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As Paige VanZant prepares to return to action at UFC 251, she understands in many ways that this is the biggest fight of her life. There are no titles are up for grabs and a win won’t get her a shot at a championship either. Instead, VanZant’s future is on the line as she competes to finish out her current UFC contract with plans to test free agency afterwards. “I feel like I am betting on myself here,” VanZant told MMA Fighting. “You don’t know your value until you test it. I want to know what people see my value as. “I feel like more than ever, especially with me hurting myself, that if I’m going to be a professional

On this week’s episode of Between the Links, Mike Heck moderates the rematch between MMA Fighting’s Jose Youngs and fellow journalist James Lynch as they discuss the new main event between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 for the welterweight title. In addition, the panel discusses where Gilbert Burns now fits in the title picture, and debate on which “Fight Island” card—besides UFC 251—is the best overall from top to bottom. Check out the video above, or the audio-only podcast can be found below, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Stitcher.

This Saturday, Gilbert Burns was scheduled to face Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 251. But late last week, Burns was forced out of his title shot when he tested positive for COVID-19 during one of the UFC’s pre-event checks. With Burns out, the UFC turned to the man they had passed over to give Burns a title shot, ‘BMF’ champion Jorge Masvidal, and now, instead of fighting Usman on Saturday, Burns will now be cheering for the welterweight champion. Speaking to ESPN on Monday, Burns spoke about Masvidal’s short-notice title shot, saying that he would be rooting for his former teammate to retain the belt, because if “Gamebred” becomes welterweight champion, he believes