Against the Cage: A New York Post Sports Podcast
SportVeteran combat sports journalists and die-hard MMA fans Scott Fontana and Erich Richter along with producer Jake Aryeh talk the biggest news in Mixed Martial Arts and exclusively interview some of the most notable athletes across UFC, boxing, and everything in between.
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- Noche UFC: Can Dana White & TKO Expand the Concept to Other Cultures? | Against The Cage (01:01:19)
UFC Noche 3 is in the books, and came with some festive Mexican-themed aesthetics and plenty of Latin American talent on display in San Antonio — not the originally planned Mexico locale. But it got Scott Fontana and Erich Richter thinking on this week’s Against the Cage: Could the “Noche” concept work when applied to other cultures? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Future Champions? MMA’s BEST Prospects to Keep on Your Radar (01:11:23)
This week it’s all about prospects. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh talk all about the top MMA talent that hasn’t (yet) broken into the top rankings. We also take a look back at UFC Paris coming off the heels of a win from Nassourdine Imavov, as well as looking forward to Noche UFC this weekend. Can a win from either Diego Lopes or Jean Silva warrant a title shot? We break it all down on this week’s episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dana White's Contender Series: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly | Against The Cage Ep 29 (01:06:53)
With no major MMA promotions putting on fights this past weekend (sorry, Dillon Danis), Dana White's Contender Series has been the only offering for nearly two weeks. Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter do a deep dive into the show: What makes it great, what leaves more to be desired, and how it affects the UFC itself on this week's episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- UFC 322 Predictions: What fights will we see come to MSG? | Against The Cage Ep. 28 (00:55:38)
With Dana White revealing big news later tonight, it's time to get our last licks in as far as predictions go for Madison Square Garden in November before it may be too late. So, who will fight in the main event? Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev? Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje? We break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dillon Danis reveals plan to get to UFC amid MMA return (00:17:08)
After 6 years away from the cage, Dillon Danis is set to make his return to MMA this weekend at Misfits Boxing. As he gears up to fight for the promotion's inaugural MMA title, Danis spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richter. Danis talked his upcoming fight, his aspirations to fight in the UFC, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Is This The Khamzat Chimaev Era? Biggest Takeaways From UFC 319 | Against The Cage Ep. 27 (01:03:40)
With Khamzat Chimaev's dominant performance against Dricus Du Plessis on Saturday night, two back-to-back spinning elbow finishes in a row, and some gripes we need to get off our chests, there's a lot to unpack coming off the heels of UFC 319. We break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Will Dricus exploit holes in Khamzat's game? And the UFC Paramount deal questions left unanswered (01:04:35)
With the UFC's massive broadcast deal news breaking this week, and the most anticipated fight of the year on Saturday night, we've got a lot to cover. What questions are left unanswered from what we know so far in the UFC's deal with Paramount+? With Khamzat's cardio and growth in his game up for question, are there clear holes for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis to exploit? Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dricus Du Plessis sees 'much more' opportunities to finish Khamzat Chimaev than Sean Strickland (00:15:36)
With Dricus Du Plessis' fight against Khamzat Chimaev just over a week away, the South African champion sat down with The Post's Scott Fontana to talk more about his upcoming title defense. Du Plessis broke down why he believes there are "much more" opportunities to finish Chimaev than his former opponent, Sean Strickland, vowing to seek an end to the fight "from the first second to the last." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- UFC to Netflix still on the table? New MMA judging rules, & more | Against The Cage Ep. 25 (00:54:44)
As the new calendar year inches closer and closer, the UFC media rights saga has yet to come to a close. Our own Erich Richter provides the latest updates stemming from a TKO conference call this week, and Scott Fontana breaks down the latest developments in MMA judging criteria that were approved by the ABC on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- The BEST matchups to make after UFC Abu Dhabi | Against The Cage Ep. 24 (00:46:00)
As Reinier De Ridder, Petr Yan, and Shara Bullet all come away with wins after UFC Abu Dhabi, we take a look at the best matchups to make. And while we’re at it, lets re-hash the 155 title picture as it looks to become more and more cluttered, and callouts and ducking claims fly left and right. We also take a look at the PFL finals and UFC fight night coming up this weekend, on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Thad Jean vows to be next PFL superstar alongside Ngannou & Dakota Ditcheva | Against The Cage (00:18:35)
Thad Jean said that he wants to be the face of the PFL by the end of the year, and with a win over Logan Storely for the $500,000 tournament prize, he would be well on his way to achieving his goal. The rising star spoke exclusively to The Post's Erich Richter about his upcoming fight and his rise to stardom as a young, hungry contender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- THE PROBLEM with Dana White’s UFC fight announcements | Against The Cage Ep. 23 (00:55:16)
After another slew of UFC fight announcements from Dana White on IG live, Erich Richter is fed up. We break down all the latest fights announced this week, sound off on the IG live nonsense, and recap Dustin Poirier's swan song sendoff over this past weekend on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- UFC 318 Preview: Where does Dustin Poirier rank as an all-time lightweight? | Against The Cage Ep 22 (01:08:25)
