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

Kamaru Usman will look to avenge his stunning loss to Leon Edwards this Saturday at UFC 286. With an already Hall of Fame worthy career on his resume, what would be next for Usman should he regain the welterweight title? Or, where would he go if he loses for the second straight fight? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses those questions ahead of Saturday's pay-per-view event in London, and what options could be in play for Usman depending on the result. Additionally, lister questions include the UFC 286 co-main event between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, the title implications for both guys, Marvin Vettori's future, Merab Dvalishvili's impressive performance against Petr Yan at UFC Las Vegas, Aljamain Sterling's title fight with Henry Cejudo, where Usman Nurmagomedov currently sits in the global lightweight rankings after quickly dispatching Benson Henderson at Bellator 292, 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

14 Mars 20231h 20min

The Fighter vs. The Writer with Matt Brown and Damon Martin returns with discussion about Merab Dvalishvili’s huge win, our UFC 286 preview and our Ask Matt Brown segment is back this week. Following a lopsided win over Petr Yan at UFC Las Vegas, Merab Dvalishvili may have just established himself as the second best bantamweight in the promotion but he’s stated emphatically that he will not face friend and teammate Aljamain Sterling. Is Dvalishvili making a huge mistake by not taking this opportunity or is staying loyal to his friend even more important? We’ll also give our thoughts on UFC 286 including the growing narrative that Kamaru Usman may still be suffering from sort of fallout from his devastating knockout loss to Leon Edwards in their previous encounter. Is Usman actually at risk just because he got knocked out or is this just a way for people to talk themselves into believing Edwards has a better chance to win? We also discuss Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev and Brown will explain why he believes Fiziev will be too much for Gaethje to handle at UFC 286. All this plus the return of our Ask Matt Brown segment on the latest edition 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

14 Mars 20231h 18min

Merab Dvalishvili dominated Petr Yan over five rounds to pick up the biggest victory of his career and make a compelling case for a bantamweight title shot — a belt currently held by his close friend and training partner Aljamain Sterling. With everything in play in the loaded 135-pound division, where does Yan go from his main event victory at UFC Las Vegas? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee put on the matchmaking hats to discuss what could be next for "The Machine" following his one-sided decision win. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Yan, who has now lost three straight and four of five, Alexander Volkov following his quick finish of Alexandr Romanov, Nikita Krylov after stopping Ryan Spann in the first round, Jonathan Martinez following his upset victory over Said Nurmagomedov, along with fellow winners Mario Bautista, Vitor Petrino, 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

12 Mars 20231h 20min

Despite being a sizable underdog, Merab Dvalishvili didn't just defeat Petr Yan in the main event of UFC Las Vegas, but he swept the scorecards against the former bantamweight champion. With title aspirations in play, and his close friend and training partner Aljamain Sterling holding the 135-pound title, where does Saturday's victory put "The Machine" in the championship discussion? MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Dvalishvili's dominant performance against Yan, what could be next for both guys, and the surprising changing of momentum in the career of Yan over the last couple of years. Additionally, they discuss Alexander Volkov's quick stoppage of Alexandr Romanov, Nikita Krylov's first-round submission of Ryan Spann, Bruno Silva and Davey Grant's sensational finishes on the prelims, and more.  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

12 Mars 202357min

The UFC’s first event coming out of UFC 285 will take place in their home city, but not at the APEX, as UFC Las Vegas features a pivotal main event matchup in the bantamweight division between former champion Petr Yan and surging contender Merab Dvalishvili. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, José Youngs, and Alexander K. Lee preview the 135-pound bout and what is at stake for Yan and Dvalishvili, if a title shot could be next for either fighter with a win (or far, far away with a loss). Additionally, they’ll discuss the heavyweight co-main event between Alexander Volkov and Alexandr Romanov, the re-booked Nikita Krylov vs. Ryan Spann fight, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs 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

10 Mars 20231h 9min

After Alexa Grasso shocked the world with her submission win over Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 285 to capture the flyweight title, should she run it right back with Shevchenko, or should the surging Erin Blanchfield get her chance to fight for the championship first? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the flyweight division, and how things shape up after this past Saturday's pay-per-view event. Additionally, Free-For-All Friday topics include Jon Jones' future after a fight with Stipe Miocic, what could be next for Kamaru Usman win or lose next Saturday at UFC 286, Justin Gaethje's title contention hopes heading into his fight with Rafael Fiziev, the current state of pro wrestling, best fights of all-time, 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

10 Mars 20231h 24min

Jon Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion after submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round in the main event of UFC 285. With the victory, as impressive as it was, is it enough for Jones to reclaim the top spot as the No. 1 fighter on the planet currently? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will recap Jones' incredible return to the octagon, his current pound-for-pound status, and a potential fight with Stipe Miocic. Additionally, topics include Alexa Grasso's massive upset win over Valentina Shevchenko to win the flyweight title, if an immediate rematch is the way to go, the low-key MVP of the pay-per-view event, Friday's Bellator 293 card — headlined by the lightweight title fight and opening round grand prix matchup between Usman Nurmagomedov and Benson Henderson — stacked up against UFC Las Vegas, headlined by Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the discussion between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Eric "New York Ric" Jackman. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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

9 Mars 20231h 25min

While Jon Jones' heavyweight championship victory has stolen the headlines, and created a potential massive fight with Stipe Miocic later this year, there hasn't been a lot of talk about what comes next for Jones' opponent Ciryl Gane. Where does Gane go from the tough loss to Jones? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on what could be next for Gane following UFC 285, and what opponents make sense. Additionally, topics include UFC Las Vegas and whether or not a win over Petr Yan could get Merab Dvalishvili a title shot in his next fight, Bellator 293, Bo Nickal's UFC debut and Henry Cejudo's comments that the Penn State national champion should get six more fights under his belt before getting a top-10 opponent, under the radar fights for the upcoming UFC 286 pay-per-view event, the stakes in the Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev fight, 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

9 Mars 20231h 17min