Article by Mattan Yuger
With all the madness in the world, it's ironic that UFC cage fighting is the only piece of normality and good old fashion live entertainment, we can enjoy these days. Whether you’re a fight enthusiast, a true MMA purist, casual fan, or just started to tune in, the UFC is the only show in town right now. So if you need a distraction from the chaos, want to know the characters, invest in the storylines, embed yourself within the culture, or just place a bet, this would be a great place to start.
There's a lot of great content out there but here are some of our favorite shows that’ll help you dive deeper into the rabbit hole and learn why we love the UFC.
JRE MMA Show
It's not exactly clear how Joe Rogan, silly comedian, ex fear factor host, and ultimate meathead has turned into a cultural phenomenon and one of the biggest influencers in the world. With guests like Elon Musk, Bernie Sanders, and all the biggest names lined up, his podcast has long surpassed the roam of comedy or MMA and grew to monstrous proportions. He’s one of the podcast pioneers and has changed the game with his recently announced exclusive Spotify deal, valued at over 100 million dollars. As the face and voice of UFC, his podcast is by far the biggest show in the MMA scene. Aside from his fight companions, where he and his friends talk MMA, smoke weed, and have a laugh while watching live fights, his casual, long-form, in-depth interviews are the best exposure and platform anyone can hope for. Fighters used to call out Dana White for the 60K fight bonus after a good performance, now they’re shouting out for the biggest prize of them all, an appearance on Joe Rogan Show.
Ariel Helwani's MMA Show
Harial Halwany, the biggest MMA nerd in the world, isn't aligned with the typical UFC image. In many ways, he was the first real MMA journalist who took his job seriously, before anyone else did. Even in the early UFC circus days, he always made sure to wear a suit, treat MMA like a real sport, and was the only reporter to bring a cameraman to all the events and interviews.
Known to be a perpetual shit-stirrer, his journey wasn't easy and controversy-filled, often getting in trouble with UFC boss, Dana White, or pissing off fighters. All this paid off as eventually, he turned his obsession and dream into a reality and turned into one of ESPN’s front MMA guys. His light-humoristic tone is refreshing in this macho environment, and the open and personal relationships he cultivated over the years led to funny moments, touching interviews, and great MMA content.
Inside the Octagon
No matter if you're a fan or betting man, on fight night there is just one thing on everyone's minds, who’ll raise his hands after all is said and done. Breaking down fights is an art within itself and no one quite does it like Dan Hardy. His fight IQ is one of the best in the game and it translates well as he breaks down different styles and matchups into the fundamentals.
MMA is a wild and unpredictable game, with so many different variables and moving parts, but his analysis, along with his articulate yet straightforward delivery, always seems to bring order to the chaos.
UFC Countdown
UFC has not turned into the oiled, multi-billion dollar, machine that it is today for no reason. Marketing is the key in this short attention span we live in, and nothing sells a fight more than a good story. This is where UFC’s, behind the scenes, shows like UFC CountDown and Embedded come into play. Nothing helps to promote and hype up a fight than getting invested in the stories, the fighters' lives and their everyday journey leading to the big day.
Watching the struggle, training, and sacrifice these athletes put into this super high stakes game, humanizes them and helps turn Fight Day into an emotional experience, rather than just a spectacle. Nothing amps up that fight week buzz like some of those classic countdown episodes or Embedded vlogs.
Anatomy of a Fighter
That fly on the wall point of view, the cinematic look, slick editing, and its documentary qualities, is why we love Anatomy Of A Fighter. The production value and unmatched access to the lives of fighters confuse many who assume its a UFC production but this is a one-man show and the Brainchild of an aspiring filmmaker, Will Harris. His life story and passion for his craft is as unique and impressive as the fighters he covers, and his appearance on Joe Rogan left us inspired.
It's that passion and commitment, along with his film making skills that helped him build the trust and intimate rapport with fighters. This enables him to capture pure gold on film, iconic moments that will forever live in MMA’s history and it was he who caught Mcgregor’s infamous dolly incident that previewed the biggest fight in UFC history. His journey to Dagestan, living with Khabib’s family in his hometown village, is a real anthropological feat, a deep dive into the psyche of UFC’s most dominant fighter, and a great place to start following his work.