All of these “hardcore” mma fans in the comments are trying to gatekeep. Who cares if these two don’t know the sport well. The more mainstream coverage mma gets the better. Sure they say casual things but it’s expected.

@Deuce2524

28 күн бұрын

I agree Flucas

@alant9517

28 күн бұрын

Nah they suck and make the sport sound bad. They have no clue what they are talking about

@dwill2187

28 күн бұрын

I don't think Stephen A Smith will bring more fans to the sport. People seeing highlight reel finishes on social media and their friends talking about it is what will.

@user-sg5uf9cu1f

28 күн бұрын

Flukas Glazy picked Gaethje

@trvy8175

28 күн бұрын

This is good that it’s talked about on this show.

I support these guys promoting the sport to their American football / baseball / basketball audiences

@CJM23

28 күн бұрын

100%. Anyone complaining is crazy, 1st take is the most watched sports show on TV and they are talking about Max and Justin. It's awesome.

@Jin125

28 күн бұрын

Thank you!! Either MMA fans want the sport to grow or not?? I want fighters to get paid more. They are way undervalued and underpaid for what they go through. Justin literally just had his face rearranged for our entertainment and we take it for granted. Pay that man more money!! Getting mainstream broadcasters like SAS brings in more football/baseball/ basketball fans to the sport and helps to force pay increases. We are literally seeing the same thing happen with women’s basketball and money pouring into the sport. Either you want MMA to grow as a fan or you just want to be in your own bubble.

@user-sg5uf9cu1f

28 күн бұрын

@@Jin125 Yea its fine

@JIZQU

28 күн бұрын

ESPN needs to get attention of MMA fans the fans are not looking to ESPN for MMA news . putting these 2 non MMA idiots on here talking like they think they know what they are talking about is not what MMA fans want . Sonnen and DC is great . a old retired football player and an old loud mouth that never played a sport is not .

@thisisgodkazzz

28 күн бұрын

American audience? UFC is an American company that is widely popular here lmao

MAX BECAME IMMORTAL 💯

@JayWest14

28 күн бұрын

And if he can go up and get that 155lbs strap, that would throw him in the GOAT conversation in my book!! This year could play out perfect for Max, especially with Conor back in the mix and Dustin fighting Islam for the belt.

People forget Max is only 31. He's already won and defended UFC gold, he's fought nothing but killers the last 7 years. He really is the people's fighter. So is Justin, Justin didn't even need to take the fight but signed because he knew it was gonna give the people a fight to remember! Props to both men

@Journeyman2585

28 күн бұрын

He's 32

@Fraustyy

28 күн бұрын

@@Journeyman2585 my bad

@Journeyman2585

28 күн бұрын

@@Fraustyy all good. I only know because he's born the same year as my brother lol.

@Under-Kaoz

20 күн бұрын

91 babies hooah​@@Journeyman2585

@Under-Kaoz

20 күн бұрын

​​@@FraustyyGreat points! Dont forget that Masvidal refused to put that BMF on the line for anyone as well. While Justin said "lets just fight!"

THAT WAS THE DEFINITION OF A BMF ‼️💯

@anasshahid224

27 күн бұрын

Yes sir 🔥

Max Holloway is going mainstream bro. LETS GO!

The real ones know Stephen needs to stop talking MMA

@412pgh2

28 күн бұрын

If you want fighters to get paid more, you want these guys talking about it. Dont be a gate keeper.

@koreyg8552

28 күн бұрын

He said nothing wrong really

@davianamos3743

28 күн бұрын

He’s one of the biggest names in sports talk you want him talking MMA… y’all want the sport to grow but get mad at process

@buckboogie7685

28 күн бұрын

Omg!!!!

@lukemurray4950

28 күн бұрын

Stephen A Smith was right about Cowboy and Conor fight and everyone bashed him for it.

I’m a hardcore mma fan and very glad they’re covering this

No count necessary ? These guys know that mma is not boxing right ?

@jmz2144

23 күн бұрын

You know what a Knockout is, right?

hopefully these guys bring more fans to the sport

say what you want about stephen but he seems to be abit more equipment to talk about mma now compared to when ufc first went with espn

@mohanad0408

28 күн бұрын

Just imagine if he is even more knowledgable. The sport truly needs someone like this.

@thewind6047

27 күн бұрын

@@mohanad0408no they don’t lol

@mohanad0408

27 күн бұрын

@@thewind6047 Honestly you don't want someone like this instead of Brett or the other boring MMA journalists?

@ShingDingo

27 күн бұрын

@@thewind6047 i definitely think the sport would benefit from having a mainstream face like SAS talk about it every now and then, even as a causal. He’s been learning and at the end of the day, more fans!

He called him to the center of the ring because 1. He’s a warrior and 2. He respects the stand and bang 3. It’s a respect thing to give Gaethje a chance at the end

Max Holloway was locked in and turned on. He refused to stop coming until he finished him and left him absolutely STIFF. Unbelievable

@weederkanaut6600

28 күн бұрын

Yo....Have you heard of the word phrasing? 😂😂😂

@koreyg8552

28 күн бұрын

Ayyoo pause, your talk got me stiff

@sandman62100

28 күн бұрын

@@weederkanaut6600 I'm just saying Max looked dialed in. You could see it in his eyes

Been watching MMA and training since the Pride days, that was probably the coldest knockout I’ve ever seen

The best is blessed !

“This brotha already hurt you” 😂😂😂😂😂

Man wow!!! That KO by Max Holloway was absolutely insane!! He invited Justin Gaethje to throw it down in the center of the octagon, and getting the KO in the last second! Insanity 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Contrary to the uneducated opinion, there was defense. it was head movement. Max had the better head movement.

@TheGuyCalledX

28 күн бұрын

It was the angles and the footwork. And the amazing timing on the body kicks and spinning back kicka

@thenostalgiabusiness

28 күн бұрын

@@TheGuyCalledXI think he meant in the last 10 seconds. Of course there was defense throughout the rest of the fight.

@killa9478

27 күн бұрын

Max kept his hands up and used his footwork. It was perfect.

@MagnusGalactusOG

27 күн бұрын

@@thenostalgiabusiness I mean in the last 10 seconds when he was standing still, he was using head movement to avoid punches.

@thenostalgiabusiness

27 күн бұрын

@@MagnusGalactusOG I know. Some others seem to think you meant there was no defense throughout the fight, which is absurd.

I am a die hard fan. And I LOVE Stephen A. and Shannon covering MMA because you get a fresh perspective. Not the overly balanced sometimes scripted MMA narrative.

Yall mad ahahahah be happy they are bringing more light to this beautiful sport

They don’t count in the UFC..

@mambalevel1017

28 күн бұрын

That’s not what they were saying… they said those face plant knockouts are so clear, they wouldn’t even count in boxing…. It’s a clear knockout, no discussion

@CJM23

28 күн бұрын

It's an expression. MMA gets on the biggest sports show in America and all yall are doing is nit picking every word these guys say.

@jasonbaldini

28 күн бұрын

That’s not what he said. He’s saying even in boxing there would not have been a count, like when Francis was knocked out. Your attack shows your lack of experience.

Watched all the fights starting with the early prelims, loved almost all the fights, can always count on aljo to bring the energy down lol but good win by him, woke up the next morning and the first thing I did was watch max’s KO again. I’m still buzzing off it fr

Max was already a legend he legit immortalized himself in the history books with that

Justin knocked Max down earlier too but Max still chose to trade with him at the end.

