Aaron Pico is looking to continue his surge up the Bellator featherweight rankings as he faces a tough test in the undefeated Justin Gonzales this Friday at Bellator 271. Pico joins MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck (3:17) to preview the matchup, talks his reaction to getting the fight, wondering how Gonzales could actually beat him, fatherhood, Carlos Condit’s recent retirement, and Jon Jones’ exit from JacksonWink. Valerie Loureda (21:52) discusses her Bellator 271 matchup with Taylor Turner and explains why she was so devastated following her loss to Hannah Guy, why she feels like she was the better fighter and wanting a rematch, changes she’s made mentally, physically, and with her coaches over at American Top Team, feeling as focused on a fight as she has in her career, and her 2022 goals in MMA. Finally, BKFC breakout star Britain Hart (34:38) previews her matchup with Pearl Gonzalez at BKFC 22 this Friday in Miami, talks the fight coming together very quickly, her husband Joey Beltran’s recent loss, still feeling like Gonzalez is an “easy fight,” feeling like her opponent isn’t taking the fight, or her combat career seriously, being more open to a fight with Taylor Starling, and if she feels Paige VanZant will fight in the promotion again.

Campeão do povo, José Aldo comenta a luta com Rob Font no UFC, rebate as alfinetadas de Khabib Nurmagomedov, fala da relação paz e amor com Conor McGregor, critica a postura de Paulo Borrachinha e, entre muitos outros assuntos, conta que pensou em se aposentar antes de enfrentar Petr Yan. O podcast recebe, ainda, o treinador Cristiano Marcello, comentando o que tem rolado no UFC e Bellator e mais.

Josh Emmett co-hosts The Fighter vs. The Writer this week to discuss his return to action after major knee surgery, his thoughts on the featherweight division and where Max Holloway goes next if he’s able to get past Yair Rodriguez this weekend.

Kamaru Usman and Rose Namajunas retained their titles to cap off a memorable UFC 268 event this past Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. With Usman heading into his second lap of the welterweight division, and Dana White seemingly shunning Carla Esparza once again in terms of the top contender at 115 pounds, who could both champs face in their next title defenses? That question is addressed on this week's On To the Next One. In addition, future matchups were discussed for the challengers Colby Covington and Zhang Weili, Marlon Vera, Shane Burgos, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler following their all-time classic, Chris Barnett after his incredible finish of Gian Villante, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee.

Teddy Atlas gives his thoughts on Kamaru Usman's title defense against Colby Covington, Rose Namajunas' split decision win over Zhang Weili, and the thrilling lightweight bout between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler at UFC 268 with MMA Fighting's Jose Youngs.

Colby Covington or Zhang Weili: Which UFC 268 title challenger has a better chance in Saturday’s rematches? MMA Fighting’s Jose Youngs and Eric Jackman break down the top storylines for UFC 268 and make their predictions for Usman vs. Covington 2, Namajunas vs. Zhang 2, Gaethje vs. Chandler, and much more.

Colby Covington will challenge Kamaru Usman once again for the UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 268. This week on Between the Links, it's an opening round matchup in the coveted BTL championship tournament and that massive main event will be discussed, along with Rose Namjunas vs. Zhang Weili, the stakes in the Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler main card opener, Glover Teixeira's light heavyweight title win at UFC 267 and if a long reign is a possibility, Petr Yan's interim title win over Cory Sandhagen, where Islam Makhachev should be ranked at 155, and more. Host Mike Heck will oversee the verbal battle between MMA Fighting's Damon Martin and Alexander K. Lee as they battle it out for a spot in the semi-finals.

Andre Petroski (2:58) picked up his second octagon victory this past Saturday at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, but why didn’t he walk out to “Island Boy” to get immortalized on The MMA Hour wall-of-fame? The TUF 28 contestant answers that question, recaps his submission victory over Hu Yaozong, how awkward it was fighting a much larger fighter, if he tried to talk with Virna Jandiroba about getting the iconic walkout prior to the event, his experience on The Ultimate Fighter, some behind the scenes stories that never made air, Sean Brady being the best grappler he’s ever trained with, and when he’s hoping to return. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin speaks with new UFC bantamweight Javid Basharat (37:06) who addresses his dominant win over Oron Kahlon on Dana White’s Contender Series and the ugly ‘racist’ epithet that preceded their fight, as well as his hope to serve as an inspiration to the people of Afghanistan now that he’s in the UFC. Finally, featherweight Bruno Souza (55:22) discusses his upcoming octagon debut against Melsik Baghdasaryan this Saturday at UFC 268, getting the fight on just eight days’ notice and if he prefers it that way, training with the Machida Brothers since he was four, how Lyoto Machida guided him into a transition from karate to MMA, his familiarity with Baghdasaryan, and why a bout with Max Holloway would be his dream fight.

