We are one the eve of a massive champion vs. champion fight for the UFC lightweight title between Islam Makhachev and featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284. With just weigh-ins left to get through, the final countdown to the pay-per-view event is on. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck talks the big fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski, along with the star-making potential of the bout for both guys. Additionally, listener questions include what could make 2023 the biggest blockbuster year for the UFC ever, how Conor McGregor factors into that, Francis Ngannou's options in boxing and MMA, other notable bouts on the UFC 284 card including the interim title fight between Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett, Jack Maddalena vs. Randy Brown, and more. Plus, in a podcast exclusive, Bellator MMA desk host and CBS Sports reporter Amanda Guerra joins the program (1:16:54) to discuss her career, how she found herself on the desk for a major MMA organization, Bellator providing a family atmosphere, being in attendance for the final fight of Fedor Emelianenko's career, memorable moments between John McCarthy and Brennan Ward leading in the latter's big moment at Bellator 290, 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.

Islam Makhachev will look to defend his UFC lightweight title for the first time against the No. 1 fighter in the world, and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284. With so much in play from a legacy standpoint, is Saturday's title fight the most high stakes fight in UFC history? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss the incredible headliner for the lightweight title between Makhachev and Volkanovski, the promotion for the fight, and what is on the line outside of the 155-pound belt. Additionally, topics include the rest of Saturday's card, Dana White announcing the return of Conor McGregor this past Saturday to face Michael Chandler as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, and in the octagon later this year, Bellator's CBS debut with Bellator 290 and UFC Vegas 68 this past weekend, what is next for Derrick Lewis after his third straight loss, and more. Host Mike Heck will moderate the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and reporter James Lynch.

Alexander Volkanovski is the biggest underdog on the UFC 284 card this Saturday as he heads into the main event against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Should the current 145-pound king pull off the upset and become a two-division champion, where will he rank on the list of greatest fighters of all-time? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the stakes of Saturday's headliner in Perth, Western Australia, and what a win would do for either guy in terms of legacy. Additionally, listener topics include what's going on with Colby Covington, who Belal Muhammad could fight next, the stakes in the UFC 287 matchup between Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, a potential Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight, Dan Hooker's injury, 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.

This weekend, the superfight of the year goes down when UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev puts his title on the line against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. It's a battle of the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the sport and so of course the No Bets Barred boys are here to break the action down.

Glover Teixeira está de volta ao Trocação Franca pela primeira vez depois de se aposentar do MMA, e falou sobre tudo em uma entrevista exclusiva: a decisão de parar, a derrota para Jamahal Hill, o legado que deixa ao esporte, o futuro do pupilo Alex Poatan, e muito mais. O podcast também entrevista Elves Brenner, estreante no UFC e parceiro de treinos de Charles do Bronx, e ainda recebe o jornalista Adriano Albuquerque, do Combate, para debater Fedor Emelianenko, Conor McGregor, e os principais assuntos de semana.

Conor McGregor is set to return to competition later on this year against Michael Chandler. While that will be a huge matchup for the UFC, will McGregor and Chandler opposing one another on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter be enough for you to watch the season? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses the McGregor vs. Chandler matchup, betting odds, and why he believes it will be massive for the show — even if the ratings aren't spectacular. Additionally, listener questions include Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, the return of Jon Jones at UFC 285 against Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title, Jack Della Maddalena vs. Randy Brown at UFC 284 this Saturday, Kevin Lee re-signing with the UFC, Chris Weidman on the comeback trail, 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.

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin talk about Fedor Emelianenko’s retirement, Francis Ngannou’s chances to beat a high-level boxer and what happens if Conor McGregor loses to Michael Chandler.

Serghei Spivac made the most of his first UFC main event spot as he dispatched Derrick Lewis in less than three minutes to cap off UFC Vegas 68 and extend his win streak to three fights. After the quick submission win, how much of a step up should Spivac get? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee recap UFC Vegas 68 from a matchmaking perspective and discuss what could be next for Spivak following his biggest career win, along with where Lewis could go. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Devin Clark following his big win over Da Un Jung, Marcin Tybura after defeating Blagoy Ivanov, along with fellow winners Adam Fugitt, Tatsuro Taira, and more. Also, the hosts discuss Bellator's CBS debut with Bellator 290 this past Saturday, why it was a success, and how to improve upon it should they return to the network.

