MMA Fighting

UFC CEO Dana White dropped a slew of fight announcements on Thursday, including the first bouts for the historic UFC 300 event in April. While White didn't drop the main event, he did drop some interesting bouts such as Aljamain Sterling vs. Calvin Kattar, Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic, and the return of Bo Nickal. Do those fights make you feel as if the PPV lineup will be the most stacked card we've had in a few years?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the UFC 300 bouts, along with White announcing Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa, and the moving up of Ian Machado Garry vs. Geoff Neal, Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega 2 for Mexico City, and Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot for UFC Atlantic City in March. Additionally, listener questions include Alex Pereira potentially teasing a move up to heavyweight to try and win a third UFC divisional title, Alexa Grasso and Zhang Weili's respectful back and forth, Parker Porter's UFC release, 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.

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With the conclusion of UFC 296, the UFC's 2023 campaign is over, and that means it's almost time to hand out some hardware as the MMA Fighting year-end awards are just around the corner. The panel will preview the 2023 awards following a quick look back at UFC 296, Colby Covington's head scratching performance against Leon Edwards, and more.

This week, the panel of MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, and E. Casey Leydon preview the MMA Fighting 2023 year-end awards and reveal their top-five nominees for Fighter of the Year and discuss where Sean Strickland fits in after his unbelievable year, along with Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year, Submission of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. They'll also discuss if there are any snubs, why their list came to be, if 2023 was the craziest year in the history of the sport, and much more.

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While Belal Muhammad seems like a pretty clear choice to get the next shot at Leon Edwards and the UFC welterweight title, things still appear to be up in the air in regards to how the 170-pound title picture plays out. Does Shavkat Rakhmonov jump over him? Is the UFC waiting to see what happens with the Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight? Muhammad certainly deserves the shot, but will he get it?

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses that and states his case for Muhammad to get his day in court, while also reacting to Edwards no-selling Muhammad, the champ's tweet at the surging contender, and his head coach saying he would prefer Gilbert Burns being next over Muhammad. Additionally, listener questions include Colby Covington's appearance on Fox News, UFC 300, what Sean Strickland's title reign could look like if he beats Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, 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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O UFC encerrou seu calendário em 2023, e o Trocação Franca recebe o narrador André Azevedo para fazer um balanço da temporada e eleger os melhores (e piores) do ano. O podcast recebe também o campeão dos moscas Alexandre Pantoja, que fez uma revelação surpreendente sobre a vitória diante de Brandon Royval no UFC 296.

O melhor do MMA brasileiro no Trocação Franca, toda semana, com o jornalista Guilherme Cruz e convidados.

The UFC has closed its year, and Trocação Franca welcomes UFC Fight Pass Brazil commentator André Azevedo to recap the year and pick the best (and worst) of 2023. The podcast also features an interview with UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, who makes a surprising reveal about his UFC 296 title defense over Brandon Royval.

Listen to Trocação Franca with Guilherme Cruz every week to hear from the biggest names on the hottest topics in the Brazilian combat sports world.

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The knives are out for Colby Covington, but why have the past few days felt so different than when any other polarizing MMA figure loses?

Old pals Jed Meshew and Damon Martin join co-hosts Shaun Al-Shatti and Alexander K. Lee this week to unpack everything UFC 296. The gang hits the absurdity that was Strickland vs. DDP around (11:05), as well as the reckoning Covington now faces around (20:51) and where his third title loss ranks among the great ya-blew-it nights in UFC history. Then, the boys discuss Leon Edwards snatching the No. 3 spot from Jon Jones on the pound-for-pound list around (1:02:43), Shavkat Rakhmonov's ferocious ascendance to title contention around (1:19:49), the biggest rankings surprises of 2023 around (1:30:58), and much more.

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Colby Covington had the Las Vegas crowd in the palm of his hands throughout UFC 296 fight week, including the press conference where he took a controversial shot at Leon Edwards, his walk to the octagon for the main event and last minute powwow with Donald Trump — and then the fight began, and he was dominated by the champion and put forth an effort that has left the MMA community scratching their heads.

On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to UFC 296, Edwards' successful title defense, and if Covington will be able to bounce back in the eyes of fans following the worst performance of his career. Additionally, listener questions include whether or not Belal Muhammad should be next for Edwards, where Shavkat Rakhmonov fits in the mix after submitting Stephen Thompson, the incredible battle between Irene Aldana and Karol Rosa, Ariane Lipski's outstanding outing against Casey O'Neill, Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis fighting in the crowd, Dana White announcing a slew of fights for UFC 299 — including the newly signed Michael Page vs. Kevin Holland — 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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Following arguably the biggest card of the year at UFC 296, UFC legend Matt Brown and MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin react to everything that unfolded on Saturday night in the final pay-per-view card in 2023.

Leon Edwards successfully defended his title in the main event with a shutout performance over Colby Covington. Following the loss in his third attempt at becoming undisputed champion, where does Covington go from here? Does he have what it takes to earn his way back for another title shot or has he already reached his ceiling in the UFC?

With Edwards winning, is Belal Muhammad next in line or did Shavkat Rakhmonov beating Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson change the pecking order at welterweight?

We’ll also discuss the fallout from Tony Ferguson suffering a seventh straight loss to Paddy Pimblett and if he should actually retire or possibly return for another fight?

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

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The fallout of UFC 296 was always a part of what made Saturday's UFC pay-per-view event so intriguing. Following the final UFC card of 2023, where does Leon Edwards and Colby Covington go following Edwards' dominant win?

MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee attempt to answer that question from a matchmaking perspective on the final matchmaking edition of On To the Next One for the year. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja following his unanimous decision win in the co-main event against Brandon Royval, Shavkat Rakhmonov after submitting Stephen Thompson in the featured bout, Paddy Pimblett following his lopsided decision win over Tony Ferguson, Josh Emmett after his terrifying knockout of Bryce Mitchell, and more.

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Leon Edwards made it look easy in his second title defense when he earned a unanimous decision over Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 296. Although it certainly won't be on anyone's Fight of the Year lists, what comes next for the UFC welterweight champion, as well as Covington, will be interesting. 

Following the final pay-per-view event of 2023 for the UFC, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaun Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew react to Saturday's card, Edwards' championship retaining victory, Covington's puzzling strategy and performance, Alexandre Pantoja's successful flyweight title defense against Brandon Royval, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Paddy Pimblett's win, Josh Emmett's brutal knockout of Bryce Mitchell, Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis' brawl in the crowd during the event, and more.

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Relive the magic of UFC 296's live watch party with Mike Heck, Conner Burks, plus a few special guests!

Check out the original UFC 296 Watch Party video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/n5putD8D8XY?si=xx3tHG_k-SxiAYsy

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