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Pimblett's Path, McGregor's Return, and Baddy's Big Fight

Pimblett's next move, McGregor's big return, and a look at some wild pre-fight rituals and crossover bouts.

Pimblett's Path, McGregor's Return, and Baddy's Big Fight

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It’s a busy week in the MMA world, with big fights on the horizon and some surprising news making the rounds. We’re diving into Paddy Pimblett’s future, Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback, and a few other intriguing stories you won’t want to miss.

Pimblett’s Path After UFC 329

Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has been making headlines, not just for his past performances, but for what’s next. While some fans might be hoping for a showdown with Ilia Topuria, Pimblett himself doesn’t expect that to be his immediate next fight after UFC 329. He’s been clear about his reasoning, suggesting other matchups are more likely. For those who want to revisit some of his past dominance, there’s footage circulating of his fight where he “decimated” Michael Chandler, a reminder of his power in the cage.

McGregor’s Grand Return

Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon against Max Holloway at UFC 329 is generating massive buzz. Both fighters are predicting fireworks, with Holloway not ruling out staying at welterweight after the bout and even expressing interest in a fight with Islam Makhachev. McGregor, for his part, is aiming to put on a “masterpiece” performance. Even Jon Jones is excited for McGregor’s comeback, stating he’s “proud of him” for making his return.

Unusual Preparations and Crossover Fights

The world of combat sports always delivers some unique stories. Jiri Prochazka recently made headlines for a rather unconventional training method, reportedly disrobing and wandering into stinging nettles, believing the itchy rash and burning skin improve his fight IQ. Meanwhile, we’re seeing some interesting crossover bouts, like Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs headlining RAF 12 against UFC’s Sean Brady. Plus, Alex Pereira’s sister, Aline, is stepping into the spotlight, facing a former Bellator champion in a Karate Combat title fight.

Apollo Creed’s Unfortunate Encore

In a moment that felt straight out of a movie, former boxing champion Austin Trout recreated Apollo Creed’s iconic walkout at a BKFC event. Unfortunately for Trout, the homage didn’t end as he might have hoped. He was violently knocked out after his dramatic entrance, a stark reminder that even the most theatrical moments in combat sports can have a very real, and sometimes painful, conclusion.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Paddy Pimblett doesn’t think Ilia Topuria will ever be the same: “Ilia’s never had to come back from adversity. Ilia’s only ever been the hammer, he’s never been the nail.” “I’d happily be his first fight back.”.

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. Your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

The countdown is on for UFC 329, and the buzz is absolutely electric. We’re just days away from what promises to be a monumental card, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. Thirteen years ago, these two future legends first met at UFC Fight Night 26, a featherweight bout where McGregor took the unanimous decision. It was only the Irishman’s second octagon appearance, and now, over a decade later, they’re running it back. McGregor is looking to put on a “masterpiece” against Holloway. He’s been quoted saying he feels “absolutely amazing,” and that the work he’s put in has been incredible. It’s a massive comeback for “Notorious.” This fight is more than just a rematch; it’s a statement from McGregor, and the entire MMA world is watching to see if he can reclaim his former glory. Max Holloway, on the other hand, is predicting “fireworks” in this fight, and honestly, who isn’t? “Blessed” is never in a boring fight, and his style perfectly complements McGregor’s. What’s even more interesting is Holloway isn’t ruling out staying at welterweight after UFC 329, even expressing interest in a potential bout with Islam Makhachev. That’s a bold statement, showing he’s not just focused on McGregor, but also on his future in the sport, and potentially chasing more gold. It’s going to be a war, a true barnburner, and I for one cannot wait to see how this plays out. This is the kind of fight that defines legacies, and both men have so much on the line. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the energy around this event is palpable.

But that’s not all for UFC 329, not by a long shot. We’ve also got our favorite Scouser, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, in the co-main event, facing off against the number five ranked Benoit Saint Denis. This is a huge fight for Paddy, a real step up in competition, and he’s looking to rebound from his last outing. We’re hearing that some outlets are looking back at Paddy Pimblett’s UFC 314 stoppage of former title challenger Michael Chandler, a win that earned “The Baddy” an interim title shot against Justin Gaethje. That was a phenomenal performance, showcasing his power and his ability to finish fights. Now, he’s got Saint Denis in front of him, and this is a crucial moment in his career. Despite the immediate challenge, everyone’s already looking ahead to what’s next for Paddy. There are reports that Paddy Pimblett has been explaining why he doesn’t expect to fight Ilia Topuria next, even if he wins at UFC 329. He’s been lobbying for that fight for a while, but it seems he thinks it won’t happen this year. It’s a shame, because that’s a rivalry that’s been simmering for a long time, with the two even coming to blows at a hotel once. But first things first, he’s got to get past Saint Denis, and that’s no easy task. This fight is going to be a true test of his skills and his championship aspirations. I’m telling you, this card is absolutely stacked, and Paddy’s fight is going to be a highlight.

Moving on to some other interesting news, we’ve got a wild story out of the world of bare-knuckle boxing. We’re hearing reports on former boxing champion Austin Trout’s recent BKFC Liberty Brawl appearance. Trout, who had a good start to his bare-knuckle career, reportedly decided to recreate Apollo Creed’s iconic walkout from Rocky, complete with the Uncle Sam hat and the whole nine yards. It was a spectacle, for sure. However, the fireworks didn’t last long for Trout, as he ended up getting violently knocked out by Ben Bonner in the main event. Talk about a dramatic turn of events! It just goes to show you, in combat sports, anything can happen, and sometimes the showmanship can backfire. It was a memorable moment, just maybe not for the reasons Trout intended.

In other combat sports news, Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion Jordan Burroughs has an opponent for his Real American Freestyle, or RAF, debut. We’re hearing that Burroughs will headline RAF 12 on August twenty second at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, and he’ll be facing none other than the UFC’s own Sean Brady. This is a fascinating crossover, seeing an elite wrestler like Burroughs take on a high-level MMA fighter in a pure wrestling setting. It’s going to be a true test of skills and a great opportunity for both athletes to showcase their grappling prowess. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Brady, known for his strong grappling in the UFC, fares against one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time. This is the kind of matchup that gets combat sports fans talking.

Now, for a truly bizarre story, we’re hearing news about Jiri Prochazka. Reportedly, after his championship blunder at UFC 327 earlier this year, where he had Carlos Ulberg fighting on one leg and still managed to mess things up, Prochazka has been trying some unconventional methods to improve his fight IQ. Word is that he disrobed and wandered into stinging nettle because he believes the itchy rash and burning skin improve his fight IQ. I mean, you can’t make this stuff up! While I admire his dedication to self-improvement, I’m not sure I’d recommend that particular training method. It’s definitely one of the more unique approaches to mental preparation we’ve heard about in MMA. Let’s hope it works out for him in his next Octagon return, because that’s a level of commitment that’s both admirable and a little bit concerning.

Looking ahead to some upcoming cards, we’ve got some exciting matchups on the horizon. Beyond UFC 329, which is just around the corner, we’re already seeing some significant fights being booked. While we don’t have full card details for everything, the sheer volume of high-level talent getting ready to step into the cage is incredible. The UFC schedule is always packed, and it seems like every week brings another potential Fight of the Night. Keep an eye out for more announcements as these cards start to fill out. The next few months are going to be a treat for fight fans, with title fights, grudge matches, and rising stars all looking to make their mark.

Before we wrap up, it’s time for our OSM Pick of the day. Our system has been crunching the numbers for the fight between Levan Chokheli and Leon Shahbazyan. The betting line currently has Chokheli at minus three hundred fifty five and Shahbazyan at plus three hundred ten. Our model, however, is even more confident in Chokheli. We’ve got Levan Chokheli to win with an approximately eighty two percent chance, which is higher than the seventy six percent implied by the betting line. This is a value pick for us. The top reasons for our strong confidence are that form heavily favors Chokheli, and his finishing ability is also a significant advantage. We’re really liking this one, and we’ve actually shifted to being even more confident in Chokheli since our last analysis. So, our system’s call is Levan Chokheli to get the win.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. We’ll be back tomorrow with more news and analysis. Until then, keep those hands up and your chins 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.