MMA Fighting

Rose Namajunas earned her first octagon victory in the UFC's flyweight division with a hard-fought main event showing against Amanda Ribas at Saturday's UFC Vegas 89 fight card. Where does the victory put "Thug Rose" in the championship discussion at 125 pounds?

On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could be next for Namajunas after snapping her two-fight skid in her unanimous decision win over Ribas. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Karl Williams following his decision win over Justin Tafa in the co-main event, Edmen Shahbazyan after his first-round finish of A.J. Dobson, Payton Talbott after his impressive stoppage win over Cameron Saaiman, along with fellow main card winners Youssef Zalal, Fernando Padilla, and more.

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Rose Namajunas got back in the winning column on Saturday, taking a competitive unanimous decision win over Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 89. But while the main event had the most stakes on the card, it was a preliminary bout that stole the show when Igor Severino became the first fighter in UFC history to be disqualified for biting, when he chomped down on Andre Lima's arm in just the second fight of the evening.

Following Saturday's fight card at the UFC APEX, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew, Eric Jackman, and Alexander K. Lee react to the event, Namajunas's big win and bite-gate. Additionally, they discuss Edmen Shahbazyan's great comeback, Payton Talbott's arrival as a legitimate prospect, who took home bonuses, and Andre Lima's ability to turn getting bit into the biggest win of the evening.

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Former UFC strawweight champ Rose Namajunas makes her second octagon appearance in the flyweight division as she faces Amanda Ribas in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 89 fight card in the hallowed APEX. With a couple of setbacks heading into this bout, is "Thug Rose" still considered a title contender, most notably with a win?

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee preview this weekend's fight card, the main event between Ribas and Namajunas, and what's at stake for the popular Namajunas in her second fight at 125. Additionally, they'll discuss the rest of the card, Justin Tafa facing Karl Williams in the co-main event, the anticipated bantamweight prospect matchup between Cameron Saaiman and Payton Talbott, Billy Quarantillo facing the returning Youssef Zalal, plus, they'll answer viewer questions live on the show. 

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Conor McGregor seems quite confident his return to the octagon will happen this summer against Michael Chandler, but it's certainly fair for fans to be hesitant about getting too excited since this fight has been teased for quite some time now.

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to McGregor's interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour and if the confidence levels have risen in regards to a McGregor return happening in the next few months. Additionally, listener topics include what happens if McGregor goes into free agency and what type of impact it could make, what PFL should do if that happens, the future of UFC fighter contracts after the antitrust lawsuits were settled, if fighter pay will change any time soon, how the proposd PFL pay-per-view event featuring Francis Ngannou's promotional debut will do in terms of how many buys it could do, 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

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Conor McGregor says it's all systems go for his return to the UFC's octagon this summer, although the particulars have not been revealed. Should fans of the sport be excited about the UFC's biggest star's latest update, or will it be a let down in the end?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to McGregor's recent interview on The MMA Hour and the expectation's for his return. Additionally, they discuss the UFC agreeing to settle the antitrust lawsuits, the two big fights set for UFC 301, including Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg for the flyweight title and the return of Jose Aldo against Jonathan Martinez, Donn Davis' interview on Wednesday revealing that Francis Ngannou will make his #PFL debut "no later" than September on pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou saying he may want to return to boxing for his next fight, Saturday's UFC Vegas 89 event headlined by Rose Namajunas vs. Amanda Ribas and the return of Bellator on Friday, and more.

Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Shaun Al-Shatti and Jed Meshew.

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The UFC 300 poster was revealed on Wednesday and it was met with a whimper, along with a bunch of shade thrown in the UFC's direction. Should we have been surprised by this poster considering the landscape of the company in 2024?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the poster, and gives an explanation as to why it was to be expected with the promotion being the star of the show in today's UFC. Additionally, topics include the UFC reaching a settlement agreement for $335 million in their antitrust lawsuits, what we've been able to learn about it, why it's a short term loss for the UFC, yet worth every penny for them in the long run, what it means for the PFL and other promotions, Bo Nickal's UFC 300 main card placement, Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling flying under the radar, 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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In this breaking news podcast, MMA Fighting's Steven Marrocco talks to John Nash about the $335 million settlement in the antitrust lawsuit against the UFC. Nash talks about his immediate reaction to the number, what that means for fighters going forward, whether or not the settlement will change the UFC's business practices, and more.

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For the second week in a row, the UFC is back in the world's most famous APEX.

After the entirely forgettable UFC Vegas 88, the world's leading MMA promotion returns to its home base for UFC Vegas 89 as the company continues the march onward towards UFC 300. But it's not just UFC this weekend as Bellator makes its long-awaited return under new ownership, with Bellator Belfast, and of course the No Bets Barred boys are here with a full breakdown of this MMA doubleheader.

Conner Burks and Jed Meshew open the show lamenting the state of APEX cards and the negative effect they have on the bank account, before diving into UFC Vegas 89 and Bellator Belfast. Can Rose Namajunas insert herself into the flyweight title picture on Saturday? Is it Jeremy Kennedy's time to shine against Patricio Pitbull? And how many gimmick parlays is too many gimmick parlays for one weekend? All this and more are discussed on this week's episode.

Tune in for episode 82 of No Bets Barred.

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With UFC 299 and UFC 300 being absolutely stacked fight cards on paper, many were wondering what would take place at UFC 301 in May, which will serve as the promotion's return to Brazil. Over this past weekend, it was announced that Alexandre Pantoja will defend his flyweight title against Steve Erceg, while it was also revealed that Jose Aldo would end his MMA retirement to face Jonathan Martinez — and both fights certainly got the MMA community talking.

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the bookings, the reactions from fans, and the giant opportunities for Erceg and Martinez. Additionally, listener topics include whether or not the UFC should move Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan from UFC 300 to UFC 301, Alex Pereira potentially making a quick turnaround for the May pay-per-view if he gets out of his fight with Jamahal Hill unscathed, the UFC's next three events as lead-ins to the April 13 mega event, what UFC 302 could look like, 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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The Fighter vs. The Writer returns with UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin discussing the latest news from combat sports and opening the show with a tribute to Mark Coleman after he saved his parents from a house fire this past week.

Thankfully after a short stay in the hospital, Coleman is on the road to recovery and we’ll discuss our favorite times with the former UFC heavyweight champion after hosting a podcast with him for two years and he now serves as a mainstay at Brown’s Ohio based gym.

We’ll also discuss the blowback that UFC 300 has received over the main event and Bo Nickal taking as pot on the main card over more established veterans. Did the UFC make the right move putting Nickal as one of the top fights on arguably the biggest card of the year?

Plus Brown cautions doubters counting out Jamahal Hill as he prepares to return to action against Alex Pereira in the light heavyweight main event.

We’ll also discuss the latest happening with Conor McGregor as he continues to details his frustration with not fighting and Michael Chandler’s decision to wait on his return. Brown argues that while he understands why Chandler is waiting, he’s not sure a win over McGregor will do as much for him now as it would have a few years ago.

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

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