@@oookkokookkkekekek2947 I don't even like Khabibs style, but he is easily the goat of light weight divison. Islam will overtake him tho if he beats Arman on the rematch.
@jamesrevere2992 Francis sleeps, everyone he touched in MMA.. not a great comparison. Alex gave JJ a fit, but I guess most forget that. AG won that fight, but the judges being judges 🤷♂️
Honestly, Jon hasn’t knocked anyone out in a longgggggg time. His best bet is by sub and Stipe has never been subbed. Who do I think wins? Jon. But I’m not entirely sure why people are so sure. I feel like if Jon wins it’s by TKO due to an injury to 51 year old Stipe.
Tbh Strickland-Adesanya was the one that made me like “anything is possible”… everyone talked about that in the same “wouldn’t that be something? But naaah…” kinda way lol
@@MohamedBulhannybruh Jon Jones been fighting stiff competition his whole career and has beat lots of hall of famers he’s older now he don’t gotta fight a young dude that’s in his prime if he don’t want to y’all sound stupid 😂🤦🏽♂️
@@kylewade8704 The guy's the winningest ever HW champ in UFC history, has just had 3 years off to train & do whatever else he needed to do to recover from that Ngannou KO. He's vastly more experienced in the division than Jones is, plus Jones doesn't have a massive size/reach advantage over him & Stipe now has that Dad fighter mentality - if Jones doesn't get Stipe early, watch for Stipe to show him what means to be a HW champ
@@MeatySmirk aint no one is publicly humiliating me for $. He sits there like a good boy, doing what he was told. That's the lack of dignity I am talking about.
@@jakubantal2546 do u own a business or work for someone? If u work for someone stop talking like you have any independence. DC is working and has to do whats in his contract
No it's not, this was a signed fight well before Tom was in the picture. What will be disrespectful beyond doubt is if Tom doesn't get the winner. People expect stipe to break the contract and make way for Tom. Really? People really think stipe is going to walk away from his title shot. Tom has to wait in line, there was a delay but nobody has stepped in front of him
In this immediate situation, the most disrespected is Stipe - guy's the greatest ever former HW champ. But overall, yes Tom is easily the most disrespected on the whole. We can blame Dana for that though, he decided to make Tom v Sergei for interim HW title when it could've just been for #1 contender. Then again, all the title unification furora that's been happening this past year, that's attention on the HW division that may not have otherwise happened.
How? When he won the interim belt last year, he wasn't in contention to fight for the real belt, Jon and Stipe were going to fight on that card for the belt but Jon got injured
Jon never tested positive for roids, he tested positive for a small ammount of a PED, its not the same, now you can have triple the ammount jon had and its 100% legal, theres no argument to say a picogram will give you any advantage
3:02 is exactly why I respect DC. I seriously hope they become the MMA worlds Shaq (Jon Jones) and Chuck (DC). Rivals that develop into best friends go from going to war with each other to willing to go to war for one another.
DC is a true warrior and a legend not just with his fighting skills but also fantastic human being and a true role model for all the fighters !!!! RESPECT TO THE GREAT WARRIOR DC🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@danielson6685 Bro, you can't go ahead and throw fighters of different era's in the same conversation. And Pride was far bigger than UFC at the time-nevermind even Bellator, lol. Also, a lot of those HW you mentioned, named Fedor as the greatest of all time. Just watch this /watch?v=UWBX6JbVQCk
@@GioGoEagles Why not, UFC & WWE are sibling companies under TKO Holdings - Brock is big $$ wherever he is, maybe Jones wants that big $$ retirement fight (think HW version of McGregor's red panty night)
I understand that Jon is perhaps the best fighter of all time, but it makes sense to break the rules of the game to increase his legacy: Why does the internal champion have to defend the title instead of fighting the champion?... Why does the champion instead of fighting the internal champion fight the number 8 contender in the division?... Miocic is 43 years old and hasn't fought since March 2021? Could he still beat a top 5 in the division? I understand that they are two of the biggest legends in the sport, but not fighting for the heavyweight title is disrespectful to Aspinall, the sport and the fans!... invent another title (whatever you want to call it)... When he fought Reyes, 14 of 21 media outlets scored the contest for Reyes, while only 7 scored it for Jones. Why is there so much insistence on Jones' invincibility? When you could really say that he lost that fight while he was still in his prime! Ok, he's already 37 years old and maybe because he's not in his best moment he doesn't want to fight Aspinall because he could lose! It's understandable, but he had to stop being the champion (it's absurd). Boxing was criticized so much and they are doing worse. Maybe the Arabs also have to come to save the UFC ;)
We know this fight isn’t going to be close. Stipe is just a boxer with a Single Leg and Jones has fought way more skilled, athletic and younger fighters than Stipe. But It’s cool that they are trying to hype this mismatch up.
