Jailton Almeida is getting the opportunity to get one step closer towards a UFC heavyweight title shot as he is targeted to face Curtis Blaydes in the main event of the promotion's Nov. 4 event. Was this the right matchup to make with the current state of the UFC's heavyweight division? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the Blaydes vs. Almeida booking, explains why he is 100 percent on board for the matchmaking, and where Blaydes would go should he get a bounce back win over the surging contender. Additionally, listener topics include the UFC's middleweight division, the promotion's future holding events at the UFC APEX and why people should expect those kinds of cards for the foreseeable future, the NBA Finals kicking off with Denver's one-sided win over Miami, 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.

Edição extra do Trocação Franca nessa semana para receber Alex Poatan, ex-campeão dos médios do UFC que estreia em nova categoria diante de Jan Blachowicz. Em um papo franco, Poatan falou da rivalidade com Israel Adesanya, o acordo para disputar o cinturão dos meio-pesados em caso de vitória em julho, o encontro com Tyson Fury na Austrália (e Adesanya no aeroporto), a chegada de um velho rival do kickboxing ao MMA, e muito mais.

The first episode of the highly anticipated 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter is in the books featuring future opponents Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as the coaches. With the hype being built throughout the year, did the season premiere and the seeds planted live up to it? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will give a grade to the first episode of TUF 31, to both coaches, and if the intrigue levels for the rest of the season were raised after Tuesday's show. Additionally, topics include 2022 PFL champ Rob Wilkinson adding to the long list of fighters who have failed drug tests for the 2023 season and how bad this issue is for the promotion, Bellator vs. RIZIN 2 being announced for July, along with the addition of a Bellator flyweight division, Saturday's UFC Vegas 74 event headlined by Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee.

The Ultimate Fighter returned to the screens for MMA fans on Tuesday with big name coaches Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler selecting their teams, seedings, and matchups to see who will emerge in the bantamweight and lightweight divisions. For those who watched, did it hook you enough to want to return for episode two? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on the premiere of season 31 of TUF, and why he's intrigued enough to give it another chance next week. Additionally, listener topics include McGregor as a coach and not showing up to the weigh-in for the first fight of the season, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard's tweets over the weekend about card quality, the potential of the UFC heavyweight division with fighters like Sergei Pavlovich, Jailton Almeida, and Tom Aspinall emerging, how — or if — Jon Jones fits into the equation, golf foursomes featuring MMA fighters, former TUF champ Jesse Taylor, who Shavkat Rakhmonov could fight next, 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.

The No Bets Barred boys return with a full breakdown of every fight at UFC Vegas 74, and celebrate the return of flyweights to the center stage.

Conor McGregor is back! Alexander K. Lee and Conner Burks react to Episode 1 of The Ultimate Fighter 31 on the debut edition of TUF Hang, which goes live on YouTube every Tuesday at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT/4 a.m. IST immediately following the conclusion of TUF 31.

Mayra Sheetara encara Holly Holm na luta principal do UFC de 15 de julho, em Las Vegas, e quer usar a oportunidade para calar o sexismo dos fãs que não curte ver mulheres em posição de destaque nos eventos. O podcast dessa semana traz, ainda, entrevistas com Elizeu Capoeira e Philipe Lins, que lutam sábado no octógono, e Josh Silveira, que se parte em busca de uma vaga na semifinal do GP dos meio-pesados da PFL.

Paulo Costa has called cap on the UFC's announcement of him facing Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 in July. With his second booking of the year being called into question, does this mean that the one-time middleweight title challenger and the UFC are still not on the same page? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck attempts to answer that question in regards to Costa, the matchmaking, and why the UFC isn't moving forward with booking Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev for the promotion's return to Abu Dhabi in October. Additionally, topics include the Miami Heat beating the Boston Celtics in Game 7 if the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, the UFC's most underrated divisions, the future of the UFC women's bantamweight division depending on the result of the UFC 289 headliner between Amanda Nunes and Irene Aldana, Aljamain Sterling and Dana White's current relationship, who Israel Adesnaya could fight next, Bellator adding a flyweight division, 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.

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown looks back at his past appearance on The Ultimate Fighter and we debate who would be the best option for Francis Ngannou in his boxing debut.

With the UFC in a rare off week, the MMA Fighting matchmakers return with their sixth installment of "Ask Mike & AK anything" to fill in the gaps. On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee answer listener submitted questions for the entire program. Topics include how Bellator champions would stack up against UFC titleholders, Dana White's attitude as of late and if he will be held accountable at all for the negative feedback he's received from fans, if a potential trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will happen in the UFC, Bellator's new flyweight division, The Ultimate Fighter, journalism ethics questions that have surfaced recently, when Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington will happen, the PFL's big deal with Francis Ngannou, and more.

In light of the recent feud between Dana White and Aljamain Sterling, the MMA Fighting crew looks back on some of White's biggest beefs with his champions.

Aljamain Sterling has been catching some strays as of late from UFC President Dana White, who said that the bantamweight champion "can't seem to get out of his own way" after Sterling wanted to get some lingering injuries checked out following his recent fight with Henry Cejudo earlier this month. Surely, one of the company's world champions deserves better, right? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the way Sterling has been treated as of late ahead of his quick turnaround scheduled title defense against Sean O'Malley at UFC 292 in August, Henry Cejudo wanting to add his name to the mix, and how actual promotion is being graded for the UFC and its fighters. Additionally, listener questions include the NBA Eastern Conference finals and the Celtics dominating the Heat in Game 5, how the UFC at this point in the game feels similar to the WWE during the Hulk Hogan era before WCW changed the game a decade or so later, memorable Memorial Day weekend cards in the UFC, including UFC 146 and UFC 160, 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.

