NO CAP RECAP SHOW: UGP 26 EDITION

“...And we’re live.”

[From the dark void we hear the slightly raspy voice of Bodie Sullivan. The feed switches on and we see two stocky gentlemen lounging in a studio room dressed as your typical man cave. Dimly lit, with an assortment of MMA memorabilia hanging on the walls while a cloud of smoke sifts through the air. In Bodie’s company is his broadcast partner, Jason Jackson. The two men clink their drinks and throw back their beverages. Jason begins pouring up another for the two of them while Bodie draws his microphone stand closer to him.]

BODIE SULLIVAN

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for tuning in. I’m Bodie Sullivan, and joining me is the man, the myth, the legend, Jason Jackson — and this is the “No Cap Recap Show”. We’ll be discussing what went down at UGP 26, giving you our steaming hot takes, we’ll be playing a little matchmaking, and close it off with some predictions. Jason, it’s good to have you here my man.

JASON JACKSON

Great to be here, Uce. I think the fans are really going to either dig this or hate our opinions entirely. I’m here for all the smoke either way.

BODIE SULLIVAN

You know what Grandma Sullivan used to tell me growing up? Fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke. So listen, you and I were in Boston calling the fights. Basically top five competition from start to finish with a good mix of prospects, rising contenders… former and current champs. The night was pretty wild, right?

JASON JACKSON

Yeah, it was a super stacked night of fights and it really saw a lot of the title picture fall into place for a few divisions here in UGP.

BODIE SULLIVAN

Every fight was unique in their own right. There was a little something for every fight fan out there and I think it absolutely delivered. So let’s just dive right into it and start off with the opening fight: Reggie James versus Lovelie Saint-Cyr. The big focus on this fight was LSC’s debut into the big leagues. Not a whole lot of chatter going on for Reggie leading up, and to give credit where it’s due, Reggie didn’t exactly impress many people in his last fight. Yes, he won against Yusnuel Gamboa by unanimous decision, but many people felt that Gamboa should have won that fight. So it was clear Reggie was looking to prove the doubters wrong about him.

This was LSC’s Union debut and really the biggest keynote about this was the fact that Lovelie went from fighting at 170 in Everest, to 225 in Union. Definitely a big jump in weight, but a lot of people thought the extra mass would only benefit his power.

But look at the stats, not a single punch was thrown! Reggie controlled the fight with some great wrestling — he was four of five on takedowns — and really suffocated LSC on the ground and got him to tap with the omoplata. Reggie did a lot of good things in those four minutes and, no cap, I think he showed that he could very well compete for a title this year. What’d you think of the fight, JJ?

JASON JACKSON

It surprised me a lot. LSC is a talented fighter and I thought that the transition to UGP was going to go a lot smoother for him. Boy oh boy did Reggie James have other things in mind. At the end of the night he had me going, “where the hell did this guy come from?” Because it was such a dominant performance. He was all over him like stink on shit. Saint-Cyr didn’t have a minute to breathe, or think, and that limited his ability to formulate a proper game plan and get something going.

It might have even been a bit of “stage fright” too. I think both of these guys have a promising future. Fight for a title? It’s too early to tell. I’m sure if you ask Reggie James, he’d tell you he’s ready tomorrow. I just… want to see more from him before I give him my seal of approval. I like what I saw though and I’ll be watching him moving forward to see how he develops.

BODIE SULLIVAN

No, you’re absolutely right. I’m not saying he’s a win away from a title shot, but he definitely improved since his last fight. But then again, you never know. The Cruiserweight Division has the King at the top, a couple of title challengers, and then a big group of unproven guys. If maybe he comes out next time and puts on another dominant performance and talks a little shit to grab some headlines… ya never know.

Alright, so fight number two on the card, we had another Everest Champ make his Union debut, and this was definitely a better outing for the Everest grads. It was a Killa party as Xabier Belazco took on Alistair McKay. I’ll let you take the lead on this one.

JASON JACKSON

Say less. This was noooooot a good night for Belazco. Going into this fight we were looking at two key metrics. One being, how does Alistair McKay handle the jump to UGP, and the second? Would Xabier Belazco be able to make a step back toward title contention or would he remain a “gatekeeper” for the lightweight division. I think we got a clear definitive answer. McKay showed the same frightening power that he exhibited in Everest and he put Belazco to sleep with relative ease.

For me, I think that the lightweight division should be on notice. There is a new kid on the block and he’s got thunder in his mitts. For Xabier? I think it’s time for him to make a decision. He needs to think long and hard about his next move because he can’t keep traveling the road he’s on. He’s had a rollercoaster career and I’m sure he’d like to go out on a high… but at what cost? He needs to think about his well-being as well.

