McGregor's comeback anchors a busy UFC 329 build

Fight week for UFC 329 dominated the news cycle, with Conor McGregor's first walk to the Octagon since 2021 and a title-picture jostle beneath it. Away from Las Vegas, the referee fallout from Pereira-Gane at the White House refused to die, the UFC stacked up August cards, and PFL, BKFC and Real American Freestyle all made noise of their own.

McGregor returns after nearly five years to headline UFC 329 vs. Holloway

Conor McGregor fights for the first time since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021 when he meets Max Holloway in the welterweight main event of UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It is a rematch of a 2013 featherweight bout McGregor won by decision, with Holloway moving up to 170 pounds. Jose Aldo, who lost his title to both men, makes Holloway the favorite on activity alone, noting McGregor is 'an unknown quantity' after so long out, while Jon Jones praised the Irishman for returning when he didn't need to.

Why it matters: A McGregor win reopens the promotion's biggest draw; a Holloway win puts him a step from title shots at lightweight or welterweight. Either way it's the marquee fight of International Fight Week.

Cejudo and Cruz pile on Herb Dean over Pereira-Gane finish

The disputed finish of Alex Pereira's interim heavyweight title loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 has grown into a wider argument about referee accountability. Pereira says he absorbed illegal blows to the back of the head during the second-round stoppage; Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz publicly criticized Herb Dean and the lack of consequences for officials, while Dean has defended his read of the rule with a doctor. Andre Fili raised a near-identical complaint days later after his TKO loss to Vinicius Oliveira at UFC Vegas 119.

Why it matters: It's less about one call than whether MMA has any mechanism to hold referees accountable when a mistake costs a fighter a purse, ranking or title.

Jordan Burroughs to face UFC's Sean Brady in RAF 12 main event

Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion Jordan Burroughs will make his Real American Freestyle debut against UFC welterweight Sean Brady in a catchweight main event at RAF 12 on Aug. 22 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, streaming on Fox Nation. Brady, the No. 5-ranked UFC welterweight and a BJJ black belt, is coming off a lopsided decision win over Joaquin Buckley but never wrestled in high school or college. The card lands a month after RAF Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo bout on July 11.

Why it matters: It's another example of RAF poaching name UFC fighters for freestyle wrestling crossovers — a heavy underdog spot for Brady against arguably the greatest freestyler ever.

Reinier de Ridder moves to light heavyweight to face Dolidze at UFC Sacramento

Reinier de Ridder will fight fellow former middleweight Roman Dolidze in a 205-pound bout at UFC Sacramento on Aug. 22 at Golden 1 Center. The former ONE two-division champion started 4-0 in the UFC before dropping back-to-back fights, most recently a decision loss to Caio Borralho, while Dolidze is also on a two-fight skid. The card is headlined by a middleweight bout between Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues.

Why it matters: A loss stalls both once-rising contenders; for de Ridder, the jump to light heavyweight signals he may be done chasing a middleweight title shot behind champion Sean Strickland.

Austin Trout knocked out in BKFC title fight after Apollo Creed walkout

Former WBA boxing champion Austin Trout was stopped by Ben Bonner in the second round of the BKFC Liberty Brawl main event in Philadelphia, ending his 5-0 bare-knuckle run. Trout, 40, had held the BKFC welterweight title but dropped to lightweight for the vacant belt, which Bonner claimed with a knockdown in the first and a finishing right hand in the second. Trout made his entrance recreating Apollo Creed's 'Living in America' walkout from Rocky IV.

Why it matters: A clean finish of a decorated crossover name hands Bonner a title and snaps the aura Trout had built since leaving boxing in 2023.

Pimblett meets Saint Denis in UFC 329 co-main, waves off Topuria talk

Paddy Pimblett faces No. 5-ranked Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event on July 11 as he looks to rebound from his January decision loss to Justin Gaethje. Pimblett brushed off a next fight with Ilia Topuria, saying the Spaniard's broken orbital from his Freedom 250 loss to Gaethje means he won't return in 2026, and repeatedly called Topuria a 'fat featherweight' who would be too small at 155. He acknowledged a Gaethje rematch is further off, likely requiring wins over Saint Denis and one more contender.

Why it matters: Saint Denis is a live, dangerous obstacle; the winner slots into a lightweight title picture reshaped by Gaethje's reign and Topuria's uncertain timeline.

PFL sets Washington D.C. card with Jean-Musaev welterweight title fight

PFL finalized an 11-fight card at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. on July 25, headlined by unbeaten Thad Jean (11-0) challenging Shamil Musaev (20-1-1) for the welterweight world title. The co-main pits contender Magomed Umalatov against Ernesto Rodriguez, with Bryce Meredith vs. Jack Cartwright and Sullivan Cauley vs. Rasul Magomedov also on the ESPN main card. The prelims feature veterans Denis Goltsov, Tyson Pedro and Bruno Cappelozza.

Why it matters: It's a title fight between two of PFL's most dangerous finishers and a chance for prospect Jean to validate his rise against an established knockout artist.

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