UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

Matt Serra and guest co-host Ben “The Bane” Davis hold it down on today’s UFC Unfiltered, starting with MMA media veteran RJ Clifford. The guys bring RJ on to unpack Ilia Topuria’s three-fight run to superstardom before analyzing what it might take for someone to beat the promotion’s newest two-division champion. Clifford also dishes on Pantoja’s dominance and whether Joshua Van has the formula to dethrone the Brazilian flyweight king. Later, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett joins to address rumors about a matchup with Justin Gaethje in August and speaks candidly about the history of his rivalry with Topuria. He walks through the lightweight Top 10 to explain why he’s worthy of the next title shot, then reiterates he’s ready to take on whoever if the promotion decides he needs one more win. Matt wraps up the interview with some girl-dad advice to Paddy the…Daddy — who is now a father of twin daughters himself. With no fights this weekend, Ben and Matt close things out with some laughs to send the Unfiltered Army into the Fourth of July weekend with a smile.

UFC 317 delivered in a big way with highlight-reel finishes, breakout performances, and a star-making moment for Ilia Topuria — and guest co-host Kevin Iole is on the mic with Matt Serra (while Jim Norton is out) to break it all down. The episode kicks off with featherweight knockout artist Jose Miguel Delgado, fresh off a 26-second finish of Hyder Amil. The Arizona native talks about training with elite teammates at MMA Lab and explains why he’s calling his shot for a clash with William Gomis at September’s Noche UFC card. Matt and Kevin then react to Topuria’s viral knockout of Charles Oliveira and what it means for the future of the lightweight division. Later, undefeated welterweight Jacobe Smith joins the show to break down his submission win over veteran Niko Price — the first of his career. The 29-year-old reflects on his All-American wrestling days at Oklahoma State and how Coach Sayif Saud has helped mold him into a complete mixed martial artist. To close it out, the guys share their biggest takeaways from UFC 317 — including Beneil Dariush’s bounce-back win and the record-setting flyweight war between Joshua Van and Brandon Royval before Kevin reflects on officially retiring from writing after an extraordinary 46-year run covering combat sports.

Jim and Matt gear up for UFC 317 with a pair of lightweight contenders from Saturday’s card joining the show. First, Beneil Dariush returns for his 12th Unfiltered appearance to reflect on his 18-month layoff and the road back after a tough 2023. He opens up about how fatherhood and a reset in training helped center him, and why the Moicano matchup feels like the right fight at the right time. In between guests, Matt reveals what might be the greatest honor of his post-fighting life — leaving Jim to question whether anything in his own career can even come close (sarcasm may or may not be involved). Then, fan-favorite Terrance McKinney stops by to talk about life after recently getting married, evolving under new coaches at Fusion X-Cel, and what a win over Viacheslav Borschev could mean for his momentum. He also shares thoughts on teammate Phil Rowe and how he’s balancing his trademark explosiveness with a new focus on patience. Finally, the guys break down the UFC 317 main card, headlined by a can’t-miss title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, and lock in their predictions for the weekend.

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by this past Saturday’s biggest winner in Nazim Sadykhov and heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane in the wake of Jon Jones’ retirement. Fresh off his acting debut in the new Netflix film K.O., Gane reflects on the surreal experience of being a movie star — and how choreographed fight scenes compare to the real violence of the Octagon. He also weighs in on Jon Jones’ legacy and what the future holds for Ciryl now that Tom Aspinall has been elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion. Jim and Matt begin to unpack the action from this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card before the fighting pride of Azerbaijan himself, Nazim Sadykhov calls in to reflect on the surreal feeling of winning in front of a roaring hometown crowd in Baku.

Jim and Matt start today's show two hours earlier than usual to accomodate two exciting guests fighting on this Saturday's UFC Azerbaijan card: heavyweight Mohammed Usman and women's bantamweight Melissa Mullins. Looking to bookend a second straight win from an Usman brother following Kamaru's victorious main event in Atlanta, younger brother Mohammed Usman talks about how he draws inspiration from his legendary brother’s success ahead of an explosive matchup against Hamdy Abdelwahab. Mohammed also sheds light on the Hall-of-Fame guidance he’s receiving from Rashad Evans — who is now in charge of leading his corner. Melissa uses her first time on the show to discuss her journey into the world of professional martial arts. Mullins sets the table for her upcoming rematch with Daria Zhelezniakova by breaking down what she respects from her veteran opponent in Saturday's second go-around. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap things up with a pair of fight picks each from the UFC Azerbaijan card headlined by Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr.

