This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about the issues with PFL’s tournaments and recent Paris cancellation, whether we believe Alex Pereira’s social media was hacked, the shocking details around the second UFC antitrust case(Johnson v. Zuffa), and Shawn Merriman’s comments on why B-league promotions can’t thrive or survive while UFC is taking all the…...
May 09, 2025•25 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about the issues with this past weekend’s Fatal Fury boxing cards, Top Rank’s ability to save the weekend with their Inoue-Cardenas event, ONE Championship’s cancelled U.S. event, and how much Tyson Fury made from a handful of fights. We also touched briefly on the big round of WWE roster cuts. Follow along with o…...
May 06, 2025•31 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about all the suitors for UFC’s broadcast rights deal—including their PPV model, Eddie Hearn’s take on TKO Boxing, the buy rate for Eubank vs. Benn, and why the UFC likely didn’t approve a 4-man BMF tourney. Finally, we touched on PFL’s litigiousness, and answered a listener question. We’ve included some PDFs of s…...
May 02, 2025•26 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about how TKO’s budget cuts are sucking the fun out of the UFC. This latest cut is wearing the guise of Bespoke, in the form of custom walkout music for the fighters rather than their chosen songs. Imagine Dustin Poirier not walking out to James Brown. We also looked at TKO’s site fees, tax credits and the economi…...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about why domestic promotions like PFL don’t do as well as KSW, Oktagon and Rizin, the purchase of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide by TKO, Netflix’ statement on UFC broadcast rights, where Jake Paul’s boxing promotion (MVP) lies in the boxing hierarchy, and more. We also address a listener question at the end. Follow al…...
Apr 22, 2025•22 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about Ilia Topuria’s refusal to fight unless it’s for the belt, how BKFC became collateral for a $10M convertible note, Turki’s expensive double PPV, GFL’s wild antics behind the scenes, and more. We also address a listener question at the end. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 149 Outline * Ilia Topuri…...
Apr 18, 2025•27 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode features discussion about GFL’s probable demise following an outrageous idea for a “non-profit” card, TKO’s path to getting the Ali Act amended, the consequences that could arise if TKO gets it done, and the possible issues UFC could have for constantly trotting out the Trump cabinet at events We also have a super-duper bonus questio…...
Apr 15, 2025•22 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode is a three-pronged show. The first segment breaks down the GFL’s cancelation of their first two event dates and takes a look at the signs that were there from the start with some troubling details that we found in their fighter bout agreements. The second portion covers the Association of Boxing Commissions inadvertently revealing TK…...
Apr 11, 2025•21 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode covers Conor McGregor’s latest catstrophe—this time a failed meme coin—and whether he may have burned through his generational wealth. We also take a look at new problems arising between Turki Alalsheikh and some prominent boxers, Matchroom’s latest financial filings, how TKO may be doing now that a recession is starting to look like…...
Apr 08, 2025•30 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s episode covers the bigger business headlines of the last week. We’re discussing the stock market dips and how they could affect UFC/TKO, if PFL is facing a doomsday scenario, the financial statements of Boxxer Limited (3rd largest European boxing promotion), and a host of other topics. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 145 Outl…...
Apr 04, 2025•27 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week’s hodge-podge mainly focuses on UFC topics, especially around fighter pay and contract situations. We also take a look at a new upstart boxing promotion looking for big seed money and our retro question details the differences in monopoly and monopsony power and why it’s a bad thing for combat sports. Follow along with our outline as you liste…...
Mar 28, 2025•21 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Dana White’s future is under our microscope in this episode, along with a spate of other topics including the ire that investors have with Ari Emanuel. We also cover just how big George Foreman’s impact on the business of boxing was, and ONE Championship’s problematic PPV from this past weekend. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 143 Outline...
Mar 25, 2025•29 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Today, we’ll be discussing the new reports of TKO’s proposed purses for the upcoming boxing promotion they’re forming with the Saudis. We’ll also be looking at some information about the UFC’s broadcast rights negotiations, and finally, we take a look at some steps that could be made to fix boxing. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 142 Out…...
Mar 21, 2025•23 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Today, we have another hodge-podge list of topics that revolve mostly around UFC’s broadcast deal and the newly formed boxing entity with TKO and Turki Al-Sheikh. We start the episode off by addressing the “Fake News!” claim from PFL’s Donn Davis, which was in response to something from our last episode. We also manage to get in a couple points about th…...
Mar 18, 2025•26 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Today, we have a hodge-podge list of questions from a wide variety of news stories from the last several days. We cover how successful the UFC is at filling arenas (including the sorcery they use to ensure seats get sold), how important the PR/social media arm is to promotions, Fanmio’s lawsuit against Ryan Garcia, and more. We also have a retro questio…...
Mar 14, 2025•36 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com In our latest episode, we discuss Anthony Joshua’s 2024 finances, Netflix’s entry to serious boxing, and the emerging details on the alliance with TKO and the Saudis to create a boxing “league” that predict will “crush everyone else”. We also discuss a small order of business with the Dirty Boxing promotion. Follow along with our outline as you listen: …...
