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PFL-MVP Merger, Smith Arrest, Chimaev's Wrestling Return

Jake Paul's MVP merges with PFL, Anthony Smith faces serious charges, and Khamzat Chimaev returns to his wrestling roots.

PFL-MVP Merger, Smith Arrest, Chimaev's Wrestling Return

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Big news dropped today across the combat sports world, from a major merger shaking up the landscape to serious legal trouble for a UFC veteran. Plus, we’ve got an exciting wrestling match on the horizon for a top contender.

MVP and PFL Merge

Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) have officially joined forces in what’s being called a “landmark merger” for combat sports. This move creates a new global platform, aiming to bring together the best of both worlds. The merger is expected to significantly impact the future of MMA and boxing, potentially opening up new opportunities for fighters and fans alike. It’s a big play that could reshape how we see combat sports events organized and promoted moving forward.

Anthony Smith Arrested

UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith was arrested on serious charges this week. Reports indicate he allegedly threatened to kill his wife and attempted to strike her multiple times with his vehicle. These are incredibly disturbing allegations that have sent shockwaves through the MMA community. The situation is still developing, but the gravity of the accusations is undeniable and has led to widespread discussion and concern among fans and fellow fighters.

Chimaev Returns to Wrestling

Khamzat Chimaev is set to make a return to his wrestling roots, facing former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in a grappling match on September 5 in Moscow. This event, organized by the Russian Amateur Federation (RAF), marks a homecoming for Chimaev and an interesting challenge against a seasoned veteran like Woodley. It’s a chance for fans to see Chimaev’s elite wrestling skills on display outside of the octagon, and it’s sure to be a highly anticipated contest.

UFC Belgrade and Fighter Conduct

UFC Belgrade is facing some pre-fight drama, as Uros Medic reacted to Daniel Rodriguez’s imprisonment, stating it “puts a stain on all of our names.” This incident highlights the ongoing challenges with fighter conduct outside the cage and its impact on the sport’s image. Meanwhile, the UFC is adding new fights to its upcoming cards, sometimes with only 10 days’ notice, to fill out events that desperately need bouts. This shows the constant scramble to put together compelling fight cards for fans.

McGregor’s Return and Jones’s Beef

Conor McGregor’s return efforts continue to generate buzz, with Chris Weidman backing his comeback, saying “He’s fighting again.” However, some doctors are confused by McGregor’s workout videos following his UFC 329 injury, starting to wonder about his recovery. In other news, Jon Jones revealed a surprising friction with Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, claiming Hamilton called him a “coward.” It seems even outside the cage, rivalries and strong opinions can emerge between top athletes.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Khamzat Chimaev and Tyron Woodley set to headline RAF Moscow.

