MMA Fighting

Alexandre Pantoja had little to gain and a lot to lose at UFC 310, but he made the most of a tricky situation and turned in another sterling performance. The reigning flyweight champion notched the third straight defense of his flyweight title, taking the best shots that octagon newcomer Kai Asakura had to offer before putting him to sleep with a rear-naked choke submission in the second round. Asakura was already an out-of-left field challenger, so what’s next for Pantoja, who has beaten many of his rivals, some of them twice over? 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 Pantoja following the Pound-for-Pound great’s latest exploits. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry following a back-and-forth co-main event contest that may have raised both fighters’ stocks, Ciryl Gane after a controversial win in his rematch with Alexander Volkov, along with fellow main card winners Bryce Mitchell and Doo Ho Choi, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee  Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Alexandre Pantoja's incredible submission win over Kai Asakura to retain the flyweight title, Shavkat Rakhmonov's hard fought decision win over Ian Machado Garry, and more from UFC 310. 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Relive the magic of UFC 310's live watch party with Mike Heck and Jed Meshew! Check out the original UFC 310 Watch Party here: https://www.youtube.com/live/iDVpwPmWskI 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC 310 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas, and it's a stacked lineup across the board. In the main event, Alexandre Pantoja puts his UFC flyweight title on the line against Kai Asakura, while Shavkat Rakhmonov faces Ian Machado Garry in a battle of undefeated welterweights for a title shot. Ahead of this weekend's pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Mike Heck preview the lineup, the main event between Pantoja and Asakura, as well as the incredibly high stakes in the Rakhmonov vs. Garry five-round co-main event. Additionally, they discuss other pivotal bouts on the main card, some of the low-key fights that aren't getting the attention they deserve, answer viewer questions, and more. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC 310 goes down this Saturday in Las Vegas, and in the main event, Alexandre Pantoja welcomes former RIZIN champ Kai Asakura to the promotion in his third defense of the UFC flyweight title. In the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov puts his welterweight title shot on the line against fellow undefeated contender Ian Machado Garry. Despite the lack of star power, is UFC 310 one of the best cards on paper of 2024? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel previews Saturday's pay-per-view card, the main event between Pantoja and Asakura, and discuss where the winner goes from there. Additionally, topics include the significance of the Rakhmonov vs. Garry No. 1 contender fight, what it means for the winner in terms of perception from the fan base and community, other standout fights, the PFL's World Championship card this past Friday, what they need to do to be successful in 2025 and beyond, and much more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Morning Kombat's Luke Thomas. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Luke Thomas: @lthomasnews Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final pay-per-view of the year is here! This Saturday, UFC 310 takes place in Las Vegas, headlined by a flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and UFC-debutant Kai Asakura. Also on the card, two undefeated welterweights collide when Shavkat Rakhmonov faces down Ian Machado Garry in a title eliminator bout. It's the final big event of the year and No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew is joined by The Action Network's Billy Ward to dive deep into UFC 310. Topics discussed this week include Asakura's chances to even make 125 pounds successfully, whether Shavkat can continue his finishing streak, if the Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov rematch is destined to end like the first, the big featherweight bout between Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling, a bevy of gimmick bets, the next level up in THE CLIMB, and much more. Tune in for episode 110 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Billy Ward: @Psychoward586 Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura battle at UFC 310, check out the roads each fighter took to the UFC flyweight championship headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest episode of Fighter vs. Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin break down the key fights at UFC 310 and Brown details why Asakura might face struggles in his octagon debut plus we discuss former champions Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman being on the prelims and Brown details why that upsets some fighters so much 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following Friday's PFL World Championship card, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the new season champions, the nearly 10-hour fight card, Dakota Ditcheva's incredible performance, and much 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a special Thanksgiving week edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew take your questions about Conor McGregor and him being found liable in a sexual assault civil case on Friday, Petr Yan's incredible performance at UFC Macau, Jon Jones giving a return update, PFL fighters blasting the promotion ahead of their World Championship card on Friday, MVP's statement following Paul vs. Tyson, 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 Read 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, Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss fighters from Bellator getting frustrated about a lack of fights and if this speaks to a larger problem happening at PFL plus we react to the Conor McGregor trial in Ireland where he was found liable of sexual assault from allegations dating back to 2018 plus more 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where does Petr Yan go after his win in an instant classic over Deiveson Figueiredo to close the show at UFC Macau? Following Saturday's UFC Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what's next for Yan, along with Yan Xiaonan, Muslim Salikhov, Gabriella Fernandes, Carlos Ulberg, Mingyang Zhang, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Petr Yan looks ready to make another bantamweight title run. On Saturday, Yan picked up a unanimous decision win over Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Macau, in a vintage performance from the former 135-pound champion. Though Figueiredo was highly competitive throughout, Yan simply out-worked the former flyweight champ to take a clean sweep of the judges' scorecards, 50-45 and put himself back in the thick of the bantamweight title conversation. Following Saturday's early morning card, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee react to Yan's terrific performance, Yan Xiaonan's return to the win column in the co-main event, the bevy of sensational knockouts that filed the rest of the card, and more. 