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

Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez will battle it out in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 83 event at the APEX, but the storylines seem to be centered on the co-main event in the UFC's light heavyweight division between Anthony Smith — who steps in on short notice — to face the surging Khalil Rountree. Could a win propel Smith to a title shot against Alex Pereira should the new champ want to stay active? MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, José Youngs, and Jed Meshew preview the promotion's final stop before UFC 296, the 135-pound headliner between Song and Gutierrez and the stakes attached to the fight, Smith possibly sneaking into a title fight with Pereira if he upsets Rountree, Andre Muniz looking to get back on track against Jun Yong Park, Tatsuro Taira's bright future, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs 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

8 Dec 20231h 6min

With Arman Tsarukyan's huge win in the main event of UFC Austin, there's been a lot of debate on how to matchmake the top of the lightweight division, including who Islam Makhachev should defend his lightweight title against next — Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the loaded 155-pound division, who Makhachev should face in his next title defense, and who Tsarukyan should face following his 64 second finish of Beneil Dariush. Additionally, listener topics include the future of UFC APEX cards, UFC Vegas 83, the flyweight development of Muhammad Mokaev and Tatsuro Taira, KSW and Oktagon MMA making big moves in 2023, 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

8 Dec 20231h 11min

This past Saturday delivered a fun and chaotic day in the world of MMA and combat sports as Arman Tsarukyan and Mike Perry ended UFC Austin and BKFC 56 with main event stoppages. With both men vying for big fights next, where will Tsarukyan and Perry go from their big wins? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel attempts to answer those questions following the latest offerings from the UFC and BKFC, discuss what 2024 could look like for Tsarukyan, and Perry's future as the face of bare-knuckle fighting. Additionally, topics include Dana White's response to PFL's acquisition of Bellator, Donn Davis' answer the next day, Jon Jones reacting to Tom Aspinall's call for Jones to be stripped of the heavyweight title, UFC Vegas 83 this Saturday headlined by Song Yadong vs. Chris Gutierrez, who has the most to gain on the card, and much more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Morning Kombat's Luke Thomas. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Luke Thomas: @lthomasnews 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

7 Dec 20231h 19min

The UFC is ending 2023 with a loaded UFC 296 pay-per-view event that features two world title fights, and a slew of compelling storylines outside of the top-two bouts. Of all of the non-title fights, what is the most intriguing on the card? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the UFC 296 card, the low-key storylines, and if Ian Machado Garry vs. Vicente Luque could be the big talking point outside of the championship bouts at night's end. Additionally, listener questions include the UFC Vegas 83 main event between Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez and if the betting lines may be too wide, Anthony Smith's future following his co-main event bout with Khalil Rountree, if Tom Aspinall will ever get the chance to fight Jon Jones, the UFC anti-trust lawsuit, 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

7 Dec 20231h 22min

No auge da sua carreira e sem se deixar levar pela modinha de trash talk do MMA atual, Alexandre Pantoja quer fazer história no UFC. Campeão dos moscas, Pantoja falou ao Trocação Franca sobre a defesa de título contra Brandon Royval, na próxima semana, explicou por que finaliza de olhos fechados no MMA, se cogita subir ao peso galo para enfrentar Sean O’Malley e Deiveson Figueiredo, e muito mais. O podcast traz ainda uma entrevista com Luana Santos, que volta ao octógono sábado em Las Vegas. In his prime and uninterested in joining MMA’s trash-talk trend, Alexandre Pantoja vows to make history in the UFC. The flyweight champion returns to Trocação Franca to discuss his upcoming rematch with Brandon Royval at next week’s UFC 296, why he closes his eyes to work on submissions, if he’s into the idea of moving up to bantamweight to fight Sean O’Malley or Deiveson Figueiredo, and more. The podcast also features an interview with Luana Santos ahead of Saturday’s UFC Vegas event. 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

7 Dec 202347min

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of the most exciting and influential fighters in MMA history. This episode covers Mark Hunt, The King of the Walkoff KO and a criminally underrated action fighter. Moving to MMA in 2004 after a short but accomplished career in kickboxing, the "Super Samoan" had immediate success in Pride, beating Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Cro Cop to establish himself as a serious threat. Then came a down period though as Hunt lost six in a row, including a UFC debut that the company begrudgingly gave him after he refused a buyout on his contract. What followed was one of the greatest second acts in MMA history as Hunt established himself as one of the best in the world and became a bona fide star, before an ugly late career period marred by a prolonged legal battle with the UFC ultimately left Hunt with less of a reputation that he deserves. What were the most iconic performances and what were our favorite memories from Hunt's career? Listen in as the MMA Fighting crews remembers remembers the man who gave MMA the Atomic Butt Drop. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Shaheen Al-Shatti: @shaunalshatti 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

7 Dec 20233h 10min

UFC returns to action this weekend with UFC Vegas 83 taking place at the Apex on Saturday evening and headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez. Originally planned for Shanghai, the fight card was shifted to the Apex and despite the chance in venue, the No Bets Barred boys still have a full breakdown of all their favorite bets. Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick the episode off with a sad eulogy for the University of Georgia Bulldogs Dynasty, as the boys' beloved Dawgs fell to Alabama (and the incompetence of Mike Bobo) in the SEC Championship game. Then it's on to fight business where the boys discuss Gutierrez's chances at pulling off the upset, Anthony Smith stepping in on short notice for the co-main event, Tatsuro Taira as a flyweight prospect, and just how smart a Song Gimmick Parlay is. Tune in for episode 72 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

6 Dec 202348min

Arman Tsarukyan solidified himself as a major player in the UFC's lightweight division with his incredibly impressive 64 second finish of Beneil Dariush in the main event of UFC Austin this past Saturday. The 27-year-old called for a fight with Justin Gaethje next, but will he get something of that magnitude, or will he have to fight backwards when he returns to the octagon? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Tsarukyan's unreal showing against Dariush, where he could go after picking up the biggest win of his career, and if UFC pivot in regards to the division's next title fight. Additionally, listener questions include Jalin Turner's finish of Bobby Green, the likely end of Green and Dariush's title hopes, Miesha Tate's one-sided win against Julia Avila, where Mike Perry goes from his BKFC 56 win over Eddie Alvarez, Josh Emmett needing a new opponent for UFC 296, 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

5 Dec 20231h 21min