I understand SAS's perspective as a relative newcomer to the sport. I won't chastise him for it. A shout out to Unc Sha for providing a good explanation to follow up. Honestly, from a rhetorical perspective, it's probably beneficial that Stephen A. brought that up. I guarantee that there are people whose first time watching the sport was this past weekend. Odds are some actually agreed with that sentiment. So, its mention on the show, followed by an immediate explanation, served as a valuable learning experience for those new to the sport who may not grasp some of its more nuanced aspects. Now they can contextualize it without feeling alone in their thoughts or risking a negative reaction from a die-hard fan. The reality is that nobody should have wanted the stand-and-bang challenge more than Gaethje. Max was giving him one last chance to steal the win. That fight is one to show someone to convince them to follow the sport. I'm pleased that a show like First Take chose to discuss this specific moment. Such moments are how new fans are born.

love it, mma is the new wave

Uncle Shannon is a fan I’m glad and Stephen A talking about mma is always good to bring eyes to mma

I was actually speechless when that happened and I usually go crazy when knockouts happen

It’s the BMF title!!!!,,,, you understand!!!!!!

Max is the ultimate sportsman and game fighter. Holloway was winning by shots connected , damage inflicted , and pure finesse. Blessed gave Gaethje a final chance in the form of an explosion that could have backfired but in confidence did it to prove he would beat Justin at his own game where he was more dangerous. He set the ultimate bar of gamesmanship.

We love uncle sharp!

ufc getting coverage by SAS AND SS is amazing for the sport in my opinion. Brings more eyes to the sport

That was the most savage thing Ive ever seen watching the ufc I think that beats Robbie vs Rory

If the late great Howard Cosell was calling the fight, he’d say “DOWN GOES GAETHJE! (as in his famous “DOWN GOES FRAZIER!” from Frazier vs Foreman)…

I left me hardcore mma fandom at ufc300, I’ve been watching mma since I was a kid but after attending ufc300 it being the peak of events I’ve attended over my lifetime, it’s safe to say I’ve joined the rest of the casuals, no more investing my time getting to know the new era, because nothing will ever beat the best era (golden era) 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Great look for UFC !

Once these 2 bring ufc to the mainstream. Its gonna be craxy

I expected Max to do that at the last 10 seconds - with the meet me at the center body language, and he didnt disappoint. (He's done this before, for those ESPN guys that only just started watching MMA)

We need platforms and analysts like this talking about the sport if we want mma to get on the same level of other pro sports

Hey guys, thanks for covering my favorite sport!

So glad that was fight of the night and gaethje got a 300k bonus. Dude give the fans a war every time and I know mma fans are gonna miss him when he’s gone

MMA HAS NO COUNT

Makes me happy seeing these guys talk about my sport. Even if they are a bit green to it haha

Shannon said no 10 count required. Does he even watch MMA?

@startorfinish

28 күн бұрын

he's not very smart

@fyloopa364

28 күн бұрын

It’s literally common expression

@Jin125

28 күн бұрын

Yeah, he knows MMA doesn’t have counts. I took it as an expression of what happened.

@Joker-jz9cn

28 күн бұрын

Does that mean you arent smart enough to not know what he meant?

@sincerelysirsinatra3686

28 күн бұрын

@@startorfinishyou must not watch tv

MMA is way more genuine and organic than any ball sport

@micahjohnson138

27 күн бұрын

I'm mma fan but wemby to nice to watch so dont agree and i follow mma since jon jones started most mma fan watch since connor lol

Im watching them talk about this fight like the IRS on taxes

Agree

Shannon on mma 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Wait, are they sat next to each other or is this a split screen? Lol

Real MMA fans remember Pete Sell vs Scott Smith

As much as fans like to bash Stephen A for his takes on MMA, I wish he would talk about it more on the regular ESPN channel. I think he actually does love the sport and that fans are too critical of him. He has a massive platform, and we should be happy whenever he talks positively of our beloved sport.

the best featherweight of all time ! CHANGE MY MIND!!!

First pay per view I’ve ever paid for and definitely worth every penny

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Super fight

B.M.F SMH 😂😂😂😂 WOW WHAT AN KO

Did they really say no count necessary

Everybody hating is a different kind of casual. They don’t know fighting, they don’t know life. They just know the rhetoric of the mma community

THE GREATEST SPORT IN THE WORLD

I think we'll all be surprised the day Holloway gets rocked

I LOVE that these 2 bring the UFC to the mainstream. STFU gatekeepers

I hate to see Justin go down to but they’re two warriors and that’s what happens when they fight the best. Boxers nowadays don’t do that, that’s why so many are undefeated

Shannon said on nightcap last night Francis went over and signed with strikeforce. 😂😂😂

its not about wise decisions or doing whats smart.. ITS ABOUT THE FIGHT!

