MMA Fighting

PFL's big weekend is finally here!This Saturday, PFL Superfights: Battle of the Giants takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headlined by a lineal heavyweight title fight between Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira. The card also features a number of other marque matchups, including Cris Cyborg taking on Larissa Pacheco, and AJ McKee facing Paul Hughes. On top of that, there's also another UFC APEX card this week so No Bets barred is back to break it all down.This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by his Watch Party co-host Mike Heck to dive into all the MMA action this weekend. Topics discussed include Ferreira's chance to pull off the upset, Cyborg vs. Pacheco, other big fights from PFL, the UFC Vegas 99 main event between Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira, plus much more.Tune in for episode 104 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead 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, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin debate the scorecards in the boxing match between Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, Belal Muhammad’s chances to hand Shavkat Rakhmonov his first and Francis Ngannou finally making his PFL debut but can he sell pay-per-views?All this and more on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer!Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brandon Royval just won an incredible five-round fight against Tatsuro Taira, handing the Japanese blue-chipper his first loss. Is that enough to vault him to another title fight and possibly a third matchup with Alexandre Pantoja, who defends his title at UFC 310 in December? Or does "Raw Dawg" need to prove his No. 1 contender credentials one more time?On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss what's next for Royval after coming out on top of one of the best fights of 2024. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for cult hero "The Iron Turtle" Jun Yong Park, welterweight winners Chidi Njokuani and Daniel Rodriguez, and intriguing lightweight contender and wife appreciator Grant Dawson. We also try to figure out what lies ahead for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's favorite fighter Themba Gorimbo after he recorded his fourth consecutive victory. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington discusses her UFC 307 title loss to Julianna Pena, the controversy surrounding the scorecards, why she feels she won the first round, if there was frustration re-watching it, having new motivation, Kayla Harrison, a potential Amanda Nunes return, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira delivered the goods in the main event of Saturday's UFC Vegas 98 event at the APEX, and while Taira proved he belongs at the top of the flyweight division, it was the wily veteran who got his hand raised at the end of the night.Following the latest UFC Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Royval's split decision win over Taira in the incredible headliner, the one scorecard for Taira, what we learned about both fighters, and where both go following the five-round classic. Additionally, they discuss Grant Dawson's fantastic night at the office — both in his fight and the post-fight interview — who got bonuses, other standout moments from the event, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eric Nicksick discusses the final countdown for Francis Ngannou's MMA return at the PFL's upcoming pay-per-view vs. Renan Ferreira, the different spark Ngannou has in preparation, the expectations of an Ngannou knockout, what happened between Roman Dolidze and Kevin Holland backstage at UFC 307, Sean Strickland preparing for a rematch with Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight title, and much more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck.Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The UFC returns to the APEX this Saturday for UFC Vegas 98, headlined by a top-10 flyweight matchup between Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira. Royval is a former title challenger and the current No. 1-ranked contender at flyweight, while Taira is the undefeated prospect trying to make his way to the belt for the first time.Ahead of Saturday’s Fight Night card, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview the entire card, including who wins the main event and whether a title shot is next up for the winner. Additionally, they discuss under-the-radar matchups on the card, which fighters are in danger of receiving their walking papers, the state of MMA judging, and much more. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Pereira did it again, as he knocked out a game Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307 to retain the UFC light heavyweight title. "Poatan" now has options galore, so is sticking around at 205 the way to go, or should he move up to heavyweight to entice Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic to stick around?On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses the fallout of this past Saturday's pay-per-view event, comparing Pereria's run to any other we've seen in the UFC, Julianna Pena regaining the women's bantamweight title, whether or not Raquel Pennington was robbed, and other storylines from the card. Additionally, topics include this Saturday's UFC Vegas 98 event headlined by Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira, PFL's pay-per-view price, Donn Davis continuing to frustrate the MMA community with his comments, and much more.Host Mike Heck moderates the matchup between MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and UFC analyst Din Thomas. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Din Thomas: @DinThomas Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UFC 307 is in the books which means it's time to head back to the APEX!UFC Vegas 98 takes place this Saturday, headlined by a flyweight contest between former title challenger Brandon Royval and rising super-prospect Tatsuro Taira, and No Bets Barred is back to break the whole card down.This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by former professional fighter Billy Ward of Action Network to dive into all the UFC action this weekend. Topics discussed include Royval's chances at denying the wunderkind Taira, just how past his prime is Brad Tavares, and the possible return of heavyweight overs? All that, plus, Jed unveils his newest gimmick: The Climb.Tune in for episode 103 of No Bets Barred. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Billy Ward: @Psychoward586 Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New UFC contract winner Torrez Finney discusses earning a UFC contract on his third shot on Dana White's Contender Series, the road to get there, White blasting him after his second DWCS win, nearly signing with another promotion before the call to step in on short notice for his historic third DWCS win, wanting to take some time off before UFC debut, The Rock's influence on his post-fight interviews, and more with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck.Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Subscribe to MMA FightingCheck out our full video catalogLike MMA Fighting on FacebookFollow on TwitterRead More: http://www.mmafighting.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices