UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

After a six-week wait for live UFC action, Jim Norton and Matt Serra are back and ready to dive in. On today’s episode, the guys break down UFC 324 from top to bottom — locking in three official picks each for their first predictions of the year and setting the tone for what promises to be a loaded night of fights for the first card of the Paramount era.

Then, former title challenger Alex Perez joins the show ahead of his Saturday matchup against surging flyweight Charles Johnson. Perez opens up about life outside the Octagon, fatherhood, navigating a tough stretch in his career, and why this fight feels like a pivotal opportunity to reassert himself in the men’s 125-pound division.
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Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome back lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett, who joins the show ahead of his interim title showdown with Justin Gaethje at UFC 324. Paddy breaks down why he believes this is the right moment to make a statement, how he sees the matchup playing out, and what an interim belt could mean with Ilia Topuria’s future still unresolved.

Between interviews, Jim and Matt also touch on the day’s biggest news: Kayla Harrison’s neck injury forcing the cancellation of her women’s bantamweight title defense against Amanda Nunes.

Middleweight standout Caio Borralho stops by to discuss bouncing back from the first UFC loss of his career, what he learned from his Paris main event against Nassourdine Imavov, and why his upcoming clash with Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 feels like the perfect reset. Caio also weighs in on the crowded middleweight picture, his Fighting Nerds teammates, and what 2026 could present if all goes to plan.
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Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by Urijah Faber for a wide-ranging conversation about his continued impact on the sport — both as a competitor and a coach.

Faber talks about still competing at 46 years old, including his upcoming combat jiu-jitsu and wrestling matchups scheduled for January and February of 2026. The UFC Hall of Famer explains how his mindset has evolved at this stage of his career and why staying active continues to fuel his passion for competition.

Urijah also dives into his role coaching Song Yadong and explains why Song’s upcoming matchup with Sean O’Malley at UFC 324 could be the perfect moment for the best version of Song to emerge. Beyond the bantamweight title picture, Faber lays out how a win over “Suga” could mark a turning point for Song on a global level — and the start of his rise as a true national icon.
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Jim Norton and Matt Serra welcome a pair of veterans gearing up for key matchups as the UFC schedule ramps up in early 2026.

Featherweight Arnold Allen joins the show to talk about how he spent 2025 rebuilding his body and earning his black belt from the coach who first introduced him to MMA. Set to fight for the first time in nearly 18 months, Allen discusses his high-stakes matchup with Jean Silva on the main card of UFC 324.

Later, light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby stops by to discuss his second UFC run, life at FactoryX, and preparing for the long journey from Colorado to Sydney for his upcoming fight with Jimmy Crute at UFC 325. Jacoby sheds light on his kickboxing days and how sharing a card with teammate Cody Brundage is huge for the both of them.
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Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off 2026 with a pair of rising contenders who have their sights set on big years ahead.

First, light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas joins the show to talk about the momentum he’s built during his recent run and what’s at stake as he prepares for a crucial matchup against Nikita Krylov at UFC 324. Modestas breaks down the work he’s putting in, provides an update on the Tom Aspinall eye injury holding back his close friend and training partner before circling back to why this fight vs. 13th-ranked Krylov is huge for Modestas as he eyes a spot in the 205-pound rankings.

Later, middleweight knockout artist Ateba Gautier stops by to discuss his fast start in the UFC, his journey from Cameroon to England, and the mindset shift that followed his lone professional loss. Gautier reflects on his Combat Sambo roots and how he’s continuing to sharpen his tools ahead of his first fight of 2026 at UFC 324.

Already a little stir-crazy for live UFC action, Jim and Matt also jump the gun with an early look at UFC 324 — even though the 2026 Paramount+ kickoff is still 19 days away… but who’s counting?
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