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

For the first time in six weeks, the UFC is back in the cozy confines of the APEX, which hosts a banger of a lightweight contender fight between Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot. Both men have been scraping and clawing their way up the rankings, so will a win lead to a breakthrough into the top 5? And will the loser find themselves a long way from contention? MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee, José Youngs, and E. Casey Leydon preview this weekend’s event, which features a fan-friendly headliner as well as several veteran names on the card. Fiziev and Gamrot jockey for position in a tight lightweight race, Bryce Mitchell looks to bounce back from his first loss when he takes on the battle-tested Dan Ige, and Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson-Gomez face off in a rematch of their May 2021 affair. Is the final chapter of Waterson-Gomez’s career nearing its end? What about Tim Means, who competes in his 50th pro fight when he meets Andre Fialho on the prelims? Plus, we share a few thoughts on Saturday’s Bellator 299 card in Dublin, Ireland, headlined by undefeated middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defending against Fabian Edwards. Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs Follow E. Casey Leydon: @ekc 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

22 Sep 20231h 14min

The MMA community is still scratching their heads following the main event of Noche UFC this past Saturday between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. The fight was a classic, but it will go down as the night Mike Bell scored the fifth round 10-8 for Grasso to lead to a split draw, costing Shevchenko a second reign as UFC champ. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss the fallout of the flyweight title fight between Grasso and Shevchenko days later, if opinions changed in any way since Saturday night, what the next move will be at 125, and more. Additionally, they'll discuss Dana White's reaction to the result, and the themed event as a whole, other standout fighters and moments from the card, the announcements of Jiri Prochazka vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 295, and Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington at UFC 296, and more. Plus, the second half of the show, the panel answers your questions about UFC Vegas 79, and other news in the world of MMA. Host Mike Heck will be joined by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew to discuss the biggest stories of the week in the space. 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

21 Sep 20231h 23min

UFC CEO Dana White gave the MMA community and UFC fans a lot to talk about after making some massive fight announcements on Wednesday night, including a championship co-main event for UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden, and two more title fights for the promotion's year-end pay-per-view in December. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to White announcing that Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira will fight for the vacant light heavyweight title on the Nov. 11 card in New York to lead into the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic heavyweight championship headliner, the UFC 296 main event between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington for the welterweight belt, and the flyweight championship co-headliner between Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. Additionally, listener questions include Israel Adesanya breaking his silence following his UFC 293 title loss to Sean Strickland, Ciryl Gane's recent comments about what he wants next at heavyweight, 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

21 Sep 20231h

The No Bets Barred boys are back this week with a full breakdown of UFC Vegas 79 and the lightweight main event between Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot.. Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a brief recap of Noche UFC and their massively successful weekends before diving into this week's fights. Can Fiziev stuff Gamrot's takedowns and win the striking battle? Is Bryce Mitchell motivated heading into his co-main event matchup with Dan Ige? And why on Earth would anyone trust Mohammed Usman? All that plus Jed debuts a new gimmick and the boys also go deep with bets on Bellator 299, ONE Championship, and boxing. Tune in for episode 63 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks 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

20 Sep 20231h 13min

Onde há fumaça há fogo, e os rumores sobre a possível compra do Bellator pela PFL mexem com o mundo da luta. O Trocação Franca dessa semana repercute as possibilidades com Patrício Pitbull, campeão do Bellator, que vê nas mudanças uma janela para negociar com o UFC. O podcast fala também com Gabriel Braga, finalista do GP da PFL, além de Pedro Carvalho e Tamires Vidal, que lutam este final de semana no Bellator e UFC. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire — and the rumors of a potential Bellator sale to PFL continue to gain traction. Trocação Franca debates all the possibilities with Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull, who discusses the idea of completing his deal and negotiating with the UFC next if Bellator indeed comes to an end. The podcast also chats with PFL finalist Gabriel Braga, who could face his friend Pitbull in 2024, plus Bellator contender Pedro Carvalho and UFC’s Tamires Vidal. 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

20 Sep 202358min

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko put on one of 2023's best fights in the main event of Noche UFC this past Saturday, and while the fight was so great, the story is about Mike Bell's 10-8 scorecard for the fifth round, a score that cost Shevchenko the flyweight title. Was Bell's fifth-round score the worst in the history of the UFC? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the incredible rematch between Grasso and Shevchenko, the egregious nature of Bell's scorecard, and whether or not the trilogy should be next. Additionally, listener topics include Israel Adesanya's silence following his UFC 293 loss to Sean Strickland, Raul Rosas Jr.'s next step after his quick win this past Saturday, Kevin Holland's performance in a split decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena, Tracy Cortez's flyweight title hopes after her win over Jasmine Jasudavicius, the top of the UFC welterweight division being completely stagnant, 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

19 Sep 20231h 15min

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko battled it out in an instant classic over 25 minutes on Saturday night in Las Vegas, and while Grasso did leave T-Mobile Arena still the UFC flyweight champion, the bout was scored a split draw, which adds to the craziness of a chaotic 2023 in the sport. After the Noche UFC main event, should they run it back again, or will the division move forward for the time being? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss the fallout of Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 from a matchmaking perspective, and where both ladies go from Saturday night. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Jack Della Maddalena following his split decision win over Kevin Holland in the co-main event, Raul Rosas Jr. after dismantling Terrence Mitchell in under a minute, along with fellow main card winners Daniel Zellhuber, Kyle Nelson, 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

17 Sep 20231h 7min

Alexa Grasso is still the UFC women's flyweight champion after Saturday's Noche UFC event, but she didn't defeat Valentina Shevchenko in their intriguing rematch. In fact, one judge stunningly scoring the fifth round a 10-8 for Grasso may have cost Shevchenko the chance to reclaim the title. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaheen Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew react to Grasso and Shevchenko's incredible battle, it being scored a split draw thanks to Mike Bell's head-scratching scorecard in Round 5, discuss whether or not the trilogy is the way to go, and who in the division may have lost the most due to the result. Additionally, topics include Jack Della Maddalena's split decision win over Kevin Holland in the co-main event, Raul Rosas Jr. getting back on track with a quick TKO win over Terrence Mitchell, Lupita Godinez and Tracy Cortez's big wins, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti 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

17 Sep 20231h 29min