How high is too high when it comes to Khamzat Chimaev’s current place within the welterweight rankings? And should Glover Teixeira be the undisputed No. 1, or does his next contender Jiri Prochazka or the Bellator twosome of Corey Anderson and Vadim Nemkov have a case?

Patrício e Patricky Pitbull querem reconquistar os títulos do Bellator nas categorias pena e leve, só que dessa vez compartilhado. Ao podcast, Patrício explica por que decidiu deixar o trono dos enquanto arquiteta sua vingança contra A.J. McKee, e Patricky fala sobre o duelo desta sexta, pelo título dos leves, com Peter Queally. Patrício revela, ainda, que já pensou em deixar o Bellator na época de Bjorn Rebney. O podcast recebe também Luis Fernando Coutinho, do Canal Encarada, para repercutir a histórica vitória de Glover Teixeira no UFC, a volta de Khamzat Chimaev, e analisar o UFC 268.

Belal Muhammad joins The Fighter vs. The Writer to preview UFC 268 including the welterweight title fight main event where Kamaru Usman faces Colby Covington in a rematch.

Glover Texieira accomplished something truly special when he captured the light heavyweight title with a submission win over Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 267. While it seems clear that Teixeira’s first title defense will be against Jiri Prochazka, where does Blachowicz go from Saturday night? That question is addressed on this week’s On To the Next One. In addition, future matchups are also discussed for new interim bantamweight champion Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkov, Khamzat Chimaev, Magomed Ankalaev, and more with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee.

Glover Teixeira and Petr Yan left UFC 267 with championship gold, while Khamzat Chimaev and Islam Makhachev made things look easy. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee and E. Casey Leydon react to the UFC's memorable return to Abu Dhabi.

Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira headline Saturday’s UFC 267 event for the light heavyweight title, while Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen collide for the interim bantamweight belt in a purist’s delight of a championship doubleheader. The two title bouts, along with Khamzat Chimaev’s long-awaited return to the octagon against a confident underdog in Li Jingliang, and other top storylines, are discussed with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jose Youngs.

Topics this week include the reaction to Marvin Vettori's win over Paulo Costa at UFC Vegas 41 in one of the best fights of 2021, if Costa's performance was enough to negate the weight missing shenanigans from the week, and where Vettori goes from his big win and babyface turn. In addition, the panel discusses Wednesday's PFL Championship event and some of the big storylines to come out of it, along with improvements the promotion can make to make their product as interesting and fun as possible, Kayla Harrison's next move following another $1 million championship victory, the UFC 267 main event between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira, how risky taking the interim bantamweight title fight against Petr Yan could be for Cory Sandhagen in the long run, and more. Host Mike Heck is joined by MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew to discuss those topics, and also reveals the first-round matchups for the upcoming BTL championship tournament on Between the Links.

Modestas Bukauskas has experienced a lot over the last several weeks, including recently being released from the UFC, which he discusses in detail on the sixth episode of We Got Next with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck. Bukauskas (5:44) talks the injury he suffered in his most recent bout with Khalil Rountree at UFC Vegas 36 in September, when he plans on being cleared to compete again, whether or not he believes the oblique kick has a place in MMA, his reaction to the release from the UFC, Paulo Costa's big weight miss ahead of UFC Vegas 41, and if he has any interest in competing for Bellator or the PFL. Welterweight Themba Gorimbo (38:42) discusses his upcoming fight with Handesson Ferreira at UAE Warriors 24 this Friday in Abu Dhabi, his incredible journey to finding the sport of mixed martial arts, becoming an orphan at 13, becoming a blood diamond smuggler at 16 and having to escape from Zimbabwe to South Africa and why it took him two tries to get there, living on the streets before finding MMA, hoping Dana White will be in attendance, and feeling like a win will get him into the UFC. Finally, David Onama (1:05:30) recaps his incredible battle with Mason Jones this past Saturday at UFC Vegas 41, how his short notice debut came about, not knowing anything about his opponent when the offer came, his reaction to not getting the Fight of the Night bonus, what head coach James Krause said to him after the fight, wanting to return to 145 for his next fight, when he wants to return, and more.

Vicente Luque comenta sua campanha para enfrentar Nate Diaz em duelo de 10 rounds no UFC e os planos de roubar o cinturão do ex-companheiro de treinos Kamaru Usman. Luque revela, também, como a mãe, faixa-preta de caratê, o ajuda nos treinos, e por que jamais enfrentará Gilbert Durinho. O episódio conta, ainda, com uma resenha com o jornalista Jorge Correa, editor do Omelete, sobre a visão do MMA na grande mídia, Paulo Borrachinha dentro e fora do octógono e, entre outros assuntos, os melhores filmes sobre MMA.

Aljamain Sterling co-hosts the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer to preview UFC 267 including his prediction for the interim bantamweight title fight between Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen

Marvin Vettori picked up a hard fought decision victory, up a full weight class, against fellow former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa in the main event of UFC Vegas 41. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee put on their matchmaking hats to discuss what could be next for "The Italian Dream" after his win, and where Costa may go with a seemingly permanent move to 205 pounds on the 64th episode of On To the Next One. Future matchups were also discussed for Jessica-Rose Clark, Alex Caceres, Francisco Trinaldo, Nick Negumereanu and other notable names coming out of Saturday's event at the APEX with the help of the listeners.

Marvin Vettori outlasted Paulo Costa in an absolute classic in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 41 event at the APEX. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee and E. Casey Leydon react to the five-round light heavyweight battle, along with the top storylines from the event.

Paulo Costa will now face Marvin Vettori in the main event of UFC Vegas 41 in a light heavyweight matchup. Did Costa put one over on the UFC, and will the fight being up a weight class have a dramatic effect on the fight itself? Those topics and other storylines are discussed ahead of Saturday’s card with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, and E. Casey Leydon.

Topics this week include the corner advice to Aspen Ladd during her UFC Vegas 40 loss to Norma Dumont and if it was too much, or blown out of proportion, whether Ladd's future is at featherweight or bantamweight, where Dumont goes from her first main event win, Corey Anderson's case for being the best light heavyweight in the world over Jan Blachowicz and if that weight class is the best argument for Bellator over the UFC, Paulo Costa coming into UFC Vegas 41 fight week unable to make the middleweight limit for his headliner with Marvin Vettori and what that may lead to, Fedor Emilianenko's return to action this Saturday against Timothy Johnson at Bellator 269, and more. Host Mike Heck is joined by MMA Fighting's Damon Martin and Jed Meshew to give their thoughts on those topics, plus take a few fan questions this week on Between the Links.

On the fifth episode of We Got Next, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck speaks with new UFC flyweight Jake Hadley (2:53) after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series with a second-round submission win over Mitch Raposo despite missing weight, talks how it all feels a week or so later, what led to the first weight miss of his career and how it was handled, the issues White stated Hadley had with UFC staff during fight week, thoughts on his performance over Raposo and if he felt he would get a contract, getting White's stamp of approval against the wishes of matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, if he feels Shelby and Maynard will try and stack the deck, wanting a fight with Francisco Figueiredo for his debut, and his thoughts on Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 3. Finally, Joseph Holmes (41:53) discusses his second-round submission win over Shonte Barnes at DWCS and not receiving a contract, getting a second chance to fight in front of Dana White at Fury FC's Lookin' For a Fight event in November, fighting a former training partner that had talked his way into the fight, how he feels about the promotion taking to social media to ask who he should face, what he plans to do to make it indisputable for White in the bout, where his "Ugly Man" nickname comes from, and much more.

Ex-campeão do UFC, Junior Cigano critica a forma com que foi tratado pela empresa em sua reta final na organização, fala da experiência no prowrestling, e revela as lutas que gostaria de fazer no boxe, MMA e telecatch. Rodrigo Minotauro, embaixador do UFC no Brasil, analisa o retorno de Paulo Borrachinha neste sábado e as disputas de título de Glover Teixeira e Charles do Bronx, além dos planos de retorno do UFC ao Brasil e a volta de Fedor Emelianenko no Bellator.

Matt Brown joins Fighter vs. Writer to preview his fight with Bryan Barberena as well as give his reaction to Aspen Ladd's coach and the way he gave her advice at UFC Vegas 40.