MMA Fighting

The Brazilian fans in Rio de Janeiro certainly went home happy after Alexandre Pantoja earned a hard fought unanimous decision win over Steve Erceg to retain his flyweight title in the UFC 301 main event, but it was Jose Aldo, now the sport's biggest free agent, who sent the arena into a frenzy with his throwback performance against Jonathan Martinez.

Following Saturday's pay-per-view fight card, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Eric Jackman react to Pantoja's successful title defense, the scoring of the fight, and if Erceg made a fight-losing mistake in the fifth round. Additionally, the panel discusses Aldo's dominant win and what's next for him, his title hopes if he re-signs with the UFC, Michel Pereira's quick finish, Anthony Smith's upset win, and much more.

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relive the magic of UFC 301's live watch party with Mike Heck and Conner Burks!

Check out the original UFC 301 Watch Party video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhRzAMevRKE

Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR

Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 301 goes down Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, and Brazil is represented on the card from top-to-bottom – including Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title against Steve Erceg in the main event, and Jose Aldo returning to the octagon, and his throne as "The King of Rio" as he faces Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event. Will the Brazilian fans go home happier than they did after UFC 283 in January 2023?

Ahead of the pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Shaun Al-Shatti, Mike Heck, and Alexander K. Lee preview the fight card, and the main event between Pantoja and Erceg, discuss the challenger's underdog shot, and if Pantoja continues to be overlooked as a champion. Additonally, they'll talk Aldo's future following Saturday night, what Martinez would gain from a win over Aldo, the low-key bangers, plus answer viewer questions, and more.

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 301 goes down Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and there are a lot of fun matchups on the card for those in know — including an intriguing title fight at the top, and the return to the octagon of Jose Aldo. And while hardcore fans understand that the event does have the ability to be an enjoyable watch, has the build to it generated the least amount of buzz of any pay-per-view in recent memory?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes questions about Saturday's fight card, some of the compelling matchups, but the noticeable lack of fan excitement for it. Additionally, listener topics include Tom Aspinall's defense of U.K. fans for the UFC 304 start time, William Gomis' scary weigh-in on Friday, Steve Erceg being a bit of a darling underdog ahead of his flyweight title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja, and much more.

You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays and Thursdays 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

Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com

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

Another UFC pay-per-view event is upon us with UFC 301, and with the incredible UFC 300 event preceding it, the card is in an unfair position. But Alexandre Pantoja defends his lightweight title against Steve Erceg in the main event. Can Erceg pull off the upset, and if he does, what does that mean for the 125-pound division?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel previews Saturday's championship contest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, along with Jose Aldo's return to the octagon in his final promotional contracted bout against Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event, and other notable storylines. Additionally, they'll discuss Ryan Garcia reportedly failing a pair of VADA drug tests in relation to his upset win over Devin Haney, Mike Perry's quick knockout of Thiago Alves at BKFC KnuckleMania 4, what could be next for him, Conor McGregor becoming a part owner of the promotion, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match being sanctioned as a pro bout, and more.

Host Mike Heck and MMA Fighting's José Youngs answer your questions about those topics and more.

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

José Aldo is one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. You think you know his story? Think again!

On this episode of This is CineMMA, the MMA Fighting movie review crew gets in touch with their feelings as we follow Aldo’s heart-wrenching journey from Brazilian bad boy to MMA legend in the 2016 biopic Mais Forte que o Mundo a.k.a. Stronger than the World. Some… interesting choices are made, with Aldo (José Loreto) shown rising through the ranks in the fighting world while battling demons outside of the cage. If this sounds more like a telenovela than a martial arts film, then this might be just what you’re looking for.

Ahead of Aldo’s return at UFC 301, Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew, E. Casey Leydon, and special guest Guilherme Cruz try to make sense of a sometimes baffling narrative, separate fact from fiction, and discuss ideas that could have made the movie so much better.

Is this even about José Aldo? Why is it missing some of his most famous moments? And is lumber-bashing a real hobby in Brazil?

(Leg) kick back and chill with us for the answers to these questions and more.

Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee

Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew

Follow E. Casey Leydon: @ekc

Follow Guilherme Cruz: @guicruzzz

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

One-time UFC title challenger and current ESPN UFC analyst Megan Anderson joins MMA Fighting's Mike Heck to preview Saturday's UFC 301 event, the hangover from UFC 300, Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg, Jose Aldo's return against Jonathan Martinez and if it will be Aldo's final UFC fight, why Anthony Smith vs. Vitor Petrino is a fight she has her eye on, and much more. 

• 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

UFC 301 is here and we're headed back to Brazil!

This Saturday, the UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro for its first pay-per-view offering since the immaculate UFC 300, and the No Bets Barred boys are back to break down all the fights.

After taking a few weeks off to recuperate following the extravaganza that was UFC 300, hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew return with spirit, opening the show with a brief recap of their past couple of weeks before diving into this card. Will Alexandre Pantoja give the Brazilian crowd a happy ending to the evening or will Steve Erceg - AKA "Vinnie Cigs" -- become the most unlikely champion in UFC history? How will the return of Jose Aldo go? And which Brazilian fighters are primed to be upset on home turf?

All this and a lot more are discussed on this week's episode.

Tune in for episode 86 of No Bets Barred.

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Aspinall agrees with the U.K. MMA fans that the upcoming UFC 304 pay-per-view event in July should cater to the local market, as opposed to the U.S. fanbase — and he's absolutely correct in that assessment. But will the UFC change course to satisfy the Manchester fans as it relates to the card's start time?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses Aspinall's recent response to the fight night schedule and why the UFC interim heavyweight champion is spot on. Additionally, listener topics include Saturday's UFC 301 event, flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg's chances against Alexandre Pantoja in the main event, whether or not Jose Aldo will be making the walk to the octagon for the final time against Jonathan Martinez, the hidden gem on Saturday's fight card, the UFC middleweight division, the BMF title, and more.

You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays and Thursdays 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

Read More: http://www.mmafighting.com

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

The Fighter vs. The Writer returns with a brand new episode as UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin discuss the latest in combat sports including how the UFC has embraced marketing and promoting athletes in way that boxing never has.

Brown argues that boxing promoters are still stuck in the 1990s when it comes to their methodology trying to build interest in the sport while the UFC continues to run circles around them.

We’ll also talk about Mike Perry’s latest win in BKFC and how he became the perfect person to serve as the face of bare-knuckle fighting.

Plus we’ll discuss Jose Aldo coming back from retirement to fight at UFC 301 and if he’s returning for the right reasons?

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