Dvalishvili punches Umar fan, sparks Tbilisi brawl

A loaded Saturday delivered chaos before a single UFC 329 punch was thrown: a press-conference brawl in Tbilisi, a one-round title defense in Bangkok, and a historic female-headlined card in Riyadh. Merab Dvalishvili made the most noise, throwing hands with a Umar Nurmagomedov supporter and reigniting an already bitter rivalry, while McGregor and Holloway made weight for the year's biggest box-office main event.

Dvalishvili punches Umar fan, brawl erupts at RAF Georgia

At the RAF Georgia press conference in Tbilisi, former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili punched a Umar Nurmagomedov supporter who approached him about his comments, touching off a mass scuffle involving members of Abdulrashid Sadulaev's camp. Asked about a possible RAF wrestling match with Umar, Dvalishvili said 'No, never, f--- that guy,' while insisting he'll wrestle anyone else the promotion picks. Nurmagomedov responded on social media invoking Caucasus honor. Dvalishvili continues to reject a UFC rematch, citing a promised title rematch with champion Petr Yan; the card was headlined by his wrestling rematch with Henry Cejudo.

Why it matters: The bad blood only fuels demand for a Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov rematch the champ keeps refusing, and it further tangles an already crowded 135-pound title picture behind Petr Yan.

Pacio chokes out Malachiev to retain; Folayang stopped again

At ONE's The Inner Circle 21 in Bangkok, strawweight champion Joshua Pacio retained his belt with a first-round rear-naked choke of Mansur Malachiev at 4:23, earning a $50,000 bonus in their rematch. In the co-main event, former two-time ONE lightweight champion Eduard Folayang was stopped by Japan's Shozo Isojima via first-round TKO at 4:29 in a firefight, a possible farewell for the 41-year-old Filipino icon.

Why it matters: Pacio, a seven-time titleholder, remains ONE's most decisive strawweight, while Folayang, who headlined the promotion's very first event in 2011, appears to be at the end of the line.

Alsaif wins pro debut in Saudi Arabia's first female MMA main event

PFL MENA 10 in Riyadh saw Saudi prospect Hattan Alsaif score a second-round TKO of Algeria's Dania Ouhachi in the first female-headlined MMA card in Saudi Arabia. The 2026 PFL MENA welterweight and featherweight tournaments also advanced, with Hazem Kayyali, Badreddine Diani, Abdelkrim Zouad and Omar Hussein booking welterweight semifinal spots and Elias Boudegzdame and Shadi Kabbani moving on at featherweight.

Why it matters: A woman headlining a card in Saudi Arabia is a genuine milestone for the region's fast-growing scene and PFL's Middle East expansion.

Poirier apologizes for airport arrest, ties it to his homeless father

Retired former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier addressed his June 19 public-intoxication arrest at Atlanta's airport, saying thoughts of his homeless father on Father's Day led him to drink heavily during a work trip. He apologized to the desk agents and police, and spoke of struggling to find purpose since his 2025 retirement. Colby Covington mocked the arrest to promote his beer brand, drawing a sharp rebuke from PFL/Bellator middleweight Johnny Eblen, who called the remarks 'tasteless.'

Why it matters: A candid glimpse of a beloved retiree wrestling with post-career purpose, and another flashpoint in Covington's serial feuds.

Gaethje undecided on future, eyes 2027 title defense

New UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who dethroned Ilia Topuria at the White House in June, said he still hasn't decided whether to retire but plans to rest a few injuries and likely defend the belt in 2027 after fighting twice this year. He's floated Arman Tsarukyan, a Max Holloway rematch and even Conor McGregor. Reports suggest Tsarukyan may instead run it back with BMF champ Charles Oliveira in the meantime.

Why it matters: The 155-pound title picture is effectively on hold behind a champion weighing retirement, freezing a stacked contender queue for the rest of the year.

Askren to wrestle Belal Muhammad at RAF 11 a year after lung transplant

Former ONE and Bellator champion Ben Askren will return to competition against ex-UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the RAF 11 co-main event in Milwaukee on July 18, roughly a year after a double lung transplant that followed a life-threatening bout of pneumonia. Joe Rogan, a longtime Askren backer, questioned the wisdom of the comeback, citing the immunosuppressant drugs Askren must now take.

Why it matters: A remarkable recovery story, but one that carries real medical risk for a fighter still early in life after major transplant surgery.

McGregor, Holloway make weight as celebrity bets pour in

Conor McGregor (170.5) and Max Holloway (170) both weighed in Friday and had an intense final faceoff ahead of Saturday's UFC 329 welterweight main event in Las Vegas, McGregor's first fight since breaking his leg in July 2021. Drake put $1 million on McGregor at +285, while Jake Paul placed a $500,000 McGregor-Pimblett parlay on his own app; Holloway laughed off Drake's backing, invoking the rapper's betting curse.

Why it matters: Manufactured hype aside, McGregor's return after five years is the biggest box-office event of the year, and it finally gets settled in the cage Saturday night.

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