Kattar reaches 145 elite, Masvidal’s next move, Figuereido-Benavidez II preview (7/16)

·57 min·5 clips

Brian Campbell and Rashad Evans break down Calvin Kattar's featherweight breakthrough and the high-stakes Figueiredo-Benavidez rematch.

The episode opens with Brian Campbell introducing the show and co-host Rashad Evans, immediately diving into the morning-after report from UFC Fight Island 2. They analyze Calvin Kattar's five-round unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige in the featherweight main event, noting Kattar's technical striking and takedown defense. Evans explains how this win elevates Kattar into the upper tier of title contenders at 145 pounds, especially with several top featherweights inactive. The hosts discuss the implications of Kattar moving to number six in the rankings and whether he could slide into a title shot by year's end. They transition to other fights on the card, including Tim Elliott's close decision win over Ryan Benoit and Taila Santos's dominant performance against Molly McCann. A significant portion addresses judging controversies, referencing the recent Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway fight and the challenges of scoring high-level MMA bouts. The conversation shifts to Jorge Masvidal's statement that he wants an immediate rematch with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, with Evans arguing against it and suggesting a fight with Leon Edwards instead. Campbell and Evans then play matchmaker for the welterweight division, comparing proposals from Ben Askren and Chas Skelly. They preview the upcoming UFC Fight Night card headlined by the flyweight championship rematch between Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez, with Evans predicting a Benavidez victory. The co-main event between Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum is also discussed, along with other notable fights on the card. The episode closes with brief mentions of a pay-per-view kickboxing clash between Michael Nunn and Pat Miletich, Dana White's comments about potentially moving all fights to Fight Island, and a lighthearted question about Tiger Woods.

As heard by us

Rashad Evans brings veteran clarity to a UFC reset that balances Fight Island fallout with the next flyweight title test.

The State of Combat works best as a compact UFC reset, with Brian Campbell moving from the featherweight main event at UFC Fight Island 2 into the flyweight championship rematch between Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez.

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Why you'd press play

You want the morning-after buzz from UFC Fight Island 2 with Rashad Evans in your ear for the messy, useful details.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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