Handing out 2024 UFC awards with Brett Okamoto

UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

28:24

In our second installment of the Small Business Starter Kit series - we’re tackling a topic that’s sometimes tricky, sometimes confusing, but ever-present: taxes. Hosts Austin and Jannese have an insightful conversation with entrepreneur Isabella Rosal who started 7th Sky Ventures , an exporter and distributor of craft spirits, beer, and wine. Having lived and worked in two different countries and started a company in a heavily-regulated field, Isabella is no stranger to navigating the paperwork-laden and jargon-infused maze of properly understanding taxes for a newly formed small business. Join us as she shares her story and provides valuable insight into how to tackle your business’ taxes - so they don’t tackle you. Learn more about how QuickBooks can help you grow your business: QuickBooks.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 50:24

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With the new year around the corner, ESPN's own Brett Okamoto joins today's episode of UFC Unfiltered to lend his opinions to Jim and Matt and to help hand out the highly-coveted, incredibly prestigious UFC Unfiltered Awards for 2024!

Eager to start fresh after falling well behind Matt in fight picks, Jim reflects on his less-than-stellar predictions before his good pal Matt cheers him up by reminding him that he finished the year strong!

When Okamoto hops on the show, the guys each bring their own opinions for various awards — including Newcomer of the Year, Breakthrough Fighter of the Year, and Event of the Year before discussing their favorite stoppages, fights, and standout moments from 2024.

But while the next card isn't until January 11th, we couldn't let Jim and Matt leave without making one last prediction to carry into the new year. With that in mind, the guys each called their shot by naming one current non-champion that they think will touch gold in 2025!

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Handing out 2024 UFC awards with Brett Okamoto

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published about a year ago

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1
Fight-week chats w/ Chidi Njokuani & Marvin Vettori 51:22

4 days ago51:22

51:22

Jim returns alongside Matt for an episode of UFC Unfiltered that welcomes two fighters from Saturday’s main and co-main events in welterweight striker Chidi Njokuani and middleweight contender Marvin Vettori. Stopping by first is Njokuani, who discusses his career resurgence at 170 pounds and the sacrifices he’s made to make the weight cut with the help of the UFC P.I. Chidi also shares how his brother and former UFC fighter Anthony Njokuani has shaped his fighting style. Then, top-10 middleweight contender Marvin Vettori breaks down the hilarious backstory that resulted in him signing up for a rematch against Roman Dolidze. The Italian veteran discusses his return from a string of injuries and how a second win over Dolidze can put him right into the mix in a stacked division. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap up the show with three picks from this Saturday’s card — with Matt finding himself just 5.5 points away from Jim’s lead in their head-to-head standings.…

1
Ignacio Bahamondes, UFC 313 recap w/ guest co-host Ray Longo 40:50

6 days ago40:50

40:50

Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered brings the dynamic duo of Matt Serra and Ray Longo together for an engaging chat with surging lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes mixed in with a recap of UFC 313! Matt and Ray unpack their main takeaways from Saturday’s card before bringing Bahamondes in for his first appearance on the pod! The guys quickly learn about how Ignacio’s family ties to Kenpo Karate guided him on his journey from his native Chile to the UFC. He then reflects on his current three-fight winning streak and how working alongside teammate Belal Muhammad has helped his personal and athletic growth.…

1
Curtis Blaydes, Caio Borralho, UFC 313 picks 51:21

11 days ago51:21

51:21

Today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered takes a unique look at fight week through two different lenses, as Curtis Blaydes prepares for his featured prelim bout at UFC 313 while Caio Borralho steps into a coaching role, cornering his Fighting Nerds teammate Mauricio Ruffy on the main card. Blaydes talks about his upcoming fight against UFC debutant Rizvan Kuniev, admitting he had to Google his opponent when the matchup was announced. He shares his thoughts on Kuniev’s background, what he expects from him, and whether he feels like he’s in a no-win situation fighting a newcomer. While Borralho isn’t fighting this weekend, the Fighting Nerds captain heaps praise on Mauricio Ruffy and explains how he’s locked into his role as a cornerman for his 28-year-old teammate’s upcoming battle against King Green. Plus, Borralho reflects on his own recent success, including his 16-fight win streak, his grappling win over Brendan Allen, and his recent callout of middleweight legend Robert Whittaker. Finally, Jim and Matt wrap up the show with three of their own predictions for this Saturday’s UFC 313 card.…

