Fighter vs. Writer: Alan Jouban Reacts to Merab Dvalishvili Dethroning Sean O’Malley and the ‘Conor McGregor Curse’

Merab Dvalishvili could find out soon just how heavy is the head that wears the crown. Hot on the new bantamweight champion’s heels following his dominant win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 is Umar Nurmagomedov, an undefeated Dagestani nightmare who has all the makings of a future champion... perhaps near future. But Nurmagomedov isn’t the only one shaking up the rankings. Natalia Silva just knocked off two-division threat Jessica Andrade. Caio Borralho has crashed into the upper tier of the middleweight ranks after beating Jared Cannonier. And Diego Lopes dispatched of Brian Ortega to charge up the featherweight ladder. Could one of these contenders beat Nurmagomedov to championship glory? Host Alexander K. Lee is joined by fellow MMA Fighting rankings panelists Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as we do an impromptu power ranking of the fighters who could be next in line to top the charts. We also predict what the heavyweight and Pound-for-Pound rankings could look like with Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou set to fight in the coming months, plus plus we take a look back at the illustrious career of Demetrious Johnson. Follow Alexander K. Lee @AlexanderKLee 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

Merab Dvalishvili is the new UFC bantamweight champion after defeating Sean O'Malley in the main event of UFC 306, while Valentina Shevchenko is once again the women's flyweight champ following her dominant win over Alexa Grasso in the co-main event. Where do the new, and now former champions go from Saturday's event at Sphere? 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 Dvalishvili, O'Malley, Shevchenko, and Grasso following their championship bouts in Las Vegas. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Diego Lopes after his decision win over Brian Ortega in the featured bout, Esteban Ribovics following his incredible battle with Daniel Zellhuber, along with fellow main card winner Ronaldo Rodriguez, and more. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Alexander K. Lee: @AlexanderKLee 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

Merab Dvalishvili and Valentina Shevchenko are champions following UFC 306, and their wins over Sean O'Malley and Alexa Grasso. MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the action, and José Youngs shares his experience being at Sphere live for the event. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

Relive the magic of UFC 306's live watch party with Mike Heck and Jed Meshew! Check out the original UFC 306 Watch Party here: https://www.youtube.com/live/FU0dZ59zkoQ Timestamps: Intro (0:00) Final round of Norma Dumont vs. Irene Aldana and reaction to nasty cut (5:00) Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode Osbourne (40:36) Osbourne gets quick knockdown in Round 1 (43:18) Rodriguez wins decision (1:02:15) Daniel Zellhuber vs. Esteban Ribovics Fight of the Year contender (1:21:50) Insane Round 3 (1:34:10) Ribovics wins split decision (1:41:40) Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (2:04:10) Lopes nearly gets Round 1 finish (2:04:30) Lopes badly hurts Ortega again in Round 3 (2:21:07) Lopes wins unanimous decision (2:23:50) Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3 (2:46:23) Shevchenko sweeps cards to win title (3:18:25) Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili (3:46:25) Dvalishvili wins bantamweight title via unanimous decision (4:18:15) Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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

With UFC 306, and the main event between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, just hours away, the time for talking is done, and the time for fighting is soon to begin. UFC CEO Dana White promised a memorable event at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and as the intrigue for the spectacle that is Noche UFC continues to mount, so do the questions about the potential fallout between O'Malley and Dvalishvili. Ahead of Saturday's pay-per-view event, MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Mike Heck preview the card, the O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili headliner, and the longterm stakes for both athletes. Additionally, topics include the co-main event between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, the anticipated featured bout with Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes, the card quality, predictions, along with answering your questions. Follow Mike Heck: @MikeHeck_JR Follow Jed Meshew: @JedKMeshew 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