MMA Fighting

The UFC is heading to Saudi Arabia!This Saturday, the UFC makes its maiden voyage to Saudi Arabia with a Fight Night card headlined by a middleweight matchup between Robert Whittaker and Ikram Aliskerov and the No Bets Barred Boys are here to break it all down.Co-hosts Conner Burks and Jed Meshew kick things off with a brief state of the union discussing both of their winning weeks last week and Conner's return to the great state of Georgia. Then it's on to UFC Saudi Arabia and the late notice change up that saw Aliskerov step in for Khamzat Chimaev against Whittaker this Saturday. Will the short notice hurt Aliskerov's chances? Can Alexander Volkov stand up to the otherworldly power of Sergei Pavlovich? And what about Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez?All this and a lot more are discussed on this week's episode.Tune in for episode 92 of No Bets Barred. Follow Conner Burks: @connerburks 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

Jake Paul is still fighting Mike Tyson in November, but he will still compete on July 20 as originally planned, but Paul will face the dangerous BKFC superstar Mike Perry in an eight-round boxing match in Tampa. How much of a risk is the matchup for Paul with the Tyson fight already on the books, and what would it do for Perry's career if he can get it done this summer?Following the announcement of Paul vs. Perry, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Eric Jackman react to the matchup, discuss why it might be the most compelling fight Paul has had in the boxing ring, the stakes attached for both guys, why Perry is playing with house money, a loss for Paul not being as devastating as some might suggest, and much more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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

Israel Adesanya is officially back as he'll face Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship in the main event of August's UFC 305 event in Perth, Western Australia. With the 185-pound division being as crazy as it is right now, was giving Adesanya an immediate title shot upon his return after losing to Sean Strickland this past September the right call?On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the du Plessis vs. Adesanya booking, and discuss where the division goes depending on the winner, and where Adesanya would go with a loss. Additionally, listener topics include UFC Saudi Arabia, Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov, who Sean Strickland may be rooting for in that fight, other compelling fights on the card, the Boston Celtics winning the NBA title, and more.You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces.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 Fighter vs. The Writer returns with Matt Brown back from his bear hunting expedition in Canada alongside MMA Fighting senior reporter Damon Martin as we react to the news that Conor McGregor is no longer fighting at UFC 303 after suffering an injury.Brown has long maintained that he never believed McGregor was going to fight again after suffering a devastating broken leg back in 2021 but does this news strengthen that belief that the Irish superstar is done or was his comeback so close that perhaps things are different now?We’ll also discuss how this latest setback serves as another gut punch for Chandler, who has now sacrificed nearly two years of his career waiting for the fight against McGregor.We’ll also talk about Khamzat Chimaev falling off the UFC Saudi Arabia card on Saturday and what’s next for Gervonta “Tank” Davis after his brutal knockout over Frank Martin this past weekend.All that 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

Tatsuro Taira improved to 16-0 as a pro with the biggest win of his career on Saturday at the UFC APEX with a second-round finish of Alex Perez in the main event of UFC Vegas 93. With many interesting options in front of him, where does the 24-year-old Taira go from the victory?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 Taira following his first UFC headliner. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Miles Johns following his co-main event win over Douglas Silva de Andrade, Lucas Almeida after defeating Timmy Cuamba in the featured bout, along with fellow main card winners, Brady Hiestand, Asu Almabayev, Adam Fugitt, and more. 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

Tatsuro Taira and Gervonta Davis ended their respective main event bouts without the need of the judges, with Taira earning a second-round TKO victory in the main event of UFC Vegas 93, while Davis delivered a thunderous knockout of Frank Martin in the eighth round of their boxing match in Las Vegas.Meanwhile, longtime competitive rivals Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen had themselves an underwhelming sparring match in the boxing ring in Brazil.Following a wild trio of events in the combat sports world, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Eric Jackman react to Taira's biggest win to date against Alex Perez, Davis' incredible finish and the options that are ahead for him, Silva and Sonnen's exhibition bout at Spaten Fight Night, other standout performances from Saturday night, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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 MMA and boxing spaces will be occupied this weekend with UFC Vegas 93 headlined by Alex Perez vs. Tatsuro Taira, along with Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 3, and Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin. As far as Saturday's UFC event is concerned, what does Perez gain from a victory against the undefeated phenom, and where would Taira go from the biggest win of his career?MMA Fighting's Mike Heck, Jed Meshew, and José Youngs preview Saturday's triple-header of action, and discuss the stakes in the UFC's upcoming flyweight main event. Additionally, they'll preview and predict the third combat meeting between Silva and Sonnen, discuss whether or not Sonnen has a chance in the bout, Davis' rising star power and if he'll be able to pick up a finish on Saturday night in Las Vegas, the likelihood of Martin playing spoiler, the chaotic news cycle surrounding the now shuffled-up UFC 303 event, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow José Youngs: @JoseYoungs 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

Thursday will be a day MMA fans won't soon forget after losing three of the four fighters in the originally scheduled main events of UFC Saudi Arabia and UFC 303.On an all-new edition of Heck of a Morning, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck reacts to the UFC announcing that an injury to Conor McGregor has postponed the anticipated bout with Michael Chandler, and the new main event for UFC 303 is Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 for the light heavyweight title. Additionally, topics include why Pereira is the UFC's MVP from the fighters side, the addition of Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes as the co-main event for the July 29 card, Carlos Ulberg now facing Anthony Smith instead of Jamahal Hill, Khamzat Chimaev being scratched from the UFC Saudi Arabia main event with Robert Whittaker, Ikram Aliskerov stepping in, rumor and innuendo clarified about the events, Michael Bisping having egg on his face, Hunter Campbell coming through huge once again, and much more.You can listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces.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

In this breaking news podcast, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew, Damon Martin, and Eric Jackman react to the breaking news that Conor McGregor is OUT of his UFC 303 fight against Michael Chandler.Rumors have circulated for weeks that the UFC 303 main event was in jeopardy and on Thursday evening, UFC CEO Dana White finally confirmed that the fight between McGregor and Chandler is off due to injury. Instead, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira steps in on short notice, putting his title on the line in a rematch with former champion Jiri Prochazka. On top of that, Brian Ortega now faces Diego Lopes in the co-main event, and Carlos Ulberg now faces Anthony Smith, who steps in for an injured Jamahal Hill. All that plus the UFC Saudi Arabia card has a new main event as well.The MMA Fighting team reacts to a tumultuous day for the UFC. Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew Follow Damon Martin: @DamonMartin Follow Eric Jackman: @NewYorkRic 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 303 is just over two weeks away, and the main event between the returning Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler is seemingly on the ropes once again. Where will the roller coaster ride of the McGregor-Chandler fight go next?On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel weighs in on the latest updates surround the UFC's next pay-per-view card, the return of McGregor, where Chandler could go from here if the fight doesn't happen, and what could headline if a replacement is needed. Additionally, they'll discuss Saturday's Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen boxing match, the event not airing in the U.S., UFC Vegas 93 and whether or not it's in the conversation as the worst on-paper card of 2024 thus far, the main event between Alex Perez and Tatsuro Taira, and all topics the viewers want to hear about during this month's fan Q&A episode of the program.Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they discuss the biggest stories in the sport. 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