UFC 287 Preview! Round-Up with Paul Felder & Michael Chiesa

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up after the final pay-per-view of the year in UFC 296!

To start off the show, the guys discuss the first fight on the main card, as featherweight Josh Emmett defeated Bryce Mitchell by first-round KO. The pair also hit on the exciting Fight of the Night which took place on the prelims as women’s bantamweight Irene Aldana beat Karol Rosa by unanimous decision. Plus, the duo break down the main event, as Leon Edwards defeated Colby Covington by unanimous decision while defending his welterweight title. Following that, the guys explain why Belal Muhammad deserves the next shot at the welterweight title. Then, the crew quickly touch on the co-main event, as Alexandre Pantoja defended his flyweight belt in an unanimous decision victory over Brandon Royval.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      Can Paddy Pimblett beat anyone in the top 15?

2.      Who should headline UFC Atlantic City?

3.      How underrated do you believe Leon Edwards is as an overall martial artist?

4.      What a set of beautiful teeth on Brandon Royval. What’s the worst way you’ve ruined your teeth? 

5.      Top 5 soups in 2024?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up during UFC 296 fight week!

To start off the show, the guys discuss this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event, as bantamweight Song Yadong defeated Chris Gutierrez by unanimous decision. The pair also touch on the light heavyweight co-main event, as Khalil Rountree Jr. defeated Anthony Smith by TKO.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      Do you think that Colby Covington is being underestimated going into this fight?

2.      Do you think Ian Machado Garry is distracted heading into the fight with Vicente Luque?

3.      Is there anyone at welterweight that you would pick straight up to win against Shavkat Rakhmonov right now?

4.      It would be nice to know honest opinions on the Paddy Pimblett vs. Tony Ferguson fight and reasons why it could go either way? 

5.      Alexandre Pantoja’s fight with Brandon Moreno is one of the wildest battles I’ve ever seen. Given the fact that at one point he was an Uber driver and a man smoked in his car. I must ask what is the side job that you (Michael Chiesa) or Paul Felder had where a rude customer deserved a knee?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up after one of the most exciting cards of the year in UFC 295!

To start off the show, the guys give their thoughts and takeaways from this past weekend’s UFC 295 co-main event, as Tom Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich by first-round TKO for the interim heavyweight belt. The guys also discuss the main event, as Alex Pereira beat Jiří Procházka by second-round KO for the light heavyweight belt. Plus, the guys give shoutouts to a few other winners from the card, including Jared Gordon, Benoît Saint Denis and Jéssica Andrade.

Then, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      The most intense staredown in the history of the UFC followed by an amazing display of skill in the main event. What do you think about the stoppage, what’s next for Jiří, is it possible for him to get to a title rematch?

2.      Do you think Aspinall beats the Jon Jones we’ve seen in his last 3 fights?

3.      In your opinion how high is the ceiling for Diego Lopes?

4.      Jared Gordon followed up an incredible KO with an even more inspirational, heartfelt, and personal speech. How hard is it to be that articulate in moments of extreme adrenaline? Have either of you planned a speech but forgot it and just “yeah buddy” or something? 

5.      Who would win in a staring contest between Alex Pereira and the booger eating kid from across the street that was always in your business?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up!

To start off the show, the guys discuss Jon Jones tearing his pectoral tendon a few weeks ago and having to withdraw from his heavyweight title fight at UFC 295 this Saturday against Stipe Miocic. Then, the duo preview UFC 295’s short-notice co-main event as Sergei Pavlovich takes on Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title. Next, the pair break down Saturday’s main event, as Alex Pereira will be fighting for the light heavyweight belt against Jiří Procházka.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      With a win Mackenzie Dern should fight Tatiana Suarez just because that clash of grappling styles will be brilliant.

2.      Who do you got in the co-main event and why?

3.      Alex Pereira is 2-0 at Madison Square Garden. He shows he’s been a star since day 1 and can handle that energy. What aspects of his game do you think have improved over his UFC career, including his confidence in front of huge crowds?

