Fighter vs. Writer Reacts to Jon Jones’ Win Over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 and a Possible Conspiracy Theory About His Future in the Sport

Sean Strickland is a massive underdog heading into his first UFC title fight this Saturday against Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC 293 in Sydney, but are there paths to victory for the brash challenger despite the lopsided betting odds? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes listener questions about Strickland's chances against Adesanya, what he may need to do to pull off the big upset, and what the division looks like if that happens. Additionally, listener questions include Adesanya's place in the middleweight GOAT discussion, Manel Kape returning on Saturday and what a win would do for his title hopes, Tai Tuivasa looking to get back on track against Alexander Volkov, CM Punk being fired by AEW, what Ciryl Gane's win in the main event of UFC Paris did for his title hopes, the next move for Benoit Saint-Denis following his incredible showing against Thiago Moises, and much more. You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Syys 20231h 7min

The Fighter vs. The Writer returns with UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin discussing the fallout from UFC Paris and looking ahead at UFC 293. Ciryl Gane got a big win in the main event at UFC Paris but did we learn anything about him that we didn’t already know? Does he need to take on a top grappler like Tom Aspinall, Curtis Blaydes or Jailton Almedia to truly prove he’s still an elite heavyweight? Plus we react to Rose Namajunas’ debut at flyweight and the news that she plans to stay at 125 pounds for the future rather than making her return to the strawweight division. We’ll also look ahead at UFC 293 and try to convince ourselves that Sean Strickland has a legitimate chance at upsetting Israel Adesanya. We’ll also tease what could be next for Adesanya if he wins — a grudge match with Dricus Du Plessis or could Khamzat Chimaev present a more interesting matchup if he gets through Paulo Costa at UFC 294. Also following news that Paul Felder is plotting a potential comeback to the cage, Brown explains why it’s so hard for fighters to actually stay retired from the sport. All this and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer! Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify Read More: MMA Fighting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Syys 20231h 19min

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of the most exciting and influential fighters in MMA history and on this episode it celebrates the career of Chan Sung Jung, the man who became The Korean Zombie, delighting the masses with his particular blend of violence and toughness. The Korean Zombie stepped into the cage for the final time at UFC Singapore, where he was knocked out by Max Holloway in the third round after inviting a chaotic brawl in true Zombie fashion. Afterwards, the arena sang Zombie into retirement, chanting the words to The Cranberries song as Zombie exited the cage for the final time. In honor of Zombie's remarkable career, host Jed Meshew is joined by MMA Fighting's José Youngs and Alexander K. Lee to take a deep dive into what made Zombie so beloved and where he stands in the history of MMA. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Syys 20232h 22min

Ciryl Gane got back in the win column with a one-sided beatdown of Serghei Spivac in the main event of UFC Paris to send the hometown crowd home happy. With the second-round finish, a heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic on the books for UFC 295, and other pivotal divisional bouts to come, what is next for Gane following his victory? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee give their thoughts on what should be next for the former interim champion after his dominant win over Serghei Spivac. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Manon Fiorot and Rose Namajunas following Fiorot's victory in the co-main event, Benoit Saint-Denis after his breakout TKO win over Thiago Moises in the lightweight featured bout, along with fellow main card winners Volkan Oezdemir, Morgan Charriere, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Syys 20231h 34min

Ciryl Gane and Rose Namajunas entered UFC Paris as the two biggest storylines in terms of whether or not they could bounce back from their recent championship bout losses, and in the end, only one reigned supreme, while the other goes back to the drawing board. Following the UFC's return to Paris, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, José Youngs, and Jed Meshew react to Gane's near perfect game of a performance against Serghei Spivac, what we learned from the former interim heavyweight champion during his second-round main event finish, and if Tom Aspinall should be his next opponent. Additionally, the panel reacts to Rose Namajunas falling short in her flyweight debut against Manon Fiorot, where Namajunas goes from here, and if Fiorot did enough to leapfrog Erin Blanchfield in the title discussion, along with Benoit Saint-Denis' incredible performance against Thiago Moises, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Syys 20231h 8min

The UFC returns to Paris on Saturday, with Ciryl Gane and Manon Fiorot leading a card packed with French talent. MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee, José Youngs, and E. Casey Leydon preview this weekend’s event, which sees Gane look to bounce back from a loss to Jon Jones and get back in the title picture as he faces the streaking Serghei Spivac, while Fiorot welcomes two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas to the flyweight division. Could this be a fresh start for Gane and Namajunas or are Spivac and Fiorot poised to add two major wins to their résumés? Additionally, the crew discusses a lightweight banger between Benoit Saint Denis and Thiago Moises, the UFC debut of Cage Warriors star Morgan Charriere, plus plenty of talk about Namajunas’ legacy should she be heading towards the final chapter of her career. Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow E. Casey Leydon: @ekc Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Syys 20231h 1min

Not a lot of people are giving Sean Strickland a chance in his first UFC title fight against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at next Saturday's UFC 293 in Sydney. But in a crazy sport like MMA where anything can happen, what will the 185-pound division look like should Strickland pull off the upset? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on what could happen if Strickland were to win, how surprising it would be, and if he doesn't pull it off, who could be the guy to dethrone Adesanya at 185. Additionally, listener topics include the UFC heavyweight division and what the fallout could be of the UFC Paris main event between Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac, Rose Namajunas' weigh-in for the co-main event against Manon Fiorot for her 125-pound debut, the Contender Series contract winners for this season, the UFC 293 lineup as it stands, Sean O'Malley's superstar potential and why there have been only a handful of major stars in MMA, and more. You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Syys 20231h 11min

In the clash between two of the UFC's all-time great action fighters, Max Holloway knocked out The Korean Zombie in the main event of UFC Singapore, which served as the final fight of Zombie's career.  On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to Zombie calling it a career and his legacy, along with Holloway's outing, and what could be next for him after his second straight win. Additionally, topics include Erin Blanchield's win over Taila Santos in the most high stakes contest of this past Saturday's card, UFC Paris this Saturday headlined by Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivac, Rose Namajunas making her debut at 125 pounds against Manon Fiorot and what's at stake for "Thug Rose," Dana White blasting former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and his teammate Merab Dvalishvili, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and José Youngs. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31 Elo 20231h 21min