

All this and more ...

0:00 – Paramount’s immediate impact on the UFC
6:23 – Tom Aspinall and the UFC’s current heavyweight disaster
18:14 – Is the runway now clear for Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira?
23:00 – Final predictions: Who’s fighting for the heavyweight title?
28:14 – Looking ahead to the two title figh...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap UFC on ESPN 73, where Manel Kape may have very well earned himself a title shot with a first-round finish of Brandon Royval.

Additionally, the two react to Ilia Topuria’s strongly worded statement, where he revealed he’s battling attempts at extortion.

Plus, a preview of Saturday’s CFFC 149 event, as well as some discussion on the PFL’s potential future on ESPN.

All this and more ...

0:00 – The end of the ESPN era, Eric’s near miss, and Manel Kape’s emphatic win
7:05 – Ke...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at a spectacular card from start to finish at UFC 323, where Petr Yan captured the title vs. Merab Dvalishvili. Joshua Van wins via unfortunate injury to Alexandre Pantoja.  What’s next for both new champions, and what is next in the new Paramount era of the UFC? All this and more ...0:00 – Eric McMahon’s guidance proved true, even if his prediction did not

4:15 – Petr Yan was absolutely dominant over Merab Dvalishvili
17:38 – Will Umar Nurmagomedov get the next shot at Yan?
24:56 – Did Donald Trump really say nine title fights...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan preview UFC 323, where Merab Dvalishvili defends his title vs. Petr Yan, and Alexandre Pantoja defends against the upstart Joshua Van. Looking forward to the new Paramount+ deal and the blockbuster card that Dana White announced. Tom Aspinall puts out a medical statement – but was it really necessary? All this and more ...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC Fight Night from Qatar, where Arman Tsarukyan and Ian Machado Garry both made claims of why they each should be next in line for a title in their respective divisions. Also, what are the guys thankful for in the past year of working in MMA? All this and more ...

0:00 – Statements made at the top of UFC Qatar1:54 – Ian Machado Garry is undeniable
6:47 – Belal Muhammad kept it close, despite 30-27 scores
11:13 – Does Garry get the next crack at Islam Makhachev?
16:53 – What the heck happened with Garry...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC 322 from Madison Square Garden, where Islam Makhachev dominates Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight championship. What’s next for the new champ, and how much does the upcoming fight between Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry play into his plans? What’s next for Valentina Shevchenko, and could a future date with Kayla Harrison be on the horizon? All this and more ...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan preview the massive UFC 322 card at Madison Square Garden, where Jack Della Maddalena defends his welterweight title against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Will the added weight hurt or help Makhachev, and where could this fight be won or lost?  What are some potential “Fight of the Night” bouts on this card, and what is the Underground Main Event? All this and more ...

0:00 – Was the Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown stoppage handled correctly?
4:20 – Understanding the challenges officials face
8:21 – Breaking down Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev
17:16 – The influence of Khabib Nur...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan unpack everything that unfolded at UFC Fight Night 263, where Steve Garcia shined, but the big story centered around Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Ante Delija. Eric had a front row seat for it all and details the process. The guys also look ahead two weeks to a massive UFC 322 lineup at Madison Square Garden. All that, and more ...

0:00 – Steve Garcia absolute dominates David Onama
5:03 – Outlining a bizarre sequence of events with Cortes-Acosta vs. Delija
7:45 – Mark Smith, Herb Dean got it right – here’s why
15:31 – John McCarthy’y checklist looms large again

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan recap a disappointing finish to UFC 321. What to do now about the UFC heavyweight division, and when can a Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane rematch get booked? Jon Jones and Alex Pereira agree to fight at the White House via a back-and-forth on X. Will the UFC agree? All this and more ...

0:00 – Jon Jones is the big winner after UFC 321
5:25 – Did Tom Aspinall simply quit after being poked in the eye?
12:40 – The UFC’s heavyweight division is not in a good place
20:23 – Are new gloves the answer to the eye...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC Vancouver, where Brendan Allen left Reinier de Ridder on the stool heading into round 5. What is next for both men? Referee Dan Miragliotta in a little bit of controversy, but how should it all really have played out? UFC 321 is this weekend. Can Ciryl Gane take Tom Aspinall into the later rounds? All this and more ...

0:00 – Did Dan Miragliotta screw up in Kyle Nelson vs. Matt Frevola?
10:25 – How should Mike Malott vs. Kevin Holland have been handled?
26:04 – Brendan Allen is exactly who we thought he was...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan break down everything that happened at UFC 320 and what it means moving forward. Will Alex Pereira fight Jon Jones at the White House? Will Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg meet for a vacant light heavyweight title. Plus, who else shined bright at T-Mobile Arena. Meanwhile, Eric might need to relocate to Las Vegas – Power Slap last week, Dana White’s Contender Series this week!! All this and more ...

