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UFC Mexico City & PFL vs. Bellator Post-Fight Show: Reaction to Royval, Ortega + The New Era Of PFL Feb 25, 2024

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It was a double-stuffed weekend of MMA action as UFC Mexico City and PFL vs. Bellator: CHAMPS took place this Saturday. In UFC, Brandon Royval got his revenge against Brandon Moreno, eking out a split decision win in the main event, while Brian Ortega added another impressive comeback win to his resume, choking out Yair Rodriguez in the co-main event.

Over in PFL, Renan Ferreira made quick work of Ryan Bader to claim the heavyweight "Super Belt" in the main event, while Johnny Eblen survived a scare from Impa Kasanganay to win the middleweight "Super Belt" in the co-main event. Plus, the rest of the Bellator fighters cleaned up in PFL's debut in Saudi Arabia.

Following Saturday's events, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew, Jose Youngs, Alexander K. Lee, and E. Casey Leydon reacted to the big upsets in UFC and PFL's big event. Additionally, they discussed what PFL could improve upon, whether Brian Ortega and Brandon Royval earned title shots, and whether or not Francis Ngannou will actually compete in the SmartCage.

Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew
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UFC Mexico City & PFL vs. Bellator Preview Show: Who Will Win The MMA Weekend? Feb 23, 2024

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It's an MMA double-header this Saturday as PFL vs. Bellator kicks off its new era in Saudi Arabia and the UFC returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2019 with a very fun card headlined by two action-packed rematches at the top. So who will the MMA weekend?

Join MMA Fighting's Shaun Al-Shatti, Eric Jackman, and José Youngs as we preview UFC Mexico City and PFL vs. Bellator, dissect the storylines heading into Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2 and Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega 2, debate what we should make of this first joint PFLator offering, what would be considered a successful night for the MMA co-leader, whether Francis Ngannou is truly going to fight the winner of Saturday's main event, and much more.

Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti
Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic
Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs

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BTL | Ilia Topuria Crowned At UFC 298, Pereira vs. Hill For UFC 300, PFL vs. Bellator Feb 22, 2024

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A new UFC featherweight champ was crowned this past Saturday in the main event of UFC 298 after Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the second round. While it's the dawning of a new era, it also puts an end to one of the most impressive title reigns in recent memory, Where will each fighter go, and will it be a rematch with one another next?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to Topuria's championship victory, talks what it means for the featherweight division, and whether or not a rematch should be next. Additionally, they'll discuss other shining stars from the pay-per-view event, Dana White announcing the UFC 300 main event between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill, Saturday's UFC Mexico City card headlined by Brandon Moreno vs. Brandon Royval 2, the PFL vs. Bellator card this weekend, and much more.

Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Morning Kombat's Brian Campbell.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR
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Follow Brian Campbell: @BCampbell

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HOAM | Brian Ortega's Intriguing Return At UFC Mexico City, How Merab Dvalishvili Got Himself Over Feb 22, 2024

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Brian Ortega returns from a long layoff due to injury as he steps back in the octagon in a rematch with Yair Rodriguez in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City this Saturday. What are the biggest questions you need answered this weekend in regards to the return of "T-City?"

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the five-round bout and what is at stake for Ortega in the matchup. Additionally, listener questions include Merab Dvalishvili getting himself over with the fans without a ton of promotion behind him, the UFC 300 main event between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill and the reaction it has gotten from the public, Dana White's relationship with the media and if he seems fully invested in the current UFC product, 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

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No Bets Barred: Best Bets For UFC Mexico And PFL Vs. Bellator Feb 21, 2024

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Wow! UFC 298 is in the books and with it an impressive new champion in the featherweight division as Ilia Topuria slept Alexander Volkanovski to claim the crown. But the greatest sport in the world never sleeps and even coming off the best event of the year thus far, there's still more to come as this weekend features a double header with the two premier promotions in MMA: UFC Mexico and PFL vs. Bellator: CHAMPS. And of course the No Bets Barred boys are back with a full breakdown of this double-stuffed weekend.

Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a recap of UFC 298 and Jed's calamitous weekend, before diving straight into the UFC's return to Mexico. Can Brandon Moreno beat Brandon Royval a second time to keep his lead in the Battle of the Brandons? How will the rest of the Mexican fighters do in front of their countrymen? And how many flyweight fights is too many fights on one card?

Then it's over to PFL vs. Bellator where Conner and Jed discuss the chances of a Bellator clean sweep in the marquee matchups, some massive underdogs that maybe shouldn't be so big, and even a little Wolfpack Wager for good measure. All this and more are discussed on this week's episode.

Tune in for episode 79 of No Bets Barred.

Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks
Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew

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Trocação Franca | Mesa Redonda: UFC 300 x UFC Rio e a queda de Borrachinha Feb 21, 2024

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O Trocação Franca recebe o peso-médio do UFC Caio Borralho e o jornalista Luis Fernando Coutinho para repercutir a semana insana que sacudiu o MMA mundial. Do anúncio de Alex Poatan como luta principal do histórico UFC 300 — e como isso sabota o UFC Rio — às quedas de Alexander Volkanovski e Paulo Borrachinha no UFC 298, o debate passa pela incerteza do futuro de Conor McGregor no esporte e o que esperar do desafio PFL x Bellator, que rola sábado na Arábia Saudita.

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

Trocação Franca welcomes UFC middleweight Caio Borralho and MMA journalist Luis Fernando Coutinho to discuss the insane storylines of the past week that shook the MMA world. From Alex Pereira headlining UFC 300 — and how it sabotages UFC 301 in Brazil — to Alexander Volkanovski and Paulo Costa losing at UFC 298, the panel also weighs in on the uncertainty surrounding Conor McGregor’s future as a fighter and what to expect from Saturday’s PFL vs. Bellator pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia.

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

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Laura Sanko Reacts To Ilia Topuria's Title Winning KO Over Alexander Volkanovski At UFC 298 Feb 20, 2024

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UFC color commentator and ESPN analyst Laura Sanko joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to react to the big storylines from UFC 298 this past Saturday, Ilia Topuria's incredible knockout of Alexander Volkanovski to win the UFC featherweight title, discusses Topuria's star potential, Volkanovski's championship reign coming to an end, Robert Whittaker, Ian Machado Garry, and Merab Dvalishvili's big wins, and more.

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR

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HOAM | Welcome To the Ilia Topuria Era; Plus, Fallout Of UFC 298, UFC 300 Main Event Reveal Feb 20, 2024

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Ilia Topuria is the new UFC featherweight champion following his highlight reel knockout of former long reigning champ Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 298 event this past Saturday. With a new market to tap into, and a 27-year-old champion with superstardom written all over him, how big can it get for the Topuria era?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Topuria's win, what could be next, and the UFC getting into Spain. Additionally, topics include Volkanovski's 145-pound title reign coming to an end, the reactions on social media because of it, Dana White announcing Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill as the main event of UFC 300, where that leaves UFC 301, 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

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Fighter vs. Writer: Matt Brown Talks Alexander Volkanovski’s KO Loss, Uncertainty Surrounding Conor McGregor Feb 20, 2024

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The Fighter vs. The Writer returns as UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin react to the fallout from UFC 298.

In the main event, Ilia Topuria became the new featherweight champion with a stunning second round knockout over Alexander Volkanovski. Brown will address the fight but also offer his opinion on Volkanovski returning to fight again just four months after he suffered a similar fate in his fight with Islam Makhachev.

Did Volkanovski come back too soon? Brown discusses his past experiences following a knockout loss as well as dealing with a concussion and the differences between the two.

We’ll also discuss the UFC 300 main event between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill — is this a letdown compared to the promises made by Dana White? Should we feel disappointed by this main event or is the card so stacked that the main event doesn’t really matter?

Plus Brown confronts his long standing opinion that Conor McGregor will never fight again after White once again hinted at the Irish superstar not competing any time soon and stating that with his bank account, he doesn’t really need to fight anymore. Is it possible that McGregor really is done?

All this and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer!

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On To the Next One | What's Next For Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski After UFC 298 Feb 18, 2024

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The fallout of UFC 298 has been such an intriguing part of the build towards the UFC's return to Anaheim on Saturday night. Following the featherweight championship main event which saw Ilia Topuria brutally knock out Alexander Volkanovski to become the new featherweight champion, where do both guys go from here?

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee attempt to answer that question from a matchmaking perspective on an all-new edition of On To the Next One. Future matchups will also be discussed for Robert Whittaker following his crazy co-main event win over Paulo Costa, Ian Machado Garry after his split decision win over Geoff Neal, along with fellow main card winners Merab Dvalishvili, Anthony Hernandez, and more,

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