BODIE SULLIVAN

I think you nailed it on the head there. I was curious to see if Ali’s power would translate, going from Featherweight to Lightweight, and we clearly got that answer. This guy is now 6-0, all first round finishes. This guy is the future. But as for Xabier? Yeah, he’s going to really have to think about the future here. That’s three straight losses now. Granted, it’s been against top competition. But at this stage in his career, what’s the ultimate goal?

Okay and then for the final undercard bout, Viktor Volkov and Billy Tweeds just absolutely mauled each other. The stat sheet shows Volkov out-striking Tweeds pretty significantly, but Tweeds was doing a lot more damage. It looked like Billy had Volkov dead to rights, but somehow Big Vik rallies back, and puts him away for the TKO stoppage in the second round.

I think this easily could have been the Fight of the Night, but ultimately, to me, this fight showed two things. One: Billy Tweeds is still a bit raw with his skill set and cage IQ but definitely has the potential to be a top contender, and Two: Viktor Volkov proved he has the willpower to weather through the adversity and find a way to win. That showing has me believing that if he gets another crack at Kennard Rozier, he could tip the scale in his favor. But No Cap, Volkov has to move his head and stop eating so many damn strikes!

JASON JACKSON

This was my favorite fight of the night. They went out there and put on a fuckin’ show!! I honestly thought that Vik was out of the fight but he rallied back from adversity. He showed his incredible toughness and heart and he earned himself a win in an absolute dog fight. And hey, don’t sleep on Tweeds either. He is an animal, and with a bit more polish and experience, I think he has massive contender quality as well. You’re right though, if Vik has any shot of beating Rozier he needs to fight a bit smarter and show the striking of these fellas a bit more respect. I get being tough, but you’ve gotta be smart as well. I think the rematch between Pluggz and Big Vik will be a war though. As for Tweeds? Back in the gym and back on the horse brother. Brush that shit off and come back like a bat out of hell.

BODIE SULLIVAN

In the Co-Main Event, we got the trilogy fight between two former Middleweight Champions in Robert Guilliman and Asher Jrue. This was the perfect time to book this fight because it answered a lot of questions. Is Guilliman on the back nine of his career? Is Asher back in the title hunt? As we mentioned leading up to this fight, Guilliman had never lost two straight in his career, and after taking L’s to Delaney and Cal, there were a lot of whispers wondering what Guilliman was gonna do from here.

But I don’t think anyone expected him to come out and shoot some takedowns! Guilliman is always seen with his BJJ coach in his promos, but I can’t say that he’s ever attempted a takedown up to this point. So not only did it surprise the spectators, but it clearly surprised Asher! I think this fight showed that Guilliman still has a lot left in the tank, but No Cap, I don't think he’s that much closer to a title shot. I think this fight just stopped the slide down the rankings and keeps him on the fringe. How’d you see it?

JASON JACKSON

I have to agree. I don’t think that this fight did that much for either of them, ranking wise. Asher was looking to prove that he deserved another shot at contendership, and after a two fight skid, Guilliman was looking to prove that he still had it. He came out and showed a few more tools with the surprise takedowns but at the end of the day it was the kick that sealed the deal as always.

For Asher, he looked a bit outclassed. I don’t mean to sound like a dick or anything but I think that Robert Guilliman recovered well psychologically after he lost to Jrue, but I think that Jrue is still suffering mentally from getting knocked out by Primarch. I personally think that it showed a bit in this fight. I mean he’s young and losses can be hard to work through. He strung two submissions in a row and then sort of froze up against Guilliman.

Primarch was willingly taking the fight to Simba’s domain and the cub froze up and was unable to capitalize. Asher just needs a bit more refining though and you’ll see him wear gold again one day. As for Guilliman? I’m going to need to see him beat another top 5 guy before I think he deserves a title shot again. That’s just my opinion.

BODIE SULLIVAN

That’s fair. Finally, the Main Event and what an incredible fight this was! I’ll let you take the first stab at this fight, Jason, but let me just say, these guys left it all out there.

JASON JACKSON

Absolutely! It was one for the record books. A five round war that saw Double D eat a bouquet of NASTY head kicks but Bodie, he showed the world his heart and champion spirit as he kept charging forward until the final bell. Travis Decker did what he said he would though, and when the smoke cleared he had come through as the ultimate underdog, defeating Delaney Donovan by decision to bring the middleweight title home to Real Killas MMA.

You know it had to feel good too. Decker has worked so hard and for so long he’s come up JUST short. Not this time though. After focusing on his striking and refining his game, Travis Decker came into this fight ready for anything. He put on a world class performance and shocked the world. I think the pressure was just too much for Delaney. I think this is the best thing for him. Move back to your natural weight class, where you were dominant as hell, and stay there. Let the middleweights do them. But holy shit…. This blows the middleweight title picture wide open right?

BODIE SULLIVAN

Absolutely. I think either way, it’s nice to see some different competition at the top. With Decker holding the strap now, there’s so many new options. He’s got two fellow Killas breathing down his neck, but we’ll save that discussion for another time. But as for the fight, I think this showed the step up in weight for Delaney was a little too much to manage long term. I give him all the respect in the world for wanting to defend it, and the fact he went twenty-five minutes and couldn’t be stopped says a lot.

Although, it’ll be very interesting to see how he performs after a war like that. Some fighters are never the same, win or lose. Flip it over to Travis Decker and it’s one of those Hollywood underdog stories. Decker had been very up-and-down with his output, but after taking some time off, he hit the reset button and now he looks like a completely different fighter. I’m glad to see him finally reach the pinnacle, but now he’s got a whole new set of challenges ahead of him. As he said, he’s the target now. He’s going to get the very best version of his opponents. He cannot rest on his laurels now.

So now let’s switch things up a bit and put on our matchmaking hats. First up, Reggie James. I know we have the Triple C Grand Prix coming up and I’m expecting Reggie to enter it, but ignoring that fact, a guy I’d like to see him face next is his own ScrapYard teammate, Ardan Kelly. I know Kelly has a fight coming up, but both of these guys possess some excellent grappling skills and they definitely know each others’ strengths and weaknesses from drilling and sparring in the gym. It would be a big step up for Reggie and if he could score a win over his campmate, who has challenged for the title, it would be a big signature win and one that could establish him as a title contender. Who would you like to see Reggie James face next, Jason?

JASON JACKSON

Wayland Hughes Jr. That would be my choice as a matchmaker. Reggie is 3-0, Wayland is 4-1. Hughes has decent wrestling and ground and pound. He needs a dance partner to welcome him to UGP and I think Reggie makes for a damn good one to test the waters. You beat a former champion and that establishes quite a lot too, doesn’t it? Could be one hell of a fight.

BODIE SULLIVAN

I like that idea. Give him another Everest grad, although the former Everest Heavyweight Champ is a natural 225-er. Not only does he have really good striking, he’s got a solid wrestling background as well. I love it. Next we have Alistair McKay. I’ve got a few options in mind, but let’s hear your take first.

JASON JACKSON

For me I think a real test for him would be Bellamy DeSilva or Abbie Peterson. Stylistically I think they would make for barn burners… aka if you don’t speak old folks that code name for some entertaining ass fights. I’d love to see either of them, to be honest. I could say “I’d love to see Ali fight a grappler to see if he’s well rounded.” Blah blah blah. It would be a lie. I want to see a firefight. I think if he beats one of them, we give him the Bandit King. Boss fight for real. No cap, Uce.

BODIE SULLIVAN

Woo! Damn those are some great options. I like the DeSilva pick simply because if he scores a win there, he’s right in the thick of title contention. A rematch against Abbie Peterson would be fire. The two fought for the inaugural Featherweight Title in Everest and I think it would be a great test for Abbie to truly see how much she’s improved. For the sake of discussion, I’ll say in all honesty anyone in the top five would be a great match up, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Alistair line up against Erick Costa. The Puerto Rican is an elite striker and if you wanna see some fireworks, that’s about as much of a guaranteed brawl as you’ll get.

Now we move on to Viktor Volkov. From what I’m hearing, Owen Barnes is next in line to face Kennard Rozier for the title and he has no problem waiting for it. I don’t know if Dante Reed could change his mind, but if Volkov cann’t face Barnes next, I think someone like Joseph Byrne would be a great option.

JASON JACKSON

Not a bad pick. I think him or uh… [snaps fingers] uh… Miklos. Cezar Miklos wouldn’t be a bad fight either, stylistically. I’d be okay with either of those. Either way, I think we need to see Vik fight one more contender before he gets another shot at Pluggz. He’s gotta climb back up that ladder first.

BODIE SULLIVAN

I agree with you there. Next up we got Robert Guilliman. As I mentioned earlier, I think he’s still on the fringe for title contention so he may need another win or two before getting back in those graces. I think someone like Lars Levy would be an interesting matchup. Both guys are up there in age but show some excellent skills.

