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Tsarukyan's Title Shot Promise and DWCS Week 2

Arman Tsarukyan is reportedly saying a title shot is on the line for him at UFC 331, plus all the action from DWCS Week two and more.

Tsarukyan's Title Shot Promise and DWCS Week 2

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It’s been a busy week in the MMA world, with big promises being made, retirements announced, and the next generation of fighters stepping into the spotlight. Let’s dive into the latest from the UFC and beyond.

Tsarukyan’s Title Shot Promise

Arman Tsarukyan is making waves, stating he’s been promised a lightweight title shot if he defeats Maurício Ruffy. We’re hearing that a fight between Tsarukyan and Ruffy is scheduled for UFC 331. Tsarukyan claims he received this assurance directly from Hunter Campbell, even shaking hands on the deal. He emphasized the difference between hearing something secondhand and getting a direct confirmation. Tsarukyan also recently praised Usman Nurmagomedov, believing he could beat almost any UFC lightweight.

DWCS Week 2 Delivers

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 continued with an action-packed Week 2. All ten fighters successfully made weight, setting the stage for an exciting night of fights. The event showcased the next crop of UFC hopefuls, with several impressive performances.

Barboza Retires, Coach Apologizes

Barboza explained that his body isn’t what it used to be, prompting him to leave his gloves in the octagon. Meanwhile, we’re hearing that a UFC coach apologized for his behavior after Gillian Robertson’s loss at UFC 330. Reportedly, Din Thomas, who was in Robertson’s corner, expressed frustration after the fight, leading to criticism from Sean Strickland.

McGregor Praises Garry, BKFC Rumors Swirl

Conor McGregor has been vocal, reportedly praising Ian Machado Garry after his defeat at UFC 330. McGregor highlighted Garry’s resilience and positive outlook despite the loss. Interestingly, Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, also had a unique take on Garry’s conduct, calling it ‘genius’ for making him comfortable, a view that contrasted with Dana White’s criticism. Separately, there’s speculation that McGregor might consider a move to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship once his current UFC contract concludes, suggesting he has several options for his future.

From the community

Over on @VeneziMMA, fans are talking about this: My breakdown of every fight on week 2 of #DWCS. Some intriguing prospects, and I think we see violence on a Tuesday night. https://t.co/KbdxN61fHY.

