About the CME
The Co-Main Event Podcast is the longest continually running mixed martial arts fighting podcast the world. How's that for an opener? Since its humble beginnings way back in 2012, the CME has provided listeners with the independent discourse they crave about the wild, weird and occasionally wonderful world of MMA. Each week, veteran MMA journalists Chad Dundas and Ben Fowlkes put their own unique spin on the headlines, providing professional insight, uncensored opinions and terrible dad jokes for a diverse, worldwide audience.
The show isn't for everybody, but the people who do like it seem to like it a LOT. Be advised, however: the CME is for grown folks only. It contains adult themes and copious swears. Don't listen to this shit at work or in front of your kids unless you strap on some headphones first. Also, if you happen to be a corporate stooge, a tool of the man, a fascist or a mark-ass buster, you're probably not going to like it. Best you save us all the trouble and spend your precious listening time elsewhere.
But if you think you've got the guts, we invite you to join the coolest, smartest, best dressed (fine, we're just guessing about that last part) group of listeners in all of MMA. By and large, we are a supportive, like-minded group all about building community through talking fights (and other nerd shit). Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy yourself so much you'll even join the CME Patreon, where there are hours and of extra content each week. No pressure.
Meet Ben and Chad
Chad Dundas is the author of the acclaimed novels Champion of the World (2016) and The Blaze (2020), as well as the developer of Dundasso, one of the world’s deadliest martial arts. Since 2001, he’s worked as a sportswriter for outlets such as ESPN.com, The Athletic, NBC Sports and CagePotato.com. About 15 years ago, while pursuing his graduate degree in English-creative writing, he met Ben Fowlkes. They started a podcast together and the rest, as they say, is the rest. He lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife and kids. Help him out. Buy his books, damn it.
Ben Fowlkes is a sports writer who has covered mixed martial arts professionally since 2006. He currently serves as senior writer and assistant editor for Uncrowned and Yahoo Sports. Before that he wrote for The Athletic, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and a bunch of other places. His fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories 2015 and his poetry has appeared in other literary mags you don’t read. He thinks he was nominated for a couple Pushcart Prizes but he isn’t sure. He received his MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana, which is where he met Chad Dundas, who drove around listening to sports talk radio all the time but who otherwise seemed like a decent dude. He lives in Missoula, Montana, with his wife, two daughters, one dog and a cat who occasionally swings by.
Independent and unfettered
The CME is a completely independent podcast. We don't operate with the backing of a soulless parent company or the support of one of the major MMA websites. We're entirely listener funded (along with some frankly meager ad revenue), which means we depend on your support to keep the heat and the lights on.
If you listen to the show and you like it, we'd love it if you'd consider helping us out. It would be super cool of you, and we actually think you'll like it.
Join the CME community on Patreon
We consider it the best group of people in MMA. It's also a hell of a bargain. By signing up for a Patreon subscription, you'll get access to multiple additional hours of new, original content each week. We talk MMA, answer questions from listeners and even spend some time exploring topics outside of cagefighting we think might interest you.
Not to mention: Video. Livestreams. Our official Discord message board. Plus, you'll also get the full archive of all our previous posts (going back literally years) and everything that's still to come.
We have several handy tiers of patronage and even a free trial option so you can wet your beak without go all-in right away. Come on over, check it out. We hope you'll stay awhile.
We're about that life.
Find your people
MMA can be a lonely place. Maybe you've been watching for years and you're the last of your friend group still hanging on. Maybe you just got here and you're looking for like-minded fellowship in a sea of mainstream squares and knuckle-dragging assholes.
We got you. We're here, we're having fun and we're not going anywhere.
Come join a community of other subscribers who share your interests and will welcome you with open arms.
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Other ways to support the show
Leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform, tell a friend about us, follow us on YouTube, Instagram and/or Facebook. Sign up for the newsletter. Buy some merch.