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Fighter vs. Writer: Matt Brown Says Ian Machado Garry Still Needs a ‘Signature Win,’ Argues Against Fighters Announcing Retirement Fights Apr 29, 2025

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On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the UFC Kansas City card and Ian Machado Garry calling for the next title shot following his win over Carlos Prates. Plus we’ll discuss Anthony Smith’s retirement fight and Brown explains why he’s against fighters making those kinds of announcements before calling it a career. We also discuss the pressure on Bo Nickal, Tom Aspinall waiting for Jon Jones and much more.

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On To the Next One: Matches To Make After UFC Kansas City Apr 27, 2025

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Ian Machado Garry showed once again he can hang with anyone in the welterweight division, gutting out a five-round win over the white hot Carlos Prates in Saturday’s UFC Kansas City main event. But should fans be concerned about Prates nearly putting Garry down in the fifth? Does Garry need to fight again to cement a title opportunity?

On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what’s next for Garry as he plans a trip to Montreal to be the backup for Belal Muhammad’s welterweight championship defense against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Zhang Mingyang after he sent Anthony Smith into a bloody retirement, featherweight dark horse contender David Onama, Randy Brown following his Knockout of the Year-candidate against Nicolas Dalby, plus middleweights Abus Magomedov, Ikram Aliskerov, and more.

All that and the Eddie Hall matchup that HAS to happen.

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UFC Kansas City Post-Fight Show | Reaction To Ian Machado Garry Surviving Late Rally, Anthony Smith's Final Fight Apr 27, 2025

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Ian Machado Garry looked like he was cruising to a flawless victory in the UFC Kansas City main event through nearly 18 minutes, but Carlos Prates turned things around in a big way — nearly finishing Garry in the fifth. In the end, Garry gets back in the win column, and is now the backup fighter for the welterweight title fight at UFC 315.

Following Saturday's Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Garry's victory, being named the backup fighter by Dana White, and Prates' stock following his first promotional loss. Additionally, they discuss Anthony Smith's first-round stoppage loss in his final fight against Zhang Mingyang in the co-main event, Randy Brown's Knockout of the Year contender, and other notable moments from the UFC's return to Kansas City.

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UFC Kansas City Preview Show: How Close Are Ian Machado Garry And Carlos Prates To A Title Fight? Apr 25, 2025

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The UFC is back in Missouri and it brought a banger of a main event.

On Saturday, UFC Kansas City goes down from T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, headlined by a welterweight scrap between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates. Garry is coming off his near upset of Shavkat Rakhmonov in December, while Prates is one of the faces of the Fighting Nerds revolution that has taken the UFC by storm. So, who wins this main event and what’s at stake on Saturday?

Ahead of this weekend’s action, MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee and Jed Meshew preview the main event between Garry and Prates, discuss what’s at stake for the winner, wax poetic on the career of Anthony Smith as he makes his final walk to the octagon, highlight some low-key bangers, and even spend some time talking about the World’s Strongest Fight between Mariusz Pudzianowski and Eddie Hall at KSW 105 on Saturday. Plus, Lee and Meshew answer fan questions and reaction to some breaking news!

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BTL | Ilia Topuria Teasing News, International Fight Week Options, UFC Kansas City Apr 24, 2025

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Even after a UFC-less weekend, the news cycle is buzzing about what could headline UFC 317 — the promotion's annual International Fight Week card in #LasVegas. With former featherweight champ Ilia Topuria teasing news, could he be involved in the main event, and if not, what could be the big fight on the card?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses that topic, how Topuria could be involved, and the UFC's conundrum with the event coming up in two months without a main event. Additionally, they'll discuss UFC Kansas City this Saturday headlined by Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates, the fight of the weekend between Eddie Hall and Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105, Dricus du Plessis' statement about injury rumors, and much more.

Host Mike Heck is joined by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew for a special fan Q&A episode of the program to discuss the big amount of news in the sport.

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The 2025 MMA Draft! | Which 28 Fighters Do You Build A Promotion Around? Apr 24, 2025

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With the 2025 NFL Draft set to take place this week, it's once again time for the MMA Fighting team to don the hats of the premier combat sports promotions in the world and select the 28 fighters they would most want to have on roster to build a promotion around.

Listen as Jed Meshew guides the action and the staff drafts seven fighters to their respective organizations: the UFC, PFL, BKFC, and newcomer GFL. Other promoters include Mike Heck, Damon Martin, and Alexander K. Lee. Who will be the first overall pick? And which drafter is best set up for the next five years? Tune in to find out.

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No Bets Barred: Can Ian Machado Garry Stop The Surging Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City? Apr 23, 2025

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The UFC is back!

This Saturday, the UFC returns after a week off for its third trip to Kansas City, with a dynamite welterweight matchup between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates headlining the card. UFC Kansas City also features the retirement fight for Anthony Smith, and a stacked main card, so, of course, No Bets Barred is here to break it all down.

This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to break down all the action. Topics discussed include a brief recap of his successful UFC 314 venture, who he likes in the main event between Garry and Prates, whether or not Smith can end his career on a high note, which underdogs are worth a look at on Saturday, the latest step in The Climb, the majestic Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Eddie Hall matchup over at KSW, and more.

Tune in for episode 125 of No Bets Barred.

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Fighter vs. Writer: Matt Brown Recounts CM Punk in UFC, Reacts to Paddy Pimblett's Extreme Weight Gain and Previews Carlos Prates vs. Ian Machado Garry Apr 22, 2025

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On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin preview the UFC Kansas City main event between Carlos Prates and Ian Machado Garry, we pay tribute to Anthony Smith ahead of his final fight, Matt's concern for Paddy Pimblett after revealing his 40-pound weight gain after beating Michael Chandler plus we look back on CM Punk's ill fated attempt at becoming a UFC fighter.

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BTL | Paddy Pimblett Dominates, Volkanovski Featherweight GOAT? Plus, Full UFC 314 Fallout, More Apr 17, 2025

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Paddy Pimblett battered, bloodied, and eventually stopped Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 this past Saturday in #Miami, and now the ceiling appears to have been raised as to how high Pimblett can go in the UFC's best division. Can Pimblett find his way to UFC gold, and what's the next step to get him there?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel recaps Pimblett's outstanding performance against Chandler, his championship potential, and where "The Paddy" goes next. Additionally, topics include Alexander Volkanovski regaining the featherweight title against Diego Lopes in the main event, the featherweight GOAT discussion with this latest accomplishment, Jean Silva destroying Bryce Mitchell, and much more.

Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and José Youngs.

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Rankings Show: How High Does Paddy Pimblett Go After Spectacular Performance At UFC 314? Apr 17, 2025

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Paddy Pimblett proved the doubters wrong again.

UFC 314 was all about the featherweights, with Alexander Volkanovski beating Diego Lopes to claim a vacant title at the top of the card, and Yair Rodriguez, Jean Silva, and Dan Ige all picking up meaningful wins. But it’s Pimblett who arguably made the most headlines, defeating veteran contender Michael Chandler in dominant fashion and cementing himself as a top 10 fighter in the lightweight division.

But just how high should he go?

Pimblett’s standing led to a surprisingly heated debate among the MMA Fighting rankings panel of Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon and you can listen to it yourself in our latest episode of the Rankings Show. Did Pimblett beat a legitimate top 10 fighter or was he simply the beneficiary of facing the worst version of Chandler we’ve seen inside the octagon?

Plus, we discuss the movers and shakers at 145 pounds, whether the Patricio Pitbull-UFC era came too late, and rank the most intriguing fights of the second quarter of the UFC schedule.

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