Np Podcasts - Not The Public Broadcaster

This is the 5th official podcast episode of 2017 here on the Sound & Groove Podcast. It's long overdue but no need to worry, as this one will be followed up soon enough because it's part 1 of a 2-part theme on songs that discuss colours in the lyrics or just the title if we want to get looser about it. So check out some of my favourite tracks that fit with this motif I've come up with this time around.

UFC 219 was supposed to end the year on a bang after a difficult 2017 for the UFC. It was supposed to put Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos on the map as the best female fighter ever. It was supposed to add Khabib "the Eagle" Nurmagomedov in the love triangle for the Lightweight belt with Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson and Conor McGregor. It did all those things. Funny how meeting expectations can be really underwhelming.

There's never enough MMA news to talk about! The week in MMA was loaded, from news about Conor McGregor and GSP to title fight announcements at UFC Middleweight and Heavyweight. Bellator had a title fight (that no one saw) while the UFC had a nice little Fight Night card (with some excellent highlights). The cherry on top was a boxing fight for the hardcore fans out there with Vasyl Lomanchenko taking on Guillermo Rigondeaux. But what got Rhys really going? His awe of the lighter weight classes.

UFC 218 had not one, but two Fight of the Year candidates with Alex Oliveira and Yancy Medeiros putting on a show alongside Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez. Even if the rest of the card had been a dumpster fire, that's enough to put it up there among the best of the year. But guess what? The rest of the card wasn't a dumpster fire! It was on fire! We have Max Holloway, who officially ended any thoughts of Jose Aldo reigning again, and Francis N'Gannou, who hit Alistair Overeem so hard Overeem nearly did a backflip, to thank for that.

This here is the 4th official episode of 2017 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Don't fret though. Another 2 will still follow here in the rest of 2017. This particular edition is the 2nd of a 2-episode theme dealing with songs I enjoy from artists I typically don't or ones who were often the target of the music critics' revulsion for various reasons.

This past weekend, UFC: Norfook, er, Norfaulk, uhhh, Northfolk? Whatever. The UFC had another card, one of nine straight weekends of fight cards until December 16. This one had Clay Guida and Diego Sanchez. But also, Dustin Poirier continues his improvements and Anthony Pettis continues his slide. This week's Q-Rating, Conor McGregor. But The Notorious is so damn famou his Q-Rating measured in another chemical compound, so when McGregor is naughty does it truly make a sound?

This here is the 3rd official episode of 2017 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Don't fret though. Another 3 will still follow here in the rest of 2017. This particular edition is the first of a 2-episode theme dealing with songs I enjoy from artists I typically don't or ones who were often the target of the music critics' revulsion for various reasons.

A night that could have gone so very, very differently turned out to be one of the best fight cards you will ever see. The return of GSP was mired by chaos - but St. Pierre certainly put all those bad feelings to rest by capturing the Middleweight title. Rose Namajunas beat out the best female fighter on the planet and just wants people to hug each other. TJ Dillashaw defeated his Cody Garbrandt, his former training partner and friend, with no love to spare - but it wasnt Ill DIll that came out the most ahead. 

De greatist championne dat de UFC has evr known is coming back to de Octogon, Georges St. Pierre, will take on Michael Bisping at UFC 217! But will his fans return with him or are we in a whole new world? The best female fighter on the planet (and arguably the best, regardless of gender) Joanna Jędrzejczyk defends her title looking for a sixth title defence against the as-of-yet-to-fulfill-her-tremendous talent Rose Namajunas. Also, the grudge match of all grudge matches: Abraham Lincoln v. Benedict Arnold (at least that's maybe the way the narrative has turned), former Team Alpha Male fighter, TJ Dillahsaw, takes on current Bantamweight champion and Team Alpha Male fighter, Cody Garbrandt. There can be only one Male! And, a special version of the Q-rating in honor of Brazil's public enemy number one, Colby Covington. 

Rhys wasn't too thrilled to preview UFC: Gdansk, but he sure is happy to recap UFC: Gdansk. Because UFC: Gdansk is just much damn fun to say - and Darron Till just himself on the map! With a big win over Donald Cerrone (and a bit of horsing around with Mike Perry), Till is injecting some much needed youthful exuberance to the Welterweight division. Also, DJ teaches us how to beat Brock Lesnar and stresses not to get hurt, Conor McGregor is on tap for this week's Q-Rating, and is UFC 217 at risk of under performing? GDANSK, GDANSK.

On this edition of the show, we are joined by the newest member of the family, Allan Stringer. Rhys and Allan chat about a love that could never be but then was, the sequel to both of their favorite science fiction film, Blade Runner 2049. 

Don't worry, this episode will not be rated 'XXX'. Rhys recaps UFC 216, which turned out to be a pretty fun card despite staph infections, weight cutting issues, back issues, and Chechnyan- dictator-funded fighters. Demetrious Johnson breaks the record in sublime fashion (and we ask, 'How does the UFC think it can't promote this guy?'), Tony Fergie Ferg takes the interim Lightweight belt and lines himself up for a Red Panty Night against Conor McGregor (maybe), and more!

It's a big one this weekend. Well, a semi-big one - an upper-middle class one. UFC 216 is on the docket! At the top is an interim Lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee for the right to get the biggest payday of one's life (oh, unify the Lightweight belt...) against Conor McGregor. Also, you've got history to be made as Demetrious Johnnson chases ANderson SIlva's title defence record, the big heavy's, Derrick Lewis and Fabricio Werdum, ultra-hyped Bantamweight Tom Duquesnoy, and more!

Hey, #maybeyouheard the UFC was just in Japan! Oh, you didn't hear? That's probably because the card was 'Taikutsuna'! In other news, Cyborg once again is caught up in some negative headlines about drug testing, Bellator's hype kid gets his hype train back on the hype rails, and Benson Henderson can't understand why fighting a decision-friendly style is biting him in the ass. Lastly, what the recent spate of big boxing fights means for MMA and the ole sport of fisticuffs.

Even during a week without a big-time fight card (at least, not a boxing one...), MMA just keeps on giving us the goods. From Michael Bisping dropping retirement hints to Ronda Rousey's coach Edmond Targareyen giving her a '50-50' return and a tabbing Cris Cyborg as the return fight, there was a lot to talk about. Also, fights! Luke Rockhold made his return, dispatching David Branch, while the UFC travels to the land of PRIDE this weekend.

This here is the 2nd official episode of 2017 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Don't fret though. Another 4 will still follow here in the rest of 2017. This particular edition is the second of a 2-episode theme with songs of the celestial- ie dealing with or alluding to outer space and all the various orbital/flying objects found in it. How fitting considering the recent solar eclipse to cross the planet.

When the UFC goes to Alberta, Canada, things just get crazy. After losing it's big heavyweight affair, the card lost it's headlining title fight of Demetrious Johnson v. Ray Borg the night before the weigh-ins. Thankfully, Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko had a plan to save the night - by having a tepid kickboxing affair! The refs had a plan to save the night - by letting Gilbert Melendez get his leg wrecked and Gavin Tucker take the beating of all time! You could have let Dana White know how you felt, but he wasn't there.

It's been over a week and all we still want to talk about is Conor McGregor. People, Demetrious Johnson is going to make history on Saturday! It might be roughly $95,600,000 less historical, but history nonetheless! Thanks to Jon Jones (a new update on his PED situation on this episode), DJ stands alone as the best in the business. Hoping to move into that category on the women's side, Amanda Nunes faces down Valentina Schevchenko to defend her Bantamweight Strap. Both DJ and Nunes faced the wrath of one Mr. Dana White and now try to make hay headlining a card together. Conspiracy? All that and more on The Hurt Take!

Maybe you heard, the spectacle of all spectacles, Floyd Mayweather v. Conor McGregor happened. Somewhere in between the hype that McGregor would put Mayweather away within four and the reality that Mayweather TKO’d the Irishman in the 10th, the feeling is that everyone in the equation won. Somehow, during a week where no other story could find breathing room, Jon Jones managed to take a helluva big inhale - Rhys shoots up the details of the Jon Jones PED saga (19:00) and what this means not only for Jones, but Daniel Cormier, as well. 

The fight some thought would never happened has arrived. The boxing great, 'Pretty Boy' Floyd 'Money' Mayweather takes on 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor in a matchup of the two most-hypable fighters in combat sports. This week on The Hurt Take, Rhys is joined by the ubiquitos Mitch Bayliss to talk how we got here, what the hype has dished out, and what we may see come Saturday. Hold onto your butts!