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Makhachev vs. Garry: The Welterweight Showdown

UFC 330 is almost here, with Makhachev vs. Garry headlining, plus Dana White's Contender Series kicks off its 10th season.

Makhachev vs. Garry: The Welterweight Showdown

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We’re just days away from UFC 330, featuring a highly anticipated welterweight title fight. Plus, Dana White’s Contender Series just wrapped up its first week, adding some new talent to the UFC roster.

Makhachev vs. Garry: The Welterweight Showdown

UFC 330 is set to deliver a massive main event with Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight title against Ian Garry. Makhachev has been preparing intensely, even reeling in a shark as part of his training regimen, which is certainly one way to get ready for a fight. Garry, on the other hand, has revealed that his drive comes from a desire to prove himself and achieve greatness in the sport. It’s shaping up to be a clash of styles and motivations, with both fighters looking to make a statement in the welterweight division.

Masvidal Weighs In on UFC 330 Main Event

Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal has offered his prediction for the Makhachev vs. Garry fight, and he’s not holding back. Masvidal believes that Islam Makhachev will ‘break’ Ian Garry during their UFC 330 main event. This kind of strong prediction from a veteran like Masvidal adds another layer of intrigue to an already exciting title bout. Fans are definitely buzzing to see if Masvidal’s forecast holds true or if Garry can pull off an upset.

DWCS Season 10 Kicks Off

Dana White’s Contender Series is back for its 10th season, and Week 1 already delivered some exciting action. Four fighters earned UFC contracts after impressive performances. Dana White was clearly impressed with the talent on display, but he also made a tough call, refusing to sign one fighter despite offering deals to four others. It’s a reminder of how high the bar is to make it into the UFC, even for those who perform well on the Contender Series.

Pantoja 2.0 and Future Venues

Looking ahead to UFC 331, Alexandre Pantoja’s coach is hyping up a ‘Pantoja 2.0,’ suggesting fans will see an even more evolved version of the fighter. This kind of talk always builds anticipation for a champion’s next defense. Meanwhile, Dana White and Craig Borsari are reportedly working on securing another unique venue for a future UFC event. The UFC has a history of holding events in memorable locations, so it’ll be interesting to see what they have planned next to continue that tradition.

Dana White on Maxx Crosby’s UFC Potential

In an interesting crossover discussion, Dana White recently commented on NFL star Maxx Crosby’s potential in the UFC. White stated that he believes the Raiders edge rusher could actually become a UFC world champion. This isn’t the first time White has praised athletes from other sports, but it’s a significant statement about Crosby’s athletic ability and toughness. It’s always fun to imagine what top-tier athletes from other sports could achieve in the Octagon.

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.

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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

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Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 55 for August 12th, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We are diving straight into the biggest news dominating the MMA world right now: UFC 330 is reportedly just days away, and it’s shaping up to be an absolute banger. The main event reportedly sees Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight crown against Ian Machado Garry.
NORA: That’s right, Duke. It’s a massive fight, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for both men. Makhachev is coming in as a heavy betting favorite, which isn’t surprising given his dominant run.
DUKE: And yet, there’s still a lot of talk around Garry. Jorge Masvidal, of all people, has weighed in on this one, and he’s got a pretty strong take.
NORA: He does. Masvidal actually predicted that Islam Makhachev is going to “break” Ian Garry in this main event. He sees it as a tough night for Garry.
DUKE: “Break” him? That’s a strong word, even for Masvidal. But then he also said, and I quote, “I think Ian could frustrate him.” End quote. So which is it, Jorge? Break him or frustrate him?
NORA: It sounds like he’s acknowledging Garry’s potential to make it difficult, but ultimately sees Makhachev’s power and skill prevailing. It’s a common sentiment when you have such a dominant champion facing a rising challenger.
DUKE: Garry himself is clearly motivated. He’s been vocal about his “burning desire” to prove himself against the best in the world, and you can’t get much better than Makhachev at welterweight.
NORA: Absolutely. This is the kind of fight that defines careers. For Makhachev, it’s about solidifying his legacy and proving he’s truly the king of the division.
DUKE: And speaking of Makhachev, he’s been out there reeling in sharks ahead of the fight. Literally. There are pictures of him fishing, which is a pretty unique way to prepare for a title defense.
NORA: It’s certainly a relaxed approach, Duke. Whether it’s a mind game or just how he unwinds, it’s clear he’s confident heading into Saturday night.
DUKE: Moving on from the main event, Dana White has been making some waves with his comments about NFL players and their potential in the UFC.
NORA: He has. White believes that many NFL players could find success in MMA if they transitioned to the sport. He specifically named Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
DUKE: He said, and I quote, “When you look at a lot of these guys that play in the NFL, if they… Imagine if Maxx Crosby trained in MMA since he was a kid, he would be a world champion right now.” End quote. That’s a bold claim.
NORA: It is. And he doubled down, saying, quote, “And I believe that to my core. And I know a lot of sht about Maxx Crosby that you guys don’t know.” End quote. It suggests he’s seen something in Crosby’s athleticism or mentality that he thinks translates directly to the octagon.
DUKE: I mean, you see the athleticism in the NFL, the power, the speed. But MMA is a different beast entirely. It’s not just about being a great athlete.
NORA: No, it’s not. It requires a very specific skill set, a different kind of conditioning, and a mental toughness that’s unique to fighting. While the raw athleticism would be a huge advantage, the technical learning curve is steep.
DUKE: It’s an interesting thought experiment, though. Imagine a world where top-tier athletes from other sports transitioned to MMA from a young age. The talent pool would be insane.
NORA: It would be fascinating to see. But for now, we’re focused on the talent we have, and Dana White was busy scouting new talent this week at Dana White’s Contender Series.
DUKE: Yeah, DWCS 2026 Week 1 just wrapped up, and four fighters earned UFC contracts. It sounds like Dana was pretty impressed with most of the winners.
NORA: He was. There were five bouts, three finishes, and four contracts handed out. He had some specific praise for the fighters he signed.
DUKE: He said, quote, “When he got that armbar, I said, ‘I’m gonna give him a shot.’ 31 years old, he went for the finish. I’m always looking for guys to finish.” End quote. That’s classic Dana, always looking for that killer instinct.
NORA: He also praised another fighter, saying, quote, “Thomas, you were in a dog fight; turned it on in the third round, and finished a really tough kid.” End quote. And for another, quote, “Anthony, you’re a fcking tank, my friend… Holy sh*t!” End quote.
DUKE: A tank, huh? But one fighter who won didn’t get a contract. What happened there?
NORA: That’s right. Despite winning his fight, one victor didn’t impress White enough to earn a contract. White said, quote, “I don’t agree with the judges.” End quote. So even with a win, if it’s not a dominant performance or a finish, it’s a tough sell.
DUKE: He did say about one of the fighters he signed, quote, “That fight should have been finished… Joseph, you went for it and you swayed me and changed my mind. Congratulations.” End quote. So it sounds like he’s willing to be swayed if someone shows that extra drive.
NORA: Exactly. It’s not just about winning; it’s about how you win on the Contender Series. You have to make a statement, show that you belong in the UFC.
DUKE: And the community on Reddit is already buzzing about the Contender Series results. They’re always quick to pick up on who’s in and who’s out, and the discussions are pretty lively.
NORA: They are.
DUKE: Switching gears a bit, we’ve got some news on Alexandre Pantoja. One of his coaches is touting a “Pantoja 2.0” ahead of UFC 331. That’s an interesting claim.
NORA: It is. It suggests they’ve made significant improvements or adjustments in his training, or perhaps he’s just in the best shape of his career. Pantoja is a former champ, so a “2.0” version could be very dangerous.
DUKE: A former champ looking to return even stronger? That’s a scary thought for the rest of the division. It’ll be interesting to see what those improvements look like in the octagon.
NORA: It certainly will. And speaking of future events, Dana White has also teased the promotion’s next big unique event. He and Craig Borsari are reportedly working on a new venue.
DUKE: Another unique venue? After the Fight Island and Apex experiences, I’m always curious to see what they come up with next. The UFC is always pushing the boundaries on that front.
NORA: They are. It keeps things fresh and exciting, not just for the fighters but for the fans watching at home. It’s part of what makes the UFC such a compelling product.
DUKE: And that brings us to the end of another episode of Open Scoring MMA. Nora, always a pleasure breaking down the fight game with you.
NORA: You too, Duke. Thanks for tuning in, everyone.

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.