Is KSW the rightful 'Number 2'? | Ep. 170

SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACT

This episode features discussion on Trump’s announcement that the UFC will be hosting an event on the White House lawn next year and all the implications of that announcement in relation to the current broadcast rights negotiations for the promotion. We also take a look at financial filings for Tyson Fury and KSW and a look back at a few items we missed last week with ONE’s latest filing.

We also look at Jon Anik’s idea of shaving 10 fight nights off the UFC schedule, the possibility of a superfight between Francis Ngannou and Rico Verhoeven, the arrest of Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., and the statements made by Nakisa Bidarian about the Ali Act not being important. Finally, we take a listener question. Follow along with our outline as you listen:

Episode 170 Outline

• Donald Trump announced last week that the UFC would be bringing an event to the WH lawn. Does this signify anything to you?

• Does it look like they’re manipulating the broadcast deal?

• Do you think the card really happens?

• Fighters are crawling out of the woodwork to be on the card, including Conor McGregor and recently retired Jon Jones. Do you envision either of them actually getting on the card?

• Speaking of Conor, he’ll be having a big announcement alongside BKFC head honcho David Feldman on the 10th. What do you think that might be?

• Jon Anik floated the idea of shaving 10 events per year off the UFC schedule. What are your thoughts on it?

• Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested and is in ICE detention waiting to be deported. What do you make of that whole thing?

• Rico Verhoeven said that there is potentially a Glory-PFL co-promotion for him versus Ngannou in the works. Does this sound like a real possibility?

• Now that you’ve had more time to look over ONE Championship’s financial statement, have some added details for thoughts. What do you have for us?

• You have the financials for KSW. Where did you get them and are they doing better than the “Number 2” promotion?

• What else do they tell us?

• Tyson Fury also had his financials come out. What do those tell you?

• Fury wants a trilogy fight with Usyk. Why do you think that is?

• Nakisa Bidarian said on Ariel Helwani’s show that “If you do the right thing by the fighters and are transparent, the Ali Act is not important”. Remind everyone of instances where this faith-in-promoters system failed the athletes.

• @joannadangerfd had a question for us on Twitter: after Damon Martin posted a video of new Bengals offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild, who was a high school wrestling champ, grappling with Sean Strickland. They wanted to know if the UFC, even if they weren’t so greedy, could have ever competed for talent like him with the NFL?

Tyson Fury’s filings & link + code for KSW’s filing