MMA Fighting

UFC 316 is almost upon us. On Saturday, the UFC returns to Newark, NJ, for its latest pay-per-view offering, featuring a pair of bantamweight title fights. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña defends her newly reclaimed title against two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison. Then, in the main event, Sean O’Malley looks to reclaim the bantamweight title by upsetting the man who took the belt from him last year, Merab Dvalishvili. The stakes couldn’t be higher and MMA Fighting is here to break it all down. Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 316 card, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Mike Heck preview the event, and the major storylines at play in the two title fights this weekend. Additionally, they’ll touch on other standout matchups on the card, including Patchy Mix making his UFC debut against Mario Bautista, Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer squaring off, Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland, the best of the undercard action, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been a wild week in the world of MMA, and it began this past weekend prior to the scheduled UFC Vegas 107 main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber, when the latter was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to a health emergency — and that was the beginning of the road to UFC 316 fight week. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to the fallout of this past Saturday's headliner getting scratched, both fighters' comments since, and if it could be a massive fight for the UFC in the future. Additionally, they'll discuss Tom Aspinall publicly saying he's the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and wishing Jon Jones the best in his "retirement," if the fight is officially off of life support and gone altogether, UFC 316 as a whole, if the card is good, Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley 2, Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison and the rivalry growing by the day, and much more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and multi-promotional commentator Ben "The Bane" Davis. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠ Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Ben Davis: @BenTheBaneDavis 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 316 is finally here. Kicking off a stacked summer of MMA action, UFC 316 goes down this Saturday, headlined by a pair of bantamweight title fights. In the co-main event, Julianna Peña puts her women's bantamweight title on the line against Kayla Harrison, and then in the main event, Merab Dvalishvili gives Sean O'Malley a chance for revenge and the men's bantamweight title. And, of course, No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by Morning Kombat's Long Island Luke to preview Saturday's big card. Topics discussed include whether or not O'Malley can upset Dvalishvili, Peña's chances at ruining the UFC plans yet again, Patchy Mix's debut against Mario Bautista, the best undercard action, the latest updates on The Climb, and more. Tune in for episode 129 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

Before Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley battle in a UFC bantamweight championship rematch at UFC 316, check out the roads each fighter took to Saturday's main event matchup. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠@mikeheck_jr⁠⁠ Follow E. Casey Leydon: ⁠⁠@ekc⁠ ⁠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, Matt Brown and Damon Martin preview UFC 316 and give their picks for Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley and Julianna Pena vs. Kayla Harrison plus we discuss the latest in the ongoing drama between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall plus Maycee Barber dropping out of her fight against Erin Blanchfield just before she walked to the cage plus 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

Erin Blanchfield did not get to compete in the main event of UFC Vegas 107, and was getting ready to walk to the octagon for the pivotal bout with Maycee Barber before the fight was cancelled at the last minute. With the likelihood of the UFC rebooking Blanchfield vs. Barber being extremely low, where does "Cold-Blooded" go next? 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 Blanchfield after the shocking ending to Saturday's Fight Night card at the UFC APEX. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Mateusz Gamrot following his co-main event win over Ludovit Klein, Ramiz Brahimaj after putting Billy Ray Goff to sleep with a nasty standing guillotine, along with fellow main card winners Dustin Jacoby, Zachary Reese, 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

The promotional package for the UFC Vegas 107 main event between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber finished airing, and then the fight was cancelled minutes later after Barber suffered a last-minute "medical issue," per the broadcast. It was an unfortunate end to the night, and a tough night for both Barber and Blanchfield. Following Saturday's Fight Night event at the UFC APEX, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee react to the shocking development, Blanchfield's comments about the situation, and what it could mean for both fighters moving forward. Additionally, they discuss Mateusz Gamrot getting back in the win column in the co-main event, react to the bonus winners, Noche UFC shifting to San Antonio in September, and answer listener questions about UFC 316, 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

Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber are set for a pivotal flyweight matchup, but what exactly is at stake? On Saturday, Blanchfield and Barber headline #UFC Vegas 107 at the World’s Mightiest APEX in Las Vegas. Both are still under 28, they represent “The Future” of the flyweight division and are already in the top 5. In normal circumstances, the winner would be a shoo-in for a title shot, but the title picture is suddenly quite muddled at 125 pounds. So are these two women competing for a title fight, and if not, what are they fighting for on Saturday? Ahead of Saturday’s #UFCFightNight card at the APEX in Las Vegas, #MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee and Jed Meshew preview the event, the headliner between Blanchfield and Barber, the stakes for both fighters, and where the loser goes with a loss. Additionally, they’ll touch on other standout matchups on the card, including the co-main event between Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein, the women’s bantamweight bout between Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson, and much more. Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠ Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR⁠ Follow E. Casey Leydon: @ekc ⁠⁠⁠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

Jon Jones still hasn't put pen to paper for a fight with Tom Aspinall, but that certainly hasn't stopped the UFC great from throwing little jabs at Aspinall on the internet. On Friday, Jones told Aspinall to "shut your mouth and do what your told," but what does that actually mean? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel answers your questions on the latest with Jones vs. Aspinall, and if there's any positive thoughts in regards to confidence the fight gets made by Dana White and the brass. Additionally, questions may include UFC Vegas 107 headlined by Erin Blanchfield facing the returning Maycee Barber in a pivotal women's flyweight bout, the stakes in the contest, Mateusz Gamrot facing Ludovit Klein in the co-main event, B.J. Penn's troubles with the law, Belal Muhammad breaking his silence on his UFC 315 title loss to Jack Della Maddalena, and more! Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and E. Casey Leydon as they answer your questions and discuss the biggest topics in the sport. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow E. Casey Leydon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@ekc⁠ 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

After a rare week off, the UFC is back in action this weekend. On Saturday, UFC Vegas 107 goes down at the World’s Mightiest APEX, headlined by a Top 5 women’s flyweight matchup between Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber, with possible title implications on the line. But before that happens, Mateusz Gamrot and Ludovit Klein mix it up in a pivotal lightweight contest, and nine other bouts of varying import take place. And after a brief hiatus, No Bets Barred is back to break down all the action this weekend. This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to preview this underwhelming APEX card before next weekend’s big UFC 316 event. Topics discussed include what Blanchfield and Barber are fighting for, how Klein will fare in his big opportunity to climb the lightweight ladder, which underdogs are live on Saturday, the latest updates on The Climb, and more. Tune in for episode 128 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠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