JASON JACKSON

I was going to say Nigel Musgrove but Lars is a WAYYYY better fucking pick bro. I choose Lars. Fuck you that was my idea, Bodie. Stop stealing my brilliant ideas. All jokes aside though, I think that is the perfect test for both fighters. I hope Lars Levy vs Primarch is next for them. I’m stoked about that. Good shit Bodie. Let’s call them now and tell them about this shit. They gotta make that fight.

BODIE SULLIVAN

Hahaaaa. Hey I like either one of those options, to be honest. I just like the idea of Guilliman and Levy out there trying to out-do one another on their old man strength. Like those old Mandelbaum guys on Seinfeld. So now that I’ve shown my age… Let’s move on to the final fighter with the victory, Travis Decker. This one seems to be a no-brainer after what went down at the end of the night. Jason, I’ll give you the honors on the pick.

JASON JACKSON

There’s only one pick to make here. The trilogy between Zion Momo’a and Travis Decker. I’d say Zion deserves it after getting some sweet retribution against Aries Reed who finished him previously when they met. There used to be some bad blood between Decker and Zion. I don’t know if the fact that they are teammates squashed that or not. It seems like it did, but we really have no clue what is going on in these fighters' heads and lives. All I know is there is no way ANYONE, including Travis Decker, could say that Momo’a doesn’t deserve the next crack at the champ. He took a backseat and advocated for Decker to get this chance to fight Double D. He rallied for him and supported his team mate and now it’s his moment in the sun as well. He’s had a pretty tough time in title fights though… so it’s going to be interesting to see how this one plays out for the new champ and the Blasian Buzzsaw.

BODIE SULLIVAN

No doubt Momo’a should be next. Here’s the interesting thing though. Zion is 2-0 against Decker. Some fighters have that one guy who they just cannot overcome. Momo’a seems to be Decker’s kryptonite. If somehow Decker can finally slay that dragon and score a win, I don’t think Momo’a really drops far in the rankings. There could very well be a big traffic jam at the top of the Middleweight Division.

And now, a little bonus round to close out our matchmaking segment. Let’s pick one fighter who walked out with an L and discuss who they should fight next. I’m going to shine a light on Xabier Belazco. Looking at the new rankings and seeing him sitting at number eight, I’d like to see him square up with someone like Abbie Peterson, who’s currently ranked sixth. I’ve always related Belazco as the measuring stick of the lightweight division, but after that quick exit against McKay, perhaps the rest of the field is passing him by? I believe he has one fight left on his contract, so this could be a make it or break it shot. Can you hang with the new generation that’s coming up, or is it time to start thinking of, dare I say, retirement, or even something like a move to Everest? Who you got for us, JJ?

JASON JACKSON

LSC. Where does he go from here? He was a powerhouse in Everest but we saw him stumble a bit when making the jump up to UGP. I think that Devlin Connolly would be a great test for Saint-Cyr moving forward and I think Saint-Cyr would be a decent test for the Scrapyard prospect as well. It would see where they both stand in the 225 division rankings and I think this is a matchup that will allow their skill sets to shine. A win against a new up and comer like Connolly could move LSC from rookie to prospect and solidify that jump to the majors. No cap.

BODIE SULLIVAN

Very true. You know we haven’t seen Connolly since his debut fight, which he won AND got a performance bonus. It just goes to show you that if you ain’t out there whoring yourself and promoting, you just might get lost in the shuffle. Alright, now we’re gonna put ourselves on the spot to close this thing out. Lightning round. Predictions for Boss Fight Twenty-five. No need for explanations, just gimme your picks. We got Harmon Janssen versus Zander Altman in a rematch, Megan Reed versus the Everest alum and Union debuting Syn Saetang, former Heavyweight Champ Donnie Calabrese versus Cezar Miklos, Kelsi Morrow versus Tim Vu in the Co-Main, and Cruiserweight Title Challenger Ardan Kelly versus José Meléndez in the Main Event. Jason, you’re in the hot seat, fire away!

JASON JACKSON

Whew. Okay? Are you ready? Janssen, Saetang, Dogface, Morrow and uhhhhhhhh Meléndez. That was tough without thinking about it. Damn.

BODIE SULLIVAN

I’m going: Janssen, Reed, Calabrese, Vu, and Meléndez. There, I said it! We’re on the record. And that’ll do it for today. Jason, it’s always a pleasure chatting it up with you, my friend. I’ll be seeing ya around.

JASON JACKSON

We had a lot of the same picks. Wild. Great minds and all that. But pleasure as always, uce. Even if I am a little hungover because of you. Until next time though. Cheers!

[Bodie and Jason toss their microphones to the side and clink their drinks once more as the feed fades out for the first episode (and hopefully many more to come) of the No Cap Recap Show.]