Game Points Podcast

No Show Left Behind

Podcast on all things sports - NFL, NBA, MLB, Soccer

  1. Apr 4

    UFC Shot Clock? Analyzing UFC 326, Previewing UFC 327

    In this episode, we break down the aftermath of UFC 326—headlined by a shockingly one-sided performance from Charles Oliveira against Max Holloway for the "Baddest M**********r (BMF) Belt"... what a joke. What was billed as a dream matchup between two all-time fan favorites turned into a 50-45 grind, leaving fans frustrated and raising serious questions about the current state of MMA. Was this domination a testament to Oliveira’s elite grappling—or a glaring indictment of Holloway’s legacy and skillset? We zoom out and look at a troubling trend across recent high-profile fights, including Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena and Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus du Plessis. Are we witnessing the rise of a “control time meta” where fighters can win decisively without ever threatening a finish? We dig into the core issue: the UFC scoring system’s emphasis on control, and how it may be incentivizing low-risk, high-control performances that neutralize action. Is this evolution… or a problem? Then we debate a bold idea: a grappling shot clock.What if fighters had just two minutes after a takedown to secure a finish before being stood back up? We debate: Would this fix “wrestle-heavy” snoozers?Or would it undermine the essence of MMA?Should referees simply be given more power instead?From there, we fire off quick takes on a stacked slate of recent fights—highlighting breakout performances, controversial decisions, and rising contenders across every division. From prospects like Kevin Vallejos and Jacobe Smith to chaos matchups and questionable cuts, nothing is off limits. We also preview a LOADED UFC 327 card, featuring can’t-miss matchups like: Jiri Prochazka vs Carlos Ulberg for the Lightweight Heavyweight ChampionshipJoshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira for the Flyweight ChampionshipAzamat Murzakanov vs Paulo CostaPatricio Pitbull vs Aaron PicoPlus:Stock Up / Stock Down — who’s rising fast and who’s losing momentumFavorite Fights — under-the-radar bangers you NEED to watchProspect Watchlist — the future champions hiding outside the rankings If you’re wondering where the sport is headed—and whether the current meta is helping or hurting the UFC—this episode is for you. Timestamps 0:00 Holloway vs Oliveira 13:13 Shot Clock 43:34 Recent Fights 50:59 Movsar Evloev vs Lerone Murphy 57:06 Rest of Evloev Murphy Card 1:01:58 Previewing Adesanya vs Pyfer 1:03:18 Previewing UFC 317 1:06:42 Looking Ahead 1:14:30 Stock Watch

    1h 20m
  2. Apr 1

    UFC 323 & The Paramount Era

    One from the vault – wrapping up 2025. Your host Brendan Maguire is joined as always to break down the UFC, by Jason Regan. They discuss a wild night in the desert where gold changed hands, legends walked away, and fluke injuries left us with more questions than answers. On This Episode: The No-Mercy Return of Petr Yan: Merab Dvalishvili tried to defend the throne for the record fourth time in a year, but Yan had the "cheat code." We analyze how Yan dismantled the machine to become a two-time champ. Plus, where does this leave the Bantamweight GOAT list? Heartbreak for Pantoja: A 26-second title change. We discuss Joshua Van’s fluke “TKO win”, Pantoja’s gruesome injury, and whether Van’s post-fight celebration crossed a line. Farewell, Triple C: Henry Cejudo heads for the exit (again) after a gutsy loss to Payton Talbott. The 2026 "Paramount Era" Announcements: The UFC dropped the 2026 slate and the feelings are… mixed. From the "fugazy" Interim Lightweight Title fight between Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett to the absolute disrespect of the Arman Tsarukyan snub. The GOAT vs. The Gold Medalist: Why is Nunes vs. Harrison relegated to the co-main? We dive deep into whether the new Skydance/Paramount deal is prioritizing "marketable matchmaking" over the integrity of the sport. Plus: Early looks at Volkanovski vs. Lopes II, the rise of some hot prospects, and our 2025 Year-End Superlatives. Is the UFC becoming more "Entertainment" than "Sport"? Let’s get into it. #UFC323#GamePointsPodcast #PetrYan #MMA #NunesHarrison #PaddyPimblett #UFC2026

