Leon Edwards bests Kamaru Usman, Utah Topography Powerless to Intervene (Jack Slack Podcast 122)

[@executiverobbery]

"If I told you 20 years ago, that the difference between you winning a five round decision and you going home on a stretcher would be leg kicks, you would have told me I'm crazy. You would have told me here in America we practice mixed martial wrestling, you would have told me go back to the Dutch and their funny looking weed." - Chael Sonnen.

[@jangobango2847]

😂

[@TheFightConnoisseur]

It’s funny but it’s so true

[@Starkweather133]

I think people knew that leg kicks were useful in 2003

[@mentlegen1016]

Just throw a superman punch.

[@Eidest9]

Another W for Justin Gaethje, once again proving that calf kicks, left hooks, and absolutely nothing else is the best base for MMA

[@AveSicarius]

"SWEEP THE LEG JUSTIN!" - Purportedly heard from Justin's corner in every single fight.

[@ImageNationProject]

HEY... he got a takedown finally! 😂

[@zampano8217]

To the point where figuring out the jab feels like a cheat code

[@clearlyalunhead1109]

And the right uppercut

[@AveSicarius]

@@zampano8217 That's basically the GSP hax pack right there that took him on the road to champion. Jab aimbot combined with the ultimate exploit, the takedown spam!

[@kars7181]

They should make a stacked heavyweight card in July & send them to Salt Lake City and it’s 500 times normal gravity

[@AveSicarius]

DBZ-style hyperbolic anabolic gravity training pods? Gane becomes Frieza? Boney Jonesy becomes Goku? Sound's good to me. We definitely need to remove USADA restrictions on Sensu Bean's though to ensure a fair playing field.

[@poodymeiner3125]

Denver, SLC, or even Mexico City would be absolute fantastic spots for an all heavyweight/LHW card. Sloppy and gassed violence

[@kars7181]

@@AveSicarius if only they removed USADA so Usman can achieve his final form

[@AveSicarius]

@@poodymeiner3125 Two men walk into the center of the ring, they both gas out immediately and fall to the floor wheezing, the interim heavyweight title goes to McGregor after he gains 100 kg of pure muscle mass completely naturally and then beats Volkanovski in the most epic superfight of all time.

[@AveSicarius]

@@kars7181 Usman gets that special US government grade secret sauce and goes on to fight the British under the moniker Kaptain Kamaru! Next time I say we place American Independence on the line, if Leon wins again we get American our colonies back! In all seriousness drug testing is pure BS in a sport so dominated by financial motivation. Any fighter out of the country or on injury leave can easily juice, even under the eyes of USADA it's really not impossible to cycle around it or use modern PEDs, especially when professional medical advice exists precisely to do so. Most prominent catches were retroactive, like Dillashaw and his infinite cardio, and it's not really preventing people from using PEDs, it's just making it a case that people who actually follow the rules, or who aren't in a position to enhance themselves similarly a major disadvantage. Not to mention that those disadvantaged few (because I think it's quite likely most fighters are on something) are usually going to lose the immediate match anyway and they don't gain a retroactive win if their opponent gets caught. That's a serious hit to their career and their livelihood, and with the way the UFC treats their fighters, it could be a career ending defeat. It's all marketing anyway, Dana doesn't care if fighters use PEDs, or else Jones wouldn't still be fighting at all... Give use back the Pride madness of lab-grown monster's shaking the ground with their contest haha.

[@fiachracasey7625]

It's the Leon Edwards of kicking head-wards

[@Свободадляроссии]

Creative

[@dnkmarci]

insane

[@alfiehaigh8412]

Nice

[@jc-kj8yc]

Not bad, not bad

[@popularopiniondispenser6076]

Someone made that joke after the last fight.

[@jeanbabtisteclamence3018]

Kamaru looked like his dad refused to refill his prescription.

[@mr0x1]

but whats left there for him to prove tbh

[@brickschithouse6204]

The Mohammed Mokaev of "I didn't tap, but should I have?" Bless

[@olivermalcolm7076]

😂

[@hankhill5409]

"Utah Topography Powerless to Intervene" lmfaooo

[@ifgwelf]

Gaethje always has to throw shade at someone, it's just who he is

[@discogypsyfish9577]

I mean Bisping was clearly biased on commentary tbf

[@flguitarist8298]

It's wild how every high profile fight that goes to decision now is called a robbery. Both Justin and Leon made it clear in my opinion that they were taking the fight by the end. Stay sassy Jacky you're the best of the mma youtube deities

[@ryanoconnor8160]

Following since Fightland days - this is my fave Jack Slack episode title ever!!!!! Thank you for all your work!

[@broski8965]

Yeah it was definitely the high altitude that fucked edwards over in the second fight. I honestly think he won the third one convincingly as usman wasn’t doing nothing significant with his wrestling

[@Incredisav]

The Carl Weathers stew reference 👌

[@joshkimberley6053]

Man I am so glad you pointed out Cormier's commentary... I feel like he gets away with this kind of nonsense ALL the time. This fight was not very close, and Cormier is terrible at admitting when walking at someone and trying to grab them or corner them just doesn't work.

[@joshkimberley6053]

@@T_rn_clsT I just don't really see where Usman could've won rounds other than 3 for obvious reasons. 2 was 'closer' I suppose, but the way the rules are written, trying to pressure and grapple relatively unsuccessfully like Usman did throughout just means you can't score. I think if one were to rewatch with no commentary they would be much more likely to see it this way: again, all three commentators were yelling about how close it was throughout, DC wasn't far off claiming Usman won the fight before Rd 5 became definitively for Leon. That being said, perhaps I should do the same.

[@joshkimberley6053]

In fact, I wonder just how many fights would have a massively different public perception if it were normalised to have no commentary. This is why I feel commentators should be criticised much more heavily, their (often completely whack) opinions influence public perception significantly, and in turn that influences the direction of the sport, often to the detriment of actual interesting and competitive matchups.

[@zentzisz]

Bisping drives me nuts he has to say everything in 3s even if it's just the same thing three times. Leon unloading the clip in Usmans face was one of my favorite moments ever so cold

[@bmbm1]

Edwards used his best Yu-Gi-Oh field spell card to get the W

[@AveSicarius]

"Hah Kamaru! You thought you'd beaten me, but little did you know that I changed the field of play! Behold my final card, Elevation, for I trust in the Heart of the Cage!" - Yami Leon

[@drummingtildeath]

I don't like cheating. That said, I felt like Leon went in with the mindset that he should beat Usman at his own dirty game. Usman has faked low blows and eye pokes many times. Let him complain for real a few times.

[@og8263]

I agree, but I'm also glad Herb took a point, he's usually way too scared to do so in important fights, and it's deserved

[@Neil-qg9cw]

I mean Usman grabbed the cage in every round in the second fight, grabbed the gloves, and faked a low blow, yet Herb never took a single point (should have taken at least 3.) Call him Karmaru Usman.

[@DAVAND23]

Usman did that this fight too.

[@thomascoates309]

Jack slack on top

[@tedbear631]

Where were all these point deductions and super hero ref's when Jon Jones was eye poking his way to the 2nd worst title in UFC???

[@onelongwordable]

They got their eyes poked out

[@markcorrigan3930]

Leon Edwards is the best wrestler in the UK 🤼

[@dnkmarci]

very true

[@AveSicarius]

Maybe we can finally see a spread of some wrestling gyms for the rest of us haha. Leon is clearly hoarding all that forbidden grappling knowledge in his gym and not letting anyone else have a piece!

[@Joelo313]

Great stuff as always man

[@grantmck9659]

Been waiting for this

[@franlovelsimic8421]

I'm just happy people openly dislike DC, he is so annoying and there were many examples proving how much of a company man he is. Telling Bisping to stop talking when he was mentioning the poor judging was hilarious and that's mostly due to Bisping reading him perfectly. That being said, he should've interviewed the fighters and Cruz should've been the analyst given he was sitting right behind them! Edit: Karate Combat also have a pit and I became an instant fan when I saw how it looks and how GSP and Bas are commenting. Check it out, I know I needed to after all these iffy cards.

