Ruffy Not Worried, Cejudo Boxes, and UFC BJJ 10 Tonight

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:

• Mauricio Ruffy not worried about what Arman Tsarukyan brings to the table (MMA Weekly)
• Injured Rodriguez out of Silva bout; Delgado in (ESPN MMA)
• UFC's Michael Page is taking his unorthodox style to a new combat sport (Sherdog)
• Anthony Hernandez: ‘I want to hurt somebody’ at UFC Sacramento (Sherdog)
• Carlos Prates spices up rivalry with Michael Morales: “I’m going to knock you out real quick” (Ag. Fight (BR))
• Jon Jones accuses Daniel Cormier of ‘jealousy’ over UFC GOAT take (Sherdog)
• New bowl! UFC BJJ 10 free live stream, results, video highlights | Tackett vs. Gracie (MMA Mania)
• UFC fighter accuses failed DWCS hopeful of attacking him in Thailand (Sherdog)
• Former 2-division UFC champ Henry Cejudo set for pro boxing debut (Sherdog)
• Liz Carmouche Gets Jena Bishop Rematch As PFL Chicago Crowns First Women’s Flyweight Champion (MiddleEasy)
• Kevin Vallejos sees UFC title shot opening up with Noche UFC shakeup (Sherdog)
• Mauricio Ruffy not worried about what Arman Tsarukyan brings to the table (Yahoo Sports MMA)
• Former UFC star Jimi Manuwa gets new opponent for his first fight in 7 years on Perry vs Danis card (Bloody Elbow)
• UFC 330 Slow Motion Highlights (MMA Weekly)

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 63 for August 20th, 2026, your daily look at what's happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We're kicking things off with some big news out of the lightweight division. Mauricio Ruffy, the number seven ranked contender, is set to face number two ranked Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event at UFC 331. And Ruffy is already making waves, saying he's not worried about anything Tsarukyan brings to the table. NORA: That's a bold statement, especially against someone like Tsarukyan who's been on a tear. Ruffy's confidence is high, but Tsarukyan's wrestling and relentless pace are a different beast. DUKE: It really is. And the MMA community on X is already buzzing about Ruffy's comments, wondering if it's genuine confidence or just pre-fight mind games. It's a huge step up in competition for Ruffy, and Tsarukyan is a legitimate title contender. NORA: Absolutely. This fight has massive implications for the lightweight title picture. If Ruffy can pull off the upset, he rockets into contention. If Tsarukyan dominates, he solidifies his spot as the next in line. DUKE: Moving on to some unfortunate news for UFC Noche. Former interim champion Yair Rodriguez has pulled out of his September twelfth bout against Jean Silva. Jose Delgado will be stepping in to replace him. NORA: That's a tough break for Rodriguez and for the card. Rodriguez brings a certain star power, and his dynamic striking is always a draw. Delgado is a solid replacement, but it changes the dynamic of that fight significantly. DUKE: It definitely does. And Kevin Vallejos is already seeing an opening with this shakeup. He's claiming he's just one win away from entering the featherweight title mix after the recent change to Noche UFC four's main event. NORA: That's the kind of opportunistic thinking you need in this sport. Every time a door closes for one fighter, it opens for another. Vallejos clearly believes he can capitalize on the shifting landscape. DUKE: He's got that fighter mentality, for sure. Now, this is interesting: Michael Page is taking his unorthodox style to a new combat sport. He's set to share the mat with Alexander Shlemenko in their Real American Freestyle debuts. NORA: That's a fascinating move for MVP. His striking is so unique, it'll be intriguing to see how that translates to a different rule set, especially against someone as experienced as Shlemenko. It's a testament to his desire to compete across disciplines. DUKE: It really is. And speaking of fighters trying new things, former two division UFC champ Henry Cejudo is set for his professional boxing debut. He's already got accolades in wrestling and MMA, so this is his third combat sport. NORA: Cejudo is a true combat sports athlete. He's always looking for new challenges. His Olympic wrestling background and MMA striking will now be tested in the sweet science. He's got the pedigree, but boxing is a different animal. DUKE: It's a completely different animal. And you know who's always ready for a fight? Anthony Hernandez. He's firing on all cylinders ahead of his return to action at UFC Sacramento, saying, quote, 'I want to hurt somebody,' end quote. NORA: Hernandez always brings that intensity. He's a high-volume fighter with a relentless pace, and that kind of mindset usually translates into exciting performances. He's looking to make a statement. DUKE: He absolutely is. And the welterweight division is heating up with some trash talk. Carlos Prates openly provoked Michael Morales in a video, saying, quote, 'I'm going to knock you out real quick,' end quote. This comes after rumors that Prates was avoiding Morales. NORA: That's how you spice up a rivalry. Prates is clearly trying to shut down those rumors and put the pressure on Morales. The welterweight division is stacked, and these kinds of callouts make things even more exciting. DUKE: It's pure fire. And we've got some drama outside the cage too. Jon Jones has fired back at Daniel Cormier, accusing him of jealousy after Cormier once again excluded Jones from the GOAT debate. NORA: That rivalry just never dies, does it? It's a classic case of two legends who just can't let go. Cormier has his stance, and Jones is always going to defend his legacy. It's part of the fabric of their history. DUKE: It really is. It's the gift that keeps on giving. And then we have this bizarre story: a UFC fighter is accusing a failed Dana White's Contender Series hopeful, Namo Fazil, of attacking him in Thailand. Fazil is apparently at the center of several controversies. NORA: That's a serious accusation and a concerning situation. It's never good to hear about incidents like that outside the cage. It'll be important to see how that plays out. DUKE: Definitely. Now, let's talk about some upcoming action. UFC BJJ ten is happening tonight, Thursday, August twentieth. It's got two title bouts, a return of one of their biggest stars, and a flyweight title tournament, all on a completely new fighting surface. NORA: That's a packed card for BJJ fans. A new fighting surface adds an interesting wrinkle, and with two title bouts and a tournament, there's a lot on the line. It's great to see UFC BJJ continuing to grow. DUKE: It's a big night for jiu-jitsu. And in other news, Liz Carmouche is getting a rematch against Jena Bishop at PFL Chicago on October sixteenth. This one is for the inaugural women's flyweight title. NORA: That's a huge fight for the PFL. Carmouche is a veteran, and Bishop has been on a roll. An inaugural title fight always brings extra stakes, and a rematch adds that personal element. It's going to be a big night for the division. DUKE: It absolutely will be. And Martin from PFL told MiddleEasy, quote, 'Chicago has become an important market for PFL, and we're excited to return with another championship event for our fans,' end quote. So they're clearly invested in that market. NORA: That makes sense. Building strong regional markets is key for any promotion, and a championship fight is a great way to engage the local fanbase. DUKE: For sure. And Jimi Manuwa's comeback fight has hit a snag with a late opponent change. He hasn't fought in seven years, and this is on the Perry versus Danis card. NORA: That's a tough break for Manuwa, especially after such a long layoff. A late opponent change can really throw off a fighter's preparation, but he's a veteran, so hopefully, he can adjust. DUKE: He's got to be able to adjust. Alright, let's look ahead to some of the cards coming up. This Friday, August twenty second, we've got UFC Fight Night: Hernandez versus Rodrigues. NORA: That's a solid Fight Night card. It's almost guaranteed to be a barnburner, given both their styles. DUKE: Absolutely. Then on August twenty fifth, we have Dana White's Contender Series, Season ten, Week three. NORA: Contender Series is always exciting for finding new talent. DUKE: It will be. And then on August twenty ninth, we've got UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov versus Song. NORA: That's a huge main event for the bantamweight division. Nurmagomedov is looking to make a statement, and Song Yadong is always a tough out. DUKE: It's a fantastic card. And then on September first, it's Dana White's Contender Series, Season ten, Week four. NORA: Another chance for prospects to shine. The Contender Series is crucial for feeding new talent into the UFC, and these matchups look like they could deliver some exciting finishes. DUKE: They always do. And then on September fifth, we have UFC Fight Night: Hooker versus Parnasse. NORA: That's a massive fight for the lightweight division. Hooker is a veteran, and Parnasse is a rising star. It's a true test for both of them. DUKE: It's a banger. Alright, Nora, let's get into our OSM Pick of the week. We're looking at Song Yadong versus Umar Nurmagomedov. NORA: We are. Our model has Umar Nurmagomedov winning this one at about eighty one percent. DUKE: Eighty one percent. That's a strong lean. NORA: It is. The betting line implies around seventy nine percent, so we're a little higher than the market on Nurmagomedov. DUKE: Okay, so we're more confident than the books. What's driving that? NORA: The style matchup heavily favors Nurmagomedov. His grappling and control are going to be a huge factor against Song Yadong. DUKE: So you're saying Song Yadong's striking won't be enough to keep him off? NORA: Not consistently enough over five rounds. And Nurmagomedov's form has been impeccable. He's just been so dominant in his recent outings. DUKE: He really has looked like a different animal. So the model sees him just grinding out that win. NORA: Exactly. The path to victory for Nurmagomedov is clear, and the model sees him executing it. DUKE: Alright, I like it. Umar Nurmagomedov, our pick for the main event. NORA: That's the call. DUKE: Nora, we've got to talk about this Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier beef. It just never ends, does it? NORA: It really doesn't. It's like they're contractually obligated to take shots at each other every few months. DUKE: I mean, at this point, is it even real? Or is it just part of the show? NORA: It's probably a bit of both. There's genuine history and animosity there, but they also know it generates headlines. DUKE: Right. It keeps them both relevant in the conversation, even when they're not actively fighting each other. NORA: Exactly. It's a smart play, in a way, even if it gets a little repetitive for fans. DUKE: It does get repetitive. But then you see Jones's response, and you're like, 'Oh, okay, he's still got that fire.' NORA: He absolutely does. And Cormier knows exactly how to poke the bear. DUKE: He's a master at it. It's almost like a professional wrestling feud at this point. NORA: It has those elements, for sure. But with real stakes and real history behind it. DUKE: Yeah, that's the difference. It's not just manufactured. There's genuine bad blood. NORA: Absolutely. And it probably won't ever truly end. DUKE: I don't think it will. Alright, that's going to do it for us today on Open Scoring MMA. We'll catch you next time.

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