Bellator's debut on CBS has come and gone, and the career of the legendary Fedor Emelianenko is officially over, and it wasn't the happy ending most #MMA fans were hoping for. Following Saturday's Bellator 290 event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Shaun Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew react to Emelianenko's first-round TKO loss to heavyweight champion Ryan Bader in the main event, Bader's classy response to how it all played out, whether or not a fight with Francis Ngannou could happen, how the card performed as a whole, Johnny Eblen's stock after a fantastic performance against Anatoly Tokov to retain his middleweight championship, Brennan Ward's sensational finish of Sabah Homasi, Lorenz Larkin's knockout of the year contender, and more.

On Saturday morning, #UFC president Dana White returned to the promotion's social media channels to announce a variety of news — including the return of Conor McGregor, to not only the octagon, but to The Ultimate Fighter as a coach with Michael Chandler as the opposition to both. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and New York Ric react to that news, discuss whether or not it was the right pairing, #UFC287 having an official destination on April 8, and more.

Should Aljamain Sterling defeat Henry Cejudo in their targeted title fight in May, the current UFC bantamweight champion says he will likely make the move up to 145 pounds. While some fans have been harsh to Sterling for his comments, this shouldn't come as any surprise as he's been pondering this move for quite some time. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to Sterling's potential move to featherweight and whether or not — if he beats Cejudo — if he should wait to fight Sean O'Malley before making the leap. Additionally, listener topics include the UFC's promotion for UFC 284 and if it's not getting the attention it rightfully deserves, the crowd at UFC 283, Bellator 290 storylines, why Johnny Eblen has the most to gain and lose during the busy weekend in MMA, UFC Vegas 68, Cory Sandhagen vs. Marlon Vera moving to the main event of UFC San Antonio in March, 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.

Fedor Emelianenko has the opportunity to have one of the best retirement stories in the history of MMA as he will challenge for the Bellator heavyweight championship this Saturday. Ahead of Emelianenko's final fight against Ryan Bader in the main event of Bellator 290, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, and Jed Meshew preview the matchup and discuss why "The Last Emperor" could get it done in his swan song, Johnny Eblen's opportunity to boost his star potential against Anatoly Tokov in the co-main event, the super fun main card opener between Sabah Homasi and Brennan Ward, the impact of being on CBS, and more. Additionally, the panel previews UFC Vegas 68 headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac, what is at stake for "The Black Beast," the return of Doo Ho Choi for the first time since 2019, Tatsuro Taira's potential, and Laura Sanko's UFC color commentary debut.

For the final time in an over two-decade legendary career, Fedor Emelianenko will make the walk to compete in an MMA fight. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss the swan song for "The Last Emperor" when he faces Ryan Bader for the heavyweight title in the main event of Bellator 290, and the fight card as a whole which will serve as the Bellator debut on CBS. Additionally, topics include Dana White's big announcement this past Friday regarding UFC 287, including Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 in the headliner, along with Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal at the April 8 event, Max Holloway's return to the octagon against Arnold Allen at the UFC's April 15 event, this Saturday's UFC Vegas6 8 card headlined by Derrick Lewis vs. Serghei Spivac, and more. Host Mike Heck will be joined by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Eric "New York Ric" Jackman.

With a historic event for Bellator MMA this Saturday, they are putting their best foot forward in the heads up battle with the UFC, which includes the final fight of Fedor Emelianenko's legendary career, along with the sendoff "The Last Emperor" will receive. On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses Saturday's doubleheader, and explains why Bellator 290 is far better than UFC Vegas 68 on paper. Additionally, listener questions include Bellator president Scott Coker's announcement of a host of MMA legends attending the event to honor Emelianenko following his heavyweight title fight with Ryan Bader, the hopes of seeing more things like that to remember the history of the sport, Bloody Elbow's future, whether or not UFC 284 is getting enough promotion, Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, how Kamaru Usman matches up with Leon Edwards ahead of UFC 286, and much more.

After taking a week off, the UFC is back and, for the first time in 2023, so is Bellator! And so the No Bets Barred boys are back as well, covering all the best betting angles for both cards.

O Trocação Franca está de volta com uma resenha sobre os assuntos mais importantes da semana no MMA, debatendo com o jornalista Carlos Antunes sobre a revanche Alex Poatan x Israel Adesanya, a possível luta entre Charles do Bronx e Beneil Dariush, José Aldo e Francis Ngannou no boxe, e Conor McGregor no TUF. O podcast trás, ainda, uma entrevista com Neiman Gracie, companheiro de treinos de Dariush que luta no sábado, no Bellator.

