BTL | Jon Jones RETIRES, Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 317, More

MMA Fighting

Vox Media Podcast Network

Sports News, Sports, News

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 26 June 2025

⏱️ 90 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Even before the UFC could get to UFC 317 fight week, Jon Jones gave the MMA world plenty of headlines after Dana White announced that Jones notified the promotion of his retirement, and that Tom Aspinall has been promoted from interim to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. On top of that, Jones had another alleged run-in with the law, which seemingly paints a tougher picture with each day that goes by. On an all-new edition of Between the Links, the panel reacts to the shift in the UFC's heavyweight division, Jones' retirement and what he leaves behind in the sport, and Aspinall's promise to get the division out of the mud. Additionally, topics include UFC 317 this Saturday, Ilia Topuria facing Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the main event, where Topuria goes with a win — or a loss — on Saturday, Jake Paul competing on Saturday againsT Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and the lack of buzz for the event, and more. Join MMA Fighting's Mike Heck and Jed Meshew as they answer your questions all show long. Follow Mike Heck: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@m_heckjr⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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

Transcript

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0:00.0	The semifinals of the PFL World Tournament close out Friday, June 27th.
0:07.0	Fabian, the Assassin Edwards, takes on dangerous finisher Josh Silvera, with a trip to the finals on the line.
0:14.0	Former light heavyweight world champion Phil Davis takes on rising star Sullivan Colley in pursuit of a world title fight. And Dalton Rasta
0:23.6	steps into the cage looking to avenge his only loss in a rematch with Aaron Jeffrey, with the winner
0:29.4	competing for the middleweight PFL world tournament title. Don't miss the action live June 27th
0:35.7	at 10.30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and ESPN Plus.
0:42.0	Support for this show comes from the 2025 James Beard Awards, presented by Capital One.
0:47.6	Every year, the James Beard Foundation recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and the broader food system with its highly anticipated awards.
0:59.0	To learn more, visit the 2025 James Beard Awards hub at jamesbaird.org slash awards.
1:04.6	And be sure to watch the James Beard Awards from Chicago on June 16th at 5.30 p.m. Eastern. Live on Eater.
1:16.2	You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.
1:24.4	Live from M.MA fighting studios, this is Between the Links.
1:31.3	And now, your host, Mike Heck.
1:38.8	The iconic voice of Esther Lynn welcomes you to a brand new edition of BTL. Happy Thursday to us all. I actually
1:46.3	can't remember the last time we did the show on a Thursday. It's been a bunch of Tuesdays in a row.
1:51.2	I have a feeling next week's show will be on a Tuesday as well, but we'll play that by year.
1:56.5	Much like we're doing on today's program, there's so much happening right now. You guys had a million
2:01.1	questions. The DMs have been blowing up ever since UFC Baku came to an end. Now probably
2:07.8	the most forgotten card in UFC history with all the John Jones news. John having just an absolutely
2:13.4	insane week. Tom Aspinall being the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion per Dana White.
2:19.3	We got UFC 317. It's International Fight Week. Jake Paul's fighting and no one he knows about it.
2:25.6	PFL has a card and as always nobody knows about it. So much happening in the world of mixed
	...

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