Half of the main event didn't turn up... so gimme your questions for the boicast!

Jack what do u think about kickboxing bout standards (non tournament) becoming 5 rounds of 3 for normal bouts and 7 rounds of 3 for title bouts?

Could you give a bit more of a breakdown of Dakota Ditcheva? Striking seems ridiculously fluid, but I can’t tell what shes doing differently to keep finding all the gaps in the guard besides being a damn quick switch hitter who targets the body as well as the head. Noticed a lot of inside and outside leg kicks but not sure if thats just opportunistic

Hello M Night Slackajack As someone with horrific eyesight, what are some ways that you can improve your defence in kickboxing/boxing when it can be hard to see what’s coming your way?

How to periodise mma training for skill development while out of camp

What happened to all the Chinese martial arts used in the Boxer Rebellion? Any modern examples of what it might have been like? It seems to be last documented effective use of Kung Fu in the "modern" era. Books like Swordsmen of the British Empire (good book btw) have first hand accounts from British soldiers/officers praising the Boxers' hand to hand skills, armed or unarmed.

Would you ever consider doing seminars or writing workshops for aspiring fighting pens?

big slacky, both hitting the body and smothering grappling are great for draining your opponents gas tank but i feel like i never see them together. do you have any thoughts on effective or fun ways to hit the body in grappling sequences like GSP’s knees from side control or khalils kicks from turtle?

Hey slacky could we get a Machida analysis like a filthy casuals guide. Also could i get some suggestions for bjj and wrestling general tutorials for beginners(heard maias stuff is good but dk what specially). Also could i get some specific tutorial suggestions for cerain moves/positions. thanks in advance!

What would be your 3 most important techniques/skills for a young fighter to master Early on in their career

Greetings to the Slackiest. Since we can all agree that weight gives an inherent advantage to the bigger fighter (hence the 8 separate weight classes) and that sex gives an inherent advantage to the male fighter (hence the two separate categories). Would it be possible to compensate one with the other? Could a freak matchup between let's say, a 160 pound woman, and a 125 pound man, be competitive? Could a fully hydrated Kayla Harrison compete with a flyweight Pantoja, and if not, which, if any, flyweights could she or other female fighters compete with? And what would those fights look like? Prime Chris Cyborg fighting Demetrious Johnson in the fun parralel universe, bless.

Hey Jack. The general negativity surrounding Apex card quality and the talent dilution of the UFC roster seems to me to be a branding issue more than a quality issue. No one cares that the contender series is shit, because it isn't branded as an official UFC event. Would your perception of the current state of the UFC change if the UFC rebranded Apex cards as a sort of UFC Junior series?

Not even specifically a question for the pod, is there a full list of Slacky book recommendations anywhere?

Would you ever do a collab with the Heavy Hands boys? I hear you guys mention each other all the time, and when you both coincidentally didn’t post during the same time last June I thought it was happening lol. Anyways keep up the great work Slacky!

In Muay Thai, what’re some of the best techniques to counter a longer, taller, kick-heavy opponent who uses the long guard and sometimes 2 arms extended guard as defense?

What striking techniques do you think are mandatory for every young MMA fighter to master? I don’t know if this is Boicast material, but I remember you briefly discussing this on an old podcast and saying the ability to calf kick off both stances in both an open guard and closed guard matchup(I believe that’s four kicks total) So I’m curious….what other techniques would you recommend becoming proficient in for an aspiring MMA fighter? I’m pretty sure you’d say a jab and a double jab, but I wanted to hear it from the horses mouth.

Dear Spring-Heeled Slack What are your thoughts on the current meta of mma? It seems like a lot of the mma community think boxing is making a comeback with a more evolved version of sprawl and brawl beating out rangy kickboxers and even posing a threat to the dagestani fighters. Also what do you think of the claim that American wrestling is washed up as the supposed best base for mma and do you ever listen to MMA guru or any other MMA youtubers? Much love, been listening for about 10 years now and if I was an early 2000s UFC fighter I’d have put the Slacky glove and quill on my shorts for sure

Any thoughts on Fundora vs Tszyu II and absurd height + reach advantages in the absence of a weight disparity, in general? https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/tim-tszyu-dubs-sebastian-fundora-unprofessional-they-trade-barbs-over-burgers ^^^^Supposedly^^^ Fundora doesn't cut a ton of weight, so you would think there's a point where what he's giving up in muscle mass would be too detrimental, even in Boxing? I know we've seen this backfire in MMA but it doesn't seem to be an issue with Fundora outside of his tendency to get hit too clean.

Hey Slacky, I do MMA "analysis"/breakdowns or whatever for a fairly sizeable channel. They'd be keen for me to branch into boxing, KB, Muay Thai as well. It's something I'd be excited to do, but where do you even start when trying to understand and write about another combat sport when you're not across the culture and history in such a way? Any tips? Cheers

Hello Slackiest of Jack's. Library tour when?

Hey Jack, Given the frequency and of pull outs, should the UFC have the main and comain (and third fight down for a PPV) of every event be booked for 5 rounds, and be of a high enough quality to headline the event, individually? Does the UFC have the roster quality to support this, or would we wind up with 4.9 rounds of corpulent heavyweights wheezing in the comain every week? Best, Dave

Yo Slacky J, Seems you’ve got much too much knowledge of the secret one knuckle techniques of karate (re your last podcast ala boshiken) to not have been a karateka in a past life. Goju? Did you practice some kata back in the day? Much love from these fucked up “United” States

Hello Jack! What would you recommend for a beginner looking to train striking at home? My work schedule doesn’t currently allow for regular training at a gym but the story of the Topuria brothers makes me wanna at least sharpen up the basics. What are some trustworthy resources for noobs and what equipment (heavy bag etc) do you deem worthwhile for someone who just wants to get in shape and learn some stuff? Michel Pereira doing a backflip onto a grounded opponent’s face and Mark Smith doing nothing bless ♥️

Whats the craic Jack? You talked a while back about an academic Kung fu manual, what is the name of it? I believe you were explaining the myths and traditions behind martial arts body hardening exercises and animal style Kung fu being an a elaborate way of protecting one's groin Please discourse

This is my first question as I just pulled the trigger on the Patreon last month. Do you think the lack of USADA recently correlates with the unc/washed fighter wins in the last while? Are the people they beat just not up to snuff? I haven’t really seen obvious physique changes in any of them so I’m not sure

Who do you prefer watching for cooking demos- marco pierre white or gordon ramsay? Maybe you like watching Monica Galleti and Marcus Wareing do their skills tests for Masterchef the professionals?

Howdy Jack! As you are acutely aware, ringcraft is completely absent from most of the MMA space, even at the highest levels. Both offensive (cutting) and defensive (staying off the fucking boundary) ringcraft are tools that it seems fighters are at best in possession of one or the other, and most often only engaging and disengaging as if playing a game of Street Fighter 2. My question is simple. How would you go about instilling good ring/cage awareness in a fighter that has none? What drills or philosophical waffling would you use? The Kayla Harrison of being yoked like a thousand man garrison. Bless.

Have you ever done walkouts for your poops? Bring in a speaker, play a song, give it a nickname and record as it's entering the ring. Super fun.

Hi what’s the best book/instructional for footwork and creating angles? Also best ways to get a straight right to land? in terms of setups/fakes :)

With One championship seemingly heading into the shitter with each passing Friday night fights card/Chatri Facebook post, do you think the demise of the promotion would be a good or bad thing for Muay Thai and Kickboxing?

What would you say has been your lowest and highest points as an MMA fan? And where does the current state of MMA fit into those points? Ps love the content you’re probably the only reason why I still have an interest in this sport.

Mr. Slack I am currently finishing writing my undergraduate paper in history about the history of boxing in The United States in the 20th century. Do you have any boxing book recommendations or ones you think are must reads. Some of my favourite books so far are the Johnson and Dempsy bios (Unforgivable Blackness and A Flame of Pure Fire), James Norris and the Decline of Boxing and Sammons' Beyond the Ring. Which other ones would you suggest?

Slacky, what do you think of two high school kids (Jax Forrest and PJ Duke) making the men’s freestyle team for Team USA by taking out established world medalists?

How much professional frustration do you get from your weekly schedule being tied to a product that is so heavily declining in quality? Also, if you were Cory, how would you approach Merab?

On multiple occasions you've described Jan blacowitz's punching form as "herky jerky" and follow up by saying "we're not allow say that anymore", I've googled "herky jerky slur" and can't find anything. I'm curious as to why? Genuine but Silly bollix questions for the pod, bless.