@@outis439-A Let me ask you a question. When has Jordan’s 3 point game stopped him from being dominant? That’s like Jones boxing. Jones boxing is his weakness but it isn’t bad, it’s quite good. But compared to the rest of his tools, boxing isn’t up there with his elbows, kicks, knees, wrestling and submission game. This is MMA, you need way more ways to win than boxing.
Dc was a great fighter. Remember how he Made a great fighter like anthony Joshua tap twice. And many more great fights and victories in the octagon. He belongs on the GOAT list.
Right. But JJ Ducked Ngannou for 3 years. Fought Gane after Ngannou had already beaten him. And now has wasted 2 years building up a fight against a washed Stipe while Aspinall has gone on a very entertaining run. It’s fair to say he ducking him at this point
Stipe is the HW GOAT give him his respect. Don't hate on Jon Jones just because you're a fan of Aspinall. You can't compare either fighters' resumes at all😂 Jon Jones holds the most competitive records in UFC history by far
Nobody runs through Stipe. The man is absolutely fearless and has as big a heart as any fighter. This fight will come down to who makes the first mistake. We are in for one of the greatest fights you will ever witness if both men are spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy stepping into the Octagon.
DC deserves way more respect than the thumbnail's giving him. The guy’s a legend in the sport, and he’s rooting for the real ones like Stipe and Tom. Both of them bring insane power to the octagon, and you can tell Jones is nervous about it. Stipe’s a warrior through and through, and Tom’s on the rise - Jones knows he’s facing real threats.
Jones the Goat of Eye Poke. He gets clipped/danger resorts to eye pokin'. Then his tactic is to finger spread threatening to eye poke again to obscure opponents vision even further. Preventing inside gain and shoots. He should be disqualified as notorious as he is>>>.
How do u not mention Anderson Silva? Bozos . Stephen A totally dismissed what Francis did to Tyson Fury and the Pfl Champ and only wanted to bring up losing to Anthony Joshua. I cant stand when this clown talks about fighting . And its not a ring its a cage.
They did my guy DC dirrrrty with that thumbnail pic 🤣🤣
Lookin like a black Guy Fieri
Showed him for what he is.
looks like he has too much makeup on
😂
And he s got that earing too
I had to click to see if DC really looks like the thumbnail.
😂😂 same bruh
With that earing too
Me 2😂😂😂😂😂😂
hahaha
That thumbnail had me shook 😂
That thumbnail of DC though
His head?
Plump potato
Broooo hahah it’s crazy he looks like an evil gremlin KFC fighter
@@madsjensen9712his pp head
Looking like the clown from spawn
Why they do my guy DC like that in the thumbnail, looking like a KFC specialist 😭
😂😂😂😅😅
Colonel Sanders ahh thumbnail😅
We know who DC is rooting for
😏
Fried chicken?
Tom Aspinall 🤣🤣
@@TheLastCrumb. Better be from Popeyes
🤣🤣🤣
not the most flattering thumbnail lol
That actually cant be real tf😂
Slowly starting to look like Uncle Phil.
DCs head is literally a circle
Lol
Haha and it looks like he has an earring
DC needs to double leg whoever did that thumbnail lol. Got my man lookin extra fluffy
I made the thumbnail. And he'd have to triple leg me, if you know what I'm saying. I'm saying I have a big d*ck.
DC is ALSO one of the greatest of all time.
nope
@@LeDiopYes! He is one of the few double champs in the UFC. The only Light heavyweight & heavyweight champion at the same time! Are u a retard?
Hardly
@@LeDiop😂😂😂😂 won the LHW and HW championship. Nobody ever did that. Yahahahahah. You know NOTHING.
