MMA Fighting

Yan Xiaonan picked up a gutsy majority decision win over Mackenzie Dern in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 61 event, snapping a two-fight skid in the process. But will she have to fight backwards in order to get back into the title picture the long way, or will she get a step up in the rankings next?On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee put on the matchmaking hats following the UFC's latest event at the APEX and give their thoughts on what could be next for Yan after a much-needed victory, along with what could be next for Dern following a tough setback. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Randy Brown following his co-main event decision win over Francisco Trinaldo, Sodiq Yusuff after his quick finish of Don Shainis, Raoni Barcelos, and Mike Davis — which causes quite the debate on the difference in matchmaking suggestions between the co-hosts. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR 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

Yan Xiaonan picked up the biggest win of her career, and had to survive some tough spots against Mackenzie Dern in the main event of UFCVegas61.MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Shaheen Al-Shatti react to Yan's majority decision win and the judges' scorecards as a whole, along with Dern's performance overall from a viewer's perspective. Additionally, the panel discusses Randy Brown's win over Francisco Trinaldo in the co-main event, Mark Zuckerberg taking in the event at the UFC APEX, the bonus winners, the card not being very memorable as a whole, Chelsea Chandler and Daniel Santos picking up their first octagon wins, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Shaun Al-Shatti: @ShaunAlShatti 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

With the UFC Vegas 61 headlined by Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan, and Bellator 286 headlined by a featherweight title fight between Patricio Pitbull and Adam Borics, which promotion has the better slate?MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, José Youngs, and Alexander K. Lee discuss preview the stakes in the pivotal strawweight matchup between Dern and Yan, if Dern's "A+ skill" will be enough to get the win over her opponent, and the low-key banger of the promotion's return to the APEX. Additionally, they discuss Pitbull vs. Borics and the challenger's chances to pull off the upset, A.J. McKee's lightweight debut against Spike Carlyle, Aaron Pico's biggest test against Jeremy Kennedy, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jose Youngs: @JoseYoungs 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

Charles Oliveira is likely in the conversation for the best lightweight in UFC history with his current run, but will a win over Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 280 next month cement his place officially?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck answers that question, and gives his opinion on whether or not an Oliveira win puts him over Khabib Nurmagomedov or B.J. Penn in that conversation. Additionally, listener questions include Bo Nickal's UFC debut being set for December against Jamie Pickett, the UFC Hall of Fame, Bellator 286, ONE on Prime Video 2's promotion, Khamzat Chimaev's next move, advice for up and coming members of the MMA media, Calvin Kattar vs. Arnold Allen, 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

Bo Nickal impressed the masses once again at Tuesday’s season finale of Dana White’s Contender Series, and then called out Khamzat Chimaev. We now know that Nickal will debut against Jamie Pickett, but did the matchmakers get his debut opponent right?On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to Nickal’s quick submission win and what his future looks like in the middleweight division. Additionally, topics include Yoel Romero’s devastating KO of Melvin Manhoef at Bellator Dublin, and where the promotion should go with “Soldier of God” next, Bellator 286 this Saturday and if it is the best card of the weekend top to bottom, if the featherweight championship headliner is actually the most interesting fight on the card, UFC Vegas 61, the stakes in the main event between Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan, the event being closed off to fans and media, and more.Host Mike Heck moderates the BTL championship matchup between MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and the returning Phoenix Carnevale. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Phoenix Carnevale: @microphonephoen 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

Bo Nickal is one of the sport's highly touted prospects, and ahead of his eventual UFC debut, how high should the promotion go in terms of his first opponent?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Nickal's incredible performance on Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday, and whether or not he feels the UFC should throw him in against a top-15 opponent right away, or choose to build him up. Additionally, topics include the PFL's decision to put their season finale card in November on pay-per-view, the Shane Burgos vs. Marlon Moraes matchmaking and why it's not great matchmaking, the UFC's lightweight division, the matchup between Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov, Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nassourdine Imavov being expected for the first main event of 2023 in the UFC, 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

It's a busy week in the world of MMA with the UFC returning for UFC Vegas 61 and Bellator putting out one of its better efforts of late with Bellator 286, and so the No Bets Barred boys are back to cover all of your gambling needs.Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew get into a contentious discussion surrounding the UFC main event fight between Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan before diving into their full slate of bets which includes wagers on every single fight on the card, plus a chunk of Bellator action as well. And as an added bonus, Conner and Jed get derailed talking about their own experiences getting into fights on the mean streets of Athens, GA. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

Rei dos penas do Bellator, Patrício Pitbull quer fazer história mais uma vez. Único brasileiro campeão duplo da história da organização, o potiguar disse ao Trocação Franca que mira repetir a façanha, agora entre os galos. No bate-papo, Pitbull apontou o próximo na fila após Adam Borics e elogiou o recém-aposentado José Aldo, revelando interesse em enfrentá-lo no MMA ou boxe. O podcast traz, ainda, entrevistas com Tabatha Ricci e Raoni Barcelos, que lutam sábado no UFC.O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda quarta-feira, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados.Bellator featherweight king Patricio Pitbull wants to make history again. Brazil’s only two-division Bellator champion, Pitbull told Trocação Franca he wants to repeat the feat at bantamweight. The 145-pound great discussed who’s next after Adam Borics and praised recently retired Jose Aldo, saying he’s still interested in facing him in MMA or boxing. The podcast also chats with Tabatha Ricci and Raoni Barcelos, who compete Saturday at UFC Vegas 61.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

With glaring holes in the main event slots for December's UFC 282 and January's UFC 283 events currently, what fights could fill those slots — especially with so much lack of clarity in the heavyweight division?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck answers questions about what could headline those two PPV events, how Jon Jones factors into things, what could happen if Francis Ngannou doesn't re-sign with the UFC, and more. Additionally, listener topics include Khamzat Chimaev's next move, where Eddie Alvarez could end up after parting ways with ONE, the stacked UFC 280 lineup in October, the loaded up weekend slate with upcoming events from the UFC, Bellator, ONE, BKFC, and more, what would be one singular main card to put together from those, some of the best women's fights of all-time, 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

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Bellator 286 fighters Aaron Pico and Max Rohskopf join the show.Once touted as possibly the best prospect to enter the sport of mixed martial arts, Pico faced more than a few hurdles living up to his full potential after starting his career with a 4-3 record. Nobody gave up hope on Pico but he still had to rebuild himself and now he stands on the precipice of title contention with his upcoming fight scheduled against Jeremy Kennedy.For all the wins Pico has amassed recently, is he finally ready to ascend to the top of the featherweight division and become champion? Pico addresses those expectations and he also offers some advice to another super prospect in Bo Nickal, who has been receiving similar praise early in his fight career.Also on the show this week, Max Rohskopf joins the show for the first time to preview his upcoming return to action after inking a deal to join the Bellator roster.Rohskopf is best remembered for his short stint with the UFC that ended after he wouldn’t leave his corner at the end of the second round, and he was branded a quitter before being released from the promotion.At that point, Rohskopf was done with fighting and had no intentions of ever making a return to the cage, but what changed and how did it eventually lead him to Bellator? Hear that from Rohskopf along with his own struggles with mental health and how he wants to help fight back against the stigma for other fighters seeking similar help.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