The MMA Hour - Episode 168

After Alexa Grasso shocked the world with her submission win over Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 285 to capture the flyweight title, should she run it right back with Shevchenko, or should the surging Erin Blanchfield get her chance to fight for the championship first? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the flyweight division, and how things shape up after this past Saturday's pay-per-view event. Additionally, Free-For-All Friday topics include Jon Jones' future after a fight with Stipe Miocic, what could be next for Kamaru Usman win or lose next Saturday at UFC 286, Justin Gaethje's title contention hopes heading into his fight with Rafael Fiziev, the current state of pro wrestling, best fights of all-time, 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

10 Mar 20231h 24min

Jon Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion after submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round in the main event of UFC 285. With the victory, as impressive as it was, is it enough for Jones to reclaim the top spot as the No. 1 fighter on the planet currently? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will recap Jones' incredible return to the octagon, his current pound-for-pound status, and a potential fight with Stipe Miocic. Additionally, topics include Alexa Grasso's massive upset win over Valentina Shevchenko to win the flyweight title, if an immediate rematch is the way to go, the low-key MVP of the pay-per-view event, Friday's Bellator 293 card — headlined by the lightweight title fight and opening round grand prix matchup between Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson — stacked up against UFC Las Vegas, headlined by Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the discussion between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Eric "New York Ric" Jackman. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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 Mar 20231h 25min

While Jon Jones' heavyweight championship victory has stolen the headlines, and created a potential massive fight with Stipe Miocic later this year, there hasn't been a lot of talk about what comes next for Jones' opponent Ciryl Gane. Where does Gane go from the tough loss to Jones? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on what could be next for Gane following UFC 285, and what opponents make sense. Additionally, topics include UFC Las Vegas and whether or not a win over Petr Yan could get Merab Dvalishvili a title shot in his next fight, Bellator 293, Bo Nickal's UFC debut and Henry Cejudo's comments that the Penn State national champion should get six more fights under his belt before getting a top-10 opponent, under the radar fights for the upcoming UFC 286 pay-per-view event, the stakes in the Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev fight, 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

9 Mar 20231h 17min

UFC 285 is in the review but that doesn't mean the MMA game is stopping. This Saturday in Las Vegas, the UFC returns with yet another fight night card, this time headlined by a pivotal bantamweight matchup between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili, and so, as always, the No Bets Barred boys are back to discuss. Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick off the episode by discussing UFC 285, an event which was undeniably ugly for both. Conner ended up down a few units but that paled in comparison to Jed whose "All In On Shevchenko" plan backfired catastrophically. Now Jed is down to the felt and looking to build back up, and so the boys dive into UFC Las Vegas, with both men weighing the merits of continuing to back Petr Yan, questioning the possible outcomes for the Battle of Alexanders in the co-main event, and digging deep to find value on the undercard. Then, before wrapping things up, Jed offers up a pair of Bellator 292 bets, just for good measure. Tune in for Episode 38 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks 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

8 Mar 20231h 26min

O UFC oficializou o retorno de Charles do Bronx contra Beneil Dariush no dia 6 de maio, e o ex-campeão volta ao Trocação Franca para analisar o duelo, falar do sucesso estrondoso no Brasil, as alfinetadas virtuais em Conor McGregor, o tropeço diante de Islam Makhachev e muito mais. O podcast traz, ainda, entrevistas com Goiti Yamauchi, Bruno Bulldoguinho e Markus Maluko. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. The UFC has officially announced Charles Oliveira’s clash with Beneil Dariush for May 6, and the former champion returns to Trocação Franca to weigh in on the match-up, his astounding success in Brazil, the online altercation with Conor McGregor, the loss to Islam Makhachev, and much more. This week’s podcast also features interviews with Goiti Yamauchi, Bruno Silva, and Markus Perez. Listen to Trocação Franca with Guilherme Cruz every week to hear from the biggest names on the hottest topics in the Brazilian combat sports world. Follow Guilherme Cruz @Guicruzzz 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

8 Mar 20231h 10min

Jon Jones made it look easy against Ciryl Gane to become the new UFC heavyweight champion. While some questions were answered, others may still be on the table — questions that may only be answered if somehow the UFC can put a fight together between Jones and former champ Francis Ngannou. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the fallout of Jones' quick submission win over Gane in the main event of UFC 285, a likely showdown with Stipe Miocic, and whether or not the UFC would attempt to re-sign Ngannou to fight Jones should the latter move to 2-0 at heavyweight. Additionally, listener questions include Alexa Grasso's championship win against Valentina Shevchenko and if there should be an immediate rematch, or if Grasso's first title defense should be against Erin Blanchfield, Bo Nickal's successful octagon debut, Shavkat Rakhmonov's options after finishing Geoff Neal, 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

7 Mar 20231h 38min

Jon Jones or Francis Ngannou — who is the No. 1 heavyweight in the world? The gang is BACK to wade through the wreckage of another crazy weekend at UFC 285 and make sense of what Jon Jones' violent reintroduction to MMA (and violent introduction to the heavyweight division) means for the bigger picture. Co-hosts Shaun Al-Shatti and Alexander K. Lee are joined by ol' pals Jed Meshew and Damon Martin to debate Jones' place in the heavyweight ranks (around 8:16), where he stands among the current pound-for-pound crop (around 36:42), and much more. They also hit on Alexa Grasso's unbelievable upset over Valentina Shevchenko and where the new champ ranks among the best fighters in the world today (around 1:00:53). Follow Shaun Al-Shatti @ShaunAlShatti Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee 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

7 Mar 20231h 21min

Former UFC title challenger Joseph Benavidez and UFC digital content manager Zac Pacleb join MMA Fighting’s José Youngs on Episode 3 episode of Anything But Fighting. The two cinephiles look back on the year of movies in 2022, give their prediction for the 95th Academy Awards, and break down the biggest Oscar snubs, while also previewing what fans can expect in the theaters in 2023. Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow Joseph Benavidez: @JoeJitsu Follow Zac Pacleb: @ZacPacleb 🎵 Music by Nick Wolf: http://instagram.com/nickwolfmusic 🎨 Art by Adam Nelson: https://www.instagram.com/gorilla_the_bear 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 Mar 20231h 55min