Ronda Rousey vs. Hunter Campbell, Anthony Smith's Arrest

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It’s been a busy day in the MMA world, with a former champion taking aim at a high-ranking UFC official and a former fighter dealing with a major legal situation. We’ve also got updates on some other big names and upcoming fights.

Ronda Rousey Versus Hunter Campbell

Ronda Rousey has once again publicly criticized UFC executive Hunter Campbell, stating that he doesn’t know how to market fighters. This isn’t the first time Rousey has voiced her displeasure with Campbell, and she didn’t hold back, calling him ‘stupid’ and claiming he lacks the ability to effectively promote anyone. Her comments come amidst speculation about a potential return to the ring for MVP MMA 2, which she hasn’t ruled out. It seems the bad blood between Rousey and the UFC brass, specifically Campbell, is still very much alive.

Anthony Smith Arrested on Felony Charges

Former UFC fighter Anthony Smith was arrested on three felony charges. Details surrounding the arrest are still emerging, but reports indicate the charges are serious. Smith has since been released on a $500,000 bail after appearing before a judge. This is a developing story, and we’ll be keeping an eye on it as more information becomes available. It’s a tough situation for the former fighter, and we hope for a clear resolution.

Makhachev’s Thoughts on McGregor and Gaethje’s Future

Islam Makhachev expressed sympathy for Conor McGregor’s knee injury, which unfortunately sidelined him from UFC 329. However, Makhachev also believes that Max Holloway would have won that fight regardless. Meanwhile, former UFC fighter Ben Askren has urged Justin Gaethje not to retire, advising him to capitalize on his recent title win. Askren believes Gaethje needs to ‘take advantage’ of his current position in the sport, suggesting there’s still plenty for him to achieve.

Jon Jones and Upcoming Fights

Jon Jones has once again denied ever taking steroids, doubling down on his previous statements. In other news, Dan Hooker confirmed he’s set to receive his biggest career payday by a significant margin for his upcoming fight against a UFC debutant. PFL champion Thad Jean has also made some bold claims, ranking himself above Ian Machado Garry and stating he’s ‘top 3’ when addressing casual fans. Additionally, a UFC Serbia star has identified an antidote for Carlos Prates and confidently stated, ‘I can knock him out,’ setting the stage for an exciting potential matchup.

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:

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Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 41 for July 29th, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: So, Ronda Rousey is back in the news, and she’s not holding back, Nora. She’s really going after UFC executive Hunter Campbell, saying he doesn’t know how to market anybody.
NORA: Yeah, she’s been pretty vocal about it. She and Gina Carano just headlined an MVP MMA event on Netflix that pulled in over seventeen million viewers for the main event.
DUKE: Seventeen million, that’s a huge number. And Rousey is basically saying, ‘Look what you missed out on, UFC.’ She’s still mad that Campbell apparently told Gina Carano he didn’t know how he was going to market a couple of forty-year-olds.
NORA: That’s the quote she gave to BJPenn.com. She said it was ‘extremely validating’ to have that success after Campbell’s comments.
DUKE: ‘Stupid,’ that’s the word she used to describe him. It sounds like there’s a lot of bad blood there, going back to her request to fight Carano inside the Octagon, which the UFC apparently turned down.
NORA: Right. And she’s not ruling out an MVP MMA 2, so this rivalry with Campbell might just be getting started.
DUKE: It’s interesting to see her still so engaged, even after all this time. You’d think she’d be past it, but clearly, she’s not.
NORA: Well, when you feel disrespected, that kind of motivation can stick around for a long time. Especially when you then go out and prove them wrong on such a big stage.
DUKE: Absolutely. Moving on to some really concerning news, former UFC fighter Anthony Smith was arrested this week.
NORA: Yeah, that’s right. He was arrested Monday night in Nebraska on three felony charges: domestic violence causing serious bodily injury, terroristic threats, and false imprisonment.
DUKE: That’s incredibly serious. He challenged for the light heavyweight title back in 2019, and he’s also been an analyst for UFC broadcasts. This is a huge fall.
NORA: He appeared before a judge and has since been released from Sarpy County Jail after posting a five hundred thousand dollar bond.
DUKE: Five hundred thousand dollars. That’s a substantial bond, which really underscores the gravity of the charges he’s facing. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved.
NORA: It is. These are very serious allegations, and we’ll have to see how the legal process unfolds.
DUKE: Definitely. We’ll keep an eye on that. Now, let’s switch gears a little. Jon Jones is still out there, doubling down on his claims.
NORA: He is. Jones, who has tested positive for banned substances multiple times in his career, recently claimed that he ‘never took steroids.‘
DUKE: Never took steroids. That’s a bold statement from someone with his history of failed tests. It’s hard to reconcile that with the facts.
NORA: It’s a narrative he’s sticking to, despite the multiple positive tests for banned substances during his UFC career. It’s a consistent stance from him, regardless of the evidence.
DUKE: I mean, the record is pretty clear on that front. It’s a tough sell for the fans, I think. Speaking of tough sells, Islam Makhachev is talking about Conor McGregor’s injury.
NORA: Makhachev said he ‘feels bad’ for Conor McGregor over the knee injury that spoiled his UFC 329 return. But he also said he expected Max Holloway to win anyway.
DUKE: He told BJPenn.com, quote, “I knew Max was gonna beat him, but not fast like this in the first minute. I want to see how he fight after five years, and honestly, feel bad when this happens.” End quote.
NORA: He reiterated that to MiddleEasy, saying, quote, “Honestly, I feel bad, you know, but I know Max is gonna beat him, but not like fast like this, you know, in the first minute.” End quote. He just didn’t expect it to be an injury finish.
DUKE: So, a little sympathy, but also a little ‘I told you so’ mixed in there. It’s a classic fighter response, isn’t it? They’ll offer condolences, but they’ll always back their own read on the fight.
NORA: Exactly. It’s a way of acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances while still maintaining confidence in their own assessment of the matchup.
DUKE: And speaking of confidence, Justin Gaethje is getting some advice not to retire.
NORA: Yeah, an ex-UFC fighter urged him not to retire, saying he needs to ‘take advantage’ of his title win. Word is Gaethje finished Ilia Topuria in a recent main event.
DUKE: Quote, “Don’t forget what we’re doing is prize fighting,” end quote, that’s what the ex-fighter told Bloody Elbow. It’s a good point, especially when you’re at the top.
NORA: It is. When you’ve reached that pinnacle, there’s a strong argument to be made for maximizing your earnings and legacy while you can. The window for a fighter is often short.
DUKE: Absolutely. You gotta strike while the iron’s hot. Now, let’s talk about some callouts. PFL champion Thad Jean is making some noise.
NORA: He is. Thad Jean is ranking himself above Ian Machado Garry when addressing casual fans, saying, ‘I’m top three.‘
DUKE: ‘I’m top three.’ That’s a bold claim, especially when comparing himself to a UFC fighter like Garry. He’s arguing that people aren’t true MMA fans if they discount PFL fighters.
NORA: It’s a common sentiment among PFL fighters, trying to bridge that perceived gap in recognition. He’s trying to elevate the PFL’s standing in the eyes of the broader MMA community.
DUKE: And then we’ve got Uros Medic, the UFC Serbia star, calling his shot.
NORA: Word is Medic is scheduled to headline the first UFC event in Serbia, and he’s exuding confidence, not just for his upcoming fight, but also against Carlos Prates.
DUKE: He told ‘Full Send MMA’ that he would defeat the Brazilian Carlos Prates. Quote, “I can knock him out,” end quote.
NORA: That’s a direct challenge. It shows he’s looking beyond his immediate opponent and has his sights set on bigger things.
DUKE: You gotta love that kind of confidence, especially when you’re headlining your home country’s first UFC event. That’s a lot of pressure, but he’s embracing it.
NORA: He certainly is. It’s a way to build hype and show he’s ready for bigger challenges.
DUKE: And speaking of big challenges, Dan Hooker is getting a massive payday for his next fight.
NORA: He confirmed he’s getting his biggest career payday ‘by a country mile’ to welcome a UFC debutant. We’re hearing that debutant could be Salahdine Parnasse.
DUKE: Parnasse has reportedly turned down the UFC multiple times before, so he’s clearly a high-value prospect. It makes sense that Hooker would be well compensated for taking on someone like that, especially in enemy territory.
NORA: It does. Taking on a highly touted debutant who’s previously rejected the UFC means the promotion sees a lot of potential in Parnasse, and they’re willing to pay for a tough test for him.
DUKE: Yeah, that’s a smart move by Hooker. Get paid big to fight a dangerous guy. Alright, that’s all the time we have for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Thanks for tuning in.
NORA: We’ll catch you next time.

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