MMA Fighting

Guess who's Baku? Baku again. On Saturday, the UFC returns to Azerbaijan for the second UFC Baku, this one headlined by a matchup between Rafael Fiziev and Manuel Torres with heavy implications at 155 pounds. But which lightweight is going to bring the flavor, and which one will throw his hands up in the air? Ahead of Saturday's event, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview Fiziev vs. Torres and debate which lightweight is the only one. Additionally, the team will discuss the co-main event between Shara Bullet and Michel Pereira, a few truly...

Dana White and the UFC finally revealed their new set of rankings, and people have had mixed reactions, with a lot of folks left scratching their heads after the launch earlier this week. Is the new Meta process the way to go, or will the promotion continue to have issues along the way? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to the new A.I. rankings structure and how things shifted. Additionally, topics include Dustin Poirier's arrest and the viral video that went along with it, Josh Hokit doubling down on his controversial...

The UFC is heading back to Baku. This Saturday, the UFC has its final show before a weeklong break, returning to the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the main event, the UFC's biggest Azerbaijani star, Rafael Fiziev, looks to rebound from a difficult loss to Mauricio Ruffy when he takes on surging lightweight Manuel Torres, and No Bets Barred is here to break it all down. This week, host Jed Meshew flies solo to discuss all things UFC Baku, including whether Fiziev can find his form again, if Torres is a legitimate contender...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to the UFC White House ratings as Jake Paul and Ronda Rousey take a victory lap for getting better numbers for the first ever MVP MMA event. Plus it sounds like Justin Gaethje is planning to fight again — is he making the right move or should he walk away while he’s still on top of the world? Also, Ian Machado Garry is getting his title shot against Islam Makhachev but does he have a great chance at pulling off the upse...

Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi finally ran it back — this time, inside the UFC octagon — and Kape was able to get one back from his pre-UFC days and more than likely punch his ticket to a flyweight title shot. The questions remain are when will Kape get his opportunity, and what's next for Horiguchi after UFC Vegas 119? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses where Kape goes from another stoppage victory, and if he should be rooting for Joshua Van or Alexandre Pantoja more when the eventual championship rematch happ...

Manel Kape has done more than enough to earn a title shot, especially after knocking out Kyoji Horiguchi in the main event of UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday night at the Meta APEX. While Kape's next bout is likely for gold, it's now a matter of when as fans await the highly-anticipated rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja. Will Kape get his shot in 2026? Following the UFC's latest Fight Night event, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the card, Kape's big win over Horiguchi in a comeback, and how matchups with Van and Pantoja...

UFC White House is over, so we're headed back to the APEX. On Saturday, the UFC returns to its personal arena for UFC Vegas 119, the chaser to the UFC's biggest event of the year. In the main event, Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi rematch their 2017 RIZIN fight, but this time there are flyweight title implications on the line. Ahead of Saturday's event, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview Kape vs. Horiguchi 2 and debate whether Kape can get things done thins time. Additionally, the two discuss light heavyweight co-main event between Navajo Stirling...

UFC White House was the biggest event of the year, and one we'll talk about for a long time. Justin Gaethje scored one of the most impressive upsets ever, Alex Pereira is still fuming about Ciryl Gane beating him, and Josh Hokit went viral, for not the best reasons. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, Jed Meshew takes the reins to discuss UFC White House and the fallout from this week, turning the conversation into mostly a viewer Q&A. Topics discussed may include Gaethje's upset over...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to everything that went down at the UFC White House card including Justin Gaethje’s stunning performance to dethrone Ilia Topuria in the main event. Should Gaethje fight again after that kind of win and where does Topuria go next following a brutal loss? Plus we’ll break down what happened between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira, grading the overall card and is it time to have that difficult conversation with Michael Chandler about calling it a career? All this and more...

UFC White House overdelivered in the expectation department on Sunday night in Washington, D.C., and it was capped off by an all-time performance by Justin Gaethje, as he pulled off the stunning upset of Ilia Topuria to win the undisputed lightweight title. It seems obvious where Gaethje and fellow new champ Ciryl Gane go, from the card, what's next for Topuria and Alex Pereira after stoppage losses on the White House lawn? 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...