[@AveSicarius]

I absolutely think a pit would likely be a far fairer area for MMA. Takes away both the advantages and disadvantages of the cage (e.g. bracing against the cage like Islam to prevent his opponent being able to make enough space to escape, or more commonly the wall walking many fighters are using to get back up) and provides more room to maneuver. Though the Cage is currently more a marketing point for the UFC (and MMA in general really), so I don't think we will see it change. Also lot's of money in the companies who provide the equipment for it, and so there's external financial pressure there as well. I would also think all those dainty white-collar American Boxing fans would start moaning even more about how "barbaric and uncivilized" MMA is when not only are they, shock horror, allowed to grapple and kick, they are now fighting in what is, of course, basically just a hole in the ground. Also why can't we have Bas continuing to provide commentary on UFC fights. Dude is one of the most legitimate claimants to the all time MMA commentator's GOAT. If we implemented style Lethwei striking rules in the UFC it would be even better.

[@Kagemusha08]

​@@AveSicarius lol someone already tried this: Yamma Pit Fighting. It was atrocious. Turns out it's impossible to defend a a takedown when you're standing on an elevated incline and the other guy is lower than you. And once you're on the ground it's hard to get back to your feet since the incline makes it hard to manuver and post with your hands. So it just encouraged lay-and-pray/pitterpatter GNP. And no, I don't think the Karate Combat pit design would change that. As for Bas he was doing commentary for the UFC's competitors for a long time. By the time he became available they had already set the "Have the PBP guy drone on about inane stats/sponsorships while the Color guys yell like drunk rednecks at a toughman show" formula in stone. Easier for Baldfather and co to just shuffle in-house guys into those positions than to get a vet like Bas in who wants to do commentary their own way. Sucks.

[@franlovelsimic8421]

@@jessepaiz6356 very true! I still believe DC is too slow for these situations and misses the mark or often times just reverts to the same 7 phrases which is what annoys me the most. And while I like Anik, he is more of a character than a person yes. On surface very good at his job but quite sterile, just like the UFC.

[@federicoarmando8359]

Best title ever

[@SuperOmalleyMan]

I'm pretty sure the PPVs here the UK are only charged when it's on a decent viewing time for the UK market, so like cards are in Abu Dhabi and UK. With the exception being any McGregor fight, now always a ppv too (never use to be)

[@Fash0da]

BT spent a lot of money on the licensing so it makes sense.

[@drummingtildeath]

It sure does seem random otherwise. I didn't expect this one to be a PPV after Jones wasn't

[@SuperOmalleyMan]

@@drummingtildeath yeah thats it, Jones is probably ppv worthy in UK, but it started at 3am here. No ones waking up at 3am and then paying for it

[@leatheryfoot6354]

The theme of this fight card was leg kicks/leg locks. There were a lotta legs last night.

[@BrentCox2B]

Ode Osbourn is the name you were looking for regarding Nate Landware

[@collinrobinson3085]

New mythical fighter “Low intensity sustained state Makwan Amirkani” is top tier stuff.

[@mrinnocentbystander]

Not a soulcalibur reference 😭😂

[@tedbear631]

You said americans don't care about Leon Edwards and his style and I'm from the US and granted I've been watching UFC since before Edwards or Usman were even fighting professionally but I l've always liked Leon and even going into the head kick KO fight for Leon all my friends were slightly hyped for Usman since he'd been dominating and I said Leon Edwards was a tricky customer and that hes not to be underestimated and then he pulls of that insane head kick and now I'm an even bigger fan of Leon's after that and him basically proving me right.

[@jamesfraser2342]

Wow this video has been out for only a few minutes, and its title is in the GOAT discussion - I hate MMA.

[@bigmerlin3795]

Next we need Slack's takes on SoulCalibur

[@robibhatt]

any chance of getting this on spotify? I want to listen while i run. Big fan of your work!

[@hughgrection7246]

I 2nd this .

[@obione51499]

Not sure if it wasn’t up at the time, but it’s up now.

