UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

Jim and Matt are back with a midweek edition of UFC Unfiltered featuring two top contenders with massive fights on the horizon. First, bantamweight standout Cory Sandhagen stops by ahead of his second shot at the 135-pound title to preview his clash with Merab Dvalishvili. Cory breaks down Merab’s relentless style, and reflects on his growth in the four years since his first crack at bantamweight gold. Then, featherweight veteran Josh Emmett joins the show ahead of his UFC 320 matchup with Youssef Zalal. Emmett explains how he plans to use his trademark knockout power against a surging opponent, why his experience gives him the edge, and how he remains confident and motivated in proving himself at 40 years old. Tune in as Jim and Matt each make three picks for this Saturday’s UFC 320 card! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim and Matt return with a stacked Monday episode of UFC Unfiltered. Middleweight contender Brendan Allen joins the show to preview his short-notice showdown with Reinier de Ridder in Vancouver, explain why he’s confident he’ll score a knockout by Round 3, and weigh in on the wide-open middleweight title picture. Then, flyweight contender Manel Kape stops by to discuss finally locking in a fight with Brandon Royval to close out 2025. Unfazed by the string of injuries that canceled their first two scheduled bouts, Kape breaks down how the two match up and what a victory over Royval could mean for his title chances. Plus, Jim and Matt recap all the action from UFC Perth, including Carlos Ulberg’s impressive first-round knockout of Dominick Reyes in Saturday night’s main event. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Serra and Jim Norton return for a midweek edition of UFC Unfiltered with a pair of No. 8–ranked contenders, bantamweight Mario Bautista and lightweight Mateusz Gamrot, as both men prepare to embrace the road-dog role against fan favorites. Bautista joins the show to reflect on his eight-fight winning streak and preview next month’s bantamweight clash with Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. Then, Gamrot stops by to break down his short-notice matchup with Charles Oliveira in Rio and share how he’s adjusting on just 2½ weeks’ notice. Plus, Matt and Jim give their thoughts and picks for this Saturday’s UFC Perth card, headlined by a pivotal light heavyweight showdown between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Din Thomas jumps in as guest co-host alongside Matt Serra for a jam-packed Monday edition of UFC Unfiltered! First up, 9th-ranked featherweight Youssef Zalal stops by ahead his UFC 320 showdown with Josh Emmett. Riding a four-fight UFC winning streak, Youssef shares stories from his long-awaited trip back to Morocco before shifting his focus to his matchup against the hard-hitting veteran. Then, newly signed welterweight Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani makes his first appearance after earning his UFC contract with a spectacular first-round knockout on DWCS. The Hermosa Beach native talks about growing up in a martial arts family, balancing ADD/ADHD with training, and what it means to be realizing his lifelong UFC dreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt brings the heat with a brand new microphone as he teams up with guest co-host John Morgan for a midweek edition of UFC Unfiltered! Nearly a month removed from his UFC Shanghai win over Brian Ortega, Aljamain Sterling returns to the show to discuss Ortega’s weight-cut struggles, his recent back-and-forth with Lerone Murphy, and what’s next in his pursuit of a featherweight title shot. With training partner Merab Dvalishvili set to face Cory Sandhagen just one day before his wedding, Aljo also opens up about balancing fight prep with personal life. Later, Australia’s own Aly Mac stops by to share her journey into the world of MMA broadcasting before shedding light on the Aussie fighters she’s most excited to see in action on next weekend’s Perth card. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest co-host RJ Clifford joins Jim and Matt for a packed Monday show after a huge week for fight fans! Flyweight Alden Coria kicks things off by discussing his journey from preparing for a Contender Series shot to making a successful short-notice UFC debut at Noche UFC. He also shares how training alongside Joshua Van at 4oz Fight Club has elevated his game. The guys then break down all the action from Noche UFC in San Antonio, including Diego Lopes’ statement victory in the main event. Finally, legendary trainer and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas makes his first appearance on the show to reflect on his remarkable life journey, give his take on Terence Crawford’s legacy-defining win over Canelo Alvarez, and explain how he’s grown to truly appreciate the UFC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Serra and Jim Norton look ahead to this Saturday’s Noche UFC card in San Antonio with two fighters set to compete: Rob Font and Tatiana Suarez. First up, bantamweight veteran Rob Font joins the show to discuss preparing for yet another short-notice opponent change and how training in Texas with Gordon Ryan has sharpened his ground game. He also sheds light on his improving golf game and where he stacks ups with teammate Calvin Kattar on the green. Then, strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez stops by to talk about rebounding from her first career loss, breaking down her matchup with Amanda Lemos, and sharing some time on the mic with her fiancé, Patchy Mix. Plus, Matt and Jim make their picks for Saturday’s Noche UFC card and weigh in on what’s at stake. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim Norton and Matt Serra return for another episode of UFC Unfiltered! Fresh off his biggest career win in Paris, light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas reflects on his successful second stint and the father-son dynamics in play for both he and training partner Tom Aspinall. Later, retired combat sports journalist Kevin Iole joins to recap UFC Paris with Jim and Matt and help put Saturday’s Canelo-Crawford super fight in historical context. Kevin reflects on his 46-year career covering combat sports and breaks down what TKO’s foray into boxing could mean for combat sports fans looking to see the best fight the best. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim and Matt return from the Labor Day break with recent Dana White’s Contender Series standout Donte Johnson and the great Jon Anik for today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered. Fresh off a short-notice first-round knockout that secured his UFC contract, Johnson reflects on his rapid rise. Noticeably slimmer than the 297-pound collegiate defensive lineman who first walked into an MMA gym, the undefeated 6-0 prospect explains how the best version of himself may be found at light heavyweight or even middleweight. Between interviews, Jim and Matt trade picks for this Saturday’s UFC Paris card before welcoming Jon Anik. The voice of the Octagon discusses the middleweight title picture, reflects on his hilarious cameo with Michael Bisping in The Naked Gun (2025), and shares what it means to call TKO’s splashy entry into boxing with the Canelo vs. Crawford megafight — live on Netflix September 13. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s UFC Unfiltered, the one and only Din Thomas fills in for Matt Serra for an episode with Jim Norton that invites welterweight contender Sean Brady and French lightweight Benoît Saint Denis on as guests. Frustrated by two fight dates falling through, Brady outlines two specific opponents he’s ready to fight on a minute’s notice — preferably on November’s UFC 322 card at Madison Square Garden. Plus, Sean dishes his thoughts on how Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev match up. Then, Saint Denis joins ahead of his UFC Paris co-main event against Ruffy. The “God of War” reflects on bouncing back from back-to-back losses, what it means to fight at home in front of his French fans, and his involvement in an upcoming Netflix MMA reality series. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On today’s UFC Unfiltered, Matt Serra and Jim Norton welcome middleweight veteran Brad Tavares and flyweight contender Charles Johnson. Two weeks out from UFC Paris, Tavares explains how he’s keeping his 37-year-old body primed to break his tie with Michael Bisping for the most middleweight wins in UFC history. Fresh off a $50K bonus knockout in Shanghai, Johnson recaps his win over Lone’er Kavanagh, the story behind his “skullet” haircut, and the decision to speak directly to Chinese fans in their own language during his Octagon interview. Plus, Jim and Matt share their takeaways from UFC Shanghai — including celebrating Aljamain Sterling’s co-main event victory.