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 61 for August 18th, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: Alright, let’s kick things off with some big news from Arman Tsarukyan, who’s making some pretty bold claims about his next fight. He’s saying he’s been promised a title shot.
NORA: That’s right. Tsarukyan confirmed he’s been promised a lightweight title shot if he beats Maurício Ruffy at UFC 331.
DUKE: And he’s not just saying his manager told him. He’s saying Hunter Campbell himself shook on it. Quote, “It’s different when your manager is telling you something that they were told, but when you sit with somebody and shake their hand, it’s going to be like that,” end quote.
NORA: That’s a strong statement. A handshake from Hunter Campbell is usually as good as gold in this business.
DUKE: It really is. And this isn’t just some casual conversation. He’s facing Maurício Ruffy, a Brazilian striker, at UFC 331 on September nineteenth in California.
NORA: Ruffy’s opponent has even compared him to a World Cup sensation goalkeeper, which is an interesting way to kick off a rivalry.
DUKE: It definitely is. But a title shot on the line? That adds a whole new layer of pressure to this fight for Tsarukyan.
NORA: Absolutely. It means he can’t afford any missteps. The stakes are incredibly high for him.
DUKE: And speaking of Tsarukyan, he’s also been talking up Usman Nurmagomedov, saying he believes Usman beats almost every UFC lightweight.
NORA: That’s a significant endorsement, especially coming from someone who’s on the cusp of a title shot himself in the same division. It shows a lot of respect for Nurmagomedov’s skill set.
DUKE: It does. It’s interesting to see that kind of praise from a direct competitor. It makes you wonder if he sees Usman as a future opponent.
NORA: Potentially. It also highlights the depth of talent in the lightweight division right now. There are so many top-tier fighters.
DUKE: Moving on, we’ve got some news from the Contender Series. Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 2, just wrapped up.
NORA: We’ve got the results and scorecards in for the fights.
DUKE: Always exciting to see new talent emerge.
NORA: It’s a crucial stepping stone for these fighters. A win here can completely change their career trajectory.
DUKE: And fans on X were definitely buzzing about it. I saw some chatter about the potential for violence on Tuesday night.
NORA: The community on X was pretty hyped, with one user even doing a full breakdown of every fight, predicting some intriguing prospects.
DUKE: That’s the beauty of DWCS, right? You get to see these hungry fighters lay it all on the line.
NORA: Exactly. It’s pure, unadulterated fighting for a chance at the big leagues.
DUKE: Now, let’s talk about a retirement that hit a lot of us hard. Edson Barboza, after his fight at UFC 330, announced he’s stepping away from the sport.
NORA: Yes, he was defeated by Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. After the fight, he left his gloves in the center of the octagon, signaling his retirement.
DUKE: He opened up about it, saying his body just isn’t the same anymore. Quote, “Body is not the same anymore,” end quote. It’s tough to hear, but you gotta respect a fighter knowing when it’s time.
NORA: It’s a common sentiment among veterans. The wear and tear of years in the octagon eventually catch up. He’s had an incredible career.
DUKE: Absolutely. A true legend of the sport. It’s always sad to see them go, but it’s important for their long-term health.
NORA: It is. And it opens up opportunities for the next generation of fighters to step up.
DUKE: Speaking of UFC 330, there was some drama surrounding Gillian Robertson’s loss to Mackenzie Dern, specifically with her coach.
NORA: Her coach, Thomas, apologized for his behavior after her title match loss. He was on corner duties for Robertson.
DUKE: And it sounds like he was pretty distraught. He said, quote, “In my head, I’m thinking: ‘I’m just trying to get the hell out of here. I don’t want to do this no more. I’m sick of this!’ I’m heartbroken, but I’ve got to get on the desk and be objective as well.” End quote.
NORA: That’s a raw admission. It shows the emotional toll these losses can take on coaches as well as fighters.
DUKE: It really does. And Sean Strickland, never one to hold back, had some choice words for him. Quote, “I’ve had my ass kicked in multiple weight classes through my career and won two titles. You’re a dhead. It’s probably better you retire. You’re a s coach.” End quote.
NORA: Strickland’s comments are harsh, but they reflect a certain old-school mentality in the fight game. The idea that you never give up, no matter what.
DUKE: Yeah, it’s a tough sport, and emotions run high. But it’s a reminder that everyone involved is under immense pressure.
NORA: It is. And it’s a good example of how quickly things can escalate in the aftermath of a big fight.
DUKE: Let’s switch gears to some positive news for Ian Machado Garry, despite his loss at UFC 330. Conor McGregor had some high praise for him.
NORA: McGregor called his reaction to the Islam Makhachev loss a “Champion mindset!” This is a significant endorsement from one of the biggest names in the sport.
DUKE: And it wasn’t just McGregor. Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, also had some interesting things to say about Garry.
NORA: Mendez praised Garry, even backing his number one UFC ranking after the loss. He also had an opposite take to Dana White regarding Garry’s conduct.
DUKE: Dana White was critical, but Mendez thought it was, quote, “kind of genius for him to do that because it made him comfortable,” end quote. He was concerned by how friendly Garry was being.
NORA: It’s an interesting perspective. Mendez seems to be suggesting that Garry’s approach, even if it seemed unusual, might have been a strategic move to manage his own comfort in a high-pressure situation.
DUKE: So, he’s saying it was a calculated move, not just a sign of being too friendly.
NORA: That’s his read on it. He saw it as a way for Garry to maintain composure, which is a valuable trait in the octagon.
DUKE: That’s a fascinating take, especially coming from Makhachev’s coach. It shows a different kind of respect.
NORA: It does. It acknowledges Garry’s mental game, even in defeat.
DUKE: Now, let’s talk about the future of Conor McGregor. There’s some chatter about him potentially moving to BKFC once his UFC contract is up.
NORA: That’s a rumor that’s been circulating. He apparently has several options once he fulfills his current UFC contract.
DUKE: BKFC would be a wild move for him. Bare-knuckle boxing? That’s a whole different beast.
NORA: It certainly is. It would be a massive draw, but also a significant risk given the nature of the sport.
DUKE: It would definitely be a money fight, that’s for sure. But it’s a testament to his star power that he has these kinds of options.
NORA: Absolutely. His name alone generates immense interest, regardless of the promotion.
DUKE: And speaking of prospects, we’ve got Sabrinna De Sousa on the Sherdog Prospect Watch. She’s unbeaten.
NORA: She has passed every test so far. She’s a PFL prospect, and a showdown with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos could really show her ceiling.
DUKE: Santos is no joke.
NORA: It would be a true indicator of where she stands in the women’s flyweight division. A win there would be massive for her career.
DUKE: Alright, let’s look ahead to the upcoming cards. We’ve got UFC Fight Night: Hernandez versus Rodrigues coming up on August twenty-second.
NORA: We’re hearing that Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues are slated for that one.
DUKE: That’s a banger of a main event. Both guys bring it every time.
NORA: It should be a very exciting night of fights. And then we have Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 10, Week 3 on August twenty-fifth.
DUKE: We’re hearing about some exciting matchups for that card.
NORA: More fresh talent looking to make their mark. It’s always great to see the next generation coming up.
DUKE: And then we’ve got UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov versus Song on August twenty-ninth.
NORA: That’s a big one.
DUKE: Both guys are absolute killers.
NORA: It’s a pivotal fight for both of them in the bantamweight division. The winner will definitely be moving up the rankings.
DUKE: And then, just a few days later, Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 10, Week 4 on September first.
NORA: We’re hearing about some promising matchups for that card as well.
DUKE: The Contender Series just keeps rolling, giving us a constant stream of new fighters to watch.
NORA: It’s a fantastic pipeline for the UFC, ensuring a steady influx of talent.
DUKE: Okay, let’s get to our OSM Pick of the week. Nora, what’s the model saying for Song Yadong versus Umar Nurmagomedov?
NORA: Our model has Umar Nurmagomedov winning that one, at about eighty-one percent.
DUKE: Eighty-one percent. That’s a strong lean.
NORA: It is. The betting line implies about seventy-nine percent, so we’re actually a little higher than the market on this one.
DUKE: Okay, so we’re more confident than the oddsmakers. Why is that?
NORA: The top reasons are style and form. Both favor Nurmagomedov pretty heavily.
DUKE: Style and form. So, the eye test and the numbers are aligning for once.
NORA: Well, the model doesn’t have eyes, but yes, the data points to a clear advantage for Nurmagomedov.
DUKE: I mean, his grappling is just on another level. Song Yadong is tough, but can he stop those takedowns?
NORA: That’s the key question. The model sees Nurmagomedov’s grappling volume and control time as a significant factor that Song Yadong will struggle to overcome.
DUKE: And his recent performances have been just dominant.
NORA: Exactly. His form has been consistently strong, showing continuous improvement.
DUKE: So, we’re not just picking him, we’re really leaning into it.
NORA: We are. The confidence is strong on this one.
DUKE: Alright, I like it. Umar Nurmagomedov by a significant margin according to our model.
NORA: That’s the pick.
DUKE: That’s going to do it for us today on Open Scoring MMA.

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.