[@thekevinfoster]

I think it’s usually just delayed from the KZbin upload

[@degensanonymous]

YT premium, folks

[@Redsauce101]

Leon should call out Diaz for a money fight. Dana gets Diaz on a 3 fight contract for Leon, Conor and someone else which will all get high gate numbers. Win win imo.

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen4737]

Yes but Diaz would have to agree to all of that and Nate is literally the hardest guy to get to agree to shit probably in all of ufc history

[@Redsauce101]

@@smittywerbenjagermanjensen4737 Belt and Conor he's all over that contract.

[@joeschmoe6908]

It's a win to have a totally undeserving fighter in a title fight? Not that colby is the most deserving either, but he's far ahead of Diaz.

[@kyle5244]

You watched Leon vs Diaz 1 and you want that AGAIN ?

[@GKJusticar55]

Honestly, I thought Usman did very little compared to his usual. I guess he was bamboozled by how masterfully Edwards was retreating. No idea how Gaethje won his fight. No idea at all.

[@kieronknight2560]

I think if you rewatch the Gaethje fight you’ll see a lot of strikes didn’t land for Fiziev, looked more damaging then it did damage, Justin’s face after the fight proves that

[@Dottor_J]

R1 and r3 are clear rounds 2 is close, fiziev more active, lots of bodywork but gaethje busted his face with those heavy hooks

[@frek175]

Compare their faces for one. Then there is the fact almost nothing landed clean on gaethje he dodged nearly everything. Dude was on fire he literally punched the blood out of fizievs mouth with one shot the dude hits so hard.

[@lsvbetmachineRU]

Has always been saying - Fiziev's boxing massively lack quality, he himself admitted to it in one of his recent interviews. Hasn't seen Gaethje's face that clean in a loooong time, his brain got a good vacation of a fight

[@drake1896]

Gaethje just rarely swells up, his face looked fine even during the chandler fight, and fiziev has a lot of kos with his hands, so I don't think his boxing is that bad. In my opinion gaethje is just better and has a lot more power in his hands.

[@Neil-qg9cw]

Hmm, Gaethje's brain definitely took some damage at the start of round 3. Superficial damage doesn't tell you everything.

[@somguy5035]

Was heartbroken Fiziev lost, but it was a great fight Seemed like Raf gassed pretty hard in r3

[@clifton4566]

29:37 Cinderella Man was one of my favorite movies growing up. It's still good, but when I found out how inaccurate their portrayal of Max Baer was it kind of soured my opinion of it. They make him a villain who relished the fact that he killed 2 opponents, but in reality he was more of a class clown type of guy who was deeply haunted by those 2 fights. He paid for the funerals and medical bills, and later even temporarily retired until a friend of his, who just so happened to be Jack Dempsey, talked him into boxing again. Braddock's story is still one of the best underdog stories ever, period. They didn't need to ruin Max's character to tell it.

[@BlimeyOreiley]

I legit thought about you when Mokaev started swanging.

[@sophiecee2436]

"Tommy Loughran, you won't of heard of him". babe i'm 100s of Jack Slack podcasts deep. i know Tommy Loughran as well as i know my own mother at this point

[@Lorendrawn]

I would have sworn Mojahed would have used the frame Slack used in this video but I was wrong. Just like I was wrong in thinking Gaethje would get ktfo. Dude started jabbing and started winning, who woulda known who didn't watch the bobby green fight

[@ifgodwasapig]

"ah shit here we go again" USman 2023

[@Andi-sk6ik]

What do you think happened to Fiziev in the 3rd round when he was getting hit so clean with the jab? Possibly couldnt see because of the blood or is he that bad at such a basic boxing move?

[@kyle5244]

There was one explosive entry from Fiziev in the 3rd, he looked shot straight after, could've gassed. I reckon he also got lulled into a war into the 3rd, not sure but it could be a number of those things plus the blood

[@Neil-qg9cw]

He only has 2 round cardio. Go watch the Bobby Green fight.