Justin Gaethje did it. He actually did it. On Sunday night, Justin Gaethje closed the show at UFC White House in epic fashion, giving the American fans something to celebrate as he batter Ilia Topuria, claiming the undisputed lightweight title when Topuria's corner threw in the towel after the fourth round. It's the crown jewel in the career of the the most exciting fighter to ever step into a cage, and a performance that will be talked about for ages. Following UFC White House, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew reacts to Gaethje's epic upset win over...

The UFC is really heading to the Oval Office. On Sunday, the long-awaited UFC White House card finally goes down in Washington, D.C., with a stacked seven-fight card live from the White House South Lawn. But what can we expect from this once-in-a-lifetime event? Undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champion Justin Gaethje in a title unification bout, while Alex Pereira looks to become the first-ever three-division UFC champion when he fights Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight belt. Ahead of this weekend's action, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Alexander...

The UFC is headed to the White House. For real. After nearly a year of preparation, the most surreal MMA card of all time is actually set to take place, with seven high-profile fights going down on the South White House lawn. And of course, No Bets Barred is here to break them all down. This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by Luke Noseda, AKA Long Island Luke, of Morning Kombat and Main Card Minute to dive into all things UFC White House. Topics discussed include Ilia Topuria lightweight title unification bout with Justin...

The final countdown to UFC White House is on, and things are getting pretty heated between headliners Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with it getting pretty darn close to personal between the two fighters. Does the extra spiciness add to the anticipation levels for the historic event? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel discusses the big storylines to kick off a wild fight week, Topuria and Gaethje going back and forth, and if this helps either fighter. Additionally, topics may include Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane, Dana White predicting the card does Super...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin make their picks and predictions for the entire UFC White House card. Does Justin Gaethje actually have a chance to beat Ilia Topuria? Brown gives his coaching advice on what Gaethje needs to do to win. Plus Dana White claims if Alex Pereira becomes a three-division champion with a win over Ciryl Gane that he becomes the greatest of all-time and jumps over Jon Jones on that mythical list. Is White just playing promoter or is there any merit to what he’s...

Gabriel Bonfim picked up the biggest win of his career in the main event of UFC Vegas 118, dominating former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad over five rounds to extend his already impressive win streak. Bonfim called out another former champion in Jack Della Maddalena after the victory. Is that the fight to make for Bonfim? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Bonfim goes from his main event win, and react to Muhammad losing his third straight. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Brendan Allen...

Gabriel Bonfim picked up the biggest win of his career, and made it look easy. As important as that was for the Brazilian fighter, the conversations and post-fight storylines are more about Belal Muhammad's downfall since winning the welterweight title, his three-fight losing skid, and where the former champ goes from another defeat inside the octagon. Following UFC Vegas 118, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to Bonfim's victory and his post-fight callout, Muhammad's third straight loss, and if he should be concerned about his roster spot being in jeopardy. Additionally, they discuss Brendan Allen's Fight...

Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo are about to throw down. Saturday morning, Song and Figueiredo square up in a bantamweight main event at Galazy Arena for UFC Macau. Both men are firmly entrenched in the UFC’s bantamweight top 10, but both men have lost to several other top contenders in the weight class, leaving both well away from a title shot. So, given that, what’s at stake when these two bantamweight bangers lock horns? Ahead of UFC Macau, MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Alexander K. Lee preview Saturday’s main event matchup between Song and...

After months of building, and with both getting victories this past Saturday, Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington will battle on the wrestling mats in the main event of RAF 11. How big of a match can that be for RAF and in the combat sports world? On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel recaps a busy weekend in combat, including RAF 09, Covington and Tsarukyan's wins, Merab Dvalishvili and Gable Steveson picking up victories in their promotional debuts, and the rise of the promotion overall. Additionally, topics include RAF setting up Ben Askren's return to action...

On the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer, UFC legend Matt Brown and Damon Martin react to Ronda Rousey’s latest comments saying she would demolish Holly Holm in a rematch but adding that she’s retired and the fight is never going to happen. Is Rousey just consistently shooting herself in the foot with these kinds of comments? Plus we talk about Eddie Hearn “daring” Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his contract, Darren Till’s BKFC debut, Song Yadong’s big win and much more! Subscribe to MMA Fighting Check out our full vid...