You're Welcome! With Chael Sonnen

Volkanovski floated four ideas for his career and Chael says three are bad -- the great one is Volk vacating the featherweight belt, moving to lightweight, and calling out Arman Tsarukyan for the title, contingent on Gaethje retiring. Chael texted Arman on WhatsApp to stir things up. Justin Gaethje retirement is now past 50/50 -- Volk has intel Gaethje may not fight again. Sean Strickland came to his senses and will fight Nassourdine Imavov for the middleweight title in February. Renato Moicano had a great press conference -- told his opponent to shut up because he’s only there for money -- but Chael warns him not to say publicly he wants to fight out his UFC contract. Jake Paul announced a Christmas Eve Abu Dhabi fight with no opponent named yet -- Nate Diaz and Mike Perry likely on the card. Floyd Mayweather vs. Ryan Garcia is a real fight with Floyd’s record on the line -- what people want is Ryan to actually win. Conor McGregor’s coach Kavanagh says Conor’s not done, Chael is behind him for the first time, and expects Max Holloway next with Michael Chandler still in play. Ask Uncle Chael covers Oregon’s UFC tax problem, Spencer Lee and Iowa wrestling, Chael’s favorite saint, and the super fight he actually wants to see.

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Chael breaks down Real American Freestyle, starting with Dillon Danis prodding Arman Tsarukyan at the press conference until Khamzat Chimaev came off the stage -- and the moment Chimaev bent down to fix his shoe that nearly sent security into full panic. Danis cut nine pounds under lockdown, showed up, and competed -- Chael says that deserves credit. Jordan Burroughs took on the U23 champion Mikey Caliendo and lost on criteria -- last score -- but looked anything but done. Vito Arujau gave up a 9-point lead to Rivera in a 22-point thriller. Jordan Oliver and Ridge Lovett delivered what the crowd called the people’s main event. Back to UFC: Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili and Chael questions whether one body shot is enough to win a round when the other guy controlled everything else for three rounds. Alexander Volkov crashed a Volkanovski press conference as a fan, got a moment with Dana White, and Chael says it’s time to push for his title shot. Volkanovski proposes a double-retirement fight with Gaethje at 155 -- Chael says it almost never happens, but the real card Volk played is the threat of Aljo instead. Islam Makhachev sits out for Ramadan, an interim title is created for Prates vs. Morales, and Chael asks: can you still call Islam the undisputed champion?

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Chael makes the case that Josh Hokit is one win away from being the King of MMA -- the first ever undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion -- and argues Bruce Buffer’s criticism of how Hokit talks proves nothing, because nobody wants the opposite. Mike Perry has split from Bare Knuckle FC in a mutual, drama-free parting with promoter Dave Feldman, and Chael says every MMA org should sign him right now -- he is the hottest free agent on the market. Bo Nickal and Gable Steveson have a backstage feud brewing at Real American Freestyle, and Chael asks whether Gable could go heel. Rizvan says the Islam Makhachev vs. Paddy Pimblett fight is far from done, which means Michael Morales may still be in play, and Shara Magomedov’s callout of Morales -- like Ian Garry’s before it -- was allowed to go cold. Chael closes with Ask Uncle Chael: Buckley is not getting cut, Jon Jones’s cocaine confession moment explained, and a Shell station robbery story starring his godson Lad.

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It is fight week and Volkanovski faces undefeated Movsar Evloev. Volk says he will stop Evloev and then call out Gaethje - Chael is enamored. He will not get that fight, but the fact that it is what drives him tells you everything about Volk. Dricus Du Plessis says he wants to go to 205 after getting his belt back at 185. Chael supports the 205 move but says the math does not work - go now, do not wait. Shara Magomedov went 16-0, 7-0 in the UFC and got released. Chael says someone on his team failed him - you do not let a fighter make that walk without a new deal in place.Charles Oliveira pushes back on critics saying his ground game disqualifies the BMF belt. Chael backs Charles: you bring your skills, the other guy brings his, whoever walks out is the BMF. Sean Strickland and the Imavov fight - UFC says the contract was just redone, so Sean is not leaving. But something changed, and Chael is not sure renegotiating gets him anywhere.

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Bruce Buffer called Josh Hokit disrespectful - Chael says Bruce started it and has it backwards. Hokit fought on the South Lawn, is headed to MSG for a heavyweight title shot, and had sponsors remodel his house. That is not a guy doing it wrong. Henry Cejudo says Alex Pereira is spoiled with opportunities - Chael dismantles that take point by point. Pereira started as a 36-year-old kickboxer on undercards, had to make 185, beat Sean Strickland just to get to Izzy, then won the belt the hard way at 38. He got dealt from the bottom of the deck and climbed anyway. Paddy Pimblett is hot on Ilia Topuria’s trail, but Chael thinks he is looking in the wrong direction. The two fights that actually move Paddy toward a title: Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira. Ask Uncle Chael covers folkstyle wrestling, villains in storytelling, the Trevor Prangley tap that wasn’t, and the right order of business versus wife.

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