From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast. In this episode, we break down the finalized bout order for Conor McGregor’s massive return at UFC 329 against Max Holloway. We also dive into the wild scenes at UFC Baku, where Rafael Fiziev scored a legendary knockout while virtually blind in one eye. Plus, we discuss the controversial salary disclosures from PFL San Diego, Dan Hooker’s theory on why Khabib Nurmagomedov really retired, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis's dominant performance in the boxing ring.

Show Intro Official Budocast opening: Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition.

UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Official The UFC has confirmed the full fight card for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena. We discuss the main event—Conor McGregor's first fight in nearly five years—and the stacked main card featuring Paddy Pimblett, Cory Sandhagen, and the highly anticipated debut of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.

UFC Baku Debrief: Fiziev’s Visionary Finish Rafael Fiziev details how a jab to his left eye left him seeing double, forcing him to land his Round 2 spinning wheel kick on Manuel Torres essentially "blind". We also highlight Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev’s stunning 8-second knockout, which earned him a $100,000 bonus.

The Mid-Roll Break (Sponsors) A message from our sponsors: Elite Sports (EliteSports.com) for premium fight wear and Lotus by Open Black Belt (OpenBlackBelt.com) for dojo management software.

The Khabib Retirement Debate Dan Hooker stirs the pot, claiming Khabib Nurmagomedov retired because he "mastered the game" and knew when to stop rolling the dice, rather than solely due to a promise to his mother. We also look at Conor McGregor’s recent jab at Khabib regarding the "lack of courage" in refusing rematches.

PFL San Diego: Salaries and Retirements A deep dive into the 90,000paygapbetween∗∗A.J.McKee∗∗(100k) and his opponent Salamat Isbulaev ($10k). We also pay tribute to Ariane Lipski da Silva, "The Queen of Violence," who announced her retirement following her loss to Jena Bishop.

Training Roundup: Strickland and Jubli Sean Strickland shares his unfiltered thoughts after training with India’s Anshul Jubli at the UFC PI, praising the lightweight for "bringing it".

Tha Boxing Voice: Jaron "Boots" Ennis Reigns Supreme Breaking down Boots Ennis’s dominant 7th-round stoppage of Xander Zayas in Brooklyn to become the new unified WBA/WBO junior middleweight king.[27:30] – Outro Closing remarks: Train hard, stay humble.

In this episode of Budocast, we dive into the psychology and business of elite combat sports. Conor McGregor is back in the spotlight, claiming he "sonned" Max Holloway years ago and that the former champion only reached the top by "adopting" his moves. Meanwhile, the MMA world is buzzing after Justin Gaethje’s historic undisputed title win over Ilia Topuria, prompting legend Georges St-Pierre to urge him to retire while on top. We also discuss the fallout of Topuria’s first loss, Paddy Pimblett’s skepticism about his comeback, and the Professional Fighters League’s massive roster expansion, including the retirement fight for the legendary Cris Cyborg

[00:00] – Intro: From the Dojo to the Octagon Welcome to Budocast. Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition.[01:15] – The Return of "The Notorious" vs. "Blessed" 2

• • Conor McGregor discusses his upcoming UFC 329 main event against Max Holloway on July 11.
  • McGregor claims Holloway "adopted" his moves to win the world title after their 2013 bout.
  • Analysis of the transition to 170 pounds and McGregor’s belief that he is mentally and physically superior.

• • Justin Gaethje secures undisputed gold with a corner-stoppage victory over Ilia Topuria.
  • Legend Georges St-Pierre (GSP) urges Gaethje to retire on top, stating he has "done it all".
  • The discussion on Gaethje’s quest for equity in a new UFC-owned company for long-term financial stability.

• • Paddy Pimblett critiques Topuria’s ego following his first career defeat at UFC Freedom 250.
  • A look at the physical toll: Topuria suffered facial fractures and a broken nose in the loss.
  • Pimblett questions if Topuria has the "cojones" to return from such a dominant defeat.

• • Elite Sports: Premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Visit EliteSports.com.
  • Lotus by Open Black Belt: Dojo management software for tracking ranks and billing. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com.

