BTL | Is Jon Jones Trolling Everybody? Plus, Ilia Topuria Makes Major Move, More

Jack Della Maddalena is the new welterweight champion and is on his way to establishing an enduring legacy at 170 pounds. All he has to do now is get through the No. 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter in the world in Islam Makhachev and then a murderer’s row of contenders. Simple enough, right? Della Maddalena made a statement with a dramatic win over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, but his run at the top could end before it begins as he’s set to face Islam Makhachev at some point in the second half of 2025. Should he get past Makhachev, Della Maddalena has a number of hungry challengers waiting in the wings, including Ian Machado Garry, Sean Brady, Joaquin Buckley, and undefeated fighters Shavkat Rakhmonov and Michael Morales. On this edition of the MMA Fighting Rankings Show, Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and E. Casey Leydon review the most notable chart movement of the past two months and debate who will be remembered as the Georges St-Pierre of this stacked crop of welterweights. Plus, a look ahead to the most anticipated fights on the calendar. Follow Alexander K. Lee ⁠@AlexanderKLee⁠ Follow Mike Heck ⁠@MikeHeck⁠ Follow E. Casey Leydon ⁠@ekc⁠ Subscribe: ⁠http://goo.gl/dYpsgH⁠ Check out our full video catalog: ⁠http://goo.gl/u8VvLi⁠ 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 address accusations that Islam Makhachev moved to welterweight specifically to avoid a potential fight against Ilia Topuria. Plus the latest on Jon Jones and if the UFC should actually consider stripping him of the heavyweight title. And top prospect Josiah Harrell joins the show after he took out UFC veteran Melvin Guillard this past weekend plus 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

Michael Morales picked up the biggest win of his career when he ran over past title challenger Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX. While many believe Morales could be a future champion, the UFC's 170-pound division is loaded up with contenders right now. Where does Morales fit into that mix after his big win? On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck discusses what's next for Morales after improving his record to 18-0. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Mairon Santos after his big win over Sodiq Yusuff, Nursulton Ruziboev following his hard-fought win against Dustin Stoltzfus, Melquizael Costa after earning his third win of 2025 in the Fight of the Night against Julian Erosa, and more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠@mikeheck_jr⁠⁠ 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

Michael Morales put the entire UFC welterweight division on notice as he ran over past title challenger Gilbert Burns in the first round of the UFC Vegas 106 main event. At just 25 years of age, the sky seems to be the limit for Morales, and he has all the time in the world to reach the top of the division. Following Morales' sensational performance, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the main event win for the surging 170-pounder, where he could go next, and where things went wrong for Burns. Additionally, they react to the bonus winners, Jared Gordon and Luana Santos getting passed over for the additional $50,000, Patchy Mix signing with the UFC and stepping in to face Marlon Vera at UFC 316, and more. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠@mikeheck_jr⁠⁠ 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

Gilbert Burns has been one of the UFC's best welterweights for years, and was seconds away from becoming a world champion. Now, on a three-fight losing streak — against the current champ, the most recent champ, and a top-three contender — Burns is a huge underdog against the talented, but relatively untested Michael Morales in the main event of UFC Vegas 106. Is this line justified, or is Burns being wildly overlooked by the MMA community? Ahead of Saturday's Fight Night card at the APEX in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee preview the event, the headliner between Burns and Morales, the stakes for both fighters, and where Burns goes with his fourth straight loss. Additionally, they'll touch on other standout matchups on the card, Sodiq Yusuff making the move to the lightweight division, Paul Craig potentially fighting for his job, 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