Skip to main content
The Feed

The Roundup: biggest MMA & UFC stories, Aug 21

This week in MMA, we've got PFL drama, a UFC title fight report, Chimaev clearing the air, and some roster changes.

Usman Nurmagomedov's PFL Status Up in the Air

PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov's future with the promotion is a hot topic, even though PFL CEO John Martin says he hasn't left for the UFC [1]. Nurmagomedov recently fought out the last bout on his PFL contract against Archie Colgan at PFL New York, reportedly securing a finish [1]. Martin has directly addressed the speculation, calling out "so much misinformation" surrounding Nurmagomedov's status [3]. So, he's still PFL for now, but the rumor mill is churning.

Khamzat Chimaev Addresses Hotel Incident

Khamzat Chimaev has spoken out regarding an alleged fight-week hotel incident involving Namo Fazil, a fighter who lost by knockout on Dana White's Contender Series [2]. Fazil, an Iraqi fighter of Kurdish origin, claimed he was assaulted at a Las Vegas hotel by a group of approximately 15 Chechens [5]. Chimaev used his social media to comment on the situation, stating, "We are brothers" [5]. It seems Chimaev is trying to calm the waters after the controversy.

Valentina Shevchenko Title Fight Reportedly Added to UFC 322

Good news for fight fans: we're hearing that Valentina Shevchenko could be defending her flyweight title at UFC 322 [4]. This comes after earlier speculation about the main event for the Salt Lake City card [4]. Word is that seven matchups for UFC 332 were confirmed earlier this week [4].

UFC Roster Shake-Up: One Out, One In the Spotlight

The UFC has made a roster move, releasing women's flyweight Ravena Oliveira after she went 0-4 inside the Octagon [12]. This kind of turnover is just part of the game in the UFC, where performance is paramount [12]. On the flip side, Malcolm Wellmaker, a UFC standout known for his knockouts, is gaining attention for his past as a beat producer for Chief Keef [14]. Talk about a career pivot!

Din Thomas' Corner Retirement Short-Lived

Coach Din Thomas' self-imposed retirement from cornering UFC fighters looks like it's already over [16]. Just days after announcing he was done after one of his pupils, Gillian Robertson, lost a unanimous decision to Mackenzie Dern, Thomas is already considering a return to cornering, specifically with Sean Brady [17]. Guess some people just can't stay away from the action.

Noche UFC Main Event Gets a New Look

The featherweights Jean Silva and Jose Delgado are reportedly set to headline the Noche UFC event on September 12 [13]. Betting odds for the new main event have already been released [13].

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.