Bando's Breakdowns Podcast By Empty The Bench Network cover art

Bando's Breakdowns

Bando's Breakdowns

By: Empty The Bench Network
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Host Zain Bando gives you his unfiltered hot takes from the world of sports from his own unique perspective

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Episodes
  • Hubert Davis OUT at UNC 🚨 + Sweet 16 & McGregor Return

    Hubert Davis OUT at UNC 🚨 + Sweet 16 & McGregor Return
    Mar 27 2026
    Welcome back to another high-octane edition of Bando’s Breakdowns as Zain Bando dives straight into the madness of March with a comprehensive overview of the current college basketball landscape on Episode 83. The stakes are higher than ever as Zain checks the pulse of his original bracket to see if his Final Four picks are still alive or if his championship dreams have officially gone bust before shifting into an in-depth preview of the Midwest Region to break down the matchups, the sleepers, and the potential bracket-busters looking to make a run. Shifting from the court to the coaching carousel, we tackle the absolute bombshell news out of Chapel Hill as Hubert Davis is officially out at North Carolina, with Zain reacting to the firing and discussing what this means for the future of the Tar Heels. Switching gears to the Octagon, we get you ready for the upcoming UFC Seattle card with a full preview of the fights to watch, plus a look at the "Notorious" one as Conor McGregor continues to tease a potential comeback that has the MMA world buzzing. In our "One Thing I Saw" segment, Zain examines the viral controversy surrounding the Illinois-Penn cheerleading video that took an unexpected political turn on social media before wrapping things up with Zain’s Zinger, where he pulls no punches arguing that the UFC is facing a massive star power crisis heading into the heart of 2026.

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    37 mins
  • March Madness! Big Ten Survival + MVP’s Netflix MMA News

    March Madness! Big Ten Survival + MVP’s Netflix MMA News
    Mar 20 2026

    Zain Bando is back in the lab for Episode 82 with an inside look at the most electric stretch of the sports calendar. Fresh off a week at the United Center, Zain recaps his experience working as credentialed media for the Big Ten Tournament. From the atmosphere in Chicago to the high-stakes battles on the hardwood, we discuss the sights and sounds of the tournament and what it’s like to cover the elite programs of the Midwest up close. We also dive into the initial rounds of the NCAA Tournament, analyzing which Big Ten programs have the highest ceiling for a deep run and who is most likely to crumble under the bright lights of the Big Dance.


    The conversation shifts to the octagon for a reaction to the massive MVP MMA 1 card set for May 16. With Netflix officially entering the MMA space at the Intuit Dome, we break down the historic main event between trailblazers Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano. We also react to the additions of Nate Diaz versus Mike Perry and Francis Ngannou’s return against Philippe Lins, debating if this is officially the most star-studded card in the history of the sport. We also preview the upcoming UFC London trip to the O2 Arena featuring Movsar Evloev versus Lerone Murphy and offer a quick recap of the clinical performances at UFC Vegas 114, including Kevin Vallejos’ stunning first-round TKO of Josh Emmett.


    In our "One Thing I Saw" segment, we head to the weight room to discuss a viral moment from Illinois High School Football. We break down the absolute insanity of the INSANE bench press numbers coming out of the state and why the strength and conditioning bar is being raised at the prep level.


    Finally, we wrap things up with Zain’s Zinger: the definitive argument for why the first day of the NCAA Tournament should officially be recognized as a national holiday.

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    35 mins
  • Conor McGregor SNUBS Prates? + Bruce Pearl Slams Miami (OH)!

    Conor McGregor SNUBS Prates? + Bruce Pearl Slams Miami (OH)!
    Mar 6 2026
    On this milestone 80th episode of Bando’s Breakdowns, Zain Bando tackles a massive week of sports drama starting with the shocking reports that Conor McGregor has officially turned down a high-stakes clash against the rising Carlos Prates, raising questions about whether the "Notorious" one is waiting for a legacy fight or simply avoiding the UFC's most dangerous new threat. The combat sports coverage continues as Zain explores the mystery behind Islam Makhachev potentially distancing himself from a matchup with Ian Machado Garry before shifting gears to the hardwood for a way-too-early Big Ten Men’s Basketball tournament outlook as the bracket begins to take its final shape. After recapping the biggest takeaway from UFC Mexico City, Zain dives into the weekend’s biggest controversy involving Bruce Pearl’s dismissive comments regarding Miami (OH) following their battle with Auburn, debating whether the coach's take was cold-blooded honesty or high-level program protection. The episode wraps up with a local twist in Zain’s Zinger as he breaks down why Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was spotted courtside at a Bulls game and what his presence there says about his growing "superstar" status in the Windy City after his historic 2025 playoff run.

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    25 mins
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