4.      Jiří Procházka is an amazing fighter and has great chances this weekend. But when he first appeared in the UFC, what were your guys’ first impressions of him? Did you expect him to reach these great heights with his wild fighting style? 

5.      What combat sports fight from Madison Square Garden history would you have liked to be at live and commentate?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up after one of the biggest cards of the year in UFC 294!

To start off the show, the guys give their thoughts and takeaways from this past weekend’s UFC 294 main event, as Islam Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski by first-round knockout to defend his lightweight belt. The guys also discuss the middleweight co-main event, as Khamzat Chimaev beat Kamaru Usman by majority decision, in a fight Usman took on short notice.

Then, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.         After defending the 155-pound title, should Islam go up to 170 and who can stop him there?

2.         I feel like the biggest story coming out of the weekend has to be the Khamzat situation. Seems like the consensus is that he gassed out after round 1 again and needs another true test at 185 before stepping up to the champ.

3.         One question about the doctor, did they accidentally bring in somebody with a PhD in art history instead of a medical doctor? I’m no surgeon but I’m pretty sure “nobody kicked you in the balls” isn’t on the MCAT® exam.

4.         Which fighter on the current roster do you think would have a chance to pull Taylor Swift and get millions of Swifties to tune into the UFC?

5.         The guys react to the powerful message from Alexander Volkanovski in his UFC 294 post-fight press conference on why he took his short notice fight against Islam Makhachev.

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up!

To start off the show, the guys hit on the short-notice changes in the main and co-main event at UFC 294, which takes place this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. First, the pair start with discussing Alexander Volkanovski stepping in on 12 days notice to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in the main event in a highly anticipated rematch. Next, the duo break down Kamaru Usman fighting Khamzat Chimaev on short notice in a middleweight bout in the co-main event after Paulo Costa had to withdraw from the fight due to an elbow infection.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      If Alexander Volkanovski takes Islam Makhachev to another competitive 5 rounds and loses, will Volk’s legacy be overshadowed by these 2 losses at lightweight? Does Islam go double champ at welterweight next or is he back at Charles Oliveira?

2.      Who do you think has a better shot at an upset, Alexander Volkanovski or Kamaru Usman?

3.      If the Usman vs. Chimaev winner gets to fight Sean Strickland for the middleweight title next, who should Dricus Du Plessis fight next or should he wait till he gets his title shot?

4.      Do you have access to some production companies to film Justin Gaethje in case Volk wins, knowing he would have to wait that much longer for another title shot? And what do you think he’d break first at his house should that happen?

5.      What’s one movie, album, play or TV show that someone recommended to you that was so bad that the only proper way to process the awfulness of the art was to do this (an angry picture of a cat)?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up after one of the biggest upsets of the year!

To start off the show, the guys give their thoughts and takeaways from this past weekend’s UFC 293 main event, as Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya by decision to win the middleweight belt in a major upset. 

Then, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      Who’s next for Felipe dos Santos? What a showing for a short notice scrap against a savage like Manel Kape.

2.      What matchup is next for Alexander Volkov after a performance like that?

3.      Was that the biggest title upset since COVID? Sean Strickland Fighter of the Year?

4.      Paul, do you think Izzy should get another rematch right away? What’s your thoughts? Perhaps let’s do Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland and Izzy vs. Jared Cannonier.

5.      Here I lay stunned and inspired after that incredible upset that Sean Strickland pulled off. Question for both of you, what is a time in your lives where you pulled off a daunting task by sticking to the basics? This could be in broadcasting, fighting, auditioning, wrestling.

Following that, the guys do a special round 6 and give a shoutout to Laura Sanko for her pay-per-view commentary debut at UFC 293.

To wrap up the show, the pair look ahead to this Saturday’s Noche UFC: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 event and Michael gives his picks for the main event between women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and the co-main event between welterweights Kevin Holland and Jack Della Maddalena.

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up after a trip to Paris!