It's pretty weird hearing them talking about UFC.

I bet neither Shannon or Stephen A. don’t even know who Max and Justin fought prior to this fight. I would love to hear their “take” on TKZ.

@YouTubeUser970

28 күн бұрын

I like these guys promoting the sport to their American football / baseball / basketball audiences

@davianamos3743

28 күн бұрын

Stop gate keeping

@TheodolosQ

28 күн бұрын

to be fair you have to have a really high iq to understand cage fighting

@thetimelesstea1045

28 күн бұрын

Well tbf he does know who “Garth” is

@EatDatBitchAwp

28 күн бұрын

@@davianamos3743every little thing is gate keeping to non educated idiots like you

0:40 stut up Stephen a

Max was the volume guy, gaeyhje was the puncher. Hence the story

Love seeing mma talked about on first take! A bunch of dorks in the comments gate keeping mma, this is how the sport grows

Aunt Shay Shay talking about the BMF.

Real ones know these guys aren’t even casuals. They don’t know anything even if they say something correct

Great take by unc Shannon for the first time with ESPN MMA also bring more fans

Stephen didn’t like Justin going all out at the end? That was Justin’s only way to win, of course he accepted Max’s offer at the end.

According to Stephen A., he loves those knock-outs, but he hated that Gaethje got knocked out that way. Wondering which way Stephen A. would have preferred Gaethje to be knocked out. Maybe a more gentle knock-out.

Max only calls them to the centre of the ring when he's winning, which just makes it even more insane. This was Masvidal's knee x1000

@RenzaissanceTV

28 күн бұрын

What?? He did the same with poirier

@kylewade8704

27 күн бұрын

He’s only done it twice before this and 1 of them he was losing the fight bad so idk what ur talking about😂

@keyboard2758

27 күн бұрын

@@RenzaissanceTVno poirer did it to him

McGregor vs. Holloway after Connor loses to Chandler XD. Max deserves that payday.

Yeah agree with all the comments. They shouldn't talk about mma...

Man these shows should pay more attention to MMA, it’s really one of the most exciting sports in the world

Bro these two dudes are ridiculous just came here to comment

For once the man is right about Mma.

I gotta admit, I never liked Max, always thought he was cringy. I take alllll that back. He's an all time legend, he could retire today.

❤❤

hey mollyyyyyyy

Mike holloway had him down for the count

Stephen probably don’t know but Max last fight he was hurt by Justin whole fight and Max still call for the 10 second throw down at the end. Max is a Baaaaad man regardless of his condition

@Journeyman2585

28 күн бұрын

Reading this made my head hurt, and I still don't understand what you're trying to say.

Yair-Korean Zombie beat this KO by one second, lol.

These nobody should stop talking about MMA.

Wait this man say no count in MMA

I support UFC being talked about on first take. All you haters need to STFU. This is how the sport grows, more viewership, investment, incentivr for better up & coming fighters.. You rlly kust have nothing going on in your life to take this high moral ground of superiority that you know more MMA then Stephen A.

Haha did they just say no count needed.

Thats the Hawaii way brah, JUST SCRAP, Bj Penn started it, Max finishing it

Jesus! How much bigger is Stephen A's forhead going to get?? Time to throw the towel in fella!

Iron Fist!

When boxing fans speak about mma🤣

wait does unc know ball?

SAS should NOT be talking about any combat sports with the way he punches 🤣

Who could possibly care what these two think about MMA?

No count in the UFC 😅, but this promo good for sport

More UFC talk and less about the irrelevant Lakers & Cowboys

@112233JORDAN

28 күн бұрын

seems like they are finally catching on. Took a whole pandemic to get them excited to talk about MMA. Now the UFC is like the NBA, with the random celebs showing up just for clout

Who is that gorgeous brunette?