Skip to main content
The Feed

The Roundup: biggest MMA & UFC stories, Aug 7

Conor McGregor is recovering from knee surgery, while other fighters like Alexia Thainara and Robert Whittaker eye big moves.

Conor McGregor’s Comeback Trail

Conor McGregor is on the road to recovery after successful knee surgery, using MMA legends like Dominick Cruz and Georges St-Pierre as motivation for his return [2]. The former UFC champion sustained a right knee injury from the first kick of his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 329, a bout that marked his first in five years [2]. Ian Machado Garry has expressed his desire for McGregor to make a strong return and “go out with a bang” [5].

Alexia Thainara’s Undefeated Run

Alexia Thainara, known as “Burguesinha,” is looking to solidify her position in the UFC with an undefeated record [7]. The 28-year-old fighter, who has secured three consecutive victories in the organization, is set to face a veteran and former title challenger this Saturday at UFC Vegas 120 [7]. This bout is considered the biggest challenge of her career [7].

Robert Whittaker Considers Light Heavyweight Move

Robert Whittaker is exploring potential opponents for a move to the light heavyweight division [3]. “The Reaper” is back and considering his options for a new weight class [3].

Magomed Ankalaev’s Next Opponent

Magomed Ankalaev’s manager is pushing for a fight against Paulo Costa [4]. This comes after Ankalaev’s recent fifth-round TKO victory over Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi in July [18]. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, believes a fight with Costa would be a good next step for the light heavyweight contender [18].

Jessie Rosas’s UFC Debut Delayed

Jessie Rosas, brother of UFC star Raúl Rosas Jr., had his UFC debut delayed due to a cut on his forehead [12]. Rosas was disqualified by the organization’s doctors just hours before he was scheduled to weigh in for his fight at UFC Vegas 120 against Miles Johns [12]. He was forced to withdraw from the card at late notice [16].

Usman Nurmagomedov’s Title Shot Prospects

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, believes it would be “suicide” for the UFC to grant Usman Nurmagomedov an immediate title shot [6]. Many speculate that the PFL lightweight champion is UFC-bound [6].

Sources


Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen on Spotify, read the Feed, or get every episode by email.