The MMA Hour - Episode 168

Jack Hermansson returned to the octagon for the first time in over a year and did so as a massive underdog against Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Vegas 86, but the wily veteran had other plans as Hermansson got back in the win column with a hard fought decision win. "The Joker" called out Nassourdine Imavov following the victory, but will that be direction the UFC goes? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could be next for Hermansson after his main event win. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Dan Ige following his nasty first-round knockout win over Andre Fili in the co-main event, along with fellow main card winners Ihor Potieria, Gregory Rodrigues, Michael Johnson, Rodolfo Vieira, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee 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

11 Feb 20241h 9min

Jack Hermansson reminded fans why he's been a fixture in the UFC's middleweight rankings and he battled through early adversity to steal momentum before outworking the dangerous Joe Pyfer over 25 minutes in the main event of UFC Vegas 86. Following Saturday's Fight Night event at the UFC APEX, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Eric Jackman, and Alexander K. Lee react to Hermansson's veteran showing in victory, discuss what we learned about Pyfer in defeat and why people shouldn't be too quick to write him off. Additionally, the panel talks Dan Ige's brutal first-round knockout win over Andre Fili in the co-main event, other standout performances from the likes of Gregory Rodriguez, Rodolfo Vieira, Carlos Prates, Bogdan Guskov, along with additional takeaways from the UFC's final stop on the road to UFC 298. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee 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

11 Feb 20241h 34min

The UFC makes one more stop at the APEX on the road to UFC 298 with UFC Vegas 86, and for the third event in a row, the middleweight division gets top billing as veteran Jack Hermansson will look to stop the incredible momentum of DWCS standout Joe Pyfer. Will experience win out, or will the powerful Pyfer make his presence felt in the 185-pound rankings? MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Eric Jackman preview Saturday’s event, the main event between Hermansson and Pyfer, and what’s at stake for both fighters. Additionally, they’ll discuss the featherweight co-main event between Dan Ige and Andre Fili, other bouts that stand out in terms of intrigue, the fight that is flying under the radar the most, plus, they’ll answer your questions at the end of the show. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

9 Feb 20241h 23min

There are fighters who came through on the ground floor to become big stars in the UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts, there's others who just didn't have it when the octagon door closed, but there are others who seemed to have it all and their stories were never fully told. Who is the biggest "what if" fighter in UFC history? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, it's Free-For-All Friday where listener topics include some of those fighters who, for one reason or another, weren't able to finish their career stories in the way fans may have expected them to. Additionally, questions include star building in the UFC, the UFC Vegas 86 main event between Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer, the WWE's WrestleMania kickoff press conference on Thursday in Las Vegas, 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

9 Feb 202458min

The majority of the MMA fanbase is looking for answers to two questions — what will headline UFC 300, and when is Conor McGregor making his UFC return? On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White says he hopes it happens in the fall, which doesn't line up to what McGregor and potential opponent Michael Chandler have said recently.  On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss White's update on McGregor, why it's taking so long, and if Chandler should consider moving on since he's approaching nearly two years out of the octagon. Additionally, topics may include Dustin Poirier's Hokey Pokey move a week ago ahead of his UFC 299 bout with Benoit Saint Denis, this past weekend's UFC Vegas 85 fight card, this Saturday's UFC Vegas 86 event headlined by Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer and much more. Host Mike Heck will be joined by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew to discuss these topics 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

8 Feb 20241h 26min

While Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler seem to think they are settling their score during International Fight Week, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that he's hopeful the fight takes place in the fall. Is this update something we should be prepared for, or is this a brilliant swerve by White to keep fans focused elsewhere? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to White's update from Wednesday's edition of The Pat McAfee Show, how fans have been responding from both sides of the equation, and discusses whether or not this could be a work. Additionally, topics include events at the UFC APEX, the UFC's upcoming TV deal, what could headline UFC 300 if Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya can't get done, UFC 298 flying under the radar, 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

8 Feb 20241h 2min

After a lackluster UFC Vegas 85 card, MMA's leading promotion returns with yet another middleweight main event in the world's most famous Apex, this time between Jack Hermansson and Joe Pyfer. Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a brief recap of last weekend's card and a status check on Flyweight Understan, before diving into yet another Apex card. After all, if the UFC can't deliver the most fun fights in the world every weekend, we can certainly make them more entertaining by recklessly putting money on them. Can Joe Pyfer break into the Top-10 and announce himself as a legitimate middleweight threat? Will Dan Ige ever not be a Top-15 featherweight? Just how cooked is Michael Johnson? And how many middleweight fights is too many for one card? All this and more are discussed on this week's episode. Tune in for episode 77 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks 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

7 Feb 202454min

Thiago Marreta abre o jogo sobre o caso de doping na PFL, o desafio com Yoel Romero na Arábia Saudita e as chances de seus ex-rivais Jamahal Hill e Magomed Ankalaev contra Alex Poatan. O Trocação Franca ainda conversa com Carlos Prates sobre as mais de 100 lutas de kickboxing que fez antes de focar no MMA, e Gregory Robocop a uma vitória de desafiar um rankeado no UFC. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. Thiago Santos opens up about his doping suspension, fighting Yoel Romero in Saudi Arabia, and the odds of former rivals Jamahal Hill and Magomed Ankalaev dethroning Alex Pereira. Trocação Franca also chats with UFC Vegas 86 fighters Carlos Prates, who discusses fighting more than 100 kickboxing bouts before fully committing to MMA, and Gregory Rodrigues, who meets Brad Tavares in what he hopes is his final bout before challenging a ranked middleweight. 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

7 Feb 202450min