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UFC Abu Dhabi, PFL D.C. and UFC 331 Lineup Updates

UFC Abu Dhabi delivered some big finishes, PFL D.C. saw a main event upset, and UFC 331 is shaping up with a huge co-main.

UFC Abu Dhabi, PFL D.C. and UFC 331 Lineup Updates

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What a weekend for fights! We’ve got all the results from UFC Abu Dhabi and PFL D.C., plus some exciting news about a stacked co-main event for UFC 331.

UFC Abu Dhabi Delivers

UFC Abu Dhabi, headlined by Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, brought some significant action. Ankalaev, making his return to the Octagon, faced off against newcomer Bogdan Guskov after Walker withdrew due to illness just hours before the event. Guskov stepped in on short notice, and the main event saw Ankalaev secure a first-round submission victory. The event, which took place on July 27, 2026, also featured a co-main event between Vicente Luque and Michael Chiesa, with Luque winning by TKO in the first round. Despite the last-minute main event change, the card still delivered some memorable finishes.

PFL D.C. Shakes Things Up

Over in Washington D.C., the PFL delivered an exciting card with some unexpected results. The main event saw Clay Collard defeat Anthony Pettis by unanimous decision, a significant upset. Additionally, the co-main event featured a lightweight bout where Olivier Aubin-Mercier secured a victory over Shane Burgos. The event, which took place on July 26, 2026, also included a notable win for Kayla Harrison, who continued her dominant run in the women’s lightweight division. Fans definitely got their money’s worth with some thrilling matchups and surprising outcomes.

UFC 331 Co-Main Event Revealed

Get ready for a massive co-main event at UFC 331! Arman Tsarukyan’s expected return card will feature a highly anticipated bout between Patricio Pitbull and a UFC Hall of Famer. While the Hall of Famer’s name hasn’t been officially announced, the buzz is already building for this exciting matchup. This addition promises to make UFC 331 an even more must-see event, adding another layer of star power to an already stacked card. We’ll be keeping a close eye on further announcements for this one.

Belal Muhammad on Ian Garry

Belal Muhammad has weighed in on Ian Machado Garry, suggesting that Garry is being underestimated ahead of UFC 330. Muhammad believes that Garry’s skills and potential are not fully appreciated by the MMA community, setting the stage for what could be a breakout performance. This commentary adds an interesting dynamic to the upcoming welterweight landscape, as Garry looks to prove his doubters wrong and solidify his position in the division. It’s always interesting to hear what other fighters think about their peers, and Muhammad’s take certainly sparks conversation.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: [SPOILER] Your weekly /r/MMA recap for the week of July 12 - July 18, 2026.

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 36 for July 25, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

We’re diving straight into the action today with some breaking news out of Abu Dhabi. Just hours before the event was set to kick off, UFC Abu Dhabi had a main card bout confirmed. The promotion announced that the fight between Islam Dulatov and Wellington Turman is scheduled, meaning Saturday’s Fight Night card will now proceed with thirteen bouts. It’s always great when a fight gets confirmed last minute, especially one on the main card. You feel for the fighters who put in all that work, and for the fans who were looking forward to seeing them compete. It definitely changes the dynamic of the card a bit, but hey, that’s MMA for you, always expect the unexpected.

Speaking of UFC Abu Dhabi, word is it’s happening this Saturday, July 25th, 2026, live from the Etihad Arena on Fight Island. The main event is a light heavyweight clash featuring Magomed Ankalaev taking on Bogdan Guskov. This is a big one for Ankalaev, who’s looking to get back on track after a rollercoaster ride with the title. He reportedly captured the strap from Alex Pereira by unanimous decision. Now, he’s facing Guskov, who’s riding a five-fight unbeaten streak and has a lot of momentum. This is a classic veteran-versus-surging-contender matchup, and it has serious title implications in the light heavyweight division. The weigh-ins for this event are already done, and Magomed Ankalaev officially made weight for his Octagon return, so we’re all set for a full day of fights.

Over in the PFL, we’ve got some championship action going down in Washington D.C. We’re hearing that Thad Jean was originally scheduled to face Shamil Musaev for the welterweight world championship. However, due to a late change, Jean is now reportedly taking on Ernesto Rodriguez for the vacant PFL welterweight title. This is a huge opportunity for both guys, especially for Rodriguez stepping in on short notice for a title fight. It just goes to show you, always stay ready, because you never know when your number’s gonna be called. The PFL Washington D.C. event, featuring Jean versus Rodriguez, is happening Saturday night at the CareFirst Arena.

Now, let’s look ahead to some future cards. Big names are continuing to join the lineup for UFC 331, which is reportedly set to return to Los Angeles at the Arena. We’re hearing that Arman Tsarukyan’s expected return card may feature Patricio Pitbull against a Hall of Famer. That’s a massive fight right there, Pitbull is a legend, and putting him against a Hall of Famer on a card headlined by Tsarukyan is a recipe for a barnburner. The UFC is really stacking these cards, and it’s great for the fans.

And speaking of stacked cards, UFC 330 is also generating some buzz. Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad has reportedly been talking about Ian Machado Garry, saying that he’s being underestimated ahead of the UFC 330 main event. Quote: “I just think a lot of people are underestimating Ian,” Muhammad told LowKick MMA. End quote. Garry has been on a tear, and he’s definitely a fighter to watch. It’s interesting to hear another top contender like Muhammad give him that kind of shout-out, suggesting that the public perception might not be fully catching up to Garry’s skill level. It adds another layer of intrigue to that main event, making you wonder if Garry is truly being overlooked.

DUKE: Nora, what do you make of Belal Muhammad saying Ian Machado Garry is underestimated? Do you think the public is sleeping on “The Future”?

NORA: Well, Duke, the numbers on Garry’s recent performances certainly suggest he’s a formidable opponent. His striking accuracy and defense metrics are consistently high. However, the perception of a fighter can be influenced by many factors beyond pure statistics, like strength of schedule or the narrative surrounding their previous bouts. Muhammad’s comment could be a strategic move, or it could genuinely reflect an internal assessment from someone who understands the welterweight landscape intimately.

DUKE: So, you’re saying the eye test might be missing something the tape reveals? I’ve seen Garry look good, but sometimes he seems to play it a little safe. Is that what Muhammad is hinting at, that there’s more to his game than we’re seeing?

NORA: It’s possible. Fighters often have layers to their game that aren’t fully exposed until they face specific challenges. The model, for instance, has shown a consistent upward trend in Garry’s predictive performance metrics. While the market might be slower to adjust, the underlying data points to a fighter who is continuously improving and adapting. So, yes, there could be an element of underestimation based on a superficial read of his past fights.

DUKE: Alright, I’ll give you that. Sometimes the narrative overshadows the actual skill. But it’s hard to ignore the buzz around a guy.

Now, for our OSM Pick of the day. Our system has been crunching the numbers, and we’ve got a strong call for you. In the fight between Magomed Zaynukov and Damian Rzepecki, our model is picking Magomed Zaynukov to win with approximately 78 percent confidence. The betting line implies about a 71 percent chance for Zaynukov, so we’re actually higher than the market on this one. This is a value pick for us. The top reasons our model likes Zaynukov are that his recent form heavily favors him, while Rzepecki has a slight physical advantage. We’ve been tracking this one, and our confidence has remained strong, so we’re sticking with Zaynukov for the win.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Make sure to tune in next time for more news and analysis from the world of mixed martial arts.

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.