Luke Thomas Podcasts

Team-based mixed martial arts (MMA) represents the future of combative athletics to its supporters. It's dangerous spectacle to its detractors. In this discussion with Casey Oxendine, the leading American promoter of team-based MMA, we explore what team MMA is, where it comes from and whether it can even be called MMA at all. We delve into the evolution of mixed martial arts, why those within the MMA community are the most vocal critics of team MMA and more.

Bellator MMA held their Bellator NYC: Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva press conference at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. We'll react to that plus go over the recent spate of UFC news including Paige VanZant's next move. We'll also talk briefly about Bellator 175: Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson vs. 'King' Mo Lawal and more. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

Bellator announced they're headed to Madison Square Garden in New York City for Bellator 180. Not only that, but the show will air on pay-per-view (PPV). Is that a good idea? We'll explore. Plus, we'll talk about the latest in the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor saga, look ahead of Bellator 175: Rampage Jackson vs. King Mo Lawal 2 and more. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

Phil Daru is a strength and conditioning coach at American Top Team (ATT), an elite mixed martial arts (MMA) team. I decided to speak to Daru about his work with premier athletes for two reasons. First, he has competitive experience in MMA, bodybuilding and powerlifting, three very different sports that physically require hugely varied athletic needs. Second, in a sport like MMA where cardio is king, cardio training does nothing to prevent injury. Strength training does. As it turns out, training to prevent injury in MMA has lead to improved training overall. In this conversation, we discuss those developments, where strength and conditioning is headed and more.

At UFC 212, Anderson Silva will face Kelvin Gastelum at middleweight. We'll talk about what this means for both fighters plus take a look at the UFC Fight Night: Jimi Manuwa vs. Corey Anderson fight card in London, discuss Ryan Bader's inevitable matriculation to Bellator, touch on WSOF 35 and more. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

At UFC Fight Night (106): Vitor Belfort succumbed to the surging Kelvin Gastelum, Shogun Rua showed he's still not done yet against Gian Villante, Kevin Lee rebounded against Francisco Trinaldo and Edson Barboza scored one of the most knockouts ever against Beneil Dariush and more. This is the Monday Morning Analyst.

At UFC 209, Tyron Woodley kept his welterweight title against Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, Alistair Overeem knocked out Mark Hunt and more. We'll go over those results plus discuss Nick and Nate Diaz's recent comments about how they're treated. We'll also take a look at UFC Fight Night: Vitor Belfort vs. Kelvin Gastelum in Fortaleza, Brazil. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

At UFC 209, Tyron Woodley defended his title against Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, albeit controversially. We'll discuss that plus Darren Elkins' comeback against Mirsad Bektic, David Teymur vs. Lando Vannata, Alistair Overeem's knockout of Mark Hunt and more. We'll pay special attention to Iuri Alcantara's kneebar of Luke Sanders and Cynthia Calvillo's back take of Amanda Cooper. This is the Monday Morning Analyst with Luke Thomas.

In this edition of the series, UFC commentator and former middleweight Brian Stann helps explain why UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson's self belief, mental focus and physical gifts have powered him to the top of the division and a title fight at UFC 209 against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

UFC 209 fight week is here and the MMA community is buzzing about Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson and Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson 2. As of an hour ago, UFC President Dana White also made Georges St-Pierre vs. Michael Bisping official for the middleweight title. We'll discuss these and much more on this edition of the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

In the first part of this two-part series ahead of UFC 209, we focus on the what makes UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov special and unique ahead of his interim title showdown with Tony Ferguson. In this edition, ONE welterweight champion and U.S. Olympian Ben Askren helps explain the method behind Nurmagomedov's success, what it means that he comes from Dagestan, Russia, what he needs to do against Ferguson, how he'd fare against Conor McGregor and more. In part two, we'll do the same for Ferguson by exploring his strengths and unique approach to mixed martial arts.

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (GSP) is looking to make a return to the UFC against either Conor McGregor or Michael Bisping. We'll weigh the merits of both fights and try to figure out which once makes sense. We'll also go over the results from UFC Halifax and Bellator 172, including the futures of Derrick Lewis, Travis Browne, Paul Felder, Sara McMann, Josh Koscheck and Josh Thomson. We'll also dig into sundry news and notes in mixed martial arts. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

At UFC Halifax, Derrick Lewis finished off Travis Browne and Johny Hendricks got to work at middleweight against Hector Lombard. We'll talk about that card plus the standout performances of Paul Felder and Sara McMann. Plus we'll dig into Bellator 172, including the losses of Josh Thomson and Josh Koscheck, why no Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione and more. This is the Monday Morning Analyst.

UFC 208: Holly Holm vs. Germaine de Randamie is in the books. We'll recap the results from that fight plus the Anderson Silva vs. Derek Brunson co-main event. We'll also delve in the most recent rumors behind the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor proposed fight and look ahead to the weekend's Bellator 172: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrone contest as well as UFC Halifax. This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

At UFC 208, Germaine de Randamie defeated Holly Holm and Anderson Silva defeated Derek Brunson. Were the judges' scores justified? We examine those fights plus the rest of the fight card from Brooklyn. This is the Monday Morning Analyst with Luke Thomas.

At UFC 208, Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie fought to a unanimous decision result. We'll discuss what it means for the winner, loser as well Cris 'Cyborg' Justino's future in the new UFC women's featherweight division. Also on the card, Anderson Silva controversially defeated Derek Brunson, Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza submitted Tim Boetsch, Dustin Poirier and Jim Miller put on a lightweight war and more. We'll go over all of the results plus your questions and comments.

UFC 208: Holly Holm vs. UFC 208: Holly Holm vs. Germaine de Randamie fight week is officially on. We'll discuss Wednesday's media day, the buzz in New York City, what to make of the event and more. Plus, Yoel Romero, Anderson Silva and 'Jacare' Ronaldo Souza are all battling for a middleweight title shot against Michael Bisping. Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic 2 is on and more. We'll discuss all this and more on the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.

At UFC Fight Night 104 (UFC Houston), the Korean Zombie (Chan Sung Jung) returned from a three-year layoff with a bang, stopping Dennis Bermudez in the first round. Felice Herrig earned a tough win over Alexa Grasso and James Vick secured a solid d'arce choke finish over Abel Trujillo. We'll go through the card and those fights on this edition of the Monday Morning Analyst.

UFC President Dana White said this week Ronda Rousey is likely done in mixed martial arts (MMA), Conor McGregor made news over the weekend about a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather, UFC Houston (UFC Fight Night 104) is this weekend, which features the return of Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie). We'll discuss this and more on the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat with Luke Thomas.

At UFC on FOX 23, Valentina Shevchenko submitted Julianna Pena and moved one step closer to facing Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title. Jorge Masvidal TKO'd Donald Cerrone, Francis N'Gannou obliterated Andrei Arlovski and more. We'll go into those results plus the Bellator 171 fight card and more. This is the Monday Morning Analyst with Luke Thomas.