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Holloway's Money Belt, Cyborg's Title, and Pimblett's Heavyweight Future

Holloway's purse in jeopardy, Cyborg's title not on the line, and Pimblett eyes a heavyweight future.

Holloway's Money Belt, Cyborg's Title, and Pimblett's Heavyweight Future

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It's a busy weekend in the MMA world, with UFC Sacramento and PFL Tampa both going down. We've also got some interesting news regarding fighter purses, future weight classes, and title defenses.

Holloway's Purse in Peril After UFC 329

Max Holloway could see portions of his fight purse withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). This disciplinary action reportedly stems from his performance at UFC 329. The NSAC is scheduled to hold hearings to decide if these fighters will face fines, which could impact Holloway's earnings following his bout with Conor McGregor. Holloway is also looking for a 'McGregor money belt' from the UFC and is keeping his options open for title shots at both lightweight and welterweight. We're hearing that Paddy Pimblett and Gable Steveson are also facing potential purse withholdings by the NSAC.

Cyborg's Title Not at Stake in PFL Tampa

Cris Cyborg's PFL Women's Featherweight World Title will not be on the line in her fight against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa. Vieira failed to make weight, leading to a catchweight agreement to ensure the fight still happens. Cyborg acknowledged that Vieira has fought at different weight classes and believes there was a conversation to prevent the fight from being canceled. "I think they were going to cancel the fight and everything, but there was a conversation to make sure the fight wouldn't get cancelled, and they reached a catchweight agreement," Cyborg stated.

Pimblett Predicts Heavyweight Retirement

Paddy Pimblett, currently weighing around two hundred pounds, is already predicting a heavyweight retirement. 'The Baddy' is known for his significant weight fluctuations between fights, rehydrating considerably after his one hundred fifty-five-pound weigh-ins. He has often faced criticism for his size in the aftermath of his bouts. Pimblett's love for food seems to be a major factor in his projection of a future in the heavyweight division.

UFC Sacramento and PFL Tampa Live Coverage

Both UFC Sacramento, also known as UFC Fight Night two hundred eighty-five, and PFL Tampa are set for live coverage today. Sherdog's live coverage for UFC Sacramento, featuring Hernandez versus Rodrigues, begins at five p.m. ET. PFL Tampa, headlined by Cyborg versus Vieira, will have its live coverage starting at five thirty p.m. ET. Fans can expect a full night of action from both events.

New Talent and Heavyweight Division Drama

The UFC has reportedly signed undefeated two-weight world champion Lucia Szabova, with her debut potentially set for October, adding excitement to the bantamweight division. Meanwhile, Josh Hokit, a rising heavyweight contender with a four-zero record in the UFC, has publicly criticized the heavyweight division, accusing champion Tom Aspinall of being inactive. Additionally, fighters 'Robocop' and Vitor Petrino are getting a 'second chance' to climb to the top of the UFC, highlighting the organization's willingness to invest in talent even after initial setbacks.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Ketlen Vieira weighed in at 152.2 lbs for her fight vs Cris Cyborg at PFL Tampa. That is a weight miss of 7.2 lbs in her first fight since having been released by the UFC..

