Hey Not The Face! Podcast

Brazilian court case reveals relationship between UFC and fighter managers | Ep. 217

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACTIn today’s episode, we’re looking at a Brazilian court case that has flown under the radar for months, but we’ve got the documents that reveal details of the relationship between fighter managers and the UFC. Behind our paywall, we’ll be going over What’s App messages between an MMA manager and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. We also discuss Paramount Plus’ big price hike that goes into effect next week and why Canadian fans will still have to buy UFC PPVs. We also talk about VICE TV’s forays into combat sports with the latest being LFA. There’s a lot more, so make sure to follow along with our outline as you listen:*We urge you to pick up a paid subscription, as it helps us keep the show going* Episode 217 Outline* Have there been any new filings in the UFC antitrust cases?* Sean Strickland said he was pressured into taking the Dricus du Plessis fight while recovering from a shoulder injury saying, “You don’t say no [to the UFC], they’re our pimps. You don’t say no to the master. I was backed up into a corner taking that fight.” What are your thoughts on what he said?* Our friend Rob Nashville reminded us a couple days ago of the price increase for Paramount Plus happening next week. The hike will see the annual plan skyrocket from $59.99 to $89.99. Considering how steep that increase is, do you foresee them hiking up prices as rapidly as ESPN did?* Why will Canadian sports fans still have to pay for UFC events as PPVs?* Will there be a change at some point so that they can also just pay one subscription price?* You quoted a post on Twitter about online gambling destroying young men in America. Remind listeners how much of an impact on sports gambling the UFC will have with Polymarket.* LFA recently announced it had signed a deal to air on VICE TV. Is that platform large enough to provide any real lifeline for them, or are they just delaying their own demise with this deal?* Are there any other outlets that could throw a lifeline to struggling MMA and boxing promotions?* Do you think Top Rank could end up on VICE TV?* PFL’s former CEO Peter Murray is out and additionally, several longtime key employees have been laid off. What do you make of that?* We have some documents from a Brazilian court case involving Taila Santos. Can you tell us more about what the case and what the documents we will be looking at are?* What do these filings reveal about the relationship between managers and the UFC?* Apparently, Mick Maynard explained why some fighters get 10/10 deals and other fighters 12/12 when they debut. What was the reason?* Do we have any examples of contract negotiations?* Do we see any communications from the UFC regarding extensions?*PDF (42 pages) of What’s App messages between Marcelo Brigadeiro and Mick Maynard

Can Polymarket insulate the UFC against future gambling scandals? | Ep. 216

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACTIt’s our first episode of the year and we’ve got a hodge-podge collection of topics to discuss. We’re looking at the latest filings in the UFC antitrust cases, Polymarkets and the UFC, why Joe Rogan’s statement all but says UFC is a monopoly, and the Paramount Plus broadcast rights deal. We also discuss so…

Our look back at the most important combat sports stories of 2025 | Ep. 215

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit heynottheface.substack.com SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACTWe’re looking back at the biggest news of 2025 and giving it a thorough analysis. We’ve broken down what we think are the four most important news stories in both MMA and boxing, with two umbrella topics for each sport and a devoted group of questions under each topic. Make sure to follow along with our ou…

