Dana White and Jake Paul kicked off 2022 with a back-and-forth war of words — which is something that happened quite frequently in 2021. But what does it all mean and can any actual good come from it? That topic will be discussed by on the finale of the Between the Links championship tournament. In addition, the title competitors will talk the potential of a fight between Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz after the former interim lightweight champ recently stated he had agreed to the bout, UFC 272 looking strong with the announcement of Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway 3 and Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan 2, bold but not impossible predictions for this new year, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the championship matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee.

Cheyanne Vlismas would love to get back inside the octagon before the summer, but she can't say for sure if that will be a reality. Vlismas kicks off this week's episode of We Got Next to recap her impressive unanimous decision win over Mallory Martin in December at UFC Vegas 44, discusses spending the new year in an undisclosed location, a rollercoaster ride throughout 2021 that included a loss in her UFC debut, a horrible bout of COVID-19, a divorce, and consecutive octagon wins that led to bonuses, why the win over Martin stuck out more than her finish of Gloria de Paula, her UFC future being unclear, and much more. Finally, UFC flyweight Brandon Royval previews his UFC Vegas 46 matchup with Rogerio Bontorin on Jan. 15, talks how he's approaching his first fight of 2022 in the heels of two straight stoppage losses, learning how to fine some focus in his chaotic style, watching a ton of Sean O'Malley footage and getting motivation from it, feeling like he could fight for the flyweight title by the end of the year, and more.

Co-hosts Shaun Al-Shatti and Alexander K. Lee ring in the new year by rummaging through the chaos left by an unforgettable run in December, anoint a new women's pound-for-pound No. 1 atop MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings, plus much more. Then, the duo are joined by old friends Mike Heck and Jed Meshew to discuss Conor McGregor finally falling out of the rankings, play a round of "Ever Again?" to examine the futures of some down-on-their luck veterans, predict three names each who will either rise into the top-5 or plummet out of title contention by the end of 2022, and more.

With 2021 being such a wacky year in the world of mixed martial arts, we felt it was important to look back at the predictions that were made heading into one of the most memorable years in the history of the sport. In part one of our two-part predictions extravaganza, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee look back on some of the responses they had to listener question in regards to what 2021 was going to bring. Topics include Conor McGregor's activity for the year, whether or not Jon Jones would fight Israel Adesanya, for the heavyweight title, or at all in 2021, the return of the PFL finding success, Patricio Pitbull's Bellator championship status, Khamzat Chimaev, Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz competing, who will end the year as UFC champions, whether or not our bold predictions came true, and much more. In addition, we will need you help for part two: our 2022 predictions extravaganza episode. Submit your "buy or sell" questions the same way you send your matchmaking thoughts to Mike or AK on Twitter, Instagram, or email — and, please, be creative.

Join the MMA Fighting staff as we look back at the biggest highs and most jaw-dropping moments of 2021 in a special year-end retrospective. We’re honoring all the nights that defined a roller-coaster 12-month sprint — and handing out plenty of hardware for the athletes whose incredible accomplishments will stand the test of time for years to come.

On a very special episode of MMA Fighting’s Between the Links, Jon Anik recaps a memorable 2021 campaign for the UFC and looks ahead to what could be in store for the new year. Anik discusses why 2022 can be a fascinating year for the UFC in-terms of unresolved storylines, Max Holloway’s 2021 campaign not getting enough respect following his wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez, Charles Oliveira being his Fighter of the Year, calling championship wins for Oliveira, Francis Ngannou, Brandon Moreno, Glover Teixeira and Julianna Peña, why he believes Peña’s win over Amanda Nunes was the biggest upset in UFC history, Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler, Khamzat Chimaev being the most intriguing storyline in his eyes heading into the new year, his broadcasting resolutions, and much more with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck.

This week on We Got Next, Ricky Simon to recap his KO victory over Raphael Assuncao at UFC Vegas 45, having Ed Herman call him a “veteran” in the gym recently, if he felt weight lifted off of his shoulders after the finish with memories of his loss to Urijah Faber in the back of people’s minds, his awkward exchange with Michael Bisping and the former middleweight champion’s claims that Simon tried to make him look silly, why he changed course and called out O’Malley, his response to O'Malley being ranked higher than him, the likelihood of that fight happening, his thoughts on the future rematch for the bantamweight title between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, and more.

O Trocação Franca traz uma entrevista histórica com Rickson Gracie sobre absolutamente tudo: como a “poligamia” deu origem ao clã Gracie e sua relação com a babá Isabel, sua mãe de sangue, sobre as 400 lutas de invencibilidade, qual lutador ficou entalado por nunca ter enfrentado, como um jovem Rickson se sairia no MMA atual, os erros e acertos de Kron no UFC, e muito mais.

How would Dustin Poirier fare in the UFC's welterweight division? Who will Conor McGregor fight next in his return to action? Those questions are answered on a special edition of On To the Next One. This week, hosts Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee answer questions from the listeners about MMA and beyond with topics including favorite sports to watch outside of mixed martial arts, fantasy boxing matchups, the strength of the UFC women's flyweight division moving forward, what Jimmy Flick has been up to since he retired, and much more.

Did Jake Paul land a $1 billion KO punch on Tyron Woodley this past Saturday night following a lackluster six-plus rounds of boxing in Tampa? This week on Between the Links, that question is discussed, along with what could be next for Paul after one of the most violent knockouts of the year, Derrick Lewis getting back on track with a vicious stoppage of Chris Daukaus in the main event of UFC Vegas 45 and whether or not Daukaus might be better served at light heavyweight, has father time officially caught up with Stephen Thompson, Belal Muhammad's callouts and a potential mistake he's made in strategy, and more. Plus, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew air grievances and discuss what improvements could be made in the UFC and Bellator heading into 2022.

Julianna Peña quebrou a banca e finalizou Amanda Nunes no UFC 265 e Luiz Claudio, treinador de jiu-jitsu da venezuelana, conversou com o podcast sobre a zebra histórica. O brasileiro, faixa-preta formado por Rickson Gracie, acredita que Nunes subestimou sua aluna no UFC 265, mas espera luta mais dura na revanche. O podcast também falou com Amanda Ribas, que analisou sua luta com Michelle Waterson e a queda da xará — e companheira de equipe — “Leoa” no UFC 265.

Michael Chandler joins the year-end edition of The Fighter vs. The Writer to give his picks for Fighter of the Year and Fight of the Year.

Derrick Lewis capped off 2021 with another ferocious KO of Chris Daukaus in the headliner of Saturday's UFC Vegas 45 event. What could be next for "The Black Beast" as he heads into 2022? On the final matchmaking episode of On To the Next One for the year, that topic is discussed, along with potential bookings for Belal Muhammad after picking up the biggest win of his career against former UFC title challenger Stephen Thompson, Amanda Lemos, Ricky Simon, Mateusz Gamrot, Cub Swanson, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee.

MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti, José Youngs, Alexander K. Lee, and E. Casey Leydon sift through the wreckage of a violent night to break down the top storylines coming out of UFC Vegas 45 and Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2.

Jake Paul says all of the pressure is on him ahead of Saturday’s rematch with Tyron Woodley, but is that actually the case? That question is discussed, along with where Paul goes with another win over the former UFC champ, if a trilogy happens right away with a Woodley win, Frank Gore vs. Deron Williams, “The People’s Main Event” between Chris Avila and Anthony Taylor, and more with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck joined by special guest Ariel Helwani.

Is Saturday's main event too much too soon for Chris Daukaus? Or will one of heavyweight's brightest prospects break through with a big-time win? MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti, José Youngs, and E. Casey Leydon break down that bout and more from UFC Vegas 45, including the welterweight showcase between Stephen Thompson and Belal Muhammad.

Does Jake Paul or Tyron Woodley have more pressure heading into their boxing rematch this Saturday in Tampa? This week, we called an audible and addressed that question, along with why Paul could actually be playing with proverbial house money. In addition, the panel recaps the top storylines from UFC 269, including where Julianna Pena's title win over Amanda Nunes ranks on the all-time upset list, where the result leaves Kayla Harrison, Dustin Poirier's future following his loss to lightweight champ Charles Oliveira, UFC Vegas 45 being a sneaky good card, the low-key banger for the promotion's final event of the year, Kevin Lee signing with Eagle FC, and more. This week, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew hit record, shoot the breeze and try to make sense of those topics.

