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

With UFC 296 just a few days away, the storylines are aplenty heading into the UFC's final fight card of the year, including the welterweight championship main event between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington. Where does Edwards go with a win? Where does the division go if Covington claims his first undisputed championship? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, it's a special fan Q&A edition as MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew discuss the potential fallout of Saturday's championship headliner. Additionally, the panel will answer questions such as Ian Machado Garry being scratched from his matchup with Vicente Luque due to illness, Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett, Belal Muhammad serving as the backup fighter for the main event and what that means, Shavkat Rakhmonov looking to keep his incredible undefeated run alive against Stephen Thompson, Jake Paul vs. Andre August having absolutely no buzz at all, 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

14 Dec 20231h 13min

No Bets Barred returns with a full breakdown of UFC 296 and the welterweight title fight between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington, plus the flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. It's the final fight card of the year and as such, co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew bring out the big guns to end 2023 right, bringing back fan favorite Tony Calatayud to help them break down one of the best cards of the year. How will a nearly two year layoff effect Covington as he attempts to finally win an undisputed UFC title? Can Royval get his revenge and a UFC belt? Is Shavkhat Rakhmonov ready for a title shot? And does Tony Ferguson have any chance of stopping his historic slide? All this and more is discussed on the final episode of 2023. Tune in for episode 73 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Tony Calatayud: @10DayTony 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

13 Dec 20231h 33min

UPDATE: Garry has withdrawn from his UFC 296 matchup against Vicente Luque after falling ill on Wednesday night. * * Ian Machado Garry is the talk of Las Vegas, but for all the wrong reasons. This Saturday, Machado Garry faces Vicente Luque on the main card of UFC 296 in Las Vegas amid swirling controversies around his personal and professional life. Earlier this week, Machado Garry invited this opportunity, saying he was going to stick it to his "haters" by beating Luque and continue to rise up the ranks, but on Wednesday, "The Future" gave his haters ample ammunition for talking trash when he skipped out on the UFC 296 Media Day. What just happened and what does this mean for Machado Garry's future? MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee discuss. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

13 Dec 202331min

Ex-BBB, campeão do TUF e da PFL, “Cara de Sapato” revelou ao Trocação Franca que finalmente voltará aos palcos do MMA em 2024. Na entrevista, o lutador falou sobre a vida como celebridade pós-reality show, a compra do Bellator pela PFL, a vida fora do UFC, e muito mais. O programa recebe ainda Gilbert Durinho, que analisa as principais lutas da sua divisão no UFC 296, e Lucas Almeida, representante brasileiro no card diante de Andre Fili. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. Former Big Brother Brasil contestant, TUF winner, and PFL champion Antonio Carlos Jr. announced on this week’s Trocação Franca that he’s finally returning to MMA for the 2024 PFL season. “Shoeface” discussed life as a celebrity post-Big Brother, PFL acquiring Bellator, and much more. Gilbert Burns also joins the program to break down the top welterweight matches at Saturday’s UFC 269 event, and Lucas Almeida discusses his upcoming bout with Andre Fili. 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

13 Dec 202346min

Colby Covington will fight for the UFC welterweight title this Saturday against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 296. Should he be victorious, Covington will capture undisputed gold for the first time in his career, if he loses, "Chaos" will fall to 0-3 in undisputed championship bouts. Depending on the result, where will Covington go after UFC 296? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses Covington's future and legacy based on how things play out, and where both he and Edwards could go following the final UFC pay-per-view event of 2023. Additionally, listener topics include Casey O'Neill's ceiling at 125, PFL's season structure, if Conor McGregor could be in play for Covington with a title win on Saturday, Edwards teasing a future move to 185, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval flying way 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

12 Dec 202352min

The Fighter vs. The Writer returns with special guest Alan Jouban joining MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to break down all the storylines unfolding at UFC 296 along with picks and predictions. At the top of the card, Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Colby Covington but just how big are the stakes in this fight for Covington as he gets his third shot at becoming undisputed champion. Could this be his last chance at winning the welterweight title? We’ll also talk about a potential Fight of the Night in the co-main event as Alexandre Pantoja defends his flyweight title against Brandon Royval. Shavkat Rakhmonov takes on Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and we’ll discuss where we feel like Rakhmonov fits in this division, especially if he gets a win at UFC 296. Also what does Thompson need to do to pull off the upset? Tony Ferguson will attempt to stave off a seventh consecutive loss in a row but Jouban explains why he believes the UFC gave him the best possible fight while matching him up against Paddy Pimblett. Plus with all the distractions happening around Ian Machado Garry, can he shut out the noise and just focus on his fight with Vicente Luque? All this 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

12 Dec 20231h 12min

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to preview Saturday's UFC 296 event, the main event between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington and what's at stake for both guys, talks the Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval co-main event flying under the radar, what the reaction would be if Stephen Thompson upsets Shavkat Rakhmonov, the UFC booking Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett, the potential pressure on Ian Machado Garry, 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

11 Dec 202333min

Song Yadong and Khalil Rountree closed the final UFC Fight Night event of 2023 off with importan wins, and callouts for bigger fights, including the surging light heavyweight shooting his shot at Alex Pereira and a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title. Will either Song — with his callout of former bantamweight champ Petr Yan — or Rountree get what they want? 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 Song following his main event decision win over Chris Gutierrez. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Rountree after stopping Anthony Smith in the co-main event. Nasrat Haqparast following his first-round finish of Jamie Mullarkey, Tim Elliott following his short notice opening-round submission win, Andre Muniz after putting an end to his two-fight skid in the main card opener, 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

10 Dec 20231h 24min