No. He lucky he wasn't fighting Cain Velazques.
dc being the ultimate company man promoting this card more than the 2 main event fighters lol
Nah for real. Cuz I really didn’t even know the fight was happening
Why that thumbnail make DC look like a Dominican lmao
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Dominican Cormier
😂😂😂😂😂 he deadass does
HAHAHAH
😂😂😂😂
Steven A. Professional casual.
yet DC said khabib is one of the GOATS 😂
@@oookkokookkkekekek2947 I don't even like Khabibs style, but he is easily the goat of light weight divison. Islam will overtake him tho if he beats Arman on the rematch.
@@oookkokookkkekekek2947 Most people in the discussion never fought for two titles yet dominated their division. What are you confused about?
He's a certifiable racist
@@oookkokookkkekekek2947 Is he not one of the GOATS, if he's the greatest 155'r in history?
Thought that was CeeLo Green in the thumbnail 💀
That thumbnail had DC looking like the auntie who laughs at all the bad jokes at the family gatherings.
LMAO
Steve shouldn't have any say in mma. Dudes the biggest casual in mma media.
The DC stands for Donuts & Cake.
Double Cheeseburger
Dips n chips
Looks like a Stoned happy Antonio Pierce!
“S.A.” as a nickname is wild💀
what's wild about it? do you know what that word means. dummy
that was i thought i was like did i hear that right? but since its for steven A. im fine with that nickname
Sexual Assault Smith😅
Is Molly tryna tell us something?😂😂😂
I witnessed dc eat 12 donuts this morning it was terrifying
lmfaoooooo
😂😂😂😂😂
🤡🤡🤡🤡
Im inclined to believe you
And that was just a snack while he waited for breakfast to be cooked
I love that half the comments are about the thumbnail😅
Y’all did Dc dirty with the thumb nail dude looks like the guy from fantastic four holy
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 that's it umm out man
We saw Max get KO’d this year so I’m starting to think Stipe finishing Jones isn’t too crazy.
By a young undefeated champion, not a 42 year old former champ who hasnt fought in 3 years and who got slept in his last fight 😭😭😭
jamesrevere29 and if jon gets hold of him, done deal by submission
@jamesrevere2992 Francis sleeps, everyone he touched in MMA.. not a great comparison. Alex gave JJ a fit, but I guess most forget that. AG won that fight, but the judges being judges 🤷♂️
Honestly, Jon hasn’t knocked anyone out in a longgggggg time. His best bet is by sub and Stipe has never been subbed. Who do I think wins? Jon. But I’m not entirely sure why people are so sure. I feel like if Jon wins it’s by TKO due to an injury to 51 year old Stipe.
Tbh Strickland-Adesanya was the one that made me like “anything is possible”… everyone talked about that in the same “wouldn’t that be something? But naaah…” kinda way lol
Jon Ducked Ngannou😂😂😂
And is ducking aspinall
@@MohamedBulhannyaspinal ducked Francis
@@daniel106 At what point
@@daniel106 jon was on steroid on most of his fights but still some sick minded people call him goat he was given many decisions win too
@@MohamedBulhannybruh Jon Jones been fighting stiff competition his whole career and has beat lots of hall of famers he’s older now he don’t gotta fight a young dude that’s in his prime if he don’t want to y’all sound stupid 😂🤦🏽♂️
Crazy DC made 205
He's 305 rn
Stephen A has to be the most annoying ass person ever to do commentary
Even worse still, he's a JBJ nuthugger of the highest order 🤮🤮
I'm glad someone else noticed that
Both of them, molly and stephan should stick to sports they know.
@@truebrowncanadiansooo none?
Why he gotta be so loud like that?
The thumbnail is gold
Genuinely worried about DC's weight. Dude needs to chill out on the churros.
Chitlins and pigs feet
Dude he is 300lbs lol
Mfs cut weight they whole life. What you expect from DC😂😂
(Stipe wins Nov. 16th)
Me: *“Hey, I’m Not Surprised Motherf*****s”*
He absolutely could. I think Jones is the rightful favorite, but not at those odds. I'm betting Stipe due to the +400 or so odds.
@@112233JORDANu seriously think 42 year old stipe has more than a 20% chance of winning?😂
(Stipe wins at UFC 309)
Stipe: "tiad jiaciackac jaksdnkd"
@@kylewade8704
The guy's the winningest ever HW champ in UFC history, has just had 3 years off to train & do whatever else he needed to do to recover from that Ngannou KO.
He's vastly more experienced in the division than Jones is, plus Jones doesn't have a massive size/reach advantage over him & Stipe now has that Dad fighter mentality - if Jones doesn't get Stipe early, watch for Stipe to show him what means to be a HW champ
@@112233JORDANjones is gonna end stipe so fast
“It’s not a rivalry if you lose both fights.” -Daniel Cormier
DC didn’t technically lose the 2nd fight 👀🤣
Yeah hoping on peds both fight surely cement DC as the winner
Truly no rivalry indeed when DC is the bigger man
It still was a rivalry tho even if he did lose both fights lol
Who else scrolled to the comments after seeing the thumbnail?
Thumbnail looks terrifying lol did DC gain like 20 lbs overnight?
Pushing 300
Camera adds 10 pounds
DC is the new Lizo.
SAS looking like the kid who always listened in on their siblings phone calls 😅😅
They did DC dirty with that thumbnail
Did him dirty with that thumbnail
DC bout sick of this topic
not sick enough to have any dignity..
@@jakubantal2546 What are you even talking about?
You can tell he still feels some type of way about Jon but you have to be professional and he's calling the fight
@@MeatySmirk aint no one is publicly humiliating me for $. He sits there like a good boy, doing what he was told. That's the lack of dignity I am talking about.
@@jakubantal2546 do u own a business or work for someone? If u work for someone stop talking like you have any independence. DC is working and has to do whats in his contract
The most disrespected person here is Tom Aspinall
No it's not, this was a signed fight well before Tom was in the picture. What will be disrespectful beyond doubt is if Tom doesn't get the winner. People expect stipe to break the contract and make way for Tom. Really? People really think stipe is going to walk away from his title shot. Tom has to wait in line, there was a delay but nobody has stepped in front of him
In this immediate situation, the most disrespected is Stipe - guy's the greatest ever former HW champ.
But overall, yes Tom is easily the most disrespected on the whole.
We can blame Dana for that though, he decided to make Tom v Sergei for interim HW title when it could've just been for #1 contender.
Then again, all the title unification furora that's been happening this past year, that's attention on the HW division that may not have otherwise happened.
Gheeeeeeeyyyyyyyy. Stipe is ducking Aspinall. Francis is ducking Aspinall. Cormier ducked Aspinall. Stfu.
How? When he won the interim belt last year, he wasn't in contention to fight for the real belt, Jon and Stipe were going to fight on that card for the belt but Jon got injured
Actually it’s Sergei Pavlovich. He should have gotten that interim shot with Stipe, but the UFC allowed Stipe to duck him.
Dc looking like Christopher judge on the thumbnail🤣🤣
Had to look him up. 😂
UFC should pay DC more money for fighting a roided Jon Jones
Jon never tested positive for roids, he tested positive for a small ammount of a PED, its not the same, now you can have triple the ammount jon had and its 100% legal, theres no argument to say a picogram will give you any advantage
@@fgc1850that’s the argument
@@bobsagettthat’s the reality
This is embarrassing bro😂roids?? He tested positive for something that’s not only legal now but used by every fighter
Everyone's on steroids
-nate diaz
DC looking like a Milk Dud in the thumbnail lol
this made me genuinely laugh out loud
Jon didn’t say he’d go back down to 205 … He wants Pierria at Heavyweight !!
If Stipe can somehow pull it off, it would be the greatest upset in UFC history and possibly one of the greatest retirements if this is his last one.
what was that in the thumbnail
Thumbnail savage 🤣🤣🤣
They select worst pic of DC and decrease the quality.
8:10 DC reminding them who Jon really is 😂👊
1:30 I’ll show you, just watch Bones vs The Devastator.
3:02 is exactly why I respect DC. I seriously hope they become the MMA worlds Shaq (Jon Jones) and Chuck (DC). Rivals that develop into best friends go from going to war with each other to willing to go to war for one another.
That cant be DC on the thumbnail! 😂
DC is a true warrior and a legend not just with his fighting skills but also fantastic human being and a true role model for all the fighters !!!! RESPECT TO THE GREAT WARRIOR DC🙏🙏🙏🙏
Unpopular Opinion:
FEDOR is the real GOAT 🐐
Pathetic statement, Fedor is a legend but they wiped the floor with him in US. Same as with Mirko. In ufc Fedor wouldn’t be in Top 5
@@danielson6685 that was after he went undefeated for near 10 years btw--prime fedor was unstoppable
@@DotaHelm where in Japan?🤣🤣🤣
@@DotaHelm He didn’t fought Cain, Stipe, Dos Santos, Nelson, Francis,Cormier, Overeem etc… it is a stupid claim. Pride was way below ufc and belator
@@danielson6685 Bro, you can't go ahead and throw fighters of different era's in the same conversation. And Pride was far bigger than UFC at the time-nevermind even Bellator, lol. Also, a lot of those HW you mentioned, named Fedor as the greatest of all time. Just watch this /watch?v=UWBX6JbVQCk
There was a guy in my city who got shot 5 times point blank and the doctor said the only reason he survived was because he was juiced up to the gills
Dc turned into fat joe
They should make Stephen A off the air when ufc is being spoken about
They both whooped his ass twice!
Dc wasn’t the same fighter in the third stipe fight. Just got old
Can’t wait to see the end of 309’s Main Event and DC is just going “wow” after Jon finishes Stipe in under 7 minutes
Dana !
Give us
Tom the cat ASPINALL vs Jerry the mouse Jones !
Wow! How long did it take you to come up with that?..🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️🙄
Stephen A, you were very respectful in this interview. Congrats, keep it up!
DC is a beast in the octagon!
Except when he loses and starts crying
Hes a killer when he isn't facing other goats. Underrated boxing to boot.
Stephen A loves to say "Jon Bones Jones" so much
Brock Lesnar vs Jones 2025 loading.......
Stop
Never happened
For the BRH belt ... That's the Biggest Roid Head belt
@@rickybobby38 so what are you trying to say it’s gonna happen
@@GioGoEagles
Why not, UFC & WWE are sibling companies under TKO Holdings - Brock is big $$ wherever he is, maybe Jones wants that big $$ retirement fight (think HW version of McGregor's red panty night)
I understand that Jon is perhaps the best fighter of all time, but it makes sense to break the rules of the game to increase his legacy:
Why does the internal champion have to defend the title instead of fighting the champion?... Why does the champion instead of fighting the internal champion fight the number 8 contender in the division?... Miocic is 43 years old and hasn't fought since March 2021? Could he still beat a top 5 in the division? I understand that they are two of the biggest legends in the sport, but not fighting for the heavyweight title is disrespectful to Aspinall, the sport and the fans!... invent another title (whatever you want to call it)... When he fought Reyes, 14 of 21 media outlets scored the contest for Reyes, while only 7 scored it for Jones. Why is there so much insistence on Jones' invincibility? When you could really say that he lost that fight while he was still in his prime! Ok, he's already 37 years old and maybe because he's not in his best moment he doesn't want to fight Aspinall because he could lose! It's understandable, but he had to stop being the champion (it's absurd). Boxing was criticized so much and they are doing worse. Maybe the Arabs also have to come to save the UFC ;)
We know this fight isn’t going to be close. Stipe is just a boxer with a Single Leg and Jones has fought way more skilled, athletic and younger fighters than Stipe. But It’s cool that they are trying to hype this mismatch up.
☠️🐓💩
Is that not Jon Jones’ weakness
@@outis439-A Jones weakness isn’t much. It’s not like it has ever cost him. It’s like saying Jordan’s weakness was the 3 point shot.
@@xftbllplyr2091 seriously? he has not very good boxing. I've seen his fights...Stipe is a golden gloves winner.
@@outis439-A Let me ask you a question. When has Jordan’s 3 point game stopped him from being dominant? That’s like Jones boxing. Jones boxing is his weakness but it isn’t bad, it’s quite good. But compared to the rest of his tools, boxing isn’t up there with his elbows, kicks, knees, wrestling and submission game.
This is MMA, you need way more ways to win than boxing.
D.C. is the man!! Full respect
Khabib doesn’t deserve to be in the goat convo.
The disrespect
Who tf is Khabib
I love that all ESPN uploads have twelve ad breaks
Jon Jones getting knocked out this Saturday. I'll be back to see your comments LMAO!
