Injury hands Guskov the Ankalaev headliner

A light heavyweight injury reshuffled next week's Abu Dhabi card, with Bogdan Guskov replacing Khalil Rountree opposite Magomed Ankalaev on 12 days' notice — a booking that also exposed how the UFC handles short-notice pay. Meanwhile Conor McGregor set a course of surgery and one final contract fight after his 69-second UFC 329 disaster, and Justin Gaethje's camp pointed the lightweight title toward Arman Tsarukyan.

Rountree out injured, Guskov steps in to face Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi

Khalil Rountree Jr. has withdrawn from the July 25 UFC Abu Dhabi main event with an injury, and No. 10 light heavyweight Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1) takes the fight on 12 days' notice against former champion Magomed Ankalaev (21-2-1). Guskov, who owns an 18-for-18 finish rate, was pulled from a planned Aug. 1 rematch with Jan Blachowicz at UFC Belgrade to accept his first UFC main event. Ankalaev is fighting for the first time since Alex Pereira knocked him out to reclaim the 205-pound title at UFC 320.

Why it matters: It keeps a top-of-division headliner intact but swaps a ranked contender for a dangerous puncher with nothing to lose; a Guskov upset would blow the light heavyweight title picture wide open.

McGregor plans surgery and one last contract fight after 69-second flop

Conor McGregor said he will undergo surgery on the leg he injured 69 seconds into his UFC 329 loss to Max Holloway, then rehab and return to fulfill the final fight on his UFC contract. He denied fighting on a pre-existing injury, with no timetable given for a return that his team had once targeted for no later than April 2027. Michael Chandler, twice booked to fight McGregor, publicly pushed back on conspiracy theories that the Irishman faked or hid the injury, insisting 'he's not a quitter.'

Why it matters: It signals McGregor isn't retiring outright, but another open-ended layoff at 38 leaves his last contracted bout — Holloway wants the trilogy — hostage to the severity of the injury and his recovery.

Costa, Blachowicz turned down the Ankalaev fight — and Costa ripped UFC pay

Before Guskov signed on, the UFC offered the short-notice Ankalaev fight to both Paulo Costa and Jan Blachowicz. Costa (16-4) says he declined a non-title, five-round bout on 13 days' notice, a 16-hour flight, and no extra money, and accused the promotion of pushing away talent the way it did Francis Ngannou. Blachowicz said he was willing but hesitated over making weight, so Guskov landed the fight first; Blachowicz still hopes to stay on the UFC Belgrade card.

Why it matters: Costa is a win from a title shot on the last fight of his deal, and his public gripe reopens the recurring fight over how the UFC compensates short-notice replacements against elite opposition.

Gaethje's camp rules out rematches, pointing the title at Tsarukyan

Manager Ali Abdelaziz says Justin Gaethje's first defense of the undisputed lightweight title won't be a rematch, ruling out Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway and Paddy Pimblett. That leaves Arman Tsarukyan, the top contender and the only fighter in the 155-pound top five Gaethje hasn't faced, as the clear target. Gaethje has said it's highly unlikely he fights again in 2026, so a bout likely lands around the turn of the year.

Why it matters: It closes the door on Oliveira's campaign for an immediate rematch and finally lines up the Tsarukyan fight the division has been waiting on, even if it means the belt sits idle for months.

Du Plessis meets Usman in Oklahoma City with the middleweight title picture open

The UFC returns to Oklahoma City on Saturday, July 18, headlined by former middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis (23-3) taking on ex-welterweight king Kamaru Usman (21-4) in Usman's first full middleweight camp. Du Plessis returns from the one-sided loss to Khamzat Chimaev that cost him the belt, while Usman is fresh off a win over Joaquin Buckley. Du Plessis is roughly a -260 favorite; the co-main pits Jared Cannonier against rising Brit Christian Leroy Duncan.

Why it matters: With Sean Strickland's first title defense unbooked, the winner slots straight into the challenger conversation at 185 — and a strong Usman showing would make his two-weight title bid real.

Tsarukyan vs. Covington becomes RAF's first 'crossover' title fight

Arman Tsarukyan and Colby Covington will now wrestle for an inaugural Real American Freestyle 'crossover championship belt' when they headline RAF 11 on July 18 in Milwaukee, per Ariel Helwani. The catchweight (cruiserweight) title is billed as being created for combat-sports crossover stars, hinting at more such belts to come. The card also features Ben Askren's wrestling return against Belal Muhammad, plus Frankie Edgar vs. Clay Guida.

Why it matters: It's Dana White's fledgling wrestling promotion leaning on UFC names to manufacture stakes, and a notable side gig for Tsarukyan as he waits on his lightweight title shot.

Sandhagen fears torn hamstring from Bautista's UFC 329 kneebar

Cory Sandhagen revealed he believes Mario Bautista's late first-round kneebar tore his hamstring at UFC 329, sharing a graphic image and saying he'll get an MRI this week. The injury compromised his movement, yet he still won the second round before Bautista dropped him in the third to take a unanimous decision. The loss drops Sandhagen to 1-3 in his last four, and a significant tear could sideline him well into 2027.

Why it matters: A serious layoff further stalls a former title challenger already sliding down the bantamweight ladder, and delays the long-teased O'Malley matchup fans want.

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