0:00 – Eric believes Power Slap may be the greatest spectator sport around
9:49 – Alex Pereira absolutely dominates at UFC 320
20:50 – Will “Poatan” face Jon Jones next...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan dive into the upcoming UFC 320 card. What is the path to victory for former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira? Can he control the center of the cage in the rematch, or will Magomed Ankaleav prove once again why he is the king of the 205-pound division. Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen and Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. preview. All this and more ...

0:00 – CFFC 146 recap
5:53 – Carlos Ulberg earned a title shot at UFC Perth
14:21 – Was the right call made in Neil Magny vs. Jake Matthews?
20:39 – A quick ca...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back on the past two weeks with Noche UFC and UFC Paris.  Diego Lopes delivers a “Knockout of the Year” candidate in a barnburner of a fight. Where does Jean Silva go from here, and did the “L” really hurt him? The Fighting Nerds go 0-3 in the past two weeks. Do some minor changes need to be made in training? Plus, John was on hand for Terence Crawford’s massive win over Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium. All this and more ...

0:00 – An emotional week off
1:55 – Boxing debuts at Allegiant St...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan are joined by a special guest Dustin “Five” Starr, owner of Memphis Wrestling, to give a little more insight as to how an incident like what unfolded with Raja Jackson could even happen. Will Jackson face criminal charges, and what was the level of the wrestling promotion where this took place?  In addition, the guys look back at UFC Shanghai. All this and more. 

0:00 – Raja Jackson makes national news in an awful way
4:54 – Dustin “Five” Starr breaks down the Jackson incident from all angles
16:10 – Will Knokx Pro Wrestling be found liable...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC 319, where Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis over five rounds to become the new middleweight champion of the world. Who is next for the new champ – and why? All this and more ...

0:00 – What to make of Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant win over Dricus Du Plessis
9:00 – Du Plessis was beaten in the basics
15:41 – Eric makes the case for a rematch
25:21 – Making the case for Reinier de Ridder, Anthony Hernandez, Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho – and Bo Nickal?!?
34:27 – Michael “Venom” Page delivers yet again
36:21 – Booking Chimaev’s firs...

On this episode, recorded just before the news of the UFC’s massive new TV deal was announced, Eric McMahon and John Morgan can’t hold back their excitement in anticipation of UFC 319.

Will Khamzat Chimaev be able to get the takedown early or prove he has the cardio to go all five rounds? Or will Dricus Du Plessis be able to sprawl and brawl his way to a defense of his world title? All this and more. 

0:00 – Just how good is Anthony Hernandez?
7:45 – Breaking down the Herb Dean point deduction some may have missed
10:3...

Eric McMahon and John Morgan return to look back at Dustins Poirier’s retirement fight at UFC 318. What could the future look like for Max Holloway at 155 pounds, and is Poirier a UFC Hall of Famer? Looking ahead to UFC 319, and can  Dricus Du Plessis prove the oddmakers wrong and successfully defend his title vs Khamzat Chimaev? All this and more. 

0:00 – WWE did CM Punk dirty
4:29 – “WWE: Unreal” on Netflix and lessons from professional wrestling
12:13 – Looking back at Dustin Poirier’s retirement fight
18:05 – Does Max Holloway deserve a title shot next?
21:40 – Does Dustin Poirier belong in the UFC Ha...

Marcus Buchecha is widely considered to be one of the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners of all time, claiming an incredible 13 IBJJF black belt world titles, along with a pair of ADCC World Championships. On Saturday, July 26, Buchecha makes his UFC debut, facing ranked heavyweight Martin Buday in Abi Dhabi.

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC on ESPN 70. Was it a bad decision in the Gabriel Bonfim vs. Stephen Thompson co-main event? Derrick Lewis wows the Nashville crowd both with his fight and post-fight antics. Looking ahead to UFC 318 – where do the strengths and weaknesses lie for both men in this highly intriguing retirement fight for Dustin Poirier? All this and more...

0:00 – Eric recounts his UFC Nashville experience
6:12 – First assignment: Valter Walker with the nasty submission
8:21 – Did the judges get it right with Gabriel Bonfim vs. Stephen Thompson?
13:25 – Derrick Lewis, bon...

Louisiana’s own Brendan Allen is excited for the chance to compete at UFC 318, which takes place Saturday, July 19 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, but he’s not giving local legend Dustin Poirier too much love ahead of his retirement fight in the night’s main event – at least not while “The Diamond” is in the same gym as Allen’s opponent, Marvin Vettori.

