MMA Fighting

Islam Makhachev is exuding extreme confidence heading into his first UFC world title fight next weekend at the highly anticipated UFC 280 event, but has his confidence put him in a must-win position ahead of his bout against Charles Oliveira?On an all-new bonus edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck answers listener questions regarding Makhachev's confident comments throughout the fight build for the vacant lightweight championship main event in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, listener questions include the UFC's bantamweight division, the PFL's upcoming pay-per-view and the expectations behind it, Aljamain Sterling vs. T.J. Dillashaw, Frankie Edgar's booking with Chris Gutierrez at UFC 281, Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira, MMA journalism, Alistair Overeem's big win at Glory's event this past weekend, 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: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of the most exciting and influential fighters in MMA history, and this episode, we are covering the career of one of the greatest action fighters of all-time, Melvin Manhoef.During his 26-year, 103-fight career, Manhoef established himself as one of combat sports' premiere knockout artists, competing in practically every major organization that has ever existed. Though he never won a major title, Manhoef delivered highlight-reel KO after highlight-reel KO, making him appointment viewing for nearly three decades.In honor of Manhoef's recent retirement, host Jed Meshew is joined by MMAFighting's Alexander K. Lee to remember the unparalleled violence that was "No Mercy."Follow Jed Meshew @JedKMeshewFollow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLeeSubscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Thursday's edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Damon Martin had a hot take prediction that stirred up a lot of debate: If Bo Nickal fought UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, would Nickal actually win?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes listener calls about that take, and puts a slight tweak on it by discussing whether or not it would be a competitive fight right now. Additionally, listener topics include Islam Makhachev's road to his UFC 280 title shot in comparison to Khabib Nurmagomedov's, what is going on with Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar's potential retirement fight booked for UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden against Chris Gutierrez, ONE Championship's reported financial struggles, what current Bellator or PFL champions would have the best chance to defeat a current UFC champion, 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: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The pivotal final stretch for the UFC, Bellator, PFL, and more is vast approaching as the incredible athletes in the sport of MMA look to take home some hardware at the end of 2022.On an all-new edition of Between the Links, it's a special roundtable episode to discuss the frontrunners for MMA Fighting's 2022 year-end awards, and how things can change before the calendar changes to 2023. Topics include male fighter of the year, and if there's any chance Khamzat Chimaev could win the award, female fighter of the year, if that award go to a non-champion, the fight of the year, if the UFC 275 title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira are the clear-cut clubhouse leaders, or if the UFC 273 bout between Chimaev and Gilbert Burns could take the trophy, KO of the year, if Leon Edwards' stunning finish of Kamaru Usman leads Michael Chandler's front-kick KO of Tony Ferguson, submission of the year, and more.Host Mike Heck moderates the discussion that includes MMA Fighting's Damon Martin and Alexander K. Lee. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Damon Martin: @DamonMartin Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Four years ago today, Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor to retain the UFC lightweight title in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 229, and then all hell broke loose.On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes listener questions about the Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor bout from October 2018, the build to the matchup, and the aftermath — most notably, Nurmagomedov jumping out of the octagon into the crowd. Additionally, listener topics include the UFC's lightweight division, the chances Michael Chandler gets a title shot with a win over Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, Sodiq Yusuff's next opponent, UFC Vegas 62 and the main event stakes between Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo, Francis Ngannou, 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: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje sits down with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to discuss teaming up with the UFC and Modelo for the gym revitalization program and his role in helping to renovate a local gym in Denver, his successful nose surgery, wanting to return in 2023, what opponents make sense, if he was offered a fight with Rafael Fiziev for December, what it would take for him to fight Conor McGregor, the UFC280 main event for the lightweight title between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, and more.Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin Holland's retirement didn't last long, and now he's set for a huge fight against a two-time UFC title challenger in December.On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Holland's short-lived retirement from the UFC, and his scheduled main event matchup against Stephen Thompson for Dec. 3 at UFC Orlando. Additionally, listener questions include Conor McGregor's comeback opponent, who Justin Gaethje should fight when he's ready to return to the octagon, the UFC lightweight division, Bo Nickal, the UFC's 30-year anniversary coming up in 2023, Paddy Pimblett, who should fight Frankie Edgar in his retirement fight at UFC 281 in November at Madison Square Garden, 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: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

O UFC começou a agendar as lutas para o próximo evento no Brasil, primeiro card no país em quase três anos, e já tem até campeão escalado. Com um terço já definido, o evento deve agradar um frustrar o fã brasileiro? O Trocação Franca dessa semana recebe o jornalista Carlos Antunes para debater o assunto, além de entrevistar Thiago Marreta, que deixou o UFC para assinar com a PFL, e Vivi Araújo, que faz a luta principal do UFC Vegas de 15 de outubro.O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda quarta-feira, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados.The UFC is building the UFC 283 card for its return to Rio de Janeiro, the first show in Brazil in nearly three years, and a champion is already booked for Jan. 21. One third of the card is already set, but how good is the lineup so far? Trocação Franca welcomes journalist Carlos Antunes to discuss that and more. The podcast also interviews Thiago Santos on his departure from the UFC to PFL, and UFC Vegas 62 headliner Viviane Araujo on her clash with Alexa Grasso.Listen to Trocação Franca with Guilherme Cruz every Wednesday to hear from the biggest names on the hottest topics in the Brazilian combat sports world.Follow Guilherme Cruz @GuicruzzzSubscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Paddy Pimblett is ready to return to the octagon — whether it be at UFC 282 in December, or when the promotion heads back to London in 2023 — how should the UFC book him, and how much of a step up should he get?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses options for Pimblett, including his suggestion from this week's edition of On To the Next One with a fight against UFC Vegas 61 winner Mike Davis. Additionally, listener suggestions include referees allowing multiple infractions to go without any penalty, Bo Nickal's interview on The MMA Hour and his thoughts about fighting on the prelims, the lightweight title picture, Charles Oliveira being the underdog against Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, Mark Zuckerberg attending UFC Vegas 61, 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: http://goo.gl/dYpsgHCheck out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLiVisit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvMLike MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7ZFollow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUIRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith joins The Fighter vs. The Writer to break down the biggest storylines heading into what should be a monumental pay-per-view in 2022.Smith will give his thoughts on the main event where Charles Oliveira clashes with Islam Makhachev to determine a new UFC lightweight champion. Makhachev has looked unbeatable during his current win streak but are people overlooking the dominance Oliveira has shown while taking out the best fighters in the world at 155 pounds?Smith will also explain why he believes Sean O’Malley ended up with the best possible fight to jump the line and potentially earn a title shot while facing former bantamweight champion Petr Yan.The breakdown will also include analysis for the co-main event between Aljamain Sterling and T.J. Dillashaw as well as Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot and Belal Muhammad vs. Sean Brady.In addition to making picks and predictions for UFC 280, Smith will also give an update on his current health after undergoing surgery on a broken leg following his most recent fight against Magomed Ankalaev. Smith reveals he’s been dealing with some difficulties in the wake of his surgery and when he’s hoping to return to action.All this and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer!Subscribe: Apple PodcastsSubscribe: SpotifyRead More: MMA Fighting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices