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 O'Malley enters his first UFC championship fight in the main event of UFC 292 against Aljamain Sterling, but even though the spot is big and the lights will be bright, is there a lot of pressure on "Sugar," or is all of the pressure on the current champ in, perhaps, his final 135-pound title defense? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the main event between Sterling and O'Malley, both fighters' media day scrums after talking with both competitors, and why there's a case to be made that this is a "house money" fight for the challenger. Additionally, listener topics include The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White's Contender Series, judging in MMA, O'Malley's comments about managers in the MMA space, Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington, Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, 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

17 Aug 202349min

For the first time in nearly four years the UFC heads back to Boston and it's coming correct with UFC 292, one of the best events of the year on paper. Headlined by a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley, and a strawweight title fight between Weili Zhang and Amanda Lemos, UFC 292 is bringing the heat, and so too are the No Bets Barred boys as the break it all down. This week, co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew are joined by the esteemed "Boston" Mike Heck as he's boots on the ground for UFC 292 and the trio does a deep dive into all the big matchups this weekend. Topics discussed include Sean O'Malley's chances at the upset, exactly how dominant will Weili Zhang and Ian Garry look, the world's most obvious gimmick parlay, and of course, the ChatGPT Bet of the Week. Tune in for episode 58 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

16 Aug 20231h 8min

O Brasil está diretamente envolvido nas duas disputas de cinturão do UFC 292, e o Trocação Franca conversa com ambos os personagens. Além de Amanda Lemos, que desafia a campeã peso-palha Zhang Weili, o faixa-preta Augusto Tanquinho estará no córner de Sean O’Malley para o duelo com o rei dos galos, Aljamain Sterling. O podcast traz ainda entrevistas com Pedro Munhoz, que também luta no card — e já enfrentou ambos Sterling e O’Malley —, e Renan Problema, peso-pesado da PFL que impressionou Francis Ngannou. Brazil is involved in both UFC 292 title fights, and Trocação Franca chats with both players on this week’s episode. Amanda Lemos challenges strawweight champion Zhang Weili, and jiu-jitsu coach Augusto Mendes corners Sean O’Malley for his clash with bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling. The show also features interviews with UFC 292’s Pedro Munhoz, who fought Sterling and O’Malley in the past, and Renan Ferreira, the PFL heavyweight who impressed Francis Ngannou. 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

16 Aug 202350min

Alexander K. Lee, Conner Burks, and E. Casey Leydon react react to Episode 12, the season finale of The Ultimate Fighter 31 on TUF Hang, which goes live on YouTube every Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/4 a.m. IST immediately following the conclusion of TUF 31. Watch the show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LNT5Et-Hxpo Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow Conner Burks: @ConnerBurks 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

16 Aug 202354min

Sean O'Malley will have his opportunity to capture UFC gold this Saturday when he faces bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling in the main event of UFC 292 in Boston. Should O'Malley pull off the upset, does the division get flipped upside down? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses how the UFC matchmakers could proceed should O'Malley win the title, who has more pressure on them between Sterling and O'Malley, and more. Additionally, listener topics include the co-main event between Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos for the strawweight title, Chris Weidman's return against Brad Tavares flying under the radar, Khalil Rountree's title hopes at light heavyweight, 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

15 Aug 202341min

On The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC analyst Alan Jouban joins MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to preview UFC 292 on Saturday from Boston. In the main event, Aljamain Sterling will look to defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley in a hyped matchup between champion and challenger. If Sterling is successful, does that cement him as the greatest 135-pound fighter of all time? Jouban argues that Sterling may not even need the win to already claim GOAT status. We’ll also look ahead at the co-main event between Zhang Weili and Amanda Lemos in a seemingly forgotten title fight taking place on Saturday. As part of the preview, we’ll also discuss if the hype is real around Irish welterweight prospect Ian Machado Garry as he prepares to clash with Neil Magny, Chris Weidman’s comeback from a devastating broken leg, the stakes for Marlon “Chito” Vera. All this and much 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

15 Aug 20231h 24min

Vicente Luque got back on track with a well-rounded decision victory over former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Vegas 78. Luque called for a top-five opponent following the win, and even said he was open to welcoming Dustin Poirier to welterweight if the opportunity presented itself, but will either of those things happen after snapping a two-fight skid? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee give their thoughts in regards to what could be next for Luque after his decision win on Saturday at the APEX. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Cub Swanson after his decision win over Hakeem Dawodu, Khalil Rountree following his first-round knockout win over Chris Daukaus, along with fellow main card winners Iasmin Lucindo, A.J. Dobson, Josh Fremd, 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

13 Aug 20231h 15min

Vicente Luque returned to the octagon for the first time in over a year and looked like a new and improved version of himself as he earned a unanimous decision victory over Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Vegas 78. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Eric "New York Ric" Jackman, and E. Casey Leydon react to Luque's victory over the former lightweight champion, his more grappling heavy approach, calling for a top-five opponent, and more. Additionally, topics include Cub Swanson's unanimous decision win over Hakeem Dawodu, how the fight was scored, if it was a robbery, Khalil Rountree's continued evolution after his nasty finish of Chris Daukaus, a finish-heavy preliminary card and which up and comer impressed the most, other burning questions coming out of the APEX, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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

13 Aug 202342min