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 65 for August 22nd, 2026, your daily look at what's happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We're kicking things off today with some big news out of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It looks like Max Holloway, along with Paddy Pimblett and Gable Steveson, could see portions of their fight purses withheld. NORA: That's right. The NSAC is set to decide this Wednesday whether to fine them. It's a pretty unusual move, especially after Holloway's reported win over Conor McGregor at UFC 329. DUKE: Yeah, I mean, you win the fight, you expect to get paid, right? What's the reasoning here? Is it something to do with the fight itself? NORA: Not directly with the fight's outcome. It's more about disciplinary actions. The commission is looking into it, and it could impact a significant chunk of their earnings. DUKE: Wow. And speaking of Max Holloway, he's not just dealing with potential fines. He's also out here demanding what he's calling the "McGregor money belt" after that reported UFC 329 victory. NORA: He is. And he's not stopping there. Holloway is also keeping his options wide open, targeting title shots at both lightweight and welterweight. He's clearly looking to expand his dominance beyond featherweight. DUKE: That's a bold move, especially after a win like that. You've got to respect the ambition, but jumping up two weight classes for a title shot? That's a huge ask. NORA: It is, but he's already proven he can hang with the best. The question is whether his frame can truly compete at those higher weights against the top contenders. DUKE: And then there's our man, Paddy Pimblett. Always a topic of conversation, and this time it's about his weight. He's predicting a heavyweight retirement. NORA: His weight fluctuations are well-documented. He rehydrates significantly after weigh-ins, and he's often criticized for swelling up between fights. DUKE: I mean, we all know Paddy loves his food, but a heavyweight retirement? That's a pretty wild prediction for a lightweight. It just shows how much he struggles with the cut. NORA: It highlights the extreme nature of weight cutting in MMA. For someone like Pimblett, who naturally carries a lot of mass, maintaining that lightweight frame is a constant battle. DUKE: Moving on to some PFL news, Cris Cyborg was set to defend her PFL Women's Featherweight World Title against Ketlen Vieira in Tampa this Saturday. NORA: The fight is still happening, but Cyborg's title will not be on the line. Vieira reportedly missed weight, which means the championship is no longer at stake. DUKE: That's a massive miss. What does Cyborg have to say about this? NORA: She told Yahoo Sports MMA, and I quote, "I believe Pederneiras' team is very professional and I'm not here to judge them, but she fought at one hundred thirty five pounds, moved up to one hundred forty five pounds, and fought in May. I think they were going to cancel the fight and everything, but there was a conversation to make sure the fight wouldn't get cancelled, and they reached a catchweight agreement." End quote. DUKE: So, the fight's still on, but it's a catchweight now, and no title defense. That's a huge blow for Vieira, losing the chance at the belt right out of the gate. NORA: Absolutely. It's a significant professional setback, and it raises questions about her future in the division. The Reddit community is definitely having a field day with this one. DUKE: Yeah, I can imagine. It's never a good look to miss weight, especially for a title fight. But credit to Cyborg for still taking the fight. NORA: She's a professional. And it shows her commitment to putting on a show for the fans, even when circumstances change. DUKE: Okay, let's switch gears a bit. We've got some new talent coming into the UFC. Lucia Szabova, an undefeated two-weight world champion, has reportedly signed with the promotion, with her debut set for October. NORA: This is big for the bantamweight division. Szabova is expected to bring some much-needed excitement and a fresh challenge to the roster. Fans have been calling for the UFC to sign top talent like this for a while. DUKE: It's good to see the UFC listening and bringing in these high-level, proven fighters. NORA: It certainly adds depth and new storylines to the divisions, which is always a positive for the sport. DUKE: And speaking of new talent, Josh Hokit, the former NFL practice squad player, is making waves in the heavyweight division. Word is he's gone four and zero with three finishes since joining the UFC. NORA: He's definitely one of the hottest names right now. His transition from football to MMA has been incredibly successful, and he's quickly climbing the ranks. DUKE: And he's not shy about speaking his mind. Hokit lashed out at the heavyweight division, accusing champion Tom Aspinall of sitting on the sidelines. NORA: He's making a statement, trying to force the issue and get a shot at the top. It's a classic callout, putting pressure on the champion to defend his title. DUKE: You gotta love the confidence. When you're four and zero with finishes, you feel like you can say anything. NORA: It definitely adds some spice to the heavyweight landscape. Hokit is clearly not content to wait his turn. DUKE: We're also seeing some fighters getting a second chance at the top. Robocop and Vitor Petrino are getting another shot to prove themselves in the UFC. NORA: The UFC is known for its high turnover, and opportunities at the top are scarce. So, for these fighters to get a second look, it means the organization still sees potential in them. DUKE: It's a tough business. One misstep can send you to the back of the line. So, for them to get this kind of renewed focus, it's a testament to their talent and what they've shown. NORA: It's a chance to rewrite their narrative and show they belong among the elite. DUKE: Alright, let's look ahead to some upcoming action. This Saturday, we've got UFC Sacramento, also known as UFC Fight Night 285. NORA: That's right. The main event features Anthony Hernandez versus Gregory Rodrigues. The prelims kick off at five p.m. Eastern Time. DUKE: That's a solid card. Hernandez versus Rodrigues should be a banger. Both guys bring a lot of intensity to the cage. NORA: It's a great matchup of styles, and it should be an exciting night of fights. DUKE: And then, just a few days later, on August twenty fifth, we have Dana White's Contender Series, Season Ten, Week Three. NORA: Always exciting to see new talent trying to earn their way into the UFC. DUKE: Absolutely. The Contender Series is where stars are born. These fighters are hungry, and they're putting it all on the line for that contract. NORA: It's a high-stakes environment, and it often produces some incredible fights. DUKE: Looking further out, on August twenty ninth, we've got UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov versus Song. NORA: That card is reportedly headlined by Song Yadong against Umar Nurmagomedov. DUKE: That's a huge fight for both Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong. A win there could really propel them into title contention. NORA: It's a critical matchup in the bantamweight division, with significant implications for the rankings. DUKE: And then, on September first, another Contender Series event, Season Ten, Week Four. NORA: More opportunities for aspiring UFC fighters. DUKE: The Contender Series is just churning out talent this season. It's great for the sport to see so many new faces getting a shot. NORA: It keeps the talent pool fresh and ensures a constant influx of competitive fighters. DUKE: And then, on September fifth, we have UFC Fight Night: Hooker versus Parnasse. NORA: We're hearing that Dan Hooker versus Salahdine Parnasse is slated to headline that card. DUKE: That's a massive debut for Parnasse, going straight into a main event against a tough veteran like Hooker. The UFC clearly has high hopes for him. NORA: It's a true test right out of the gate, and it will show us exactly where he stands in the lightweight division. DUKE: Okay, let's get to our OSM Pick of the week. We're looking at the main event of UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov versus Song, with Song Yadong taking on Umar Nurmagomedov. NORA: Our system has Umar Nurmagomedov to win, with an eighty one percent probability. DUKE: Eighty one percent. That's a strong call. NORA: It is. The betting line implies around seventy nine percent, so we're actually a little higher than the market on this one. DUKE: Okay, so what's driving that confidence? Why are we so high on Nurmagomedov here? NORA: The top reasons are style and form. Our model sees Nurmagomedov's style as a very difficult matchup for Song Yadong. DUKE: So, the grappling, the control, that kind of thing? NORA: Exactly. His ability to dictate where the fight takes place and control the pace is a significant factor. DUKE: And the form? What does that tell us? NORA: Nurmagomedov has been incredibly consistent and dominant in his recent outings. His performances have been very clean, with very few moments of vulnerability. DUKE: So, it's not just about the individual skills, but how he's been putting it all together recently. NORA: Precisely. The model sees him as being in peak form and having the tools to neutralize Song Yadong's strengths. DUKE: Alright, I'm convinced. Eighty one percent is a big number, and the reasons make sense. It's going to be a tough night for Song Yadong if Nurmagomedov brings that kind of performance. NORA: That's what our system is predicting. It's a confident pick for Umar Nurmagomedov. DUKE: Alright, that's all the time we have for today. Thanks for tuning in to Open Scoring MMA. NORA: We'll catch you next time.

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