Walk Out Network's video: Marky Z s UFC Watch Party The Living Death Show Ep 149 feat Matt Hawkins

With Ant out for the week, Ben took the reins, and after a weekend with two major stateside MMA events—but only one that people were allowed to attend—who better to fill that extra chair than our friend Matt Hawkins? The co-host of the Coast 2 Coast Combat Hour and legendary superfan was in attendance at in Long Beach, and gave his eyewitness account of all the craziness. The panel also touched on being closed to fans and media (and how much it mattered) as well as the trio of close or controversial main events at Bellator, UFC, and . Find Matt's work with Ed Carbajal at @CombatHour on all major platforms! 0:00 SURPRISE, MOTHERF*$%^!* 2:00 Jay's Stat of the Week: A very low number, dern it ---------- ANTONIO INOKI (1943-2022) ---------- 3:12 Antonio Inoki, pro wrestling legend, MMA pioneer, and former Japanese legislator, passed away at the age of 79. The panel sounds off on one of combat sports' most revered figures, with Matt digging into single-digit UFC history for some anecdotes. ---------- UFC VEGAS 61: NONE SHALL PASS ---------- 15:07 Just days before the event, the UFC closed Fight Night 211 to fans as well as media. Rumors flew about what might be going on, but in the end it appeared to be Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg enjoying a private viewing party. Does it mean anything? Is it an indicator of future events? Interesting insights from Matt, a man who has attended 60 UFC events in person over the past two decades. Disagreement ensues over the importance of having media members in attendance. ---------- BELLATOR & UFC HEADLINERS ---------- 36:47 Both UFC Vegas 61 and Bellator 286 featured five-round main events that perhaps didn't deliver quite as much entertainment as we expected or hoped. Was Yan Xiaonan-Mackenzie Dern the bigger letdown, or was it Patricio Pitbull vs. Adam Borics? Matt was in attendance at Long Beach Arena for Bellator 286, and offers some in-house insights, including sounding off on the "boo birds." 42:24 Is Pitbull in his "GSP phase?" Matt throws out the idea, and Ben picks it up and runs with it. 49:15 Jay asks: at Bellator 286 and UFC Vegas 61, did any fighters really elevate their stock? If so, who? Spike Carlyle gets some ginger madman love. ---------- YAN XIAONAN ---------- 56:00 Yan Xiaonan did enough to get by Mackenzie Dern and snap her first losing streak. Was it enough to keep her in the title picture? Is it a good thing that she's probably headed for a Top 5 opponent next? ---------- AARON PICO ---------- 1:03:54 Aaron Pico injured his left shoulder early in Round 1 of his co-main event matchup with Jeremy Kennedy. What do you make of his cornerman, Brandon Gibson, attempting to pop it back in between rounds, and what do you make of the referee and cageside doctor electing to call the fight? Some disagreement ensues over whether there is blame to be placed, and where it belongs. ---------- I'M NOT SURPRISED, MISTER FALCONS ---------- 1:18:27 [Matt] Some thoughts on PRIDE scoring, as currently practiced by ONE Championship 1:19:28 [Jay] Big Ben + BKFC = a match made in heaven 1:21:34 [Ben] Angela Lee cries out for justice