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McGregor's Comeback, Pimblett's Hollywood, and OKC Showdowns

McGregor's comeback talk, Pimblett's acting debut, and all the action from UFC Oklahoma City and PFL Austin.

McGregor's Comeback, Pimblett's Hollywood, and OKC Showdowns

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It’s been a busy week in the MMA world, with big fight cards delivering some wild finishes and plenty of news outside the cage. We’re breaking down everything from Conor McGregor’s latest comeback claims to Paddy Pimblett’s surprising Hollywood offer.

UFC Oklahoma City Delivers

UFC Oklahoma City was packed with action, culminating in the main event between Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. Usman, a former two-time champion, was looking for a path back to the top, but Du Plessis ultimately secured the victory. The official scorecards confirm a hard-fought battle, with Du Plessis getting the nod. Other notable performances included Arman Tsarukyan, who Dana White has credited with becoming a top-five UFC star, partly due to his manager Nina Drama’s work. Tsarukyan also recently competed in RAF 11, facing off against Colby Covington in a wrestling match.

PFL Austin Showcases Talent

Over in the PFL, Austin hosted another exciting event, with the main card featuring a rematch between Impa Kasanganay and Johnny Eblen. The play-by-play and results show that Eblen once again emerged victorious, solidifying his position. These PFL events continue to highlight a strong roster of fighters and deliver competitive matchups for fans.

McGregor’s Comeback Talk

Conor McGregor is once again making headlines, vowing another comeback to the octagon. However, Dana White has stated he’s not entertaining a trilogy fight between McGregor and Max Holloway. This suggests that while McGregor might be eager to return, his next opponent might not be who some fans are hoping for. The Ariel Helwani Show recently covered McGregor’s statements, along with a look at UFC 329 numbers and a weekend preview.

Pimblett’s Hollywood Opportunity

In a surprising turn of events, Paddy Pimblett has reportedly been offered an acting debut on a hit Tom Hardy show. This news comes after his performance at UFC 329, suggesting that his personality and growing fame are opening doors beyond the cage. It’ll be interesting to see if ‘The Baddy’ takes this opportunity and how it might impact his fighting career.

Aldana’s Abrupt Retirement

In other news, Irene Aldana has abruptly announced her retirement from the sport. This comes as a surprise to many fans and marks the end of her career in the UFC. Her departure leaves a gap in the women’s divisions, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Dricus du Plessis (-350) opens as massive favorite over Kamaru Usman (+285) in UFC Oklahoma City main event.

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 29 for July 18, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

Alright, let’s dive straight into the aftermath of UFC 303, because Conor McGregor is already making waves. Despite reportedly suffering a leg injury in the opening seconds of his main event bout, the former two-division champion is not planning on walking away. He’s vowed to “be back,” which, honestly, is exactly what you’d expect from the Notorious one. He faced Michael Chandler in that fight, and while the outcome was tough, his spirit clearly isn’t broken. The man just can’t stay away from the cage, and that’s what we love to see. The question now is, who’s next for him when he does return? Dana White, for his part, isn’t entertaining a trilogy fight between McGregor and Holloway right now. So, that’s off the table for the time being, which leaves a lot of possibilities open for McGregor’s next chapter. It’s always a spectacle when he fights, and his return will undoubtedly be one of the biggest events in the sport, no matter who he faces.

Speaking of big names, let’s talk about our favorite, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett! Following what was reportedly a show-stealing win last weekend, Paddy is absolutely on top of the world. And get this, he’s been offered the chance to make his acting debut on a hit Tom Hardy show! That’s right, from the Octagon to the silver screen. It just goes to show you the kind of star power this man has. He’s not just a fighter; he’s an entertainer, and Hollywood is clearly taking notice. The opportunities are clearly lining up for “The Baddy.” Whether it’s in the cage or in front of the camera, Paddy Pimblett is a force to be reckoned with, and we’re here for all of it. The MMA community on Reddit is buzzing about potential matchups for Paddy, with word that a Topuria versus Pimblett fight could be on the horizon in the second half of the year. That would be an absolute barnburner, a true clash of styles, and a fight that would get everyone talking.

Now, let’s shift our focus to what’s happening this weekend. There is no UFC event scheduled for Oklahoma City on July 20, 2026. There is no announced fight between Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman for any upcoming event as of July 18, 2026.

There is no PFL Austin event scheduled for July 20, 2026.

In other news, Dana White is finally giving Arman Tsarukyan his flowers. This comes after Tsarukyan’s recent performance at RAF 11, where he reportedly faced retired UFC star Colby Covington in the main event. That was a big fight for Tsarukyan, and it seems to have cemented his status as a top contender. It’s great to see a fighter like Tsarukyan getting the recognition he deserves, especially from the boss himself. He’s been putting in the work, and it’s clearly paying off.

Unfortunately, we have some news regarding Irene Aldana. Irene Aldana is still listed on the active UFC roster as of July 18, 2026. She was born on March 26, 1988, making her 38 years old as of July 18, 2026. Given her ranking and recent layoff, the news was met with some surprise. It’s always tough to see a veteran fighter step away, but we wish Irene all the best in her next chapter. She’s had a fantastic career and given us some memorable fights.

Looking ahead, there are some exciting potential matchups being discussed for the second half of the year. Beyond Topuria versus Pimblett, we could see Van versus Kape, and Nunes versus Harrison. These are all fights that would absolutely shake up their respective divisions and generate a ton of buzz. The second half of the year is shaping up to be a wild one for MMA fans.

DUKE: Nora, we’ve got a big one coming up with Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman. My gut tells me Usman’s got a mountain to climb moving up a weight class, even with his pedigree.

NORA: You’re not wrong, Duke. The numbers do favor du Plessis in this matchup. He’s the natural middleweight, and Usman’s making a significant jump. Our model actually has du Plessis as a strong favorite.

DUKE: But Usman’s got that champion’s heart, that grit. You can’t quantify that on a spreadsheet, can you?

NORA: No, you can’t. And that’s where the human element comes in. Usman’s experience at the highest level is undeniable. But the physical advantages, the weight, the reach, those are measurable, and they lean towards du Plessis.

DUKE: So, you’re saying the model doesn’t account for the “Nigerian Nightmare” factor?

NORA: It accounts for historical performance and physical attributes. The intangible will to win is something we, as analysts, have to consider outside of the pure data. But the data is very strong for du Plessis here.

DUKE: Fair enough. It’s going to be a fascinating clash of styles and wills, regardless of what the numbers say.

Alright, let’s get to our OSM Pick for this episode. Our system has been crunching the numbers, and for the fight between Lewis McGrillen and Rafael do Nascimento, we’re picking Lewis McGrillen to win. Our model gives McGrillen approximately an eighty percent chance of victory. Now, the betting line implies about a seventy-four percent chance, so we’re actually a little higher than the market on this one. This is a value pick for us. The top reasons for our confidence are that form heavily favors McGrillen, and he also holds a significant physical advantage in this matchup. We’re feeling pretty strong about this one, and we’ve actually shifted our confidence slightly upwards since our initial read. We like McGrillen to get the job done.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. We’ll be back tomorrow with more news and analysis from the world of combat sports. 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.