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Two lightweights remained undefeated as professional MMA fighters on Saturday: Magomed Zaynukov and Nurullo Aliev.

Magomed Zaynukov:

Zaynukov carried plenty of hype into the UFC following his contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. He quickly became arguably the most talked-about fighter from Season 9. His UFC debut went even better as he dominated Damian Rzepecki across three rounds.

Before transitioning to MMA, Zaynukov built an extensive muay thai career, compiling an 18-3 record while becoming a four-time Russian and European champion. In 2021, he made the move to MMA full time.

Zaynukov also comes from the renowned camp founded by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The father of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap was widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the sport before his tragic passing due to COVID-19 in 2020. His gym has continued to thrive under Khabib’s leadership.

Of course, Abdulmanap’s camp—and Dagestani fighters as a whole—are primarily known for their elite sambo-based wrestling. That’s what makes Zaynukov particularly intriguing. He has already proven himself to be a dangerous striker, yet he has also spent years training alongside some of the greatest wrestlers in MMA history, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Zaynukov showcased flashes of his grappling pedigree on both Dana White’s Contender Series and in his UFC debut, but he has largely continued to rely on his striking.

Nurullo Aliev:

Unlike Zaynukov, Nurullo Aliev has largely flown under the radar during his UFC career. A native of Tajikistan, Aliev earned a UFC contract in 2022 and has since gone 4-0 inside the Octagon, improving his professional record to 12-0 with a victory over Mike Davis on Saturday.

There are several reasons why Aliev hasn’t generated the same level of buzz as Zaynukov. For one, he simply hasn’t had the most memorable or exciting fights. The 25-year-old owns a modest 17% finish rate across his 12 professional victories and was heavily criticized for his performance on Saturday. Although he accumulated 12:25 of control time, Aliev rarely took risks and showed little urgency to pursue a finish. He is an outstanding wrestler, but the rest of his game remains less developed.

Another factor is his marketability. Aliev does not speak English, which naturally makes it more difficult to connect with the UFC’s primarily American audience. While Zaynukov also isn’t fluent in English, his personality has been amplified through his association with high-profile figures like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Aliev is beloved in his native Tajikistan but has yet to receive much attention elsewhere.

Perhaps more than anything, Aliev’s biggest obstacle has been inactivity. Since joining the UFC in 2022, “The Tajik Eagle” has fought just four times as injuries have repeatedly stalled his momentum. In fact, 2025 was the first year he competed more than once in a calendar year since signing with the promotion.

Despite the criticism, Aliev is undeniably talented, and at just 25 years old, he has an incredibly bright future.

A potential Matchup between Zaynukov and Aliev:

That brings us to Magomed Zaynukov’s callout. “Wild Chanko” is clearly not interested in easing into UFC competition. He has already shown a willingness to take on difficult opponents as he looks to stay active and work his way toward the rankings. Aliev may have his critics, but defeating an undefeated prospect like him would instantly boost Zaynukov’s résumé and likely earn him even more fans, while potentially putting him in line for a ranked opponent.

Will this fight ever come together? Who knows. It’s entirely possible the UFC will keep two of its undefeated lightweight prospects apart for the time being. It’s also important to note that Aliev does hold a win over Magomed’s brother, Makkasharip, from 2018. Zaynukov has made it clear he’s willing to accept the challenge, and look for some family revenge. If this matchup does happen, it would present one of the most fascinating stylistic clashes amongst undefeated fighters in the division.

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MMA fighter Bartłomiej “Bucketboy” Skowyra turned a second-round stoppage into a viral moment Saturday, pulling out a joint from his shorts and lighting it while perched on the cage at DWM Fight Night 10 in Gliwice, Poland. The celebration followed Skowyra’s win over Pablo Moura, and the video has since made the rounds well beyond the regional MMA scene.

Skowyra, a 23-year-old Polish fighter, faced Portugal’s Moura at the July 25 event inside Gliwice’s PreZero Arena. Moura, described as a grappling specialist, repeatedly looked for leg locks, but Skowyra shut down those attempts and took control on the floor.

MMA Fighter Celebrates KO By Pulling Joint From Shorts And Lighting Up

The finish came at 2:28 of Round 2. Skowyra landed a run of elbows from top position, forcing the referee to wave off the fight as Moura absorbed unanswered shots. The official result is a TKO through ground elbows, even though early clips and headlines have loosely called it a knockout.

Then came the part nobody had on their bingo card.

Skowyra sprang up, climbed the fence, reached into his shorts and pulled out a rolled item that appeared to be a joint. He also had a lighter ready, lit it in front of the crowd and cameras, and took a few puffs while sitting on top of the cage before returning to the canvas for the official decision.

