This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Thank you for checking out the Hey Not The Face! Podcast, a listener-supported publication. We’d be eternally grateful if you could help us by purchasing a subscription for access to all our paywalled content. In today’s episode, we’re looking at the latest developments in the UFC antitrust cases. We also discuss Zuffa Boxing’s troubles, including analyzing what Bob Arum had to say about them. We weigh in on Rampage’s claim that he made $7M for his 2007 fight with Chuck Liddell, and we opine on what the relationship between RAF and TKO/UFC might be. There’s a lot more, so make sure to follow along with our outline as you listen: *We urge you to pick up a paid subscription, as it helps us keep the show going and allows you access to paywalled content* Episode 288 Outline * Are there any new filings or updates in the UFC antitrust cases? * This week we saw Zuffa Boxing’s biggest signing, Shakur Stevenson, request and get his release from the promotion after just three months with them. What are your initial thoughts on this happening? * How important was Saudi money to Zuffa Boxing? * What do you think of him having his own brand promotion to book future fights? * David Benavidez signed with PBC, also stating that he will be starting his own brand promotion. Should he have stayed independent rather than signing with PBC, as Stevenson seems to be doing? * Boots Ennis and Joshua Kelly both signed deals with Matchroom this week, as well. Is this a sign that boxing is rebounding? * Bob Arum said that without Saudi money, Zuffa Boxing has no chance. Do you agree with him? * Does Zuffa Boxing offer anything to boxing at this point? * With Netflix’s big restructuring underway, what are your thoughts on their future with MVP? * Do you think they’re likely to ink future deals with TKO for WWE? * On social media, some people were sharing a clip of Rampage Jackson telling Sean Strickland that he was paid $7 million for his UFC 70 match against Chuck Liddell. Paulo Costa even commented on it. Why are you suspicious of this number from Rampage? * RAF just signed a new deal with a top industry distributor to broadcast their events live in bars, restaurants and casinos nationwide. Their quick rise to prominence seems to revolve around top level UFC stars competing in the promotion. Considering the UFC’s propensity to want a piece of any action their fighters may have, do you think there’s some link to the UFC? * Robelis Despaigne, who was released after an awful run in the UFC, then brought back to the promotion after KO’ing Junior dos Santos, is being allowed to bounce back to Karate Combat to defend his belt. Why do you think they allow that? * Former top UFC flyweight Mohammed Mokaev made a post this week on Twitter that said: “When fighters are getting phone calls from bosses telling them, “If you keep wrestling like that, you’re going to get cut,” then you’re basically telling fighters how you want them to fight. At what point does that cross the line? Isn’t that influencing the competition? And if you want to release a fighter, fine. But don’t then publicly say he was “hard to deal with” or create some b******t narrative about him that could damage his reputation and make other organizations think twice about signing him. Release fighters if you want. Just don’t try to damage their careers on the way out.” Do you have any thoughts on that? *827, 828, 829, 831, 832