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 42 for July 30th, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We’ve got a massive story breaking today, Nora, one that’s going to reshape the combat sports landscape. Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, MVP, has officially merged with the Professional Fighters League, PFL.
NORA: That’s right, Duke. It’s being called a “landmark merger” and it’s a huge move for both organizations. The announcement came through today, confirming what a lot of people in the industry had been speculating about.
DUKE: Paul himself was pretty vocal about it, saying, quote, “We started MVP to disrupt a broken model,” end quote. And he didn’t stop there. He also said, quote, “We wanted to give fighters fair pay and a bigger, modernized stage to become global superstars. Joining forces with PFL accelerates that vision by a decade. I look forward to putting my entire promotional muscle into our new company, returning to the boxing ring and making my MVP MMA debut.” End quote.
NORA: That’s a bold statement, Duke, especially the part about his MVP MMA debut. PFL CEO Peter Murray also weighed in, stating, quote, “PFL has built the world’s No. 2 global MMA company, assembling one of the sport’s most elite fighter rosters while creating a world-class global business with premier media distribution across 34 broadcast and streaming partners, reaching fans in more than 170 countries.” End quote.
DUKE: So this isn’t just about Jake Paul getting into MMA, it’s about creating a new global platform that combines boxing, MMA, media, and live events. It’s a massive play for market share, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how it impacts the established order.
NORA: Absolutely. The press release stated that the merger creates a global sports and entertainment company. It’s a significant development for fighter development and overall combat sports entertainment. It’s a big shake-up.
DUKE: And speaking of shake-ups, we’ve got some incredibly disturbing news regarding former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith. He was arrested on multiple felony charges, including domestic violence and terroristic threats.
NORA: This is a truly grim situation, Duke. The details emerging are deeply concerning. Smith was arrested in Sarpy County, Nebraska, and later released on a five hundred thousand dollar bond.
DUKE: The Sarpy County District Attorney’s Office released a statement, and the allegations are severe. He reportedly threatened to kill his wife and allegedly attempted multiple times to strike her with his vehicle.
NORA: It’s a shocking turn of events for a fighter who has been a prominent figure in the sport for so long. The MMA community is definitely stunned by this, and it’s a situation that’s only getting darker as more alleged details come out.
DUKE: It’s a tough one to process, and it casts a long shadow over everything. On a completely different note, but still in the realm of fighter news, Khamzat Chimaev is making headlines again, but not in the octagon.
NORA: That’s right, Duke. Chimaev, who we’re hearing may have lost a title in May, is set to face former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley in a wrestling event.
DUKE: This is a Real American Freestyle, or RAF, wrestling event in Moscow, Russia, on September fifth. Chimaev is a three-time Swedish national freestyle wrestling champion, so he’s got the pedigree.
NORA: And Woodley was a two-time NCAA Division One All-American. It’s an interesting matchup, Duke, a clash of styles and generations in a different combat sport.
DUKE: The MMA community on Reddit is having a field day with this one, Nora. It’s definitely generating a lot of buzz to see these two former UFC champions go at it in a wrestling match.
NORA: It’s a side quest for Chimaev, as some are calling it, but it’s also a chance for him to stay active and showcase his grappling skills against a high-profile opponent.
DUKE: And speaking of high-profile, Conor McGregor is still making waves, even after what’s been reported as a serious knee injury.
NORA: He is, Duke. His workout videos have doctors confused, with some wondering how he’s pushing himself so hard after such an injury.
DUKE: Chris Weidman, for one, is backing McGregor’s return effort, saying, quote, “He’s fighting again,” end quote. Weidman even estimates it might take up to two years, but he believes McGregor will fulfill his promise for a final UFC fight.
NORA: It’s a testament to McGregor’s determination, but also a reminder of the long road to recovery after a significant injury like that. The timeline Weidman suggests is realistic for a full comeback.
DUKE: Alright, let’s shift gears to some beef, Nora. Jon Jones has revealed some friction with none other than Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
NORA: This is an old one, Duke, about five years ago. Jones said Hamilton called him a “coward” and then blocked him on social media.
DUKE: A “coward”? That’s a strong word, especially coming from one champion to another. It’s surprising to hear about that kind of animosity between two titans of their respective sports.
NORA: It certainly is. Jones revealed this in a recent interview with ‘ALF Global’. It just goes to show that even at the highest levels of sport, personal rivalries can emerge in unexpected places.
DUKE: Now, let’s talk about some upcoming action. The UFC is heading to Belgrade, Serbia, for the first time ever this Saturday. It’s their thirty-third country to host an event.
NORA: And the main event features a welterweight clash between Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez. Both fighters are on three-fight win streaks, looking to climb the rankings.
DUKE: Medic had some strong words about Rodriguez’s past, with reports quoting him as saying, “It puts a stain on all of our names,” in reference to Rodriguez’s imprisonment prior to the booking.
NORA: It adds an extra layer of intensity to the matchup, Duke. Medic is excited to compete in the first UFC main event in Serbia, but he’s clearly not holding back on his feelings about Rodriguez’s past.
DUKE: It’s a great opportunity for him to prove himself.
NORA: Absolutely. This will be a significant step up in competition. It’s a great opportunity for him to prove himself.
DUKE: And speaking of upcoming cards, the PFL New York card this Friday has taken a hit, Nora.
NORA: It has, Duke. The undercard has reportedly lost a former champion, and word is it’s definitely crumbling a bit, as some are saying. It’s never good to see a card lose key fighters so close to the event.
DUKE: It’s a tough blow for the PFL, especially with the Nurmagomedov and Ditcheva undercard. Hopefully, they can still deliver a solid night of fights.
NORA: They’ll have to make some quick adjustments. And on the UFC side, they’ve been adding new fights on just ten days’ notice to a thin Fight Night card.
DUKE: Yeah, they’re bringing in the cavalry to fill out a card that desperately needed bouts. It’s a testament to the depth of the roster that they can pull that off on such short notice.
NORA: It is. It shows the challenges of putting together these cards, especially when injuries or other issues arise. They’re making their debut in a new location, so they want to make sure it’s a full event.
DUKE: Alright, Nora, let’s get to our OSM Pick for the week. We’re looking at the fight between Marina Spasic and Stephanie Luciano.
NORA: We are, Duke. Our model has Stephanie Luciano to win, with about an eighty percent chance.
DUKE: Eighty percent. That’s a strong lean.
NORA: It is. The betting line implies around seventy-four percent, so we’re higher than the market on this one.
DUKE: Okay, so we’re seeing some value here.
NORA: Exactly. This is a value pick for us. We like it more than the line does.
DUKE: What’s driving that confidence?
NORA: Two main reasons: form and physicals. Luciano’s recent form has been very strong, and the physical attributes also favor her in this matchup.
DUKE: So the eye test, for once, aligns with the numbers.
NORA: In this case, yes. The tape supports what the model is seeing in terms of her recent performances and overall physical advantages.
DUKE: Good to hear. Always nice when the numbers back up what you’re seeing.
NORA: It makes for a more confident pick, that’s for sure.
DUKE: Alright, that’s all the time we have for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Nora, always a pleasure.
NORA: You too, Duke. Thanks for tuning in, everyone.

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