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of the most exciting and influential fighters in MMA history. On this episode, the MMA Fighting crew remembers the best of former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, B.J. Penn.

This week on Between the Links, the MMA Fighting crew is turning the programming over to you, the live viewers, as they banter about your topics in regards to the biggest stories in combat sports. The panel will take your questions all show long about anything you want to talk about in the world of #MMA — including Dana White's response to Francis Ngannou signing with the PFL, the UFC President's comments about Aljamain Sterling and the current bantamweight champion's responses ahead of his UFC 292 title defense against Sean O'Malley in Boston, White saying he'd welcome a Jon Jones vs. Tyson Fury fight inside the octagon, Israel Adesanya's potential opponent for UFC 293 in Sydney, Mackenzie Dern's big win this past weekend and her eye-opening interview on The MMA Hour, and more. Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they make up the panel on this week's program.

A lot of MMA fans seem to be excited about a potential matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. With Chimaev recently teasing the matchup himself, and saying it would take place at 170, is that the fight to make? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the possibility of the fight, it being a potential welterweight fight, and why he isn't going to believe it until he sees it. Additionally, listener questions include the ongoing back-and-forth between UFC President Dana White and bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, Belal Muhammad recently saying that Colby Covington is nervous he may lose his welterweight title shot against Leon Edwards, if Muhammad should be the one who should be nervous about his placement in the championship picture, a future TV deal to 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.

O Brasil tem ótimas frentes pelo cinturão dos palhas no UFC, e o Trocação Franca dessa semana recebe as duas. Amanda Lemos, confirmada pelo título, fala da luta com Zhang Weili após abandonar o esporte para virar mototaxista em Belém, e Mackenzie Dern comenta o atropelo em Angela Hill na luta principal do último final de semana.

Israel Adesanya is expected to headline the UFC's return to Sydney in September, but with so many fights booked in the middleweight division, along with quick turnaround times being a factor, it seems up in the air as to who Adesanya will face on that card. Will there be a shuffling of the deck, so to speak, or will the UFC give Adesanya a second opportunity to become a two-division champion against Jamahal Hill? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on who Adesanya could fight next, the issue with booking Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis two months prior at UFC 290, and making the case for a new lineup of fights at 185 — which includes moving Du Plessis to the title fight with Adesanya in September. Additionally, topics include Dana White's reaction to Francis Ngannou signing with the UFC, White's comments about UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling, Alex Pereira's move up to 205, when Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington could happen in 2023, 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.

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss Dana White’s comments about Francis Ngannou signing with the PFL, Conor McGregor getting back in the USADA testing pool and the scoring in the fight between Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko.

Following her eye-opening performance against Angela Hill in the main event of UFC Vegas 73, Mackenzie Dern not only called out Rose Namajunas, but also added that fighting the former champion is "a priority" at this point in her career. Will that be the matchup she gets next after the best performance of her career? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee attempt to answer that question and give their thoughts on who Dern could face next from a matchmaking perspective. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Anthony Hernandez following his third-round stoppage win over Edmen Shahbazyan in the co-main event, Lupita Godinez after defeating Emily Ducote, along with Joaquin Buckley and Diego Ferreira following their highlight-reek knockout wins, and more.

Following Mackenzie Dern's one-sided win over Angela Hill in the main event of UFC Vegas 73, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and Alexander K. Lee recap the action from Saturday's card at the UFC APEX.

Mackenzie Dern will look to get back on track, while Angela Hill is out to spoil that storyline and pick up her third straight victory in the process in Saturday's UFC headliner in the strawweight division. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, José Youngs, and Alexander K. Lee discuss the UFC Vegas 73 main event between Dern and Hill, along with the stakes for both ladies, and if this is a do-or-die fight for Dern as it relates to her championship hopes. Additionally, other bouts on the card will be discussed, including the co-main event between Edmen Shahbazyan and Anthony Hernandez, the low-key banger fight at the UFC's return to the APEX, take some viewer questions, and more.

While Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are expected to fight following the airing this upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, the big questions seem to be when will that fight take place, and will it happen before the end of this year? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses his confidence levels as to when the fight could happen, especially since a lot of the year's pay-per-view events have been announced or targeted. Additionally, listener questions include Francis Ngannou's deal with the PFL, why the PFL's next 12-18 months could be the most interesting story in all of MMA, the UFC middleweight and lightweight divisions, what things could look like if the PFL and Bellator were to actually merge, the UFC's return to Boston in August, 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.

Francis Ngannou ended his MMA free agency as the former UFC heavyweight champion signed a new deal with the PFL. While there are still more questions that need to be answered, it appears this move has the potential to be a game changer for the sport. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to Ngannou's next move, and discuss things from different angles, including some of the remaining questions we have. Additionally, topics include Dana White announcing a bunch of big fights for the upcoming UFC 291 and UFC 292 events — including Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2 for the vacant BMF title in Salt Lake City — Saturday's UFC Vegas 73 card headlined by Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill, the new 'McGregor Forever' documentary series on Netflix featuring Conor McGregor, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and José Youngs.

Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will battle for the second time inside the octagon in the main event of UFC 291 on July 29 in Salt Lake City for the BMF title. While the premise is there, why is the BMF title on the line, and should the UFC have been more creative with it if they were going to slap a gimmick championship belt on a fight that doesn't need it? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Dana White's announcement of that massive bout in the lightweight division, along with the rest of the revealed lineup, along with the UFC 292 announcement for Boston in August. Additionally, topics include Francis Ngannou's new deal with the PFL, his boxing options, the potential short turnaround for the Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis winner to face Israel Adesanya in September, Alex Pereira vs. Jan Blachowicz at 205 pounds, 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.

The No Bets Barred boys return with a full breakdown of every fight at UFC Vegas 73, including dissension in the ranks for a couple of key matchups.