The MMA Hour - Episode 168

Jorge Masvidal finds himself in a very interesting position this Saturday in a hometown fight with Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, despite being on a three-fight skid. Could an upset win be enough to spoil arch-rival Colby Covington's bid to fight Leon Edwards for the welterweight title? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the stakes in the Masvidal vs. Burns co-main event of Saturday's pay-per-view card in Miami, and if the UFC could change course if Masvidal steals the headlines. Additionally, topics include the big news of the UFC and WWE merging together as one company under the Endeavor umbrella, what it could mean for the fighters, the advantages the deal could have, the UFC 287 bantamweight matchup between Rob Font and Adrian Yanez, Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo, 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

4 Apr 20231h 21min

UFC 287 takes center stage on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer with Matt Brown and Damon Martin previewing the upcoming event. The main event will see Alex Pereira defending the UFC middleweight title for the first time against ex-champion Israel Adesanya. Pereira now holds three wins over Adesanya — two in kickboxing and a knockout over him in the UFC — but can he possibly make it four in a row? We’ll discuss this matchup and what Adesanya needs to do to finally slay the “monster in his closet” that Pereira has become in his career. Plus, how much does a win or a loss affect Adesanya’s career legacy after largely establishing himself as the second best middleweight in history behind Anderson Silva? We’ll also talk about the co-main event where Gilbert Burns battles Leon Edwards and the stakes surrounding that welterweight matchup. Masvidal appears at a crossroads where a win could lead him into a title fight against Leon Edwards while a loss might mean his retirement. All this plus we’ll discuss the news that the UFC will be merging with WWE 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

4 Apr 20231h 16min

The UFC and WWE will merge together in a new publicly traded company with combined revenue worth more than $21 billion, but what does this new partnership actually mean for the future of combat sports and professional wrestling? MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin and Alexander K. Lee react to the massive news after Endeavor closed a deal to buy a majority share in WWE that was officially announced on Monday. What does this deal do for the UFC? Will WWE performers suddenly start showing up on UFC programming? Is Conor McGregor destined to appear at WrestleMania? We’ll discuss all of that and so much more as it relates to the UFC and WWE becoming business partners under the Endeavor umbrella. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Subscribe: Spotify Read More: MMA Fighting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Apr 202334min

É semana de Alex Poatan x Israel Adesanya e Gilbert Durinho x Jorge Masvidal no octógono, e o Trocação Franca destrincha tudo sobre o UFC 287 na companhia de Durinho e Glover Teixeira. A invista Jaqueline Amorim também passou pelo podcast antes de sua estreia no card de Miami. A sessão Fight Week também recebe a campeã Larissa Pacheco e Renan Problema, brasileiros que lutam sexta-feira pela PFL. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. It’s UFC 287 fight week and Trocação Franca welcomes Gilbert Burns and Glover Teixeira to discuss and break down Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 and “Durinho” vs. Jorge Masvidal in Miami. The podcast also welcomes UFC 287 newcomer Jaqueline Amorim and PFL fighters Larissa Pacheco and Renan Ferreira. 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

3 Apr 20231h 6min

While a lot of the UFC pay-per-view schedule has taken shape, as of now, there is no main event on the slate for UFC 289, which is set to go down on June 10 in a location yet to be announced. What fight could take that slot? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the main event situation for the promotion's June pay-per-view event, and what could actually be in play. Additionally, listener questions include Stephen Thompson teasing fight news and who potential opponents could be, Jorge Masvidal's chances against Gilbert Burns at UFC 287, the art of the post-victory callout in the UFC, Gamebred Boxing 4, prospects to watch at Friday's Bellator 293 event, favorite WrestleMania moments, 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

31 Mars 20231h 36min

Although the UFC has a rare weekend off, the combat sports world has plenty of options to keep fans occupied with a plethora of MMA, boxing, and other events sprinkled throughout. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon discuss the combat sports weekend, which includes Bellator 293 — headlined by Marcelo Golm vs. Daniel James — PFL 1 and the main event between Brendan Loughnane and Marlon Moraes, Gamebred Boxing 4, which features Roy Jones Jr. in his final boxing match against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis, along with Fight Circus, Wrestlemania 39, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

31 Mars 202355min

Cory Sandhagen looked incredible in a dominant victory over Marlon Vera in the main event of UFC San Antonio — at least that's how it looked to all who watched it with the exception of one judge, capping off a miserable weekend for the TDLR.  On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss Sandhagen's fantastic performance, his callout of Merab Dvalishvili, and where Vera goes from the loss. Additionally, they'll discuss the Texas commission's awful weekend from the judging on the UFC card, to the frightening officiating blunder at Fury FC 73 the night prior, Donald Cerrone getting the nod for the UFC Hall of Fame, Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Boxing card this Saturday featuring a slew of MMA fighters competing in boxing matches, Friday's Bellator 293 event, the PFL's 2023 season kickoff this weekend, and more. This week, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew banter about the top stories in combat sports and beyond. 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

30 Mars 20231h 16min

Israel Adesanya has a lot to fight for when he faces his longtime nemesis Alex Pereira in his bid to regain the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 287 next Saturday in Miami. A win could set up a massive third championship bout, or other interesting short-term avenues should he be successful, but where would Adesanya go with a second straight loss? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck tries to find answers to that very interesting question ahead of the UFC's next pay-per-view extravaganza. Additionally, listener questions include Khabib Nurmagomedov's greatness, comparing Stipe Miocic getting the next heavyweight title fight with Jon Jones to Colby Covington getting a shot at Leon Edwards for the welterweight strap, the sport's most underappreciated fighters, judging in MMA, 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: 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

30 Mars 20231h 9min