To start off the show, the guys break down some of the fights from this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac card. First, the pair hit on the main event, as heavyweight Ciryl Gane defeated Serghei Spivac by TKO. The duo also touch on lightweight Benoît Saint-Denis beating Thiago Moises by TKO. Following that, the guys talk about women’s flyweight Manon Fiorot winning against Rose Namajunas by unanimous decision, a fight in which Rose suffered a finger injury.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      After that performance by Benoît Saint-Denis, do you guys think it’s fair for him to have a ranked opponent next?

2.      Rose’s finger injury was bad and she’s gangsta, what other nasty injuries do you remember that didn’t stop fighters from continuing?

3.      What is Sean Strickland’s path to victory vs. Israel Adesanya?

4.      You continue to get better and better as an analyst. Do you think the UFC is embarrassed to have Strickland headline a pay-per-view? It seems that the press conference may be better than the fight.

5.      Paul, are the comeback rumors legit? I need to hear this from you directly, the people need to know. Could Paddy Pimblett be a potential opponent?

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up!

To start off the show, the guys give their initial thoughts and takeaways from this past Saturday’s UFC 292 PPV, including Sean O’Malley defeating Aljamain Sterling by 2nd-round TKO to win the bantamweight belt. The pair also give a shoutout to Sean O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch. Following that, the duo hit on the co-main event, where Zhang Weili dominated Amanda Lemos in an unanimous decision victory to defend the women’s strawweight belt. Next, the guys discuss welterweight Ian Machado Garry’s pre-fight and press conference antics leading up to his fight against Neil Magny, a fight in which Garry won by unanimous decision.

Then, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      What does Aljo’s loss mean for Merab Dvalishvili? Will we see him and Cory Sandhagen in a title eliminator match?

2.      Do you see this TKO over Aljo going down in history as an Aldo vs. McGregor type moment? If so, do you think this will catapult Sean into the same spotlight that Conor was once in?

3.      Only in steakhouses where the chef’s specialty is veal have I seen such punishment to a calf as we saw in the Ian Machado Garry vs. Neil Magny fight. What’s one fight where you feel your team game planned perfectly and describe the emotions of the plan working in the moment?

4.      Now that our homeboy Brad Katona is the toughest of them all again, who do you see him fighting next in the rankings?

5.      Final cannoli count and if the cannoli shell was flat and you put the filling between the two of them, would you now call that a sandwich or a cannoli?

To wrap up the show, the guys preview this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie main event, as featherweight Max Holloway takes on Chan Sung Jung.

Paul Felder and Michael Chiesa are back at it again on this episode of UFC Round-Up!

To start off the show, the guys break down some of the fights from this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Dos Anjos card. First, the pair hit on welterweight Vicente Luque pulling off a decision victory over Rafael Dos Anjos in the main event. The duo also give credit to how impressive the prelim fights were, including a shout-out to lightweight Terrance McKinney for his win against Mike Breeden. 

Then, the duo preview Saturday’s UFC 292 main event as bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling takes on challenger Sean O’Malley. The pair also preview the co-main event between women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos. After that, the guys give a shout-out to welterweight Neil Magny for stepping in as a replacement to fight Ian Machado Garry.

After that, the duo answer 5 rounds of fan questions. 

1.      I feel like there should be a requirement for judges to being allowed to judge, as well as annual eyesight tests and tests on the rules of the game.

2.      Is it easier or harder to commentate for someone that beat you, meaning is it hard to not reference your fight with him?

3.      Regarding Cory Sandhagen, MMA is the most exciting sport in the world, but we aren’t willing to respect the sport. No one makes a huge deal when other sports aren’t exciting. Will the sport of MMA ever be respected for a sport first and entertainment second?

4.      Number one, can you watch my kids while I’m away this weekend? Two, I have a few extra t-shirts that might fit you, if you would like them? Any remedies for early onset male baldness? Favorite Rocky movie?

5.      Who could pull off ‘Suga’ Sean’s look more, you (Michael) or Paul?