Matt Serra and Jim Norton welcome top middleweight contenders Anthony Hernandez and Caio Borralho to discuss the 185-pound title picture after Khamzat Chimaev’s win. Hernandez recaps his submission victory over Roman Dolidze, previews his recently announced UFC Vancouver bout vs. Reinier de Ridder, and shares a laugh with Matt about their mutual appreciation for certain… ‘plant-based’ recovery methods. As someone also there in Chicago for Chimaev’s win, Borralho assesses his place in the title queue and what it might take from him in September’s UFC Paris headliner against Nassourdine Imavov to seal his place as Khamzat’s rightful challenger. Plus, Matt shares his excitement to wake up early for UFC Shanghai’s sneakily action-packed card — including a high-stakes grappler’s delight set between Brian Ortega and Serra-Longo’s own Aljamain Sterling.

Matt and Jim unpack the action of UFC 319 on an episode of UFC Unfiltered that invites two victorious fighters from the card in Drakkar Klose and Loopy Godinez. Joining first is Klose, and the lightweight calls in to discuss the keys to his unanimous decision win over a tricky veteran like Edson Barboza. Drakkar touches on the memory of his deceased brother and how honoring him in victory helps him stay grounded. Between guests, the guys dish out some of their takeaways from UFC 319 and play matchmaker before finally bringing in Loopy Godinez for a chat. Matt sings the praises of Loopy’s striking as the 11th-ranked strawweight details what a victory over a former champion like Jéssica Andrade does for her confidence.

There is no replacing Matt Serra. But when the champ can’t make the show, it’s never a bad idea to get another champ to fill in — and that’s exactly what today’s Unfiltered episode delivers with Forrest Griffin talking UFC 319 w/ guest callers Geoff Neal and Chase Hooper. First up, 11th-ranked welterweight Geoff Neal reflects on his inspiring journey from a life-threatening ICU stay in 2020 to competing at the highest level in the UFC. He breaks down his upcoming matchup with Carlos Prates and weighs in on whether “MMA math” applies when comparing each of their recent losses to Ian Machado Garry. Then, Chase Hooper — just 25 years old and already entering his 12th UFC fight — talks about taking on Alexander Hernandez, a dangerous striker with only one submission loss in 24 pro bouts. Usually on dad duty 50+ weeks a year, Chase shares how his locked-in fight-week mentality has brought out his best performances since moving up to 155 pounds. Having seen many of UFC 319’s fighters up close in his role at the UFC Performance Institute, Forrest offers sharp analysis for a comprehensive breakdown of the sneaky-good matchups that round out Saturday’s stacked card.

