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The Roundup: biggest MMA & UFC stories, Jul 12

UFC 329 saw Conor McGregor's return cut short by injury, while other fighters made their mark and future bouts were announced.

McGregor’s Return Ends Abruptly at UFC 329

Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, lasted just 69 seconds [5]. Facing Max Holloway in a welterweight bout, McGregor suffered a knee injury while attempting an opening roundhouse kick [7]. This unfortunate incident led to Holloway stopping McGregor, making it one of the most disappointing fights in MMA history for some [15]. McGregor’s manager stated that the fighter did not have a prior knee injury before the bout [7]. The event, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featured McGregor’s first fight in five years [5]. Paddy Pimblett reacted to McGregor’s loss, calling it “sad to see” [17].

Holloway Makes History with McGregor Win

Max Holloway’s quick victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 329 was historic in several ways [11]. Holloway finished McGregor in just over a minute [15]. This win allowed Holloway to make three-division history [11].

Musumeci to Face Mitchell in UFC BJJ Crossover Bout

UFC BJJ champion Mikey Musumeci is set to move up in weight to face UFC contender Bryce Mitchell in the main event of UFC BJJ 11 [1]. The non-title clash will take place on September 24 and will be contested at featherweight, meaning Musumeci’s bantamweight belt will not be on the line [6]. Mitchell will be the first active UFC fighter to compete against a UFC BJJ champion [6].

UFC 329 Introduces New Talent

UFC 329 also served as a platform for new talent, with two rookies making their Ultimate Fighting Championship debuts [2]. The newcomers collectively went 1-1, with one securing a knockout victory to start their UFC career [2]. Gable Steveson, one of the debutants, responded to Josh Hokit after his dominant performance [16].

Heavyweight Showdown Booked for UFC 331

A significant heavyweight bout is scheduled for UFC 331 on September 19 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California [10]. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, a top-5 ranked heavyweight, will put his ranking on the line against Curtis Blaydes [10]. This matchup has been confirmed by multiple sources [10]. Meanwhile, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has expressed his readiness to fight Ciryl Gane again, stating he is “just waiting for dates” from the UFC [14]. Their previous encounter in October 2025 ended in a No Contest due to Gane badly poking Aspinall in both eyes [14].

Fighters Eyeing Title Shots and Future Bouts

Following UFC 329, several fighters are looking towards future opportunities. Mario Bautista, after his win over Cory Sandhagen, believes he is within reach of a title shot or a number one contender fight [8]. Brandon Royval is also looking to stay busy after his UFC 329 win and has called out Asu Alambayev [13]. Former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno is booked to return at Noche UFC 4 [9]. Additionally, Paddy Pimblett, who secured a first-round D’Arce choke submission over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, made a bold prediction for a potential matchup against UFC BMF champion Charles Oliveira [12].

Sources

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