Aspen Ladd wants to fight Miesha Tate next — and that might just happen. Ladd discusses agreeing to fight Tate in her return to the UFC bantamweight division, why the fight would be personal, what she took away from her loss to Norma Dumont, the criticism her head coach and partner Jim West received, changes she's making, Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena's UFC 269 title fight, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck.

Charles do Bronx volta ao Trocação Franca finalizar Dustin Poirier no UFC 269 e fala sobre tudo: a vitória em Las Vegas, a mudança de postura de Justin Gaethje, a torcida de Amanda Nunes para seu rival, e por que toparia enfrentar Conor McGregor já na sua próxima luta. O podcast recebe, ainda, o jornalista Zeca Azevedo, do Combate, para analisar tudo o que rolou no UFC 269.

UFC welterweight Matt Brown returns to The Fighter vs. the Writer to break down everything that unfolded at UFC 269 including Charles Oliveira defeating Dustin Poirier plus his thoughts on Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley 2.

After Charles Oliveria and Julianna Pena pulled off upset finishes at UFC 269 to leave Las Vegas with world title belts wrapped around their waists, their paths towards next title defenses seem pretty clear. Justin Gaethje looks to be next in line for the lightweight champ, while the brand new bantamweight queen likely will see Amanda Nunes at least one more time. Those incredible victories are discussed this week, along with future matchmaking ideas for Dustin Poirier, Geoff Neal, Kai Kara-France, Sean O'Malley, Dominick Cruz, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee on the final post-PPV edition of On To the Next One.

Charles Oliveira and Julianna Pena left UFC 269 as world champions following their submission wins over Dustin Poirier and Amanda Nunes. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew, Shaun Al-Shatti and E. Casey Leydon react to a plethora of storylines coming out of the final UFC PPV event of the year.

Dustin Poirier will look to end the year with a world title wrapped around his waist. To get there, he needs to stop the surge of the champion Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 269. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon discuss the lightweight championship headliner, the bantamweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena, and much more.

What are the chances we see two new champions at #UFC269 when Dustin Poirier challenges Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title, and Julianna Pena attempts to shut down the all-time dominant run of Amanda Nunes? That topic is discussed on a brand new edition of Between the Links. In addition, the panel will preview the two title fights and discuss a couple of out-of-the-box storylines, along with the low-key banger for the card, Jose Aldo’s victory over Rob Font in the main event of #UFC Vegas 44 this past Saturday and if he could fight for the bantamweight title in 2022, Rafael Fiziev’s ceiling following his stoppage win over Brad Riddell, Sergio Pettis’ highlight-reel KO of Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator 272, if #Bellator got the upcoming grand prix field correct, and more. Mike Heck moderates the second semi-final matchup between MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee and Phoenix Carnevale. The winner will face Jed Meshew next week in the finals for the undisputed BTL championship.

With the Bellator bantamweight grand prix recently announced for 2022, one fighter in particular feels like he deserved his opportunity to vie for the world title and $1 million. This week on We Got Next, Bellator 135-pounder Danny Sabatello reacts to being left off of the bracket, discusses why he believes James Gallagher is the most egregious name in the eight-man slate, not being impressed with Sergio Pettis’ last two fights or his recent spinning back fist KO of Kyoji Horiguchi at Bellator 272 this past Friday, how Bellator’s bantamweights match up with the UFC’s, being ready to be an alternate if called upon, and wanting to welcome Gervonta Davis to MMA. Vince Morales recaps his KO win over Louis Smolka this past Saturday at UFC Vegas 44, talks what being the first to knock Smolka out means to him, not getting a bonus, what has changed since his loss to Chris Gutierrez and why he was thankful for that experience, 2021 being his breakout year for a number of reasons, his callout of Nathaniel Wood, and his goals for 2022.