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, we break down the massive Paramount + TKO deal — a jaw-dropping 7-year, $7.7 BILLION U.S. rights agreement starting in 2026. First, Jim and Matt catch up with middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis — gearing up for his fourth straight title fight and third defense. Dricus weighs in on Saturday’s epic UFC 319 title showdown against Khamzat Chimaev and shares whether he thinks his unique style is finally getting the respect it deserves. Next, the guys chat with viral slam KO artist Elijah Smith. Now $50K richer after sending a message to the bantamweight division, the 22-year-old talks about his journey from football to MMA. In the back half of the interview, Elijah’s ex-UFC fighter dad joins in to share his perspective as Elijah’s trainer and mentor. Listen in as the guys break down the wild action from last weekend’s UFC Fight Night and make their picks for Saturday’s UFC 319 card!

With a fight card to look forward to, Jim and Matt invite a pair of all-action veterans on to the show in Andre Fili and Roman Dolidze. A longtime friend of the show, Andre Fili returns to UFC Unfiltered for the first time as a father in one of his most thoughtful interviews yet. He talks about the life changes since welcoming his son Valor, how fatherhood has shifted his mindset inside and outside the cage, and his upcoming matchup with Christian Rodriguez. Then, Roman Dolidze joins ahead of his middleweight main event against Anthony Hernandez. He talks about rebounding from back-to-back losses to a strong win streak, what’s at stake this weekend, and what it is about the Georgian UFC fighters that keeps them so driven. Stick around as Matt and Jim make their picks for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card!

Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered delivers a powerful mix of rising talent and personal triumph as Jim and Matt welcome UFC featherweight prospect Austin Bashi and DWCS hopeful Jimmy Drago. First up is Bashi, fresh off his first UFC victory — a slick first-round submission over John Yannis. He reflects on bouncing back from his debut loss, chasing a dream he’s had since childhood, and what it was like mimicking Alexander Volkanovski in Diego Lopes’ camp. Between guests, Jim and Matt break down highlights from UFC Fight Night: Taira vs. Park — including standout performances from Tatsuro Taira, Chris Duncan, Esteban Ribovics, and more. Then, Jimmy Drago joins ahead of his Dana White’s Contender Series debut on August 12th. The Yonkers native shares his incredible story — from losing his father, a 9/11 first responder, to battling addiction and surviving eight overdoses. With sobriety, discipline, and grit, Drago turned a goal of just winning one pro fight into a legitimate UFC dream — and he’s one win away from making it real when he faces Ty Miller on the first DWCS card of 2025.

RJ Clifford jumps in as a guest co-host for one of those rare UFC Unfiltered episodes where we talk to a pair of fighters days away from fighting each other. Neil Magny drops in to reflect on his 35th UFC bout and what it means to fight another seasoned vet. Then later, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos makes his Unfiltered debut with the help of a translator to discuss his mindset heading into the matchup and how he plans to overcome Magny’s reach. Between interviews, Jim, Matt, and RJ dive into the recently announced light heavyweight headliner between Dominick Reyes and Carlos Ulberg in Perth. Could it be a #1 contender fight? Reyes is chasing his fourth straight win, while Ulberg looks to solidify his case as the next title challenger after Ankalaev vs. Pereira II.

Jim and Matt kick off the show recapping Saturday’s UFC card in Abu Dhabi, where “Matt-stradamus” Serra stays red hot with another perfect night of picks. They react to Reinier de Ridder’s razor-close win over Robert Whittaker, Petr Yan’s bounce-back performance, and Steven Nguyen’s record-setting knockdown spree before welcoming back Davey Grant to discuss his gritty win over Da’Mon Blackshear and what’s fueling his late-career surge. Finally, inaugural UFC BJJ welterweight champ Andrew Tackett joins ahead of his first title defense this Thursday. The middle Tackett brother reflects on growing up in a grappling-obsessed family and shares why his aggressive style makes him a fan-friendly champion for a UFC BJJ ruleset already designed to deliver action.

It’s a loaded Wednesday on UFC Unfiltered as Jim and Matt welcome two top-10 UFC contenders and gear up for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Abu Dhabi! First, 7th-ranked lightweight Mateusz Gamrot joins the show just two months after his dominant win over Ludovit Klein. The American Top Team standout reflects on teammate Dustin Poirier’s recent retirement before unpacking his place in the stacked lightweight division’s current logjam at the top. Then, 7th-ranked middleweight Jared Cannonier jumps on to preview his August 16th bout with Michael “Venom” Page. Fresh off a 4th-round KO over "RoboCop" that snapped a 2-fight skid, Cannonier compares MVP’s style to prior opponents before ultimately putting on his analyst hat with a pick in this Saturday’s Whittaker vs. de Ridder main event. The guys wrap things up with three fight picks of their own for Saturday’s early-start Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.