• • Cris Cyborg announces her retirement fight against Ketlen Vieira for PFL Tampa on August 22.
  • A look back at Cyborg’s 20-year legacy as a champion across five major promotions.
  • The PFL roster expansion: 18 new signings including UFC veteran Javid Basharat.

• • Coach Andre "Dida" discusses Brunno Ferreira’s preparation to neutralize Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Baku.
  • Analysis of Alex Pereira’s loss to Ciryl Gane, highlighting the disadvantage of losing his range advantage at heavyweight.

[05:30] – The Gaethje Legacy: To Retire or Not?[10:00] – Adversity in the Octagon: The Fall of Topuria[13:30] – Mid-Roll Break: Support Our Sponsors[14:45] – PFL’s Global Expansion & Cyborg’s Last Dance[19:30] – Coach’s Corner: UFC Baku and the Heavyweight Landscape[22:15] – Outro: Train Hard, Stay Humble That’s it for this episode of Budocast. Thanks for joining us. We’ll be back soon with more news and insights.

In this heavy-hitting episode of Budocast, we dissect the historic UFC Freedom 250 event held on the South Lawn of the White House. We lead with Justin Gaethje’s masterful lightweight title win and the specific technical error by Ilia Topuria that "The Highlight" believes handed him the belt. We also dive into the firestorm surrounding Josh Hokit’s post-fight comments and Dana White’s complex defense of free speech paired with his personal praise for Barack Obama.The conversation shifts to the technical side of the mats as we react to Bryce Mitchell’s controversial stance on butt scooting in BJJ and Alex Pereira’s grievances regarding officiating in his heavyweight debut. Finally, we look at the business of the sport, from Usman Nurmagomedov’s potential pay-cut for a UFC legacy to Turki Alalshikh’s race against time to unite the world of boxing.Show Notes[0:00] The Intro

• • “From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast. Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition. From breaking fight results to evolving techniques, we cover it all. Let’s get into it.”

• • Analysis of how Justin Gaethje turned his title fight into a "dog fight".
  • Gaethje explains the "Shane Carwin-esque" mistake Ilia Topuria made by dumping his gas tank after landing heavy body shots.
  • Why Topuria’s reliance on his submission background may have backfired in the championship rounds.

• • Dana White’s blunt rebuke of Josh Hokit for "disgusting" comments regarding Michelle Obama.
  • White’s surprising anecdote about his respect for Barack Obama and his stance on the office of the presidency.
  • The history of Hokit’s controversial remarks and the UFC’s refusal to police fighter speech.

• • “Before we dive deeper, shoutout to our sponsors. First up—Elite Sports, leaders in premium fight wear for BJJ and MMA. Whether you’re rolling or striking, they’ve got gear built to move with you. Check them out at EliteSports.com.
  • And if you're a school owner looking to optimize your dojo’s performance, you need to check out Lotus by Open Black Belt. It’s the ultimate management software for tracking ranks, attendance, and billing. They are currently offering a free trial to our listeners. Streamline your business so you can spend more time on the mats. Visit OpenBlackBelt.com to start your trial today. You can find links for both in the show notes. And if you’ve got a story, news tip, or question—send it to us at Budocast.com.”

• • Bryce Mitchell calls out BJJ professors for teaching "gayness" via the butt scooting technique.
  • The tactical reality of pulling guard in MMA vs. pure BJJ.
  • Alex Pereira breaks his silence on his loss to Ciryl Gane, alleging Herb Dean missed illegal strikes to the back of the head.

• • Islam Makhachev advises Usman Nurmagomedov to leave the PFL for the UFC, even if it means losing half his purse.
  • Kyoji Horiguchi’s emotional statement following his TKO loss to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 119.
  • Turki Alalshikh’s "white smoke" mission to bring Dana White and major boxing promoters to the same table before his health declines.

• • “That’s it for this episode of Budocast. Thanks for joining us as we break down the latest in martial arts. We’ll be back soon with more news, stories, and insights. Until then—train hard, stay humble.”

[2:15] Gaethje’s Tactical Masterclass at Freedom 250

[15:45] Controversy at the White House[28:30] Mid-Roll Break (The Sponsors)

[31:00] Grappling Ethics and Officiating Woes

[45:15] The Future of the Lightweight Division and Global Boxing

[58:00] The Outro