JNPO: The MMA year in review show, pt. 2
On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, my yearly MMA year in review series with guest co-host Paul Fontaine rolls on with a look at April, May & June.
This 90+ day stretch saw Israel Adesanya regain the UFC middleweight title from rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in front of 19,000 Floridians and a massive $12 million gate — an event that also saw Donald Trump in attendance and perhaps the final MMA bout for Jorge Masvidal.
Francis Ngannou made news as he officially found a new MMA home in the PFL. The move came with plenty of criticism from fans and Dana White alike which Paul and I discuss in full.
This stretch also saw the return of Olympic gold medalist and former UFC champion Henry Cejudo after years of threatening to come out of retirement. Paul and I talk about his return effort against bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 288.
After another win and another successful women’s bantamweight title defense at UFC 289, Amanda Nunes called it a career. Paul and I talk about the double-champion’s legacy and why it was overlooked by so many.
All that and plenty more awaits you in part two of my MMA year in review series.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.