Interview: Gabriel Burris, amateur boxer | Ep. 214

SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACTToday we’re featuring a terrific interview with amateur boxer and activist Gabriel Burris. Gabriel’s name has been associated with TKO’s Ali Act bill proposal ever since he called in to the CSAC committee meeting several weeks ago. In this episode, we discuss his background in boxing, how he got into the sport, and what he hopes his future will be if he continues into the professional ranks. We also get his thoughts on the Ali Act changes TKO wants to institute, and what changes he would actually like to see addressed in boxing. There’s more, so make sure to follow along with our outline as you listen:*We urge you to pick up a paid subscription, as it helps us keep the show going* Episode 214 Outline* What is your boxing background? How did you get into boxing and what is your current status?* What are your future plans/goals for boxing?* What led you to call into the California State Athletic Commission hearing?* Do you worry that your outspokenness on TKO’s Ali Act changes will harm your future in boxing?* What about the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act do you oppose?* Critics will argue that the Ali Act doesn’t work. What parts of the current Act do you think work?* What do you think of the response from boxing’s stakeholders regarding the bill?* What do you think of influencer boxing, especially Jake Paul’s ability to thrive in the sport, both as an athlete and a promoter?* Are you surprised that individuals in the MMA media seem to be active in their opposition to the bill?* Dana White recently said that MMA’s athletes shouldn’t expect to have careers in the sport, that instead, they were granted ‘opportunities’. What do you think of that statement considering he’ll be effectively running Zuffa Boxing?* What would you like to see addressed in boxing?* If you had the chance to speak to congress what would you tell them?* What do you want to promote?The Hey Not the Face! Podcast is an independent publication. Please consider a paid subscription to keep up with our best work and learn how you can support us. With all forms of news media crumbling, especially in the combat sports space, we could really use your help. Thank you. We appreciate all of you.Thank you for checking out the Hey Not The Face! Podcast, a listener-supported publication. We’d be eternally grateful if you could help us by purchasing a subscription and spreading word of this episode by sharing it far and wide. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heynottheface.substack.com/subscribe

Interview: "The Immortal" Matt Brown (audio) | Ep. 213

SUPPORT EXPANDING THE ALI ACTToday we’re featuring a terrific interview with “The Immortal” Matt Brown. He has a long list of accolades, and we like to think his thoughtful take on the state of combat sports is among them—don’t worry, we list a lot of those amazing achievements right at the top of the show. Matt and John discussed a wide array of topics, and Matt’s unique insight into the fighter mind, gives a bird’s eye view of the complicated relationship between promoters and athletes. There’s more, so make sure to follow along with our outline as you listen:*We urge you to pick up a paid subscription, as it helps us keep the show going* Episode 213 Outline* How has retirement been for you? *16 years and 30 fights with the UFC, 9 performance bonuses, most KOs in UFC welterweight history and right behind Derrick Lewis for most KOs in UFC history proper, most finishes in UFC welterweight history, Bloody Elbow’s 2012 fighter of the year and 2017 KOTY vs. Diego Sanchez, two-time Sherdog all-violence team (and many more, but we’d need a lot more room to list them)* Do you think Dana White is accurate in calling MMA an ‘opportunity’ and do you think you were able to take advantage of that opportunity fully?* On your podcast with Damon Martin, you’ve talked about how the nature of fighting and the athletes it draws to its promotions makes it harder for fighters to be fully informed or easier to be taken advantage of. Is this something you think most outside pundits—fans or media—miss?* Did you get your settlement check yet? Are you happy with the outcome of the Le case?* What do you think the fighters’ reaction has been to the antitrust cases?* Are you following the other cases and do you think other fighters are paying attention to them? Should they be?* Do you find that some fans and fighters struggle with the idea that criticizing or disagreeing with some of the UFC’s actions doesn’t mean that you hate them?* During the CSAC meeting, you mentioned that no one is looking out for the fighters? Could you elaborate on why you said that?* What do you think looking out for the fighters would mean for managers or the athletic commissions?* If there were some changes you could make to MMA, the UFC, or combat sports in general that you think would help fighters economically, and what would you change?The Hey Not the Face! Podcast is an independent publication. Please consider a paid subscription to keep up with our best work and learn how you can support us. With all forms of news media crumbling, especially in the combat sports space, we could really use your help. Thank you. We appreciate all of you.Thank you for checking out the Hey Not The Face! Podcast, a listener-supported publication. We’d be eternally grateful if you could help us by purchasing a subscription and spreading word of this episode by sharing it far and wide. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heynottheface.substack.com/subscribe