The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani - Episode 316

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov face off in the main event of UFC AbuDhabi this Saturday and the stakes could hardly be higher. Though not confirmed by UFC officials, the winner of this main event fight figures to be next in line for the #UFC bantamweight title, after Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili settle their business later this year. Will Sandhagen finally get a shot at the title or will Nurmagomedov prove the hype behind him is real? Ahead of this weekend’s UFC event, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew is joined by Alexander K. Lee and Jose Youngs to preview the entire card, including the main event stakes between Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov, the other bantamweight main card fight between Marlon “Chito” Vera and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, the possible last ride of former interim champion Tony Ferguson, and more. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs 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

2 Aug 20241h 41min

At UFC 304, Belal Muhammad made the MMA world eat crow, upsetting Leon Edwards to claim the welterweight title in the main event. in the co-main event, Tom Aspinall continued to stake his claim as the true best heavyweight on Earth with another 60-second demolition, this time of former foe Curtis Blaydes. Plus the rest of UFC 304 had some wild stuff happen as well. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discuss Muhammad’s big win, where Edwards goes from here, and whether Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones is the true No. 1 heavyweight in the world. Additionally, topics include Paddy Pimblett getting ranked, Muhammad Mokaev getting let go, and this weekend’s UFC Abu Dhabi card, plus more. Host Mike Heck is out this week so the most decorated combatant in BTL history, Jed Meshew, steps in to moderate the matchup between two of MMA Fighting’s own, Alexander K. Lee and New York Ric. Show goes LIVE Thursday at a special start time of 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee 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

1 Aug 20241h 32min

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi. This Saturday, the UFC returns to the UAE with a banger of a Fight Night card, headlined by a bantamweight bout between Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen and the No Bets Barred boys are back with a full breakdown of the event. Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a brief discussion of UFC 304 and both of their winning weeks before diving into UFC Abu Dhabi. Can Nurmagomedov live up to his familial name or will Sandhagen reestablish himself as the top contender at bantamweight? Can Chito Vera rebound with a win against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo? Is Shara Bullet actually good? All that plus some boxing talk and even a brief chat about Olympic wrestling on this week's episode. Tune in for episode 96 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

31 Juli 202450min

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss the fallout from UFC 304 including Belal Muhammad’s win, does Jon Jones need to pursue a fight against Tom Aspinall after his dominant performance over Curtis Blaydes plus did the UFC make the right move cutting ties with Muhammad Mokaev? All this and more on the latest episode 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

30 Juli 20241h 13min

Belal Muhammad is the brand new UFC welterweight champion after pulling off the upset against Leon Edwards in the main event of Saturday's UFC 304 fight card in Manchester. With a slew of potential challengers, who will be next for "Remember the Name" for his first title defense? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Muhammad and Edwards go following their championship headliner. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Tom Aspinall after his incredible 60-second finish of Curtis Blaydes to retain the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett following his impressive submission victory over Bobby Green, Gregory Rodriguez after his decision win against Christian Leroy Duncan, along with fellow main card winner Arnold Allen, 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

28 Juli 20241h 11min

Belal Muhammad silenced the doubters, and there's no doubt people will remember his name now as he is the new UFC welterweight champion following a spectacular performance against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 304. Following an interesting pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Eric Jackman react to Muhammad's win, discuss Edwards' showing in defeat, and if Shavkat Rakhmonov is next for the new champ. Additionally, they discuss Tom Aspinall's highlight-reel finish of Curtis Blaydes to retain the interim heavyweight title, if he will face the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic next, Paddy Pimblett's breakout performance against King Green, the wild Mohammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape saga, and much more. 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

28 Juli 20241h 38min

Relive the magic of UFC 304's live watch party with Mike Heck and Conner Burks! Timestamps: Intro & Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (5:00) Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (43:36) Allen wins decision (1:05:30) Reaction to Ben Rothlisberger broadcast blunder (1:06:36) Gregory Rodriguez vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (1:15:35) Rodriguez wins decision (1:36:54) King Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (1:54:23) Pimblett submits Green in Round 1 (1:59:00) Tom Aspinall vs. Curtis Blaydes (2:19:22) Aspinall knocks out Blaydes in Round 1 (2:23:08) Ripping Midnight pack (2:30:44) Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad (2:45:35) Muhammad wins unanimous decision to capture title (3:22:10) Check out the original UFC 304 Watch Party video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9r1iH9P_gNc?si=FBG8lZYu85UxE8OF Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks 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

28 Juli 20243h 31min

Leon Edwards gets a home country fight in his third defense of the UFC welterweight title as he looks to close his chapter with Belal Muhammad when they meet for the second time in the main event of UFC 304 this Saturday in Manchester. Will "Rocky" continue to build his impressive résumé, or will "Remember the Name" pull off the upset? Ahead of this weekend's pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaheen Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew preview the card, the main event rematch between Edwards and Muhammad, the stakes attached for both outside of the belt, and if the winner will face Shavkat Rakhmonov next. Additionally, they'll discuss the interim heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes, if we believe Dana White in regards to the winner possibly fighting Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic next, Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green, predictions, and more. Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti 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

26 Juli 20241h 35min