    1h 27m
  3. Jan 30

    UFC 322 & Fight Night Breakdown

    Game Points Podcast — UFC 322 & Fight Night Breakdown Brendan Maguire is joined again by Jason Regan to break down a packed run of fights, headlined by UFC 322 and Arman Tsarukyan’s fight night. Islam Makhachev delivers a historic, suffocating 50–45 decision over Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-division champion. Nearly 20 minutes of control time, zero escapes, and total dominance. Not flashy, but a true masterclass. GOAT implications are real, and we debate where Islam now sits all-time. From there, we dig into what’s next for the welterweight division: Ian Machado Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Michael Morales, Kamaru Usman, and Carlos Prates. Who deserves the shot, who doesn’t, and whether the UFC is prioritizing merit or marketability. We also cover Valentina Shevchenko’s stunningly easy win over Zhang Weili, the size and legacy implications, and what’s next for both champions. Plus: Morales’ breakout win over Sean Brady, Prates knocking out Leon Edwards, Benoit Saint Denis’ 16-second KO, Bo Nickal’s rebound performance, Arman Tsarukyan submitting Dan Hooker and still being left without a title shot, Garry vs Belal and the eye-poke controversy, and why welterweight might be the most stacked division in the sport. Available now on Spotify. 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Islam vs JDM 16:01 Legacy Implications 21:26 Welterweight Contenders 23:16 Ian Garry 27:48 Shavkat Rakhmonov 33:08 Michael Morales 40:06 Kamaru Usman 49:35 Carlos Prates 58:44 Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili 1:03:50 Other fights 1:07:13 Ewing vs Wellmaker 1:09:50 Arman Fight Night

    1h 28m
  4. 09/25/2025

    UFC GOAT List Part Two (10-1)

    On this episode of the Game Points Podcast, Brendan Maguire and Jason Regan return to settle the UFC GOAT debate with their top 10 all-time fighters. With the criteria already laid out in Part 1, this installment is all about the rankings. Featuring: Ilia Topuria cracking Jason’s list, disagreements over Anderson Silva’s legacy, debates over the weight of Valentina Shevchenko’s dominance, a shocking fighter above Khabib, varying degrees of love for the Featherweight division, which fighters are prime to be overtaken in time, and the road map for active fighters to climb the ranks . Brendan and Jason bring different perspectives on what makes a fighter great, leading to some very different takes. While they find common ground on certain names, other picks spark adamant disagreement. UFC GOAT 10-1. Let's Go! TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (01:10) Recap (02:41) J10: Ilia Topuria (09:31) B10: Daniel Cormier (10:50) J9: Anderson Silva (18:24) B9: Valentina Shevchenko (29:12) B8: Amanda Nunes (30:56) J8: Max Holloway (37:04) B7: Conor McGregor (46:07) J7: Khabib Nurmagomedov (49:36) B7: Khabib Nurmagomedov (53:33) J6: Merab Dvalishvili (1:02:20) B5: Islam Makhachev (1:04:35) J5: Demetrious Johnson (1:09:46) B4: Demetrious Johnson (1:11:26) J4: Georges St-Pierre (1:13:04) B3: Georges St-Pierre (1:14:51) J3: Alexander Volkanovski (1:22:07) B2: Anderson Silva (1:28:28) J2: Islam Makhachev (1:39:03) Consensus #1 Jon Jones (1:45:47) Closing Thoughts

    1h 54m
  5. 09/18/2025

    UFC GOAT List Debate (Part 1: 20–11)