1
Robert Whittaker, Hyder Amil, UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev takeaways 59:04

13 days ago59:04

59:04

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and undefeated featherweight Hyder Amil! Eager to showcase what he’s picked up since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker identifies the specific highly-ranked middleweight veteran that he’d like to fight next. Don’t miss as Bobby Knuckles discusses the 180º turn in his relationship with Israel Adesanya before ultimately breaking down what he thinks of this weekend’s Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev main event at UFC 313. Then, Hyder Amil joins the show fresh off his hard-fought win over William Gomis. He shares the incredible story of battling through multiple injuries during training camp, how his journey from the Philippines to the U.S. shaped his mentality, and what it’s like being coached by MMA legend Gilbert Melendez. As the show shifts to recapping this past Saturday’s card, Matt wraps up the show by patting himself on the back for a perfect 3-0 showing in his fight picks — enough to erase 12.5 points off Jimmy’s early lead in their year-long, head-to-head battle.…

1
Cody Brundage, Manel Kape, UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev picks 49:57

18 days ago49:57

49:57

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt welcome in fighters from this Saturday’s main and co-main events as middleweight Cody Brundage and flyweight contender Manel Kape join the show! Joining first is Brundage, who reflects on what he learned about himself after fighting six times in a 14-month span. The guys get Cody to discusses the stakes of Saturday’s crossroads fight against a former training partner in Julian Marquez before our two bald co-hosts get their middleweight guest to wax poetic about his successful hair transplant. In between guests, Jim and Matt discuss what Dan Hooker’s injury withdrawal means for UFC 313's PPV co-main event. When the guys invite Manel Kape on to the show, the ever-confident flyweight known as “Starboy” breaks down his five-round main event vs. Asu Almabayev before explaining how his unique skillset is why he doesn’t get too caught up with watching film on how his opponents look against other fighters. Finally, Jim looks to extend his surprising lead in the 2025 fight pick standings as he and Matt wrap up the episode with predictions for this Saturday’s card.…

1
Rob Font, Modestas Bukauskas, UFC Seattle recap 49:36

20 days ago49:36

49:36

Fresh off the UFC's return to Seattle, Jim and Matt are back with an action-packed episode that talks to two of Saturday’s biggest winners. First up, bantamweight veteran Rob Font returns for his ninth appearance to break down his latest fight, his switch to Tristar Gym, and what’s next after handing the previously unbeaten Jean Matsumoto his first-ever loss as a professional. Then, Modestas Bukauskas joins the show for the first time, fresh off a statement-making KO to kick off the Seattle card. The surging light heavyweight talks about what he learned from his first stint in the UFC and how his second go-around has shaped him into the improved fighter he is today. Don’t miss as the guys recap UFC Seattle’s biggest moments—including Cejudo’s third straight loss and Anthony Hernandez’s scintillating win over Brendan Allen.…

1
Ricky Simon, Andre Fili, UFC Seattle predictions 56:08

25 days ago56:08

56:08

UFC Unfiltered welcomes back bantamweight brawler Ricky Simon and featherweight veteran Andre Fili ahead of UFC’s long-awaited return to Seattle! Simon breaks down his matchup with Javid Basharat and talks about shaking off a tough losing streak in front of a home crowd before discussing his approach to preserving his body with cryotherapy and his at-home sauna. In between interviews, Jim and Matt take a look at this Saturday’s UFC Seattle card before making some picks of their own. Finally, Fili calls in to reflect on his UFC journey and discuss how the expectant father feels more grounded as he approaches his 12th year with the promotion and a fight in his home state against Melquizael Costa.…

1
Youssef Zalal, Edmen Shahbazyan, UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues recap 44:05

27 days ago44:05

44:05

Fresh off UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues, Jim and Matt break down all the biggest moments from Saturday’s card, including Jared Cannonier’s comeback TKO win over Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues. Then, surging featherweight Youssef Zalal joins the show fresh off his dominant unanimous decision victory over 10th-ranked Calvin Kattar to discuss how he successfully thwarted his opponent’s game plan. With seven straight wins to his name, Youssef examines his place in the division before detailing what his spirited training sessions with Justin Gaethje taught him about himself. Later, middleweight knockout artist Edmen Shahbazyan stops by after his electrifying first-round KO win. He opens up about the $50K performance bonus, his move to Xtreme Couture, and how fatherhood has given him new motivation. Plus, Edmen reveals his plans for a busy 2025 and the former foe that he’s eyeing next.…

1
Angela Hill, Kelvin Gastelum, guest co-host John Morgan 55:22

5 weeks ago55:22

55:22

With Jim Norton out for the day, John Morgan fills in for his 10th appearance as a UFC Unfiltered co-host for an episode that features Angela Hill and Kelvin Gastelum calling in separately. Joining first is Hill, who discusses her mindset three days ahead of her fight against Ketlen Souza. The 40-year-old veteran puts on her MMA analyst hat by unpacking Zhang Weili’s dominant UFC 312 title defense and stating whether it was impressive enough to warrant calling her the UFC’s pound-for-pound #1 female fighter. Then, Kelvin Gastelum calls in days removed from the announcement that his five-round war with Israel Adesanya would be immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing. The TUF 17 winner reflects on his relationship with Chael Sonnen after discussing his upcoming fight and divulging his weight class plans for the foreseeable future.…