Jim Norton and Matt Serra open today’s UFC Unfiltered with a full breakdown of UFC Atlanta, starting with Kamaru Usman’s bounce-back win over Joaquin Buckley and what it means for the future of a stacked welterweight division. Plus, Jim and Matt debate Rodolfo Bellato’s controversial no contest against Paul Craig and whether the backlash heading his way is fair. Plus, they spotlight strong performances from Malcolm Wellmaker, Edmen Shahbazyan, and others. Then, Rose Namajunas joins the show to reflect on her win over Miranda Maverick and the personal dynamic of facing a former teammate. She also shares her thoughts on the idea of rematches vs. flyweights she lost to before ultimately assessing who she thinks realistically could be next and ideal for her. Toward the end of the interview, Rose’s husband and coach Pat Barry hops on to talk about how they unwind after a fight — with gardening, good food, and catching up on their favorite shows.

Longtime friend of the show Phoenix Carnevale reprises her esteemed guest co-host duties in Matt Serra’s absence, joining Jim Norton for an episode that features two fighters from this Saturday’s UFC Atlanta card: welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley and light heavyweight veteran Paul Craig. The show opens with Jim and Phoenix reacting to UFC 316 — including Sean O’Malley’s response to his loss to Merab — before Joaquin calls in mid-track workout to discuss his mindset ahead of his main event clash against Kamaru Usman. Later, Paul Craig reflects on his rocky run at middleweight, what he learned about himself through after going through more demanding weight cuts, and how he's channeling those lessons ahead of his 20th UFC appearance and a return to light heavyweight in Saturday’s featured prelim bout against Rodolfo Bellato. While Jim and Phoenix don't make any predictions of their own, the two set the table for UFC Atlanta by previewing some of this Saturday's dynamic matchups.

Jim Norton and guest co-host Din Thomas are joined by MMA legend Bas Rutten for a lively recap of UFC 316. Din gives props to Bas for his unique insight into both the streetfighting mindset and high-level martial arts, setting the stage for Bas to break down what stood out most on the card — including how Joshua Van reminds him of a young Max Holloway. Bas has so much fun he sticks around when UFC bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison calls in. She reflects on her Olympic roots, the emotions behind her recent victory, and whether a showdown with Amanda Nunes might be on the horizon.

With UFC 316 just days away, Matt and Jim welcome two fighters making their second appearances on Unfiltered: rising flyweight Joshua Van and heavy-hitting welterweight Khaos Williams. Kicking things off, Matt finally gets to meet 23-year-old prospect Joshua Van after missing his debut episode — and wastes no time bonding over Bruce Lee movies before breaking down Van’s upcoming clash with veteran Bruno Silva. Focused and self-aware, Joshua explains why he’s preparing for the best version of Silva — knowing how dangerous a fighter can be coming off a loss. In the middle of the show, the guys dive into the UFC 316 card — sharing thoughts on the title fights between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, and Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison — plus Kelvin Gastelum’s return, Patchy Mix’s Octagon debut, and Kevin Holland’s wild schedule. Matt and Jim each make three official fight picks heading into Saturday’s stacked show. Then it’s time to catch up with Khaos Williams, who joins ahead of his short-notice bout against UFC newcomer Andreas Gustafsson. The welterweight striker reflects on his turbulent path — from getting jumped and stabbed in his younger years to a life-changing entry into MMA. Now 31, Khaos talks about staying grounded by embracing risk, investing in real estate, and focusing on long-term growth both in and out of the cage.

It’s Matt Serra’s 51st birthday — and what better way to celebrate than with a few surprise guests? Matt correctly guesses Din Thomas as part one of his birthday surprise — but it’s the unexpected call from bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili that really makes his day. Merab joins ahead of his highly anticipated rematch against Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 in Newark. Din sticks around to co-host with Jim and Matt, as the guys share plenty of laughs before welcoming welterweight Ramiz Brahimaj. Fresh off a 1st-round submission win, Brahimaj opens up about his mindset heading into the fight and what’s next for him in the division. Later, the crew breaks down the highlights from last weekend’s card and weighs in on how Erin Blanchfield’s scratched bout with Maycee Barber could affect the title picture for Valentina Shevchenko.

After taking Monday off in observance of Memorial Day, Jim and Matt dive right into Wednesday’s episode of UFC Unfiltered with two returning guests: 4th-ranked flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield and middleweight finisher Zachary Reese. Erin reflects on bouncing back from her first UFC loss to Manon Fiorot, shares how she’s grown more comfortable in five-round bouts, and breaks down her matchup this Saturday against fellow contender Maycee Barber — a fight with major title implications. Later, Jim and Matt offer their picks for the UFC Fight Night card before welcoming Zachary Reese, who talks about life in small-town Shiner, Texas, his plans to deliver another first-round finish, and why Dusko Todorovic is the perfect dance partner for a crowd-pleasing scrap.

It’s a jiu-jitsu kind of show today! Matt and his jiu-jitsu buddy Jimmy welcome a pair of elite grapplers for their first-ever appearances on UFC Unfiltered in Ffion Davies and William Tackett. Set to headline next Thursday’s UFC Fight Pass Invitational 11, Ffion shares her journey into submission grappling and what it means to ink an exclusive deal with the UFC. With her Australian rival Adele Fornarino looking to even the score after a 2022 loss, Ffion breaks down her mindset heading into their rematch. Later, William Tackett joins the show to talk about growing up in a family that eats, sleeps, and breathes jiu-jitsu — and how that led to marrying a fellow grappler. He previews his upcoming clash with 18-year-old phenom Achilles Rocha and reflects on life, love, and grappling under pressure.

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by two familiar friends of the show: lightweight Jared Gordon and women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña. Fresh off a decisive first-round stoppage win, Jared breaks down the finish and reflects on how his recovery journey has strengthened his mindset inside the cage. After revealing he's now a proud girl dad to a 4-month-old daughter, Jared gets a laugh out of Matt’s hilarious (and slightly scathing) story about a young YouTuber who kicked off their interview by asking Matt what it’s like to be the same height as a kid — prompting Matt to jokingly offer up his daughter for a grappling match with the young content creator. Shortly after, Jim and Matt’s interview with Julianna Peña kicks off with some sparks, as she joins mid-sentence — just as the guys are in the middle of complimenting her, saying she’s not getting the respect she deserves ahead of UFC 316. Once they clear up the misunderstanding, the conversation shifts into an engaging breakdown of her matchup with Kayla Harrison. Julianna talks about being an underdog throughout her career, staying focused through the noise, and how she’s preparing for Kayla’s unique skill set. Plus, she weighs in on the looming possibility of a high-stakes trilogy with Amanda Nunes.

Jim and Matt are joined by two fighters slated for action at this Saturday’s UFC APEX card. They kick off the show reacting to the just-announced, stacked UFC 317 lineup. Next, Cuban featherweight Yadier Del Valle drops in to share how watching old UFC VHS tapes in Cuba inspired his martial arts journey. He talks about earning his UFC shot on Dana White’s Contender Series and previews his debut matchup against Connor Matthews. Later, featherweight veteran Julian Erosa joins the show to explain why he took a quick turnaround just 35 days after his most recent first-round finish. Now in his third UFC stint, Erosa reflects on his mindset shift and prepares for a showdown with Melquizael Costa—a clash of fighters riding three-fight win streaks. Finally, Jim and Matt close out the episode with their picks for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales.

With UFC 315 in the books, Jim Norton is joined by by guest co-host Ben “The Bane” Davis for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that invites Aiemann Zahabi and Reinier de Ridder on as guest callers. Up first is Zahabi — who calls in just days removed from his impressive unanimous decision win over legend Jose Aldo in Montreal. Aiemann shares how the last-minute weight change affected his mindset, what it meant to perform in front of Canadian fans, and how guidance from GSP has shaped him into the surging fighter he is today riding a six-fight win streak. Jim and Ben dish out some more takeaways from UFC 315 before bringing Reinier de Ridder on for a chat. The Dutch middleweight discusses the role of punishing body work in his statement win over Bo Nickal before explaining why he's confident heading into his next fight — a quick turnaround against Robert Whittaker in July’s main event in Abu Dhabi.

Jim Norton and Matt Serra get you ready for UFC with a pair of fighters from this Saturday’s card joining the show. First up is undefeated light heavyweight prospect Navajo Stirling, making his UFC Unfiltered debut. Stirling shares how his journey from warehouse work to the UFC took shape, and what it’s been like sharpening his game at City Kickboxing alongside some of the best in the world as he prepares for a fight against Ivan Erslan on Saturday’s prelims. Between interviews, Jim and Matt offer their takes and make a few predictions for UFC 315. Then, 9th-ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius returns to the show to preview her pivotal bout against former champion Jessica Andrade. Jasmine opens up about her current four-fight win streak, representing Niagara Top Team, and what a win in Montreal would mean for her continued climb up the rankings.

Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered sees Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off a Monday full of fight talk with bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen and featherweight standout Yair Rodriguez. First up, Sandhagen joins the show just days removed from his dominant second-round TKO over Deiveson Figueiredo. He breaks down his performance, shares what clicked in the cage, and explains why he's ready to step in as a title challenger following June’s Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley rematch. Between interviews, Jim and Matt react to the weekend's biggest upset: Bo Nickal suffering his first professional loss at the hands of Reinier de Ridder. The guys break down what went wrong and what could be next for the highly touted prospect. Later, Yair Rodriguez stops by to reflect on his rebound win over Patricio Pitbull and to lay out his vision for the featherweight division. Focused more on avenging his loss to Alexander Volkanovski than chasing a grudge match with Diego Lopes, Yair also gives his take on the evolution of his training partner Belal Muhammad, who defends his welterweight title this weekend at UFC 315. To wrap up the show, Jim and Matt dish out shoutouts to the standout performances from UFC Des Moines and look ahead to a stacked week of MMA action.

Miesha Tate and Bo Nickal drop in for a stacked Wednesday edition of UFC Unfiltered — with UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin joining midway through to take the reins on Bo’s interview. Miesha opens up about what it's like balancing motherhood with life in the Octagon during her second UFC stint after stepping away from the sport for nearly five years. She breaks down her upcoming fight against fellow longtime vet Yana Santos and reflects on what keeps her motivated after nearly two decades in MMA. Then it’s Bo Nickal time, and Forrest Griffin couldn’t resist hopping on to steer the conversation. Bo shares what he learned from going the distance for the first time in his career against Paul Craig, his take on Reinier de Ridder’s ground game, and how he feels his skillset has developed since his amateur MMA debut. Forrest sticks around through the end of the show to hear Jim and Matt’s picks for UFC Fight Night: Des Moines — chiming in on matchups as an observer without predictions of his own.

On today’s episode of UFC Unfilfered, Jim and Matt are joined by two victorious bantamweights with very different but equally compelling stories. When Gutierrez hops on, Matt heaps praise on the veteran’s poised jiu-jitsu in in this past Saturday’s split decision win over John Castaneda in Kansas City. Having fought through a broken hand, Chris outlines a timetable for his subsequent return after banking two straight wins. In between interviews, Jim and Matt debate whether a victory over Carlos Prates puts Ian Machado Garry in prime position for a No. 1 contender fight against Sean Brady. Finally, undefeated Malcolm Wellmaker makes his first-ever appearance on the show fresh off a viral one-punch KO in his UFC debut. Malcolm reflects on the moment he earned a $50k bonus and what it would mean for the Augusta, Georgia native to fight on this June’s upcoming Atlanta card headlined by Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley.

Jim and Matt are back with a stacked midweek episode featuring two UFC vets and one of Hollywood’s finest behind the camera. First up, Danish welterweight Nicolas Dalby makes his UFC Unfiltered debut to reflect on his razor-thin split decision loss, the secret to staying fight-ready at 40, and his thoughts heading into a striker’s showdown with Randy Brown. Next, Gavin O’Connor — the acclaimed director behind The Accountant and Warrior — joins in a pre-recorded chat ahead of this Friday’s theatrical release of The Accountant 2. Gavin and Matt swap Long Island stories before diving into how he fell in love with MMA and what makes fight storytelling so cinematic. Wrapping things up is Matt Schnell, back from a brief retirement and ready to go this Saturday. Schnell revisits his legendary comeback win over Sumudaerji and explains his motivation to return to the Octagon after previously laying down his gloves in his most recent loss to Cody Durden. With matchmaking on his post-career radar, Schnell also shares his take on the perfect sendoff for fellow Louisianan Dustin Poirier. Plus: Jim and Matt give their picks for this weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Kansas City!