The Trenches, Episode 9: Sherdog Live Chat (Every Thursday at 8PM ET/5 PM PT)

[JayPettryMMA]

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Sherdog Main Page writers Ant Walker and Jason Burgos want to talk things over and answer your questions on a Live Video Chat series titled "The Trenches," airing tonight at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. They also want your thoughts on a poll posted in this thread, with today's poll question asking the following:

Who should be Conor McGregor's next opponent?

Chime in on the conversation by voting in our poll or posting any questions you have for them.

Ant holds over 15 years of martial arts experience, training in multiple styles including Boxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Kung Fu and Krav Maga, and also coached amateur MMA fighters. A former Sherdog Radio Network personality and current contributor to Sherdog.com, this self-described "gym rat" seeks to impart his knowledge and discuss all things MMA with his fellow community members.

A journalist by trade, Jason has also co-hosted and produced multiple podcasts (including the "Fight Strength Podcast" with American Top Team trainer Phil Daru) over the years. He has contributed for several publications, and was a Senior Editor for MMASucka.com before landing at Sherdog. Along with his plethora of articles based on his exclusive interviews, Jason frequently covers live events for the site, chronicling the happenings with his growing photographic talents.

Select questions from this thread will be answered in the article, and additional questions from this thread may be used in an upcoming episode of live video chat series 'The Trenches,' hosted on the forum every Thursday. Below are links to previous episodes of that series as well as his previous 'Ask Ant' articles.

The Trenches, Episode 8
The Trenches, Episode 7
The Trenches, Episode 6
The Trenches, Episode 5
The Trenches, Episode 4
The Trenches, Episode 3
The Trenches, Episode 2
The Trenches, Episode 1: UFC 229 Presser

Ask Ant 11/9
Ask Ant 11/2: UFC 230 Edition
Ask Ant 10/26: MMA Trade Edition
Ask Ant 10/19
Ask Ant 10/12
Ask Ant 10/5
Ask Ant 9/27
Ask Ant 9/21
Ask Ant 9/14


Thank you, and please be respectful. We appreciate it.

 

[europe1]

Sir Ant and Lord Jason, please describe your reactions to Yair's reverse elbow KO. Screaming, jumping and breakdancing are all encouraged.

 

[Canada]

Have we seen the pinnacle of the UFC‘s dominance now that PPV numbers stagnate and other orgs seem to be catching up by creating their own stars and collecting top talent? I‘m thinking of Aaron Pico and Gegard Mousasi in Bellator, for example.

 

[Canada]

Related to my earlier question: is the PPV model outdated and, if so, what other financial model should the UFC embrace?

 

[PurpleStorm]

What's your favorite fight coming up before the end of this year?

 

[mb23100]

Why do Ju Jitsu guys put their hands behind their heads while on their back with their opponents standing over them?

 

[europe1]

Hello wise men of the podcast.

What's this deal about the UFC making and cancelling fights without even telling the fighters? The latest example is Islam Makhachev vs Francisco Trinaldo where Islam claims to not even have agreed to the match-up! But there are many stories like that.

Is this a fiendish buisness-strategy on the UFC's part or just harebrained incompetence?

I don't remember hearing about stuff like this when Joe Silva was around.

 

[WallyBear]

Sir Ant and Lord Jason, please describe your reactions to Yair's reverse elbow KO. Screaming, jumping and breakdancing are all encouraged.

In addition, was this one of the best KO's you have ever seen? What other weird/funky and rare finishes have you seen in combat sports (like on the regional/amateur level, outside of "mainstream" promotions)? What blew your mind?

 

[DS66]

What do you think of TJ coming down to 125 to fight Cejudo for the Flyweight belt, despite the UFC's plans to eliminate the division?

 

[the white beast]

Is Jon Jones getting tested like crazy by usada this time around?

 

[Jackonfire]

So it looks like Tyron Woodley vs. Colby Covington is being targeted for UFC 233 in Anaheim.

1. Who wins?
2. What do you think the promotion of this fight is going to be like?

 

[BIKES!]

Is Chuck really as slow as he looks in the training videos or is he playing Tito?

 

[Glove]

The UFC desperately needs far more effort in promoting their events. What ideas do you believe could be helpful in reversing this problem.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Here we go, time for another episode of The Trenches!

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

Have you noticed some of the waves rippling in the featherweight division worldwide in the wake of Demetrious Johnson's release? Aside from UFC flyweights either jumping ship or moving to bantamweight as if they were fleeing a burning building, the Cage Warriors FC 125-pound champ, Nathan Greyson, completely backed out of his fight this weekend, without citing any injury or extenuating circumstance. Legacy Fighting Alliance's new flyweight champ, Casey Kenney, didn't name-check the UFC in his post-fight soundbytes (which is unheard-of for LFA champs; they know the promotion is a springboard to the big show).

Where do you see this division of fighters -- the current flyweights, the John Lineker types who bounce back and forth between 125 and 135 -- a year from now?

 

[europe1]

Damn I'm famous!

 

[Jackonfire]

Cut the Check​

 

[europe1]

Jon Jones vs Gus is the only thing that can rival Hollaway/Ortega, but I still pick the FW title-fight

 

[europe1]

Ant Walker, an Ant of culture

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Preach about the "Unified" rules