Overview of There’s One Guy Who Could Beat Islam Makhachev | TFATK Ep. 1158
This episode of The Fighter and The Kid (TFATK) — hosted by Bryan Callen and Brendan Schaub with recurring guest Nick — is a long-form, freewheeling conversation mixing MMA analysis, fighter matchmaking wishlists, personal anecdotes (guns, hunting, aging, Hollywood), TV/movie/celebrity commentary, and humor. The core MMA thread centers on who could realistically beat Islam Makhachev, the state of the UFC/boxing in the U.S., the upcoming UFC 324 card, and who should be on the UFC “White House” card.
Key topics discussed
- MMA matchups and matchmaking:
- Debate over who could beat Islam Makhachev (Michael Morales and Kamaru Usman discussed as intriguing matchups).
- Paddy Pimblett’s rise and matchup with Justin Gaethje (Pimblett’s improvement and star potential).
- Conor McGregor potential comeback opponents (Gaethje, Masvidal, or a big-money grudge match pitched by managers).
- Importance of including big names (Jones, Pereira, Conor) on the UFC White House card — expectations vs. risk of under-delivering.
- Khamzat/Hamzat, Bo Nickal, Alex Pereira, Usman, and other contenders mentioned.
- UFC business and landscape:
- Paramount+ carrying UFC events — mixed opinions on whether accessibility will materially grow the sport in the U.S.
- UFC’s growth may be plateauing domestically; issue of talent pipeline and D1 wrestlers being paid by colleges (less incentive to go MMA).
- Fighter pay/residuals, short prime windows for fighters (hosts claim many fighters have a ~2-year “peak” at max RPM).
- Boxing and influencer boxing:
- Boxing seen as struggling in the U.S.; influencer boxing and celebrity matches are keeping attention.
- Fighter legacies and PED debates:
- Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and PED positives — Barry Bonds analogy; broader discussion of era-wide PED usage and how it factors into GOAT debates.
- Islam Makhachev vs Khabib Nurmagomedov comparison — Islam argued by hosts to be as good or better for strength of schedule and skillset.
- Pop-culture and tangential topics:
- TV/streaming: Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Sopranos — quality and actor evolutions.
- Personal tangents: guns/suppressors and safety, hunting, cold plunges/anti-aging skepticism, anecdotes from Brian’s fight career (e.g., knocking out Marcus Jones).
- Viral/odd clips: dwarf vs. women strength video and a UK health ambassador clip — used for comedic commentary.
Main takeaways
- Who could beat Islam Makhachev?
- Michael Morales is mentioned as an intriguing challenger (powerful, athletic), but consensus is it’s a tough ask — Kamaru Usman is presented as a more dangerous stylistic matchup given his wrestling pedigree and all-around game.
- Hosts argue Islam is extremely well-rounded and possibly underrated versus Khabib, with superior strength of schedule.
- UFC’s growth and structure:
- The UFC has broad global reach but U.S. growth may be at or near saturation; Paramount+ helps accessibility but won’t automatically create major new growth.
- The organization can sometimes be in “cruise control” post-big media deals, leading to more filler cards and slower development of stars.
- Fighter career realities:
- A fighter’s absolute peak window is often short (roughly two years at full “red line” performance) — timing of matchmaking can make or break careers.
- Strikers who win at the highest level (Silva, Pereira, Izzy) get extra respect because striking-only style is higher variance vs. wrestlers who can rely on takedowns.
- Starmaking:
- Paddy Pimblett is a genuine star prospect — charisma, improving skills, and personality make him marketable. The show compares him to the early Conor McGregor arc.
- Big-name cards (e.g., a White House card) must include top stars (Jones, Conor, Pereira, etc.) or face huge public disappointment.
Notable quotes & insights
- “You have two years to run at that red line.” — about the short, intense peak window most UFC fighters get.
- “If the three of us had to clear a house and do CQB, we’d end up shooting each other.” — humorous take on how little most people can do without intense training.
- “Patty’s a unicorn.” — describing Paddy Pimblett’s rare blend of personality and improving skill set.
- On striker vs. wrestler legacy: strikers are higher risk (can get finished any minute) so their sustained excellence is often more impressive.
Recommended fights/events / action items mentioned
- Watch UFC 324 (hosts discuss key matchups: Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett, Sean O’Malley vs. Song, Derrick Lewis, etc.).
- Keep an eye on Michael Morales as an emerging name and potential Islam matchup.
- Follow the buildup and final roster for the UFC “White House” card — big names (Jones, Conor, Pereira) are essential for it to meet expectations.
- For fans: consider the changing dynamics — US wrestling pipeline, fighter pay, and media deals — which will influence the next wave of stars.
Sponsors & promotions read on the episode
- Chime (banking / cashback credit card)
- Stash (investment app)
- DraftKings Sportsbook (UFC betting)
- Pluto TV (free streaming)
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Progressive Insurance (Also multiple Patreon plugs: ad-free feed, extended content, special episodes.)
Short summary — bottom line
This TFATK episode blends MMA scouting and matchmaking talk (centered on whether anyone can truly beat Islam Makhachev) with broader sports-business perspective and classic TFATK tangents. Key MMA takeaways: Islam remains elite and difficult to beat; Morales and Usman are interesting potential problems for him; the UFC’s star-creation and matchmaking timing are critical given short fighter peak windows; Paddy Pimblett is a budding star. The hosts are skeptical that Paramount+ alone will significantly grow U.S. MMA viewership and note systemic shifts (college wrestling pay, boxing’s decline) that affect talent flow into MMA.