Over the last few days, a slew of massive fights have been announced for the UFC, including two big ones for UFC 287 with Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2, and Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal. On Monday evening, another big fight was confirmed in the featherweight division between Max Holloway and Arnold Allen for the main event of the promotion's April 15 fight card. While the matchup is great on paper, was it the right fight to make for the division? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to all of those bouts, and why the Holloway vs. Allen matchmaking is very risky right now. Additionally, listener questions include a potential Leon Edwards fight against Masvidal if both guys are victorious in their next bouts, Bellator 290, if Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight of all-time, Shavkat Rakhmonov's next move if he defeats Geoff Neal at UFC 285, who Dustin Poirier's next opponent could be, 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.

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss Fedor Emelianenko’s final fight, who is the greatest heavyweight of all time, Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 and Jake Paul moving into MMA.

DAMN! They Were Good celebrates the careers of the most exciting and influential fighters in MMA history, and on the first episode of 2023, the MMA Fighting crew remembers the best of Fedor Emelianenko as he prepares for the final fight of his legendary career.

With the UFC, Bellator, and major MMA promotions off this past weekend, MMA Fighting's matchmaking show decided to give back to fans of the program with a special "Ask Us Anything" show. On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee take listener submitted questions about the legacy of Conor McGregor as a mixed martial artist and UFC champion. Additionally, fan topics include the 2023 Royal Rumble, Bo Nickal's ceiling, ranking UFC prospects' title hopes — including Muhammad Mokaev, Ilia Topuria, and Movsar Evloev, Aljamain Sterling at featherweight, a potential matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington, dark horse fighters of the year, comparing careers of Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson, if Bellator, PFL, or ONE can take a big step towards the UFC in the top promotion conversation, and more.

UFC president Dana White made a slew of big fight announcements on Friday — some that were already confirmed, and others that were not — including a massive pair of fights for the UFC's April pay-per-view event, UFC 287. Following White's special announcement stream, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Shaun Al-Shatti react to the Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya rematch for the UFC middleweight title headlining the April 8 event, Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal for the co-main event, Kevin Holland's next bout being booked, will a second title fight still be added with the Burns vs. Masvidal bout coming together as quick as it did, and much more.

The MMA community is giving their opinions on a potential matchup between Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson for McGregor's return fight, as well as the possibility of them coaching against one another on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Is that the fight to make? On an all-new episode of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck takes listener questions about that piece of business should it come to fruition, and if there are better options in play for the former two-division champion. Additionally, listener topics include UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and the hopes for a fight with Jiri Prochazka in his first defense, Arman Tsarukyan calling out Michael Chandler, fighters claiming to be overlooked when they're really not, Bella Mir signing the UFC's first NIL deal, 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.

At the end of UFC 283 this past Saturday, Jamahal Hill left the arena in Rio de Janeiro as the UFC light heavyweight champion after beating Glover Teixeira in the main event. With his incredible performance, a divisive conversation began about where he sits in the overall rankings at 205 pounds. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel will discuss Hill's title win, where he ranks in the division, and what could be next for the new champion whether or not Jiri Prochazka is ready to come back for Hill's first defense. Additionally, topics include the reaction to Teixeira retiring and what he meant to the sport, Brandon Moreno stopping Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC 283 co-main event to regain the flyweight title, Figueiredo's options at 135, other standout performances from the UFC's first PPV event of the year, other news and notes from the past week, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Morning Kombat's Brian Campbell.

Jamahal Hill is the current UFC light heavyweight champion after defeating Glover Teixeira in the main event of UFC 283 in his best performance to date. Following the victory, Hill has had a chip on his shoulder and feels disrespected by the MMA community. Does he have a point, or is this just a unique situation? On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck answers listener questions regarding Hill and his championship victory, and how he is being viewed amongst the top fighters in his division. Additionally, topics include the targeted bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo at UFC 287 and the difference between the words "targeted" and "set," a potential Gilbert Burns vs. Belal Muhammad fight, where Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev fit, UFC San Antonio on March 25, UFC ticket prices, 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.

Shaun Al-Shatti and Alexander K. Lee are joined by Jed Meshew and Damon Martin to sort through the wreckage of UFC 283 and try to make sense of the light heavyweight division. Does Jamahal Hill's new status as UFC champion mean he should automatically be considered the best 205-pounder in MMA? And does Brandon Moreno's series-clinching win over Deiveson Figueiredo put him over ONE Championship's Demetrious Johnson? That gang hits those topics plus Jailton Almeida's future in two divisions, Jed rocketing Umar Nurmagomedov up the bantamweight ranks, and more.