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The clip captured both parts of the sequence: the elbows that ended Moura’s night, followed by Skowyra’s unusual smoke break. In a sport full of post-fight backflips, roar-at-the-camera celebrations and callouts, “Bucketboy” went with something closer to a post-training wind-down, except it happened above the cage after a professional fight.

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The victory reportedly moved Skowyra’s professional record to 6-5. DWM 10 featured 10 fights and aired in Poland via Kanał Sportowy, with the Skowyra-Moura bout quickly becoming one of the event’s most circulated moments online.

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Darren Till will meet Yoel Romero in a 180-pound bare-knuckle bout when BKFC 94 lands at Manchester’s AO Arena on September 26. The card will also feature champion David Mundell defending the BKFC middleweight title against Jack Cullen.

The fight puts Liverpool’s Till against Romero, the former UFC title challenger and Olympic freestyle wrestling silver medallist. It comes after an extended back-and-forth between the pair, with Till writing: “I’ve finally got over my years of trauma & nightmares of Yoel Romero. So, let’s f* do this!!”

Romero responded: “He’s been running his mouth for too long, on September 26 I’m going to close it permanently in Manchester.”

Darren Till vs. Yoel Romero

Till entered BKFC in May at BKFC 90 in Birmingham, stopping Aaron Chalmers 22 seconds into the second round. Chalmers had dropped Till earlier in the contest, but Till turned the fight with a counter left hand at the Utilita Arena.

Before BKFC, Till competed in the UFC and subsequently took part in professional boxing. His first bare-knuckle outing gave the promotion a recognisable UK name, and a return in Manchester provides a home-region stage against one of the most experienced fighters he has faced.

Romero made his BKFC debut in September 2025, defeating Theo Doukas by second-round TKO at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Romero scored three knockdowns before the referee stopped the heavyweight fight at 1:56 of round two.

The Cuban-born fighter compiled a 16-7 MMA record, with 13 wins by knockout or TKO, during spells in the UFC and Bellator. He challenged for UFC middleweight titles, then defeated Thiago Santos by unanimous decision at the PFL vs. Bellator event in February 2024 in his most recent MMA bout.

Mundell will defend his 175-pound BKFC championship against Cullen in the co-main event. The Florida fighter brings a 10-2 bare-knuckle record into the booking, while Cullen arrives as a former British Commonwealth boxing champion.

BKFC founder and president David Feldman described Till vs. Romero as the promotion’s largest UK event involving two international combat-sports names. The promotion is expected to announce the remaining undercard at a later date.

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Ian Machado Garry most recently opined that throughout his career he’s faced a lot of pressure to match the level of stardom achieved by his fellow Irishman and former UFC double champion Conor McGregor, who has been the face of MMA and the UFC’s biggest draw.

Garry is set to challenge two-division champion, the current welterweight titleholder and pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev, next month in the main event of UFC 330.

Most recently, during a sit-down with High Performance, “The Future” compared McGregor’s 2015 featherweight title bout with Jose Aldo to his upcoming 170-pound title fight with Islam Makhachev. He also added how throughout his career, everyone has expected him to become the next superstar from Dublin, Ireland, and “live up to the hype” that McGregor set. He said:

“I’ve had a lot of pressure from the outside world, from the fans and the sport itself, to be this star, to live up to the hype that Conor McGregor set being from Dublin, Ireland.”

McGregor dethroned Aldo in just 13 seconds, and now Garry, who’s going to face the P4P king on August 15, also has similar plans. The 28-year-old added:

“When Conor fought for his first UFC title, he fought the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, who hadn’t been beaten in a decade, and Conor knocked him out in 13 seconds. I cannot wait to step into the octagon against Islam Makhachev and beat him because there will be no doubt that I have done it again against the best.

Ian Machado Garry is confident that once he dethrones Makhachev, he will officially become the number one fighter in the world. McGregor scored a quick knockout in 2015 against Aldo, but “The Future” plans to dominate Makhachev over three rounds at UFC 330 before securing a fourth-round finish, leaving no room for debate that he is the better fighter.

Conor McGregor has a message for Ian Machado Garry before UFC 330 Islam Makhachev title bout

Earlier this month, during the UFC 329 post-fight presser, Conor McGregor sent a message to “The Future” before Garry’s title fight against Islam Makhachev. McGregor said:

“The Machado fella, I wish him well. I hope we do it. Go for Ireland.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments about Ian Machado Garry below:

McGregor was even game to fight his fellow Irishman for the ‘triple crown,’ if the latter dethrones Makhachev next month. However, the 38-year-old’s comeback bout against Max Holloway did not go as expected, as he was injured in the opening minute and lost by TKO (due to injury). He is expected to stay on the sidelines for 9-12 months, and if he returns to the octagon once more, as he has promised his fans, “The Notorious” would likely run it back with Holloway or face Michael Chandler.

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This past weekend at UFC Oklahoma City, Dricus du Plessis returned to winning ways in pure dominant fashion by beating Kamaru Usman by unanimous decision.

During the post-fight presser, Du Plessis took a lighthearted jab at the No. 3-ranked middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov.

The South African fighter believes that the current and two-time 185-pound titleholder, Sean Strickland, is not on his level since he has already beaten “Tarzan” twice. He then added during the post-fight presser:

“[These guys are not on my level since] I beat him [Sean Strickland] twice, and I don’t even know if [Nassourdine ]Imavov is still fighting. Is he? He’s still fighting? Imavov.”

Check out Dricus du Plessis‘ comments below:

Imavov could be the next UFC middleweight title challenger. “The Sniper” is riding a five-fight win streak and is eager to run it back with “Tarzan,” who beat him in 2023.

Meanwhile, seemingly responding to Dricus du Plessis’ above comments, Imavov posted on X:

“Relax ”

Check out Nassourdine Imavov’s comments below:

Dana White comments on if Dricus du Plessis has done enough to earn the next title shot

At the UFC Oklahoma City post-fight presser, Dana White was asked if Dricus du Plessis’ dominant win over Kamaru Usman was enough to make him the next title challenger. White lauded “Stillknocks” but made it clear that the matchmakers have not yet decided who Sean Strickland will face next.

Check out Dana White’s comments below:

Strickland could run it back with former champion Khamzat Chimaev, who’s hell-bent on securing the title match at all costs. Nassourdine Imavov could also be the next title challenger. He has openly expressed his frustration over not getting a title shot.

Du Plessis also likes the idea of a potential Strickland vs. Imavov bout, after which he wants to lock horns with Strickland and beat the latter a third time to get his strap back. He told Full Send MMA:

“He knows I have all the respect in the world for him [Sean Strickland]. In a different life, I might even call us friends. Fight Imavov and get a title defense; he earned that, and after that I’ll come and take my belt back”

Check out Dricus Du Plessis’ comments below:

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Conor McGregor has now confirmed that he tore his ACL and meniscus at UFC 329.

Earlier this month, “The Notorious” made his long-awaited return after a five-year hiatus in the main event of UFC 329 to run it back with Max Holloway. However, just moments after the opening bell, the Irishman injured his right knee while throwing a flying roundhouse kick.

Once his lead leg was injured, every movement of the Dubliner was affected, and he kept falling to the ground, so referee Mike Beltran stopped the contest in just 69 seconds, and Holloway won by TKO (injury).

Conor McGregor suffered a similar injury during his first fight against “Blessed” in 2013, although it was his left leg that was injured on that occasion. Despite that, McGregor went on to earn a dominant unanimous decision victory by controlling Holloway with his grappling for the remainder of the fight once the leg was injured.

After the 2013 Holloway bout, “The Notorious” was out of action for nearly 9 months. On his return, he locked horns with Diego Brandao and knocked Brandao out in the first frame itself.

Conor McGregor is confident he can return to the octagon “by next summer”

This time, Conor McGregor believes with the help of “today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods” he can return to the octagon by next summer. He posted on X earlier today:

“Update: It was ACL and meniscus. It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking. I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then. With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods, it is well within my realm to return by next summer.”

The former UFC double champ also added on X that despite the injury, he can walk without a crutch, which is a good sign.

“I am walking without a crutch. I did leg extension machine work the other day with no issue. So I can walk without aid, and activate my quad under resistance. All very positive. I am disciplined and have maintained it fully since the bout. I wonder whether I was saved from something worse here. I believe so. I would have attended the after-party as “the man,” and who knows then. I believe I was saved. Thank you, God! On we go, no sad stories. Thank you for the support and well wishes, everyone; your health is your wealth ”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

When McGregor returns, he wants Max Holloway again and has said that his return opponent “has to be Holloway,” especially after how UFC 329 ended. The Hawaiian is also ready to wait until 2027.

However, UFC CEO Dana White has refrained from commenting on a potential Holloway vs. McGregor 3 bout and will only discuss the matchup once “The Notorious” is fully healed and ready to train full-time.

Check out Dana White’s comments about Conor McGregor below:

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Colby Covington says he will not face Belal Muhammad in Real American Freestyle after their confrontation at the RAF 11 post-fight press conference. Instead, the former UFC interim welterweight champion wants a second match with Arman Tsarukyan.

Covington and Muhammad had both competed on Saturday, July 18, at RAF 11 in Milwaukee. Covington beat Tsarukyan 5-3 to become the inaugural RAF Cruiserweight Crossover champion, handing the UFC lightweight contender his first loss in the promotion and moving Covington’s RAF record to 3-0. Muhammad beat Ben Askren 6-3 in the co-main event.

The two welterweights then had a heated exchange during the post-fight press conference, where a prospective matchup was discussed. Video from the event shows Muhammad and the US-born wrestler clashing after the announcement, with security stepping in.

But Covington said in an interview with Submission Radio that he has decided to leave the Muhammad matchup behind.

Colby Covington vs Belal Muhammad match OFF

“I’ve made an executive decision. You know I’m a shareholder in RAF. We are going to move away from the Belal matchup,” Covington said. “First off, he’s on the mic at the post-fight press conference, he’s claiming to be a man of the people and be a good example, and the next second he stands up and throws a soccer kick at me and tries to attack me like a filthy animal. Like a delinquent, like a criminal. It’s just disgusting; there’s no professionalism on his side.”

Covington added that he believes he would finish the contest quickly if it happened, saying, “The company know I’ll beat him in 60 seconds or less.” He then pivoted back to Tsarukyan: “Arman deserves the rematch.”

That call is an interesting one considering the American wrestler had just beaten Tsarukyan in a tight title match. The score was level through much of the contest before the former UFC interim champion pulled ahead and controlled the closing stretch, winning 5-3. Tsarukyan entered the main event with a 7-0 RAF record, while Covington brought a wrestling background that included Division I All-American honors at Oregon State.

A Covington-Muhammad RAF match had looked like a natural next move after their public confrontation. Their planned RAF contest had reportedly been linked to RAF 12 in Cleveland, but the RAF champ has now publicly removed himself from it.

For now, the US-born wrestler appears more interested in a sequel with Tsarukyan than settling his latest score with Muhammad. Whether RAF follows his preferred direction remains to be seen, but the RAF champion has made one thing clear: the Belal matchup is no longer part of his plans.

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It’s UFC 329 fight week, and Conor McGregor has finally checked into the T-Mobile Arena, the same venue where he suffered the horrific leg injury in 2021 that kept him out of the octagon for five years.
However, now, the former UFC double champ is in great shape and will look to deliver a ‘spectacular performance’ this weekend when he runs it back with Max Holloway, whom “The Notorious” previously beat by unanimous decision in 2013.

Conor McGregor plans to remain busy after UFC 329 and is “optimistic that will be the case”

At the T-Mobile Arena, ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto interviewed Conor McGregor. During the chat, the Irishman, who has 2 more bouts left in his UFC contract, said that he would love to fight multiple times a year and “hopes to keep going.” He said:

“I love this arena. I love fight night, fight week. And God willing, I’m back here next week and the week after. How many weeks are in a year? 54? There you go. You know, I could fight every week if it’s a go. Before the injury, I had maybe three within the year. People don’t recall that. And yeah, now there you go. We plan on getting busy here. I believe I wish for it. I wish for it.”

“So, if I’m the man in the arena, right? I’m the one that’s making the walk. So, if I’m the one who’s pushing for it and campaigning for it, I’m sure that is the case. Now, I’ve said my peace with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and their staging of my bouts, and they’ve said their peace, and it’s kind of fallen on. Let’s let it happen on Saturday night and let’s talk. And I’m fine with that. I’m absolutely fine with that. Two fights left on the contract. It’s still as is. This one will be, then one. So, you know, I hope to keep going, and I’m optimistic that will be the case.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

McGregor loves to stay active and fight at least two times a year, if not more. He has maintained that kind of schedule before, competing three or at least two times every year from 2013 to 2016, before injuries or other distractions kicked in.

Conor McGregor also said during the same interview that the catastrophic leg injury he suffered has fueled his determination to stage the biggest comeback in MMA history. This weekend at UFC 329, he plans to remind the world why he is on another level. He added:

“[I feel] absolute confidence and excitement to do my job. You know, you got to dig deep, and you got to prove to yourself you are what you say you are. And so that was what it was for me. I was using it as motivation. It takes a lot of deep internal work to return from an injury like that, and I just used that as motivation. Lovely! I wish for it to be that way cuz now I can show, and on Saturday night I’m going to show.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

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Conor McGregor has once again unloaded on his arch-rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov. McGregor believes the undefeated former lightweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer has done nothing in the sport and should not be ranked amongst the greats.