Cory Sandhagen has mentioned that he sees the future of mma striking looking much more grounded. He points to fighters like illia as been examples of this, and also stated that he's trying to apply this more to his game - do you agree? Personally, I quite like more floaty style movement, I liked watching Damir Ismagulov fight for that reason, guess I'm just a sucker for soviet style pendulum stepping. Cheeky bonus question: any advice for taller Bois when wrestling? Cheers, your boy from up north, Ben.

Is it advantageous to have a small penis when competing in martial arts?

First name that comes to mind; whos the next BIG star in MMA? Don't act like Ilia and Islam count, they dont and you know it

Dear Slacky, I'm 5'6 and most of the people I train with are 6 foot or over. How to stop the teep? HOW TO STOP THE TEEP?!?! Love, Cakey

You have often (and correctly) stated that the mixed rules matches between kickboxers/nak muay and MMA fighters aren’t any good. However, if a match between two MMA fighters was to take inspiration from this and introduce different rules for different rounds, what do you think the most entertaining combination and order would be? Would it be complete switches between sports (mma round, mt round, gi round, etc) or more subtle rule shifts (more points for kicking round, grounded knee round, etc)? Would an element of randomness be fun (spin the wheel 3x at the beginning) or is a preset combo best (best fighters with best prep etc)?

Can Yoza vs Superlek be considered as the current two greatest kickers in the world facing each other? Also a breakdown of this matchup would be great Slacky Cheers Thomas

Who's your biggest What If fighter? Like what if Brunson had a real head coach in 2010 instead of waiting till 2019 or everyone's favorite Zabit.

Thoughts on UFC BJJ and upcoming CJI Quintet with all the competitors now released?

When are we getting that next history pod, and what are a few history podcasts you recommend?

Hi Jack You praised Max Holloway for using the right round kick to the body against the southpaw Dustin Poirier in the trilogy (especially whenever Poirier threw his left hand ) but you didn’t like Volk’s use of the lead left body kick against Topuria due to the risk of getting blasted with a right hand . What changes in between the open and closed stances that makes one a valuable tool and the other a risky one?

No gi bjj is obviously more transferable to MMA than with the gi but are there any gi techniques which could transfer to MMA?

Jack what do you think the competitive grappling future looks like for jrod given his ousting from bteam? Do you think another high profile team will pick him up/will any promotions be willing to give him a spotlight to compete? I hope so as he’s one of the most exciting grapplers to watch and great for the sport, goonicide aside Also what are your thoughts on high ground in grappling, and potential applications in mma? Seems like it might be viable for countering daggy head outside singles in the open and ye olde overhand single, as a late stage defense/counter Love you

Hey Jacky! I've been down the styles vs styles matchup fights on youtube and there's a style I'd love to have your opinion about : Savate. Based on what I've seen so far it's style based on mobility, flexibility and precise technique that looks a bit silly sometimes, however in some of those videos in which a top level practitioner uses it, it looks like something straight out of a fighting game! Can you comment on why it's not more popular and how it could be implemented IN MMA?

Hi Jack, What are some good ways to force the clinch in boxing without extending out with “zombie arms” towards your opponent? Regards, Tom

A study recently did an analysis of fight-ending punches in the UFC and explored the relative foot positions of athletes, their stances, punch type executed etc. I found this statistical breakdown really interesting and wanted to know your thoughts if you have any?

Thoughts on Van vs Pantoja?

From a coaching perspective, is body type the lynchpin of what determines how a fighter should fight?

What's in the works for the bangers only era?

Fighters switch for offence primarily, but are there advantages or fighters who switch stances purely for defensive means? (Not Nunes vs the slip jab) I can only really think of adesanya. He switches to Southport to maintain more space when guys put in close to the cage

Dearest Slack: Can you think of any strikers (mainly Boxers/Kickboxers) who managed to succeed despite glaring technical/physical deficiencies, and explain what you think enabled that success?

Have you ever pissed in a sink?

What would be needed from an MMA fighter to emulate Wangchannoi's style of walking forward with every strike? Iron hips or a bottom game like Oliveira? In one of his videos with Sylvie he says the only time he went on the back foot was against Samson because "every time he hit me I got drunk." Would smaller gloves prevent a march forward style like his generally? Also, as a boi now for nearly a decade, you teasing another history episode is devious work. Would love an update!

Boi Q&A weeks are almost worth the slop… How do you deal with the fact that us MMA fans watch fighters give eachother perma brain damage for our enjoyment (and your pennies)? That being said, how come an underhook + headpost + wrist control isn’t more common against the cage? Do you have to be a unit like RDR to execute that? Or what?! Cheers, from the Reiner De Ridder of not being a kid diddler, Shrimps

Hey Jack, who is the most accurate fighter comparison to your own style

I have realized that many of the most consistent kickboxers imo are southpaw (thinking of petrosyan, Petchpanomrung, Tenshin, Nadaka…). I also think their style is much more easy to understand (than orthodox fighters) in a systematic way but also harder to beat. Why does fighting a closed stanced matchup seem so much more difficult? My guess is: cutting the angle in an open stance matchup seems very intuitive and strong (either pivot outside their leadfoot or hop back to the other side and Cross Counter).

Why is it that UFC fighters and commentators are often so bad at breaking down fights, or not as good as you. I’ve always thought that their ability to talk about fights and the technicalities of it should be higher given that they are so good at fighting themselves. Often the comments and observations of such people are not much better than what a lay person who is into the sport could give. What explains this?

Who are your biggest "what ifs" in MMA that are worth a rewatch? I recently went back over a lot of Ross Houston’s Cage Warriors run, as well as his fight with MVP, where I felt he gave a great account of himself and It got me thinking about all the ones that got away. Sincerely, the Nigel Benn of next Sifu video when?

Hi Jack, for someone that struggles to find time to get in as much training as they'd like, what do you think is a "style", or narrow range/focus of techniques, that could come together to make a maximally effective mma game?

Slack, create your perfect MMA fighter but you can only pick 1 technique from each discipline (e.g., the guillotine for BJJ, teep for Muay Thai, etc).

Hey Slackt, how do you think a prime Ronda Rousey would do against Kayla Harrison?

Thoughts on the decline of body/head kicking at the high end of MMA striking? JDM, Topuria, and to a certain extent Alex Pereira have all have successful, striking-based fighting styles with minimal or no kicking above the belt.

What's your biggest fight style doesn't match their personality fighter of all time. Can't say Strickland because it's obvious.

Slacky J my boy! Couple of quick questions, you ever played slay the spire and are you excited for the sequel? And I’m going to see my first real boxing match this Saturday (sims jr vs Duarte in Chicago), do you have a favorite combat sport to watch live? I find BJJ events and mma events are pretty boring to watch live and it’s hard to see what’s going on, I’m hoping boxing is a bit better lit and not having a cage will make it easier

What do you think is the relationship between national/regional culture and fighting style? For example, Kiwis and Australians often tend to be scrappy, and pride themselves on grit and toughness, Brazilian fighters on finishing ability and slickness, etc. do you think it comes from the martial arts heritage in a region, the general cultural identity, a mix of both, or something else altogether? Thanks Jack. MMA fighters rediscovering bodywork for a few months every other year bless

Hello Jack. It's me, Ryan. I hope you don't mind me reposting my question from the last Q&A but you didn't get to it and I'm still curious. Please don't be mad. I love you. Do you have an exit strategy for when the UFC becomes wholly unwatchable? You're scaling back to banger shit only and writing more about the things you like instead of talking about apex slop but do you have a plan to move on to something else entirely when UFC truly becomes nothing but 'content'? Full time fight Historian? England's premier sumo correspondent? Back to being a high-priced gigolo? But seriously, do you have a post-UFC life in mind?

What impact do you think the ali act changes will have on boxing?

Jack, what are the differences between mma in a cage/ring. I may have a ring mma fight coming up soon and how does it impact wall wrestling,cage cutting etc? My 2nd question is how do I use my cardio to my advantage to "invest" into my opponent and win the attrition battle? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Sending mild happiness from canada!

you talk alot about the jab and dip. which current mma fighter do you think would benefit alot/most from a jab and dip when integrated into their existing game. Personally i would love to see merab entering for his takedowns or his overhand with the jab and dip

Thoughts on Ilia and Jack Della using the lead forearm somewhat like an old school single cross guard or bar? What other older boxing tricks do you think will catch on?

You’ve talked a lot about how you find blind fighters interesting(Frazier, early Gaethje, bisping). Could you elaborate on what makes them interesting to you and ways they overcame their disability?

If Aspinall loses to Cyril Gane, is it better or worse for the heavyweight division?

Thoughts on Sanda and its usefulness in MMA?

Please breakdown how RDR is using his long knee to set up clinches. I’ve been using them along the cage with good success

Any thougts on Noiri vs Superbon, and Yoza vs Superlek. Announced for november