1
Johnny Walker, Michael "Venom" Page, UFC 312 recap 42:47

5 weeks ago42:47

42:47

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt break down all the action from UFC 312 and welcome two explosive guests to the show! First, light heavyweight Johnny Walker joins to give an update on his recovery after an injury forced him out of UFC 311. Now settled into his new home in Las Vegas, Walker reflects on his incredible time training in Ireland as he explains the logistical factors behind his move to Xtreme Couture. Looking to get back into contention, Walker discuses his optimistic outlook for his career moving forward. Fresh off his big win at UFC Saudi Arabia, Michael “Venom” Page stops by to discuss his impressive debut at middleweight, the possibility of future fights at both 170 and 185, and his acting ambitions. Plus, the guys dive into the dominant performances from both Dricus Du Plessis and Zhang Weili from atop this past Saturday’s UFC 312 PPV card.…

1
Belal Muhammad, Gerald McCoy, UFC 312 picks 48:57

6 weeks ago48:57

48:57

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and NFL great Gerald McCoy call in to catch up with Jim and Matt ahead of UFC 312. After briefly contemplating amputation (yes, seriously) to deal with an infected pinky toe, Belal Muhammad details his battle with a severe bone infection that forced him out of his first-ever title defense at UFC 310. Now eyeing a return after Ramadan in May, the champ opens up about how fasting and hydration challenges push his mental game to new levels. Later, six-time NFL Pro Bowler and UFC diehard Gerald McCoy joins from media row at Super Bowl LIX to talk all things UFC 312. From breaking down the rematch between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis to making his own bold prediction for Saturday’s flyweight title fight, Gerald holds his ground—even as Jim and Matt aren’t seeing eye to eye with him on his co-main event prediction. The guys wrap up the show with more UFC 312 picks and a look ahead at what’s next in the MMA landscape.…

1
Evaluating Adesanya’s future w/ Jase Macalpine, Roman Dolidze talks looming rematch vs. Vettori 48:14

6 weeks ago48:14

48:14

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim Norton and Matt Serra catch up with Roman Dolidze following a chat with first-time caller Jase Macalpine. A jiu-jitsu purple belt himself, the Australian filmmaker-turned-podcast host sets the scene for his diehard UFC fandom by shedding light on the sneaky rivalry implications for a UFC 312 bout that features Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria in opposing corners. As Jim and Matt foray into a recap of this past Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia card, the guys weigh out some options for Israel Adesanya’s next move. Finally, Roman Dolidze returns to Unfiltered to discuss his mindset going into his March 15th rematch vs. Marvin Vettori at the UFC APEX.…

1
Grant Dawson makes bold call-out, Jan Błachowicz talks imminent return at UFC London 50:51

7 weeks ago50:51

50:51

Today’s UFC Unfiltered episode brings the heat from the lightweight and light heavyweight divisions as Matt and Jim are joined by Grant Dawson and Jan Błachowicz! Fresh off his UFC 311 victory just 11 days ago, 15th-ranked lightweight Grant Dawson checks in to discuss his 3-fight win streak, what it means to be back in the rankings, and which names above him he’s got his eye on. Plus, the American Top Team standout doesn’t hold back as he drops a BOLD callout of a fan-favorite in the stacked 155-pound division. Then, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz returns to the show ahead of his March 22nd showdown with Carlos Ulberg at UFC London. After nearly 20 months away due to shoulder injuries, Jan talks about his surgical recoveries, how he’s adjusted training at 42 years old, and whether he feels overlooked in the title picture. He also weighs in on the massive Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev fight at UFC 313 — a matchup between two men he’s already shared the cage with. To close things out, Matt and Jim dive into the UFC Saudi Arabia card, breaking down the biggest matchups and making their picks for Saturday’s action!…

1
Eric Nicksick looks ahead to UFC 312, catching up w/ Chael Sonnen 1:04:00

7 weeks ago1:04:00

1:04:00

On today’s episode of UFC Unfiltered, Jim and Matt are joined by Coach Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture before catching up with the one and only Chael Sonnen. With just 12 days until UFC 312, Coach Nicksick explains that he is flying to Australia with an “And NEW, Times TWO” mentality for both Sean Strickland and Tatiana Suarez ahead of their respective title shots atop the PPV card in Sydney. With hopes of bringing both belts back to Xtreme Couture, Eric discusses the importance of avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach to coaching and cornering fighters. Then, Chael Sonnen makes his highly-anticipated return to the show after three years since his last Unfiltered appearance. After Chael takes a stroll down memory lane with Jim, Matt gets a full-fledged lesson in Trash Talking 101 before having the “American Gangster” wrap things up with his thoughts on coaching against Daniel Cormier in the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter.…

1
Fares Ziam & Terrance McKinney discuss showdowns on next week's UFC Saudi Arabia 56:02

7 weeks ago56:02