During an interview with Complex, McGregor quipped:

“Can’t even kick above their fu**ing knee. Can’t even kick. Can’t even touch their feet. That is not martial arts. That is nothing to me. Come on. The guy has done nothing in the sport. He’s got nothing in the sport. 13 fights he’s had in the company. That’s it. And three against named opponents.”

Check out the full interview below:

Conor McGregor Admits He Was ‘Doing Bad Things’ Before Khabib Nurmagomedov Fight

The Irishman claimed he had been partying before his title fight with “The Eagle.” McGregor had spent two years away from the octagon for his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. before returning to face “The Eagle” at UFC 229, yet still lasted four rounds against the undefeated Dagestani wrestling maestro before being submitted by a neck crank. During the same sitdown with Complex, he added:

“He [Khabib] had a fight against me coming off of I was off the yacht. I was doing bad things on a yacht. Yeah. I was partying heavily, and I was up to my eyeballs in court cases and all of this. I hadn’t fought in two years. I was worth 200 million. I come back and fight this fu**ing guy. I’ve done four rounds with him. I had a broken toe. I’m sure you’ve seen the Netflix show where I broke my fu*king foot three weeks before the bout. This guy’s nothing, then. Where is he now? Also, he’s gone.”

“So, I don’t rate him at all. I don’t rate him at all. No courage. The man has no courage. The man has succumbed to his pain, and it is a damn shame. I have nothing to say to him. Nothing to say about him. I don’t rate him. Never fought, missed weight, never fought above weight divisions. Three fights, no stoppages, no knockouts. Come on, man. How many more knockouts has he got? Fu**king three or four. You must be mad. You must be mad if I’m going to waste my fu**ing time watching this shi*.”

Lastly, Conor McGregor claimed that although Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated at 29-0, many of his early-career victories came against 0-0 opponents, and that the first half of Khabib’s career “was on his father’s shows in the middle of nowhere.”

“His first half of his work was fighting in his father’s shows in the middle of nowhere in wherever they’re from, right? He’s like 12 and 0. The opponent he’s fighting is 0 and 0… I don’t rate him at all. He has done nothing at all.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

Conor McGregor returns to the octagon this weekend at UFC 329 to run it back with Max Holloway. If “The Notorious” defeats “Blessed,” a showdown with current 170-pound titleholder and P4P king Islam Makhachev could be on the cards next.

With “The Eagle” having no intention of coming out of retirement to face the Irishman again, a clash with Nurmagomedov’s close friend and training partner Makhachev would be the closest fans could get to revisiting one of the UFC’s biggest rivalries.

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Conor McGregor has once more lauded his arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protege Islam Makhachev. The Irishman believes Makhachev should be ranked ahead of both Daniel Cormier and “The Eagle” in the all-time greatest conversation.

Two-division champion and pound-for-pound king Makhachev is set to defend his 170-pound strap next month at UFC 330 against Ian Machado Garry.

Meanwhile, this weekend, Conor McGregor will return to the octagon after a five-year layoff to headline UFC 329 in a rematch against Max Holloway.

Conor McGregor praises Islam Makhachev, urges him not to retire anytime soon

During a sit-down with Complex, after blasting Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor praised his archrival’s longtime friend and teammate, Islam Makhachev, who has registered the most title defenses in UFC lightweight history before moving up to 170 pounds and winning a second belt. Notably, Makhachev is on a 16-fight UFC win streak and has four finishes in six title bouts. While praising Makhachev, “The Notorious” said:

“He’s [Islam Makhachev] above Khabib. Finishes, body of work, both divisions. For sure he is. Still at it… There’s a lot left in that boy, and he should recognize that and keep going. I have him above [Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov].

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments about Islam Makhachev below:

In the past, McGregor had also shown interest in fighting Makhachev down the line as he aims to capture the “triple crown.” The Dubliner had told Bloody Elbow:

“I’m self-motivated and I for sure want a crack at that belt. I for sure want a crack at that 170-pound belt to go for the triple crown… It would be a good fight [Me vs. Makhachev], a good scrap. Southpaw vs southpaw.”

Check out Conor McGregor’s comments below:

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Even Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez likes the idea of a potential Makhachev vs. McGregor superfight. If both fighters are successful in their upcoming outings, this pipe dream can soon turn into reality.

During the same interview, “The Notorious” also made his own GOAT list.

Check it out below:

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