[@kyle5244]

@@Neil-qg9cw Literally went 5 rounds with RDA, all depends on the pace of the fight

[@ramirospinelli6453]

His eye was busted up, and his cardio dies after 2 rounds

[@REVOisMYname]

I don’t know why any fighter would accept a fight at altitude. Outside of being a cardio beast. Fighters getting gassed more easily is never good

[@Beans113]

Strange to hear another person who recognized KJ noons being good, he’s a fighter that I felt never got to see his max potential.

[@Johnny1864]

Greatest title 😂

[@silverback6497]

There's a path to victory for Colby through cardio and pressure, but if Leon keeps a similar approach to Usman the third fight I think he wins.

[@gnomeam]

To sell the Edwards fight, Covington is going to dress up as a founding father and do and War of Independence LARP, insult the monarchy, etc.

[@Al.S.]

Anybody thought that Fiziev is too small for the top lightweights

[@ifgwelf]

That title is so Jack Slack. Utah GIT OUT

[@James-kt4ju]

UFC 280 was on PPV in the UK because it was at primetime in the UK and overall a better card than 284

[@ud4vv]

weird it was free for me

[@keefthebeef5152]

Broadcast for free here in Holland. Full card, including Prelims😀

[@forwardgrappling]

hoping this explains to me how Gaethje won the fight

[@GKJusticar55]

I have no fucking idea how he won. At the very least a draw.

[@executiverobbery]

I had Fiziev 2-1, how did you guys score it?

[@franlovelsimic8421]

​@@executiverobbery same

[@GKJusticar55]

@@executiverobbery i had the same, 2-1 Fiziev.

[@Eidest9]

Go watch R2 at 1/4 speed with the sound off. Fiziev is VERY fast and I scored it for him live, but watching it slow I noticed that he landed basically nothing on Gaethje the whole time because he kept missing and getting blocked. Justin landed a lot of really good shots in the exchanges that were easy to miss and clearly got the W. Fiziev reaching DBZ levels and literally too fast for mortals to comprehend.

[@pierofasulli1076]

Hey Jack. I was looking for your old fightland article about punching hard using toes. Where can I find it?

[@KDotDizzy]

we need me videos titled like the onion articles

[@MrBellsa61]

Leon Edwards is Dana White's worst nightmare as a champion, and for that I cheer for him.

[@Malygosblues]

Aljo?

[@judefuselier]

Colby "chaos" "anti-colonizer" "the patriot" Covington

[@Realmrfrog]

As a Scottish person - I loved Jo wood and Chris Duncan and Casey too - but thank you for shouting out JO WOOD if even as a joke in your intro!! Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba!!!

[@bigmajstudios409]

Oy OY.

[@KushyCouch]

Where’s a good place to watch the fights free? I stopped buying most since it’s now $90 usd after tax.

[@hughgrection7246]

Your neighbourhood pub. Support local business !

[@KushyCouch]

@@hughgrection7246 can’t drink yet sadly. Got a about 2 years left lol

[@onelongwordable]

​​@@KushyCouch Buffalo Wild Wings then? It's quite a....particular energy there but I've definitely had fun, especially bringing pals

[@QbertEnhanced]

Cheating without being caught or at the least warned for it has unfortunately become a tactic. No different than other sports.

[@butterf1sh]

Total strikes doesn’t tell you the story round by round. Rewatched this yesterday and I don’t understand how anyone can give R3 a draw, to me Usman was the aggressor and landed the more significant strikes (there wasn’t much in this round). I also don’t get how anyone can give edwards R4 for the same reason. My scoring Edwards vs Usman R1 10 - 9 R2 10 - 9 R3 8 - 10 R4 9 - 10 R5 10 - 9 Draw….

[@obione51499]

What stopped Kamaru from catching his low kicks? Too quick?

[@jeanbabtisteclamence3018]

If he misreads the kick and reaches to catch it and it’s a head kick he goes night night again.