    On this episode of the Game Points Podcast, host Brendan Maguire is once again joined by Jason Regan to dive into one of the most anticipated topics yet: the UFC GOAT Debate. Each host has built a list wholly their own—with individual criteria—and neither saw the other’s rankings before hitting record. The result? Fascinating differences in perspective, genuine live reactions, heated arguments, and some incredibly hot takes. This is Part 1 of a two-part special. In today’s episode, Brendan and Jason lay out their criteria, reveal honorable mentions, and debate their picks from 20 through 11. Part 2 will cover the all-important top 10. Expect massive discrepancies, emphatic defenses, and a clash between Jason’s “ball knowledge” and Brendan’s “data doesn’t lie” approach. This one was an absolute blast to prep, record, and edit. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction (03:01) Jason’s Criteria (09:41) Brendan’s Criteria (19:37) Honorable Mention Info (20:57) Jason’s Honorable Mentions (21:42) Brendan’s Honorable Mentions (28:12) J20: Alexandre Pantoja (31:28) B20: Jose Aldo (37:50) J19: Matt Hughes (40:20) B19: Max Holloway (52:38) J18: Khamzat Chimaev (56:07) B18: Ilia Topuria (59:14) J17: Dominick Cruz (1:01:35) B17: Henry Cejudo (1:06:26) J16: Israel Adesanya (1:08:10) B16: Stipe Miocic (1:09:37) J15: Jose Aldo (1:10:45) B15: Alexandre Pantoja (1:12:25) J14: Alex Pereira (1:16:09) B14: Alexander Volkanovski (1:22:39) J13: Kamaru Usman (1:24:00) B13: Karmaru Usman (1:26:36) J12: Daniel Cormier (1:28:13) B12: Israel Adesanya (1:35:06) J11: Stipe Miocic (1:36:27) B11: Matt Hughes (1:41:03) Recap

    1h 45m
  6. 09/09/2025

    UFC w/ Jay! Khamzat, Stock Watch, and a Stacked Autumn Schedule

    Game Points Podcast – UFC 319 Recap & What’s Next for Khamzat, DDP, and the Fall Cards This week on the Game Points Podcast, Brendan Maguire is joined once again by Jason Regan to break down all things UFC. From the fallout of UFC 319 to the huge fights coming this fall, the guys cover it all with their mix of insight and banter. We kick things off with a full recap of UFC 319, including Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant title win over Dricus Du Plessis, Lerone Murphy’s highlight-reel KO of Aaron Pico, and Carlos Prates’ emphatic finish of Geoff Neal. From there, the conversation turns to what’s next: Khamzat’s future at middleweight – Who deserves the next title shot? Will it be Caio Borralho, Nassourdine Imavov, Reinier de Ridder, or Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez? Dricus Du Plessis’ rebound path – Which contender could he face next, and how does the UFC keep him in the mix? Best team in the UFC debate – Are the “Fighting Nerds” taking over, or does Khabib’s Dagestani crew still reign supreme? We also dive into the Stock Watch, highlighting fighters on the rise like Joshua Van, Louis Lee Scott, Lerone Murphy, Reinier de Ridder, etc. —while also taking a hard look at those slipping down the ranks, including Aaron Pico, Chase Hooper, Robert Whittaker, etc. Finally, Brendan and Jason preview the stacked fall schedule, including: UFC 320: Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2 and Merab vs. Sandhagen UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane for heavyweight title UFC 322: Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena and Valentina Shevchenko vs. Zhang Weili Even some time discussing the Tank Davis vs. Jake Paul fight rumors. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:42) UFC 319 Recap & Reactions (11:04) Who's Next for Khamzat? (17:47) Best UFC Team? (23:06) Islam over Khabib All Time?! (28:22) Stock Up (37:23) Stock Down (52:16) Upcoming Non PPV (1:01:22) UFC 320 (1:01:25) Pereira vs Ankalaev 2 (1:09:01) Merab vs Sandhagen (1:14:41) Jiri vs Khalil (1:22:33) UFC 321 - Aspinall (1:27:51) UFC 322 - Islam (1:40:15) Tank vs Paul

    1h 46m

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Podcast on all things sports - NFL, NBA, MLB, Soccer