Fighter vs. Writer: Matt Brown REACTS to Ronda Rousey’s Comments on Joe Rogan Plus Jake Paul vs. Francis Ngannou and More

Kayla Harrison is now a UFC fighter, as she prepares to face former UFC champion Holly Holm at UFC 300 on April 13 in Las Vegas. With Harrison now in the picture, and Amanda Nunes teasing a potential comeback following UFC 297, could the stars align to put a Nunes vs. Harrison matchup together? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to UFC CEO Dana White's stunning announcement from Tuesday night, what it would take to get Nunes out of retirement, and the pros and cons of the signing. Additionally, listener questions include the clip of Jon Anik expressing his frustration with the negative portion of the UFC fanbase, and why he's spot on, the current shape of UFC 300, a potential Francis Ngannou vs. Ryan Bader fight in the PFL, Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway, 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

25 Jan 20241h 14min

UFC CEO Dana White made a big announcement on Tuesday night as it relates to UFC 300, but it likely was not what most fans were expecting as White revealed that the promotion has signed former PFL champion Kayla Harrison, and she will meet former UFC champion Holly Holm at the historic pay-per-view event — not at featherweight, but at bantamweight. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaun Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew react to the big news of Harrison's signing, and the matchup with Holm. Additionally, they discuss the many questions surrounding this news, including major concerns about Harrison's ability to make the bantamweight limit, how much it improves the division now championed by Raquel Pennington, the PFL losing one of their biggest stars, along with one of the big fights on the table with Cris Cyborg, if Harrison's arrival could lead to an Amanda Nunes comeback, if Julianna Peña should be worried, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti 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

24 Jan 202429min

It's time to ask the question: Is women’s bantamweight in 2024 the worst division in UFC history? Podcast pals Mike Heck and Jed Meshew join co-hosts Shaun Al-Shatti and Alexander K. Lee this week to decipher that mystery and unpack everything UFC 297. The gang hits DDP's title win and whether his reign will finally bring stability to an unstable division around (10:05), and whip out their tier lists around (22:45) to debate where middleweight sits among the most fun divisions in MMA. Then, the crew puts on their investigative hats around (48:10) to determine whether it's an exaggeration to officially call this new women's bantamweight class the worst division in UFC history. All that plus the latest moves by Movsar Evloev and Magomed Ankalaev around (1:13:30), plus much more. ***NOTE: This episode was recorded before the UFC announced its signing of Kayla Harrison. While it's an interesting wrinkle, no doubt, we stand by this conversation. At least until Harrison proves she can make 135 pounds safely and consistently.*** Follow Shaun Al-Shatti @ShaunAlShatti Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee Follow Mike Heck @MikeHeck_JR 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

24 Jan 20241h 27min

Benoit Saint Denis encara Dustin Poirier no UFC 299 de olho em uma possível chance ao cinturão dos leves da organização, e o treinador Daniel Woirin, que garimpou o ex-militar francês antes do seu inicio no MMA, fala ao Trocação Franca sobre sua incrível trajetória. O podcast recebe ainda o jornalista Coutinho, do Canal Encarada, para destrinchar o UFC 297 e suas ramificações. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. Benoit Saint Denis meets Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 eyeing a future shot at the lightweight belt, and coach Daniel Woirin, who discovered the former French paratrooper before his start in MMA, joins Trocação Franca to look back at his incredible journey. The podcast also welcomes Canal Encarada’s Coutinho to break down all the UFC 297 storylines and future ramifications. 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 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

24 Jan 20241h 4min

Following UFC 297 this past Saturday, UFC color commentator and analyst Laura Sanko joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to react to the first UFC pay-per-view of the year, Dricus du Plessis' middleweight title win over Sean Strickland, explains why she scored the fight for du Plessis, the performances of both fighters, where both guys go from here, Raquel Pennington winning the women's bantamweight title, the potential of an Amanda Nunes comeback, agreeing with Jasmine Jasudavicius getting a 10-7 round over Priscila Cachoeira, and more. 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

23 Jan 202441min

Sean Strickland may have lost the fight and the UFC middleweight title this past weekend at UFC 297, but in Nate Diaz like fashion, he still came out of the event in the court of public opinion as a winner. If the UFC goes ahead and books a fight between new champ Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 300, should Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev in a title eliminator also be added to the lineup? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to UFC 297, the razor close main event between du Plessis and Strickland, and discusses why Strickland vs. Chimaev makes all the sense in the world. Additionally, listener questions include the somewhat lackluster 2024 opener for the UFC pay-per-view year, Raquel Pennington's bantamweight title win, the possibility of an Amanda Nunes return to the UFC, how the UFC has changed over the last decade-plus, if the WWE's deal with Netflix could impact the UFC in their next TV deal, 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

23 Jan 20241h 26min

The Fighter vs. The Writer returns as we react to the fallout from UFC 297 with Alan Jouban joining MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin on the latest episode. We’ll discuss the main event fight where Dricus du Plessis dethroned Sean Strickland in a razor-close split decision in the main event. The scorecards were close but did the judges get it right? Plus, how should the judges be informed about accidental fouls like the clash of heads that actually caused the gruesome cut suffered by Strickland midway through the fight? We’ll also talk about Raquel Pennington winning the vacant women’s bantamweight title and the bigger problems facing that division in 2024 and beyond. A few years ago, the women’s bantamweight division was a marquee weight class but with Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey gone, the stars have disappeared and it doesn’t look like there are any prospects on the rise. We’ll also discuss some possible fights for UFC 300 and how we need to handle our expectations for that historic card. All that and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer!  Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

23 Jan 20241h 13min

Dricus du Plessis accomplished his goal of becoming UFC champion on Saturday night with a hard fought decision win over Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 297. While du Plessis has his sights set on Israel Adesanya for his first title defense — possibly at UFC 300 — where does Strickland go after losing the title? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what's next for Strickland and du Plessis from a matchmaking perspective following Saturday's pay-per-view event. Additionally, future matchups will be discussed for new women's bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington following her dominant decision win over Mayra Bueno Silva in the co-main event, along with main card winners Neil Magny, Chris Curtis, Movsar Evloev, 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

21 Jan 202457min