[@oldbreed2572]

😎

[@lowlowseesee]

Hyperbole from a princess bride soundin type cat doesn’t sound lite to Americans

[@forever1909]

Edwards won it

[@Rajarshi_X]

most UFC commentary is just generic bs, ohh he stung him, he has to throw etc

[@shanetaylor761]

This is coming from someone who was rooting for Leon but I don't understand why herb didn't take a point and give usman the position. He earned that position and Leon cheated. I think usman deserves a reset because he shouldn't be penalized. I think Leon deserves a point to stop him from fouling any more. I don't see how the two have to do with each other or else you end up with fighter's gladly choosing to cheat over potentially losing. Personally I think Edward's most likely would have survived and if they had penalized him correctly his victory would have only looked better.

[@shanetaylor761]

@@jessepaiz6356 i wonder why they'd make the rule like that. It's like they want just enough cheating to continue to keep the sport controversial. It may sound harsh to lose the position and get pointed but I guarantee in a year or twos time you'd see way less moments than with Leon.

[@og8263]

That's literally in the rules. No debate or questions

[@Jeremy-th5pt]

Kamaru has no shoulders

[@alexvollkommer1598]

Wait wait wait beating neil Magney get you a tittle fight now!!!? Come the fuck on I get people don’t like Colby but this fight MAKES SENSE no one else at 170 fits for a title fight and I would argue because of the Leon Kamaru thing taking a good damn year Colby didn’t need to fight anyone!! If belaul vs winner of burns masvidal, faces winner of Colby Leon easy peasy

[@AveSicarius]

Yeah Colby really is the match, people love to hate on him, but before the new and improved Leon, Colby's the only guy who ever went the distance with Kamaru. I think many forget that Covington basically cleaned out the division himself at one point to get there, and he's absolutely in the best position for the title fight. Unfortunately it's all about marketing, I think they are really trying hard to set-up a Leon fight with anyone but Colby. I get the rematch with Kamaru, I don't understand not making that fight now. It honestly feels like they are trying to get someone like Chimaev who's way more marketable into that position for a big money fight. Burn's has a little more market value now I guess, and maybe they just want to prop Leon up as the new and improved champion to milk it for all its worth by feeding him lower ranked fighters. Honestly I would prefer that fight, but Belal has just the absolute worst MMA style imaginable and I really don't want to see him become top of the division until he changes it up. Burn's Leon is at least a decent fight. Belal Leon would probably either be five rounds of pin wrestling or he gets knocked out early .

[@TheRulersBack18]

@@AveSicarius colby cleaned out the division by not fighting burns, neal, khamzat, belal, luque...colby basically fought usman's leftovers and somehow avoided every other welterweight who was actually on the way up

[@AveSicarius]

@@TheRulersBack18 Colby fought his way up through the division dude, and at rank 2, honestly it's people who have to come up through him. It doesn't make sense for any upper ranked fighter to fight people below them if they can get title fights. Yeah, it sucks for us, but as a business decision it's absolutely sound. Also I don't see anyone but Khamzat actually beating him out of the lower ranks, and even then, I think Colby might be able to force a decision. But Chimaev shouldn't even be fighting at WW, he's a Middleweight through and through.

[@AveSicarius]

@@TheRulersBack18 Colby fought his way up through the division dude, and at rank 2, honestly it's people who have to come up through him. It doesn't make sense for any upper ranked fighter to fight people below them if they can get title fights. Yeah, it sucks for us, but as a business decision it's absolutely sound. Also I don't see anyone but Khamzat actually beating him out of the lower ranks, and even then, I think Colby might be able to force a decision. But Chimaev shouldn't even be fighting at WW, he's a Middleweight through and through.

[@drewfromyay882]

Colby hasn't earned a title shot. He hasn't fought in a year and is on a one fight win streak against a guy who had lost his last two fights. Belal meanwhile is on an 8 fight win streak with 2 top 5 wins.

[@coopcooks]

FIRST AGAIN OMGGG

[@hjiuz6894]

Who gives a shit

[@acmoney3446]

Jason backfield was first

[@Pandemomium4Life]

🫴🍪

[@jasonblackfield7741]

First lol

[@hjiuz6894]

Who gives a shit

[@jonathanshihadeh]

Love the soul caliber reference