

MMA Fighting
MMA Fighting
Get all the mixed martial arts fighting news and analysis you need from the award-winning team at MMA Fighting. Produced by MMA Fighting and SB Nation, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
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Jul 15, 2025 • 1h 2min
Fighter vs. Writer: UFC 318 Preview, Matt Brown Explains Why Dustin Poirier Can’t Be Considered an All-Time Great But He’s Still a Legend
On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin break down the UFC 318 main event between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway and give their picks. Does Holloway have an advantage because he’s still planning to fight again while Poirier is retiring no matter the result? Plus how will Poirier be remembered when his career is over? He was never an undisputed champion but he accomplished a lot. All this plus more on the latest episode!
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Jul 13, 2025 • 47min
On To the Next One: What's Next For Derrick Lewis After UFC Nashville?
Derrick Lewis sent the fans in Nashville home happy with a 35-second knockout victory over Tallison Teixeira in the main event of Saturday's UFC Nashville card. "The Black Beast" is one of the most popular fighters on the roster right now, so a big fight for Lewis is quite possible — but could "big fight" mean title shot?
On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck gives his thoughts on what's next for Lewis after picking up another main event knockout victory. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Gabriel Bonfim following his controversial decision win over Stephen Thompson in the co-main event, Steve Garcia after his dominant unanimous decision win against Calvin Kattar, along with fellow main card winners Morgan Charriere, Vitor Petrino, Tuko Tokkos, and more.
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Jul 13, 2025 • 1h 14min
UFC Nashville Post-Fight Show | Reaction To Derrick Lewis' 35-Second Knockout Win In Main Event
Derrick Lewis improved on his UFC knockout record with a 35-second finish of Tallison Teixeira in the main event of UFC Nashville. With the heavyweight division in a weird place following Jon Jones' retirement, and Tom Aspinall getting promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, is it possible that "The Black Beast" may have punched his ticket to a title fight?
Following a very fun UFC Fight Night event on Saturday night, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Lewis' victory, the stoppage and if it was the right call, and if Lewis could find himself in a fight with Aspinall next. Additionally, they discuss the scorecards in the co-main event between Gabriel Bonfim and Stephen Thompson, Calvin Kattar suffering his fifth consecutive loss, Valter Walker's impressive streak of heel hook submissions, and much more.
Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr
Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew
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Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 19min
UFC Nashville Preview Show | Will Derrick Lewis And Tallison Teixeira Break The Heavyweight Finish Curse?
Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira, save the heavyweight division!
OK, that may seem over-dramatic for what is, on paper, a fun main event between one of the UFC’s most veteran fighters and an undefeated 25-year-old prospect, but it’s been almost four months since we’ve seen a #UFC heavyweight finish and if Lewis and Teixeira can’t produce one, no one can.
Ahead of Saturday’s #UFCNashville event, MMA Fighting’s Alexander K. Lee and E. Casey Leydon preview the fight card, including how Lewis’ big-game experience stacks up against Teixeira’s raw talent, and how much closer this matchup nudges Lewis towards retirement, win or lose. Additionally, they discuss Stephen Thompson being in a similar situation to Lewis as he faces up-and-coming Brazilian standout Gabriel Bonfim, a pair of featherweight bangers on the main card, the standout stories from every fight on the card, and some wide odds rarely seen at the UFC level.
All that, plus questions from YOU the fans.
Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee
Follow E. Casey Leydon @ekc
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Jul 10, 2025 • 1h 20min
BTL | Donald Trump Wants UFC White House Event? Jon Jones, UFC Nashville, Taylor-Serrano 3
Last week, President Donald Trump revealed that he wants to host a UFC event at the White House to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Is this something that could happen, and if so, what would be the fight to headline such an event?
On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel answers questions about that possibility, and the fighters' reactions to the idea of a White House UFC card. Additionally, topics may include Jon Jones teasing a comeback just weeks after announcing his retirement, UFC Nashville headlined by Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira, the women's boxing event capped off by the Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano trilogy fight, and much more.
Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they answer your questions for the entire show.
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Jul 9, 2025 • 55min
Town Hall w/ PFL's Jonathan Coachman
PFL spokesperson and broadcaster Jonathan Coachman joins the channel to discuss PFL Africa, and answer viewer questions about anything and everything, hosted by MMA Fighting's Mike Heck.
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Jul 8, 2025 • 1h 30min
MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy Draft, Season 3: Which 72 UFC Fighters Will Finish Out 2025 The Best?
The MMA Fighting team is back with Season 3 of its fantasy league!
Who is set to star inside the octagon over the next six months? Will newly crowned lightweight champion Ilia Topuria make another appearance before 2026? Is Jack Della Maddalena the smart choice or is Islam Makhachev about to take all the fantasy points? Will Tom Aspinall finally get a fight?
Plus, which under-the-radar standouts could fight more than once and produce the kinds of finishes that make the difference between winning and losing the league?
Join the MMA Fighting staff as they select the 72 fighters they think are best poised to finish 2025 in a big way.
Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee
Follow Damon Martin @DamonMartin
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Follow Mike Heck @MikeHeck_JR
Follow Guilherme Cruz @guicruzzz
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Jul 8, 2025 • 1h
Fighter vs. Writer: Matt Brown Reacts to Jon Jones Already Returning from Retirement, Jake Paul Getting Ranked After Latest Win
On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the news that Jon Jones is already planning to end his retirement with hopes of fighting at the White House plus does Conor McGregor teasing his return for that card even matter anymore? Plus
we discuss Jake Paul earning a ranking by the WBA after his lopsided win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and much more.
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Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 20min
Rankings Show: Does Jon Jones Leave MMA As The Undisputed GOAT?
Jon Jones is actually retired. And despite his nearly unmatched in-cage accomplishments, the question remains: Is he truly the greatest fighter to ever compete in MMA?
On a special edition of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show, Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and E. Casey Leydon revisit the often-discussed topic of Jones’ legacy in regards to how it compares to others in the GOAT conversation. Did the two-division UFC champion do enough to surpass the achievements of Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jose Aldo, Fedor Emelianenko, and others? Pound for pound, is Jones the most skilled fighter ever?
All four of our panelists put a number next to Jones’ name and make their case as to why he is or isn’t the undisputed GOAT.
Plus, in the wake of Ilia Topuria’s game-changing knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, we suddenly find ourselves with three champions receiving votes for the No. 1 spot in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings: Topuria, Islam Makhachev, and Alexandre Pantoja. Our panelists explain why their choice deserves to be considered the best overall fighter on the planet.
Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee
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Jul 1, 2025 • 1h 21min
BTL | Is Ilia Topuria No. 1 Fighter In the World? Plus, Pantoja Shines Again, UFC 317 Recap, More
At UFC 317, Ilia Topuria destroyed Charles Oliveira to capture the UFC lightweight championship, and did so with ease. After picking up his second UFC divisional title, does Topuria now surpass Islam Makhahev as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today?
On an all new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses the fallout of Topuria's incredible accomplishment and performance, if he leapfrogs Makhachev, and if a matchup with Paddy Pimblett is the fight the UFC ends up making. Additionally, questions may include Alexandre Pantoja's sensational title defense against Kai Kara-France, other standout moments from UFC 317, along with topics relating to some of the lingering stories in the world of mixed martial arts.
Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew for a special Q&A edition of the program.
Follow Mike Heck: @m_heckjr
Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew
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