MMA Fighting

Latest Episodes:

UFC Vegas 87 Post-Fight Show | Reaction To Rozenstruik's Win; Plus, Did Mokaev Earn Title Fight? Mar 03, 2024

Show notes

Jairzinho Rozenstruik capped off Saturday's UFC Vegas 87 event at the APEX with a referee stoppage TKO victory after the fourth round against previously undefeated Shamil Gaziev. While that fight was the main event, the bout with the highest stakes in most people's minds was the flyweight fight that saw Muhammad Mokaev defeat Alex Perez via unanimous decision. With flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja potentially needing an opponent for UFC 301, did Mokaev do enough to get him that shot?

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Eric Jackman react to Rozenstruik's big win and what should be next, if Mokaev's performance warrants that championship opportunity, and if not, who could be the guy. Additionally, they discuss Umar Nurmagomedov's win over a game Bekzat Almakhan and if a rebooking against Cory Sandhagen could be in play, Vinicius Oliveira's knockout of the year contender, and much more.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR
Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC Vegas 87 Preview Show | Can Muhammad Mokaev Earn A Title Shot? + Umar Nurmagomedov's Return Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Jairzinho Rozenstruik will look to stop the impressive 12-fight undefeated streak of Shamil Gaziev in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 87 event. Will the result have a giant effect on the state of the UFC's heavyweight division, especially with two fighters in the division holding UFC titles?

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Alexander K. Lee preview this weekend's UFC event at the APEX in Las Vegas, the Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev, the stakes attached to it, and whether or not a potential fight with someone like a Derrick Lewis be awaiting the winner. Additionally, they'll grade the card as a whole, the big opportunity for Muhammad Mokaev at 125 pounds against Alex Perez, Umar Nurmagomedov's return against a dangerous newcomer, and much more.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR
Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew
Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

HOAM | Who Will Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria Face In Next Title Defenses? Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

With huge fights on the horizon — most notably the UFC 300 "BMF" title fight between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway — it leads to a lot of questions in regard to who lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and new featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face when they put their titles on the line in their next outings.

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses what could be next for both champions, and if the Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis fight could play a role in determining Makhachev's next opponent. Additionally, listener topics include UFC Vegas 87, the UFC APEX as a Fight Night arena for the promotion, who Alexandre Pantoja could defend his flyweight title against at UFC 301 if Muhammad Mokaev loses to Alex Perez on Saturday, 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mobwife: One Fighter’s Stand In The Face Of Unfathomable Heartbreak Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Ashlee Gambino has always been a fighter at heart, but little did she know that she would be in the biggest fight of her life with a rare and deadly disease, while also dealing with unfathomable loss.

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck brings you the story of "Mobwife," and how her life was flipped upside down in a matter of months, losing her three-year-old daughter to acute leukemia cancer, getting diagnosed with the uncureable severe idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension — a rare heart and lung disease — having to lose another daughter before she was born, yet using her heartbreak to inspire others. This mini-documentary shares Gambino's story, along with appearances from Bellator fighter Cat Zingano, social media influencer Liver King, and features some incredible surprises.

If you would like to donate to help Ashlee and her family in this time of need, you can do so here on the GoFundMe set up by her husband Travis.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

No Bets Barred: Can All Five Unbeaten Prospects Keep Their 0s At UFC Vegas 87? Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

UFC Mexico City is in the books and that means it's back to the APEX as UFC Vegas 87 goes down this Saturday, headlined by a heavyweight matchup between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev.

Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a recap of UFC Mexico City and PFL vs. Bellator before turning their attention back to the APEX. Can all five undefeated prospects on the card stay that way? Is Eryk Anders being a massive betting favorite a huge trap? Will Alex Perez and/or Matt Schnell pull out before Saturday? Plus, some fun facts about Suriname! All this and more are discussed on this week's episode.

Tune in for episode 80 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trocação Franca | Pantoja debate UFC Rio, Cigano comenta Popó x Bambam e MMA sem luva Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Alexandre Pantoja não sabe quem estará do outro lado do octógono, mas bate o pé que deseja defender o cinturão do UFC no Rio de Janeiro, em maio. Ao podcast, o campeão peso-mosca analisou a categoria e citou possíveis rivais, além de rebater os “casuais” que criticam um possível esvaziamento do card. Junior Cigano volta ao podcast para falar de sua luta no MMA sem luva e o atropelo de Acelino Popó sobre Kleber Bambam, e Vitor Petrino comenta seu desafio contra Tyson Pedro sábado, no UFC.