Allen discusses the honor of competing in Louisiana, the importance of a victory, a longstanding beef with Vettori, a move to Chicago to train with Belal Muhammad and Valle Flow Striking, and much more whil...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at a wild and crazy International Fight Week, headlined by UFC 317. Eric convinces John to adjust his pound-for-pound rankings, where Ilia Topuria reigns supreme. Will a UFC happen at the White House next year? If it does come to fruition, who is big enough to headline that card? Looking ahead to all the amazing UFC cards in the next two months, and Sean Strickland goes full Sean Strickland. All this and more. 

0:00 – Epic International Fight Week ends in frustrating fashion – but it was worth it
2:12 – Eric’s experienc...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan dive deep into UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight championship. Will Topuria’s power carry over to lightweight, and can he compete with Oliveira on the ground? Jon Jones retires from MMA, ending any chance with a showdown with Tom Aspinall – at least for now. How much did his new legal troubles impact his decision? All this and more. 

0:00 – A brief look back at UFC Baku
2:10 – The odd announcement that Jon Jones has retired
8:21 – Is Jon Jones the Greatest of All-Time?
15:49...

Undefeated 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion “Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva has quickly become one of the most recognizable faces of the promotion and appears on a path to superstardom. After a brief hiatus, the 26-year-old finisher is set to return to action on Saturday, July 19, where she will take on Sumiko Inaba at the organization’s historic PFL Africa 1 event, which streams live in the United States on the PFL app from Cape Town, South Africa.

Ahead of that matchup, Dakota spoke with Grind City Media’s John Morgan.

0:00 – Reliving an incredible 2024 title run
1:52 – “Bro, we’ve actually done i...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC on ESPN 69 from Atlanta, where Kamaru Usman showed the world he is still at the top of the welterweight division. What are some potential upcoming fights for the former champion?  Wild scene in the Paul Craig vs. Rodolfo Bellato fight. Real or Fake? Was the No Contest the right call? Eric’s experience in the PFL – and did he mess up? All this and more ...

0:00 – Kamaru Usman delivers a vintage performance
8:58 – Gauging Joaquin Buckley’s future
13:39 – Was Rodolfo Bellator faking his injuries?
21:19 – Should Paul Craig have...

New UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison has always wanted a chance to challenger herself against the consensus GOAT – and former teammate – Amanda Nunes. Now that the fight is a reality, Harrison tells Grind City Media’s John Morgan that she’s not just looking to elevate her own status with a win, but to raise the respect level of the women’s game as a whole.

0:00 – ‘It definitely feels like I’m dreaming’
3:02 – ‘Am I am who I say I am?’
6:10 – ‘There’s not really a relationship now’ with Amanda Nunes
10:25 – ‘I believe I’m the greatest fighter on the planet...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC 316 and the dominant performances from Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison. Is there anyone that can stop “The Machine”? Harrison makes quick work of Juliana Peña and has a mega-fight with Amanda Nunes looming in the distance. How many more times can Harrison make the weight cut? Looking forward to Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley – what Usman will we see, and is the big betting line for Buckley fair? All this and more. 

0:00 – Introduction
1:22 – Merab Dvalishvili dominated, but Sean O’Malley still looked good
5:42 – Breaking down “T...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan preview UFC 316, where Merab Dvalishvilli defends his title against “The Suga Show,” Sean O’Malley. Will the wholesale life changes for O’Malley pay dividends in this rematch or will Dvalishvilli’s relentless approach once again be too much? Julianna Peña defends her crown against the highly favored Kayla Harrison. How does this fight play out if Peña survives the first couple of rounds? Also, hear Eric’s wild story from the regional scene this past weekend, and get a quick preview of CFFC 143. All this and more.

0:00 – Introduction

UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape spoke to Grind City Media’s John Morgan and said he could have chosen to sit on the sidelines and wait for a title shot but instead elected to compete against Brandon Royval at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas as part of International Fight Week.

Kape explains why his belief in his skills led him to take the fight rather that sit back and wait for the winner.

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Moragn react to a dominant Michael Morales over Gilbert Burns at UFC Fight Night 256. Additionally, which side are you taking in the ongoing Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria chatter? Previewing an incredible weekend in Atlantic City with FURY Professional Grappling 13 and CFFC 142. All this and more. 

0:00 – Michael Morales is the real deal
7:24 – Welterweight division now looking awfully stacked, so what’s next?
14:22 – Why the UFC Apex is here to stay
27:08 – Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria are still talking - will they fight?
32:44 – Do we need to see Sean Strickla...

On this episode, Eric McMahon and John Morgan look back at UFC 315, where Jack Della Maddalena battered and bruised Belal Muhammad. Was something off with Muhammad, or is “JDM” simply that good? Valentina Shevchenko beats the odds and defends her title in impressive fashion.  Who’s next for Shevchenko – and can anyone deny Natalia Silva? Jose Aldo calls it a career after a very hard-fought loss to Aiemann Zahabi. All this and more.