Holm-Aldana recap | Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya | Chris Weidman | MORNING KOMBAT | Ep. 65

·1 hr 42 min·5 clips

Jose Zepeda was knocked down four times but still won by knockout—in a fight with eight knockdowns that might be the best this decade.

The episode opens with hosts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell discussing the transition of their show from State of Combat to Morning Kombat. They begin with MMA, breaking down Holly Holm's comprehensive victory over Irene Aldana at Fight Island, praising Holm's improved wrestling and distance control at age 39. The conversation shifts to what's next for Holm, with both hosts agreeing a rematch with Germaine de Randamie for a title shot is the logical fight, despite their first bout being a dull affair. They argue both fighters have evolved, making a second fight potentially more compelling. Next, they discuss Carlos Condit's win over Court McGee, analyzing Condit's performance and concluding he should fight other aging veterans like Matt Brown rather than face rising contenders. The hosts then pivot to boxing, passionately describing the Jose Zepeda vs. Ivan Baranchyk fight as an instant classic, highlighting the eight knockdowns and dramatic knockout. They reflect on the physical toll such wars take on fighters. Returning to MMA, they address Chris Weidman's social media callout of Israel Adesanya, with both hosts skeptical of Weidman's chances due to Adesanya's skills and Weidman's recent form. The episode concludes with a debate on a potential Jon Jones vs. Israel Adesanya fight, analyzing stylistic matchups, size differences, and whether Adesanya should move up to light heavyweight. The show ends with a Q&A segment where fans ask hypothetical questions about UFC 1, mythical fighters, and genetic crossbreeding.

As heard by us

A combat-sports discussion about respect, self-belief, and what it means to ask publicly for a dangerous fight.

State of Combat uses the Morning Combat handoff with Brian Campbell and Luke Thomas to move into a sturdier question: what media members owe fighters after damaging, high-effort fights.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get the Morning Combat handoff from the SOC feed, a respect-the-sacrifice argument, and Chris Weidman's ambitious Israel Adesanya callout.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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