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MMA and UFC news, 2026-07-02

Former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia sheds 125 pounds, Justin Gaethje talks title hopes, and Jon Jones offers advice to Khamzat Chimaev.

MMA and UFC news, 2026-07-02

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We’ve got a lot to unpack today, from incredible physical transformations to fight card updates and some interesting insights from top fighters. Let’s dive into the latest from the world of MMA.

Tim Sylvia’s Dramatic Weight Loss

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia has made headlines with a significant physical transformation, revealing he’s lost over 125 pounds. Sylvia shared that he’s been working on his health and fitness, a journey that has clearly paid off. This kind of dedication is truly inspiring to see from a former champion, showing that the fight for health continues long after leaving the octagon.

Gaethje’s Undisputed Title Ambition

Justin Gaethje, known for his exciting fighting style, recently opened up about his journey and his unwavering hope of becoming an undisputed UFC champion. Despite facing setbacks in his career, Gaethje has maintained a positive outlook and a clear goal. His resilience and determination are a testament to the mindset required to compete at the highest level of the sport, and fans are always eager to see him in action.

Jon Jones on Chimaev’s First Loss

Jon Jones, a long-time dominant force in the UFC, was reportedly ‘really surprised’ by Khamzat Chimaev’s first professional loss. Jones, who considers himself a big fan, offered some advice to Chimaev, noting a main shift he observed in his last outing. It’s always interesting to hear the perspective of a legend like Jones, especially when he’s analyzing the performance of another top contender.

UFC 330 Card Additions

The UFC 330 fight card is shaping up nicely with some major welterweight and strawweight bouts recently added. The event, which features Islam Makhachev against Ian Machado Garry, will now include even more exciting matchups for fans to look forward to. These additions are sure to bolster an already stacked card, promising a night of high-stakes action and compelling fights.

UFC 329 Shakeup and McGregor’s Return

UFC 329 has seen a late replacement step in to face Cody Durden, adding a new dynamic to the card. Meanwhile, Conor McGregor has been making observations on his ‘immediate return’ to MMA ahead of his highly anticipated fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329. Fans are buzzing about McGregor’s comeback, and his insights into his preparation are always a hot topic as he gears up for another big fight.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Former ONE Heavyweight Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane (7-2) reveals he has gotten 6 fight offers from organizations around the world, but 0 news from ONE Championship.

Sources

Every source behind today's roundup (14)

We summarize the day’s news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen to today’s episode, read the full Feed, or get every episode by email.

Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 13 for July 2, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

Justin Gaethje, despite coming up short in his two previous attempts at undisputed gold in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has never lost faith. That’s a powerful statement from a guy who’s been in some absolute wars and faced the very best the lightweight division has to offer. You gotta admire that kind of resilience. It’s easy to get discouraged after falling short, especially at that elite level where the margins are so thin. But Gaethje, he’s always been about that ‘highlight reel’ life, and his belief in himself to eventually get that strap, it speaks volumes about his mindset. He’s a true warrior, and you know he’s gonna keep bringing that intensity every single time he steps into the cage. That’s why fans love him, and that’s why he’s always in the conversation for those big fights. You can’t count out a guy with that kind of heart and that kind of skill set. He’s always just one big shot away from changing the entire landscape of the division. It’s gonna be interesting to see where he goes from here and if that unwavering belief finally pays off with undisputed gold.

Speaking of comebacks and big names, we’re hearing that Conor McGregor has noticed something significant on his immediate return to MMA. What could he have noticed? Is it a change in the competition? A shift in his own training? Or maybe just the sheer intensity of being back in the spotlight, preparing for a fight of this magnitude? Whatever it is, when Conor McGregor notices something, you know it’s gonna be a talking point. He’s a master of the mental game, and his observations often carry a lot of weight. This fight is huge for him, a chance for McGregor to re-establish himself at the very top. It’s gonna be a war, and McGregor’s insights just add another layer of intrigue to an already stacked event.

In other news that’s got the MMA community buzzing, former UFC heavyweight king Tim Sylvia has shared a photo of his dramatic weight loss on social media. He’s shed over one hundred twenty five pounds! That’s an incredible transformation. Sylvia was a dominant heavyweight champion back in the day, known for his size and power. To see him make such a significant change to his physique, it’s really inspiring. It shows a dedication to health and well-being that goes beyond just fighting. It’s a testament to what you can achieve with discipline and hard work. It’s always great to see fighters, especially those who have given so much to the sport, taking care of themselves. Good for ‘The Maine-iac’ for making those positive changes. It’s a reminder that the journey continues long after the final bell.

Now, let’s talk about some advice from one GOAT to a potential future GOAT. Jon Jones has offered Khamzat Chimaev some advice after being ‘really surprised’ by his first UFC loss. Jones, who deeply admires Chimaev, revealed his honest feelings about that performance. It’s not every day you hear Jon Jones, arguably the greatest of all time, giving advice to another fighter, especially one as talented and hyped as Chimaev. For Jones to be surprised by Khamzat’s loss, it really highlights how highly he thinks of ‘Borz.’ What kind of advice could Jones be giving? Is it about handling pressure, dealing with setbacks, or perhaps refining his game? Whatever it is, coming from Jones, it’s gold. Chimaev is still a massive talent, and learning from someone like Jones could be invaluable for his career moving forward. It shows respect between two elite fighters, and it’s a cool moment for the sport.

Speaking of Jon Jones, he’s finally explained that viral GOAT necklace moment that had UFC fans talking. Jones claims he meant no disrespect to Alex Pereira with his GOAT necklace video. You remember that, right? It sparked a lot of conversation and speculation. Jones is known for his mind games and his ability to get under opponents’ skin, so many people thought it was a deliberate jab at Pereira. But according to Jones, it was just a misunderstanding. Whether you believe him or not, it’s clear that Jones is always aware of the narrative surrounding him. It’s part of what makes him such a compelling figure in the sport. He’s a master of controlling the conversation, even when he’s not actively fighting.

Moving on to some fighter beef, Valter Walker has come out and said that Shara ‘Bullet’ repeatedly pulled his hair during training. This is in the context of Sharabutdin Magomedov’s repeated fouls in his last fight against Michel Pereira. Now, that’s a pretty wild claim. Hair pulling, especially in training, is a big no-no. It’s one thing to have a foul in a fight, but for it to be a recurring issue in training, that raises some eyebrows. Shara ‘Bullet’ is known for his aggressive style, but repeated fouls, whether in a fight or in the gym, can really tarnish a fighter’s reputation. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s any fallout from Walker’s comments and if Shara ‘Bullet’ addresses these accusations. It’s a tough look for any fighter to be accused of unsportsmanlike conduct, especially in the training room where trust is paramount.

And speaking of controversial statements, Bryce Mitchell is back doing Bryce Mitchell things. He’s stated that he won’t watch Mikey Musumeci because it’s ‘gay’ but then says he wants a match with him. Now, that’s a classic Bryce Mitchell quote, isn’t it? He’s always been known for his unfiltered and often outlandish comments. This one, though, is definitely going to get people talking. Musumeci is a grappling phenom, and a match between him and Mitchell would be fascinating from a pure grappling standpoint. But Mitchell’s reasoning for not watching him, and then immediately wanting to fight him, it’s just peak ‘Thug Nasty.’ You gotta love the unpredictability of the guy, even if his comments sometimes raise an eyebrow or two. It’s never a dull moment when Bryce Mitchell is involved.

Now, let’s shift gears to some potential weight class changes. Diego Lopes is pondering a move to lightweight after what he’s calling a UFC featherweight stalemate. Lopes has been on a tear in the featherweight division, putting on some incredible performances. But if he feels like he’s hit a wall or isn’t getting the opportunities he deserves, a move up to lightweight could be a smart play. The lightweight division is absolutely stacked, but it also offers a lot of big fights and new challenges. Sometimes a change of scenery, and a change of weight class, is exactly what a fighter needs to re-ignite their career and find new motivation. It’ll be interesting to see if Lopes makes that jump and how he fares against the bigger guys at one hundred fifty five pounds. He’s got the skills and the heart, so he could definitely make some noise there.

Alright, let’s talk about some upcoming fight cards and roster moves. Word is, UFC 329 is getting a shakeup! Reportedly, a replacement has been tabbed after Ode Osbourne was ruled out of his flyweight bout against Cody Durden. So, Durden will now be facing a new opponent. It’s always tough when a fighter has to pull out, but it’s good to see the UFC finding a replacement quickly to keep the card intact. Cody Durden is a tough out for anyone, and he’ll be ready to go, regardless of who steps in. These last-minute changes can sometimes lead to some unexpected and exciting matchups, so we’ll be keeping an eye on that one.

And looking ahead to UFC 330, which goes down in Philadelphia on August fifteenth, the full fight card is growing with major welterweight and strawweight bouts. Sherdog also confirmed that the UFC has added several new bouts to this stacked event. Philadelphia is gonna be rocking for UFC 330. It’s great to see these cards getting filled out with high-stakes matchups. August fifteenth, mark your calendars!

Now, for our OSM Pick of the day. Our system has crunched the numbers for the fight between Levan Chokheli and Leon Shahbazyan. Our model is picking Levan Chokheli to win this one, with an approximate eighty two percent chance of victory. The betting line implies about a seventy six percent chance, so we’re actually higher than the market on this one. We’re calling this a strong confidence, value pick. The top reasons our system likes Chokheli are that form favors him, and his finishing ability also favors him in this matchup. So, if you’re looking at that fight, our system says Chokheli is the play.

And that’s gonna wrap up another edition of Open Scoring MMA. Make sure you tune in tomorrow for all the latest news and analysis. Until then, keep those hands up and your chin down.

Before you go, two quick things. Check out our free Fight Tracker at tracker dot open scoring m m a dot com, with every upcoming UFC and PFL card, live odds, and where to watch, all in one place. And follow us on YouTube, just search Open Scoring MMA, for breaking news alerts, fight breakdowns, and videos you won’t get here on the feed. That’s it for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Keep your hands up, and we’ll see you next time.