It's fight week, and before Pete Hoffman and Ike Feldman of "Outside the Cage" host a post-UFC 223 show on CBS Sports Radio live from the Barclays Center (1-3 a.m. Sunday Eastern time/10 p.m. to midnight Saturday Pacific), check out the latest episode of their podcast with guests Khabib Nurmagomedov and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Undefeated (25-0) and ready to climb the pound-for-pound rankings, Nurmagomedov was zeroed in on Tony Ferguson for 2018's most anticipated stylistic matchup. Unfortunately, Ferguson's freak accident (trip over wire) opened a door for featherweight champ Max Holloway to step in on short notice, potentially making history by holding two titles simultaneously. (Conor McGregor is the only other to complete the feat.) Nurmagomedov talked about the Ferguson fallout, Holloway as a new challenge and what legend he wants next.
The last time Jedrzejczyk, a former strawweight champ, visited New York City (UFC 217), she painfully received her first career loss and saw the belt get wrapped around Rose Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk talked with the guys about how she's learned to deal with critics, what she's changed in her game plan and the stardom she's reached in her home country of Poland.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In another episode of "Outside the Cage" this week, Ike talks to Paul Felder (in studio) and UFC color commentator Jimmy Smith.
Before Felder kicks off the main card against Long Island native Al Iaquinta, in one of the night's most intriguing fights, he stopped by the studio for a laid-back and informal interview. The "Irish Dragon" talked about his recent dive into color commentary, training with friend and New York native Jared Gordon and how much he appreciates the New York atmosphere.
Wrapping up this episode the always gracious and super knowledgable Smith, who'll be on color commentary duty for UFC 223, talked about the biggest potentialities and what-ifs that could unfold following this much-anticipated card. Smith also talked about how high Namajunas' stock can rise if she gets the job done again against Jedrzejczyk.