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.
Siste episoder av Against the Cage: A New York Post Sports Podcast podcast
- Can Jon Jones vs Alex Pereira SAVE the UFC’s Heavyweight Division? | Against the Cage (01:02:18)
The heavyweight division has been cast once again into a state of uncertainty following the main event of UFC 321, which culminated in a brutal eye poke of Tom Aspinall by challenger Ciryl Gane — and resulted in a no-contest. As Aspinall’s health is to be determined, could Jon Jones and Alex Pereira be the fight to save the division? Jake Aryeh and Scott Fontana break it all down, and more, on this week’s episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Erin Blanchfield & Fatima Kline Dish on Fighting Side-by-Side as Friends at UFC 322 (00:31:48)
Erin Blanchfield and Fatima Kline are ready to fight on the biggest UFC card of the year together at UFC 322, right in their backyard at Madison Square Garden. The two teammates spoke exclusively with The Post's Scott Fontana about how they became friends and training partners, each of their upcoming fights, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Will Ciryl Gane Drag Tom Aspinall to Deep Waters at UFC 321? | Against the Cage (01:02:26)
Ciryl Gane faces a tall task in defeating UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall on Saturday night. Aspinall has never seen the 10th minute of a professional fight, and presents a very high competency in the grappling department, something that Gane has struggled with in his past two title challenges. But if the fight drags on, who will it benefit? Can Ciryl Gane survive Aspinall’s attacks early on, and take him into deep waters? Jake Aryeh and Scott Fontana break it all down on this week’s episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Against the Cage Trailer (00:00:56)
Veteran 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Tom Aspinall Touts Hidden 'Advantage' of Break from the Octagon Ahead of UFC 321 | Against the Cage (00:12:23)
After 15 months away from the Octagon, Tom Aspinall is finally set to fulfill his dream of competing as the UFC heavyweight champion on October 25th. Aspinall spoke about the hidden 'advantage' he found from his time away from competition, how he plans to be active as champion, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Mackenzie Dern Breaks Down her UFC Championship Fight vs Virna Jandiroba | Against the Cage (00:15:34)
UFC Strawweight Mackenzie Dern spoke exclusively with The Post's Scott Fontana about her upcoming UFC title fight with Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321. Dern spoke about her passion of jiu jitsu and how it has shaped her as a fighter, her ups and downs in her career that finally led her to challenge for gold, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Will UFC Kick Off 2026 with a BANG? Who Could Headline the First Paramount+ Card | Against The Cage (00:58:45)
With UFC 323 finally announced as the last pay-per-view of 2025, we can finally start speculating which champions will reign in the Paramount+ era. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh take a look at the UFC’s roster of title-holders to see if the promotion can start 2026 with a bang on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Pereira vs Jones at Heavyweight MUST be Next After Massive UFC 320 Title Win (01:03:16)
With an emphatic win over Magomed Ankalaev, Alex Pereira is calling for a heavyweight move — against Jon Jones at the White House. Is the timing right? Does a heavyweight move make sense? Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break it all down and more on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Does Magomed Ankalaev Simply Have Alex Pereira’s Number? UFC 320 Preview (01:04:25)
As the rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira inches closer, we ask the question: Was Pereira’s last performance just an off night, or does Ankalaev have the style to consistently beat him? Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break down UFC 320, the rematch between Usman Nurmagomedov, and more, on this episode of Against the Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Paul Hughes Previews Highly Anticipated Usman Nurmagomedov Rematch | Against The Cage (00:22:13)
Paul Hughes spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richer ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov for the PFL Lightweight title this Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Magomed Ankalaev Explains Viral Alex Pereira Confrontation Ahead of UFC 320 | Against The Cage (00:08:26)
Magomed Ankalaev spoke exclusively with The Post's Erich Richter ahead of his upcoming rematch against Alex Pereira at UFC 320 this weekend. The UFC light heavyweight champion spoke about the matchup, the pair's viral confrontation that put the MMA news cycle in a chokehold, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Ronda Rousey Training Footage: Is She Making a UFC Comeback? | Against The Cage (01:04:18)
Ronda Rousey’s training footage and her revealing she’s “falling back in love” with the sport of MMA has left fans speculating if she’s gunning for one last hoorah in the Octagon. Scott Fontana, Erich Richter, and Jake Aryeh break down all the latest with Ronda, preview this weekends card in Perth featuring Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes, and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- ‘I’m Gonna Hurt Him’: Merab Dvalishvili Doubles Down On Striking With Cory Sandhagen (00:17:21)
Merab Dvalishvili joined 'Against The Cage' and doubled down on his comments that he would try to keep the fight on the feet against his upcoming opponent, Cory Sandhagen. The Bantamweight champion of the UFC spoke exclusively with The Post's Scott Fontana about his upcoming title fight at UFC 320. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Cory Sandhagen Urges Merab Dvalishvili Not to Strike with Him: ‘Horrible Idea' | Against The Cage (00:27:18)
Cory Sandhagen spoke exclusively with The Post’s Scott Fontana ahead of his upcoming title fight against UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320. With one of the best analytical minds in the sport, Sandhagen broke down his matchup with the current 135-pound king, looked ahead at what he would like to do next should he become champion, and more on this episode of Against The Cage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 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