On To the Next One | What's Next For Islam Makhachev, JDM After UFC 322?

UFC CEO Dana White promised he would be announcing some big fights, and he certainly came through with a pair of massive bouts in the promotion's best division. On Sunday night, White revealed that former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier will face the surging Benoit Saint-Denis in the five-round co-main event of UFC 299, which takes place March 9 in Miami, and former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will look to stop the title push of Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April. Following the big news, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, and Jed Meshew react to the pair of high-stakes 155-pound matchups, discuss which piece of business is more surprising, White saying that the Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan winner gets champ Islam Makhachev next and where that leaves Justin Gaethje, which fighter has the most to lose, early predictions, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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 202435min

Following a chaotic and unpredictable 2023 in the world of MMA, 2024 is shaping up to be even crazier — both in and out of the cage. Could this be a year that will see stars such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones compete multiple times? Will Khamzat Chimaev finally get his hands on UFC gold? Will Francis Ngannou continue to shake up the boxing world, and also make his MMA return? On a very special edition of On To the Next One, those questions — and a lot more — are presented during the 2024 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, Ngannou, Sean Strickland, Dana White, Colby Covington, Israel Adesanya, Nate 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 2024. 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

7 Tammi 20242h 7min

Francis Ngannou's first fight of 2024 is booked, and it will take place in the boxing ring, not an MMA cage. As MMA Fighting confirmed on Friday, Ngannou will face Anthony Joshua in a 10-round boxing match that is targeted for March, although the date is currently not finalized at this time. Following Ngannou making the decision to leave the UFC as heavyweight champion in early 2023, he went on to sign with the PFL before taking Tyson Fury to the limit in his pro boxing debut in October. Now, "The Predator" gets another massive opportunity to shake things up in boxing's heavyweight division. Following the news being announced, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaun Al-Shatti, and Eric Jackman react to the news, how it benefits both fighters, discuss what it means for Ngannou's MMA future, early predictions, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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

5 Tammi 202428min

UFC 300 will be here before we know it, and everyone seems to have an idea of what the historic UFC pay-per-view event should look like. With Conor McGregor announcing he's fighting Michael Chandler in June, the main event — along with the full supporting cast — remains a mystery. So what would be your ideal UFC 300 lineup? On a special edition of Heck of a Morning (in the afternoon), MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes your UFC 300 fight card suggestions. Additionally, he'll answer your questions about anything and everything as it relates to the crazy world of MMA, interim champ Tom Aspinall tweeting his thoughts about Stipe Miocic getting a title shot vs. Jon Jones over him, whether or not Nick Diaz should return at UFC 300, 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 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

5 Tammi 20241h 25min

According to Conor McGregor, his return is set against Michael Chandler at the UFC's International Fight Week in June. Although the promotion has yet to officially announce, it appears as if we'll see the sport's biggest star before the second half of 2024. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to McGregor's announcement that his bout with Chandler will not take place at UFC 300, but on June 29, along with the opening odds giving McGregor a slight edge. Additionally, the panel takes your questions about the bouts currently on the table for April's UFC 300 event, Leon Edwards saying he'll be defending his welterweight title on the card, what could be the main event, other big stories in the sport with the UFC on break until next Saturday, and more.  Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

4 Tammi 20241h 20min

Conor McGregor announced his octagon return against Michael Chandler, but according the former two-division world champ, it will not be happening at UFC 300 as many were predicting. With the UFC's 2024 calendar filling up rapidly, what fight will headline one of the promotion's biggest and monumental events? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the McGregor vs. Chandler announcement for June 29, if it is a mistake by the UFC to not have the fight headline UFC 300, and what the UFC could do in order to make that all-important main event spot pop. Additionally, listener topics include a potential Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad fight, if Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira should get the shot at Islam Makhachev, the UFC's future at the APEX, the promotion's debut in Saudi Arabia still without a headliner, 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 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

4 Tammi 20241h 20min

Who will be our 11 UFC champions by the end of 2024? The gang is BACK to predict the upcoming championship slate and debate the biggest winners and biggest upsets of the next 12 months. Follow Shaun Al-Shatti @ShaunAlShatti Follow Damon Martin @DamonMartin 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

1 Tammi 20241h 28min

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of our favorite fighters in MMA history. On this episode, the MMA Fighting staff takes a deep dive into the legendary career of Mirko Cro Cop. Making a name for himself in kickboxing as one of the most exciting fighters in K-1, Mirko Cro Cop transitioned to MMA in 2001 and quickly became one of the standout fighter in Pride FC. Leaving a trail of unconscious bodies in his wake thanks to his devastating left high kick, Cro Cop became one of the most accomplished and beloved heavyweights in history, most notably winning the Pride Openweight Grand Prix in 2006 and serving as one-half of the Fight of the Decade against Fedor Emelianenko. A disappointing sting in the UFC followed but Cro Cop then found new life with a late career resurgence that saw him claim a K-1 world title and win the RIZIN Openweight Grand Prix in 2016 before hanging up the gloves for good in 2019 following a stroke. What were the most iconic performances and what were our favorite memories from Cro Cop's career? Listen in as the MMA Fighting crews remembers remembers one of the most devastating strikers in MMA history. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Shaheen Al-Shatti: @shaunalshatti 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

31 Joulu 20232h 8min