From the dojo to the octagon—this is Budocast. In this episode, we break down the finalized bout order for Conor McGregor’s massive return at UFC 329 against Max Holloway. We also dive into the wild scenes at UFC Baku, where Rafael Fiziev scored a legendary knockout while virtually blind in one eye. Plus, we discuss the controversial salary disclosures from PFL San Diego, Dan Hooker’s theory on why Khabib Nurmagomedov really retired, and Jaron "Boots" Ennis's dominant performance in the boxing ring.
Show Intro Official Budocast opening: Your source for the latest in martial arts news, culture, and competition.
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Official The UFC has confirmed the full fight card for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena. We discuss the main event—Conor McGregor's first fight in nearly five years—and the stacked main card featuring Paddy Pimblett, Cory Sandhagen, and the highly anticipated debut of Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson.
UFC Baku Debrief: Fiziev’s Visionary Finish Rafael Fiziev details how a jab to his left eye left him seeing double, forcing him to land his Round 2 spinning wheel kick on Manuel Torres essentially "blind". We also highlight Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev’s stunning 8-second knockout, which earned him a $100,000 bonus.
The Mid-Roll Break (Sponsors) A message from our sponsors: Elite Sports (EliteSports.com) for premium fight wear and Lotus by Open Black Belt (OpenBlackBelt.com) for dojo management software.
The Khabib Retirement Debate Dan Hooker stirs the pot, claiming Khabib Nurmagomedov retired because he "mastered the game" and knew when to stop rolling the dice, rather than solely due to a promise to his mother. We also look at Conor McGregor’s recent jab at Khabib regarding the "lack of courage" in refusing rematches.
PFL San Diego: Salaries and Retirements A deep dive into the 90,000paygapbetween∗∗A.J.McKee∗∗(100k) and his opponent Salamat Isbulaev ($10k). We also pay tribute to Ariane Lipski da Silva, "The Queen of Violence," who announced her retirement following her loss to Jena Bishop.
Training Roundup: Strickland and Jubli Sean Strickland shares his unfiltered thoughts after training with India’s Anshul Jubli at the UFC PI, praising the lightweight for "bringing it".
Tha Boxing Voice: Jaron "Boots" Ennis Reigns Supreme Breaking down Boots Ennis’s dominant 7th-round stoppage of Xander Zayas in Brooklyn to become the new unified WBA/WBO junior middleweight king.[27:30] – Outro Closing remarks: Train hard, stay humble.