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in 10 years, the UFC is returning to Macau! This Saturday, UFC Macau goes down at Galaxy Arena in Macau, headlined by a bantamweight contest between former champion Petr Yan and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. 3-0 since jumping up to 135 pounds, “Figgy Smalls” is on the precipice of earning a title shot against Merab Dvalishvili if he can get a much-needed win over Yan this weekend. Ahead of Saturday’s return to Macau, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew is joined by Alexander K. Lee to break down all the action for this weekend’s card. Topics discussed include Figueiredo’s chances at pulling off the upset, how Yan Xiaonan might look in her first fight back since failing her title shot against Zhang Weili, whether Carlos Ulberg can get past Volkan Oezdemir, and more. 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson headlined a boxing event that was streamed by over 100 million people on Netflix this past Friday. While the card was a gigantic success, and the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano delivered a Fight of the Year contender, the Paul vs. Tyson main event was underwhelming, and the Netflix experience appeared to be even worse. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to the Paul vs. Tyson fight card, the good, the great, and the awful, if more of these events will happen, and what is next for Paul after the lackluster decision victory. Additionally, topics include Jon Jones' easy win over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, the reaction from the MMA community, where Jones ranks pound-for-pound and if he'll fight Tom Aspinall — or anybody else — Charles Oliveira's lopsided win over Michael Chandler, Saturday's UFC Macau event headlined by Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Morning Kombat's Brian Campbell. 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC 309 is in the books and it's on to UFC Macau! This Saturday morning, UFC Macau takes place headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo with potential title implications on the line, and No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew begins the show with a brief recap of UFC 309 and Jon Jones's emphatic victory over Stipe Miocic before diving into his favorite bets for this weekend's action. Topics discussed include Figgy Smalls's chances at jumping Umar Nurmagomedov in the bantamweight title queue, Yan Xiaonan's hopes to rebound against Tabatha Ricci, whether Carlos Ulberg can ascend to the ranks of true contender against Volkan Oezdemir, a couple of gimmick parlays, the next level up in THE CLIMB, and much more. Tune in for episode 109 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Jones is back. So is Francis Ngannou. And Tom Aspinall? He’s been here all along. So with all three big men scoring pivotal wins in 2024, who is the one true king of the heavyweight division? Is it Jones, the relative neophyte who is just 2-0 in the weight class, but still carrying the aura that comes with being undefeated throughout his career? Is it Ngannou, the lineal heavyweight champion who left the UFC without ever dropping his belt? Or is it Aspinall, the man who defended an interim heavyweight title while Jones sat on the sidelines waiting for a Stipe Miocic fight that lost intrigue with every passing day? Theoretically, there’s no wrong answer, but the MMA Fighting rankings panel of Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon give their best arguments as to why each fighter has a claim to be No. 1. Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee Follow Damon Martin @DamonMartin Follow Jed Meshew @JedKMeshew Follow E. Casey Leydon @ekc Subscribe: http://goo.gl/dYpsgH Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/u8VvLi Visit our playlists: http://goo.gl/eFhsvM Like MMAF on Facebook: http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z Follow on Twitter: http://goo.gl/nOATUI Read 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, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss the fallout from UFC 309 where Jon Jones dismantled Stipe Miocic in the main event but what exactly did that do for his career and legacy? Plus we discuss a potential conspiracy theory about Jones’ future and whether that involves a fight against Tom Aspinall plus much more. 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Jones made it look easy against the greatest heavyweight in UFC history on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, and now there appears to be more questions about Jones' future coming out of UFC 309 than heading in. Does Jones face interim champion Tom Aspinall next in a unification bout, or does he get the fight he wants with Alex Pereira? 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 Jones following his one-sided third-round TKO victory over the now-retired Miocic in the main event. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler following Oliveira's decision win in the co-main event, Bo Nickal after his victory over Paul Craig in the middleweight featured bout, along with fellow main card winners Viviane Araujo and Mauricio Ruffy, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Jones made it look easy in the main event of UFC 309 as he dominated Stipe Miocic for 14 minutes before delivering a devastating spin kick to the body that sent Miocic crumbling to the mat, which led to the former two-time champ announcing the end of his hall of fame career. The big question remains: Will Jones fight Tom Aspinall to unify the heavyweight championship of the UFC? Following Saturday's fight card at Madison Square Garden, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Jones' brutal stoppage of Miocic, his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, and Miocic announcing his retirement. Additionally, they discuss Charles Oliveira's dominant win over Michael Chandler in the co-main event and the wild fifth round, Bo Nickal's win over Paul Craig that led to a chorus of boos from the MSG crowd, other notable performances from the fight card, and much 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 Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices