Fiziev revives his career in Baku

UFC Baku delivered a highlight-reel main event but also a fresh round of officiating outrage, while the UFC's new Meta AI rankings landed with a thud among fighters. Off the cards, the McGregor-Holloway buildup intensified and PFL's disclosed San Diego purses reignited the fighter-pay debate.

Fiziev spinning-kicks Torres into oblivion to headline UFC Baku

Rafael Fiziev knocked out Manuel Torres 15 seconds into the second round of the UFC Baku main event with a spinning wheel kick and follow-up punches, his first KO since 2022 and a badly needed win after losing four of his previous five. Fiziev revealed his vision was doubled from a late first-round jab and threw the blind spinning kick on instinct, and he credited Justin Gaethje's upset of Ilia Topuria for restoring his confidence. He's now angling for a BMF title shot against Charles Oliveira, a fight that fell through in 2024 when Fiziev withdrew injured.

Why it matters: A genuine resurrection for a once-hyped lightweight who looked finished, and it sets up a marketable veteran scrap with Oliveira in a stacked 155-pound division.

Herb Dean draws Pereira, Aspinall fire for Baku non-calls

Referee Herb Dean repeatedly warned Shara Magomedov for hair-pulling and an eye poke during his decision win over Michel Pereira but never deducted a point, the third straight event in which Dean's officiating drew controversy. Alex Pereira branded Dean a 'coward' and posted a petition calling for his removal, while Tom Aspinall wrote that 'MMA doesn't have rules anymore, it's just suggestions.' Critics noted a point deduction would have turned Pereira's 28-29 loss into a draw.

Why it matters: The growing star-driven backlash over uncalled fouls is putting real pressure on referees and athletic commissions to actually enforce deductions.

UFC's new Meta AI rankings land badly with fighters

The UFC debuted a Meta-built AI rankings system this week, and the fallout was immediate: Fiziev, who was bumped out of the top 15 entirely (he'd sat at No. 11), called the system 'elephant s---' at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference. The AI deemed 27 fighters unworthy of their previous spots; among the quirks, Torres jumped two places to No. 13 only to be knocked out by the unranked Fiziev, who will now almost certainly re-enter the list.

Why it matters: Handing rankings to an algorithm changes how title shots and matchups get justified, and the fighters most affected are already openly rejecting its legitimacy.

Makhachev-Garry UFC 330 card fills out with prospects and vets

The UFC announced four new bouts for UFC 330 on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia, including welterweights Myktybek Orolbai vs. Jeremiah Wells, prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dustin Stoltzfus, Vicente Luque vs. Tresean Gore, and Geoff Neal vs. Chidi Njokuani. The card is headlined by Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry while chasing a record-breaking 17th straight UFC win, with Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson in the co-main. Jon Jones picked Makhachev, calling him a possible all-time great alongside himself.

Why it matters: A Makhachev win would make him one of a tiny group to defend titles in two divisions, and the build is now framing him squarely in the GOAT conversation.

McGregor return locked in as UFC 329 card finalizes

The full bout order is set for UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena, where Conor McGregor fights for the first time in nearly five years against Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch of their 2013 meeting. The UFC released a new promo with McGregor vowing to 'son' Holloway again, while the prelims feature Gable Steveson's debut and Robert Whittaker's first light heavyweight outing. Cody Durden, who signed a new four-fight deal, will open the card against late replacement Alessandro Costa after Ode Osbourne withdrew.

Why it matters: McGregor remains the sport's biggest draw, but at welterweight against a surging Holloway the result carries real stakes for whether he has anything left.

Yakhyaev sleeps Walker in 8 seconds after Walker predicted the same fate

Light heavyweight prospect Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev floored Julius Walker with his first punch and finished him in eight seconds at UFC Baku, the seventh-fastest knockout in UFC history and second-quickest at 205. The cruel irony: days earlier Walker had described his 'perfect' outcome as a one-punch first-strike KO. Walker, now 1-3 in the UFC on a two-fight skid, posted a reflective statement, while the unbeaten Yakhyaev (10-0) collected a $100,000 bonus and called for a top-10 opponent.

Why it matters: Yakhyaev is fast becoming one of the division's most dangerous finishers, with three straight first-round stoppages to open his UFC run.

PFL San Diego purses reignite fighter-pay debate

Disclosed California purses for PFL San Diego showed main eventer Salamat Isbulaev earning just $10,000 in his loss to AJ McKee, who took home a flat $100,000. Co-main winner Liz Carmouche, a former Bellator champion and PFL season winner, was on a modest $50k/$50k deal despite a 13-1 run since leaving the UFC, while seven of 18 fighters made under $15,000. The figures undercut the long-held notion that PFL pays better than the UFC.

Why it matters: With fighter pay under constant scrutiny, the numbers challenge PFL's recruiting pitch and show even decorated names earning surprisingly little.

Valenzuela KOs De Los Santos to headline Zuffa Boxing 08

Jose Valenzuela knocked out Edwin De Los Santos in the second round to win their rematch atop Zuffa Boxing 08 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, the TKO-backed promotion's first Vegas card outside the Apex. On the main card, Cain Sandoval upset previously unbeaten Brandun Lee by decision and Omar Trinidad outpointed Jerwin Ancajas. The Paramount+ show was called by Joe Tessitore alongside Max Kellerman and Andre Ward.

Why it matters: Dana White's boxing venture keeps expanding its footprint, signaling TKO's broader push beyond MMA into the boxing market.

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