MMA Fighting

Reinier de Ridder might find himself in a UFC title fight in his next octagon appearance after picking up the biggest win of his career with a razor-close split decision sin over former champ Robert Whittaker. Could "RDR" face the winner of the UFC 319 championship main event between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what could be next for de Ridder after defeating Whittaker in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Petr Yan following his co-main event win against Marcus McGhee, along with fellow main card winners Shara Magomedov, Asu Almabayev, Bogdan Guskov, and more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reinier de Ridder just picked up the biggest win of his career as he outlasted former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, winning a razor close split decision in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi to move to 4-0 in the UFC. Did "RDR" put himself in position to fight the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? Following Saturday's Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee react to the card, de Ridder's victory over Whittaker, if the right fighter won, and discuss where the former ONE champion goes from here. Additionally, they discuss Petr Yan's win over Marcus McGhee, the bonus winners, Steven Nguyen breaking the UFC knockdowns record and Jason Herzog's performance as the referee in that fight, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The UFC octagon touches down in Abu Dhabi with a loaded fight night card headlined by former middleweight champion and fan favorite Robert Whittaker taking on dark horse contender Reinier de Ridder. Can Whittaker find his vintage form once again or will "The Dutch Knight" continue his unbeaten UFC run en route to a future title shot? UFC Abu Dhabi features an impressive lineup beyond the middleweight main event, including another former champion in action as Petr Yan takes on the surging Marcus McGhee and Shara Bullet looking to rebound from his first loss when he takes on veteran Marc-Andre Barriault. Ahead of Saturday afternoon's event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Alexander K. Lee, and E. Casey Leydon preview the fight card, including what's at stake for Whittaker and de Ridder, who has the best chance to steal the show, how this card stacks up to some of the UFC's recent pay-per-view offerings, low-key bangers, fan questions, and more! Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC CEO Dana White dropped a ton of news on Tuesday in regards to the UFC's October pay-per-view lineup, including Alex Pereira getting a rematch against Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight title, with Merab Dvalishvili defending the bantamweight belt against Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event of UFC 320, while Tom Aspinall defends the undisputed heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 321. Did the UFC get these fights right? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to White's big announcements, the stakes involved for all of the championship competitors, along with the Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree bout for UFC 320. Additionally, they put a bow on UFC 318, Dustin Poirier losing his retirement fight to Max Holloway, Poirier's legacy, Holloway's ceiling at 155 and his next move, UFC Abu Dhabi this Saturday headlined by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker facing the surging Reinier de Ridder, and much more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Alexander K. Lee and Guilherme Gruz. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Guilherme Cruz: @guicruzzz Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Alan Jouban joins Damon Martin to discuss Dustin Poirier’s retirement this past weekend at UFC 318 and his performance against Max Holloway. We’ll also discuss what comes next for Holloway and if a rematch against new lightweight champion Ilia Topuria goes any different at 155 pounds? All that and much more! Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Max Holloway did exactly what he promise — he spoiled the retirement fight of Dustin Poirier in front of Poirier's home crowd in New Orleans as he retained the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318 on Saturday night. After becoming the first to successfully defend that title, where does "Blessed" go in the UFC's lightweight division? Following the pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what's next for Holloway following his decision win over Poirier. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Paulo Costa after his lopsided decision win over Roman Kopylov in the co-main event, Daniel Rodriguez following his win over Kevin Holland in one of the craziest fights of 2025 thus far, along with fellow main card winners Patricio Pitbull, Michael Johnson, and more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dustin Poirier went to battle for the final time in the main event of Saturday night's UFC 318 pay-per-view card in New Orleans, but Max Holloway spoiled the party and became the first fighter to successfully defend the UFC's BMF title. "The Diamond" left it all inside the octagon in his sendoff fight, but his career didn't get the fairy tale ending. Following the wild fight card, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to all things UFC 318, the main event between Poirier and Holloway, discuss the go-to Poirier fight, and where Holloway goes from his impressive performance. Additionally, they talk the rest of the standout moments, the insane battle between Daniel Rodriguez and Kevin Holland, Paulo Costa's lopsided decision win over Roman Kopylov in the co-main event, the incredible preliminary portion of the card, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC 318 goes down in just 24 hours, headlined by a ‘BMF’ title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier, in Poirier’s backyard of New Orleans. Most importantly though, this will be the final fight of Poirier’s illustrious career, and while \ “The Diamond” has won both of their previous matchups, Holloway is the favorite heading into this trilogy fight looking to spoil the party. UFC 318 goes down on Saturday night, and ahead of this marquee pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview the fight card, break down the legacy of Dustin Poirier, and dive into the rest of the main card and undercard action, including the co-main event between Paulo Costa and Roman Kopylov, the feature bout between Kevin Holland and Daniel Rodriguez, the featherweight scrap between Dan Ige and Patricio Pitbull, and more. Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew Follow Alexander K. Lee: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dustin Poirier's final UFC fight is just days away as he faces Max Holloway for the BMF title in the main event of UFC 318. With so much accomplished, and with so many memories made, what is Poirier's best moment as a professional mixed martial artist, and what will his legacy be? On an all-new edition of BTL, the panel discusses Poirier's incredible career, and what he leaves behind in the sport of MMA. Additionally, they'll answer questions about the rest of the UFC 318 lineup and grade the card as a whole, Jon Jones saying he wants to fight whoever is the heavyweight champ at the White House next July, Conor McGregor saying he's back in the testing pool to fight on the White House card, and much more. Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they discuss these topics, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our playlists:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://goo.gl/eFhsvM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Like MMAF on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/uhdg7Z⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://goo.gl/nOATUI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dustin Poirier is about to make the walk for the final time. This Saturday, UFC 318 goes down at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, headlined by a ‘BMF’ title fight between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. It’s the final fight in Poirier’s illustrious career, and the entire event has been built around “The Diamond” and his swan song, and No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by the Morning Kombat’s Luke Noseda to dive into UFC 318. Topics discussed include if Poirier can get the fairytale ending to his career, whether Paulo Costa will even show up for the co-main event, Kevin Holland’s ridiculous fight schedule in 2025, break downs for the rest of the action, Jed’s latest step in The Climb, and more. Tune in for episode 132 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠ Follow Luke Noseda: ⁠⁠@MainCardMinute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to MMA Fighting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our full video catalog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Like MMA Fighting on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Read More: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices