Pantoja cleared, eyes Van rematch

The UFC's title pictures shifted on paper Sunday: a healed Alexandre Pantoja pressed for his flyweight rematch while Dricus du Plessis stepped aside at middleweight and steered Sean Strickland toward Nassourdine Imavov. The promotion stacked its Noche card in Glendale, Conor McGregor put a torn ACL and meniscus behind a summer-2027 target, and ONE lost heavyweight champ Reug Reug to free agency. Boxing, meanwhile, mourned prospect Hannah Rapp, killed at 26.

Pantoja cleared to return, wants his flyweight belt back from Van

Former flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja says he is fully recovered from the arm dislocation that ended his UFC 323 title defense against Joshua Van after just 26 seconds last December, and he wants an immediate rematch. Pantoja praised Van's fifth-round TKO of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 but insisted, 'As a man, I don't think he beat me.' Reports have floated Van-Pantoja 2 for UFC 331 on Sept. 19 in Los Angeles, though nothing is confirmed.

Why it matters: A healthy Pantoja restores flyweight's marquee fight; Van won the belt on a freak injury and still owes the former champ a clean answer.

Du Plessis passes on Strickland callout, points him toward Imavov

After a lopsided decision over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City, former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis declined to call out titleholder Sean Strickland — whom he has beaten twice — and instead urged Strickland to defend against No. 3 Nassourdine Imavov in December before 'I come take my belt back.' Khamzat Chimaev is also demanding an immediate rematch after his split-decision loss to Strickland at UFC 328. Usman, meanwhile, said an early thumb to the eye blurred his vision and hinted at an undisclosed issue coming in.

Why it matters: DDP stepping aside clears a lane for Imavov or Chimaev next while positioning himself as the eventual winner's problem.

UFC reveals first six Noche fights for Sept. 12 in Glendale

The UFC announced the opening six bouts for Noche UFC on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, during the UFC Oklahoma City broadcast. Former flyweight champ Brandon Moreno faces Joseph Morales, and ex-women's flyweight champ Alexa Grasso meets Manon Fiorot. Also booked: Curtis Blaydes vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Kelvin Gastelum vs. 6-foot-5 ex-kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui, Tim Elliott vs. Edgar Chairez, and JJ Aldrich vs. Regina Tarin. The main event is expected to be announced next week.

Why it matters: Two former champions carry title-relevant stakes; Grasso-Fiorot is a genuine 125-pound contender fight anchoring the early build.

McGregor says injury was ACL and meniscus, targets a summer return

McGregor revealed the knee injury that ended his UFC 329 comeback against Max Holloway in 69 seconds was a torn ACL and meniscus — the same combination he suffered on the opposite leg in their 2013 fight. He says he is already walking without crutches and expects to return by next summer, faster than his 2013 recovery. Dana White confirmed the ACL tear but said any return talk is pointless until McGregor is through surgery and rehab.

Why it matters: The tear likely wipes out the April date the UFC had floated for McGregor's contract-ending bout, pushing any return to mid-2027 at the earliest.

Reug Reug leaves ONE as a free agent, teases an August fight

Former ONE heavyweight champion Oumar 'Reug Reug' Kane confirmed his release from ONE Championship after five years, citing fallout from his fourth-round KO loss in the May rematch with Anatoly Malykhin, which spilled into a post-fight brawl between corners. Kane says he is ready to fight in August with an opponent to be announced Friday. His exit adds to a steady drain of MMA talent from ONE as the promotion leans into striking, and fans immediately floated a UFC move or crossover bouts with Francis Ngannou or PFL's Vadim Nemkov.

Why it matters: A title-winning heavyweight hitting the open market is rare, and where Kane lands is a live read on the UFC-PFL-MVP tug-of-war for big men.

Boxer Hannah Rapp killed in Texas road-rage crash at 26

Hannah Rapp, who challenged Tiara Brown for the WBC women's featherweight title in June on Jake Paul's MVP card, died Saturday after a driver allegedly passed her on a Texas highway, stopped, reversed and struck her as she rode her bicycle. She was 26. Brazos County deputies arrested and charged 31-year-old Charles Medina with manslaughter. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and MVP led an outpouring of tributes for the 8-0-1 prospect.

Why it matters: A rising fighter's death months after her first world-title shot stunned the combat-sports community.

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