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

After a lackluster UFC Vegas 86 card, MMA's leading promotion returns with arguably the first good fight card of the year. UFC 298 is headlined by a featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria and a host of other marquee matchups, and the No Bets Barred boys are back with a full breakdown of all the fights. Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a brief recap of last weekend's card and lamentations about the tough start to 2024 both men had had. Then it's on to UFC 298, with a deep dive into all the fights on the main card, and breakdowns of the rest of the action as well. Has age finally caught up to Alexander Volkanovski? Is Ilia Topuria the next big superstar? What's at stake between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa? Is Ian Machado Garry actually "The Future"? And what about Merab Dvalishili vs. Henry Cejudo? All this and more are discussed on this week's episode. Tune in for episode 78 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

14 Feb 20241h 10min

UFC volta à Califórnia com o recheado UFC 298, e o Trocação Franca recebe o peso-pena Patrício Pitbull para avaliar a disputa de cinturão até 66kg entre Alexander Volkanovski e Ilia Topuria, além de comentar a fusão PFL-Bellator e o que esperar do seu futuro após a luta com Jesus Pinedo, na Arábia Saudita. O podcast traz, ainda, entrevistas com Marcos Pezão, Brendson Ribeiro e Amanda Lemos, que lutam sábado pelo UFC 298. O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados. With UFC returning to California with a stacked UFC 298 lineup, Trocação Franca welcomes featherweight great Patricio Pitbull to break down Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria, which headline the show for the 145-pound belt, and discuss the PFL-Bellator merger and what to expect from his future after he faces Jesus Pinedo in Saudi Arabia. The podcast also features interviews with UFC 298 fighters Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Brendson Ribeiro, and Amanda Lemos. 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

14 Feb 20241h 5min

UFC 300 is still without a main event as we're officially two months away from the historic fight card, and while there may be some options being discussed, the mystery remains as strong as ever. Will the UFC 300 headliner be announced this week before tickets go on sale? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the glaring open spot for April's pay-per-view event, his prediction for what will end up getting the slot, and how the conversation has taken on a life of its own. Additionally, listener questions include UFC 298, the main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria, the card not getting the shine it deserves, Amanda Lemos' road back to a title shot ahead of her fight with Mackenzie Dern, Paulo Costa's UFC future, 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 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 Feb 202453min

The Fighter vs. The Writer is back with UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin looking ahead at UFC 298 this Saturday. Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title in the main event against Ilia Topuria but there seems to be a growing narrative that this will be an end to his run as champion, especially after falling to lightweight king Islam Makhachev this past October. Is Volkanovski losing a step or is recency bias really clouding people’s judgment about the viability that the featherweight champion will once again reign supreme? We’ll also discuss Henry Cejudo publicly firing his head coach Eric Albarracin and what that could mean for his upcoming fight against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 298. Brown reveals mistakes he’s made in his own career when splitting with a coach and what that could mean for Cejudo in a do-or-die fight where he’s said a win gets him a title shot or a loss could send him back to retirement. Brown also offers his assessment of Ian Machado Garry and how far he could go in the welterweight division as he prepares for a matchup with Geoff Neal at UFC 298. Plus Brown reveals his best celebrity interactions from the past including a meeting with Slayer that he’ll never soon forget. 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

13 Feb 20241h 14min

Merab Dvalishvili competes at UFC 298 with a potential title shot on the line when he faces former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in a marquee fight on the main card. Just days away from the fight, Dvalishvili sits down with MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin to discuss the fight and Cejudo’s claims that he’s either going to earn another shot at gold with a win or likely retire with a loss. Dvalishvili also addresses his disappointment to get passed over for a title shot of his own so Sean O’Malley could attempt to avenge a past loss to Marlon “Chito” Vera. Speaking of O’Malley, Dvalishvili also takes aim at the reigning 135-pound champion for his claims that Cejudo is only fighting at UFC 298 because he needs the money. Finally, Dvalishvili discusses Aljamain Sterling moving up to featherweight and who he believes is actually the best bantamweight in the world right now. All this and more in a special interview with Dvalishvili ahead of his return at UFC 298. 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 Feb 202431min

UFC lead commentator Jon Anik joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck for his monthly pay-per-view preview as they discuss Saturday's UFC 298 event, the incredibly intriguing main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title, people sleeping on the card with chatter surrounding UFC 299 and UFC 300, Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo, and much 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

12 Feb 202434min

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