MMA Fighting

The UFC octagon heads to Baku for the first time ever, and in the main event, former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill faces recent title challenger Khalil Rountree in a high-stakes contest. With the 205-pound division in flux with new champ Magomed Ankalaev at the helm, could the winner get a title shot — and does Hill need a win on Saturday to stay in the title picture? Ahead of Saturday's UFC Baku Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew preview the fight card, break down the Hill vs. Rountree main event, and discuss the stakes attached to the scheduled five-round contest. Additionally, they'll discuss the highly anticipated co-main event between Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes, what both fighters gain with a win, the rest of the main card slate, the low-key bangers, answer fan questions, and 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

The UFC is making its debut in Azerbaijan! This Saturday, UFC Baku goes down from Azerbaijan's capital city, headlined by a light heavyweight banger between former champion Jamahal Hill and recent title challenge Khalil Rountree Jr. The card also features a ripping lightweight contest between Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes, and, of course, No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to talk about UFC Baku. Topics include whether Hill can stop his current losing streak, just how much Jed loves Bahamondes, Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev, multiple women's bantamweight bouts, the latest updates on The Climb, and more. Tune in for episode 130 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

Former #UFC champ Kamaru Usman silenced the doubters with a dominant win over Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Atlanta this past Saturday. While the majority of fans want to see Usman battle rival and former champ Belal Muhammad, Usman is no-selling that idea for a title fight. Is this the right move? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to Usman's lopsided victory over Buckley, Usman's look at the title picture and how it's rubbing people the wrong way, and Buckley and Israel Adesanya having some words. Additionally, they'll talk Rose Namajunas' future after beating Miranda Maverick, other standout moments, PFL Nashville, and their event this weekend, Francis Ngannou chatter, UFC Baku headlined by Khalil Rountee vs. Jamahal Hill, and more. Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they answer your questions all show long. 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

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, Matt Brown and Damon Martin discuss Kamaru Usman making a triumphant return to the octagon and if his request for a welterweight title shot should be granted. Plus we discuss if Rodolfo Bellato actually faked a knockout to stop his fight with Paul Craig and we debate if Francis Ngannou made a mistake leaving the UFC? All that plus much more! Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full video catalog Like MMA Fighting on Facebook Follow onTwitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kamaru Usman reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the greatest welterweights of all time. The UFC Atlanta main event ended with Usman’s hand raised high after a vintage performance against top 10 contender Joaquin Buckley. It had been over 800 days since Usman competed at 170 pounds and it didn’t look like he missed a beat as he grounded Buckley for the better part of five rounds en route to a unanimous decision win. So where does the former champion go from here? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, join MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee as they discuss whether Usman has any other option besides the most glaringly obvious one for his next fight, and where fellow former champion Rose Namajunas goes after holding onto her spot in the flyweight contender line with an impressive win over the streaking Miranda Maverick. Plus, we make matchups for main card winners Edmen Shahbazyan, Raoni Barcelos, Mansur Abdul-Malik, and Alonzo Menifield. All that and the usual fine collection of listener picks. 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

Kamaru Usman entered the UFC Atlanta main event against Joaquin Buckley as an underdog for just the third time in his UFC career, but delivered a vintage performance in his first fight in nearly two years. After dominating Buckley, is Usman officially a threat to regain UFC gold? Following Saturday's UFC Fight Night card, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee react to the event, Usman's lopsided win over Buckley, what we learned about both fighters, and what Usman needs to do to get to a title fight. Additionally, they discuss Rose Namajunas' win over Miranda Maverick, Malcolm Wellmaker's sensational knockout, the weirdness that happened in the Rodolfo Bellato vs. Paul Craig 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

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Ssman returns to the octagon for the first time in nearly two years in the main event of UFC Atlanta as he faces Joaquin Buckley in a pivotal matchup. Can Usman make one last run at the welterweight title, or does Buckley's impressive run continue? Ahead of Saturday's UFC Fight Night Card, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and E. Casey Leydon preview the card, the main event between Usman and Buckley, talk what's at stake for both fighters, and what Usman's future could look like if he loses his fourth consecutive bout. Additionally, they'll discuss the co-main event between former champ Rose Namajunas and Miranda Maverick, if either can get into the immediate title discussion with a win, other fights that have our attention on the card, and much more. 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

UFC 316 is in the books, and despite the MMA community feeling somewhat indifferent about the fight card on paper, the most recent UFC pay-per-view event delivered big moments, and certainly a lot to discuss in the fallout — including dominant championship finishes for UFC champs Merab Dvalishvili and, the UFC's newest titleholder Kayla Harrison. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to UFC 316, Dvalishvili's sensational performance against Sean O'Malley, and discuss if Dvalishvili is the bantamweight GOAT, and if not, what he needs to do to get there. Additionally, topics include Harrison's submission win over Julianna Pena to claim the women's bantamweight title, how massive the potential fight with Amanda Nunes is after their staredown on Saturday night, Patchy Mix losing a lopsided decision, his reaction to the loss, and where the performance ranks in letdowns for UFC debuts, UFC Atlanta, PFL Nashvillie, and more. Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and our old friend Shaheen Al-Shatti. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠ Follow Jed Meshew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JedKMeshew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Shaheen Al-Shatti: @shaunalshatti 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 react to the fallout from UFC 316 including Merab Dvalishvili tapping out Sean O’Malley and where he stands now among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport plus Kayla Harrison running roughshod over Julianna Pena and the chances that she does the same thing to Amanda Nunes plus Patchy Mix struggles in his octagon debut 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

Merab Dvalishvili is still the UFC bantamweight champion after submitting Sean O'Malley in the third round of their rematch in the main event of UFC 316. While it appears Dvalishvili will defend his title against Cory Sandhagen next, where does O'Malley go after losing to Dvalishvili for the second straight time? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee as they discuss where Dvalishvili and O'Malley go following their UFC 316 championship headliner. Additionally, they discuss what's next for Kayla Harrison and Julianna Pena after Harrison stopped the now-former two-time champ in the second round, Joe Pyfer following his decision win over Kelvin Gastelum, Mario Bautista after his dominant decision win against former Bellator champ Patchy Mix, along with fellow main card winner Kevin Holland, 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