O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados.

Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t know who will be standing across the octagon, but he wants to be part of UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro. The flyweight champion names possible contenders and fires back at “casuals” who criticize the prospect of him headlining the show. Junior dos Santos returns to the podcast to discuss his upcoming bareknuckle MMA bout with Alan Belcher, plus Francis Ngannou boxing Anthony Joshua and maybe returning to MMA to fight Renan Ferreira. Vitor Petrino stops by to talk his Saturday’s UFC Vegas 87 clash with Tyson Pedro.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BTL | PFL vs. Bellator Grade, Ferreira vs. Ngannou, Royval & Ortega Shine At UFC Mexico City Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

The PFL vs. Bellator event is in the books, and it delivered a fun card of fights, capped off by Renan Ferreira's quick destruction of Ryan Bader. While the pay-per-view price tag was obviously too high, did the event deliver what it promised to the MMA fanbase?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew give their grades for Saturday's event in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, they'll take viewer questions throughout the show, including the fallout of UFC Mexico City, if Brandon Royval and Brian Ortega earned second cracks at UFC gold with their wins in the main and co-main, if Ferreira will end up fighting Francis Ngannou in his next fight, Johnny Eblen's close call, a busy weekend ahead with UFC Vegas 87, Gamebred Bareknuckle, and Jake Paul's next fight, and more.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR
Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

HOAM | Will Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira Actually Happen Following PFL vs. Bellator? Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

The PFL vs. Bellator event and UFC Mexico City fight card both took place on Saturday outside the U.S., and both delivered some exciting action — both in and out of the cage. But which card won the weekend overall, and what will be talked about more throughout the year?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his reaction to both cards, the pros and cons from the PFL's return to pay-per-view, how Francis Ngannou fits into things and if he'll actually compete in an MMA bout against main event winner Renan Ferreira, and more. Additionally, listener questions include where Brian Ortega goes from his comeback win against Yair Rodriguez, who Alexandre Pantoja could fight at UFC 301, Alexander Volkanovski's future and if it could include a lightweight move, Ilia Topuria's first title defense, Nate Diaz teasing he wants UFC return at The Sphere, 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fighter vs. Writer: Alan Jouban Argues Chandler Is Too Invested to Give Up on McGregor + Poirier’s Star Power, More Feb 27, 2024

Show notes

The Fighter vs. The Writer returns with UFC analyst and retired welterweight Alan Jouban and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin discussing the latest in MMA including Michael Chandler’s continued waiting game for the Conor McGregor fight.

In April, Chandler turns 38 and he’s approaching two years out of action as he waits for the McGregor fight to get booked but should he just give up and move on? Jouban argues that Chandler has invested way too much time to just take another fight that’s not against McGregor.

We also discuss what’s next for Ilia Topuria as the UFC targets a debut in Spain before the end of 2024. Should Alexander Volkanovski get an immediate rematch or is there a better option out there?

Plus we look ahead at UFC 299 and the star power Dustin Poirier brings to the card despite Sean O’Malley headlining the event against Marlon “Chito” Vera with Merab Dvalishvili waiting in the wings.

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

On To the Next One | Matches To Make After UFC Mexico City Feb 25, 2024

Show notes

UFC's return to Mexico proved to be an unpredictable one and it was certainly a memorable Saturday as Brandon Royval and Brian Ortega both scored impressive upset wins in rematches to reinsert themselves into the flyweight and featherweight title pictures, respectively. What does this mean for the careers of Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez, who fell short against their rivals and now find themselves in the unfamiliar position of having lost consecutive fights in high stakes situations?

With Mike Heck on vacation this week, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew steps in to join host Alexander K. Lee as they determine what comes next from a matchmaking perspective on an all-new edition of On To the Next One. Future matchups are discussed for the four men at the top of the card, as well as for Daniel Zellhuber following his impressive win over Francisco Prado, Yazmin Jauregui after a bounce-back performance against Sam Hughes, one of the lightweight division's most exciting up-and-comers Manuel Torres, and more!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

MMA Fighting

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6