UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

Jim and Matt kick off today’s episode with rising featherweight Ethyn Ewing, who checks in after a memorable short-notice UFC debut win at Madison Square Garden vs. Malcolm Wellmaker. The soon-to-be father talks about his MMA journey, how camping, hiking, and spearfishing help keep him grounded, and how he balances training with his demanding day job as a safety professional. With Ethyn’s call wrapped, Jim and Matt turn their attention to this weekend’s UFC Qatar event — a Fight Night so stacked with ranked talent that they can’t believe it isn’t a pay-per-view. And with their head-to-head prediction battle coming down to the wire, the guys go fight-by-fight and make their picks for this absolutely loaded card. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With Islam Makhachev dethroning Jack Della Maddalena on a historic night stamped by show-stealing wins from rising welterweight contenders, Jim and Matt have plenty to unpack on today’s UFC 322 recap show. The guys break down the championship shakeup at 170, Valentina Shevchenko’s flawless title defense, and all the biggest moments from Saturday’s card. They’re then joined by Johnny Walker, who hops on the show to talk fatherhood, his recent knockout win in China, and where he fits in the suddenly chaotic light heavyweight picture. After Johnny’s interview wraps, Jim and Matt take a deep dive into Makhachev’s future at welterweight — debating where Ilia Topuria stands among contenders vying for the first crack at the newest double champion’s 170-pound UFC crown. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With The Schmo filling in for Jim Norton, Matt Serra kicks off the show with undefeated bantamweight Malcolm Wellmaker ahead of his Madison Square Garden debut. “The Machine” talks managing expectations after two first-round UFC finishes, adjusting to a late opponent change, and how nine years as a welder shaped the discipline behind his undefeated rise. Matt and The Schmo then dive deep into UFC 322 — breaking down Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira and every fight thereafter on the PPV main card. The duo debate who’s primed for their big “Schmo-ment” on Saturday and who may keep their “Schmo-mentum” rolling in the night’s two championship bouts. Finally, Tracy Cortez joins the show to preview her high-stakes rematch with Erin Blanchfield. The #8 flyweight contender reflects on what she remembers from her razor-thin win over Blanchfield years ago before unpacking how a victory at Madison Square Garden could vault her into the title mix. 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 kick off UFC 322 fight week with a pair of recent winners — UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern and rising middleweight Zachary Reese. First, Mackenzie joins the show fresh off winning UFC gold to discuss the emotion of celebrating with her daughter cageside, her evolution under coach Jason Parillo, and her readiness for whoever comes next — whether that be Tatiana Suarez or Zhang Weili after Saturday’s co-main vs. Valentina Shevchenko. Then, Zachary Reese calls in just days after his wild short-notice victory in Las Vegas. The Texas native breaks down how the fight came together, how sparring five rounds with Sean Strickland boosted his confidence, and what he plans to do with his $50K bonus. Plus, Jim and Matt react to this past weekend’s APEX card headlined by Gabriel Bonfim and Randy Brown. 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 Wednesday’s episode of UFC Unfiltered ahead of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown card at the APEX. Accompanied by the great Fabiano Buskei as a Portuguese translator, 14th-ranked welterweight Gabriel Bonfim joins the show to discuss his main event matchup against Randy Brown, the importance of fighting alongside his brother Ismael, and how he’s balancing patience and hunger in pursuit of a Top 10 ranking. Then, Christian Leroy Duncan stops by to preview his main card bout against Marco Tulio. The British middleweight uses his Unfiltered debut to discuss how the end of his collegiate basketball career sparked his MMA journey. As Matt asks CLD about the influence of ex-UFC fighter Mark Weir on his life, Duncan shifts the camera towards his longtime coach to catch up with Matt. Don’t miss as Jim and Matt make their picks for this weekend’s card! 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 are back to kick off fight week with two guests who’ve both made major statements inside the Octagon in recent weeks. On the heels of yet another heel hook submission, heavyweight submission specialist Valter Walker uses his UFC Unfiltered debut to talk through his UFC 321 victory in Abu Dhabi, reflect on his MMA journey, and break down what’s next as he looks to heal up from a leg injury sustained in his fight. Then, lightweight Quillan Salkilld stays up late in his native Perth, Australia to talk about his scintillating head kick knockout that instantly went viral as a leading contender for KO of the year. The Australian prospect reflects on taking the fight vs. Nasrat Haqparast on short notice and how he went from playing the UFC video game to putting himself in one. Plus, Jim and Matt dish their thoughts on this past weekend’s fights, with room for a chat on where Steve Garcia fits in among the featherweight division’s best after a statement performance in the main event. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two days removed from their chat with David Onama, Jim Norton and Matt Serra return for a Wednesday episode with his opponent in Saturday’s main event — 12th-ranked featherweight Steve Garcia. The Albuquerque native joins the show to discuss his six-fight win streak, his ongoing callout, and why this matchup with Onama feels like the biggest moment of his career. Then, Jeremiah Wells stops by ahead of his first fight in nearly 20 months to talk about his comeback, training alongside Sean Brady at Marquez MMA, and how he approaches watching film before his matchup with Themba Gorimbo. Plus, Jim and Matt each make a few picks from this weekend’s card as they look to create some separation in their hotly contested prediction battle. 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 kick off the show reacting to the wild ending of UFC 321’s main event — sharing their thoughts on Ciryl Gane’s dominant first round against Tom Aspinall before the anticlimactic finish via accidental eye poke. Both hosts agree they want to see that fight run back — and while Jim pulled ahead of Matt in the week’s win-loss standings, he still trails by 13.5 points overall. Then, fresh off a first-round submission win over Davey Grant in Vancouver, Charles Jourdain discusses his perfect 2-0 start since moving down to bantamweight, what it’s been like finding success at 135 lbs., and the pride of watching his younger brother Louis earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. Finally, David Onama joins the show to preview his first UFC main event against Steve Garcia. The Factory X featherweight opens up about his journey from Uganda to Kansas City, his growth under Marc Montoya, and his mindset heading into the biggest fight of his career. 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 are joined by reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who returns for his 15th appearance on Unfiltered — just weeks after a whirlwind stretch that saw him defend his title on a Saturday and celebrate Aljamain Sterling’s wedding the very next day. Merab discusses staying hungry now that he’s beaten nearly everyone in his division, eyeing a UFC-record fourth title defense of 2025 at UFC 323, and his thoughts on Petr Yan’s resurgence, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista, and whether a featherweight move is viable in the near future. Then, former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira joins the show to reflect on Alex Pereira surprising him with a brand-new blue pickup truck, how proud he was seeing Pereira show class after his latest win, and what he thinks of his potential in the heavyweight division. Plus, Jim and Matt look ahead to UFC 321 fight week and share which upcoming matchups have them the most excited. 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 are joined by lightweight knockout artist Drew Dober fresh off his record-setting 10th UFC lightweight KO — a win that came the same weekend he turned 37 years old. Dober opens up about balancing the pressures of a three-fight skid with life as a father to a two-year-old daughter, celebrating the victory with Krispy Kreme, and why sharpening his ground game is his next focus as he continues to evolve as a martial artist. Then, Melissa Croden makes her first appearance on the show — joined by her friend’s rabbit, Eddie, in the first official rabbit cameo in UFC Unfiltered history. After reflecting on the thrill of winning her UFC debut in front of home fans, the Canadian bantamweight shares how a spontaneous three-month break from her paramedic job to train in Thailand helped her realize she had what it takes to pursue MMA at the highest level — while still dabbling in the profession she loves in the way Stipe Miocic did as a firefighter. Plus, Jim and Matt break down what they got right (and wrong) from their UFC Vancouver picks. 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 are joined by both sides of UFC Vancouver’s co-main event — Kevin Holland and Mike Malott — just days before the welterweights step into the Octagon. Mike Malott stops by first to talk about representing Canada once again on home soil. Well aware of the danger Holland presents, he breaks down their matchup and shares what a win would mean for a Malott family riding its own athletic high — with younger brother Jeff making noise in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings. Then, Kevin Holland calls in ahead of his fifth fight of 2025 to explain his approach to fighting Malott and reveal which highly-respected veteran he’s chasing for fight number SIX of the year if all goes to plan in Vancouver on Saturday. Plus, Jim and Matt break down the UFC Vancouver card headlined by Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen with some picks of their own. 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 a stacked Monday edition of UFC Unfiltered with two guests and plenty to unpack after UFC Rio. First, Houston’s own Michael Aswell Jr. joins the show fresh off his first UFC win — a first-round knockout in Rio — to talk about what it felt like silencing the Brazilian crowd, cutting down from 210 pounds in high school football to 145 today, and how his friendship with fellow featherweight teammate Joshua Van keeps him motivated as “The Texas Kid” builds his name in the UFC. Then, the one and only Bas Rutten stops by to reflect on his experience as an actor portraying himself in The Smashing Machine, whether Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones should happen next at heavyweight, and more! Plus, Jim and Matt unpack their UFC Rio picks from Wednesday’s episode — including Charles Oliveira’s submission win over Mateusz Gamrot in the main event! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code UNFILTERED at shopmando.com! #mandopod 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 a new Wednesday edition of UFC Unfiltered with bantamweight contender #15 Montel Jackson, who joins the show ahead of his co-main event bout against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Rio. Reflecting on his journey from wrestling to the world of mixed martial arts, Montel discusses how watching Anderson Silva highlights in school first sparked his passion for MMA. He shares his mindset heading into a fight against a Brazilian legend in hostile territory and explains how patience and precision have become key parts of his evolution inside the Octagon. Plus, Matt geeks out with Montel over Marvel characters and Wolverine, before he and Jim close out the show with their official UFC Rio picks, including Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot and some of the other highly-anticipated fights on Saturday’s card. 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 kick off the week with a pair of middleweights at very different points in their UFC journeys. First, Edmen Shahbazyan joins the show fresh off his third win of 2025 to break down his first-round knockout at UFC 320, share what’s changed in his mindset since joining Xtreme Couture, and explain why he believes his best days are still ahead — now fueled by newfound dad strength and fatherly motivation. Then, longtime kickboxing standout Yousri Belgaroui stops by two weeks out from his long-awaited UFC debut in Vancouver to discuss training alongside Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira, how a once-bitter trilogy rivalry with Pereira evolved into a brother-like bond that extends to Alex’s own family, and what he hopes to prove when he finally makes his first walk to the Octagon. Plus, Jim and Matt recap all the action from UFC 320, including Alex Pereira’s record-setting knockout of Magomed Ankalaev and Merab Dvalishvili’s third title defense of the year. 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 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.