Amen
@@costarika100amen??? You are weird
That is NEVER going to happen…
@@thesaintst1851 and I would value your opinion because why? Don’t cry Saturday when it happens.
@@thesaintst1851 yeah like you would know. You probably also never thought Holly would beat Ronda.
Dc was a great fighter. Remember how he Made a great fighter like anthony Joshua tap twice. And many more great fights and victories in the octagon. He belongs on the GOAT list.
Top 10 all time.
The late Anthony Johnson
Tom is ducking Francis
What 😂 ? Francis left ufc how is tom supposed to reach francis lol 😂 ?
@@MohamedBulhannythat’s how stupid yall sound saying Jon is ducking Tom 🤣
Still don’t know why Stephan A doesn’t leave the room when talking about mma , dudes clueless half the time
Jones earned the right to go out on his own terms! 💯
Tom Aspinall hypetrain won't understand that. Their thinking is very linear.
Facts
Right. But JJ Ducked Ngannou for 3 years. Fought Gane after Ngannou had already beaten him. And now has wasted 2 years building up a fight against a washed Stipe while Aspinall has gone on a very entertaining run. It’s fair to say he ducking him at this point
@@dws0828 Nah Ngannou is also asking for a higher paycheck
Why are they making DC do all of this. Breaking down his fights and everything
These tom aspinal fans are worst then Conor McGregor fans
when DC talks ... even Stephen A shuts up and listens❤
Stipe is the HW GOAT give him his respect. Don't hate on Jon Jones just because you're a fan of Aspinall. You can't compare either fighters' resumes at all😂 Jon Jones holds the most competitive records in UFC history by far
Stephen A Smith has no business talking about or even thinking about MMA!! Bro has no intelligence about the sport
Every time SAS talks about ufc he never fails to use the phrase “box office” at least 5 times
Who got DC looking like the world's most handsome fried too long chicken nugget in the thumbnail? 😂❤💀
DC never misses a meal geez.
Top 10 fighters of all time
Nobody runs through Stipe. The man is absolutely fearless and has as big a heart as any fighter. This fight will come down to who makes the first mistake. We are in for one of the greatest fights you will ever witness if both men are spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy stepping into the Octagon.
He has to keep watching highlight reels of Jones and Stipe koing him 😂
that thumbnail is diabolical work LMAO
3:07 Not a big fan of Smith, but i like what he says to DC here. DC could've/should've thrown Jon nasty personal shade his way.
ESPN don't love DC for that thumbnail
DC deserves way more respect than the thumbnail's giving him. The guy’s a legend in the sport, and he’s rooting for the real ones like Stipe and Tom. Both of them bring insane power to the octagon, and you can tell Jones is nervous about it. Stipe’s a warrior through and through, and Tom’s on the rise - Jones knows he’s facing real threats.
Stipe coming for the check, he taking that dive Saturday night.
Jones the Goat of Eye Poke. He gets clipped/danger resorts to eye pokin'. Then his tactic is to finger spread threatening to eye poke again to obscure opponents vision even further. Preventing inside gain and shoots. He should be disqualified as notorious as he is>>>.
2:45 that white lady said he ese but really we know it’s S.A😂😂🤦🏾
Dont let DC fool you, this fight will only past the 2nd round. If Jon Jones allows it to.
Fight IQ & controls distance like no one ever.
@@richardmorris6365 you didn't get what he was saying
Stephen A. Speaks for the casual 90% why thinks Jon is a sure win.
I love DC but he's defo looking a bit porky these days. I guess he's earned it.
Yall did my boy DC wrong on that thumbnail 😂
Main Event: A grandpa vs a duck
Venue: Central Park
Let's go 🔥🔥
The guy on the left needs to get off of Jones jock already
The guy who made the thumbnail must be a part time meme maker.
Wow that thumbnail is crazy work lol
How do u not mention Anderson Silva? Bozos . Stephen A totally dismissed what Francis did to Tyson Fury and the Pfl Champ and only wanted to bring up losing to Anthony Joshua. I cant stand when this clown talks about fighting . And its not a ring its a cage.
You did him dirty with that thumbnail 😂
my bro looks like he just perfected an extra crispy recipe on his fried chicken and is announcing it to the world
"It's gonna be real close" is a promotional talking point that DC and other employees were directed to say.
How did Stephen get access to MMA conversation?