Mar 11, 2025•31 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com In our latest episode, we discuss the bombshell news that hit the media about TKO Holdings Group’s new partnership with the Saudis (via Turki Alalshikh) to officially launch a boxing league. We discuss all the particulars, including why this could end up being detrimental to the athletes, how the sanctioning bodies will fit into the picture and more. Fo…...
Mar 07, 2025•28 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com In our latest episode, we discuss a variety of recent news, including some new GFL information, Power Slap’s big deal, ticket sales for Eubank-Benn, a listener question, the latest from TKO’s Mark Shapiro on the UFC’s broadcasting future and a retro question. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 137 Outline * What did you think of Davis-Roach, a…...
Mar 04, 2025•21 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This week, we saw an influx of financial information coming from TKO via their 2024 SEC filings and their quarterly earnings call. We also saw a very interesting lawsuit against Top Rank come to light, as well. In this episode, we discuss those topics in depth. We’ve also included the complaint in the Top Rank lawsuit and TKO Group Holdings’ 2024 10 K f…...
Feb 28, 2025•27 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com This past weekend, we saw Beterbiev-Bivol II moved to a smaller arena, thanks to low ticket sales. On the flip side, we saw UFC have a tremendous gate for UFC Seattle. We take a look at how ticket sales are for both sports. We also discuss Dana White’s influence, the shift away from Joe Rogan by his fans, and much more in our latest episode. Follow alon…...
Feb 25, 2025•24 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com There are more than 200 UFC fighters that still haven’t submitted their claim information for the antitrust case settlement. Sitting at the top of the list is the guy who stands to make the most—Anderson Silva. The Spider stands to clean house with at least $10M, an amount even higher than what Conor McGregor will make (despite his grandiose posturing).…...
Feb 21, 2025•18 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com ESPN has current broadcast rights deals with UFC and Top Rank Boxing, but both of those deals are up this year. The UFC’s is up in April and Top Rank’s is up this summer. We examine the current deals, what ESPN pays for fight night cards, who the major players are for upcoming deals, and more. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 133 Outline W…...
Feb 14, 2025•17 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Last week, TKO head Ari Emanuel went on Pat McAfee’s show for an interview where he made some pretty cryptic statements about the Ali Act. We break down what the act does, whether it works as intended, if there are loopholes that can be exploited, and more. Follow along with our outline as you listen: Ep. 132 Outline * First, since it got so little coverage…...
Feb 11, 2025•20 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Since Dana White’s press statement that essentially gave UFC fighters a pass to say anything they want without repercussion, there’s been no shortage of horrible things flying in the days since. Add to that Conor McGregor’s spitting incident and you have a kettle about to boil over. We discuss the latest developments with the UFC’s stance on free speech…...
Feb 04, 2025•33 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Yesterday, the MMA community was made aware of Bryce Mitchell’s podcast in the most unfortunate way. Mitchell touted Adolf Hitler as a “good guy” and said he was just trying to remove “greedy Jews” from turning Germans into '“gays”. We take a look at why UFC chose not to cut ties with him. We also discuss how it’s a fool’s folly to try to compete with t…...
Jan 31, 2025•32 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com Last week, DAZN’s financials came out and to put it mildly, they should have some serious concerns. We take a look at the numbers and what could be the cause(s) of the huge dip from the previous year. We also look at Triller’s issues and how BKFC is faring under their ownership. We finish the episode with a little bit of commentary on Conor McGregor’s a…...
Jan 28, 2025•33 min
The UFC antitrust case has been going now for over a decade, but there is an end in sight, at least for the Plaintiffs in the Le v. Zuffa class. Imagine the collective surprise of the community when we got our very first objection filed by none other than former women’s strawweight champion, Carla Esparza (now married and using her husband’s surname of Lomeli). She filed objections to the attorney’s fees and to Nate Quarry being paid from the settlement money. We address her objections and expla...
Jan 25, 2025•15 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com The PFL has been having issues since their inception but none so much as last year and they’re off to a rocky start this year. We’ve now seen the release of nearly the entire Bellator roster and even a few PFL fighters, many of which have been picked up by GFL. In this episode, we discuss the PFL’s very restrictive contracts—both the bad parts and the r…...
Jan 24, 2025•42 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com At yesterday’s presidential inauguration, it was hard not to notice Dana White present among the ultra elite invited to the closed-door affair. The president of the UFC has spoken at multiple Republican national conventions, and even spoke at the inauguration last night. He’s cemented himself as a power player outside the UFC, and is clearly a very impo…...
Jan 21, 2025•27 min
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com PFL’s struggles from 2024 will hopefully be a thing of the past if Donn Davis and his PFL crew can institute the necessary changes to promote the growth of the promotion. In a Town Hall held by MMA Fighting and hosted by Mike Heck, Davis was given a platform to answer fan and media questions. In this episode, we examine the more interesting things he sa…...
Jan 17, 2025•22 min
