Tsarukyan gets Oliveira BMF rematch at UFC 331

The matchmaking board reshuffled at the top of two divisions: a report has Charles Oliveira defending the BMF title against Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles, while Nassourdine Imavov insists the UFC has promised him the next middleweight shot at Sean Strickland. Off the cards, Jessica Andrade's food-delivery admission put fighter pay back under the microscope and Tom Aspinall detailed the eye surgeries that have kept the heavyweight champ sidelined.

Report: Oliveira to defend BMF belt vs. Tsarukyan atop UFC 331 in LA

Russian outlet Red Fury MMA reports that Charles Oliveira will defend the BMF title against Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 331 main event on Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It would be a rematch of their UFC 300 bout, which Tsarukyan won by split decision. Tsarukyan, long viewed as the top lightweight contender, has said he plans to fight for two belts this year.

Why it matters: A Tsarukyan win would hand him a marquee belt and momentum toward the undisputed lightweight title he has repeatedly been denied — while a loss stalls one of the division's most deserving contenders yet again.

Imavov says UFC promised him the next Strickland title shot

Nassourdine Imavov says the UFC told him his next fight is for the middleweight belt against Sean Strickland, adding he offered to fight Dricus du Plessis to stay active and was told to wait. Imavov (17-4, 1 NC) is on a five-fight run including knockouts of Jared Cannonier and Israel Adesanya, and lost to Strickland at light heavyweight in 2023. He targets an October or November booking and made the grudge personal, calling Strickland 'not a good person.'

Why it matters: It sets Imavov directly against Khamzat Chimaev, who is also demanding a Strickland rematch, with Dana White having said the fans would decide — leaving the champion's first defense a three-way logjam.

Andrade delivering food to make ends meet during injury layoff

Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade says she has been working as an app-based food-delivery driver and taking landscaping jobs while recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in her August 2025 loss to Loopy Godinez. Andrade, who holds the record for most wins and post-fight bonuses in UFC women's history across 30 fights, previously accused her former coach and manager of embezzling roughly $2 million and once sold her own fight gear for income.

Why it matters: A record-setting former champion driving deliveries revives the fighter-pay debate — sharpened by the reported eight-figure boxing deals Zuffa is handing crossover names while the UFC pays out about 20% of revenue.

Aspinall calls eye surgeries worse than a vasectomy, eyes Gane rematch

Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall says he underwent three eye surgeries after the multiple eye pokes that ended his UFC 321 bout with Ciryl Gane in a no-contest, describing being kept awake while doctors 'slice your eyeball open' as the worst pain he has endured. He admitted he initially feared permanent vision loss and pushed back on fans who accused him of ducking out. A rematch with interim champ Gane is expected later this year.

Why it matters: It's the clearest explanation yet for the heavyweight title's near-year of gridlock, and frames the Gane rematch that will finally settle who holds the undisputed belt.

Steveson returns to the wrestling mat vs. Cassioppi at RAF 12

Fresh off a first-round knockout of Elisha Ellison in his UFC debut at UFC 329, heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson will wrestle former college rival Anthony Cassioppi at Real American Freestyle 12 on Aug. 22 in Cleveland. The Olympic gold medalist went 4-0 against Cassioppi in the NCAA ranks and beat Alexandr Romanov at RAF 9 in May. Steveson has said he wants his next UFC bout at the promotion's November Madison Square Garden card.

Why it matters: The UFC's most hyped heavyweight crossover is staying active on the RAF circuit rather than waiting on a matchmaker, and the anniversary card doubles as a showcase for the promotion's UFC-name crossover pipeline.

Ankalaev calls Saturday's Guskov headliner a 'tuneup,' wants Pereira trilogy

Returning for the first time since Alex Pereira knocked him out at UFC 320, Magomed Ankalaev is dismissing his UFC Abu Dhabi main event against short-notice replacement Bogdan Guskov as 'just a fight to be back.' Guskov (No. 9) stepped in on under two weeks' notice after Khalil Rountree Jr. was injured, and Ankalaev enters a roughly -600 favorite. The Dagestani says he'll chase a Pereira trilogy at light heavyweight or heavyweight, firing back at Pereira's taunt: 'He must have just woken up.'

Why it matters: A win puts Ankalaev straight back into the title mix behind sidelined champ Carlos Ulberg — but publicly branding a top-10 opponent a tuneup invites an ugly upset at the Etihad Arena.

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