With Dustin Poirier's final fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway in his home state of Louisiana upon us, it's time to look back at his illustrious career. So, where does Poirier rank as an all-time lightweight? Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter break down UFC 318 and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Dustin Poirier 'proud' of career despite falling short of undisputed gold ahead of UFC 318 swan song (00:14:55)
Dustin Poirier is 'proud' of all he has accomplished going into his retirement fight at UFC 318 against Max Holloway. The UFC great spoke exclusively to The Post's Scott Fontana about his swan song event, looked back on his extensive career, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- MMA 2025 Mid-Year Awards: Best Fights, Knockouts & Fighters So Far! | Against The Cage Ep. 21 (01:00:45)
With the first half of 2025 in the rearview mirror, it's time to reflect on the past 6 months and hand out some awards. Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter take a look back on the best fights, fighters, knockouts, and more from this year so far on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Joshua Van reacts to his fight of the year at UFC 317: 'I'm next in line' | Against The Cage (00:19:46)
Joshua Van may not have realized he was taking part in a frontrunner for fight of the year, but he delivered it nonetheless. The supremely entertaining flyweight talked exclusively with The Post about his fight on Saturday night, whether or not he's next in line for a title shot, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- How Ilia Topuria, UFC 317 rekindled fans' fire with incredible event | Against The Cage Ep. 20 (00:59:55)
UFC 317 may not have held the lightweight title fight we all wanted, but it may have been exactly what fans needed. Ilia Topuria had yet another emphatic knockout over a legend (Jake is still coping), flyweight is red-hot again, and fans seem to have a rekindled fire after some failed promises this year. Jake Aryeh and Scott Fontana break it all down on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira: Does size matter in UFC 317 lightweight title fight? (01:07:30)
While Ilia Topuria is no stranger to taller opponents and the 155 division, having fought at lightweight once before, the former featherweight champion may still be outsized upon his move up in weight. So will Ilia's attributes carry over to 155? Or will Oliveira's physicality be too much? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Ilia Topuria: I can do ‘whatever I want’ to Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 | Against The Cage (00:13:36)
Ilia Topuria says he is more than willing to go to the ground with Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, claiming he can do ‘whatever he wants’ to the former lightweight champion. Topuria spoke with The Post about his upcoming matchup with Oliveira for International Fight Week, his decision to move up to 155, as well as if he still would like to face Islam Makhachev in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- This could be why the UFC hasn't announced Alex Pereira's next fight | Against The Cage Ep. 18 (01:08:16)
With Alex Pereira’s rematch with Magomed Ankalaev seemingly in limbo, and a high-stakes bout in the division taking place this weekend, we decided it was time to break down the state of the UFC light heavyweight division. So, will rule the UFC light heavyweight division next? Jake Aryeh, Scott Fontana, and Erich Richter break it all down on this week's episode of "Against The Cage." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Alexandre Pantoja reveals what Kai Kara-France said to him after last fight | Against The Cage (00:16:04)
UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja sat down with The Post to talk about his upcoming fight against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. Pantoja talked about his time knowing Kara-France, which started during their season together on The Ultimate Fighter, how he has grown since their last fight, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Mike Perry calls for Conor McGregor fight, defends Jon Jones | Against The Cage Ep. 17 (00:58:49)
"Platinum" Mike Perry joined the show as he gears up for Dirty Boxing to make its return this weekend. The former UFC fighter and BKFC champion spoke about his itch to get back to fighting, including a bout with Conor McGregor he'd like to see happen, as well as defending his friend Jon Jones amid the controversy with Tom Aspinall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- UFC 316 preview: Why hype is HIGH for challengers Sean O'Malley, Kayla Harrison | Against The Cage Ep. 16 (00:58:06)
With UFC 316 in the neck of our woods and all three of our hosts slated to attend, we did a deep dive into this weekend’s card taking place in Newark, New Jersey. Will Sean O’Malley’s life changes improve his performance in the octagon against Merab Dvalishvili? Is Julianna Peña being overlooked against Kayla Harrison? We break it all down on this episode of “Against The Cage.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Amanda Nunes reveals UFC return plans, predicts Kayla Harrison vs Julianna Peña | Against The Cage (00:23:54)
In an exclusive interview with Amanda Nunes, she revealed she would fight the winner of Julianna Peña vs Kayla Harrison, no matter who came away with the belt on Saturday night at UFC 316. The GWOAT spoke about her time away from the octagon, why she's itching to get back in it, as well as her thoughts on the upcoming Bantamweight title fight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Merab Dvalishvili: Sean O’Malley ‘won’t have any excuse’ for losing at UFC 316 | Against The Cage (00:12:37)
In an exclusive interview, Merab Dvalishvili previewed his upcoming fight with Sean O'Malley at UFC 316, saying the former champion "won't have any excuse" for losing this time around. The bantamweight champion also told Against The Cage about his ties to New Jersey, his training partner Patchy Mix's entrance into the UFC, as well as his friends Kayla Harrison and Alex Pereira. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices