Rankings Show: Who Has the Best Chance To Dethrone Khamzat Chimaev?

Mackenzie Dern gets it done in the UFC Vegas 101 main event, getting some revenge against Amanda Ribas in the process. The big question is — which is one Dern had a hard time answering as well — where does she go from her second consecutive victory and not a lot of fresh and realistic matchups? Following the first UFC event of 2025, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and José Youngs react to Dern's spectacular third-round submission victory over Ribas and the potential options in front of her moving forward. Additionally, they discuss Santiago Ponzinibbio's much-needed victory over Carlton Harris in the penultimate bout, Cesar Almeida's brutal knockout of Abdul Razak Alhassan, the controversial last-second TKO stoppage win for Roman Kopylov against Chris Curtis, Punahele Soriano's quick knockout of Uros Medic, and other standout moments. Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Tammi 1h 5min

The first event of 2025 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas when UFC Vegas 101 takes place at the UFC APEX, headlined by a five-round strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. Dern and Ribas originally faced off in 2019, with Ribas handing Dern the first loss of her professional career. So, ahead of this weekend’s event, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview Saturday’s lineup, discuss what’s at stake in the main event and whether Dern can avenge her previous loss to Ribas, highlight other pivotal fights on the main card, give shine to some low-key bangers and prospects on the undercard, answer viewer questions, and much more. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Tammi 1h 29min

After nearly a month away, the UFC is back to kick off their 2025 with a return to the world's most famous APEX in Las Vegas for UFC Vegas 101 headlined by a rematch between Amanda Ribas and Mackenzie Dern. But that's not all going on in the UFC and MMA news cycle in this new year. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses Joe Rogan saying Jon Jones is asking for $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall and what's real, and what isn't. Additionally, topics include the UFC Seattle main event between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong, former champion Dominick Cruz's return — and possibly final fight — set in the co-main event against Rob Font, Saturday's UFC Fight Night event and what is at stake in the headliner, other news and notes, and much more. Also, a big announcement regarding next week's programming. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Guilherme Cruz. Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Guilherme Cruz: @guicruzzz Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 Tammi 1h 17min

The MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy league is back for Season 2! Join the MMA Fighting staff as they draft fighters to determine bragging rights for the first half of 2025. Follow Jed Meshew @JedKMeshew Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow Damon Martin: @DamonMartin Follow Guilherme Cruz: @guicruzzz 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

9 Tammi 1h 31min

The first fight card of 2025 is upon us! That's right, the new year finally kicks off with its first fight card and while it's not the biggest name card of all time, UFC Vegas 101 still features some pretty decent matchups, capped off by a strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas. So let's get 2025 off to a good start with the latest edition of No Bets Barred! This week, Host Jed Meshew is joined by MMA Fighting's Alexander K. Lee to dive into all the fights at UFC Vegas 101. Topics of discussion include Dern's chances to pull off the upset and get her revenge on Ribas, why Chris Curtis is being so disrespected by oddsmakers, which prospects on the card have the most upside, and the latest leg in Jed's great white whale: The Climb! Tune in for episode 113 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8 Tammi 56min

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck is joined by Dark Side of the Cage executive producer Tim Healy to preview the brand new Vice TV series that kicks off this Wednesday, which includes topics such as the stories of Kimbo Slice, Ronda Rousey, Nick Diaz, Matt Hughes, "War Machine," and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 Tammi 28min

Following a chaotic and unpredictable 2024 in the world of MMA, 2025 is shaping up to be even crazier — both in and out of the cage. Could this be a year that will see Conor McGregor actually fight in the UFC? Does Jon Jones remain an active fighter? Will Khamzat Chimaev finally get his hands on UFC gold?  On a very special edition of On To the Next One, those questions — and a lot more — are presented during the 2025 predictions extravaganza. Hosts Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee will go through a slew of buy/sell questions presented by listeners about a variety of topics, including McGregor, Jones, Chimaev, Francis Ngannou, Dana White, Dustin Poirier, Tom Aspinall, Israel Adesanya, Nick Diaz, and much more.  Additionally, they will make their choices for who will end the year as UFC champions in each division, along with their bold and spicy predictions for the world of MMA in 2025. Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr 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

5 Tammi 2h 3min

The UFC heads into a pivotal 2025 as they set up their new television distribution deal for 2026. While the promotion has become the biggest star in MMA, what could the new year look like for the UFC's big names such as Conor McGregor, along with champs Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, and more? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and José Youngs answer questions about the 2025 outlooks for those names, and other intriguing names in and out of the UFC. Additionally, they'll discuss topics such as the PFL and GFL's 2025 campaigns, what some of the biggest stories to watch are, intriguing questions in the MMA world ahead, and much more on the site's first live show of the new year.  Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Tammi 1h 31min