Soldic hits free agency as UFC circles

A busy Saturday split across two cages: PFL Charlotte delivered a completed card headlined by a widely-panned Bryan Battle decision, while UFC Vegas 120 set its lineup at the APEX. Off the cards, Roberto Soldic — the only man to knock out Dricus du Plessis — landed on the free-agent market, and the featherweight title picture crept toward a Volkanovski-Evloev booking.

Soldic enters free agency as ONE deal expires, UFC move looms

Roberto Soldic announced his ONE Championship contract has expired, making the 31-year-old former KSW two-division champion a free agent. 'Robocop' — a devastating puncher with 18 KOs among 21 wins, and the only man to ever knock out current UFC middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis — went just 1-1-1 across three ONE bouts and last competed in a 2025 boxing match. He turned down a UFC offer in 2022 to sign with ONE; a move to the Octagon is now widely expected.

Why it matters: A genuine name hits the market amid a busy free-agency stretch, and Soldic's power plus his history with du Plessis give the UFC an easy sell at welterweight or middleweight.

Battle edges Rosta in panned Charlotte headliner for first PFL win

Bryan Battle took a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) over Dalton Rosta in the PFL Charlotte main event at Bojangles Coliseum, earning his first PFL win after losing his debut to Johnny Eblen. The cagey, risk-averse bout drew boos and was branded the 'worst fight of the year' online; Rosta has now lost three straight. In the co-main, Simeon Powell beat Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov by split decision, and Battle used his post-fight mic time to call for a crossover bout with Jake Paul following the MVP-PFL merger.

Why it matters: The second card of the Paul-era PFL landed with a thud in the cage, underscoring how thin the promotion's middleweight main-event pool looks post-merger.

Gamrot-Salkilld set at UFC Vegas 120 as Lemos survives weigh-in scare

UFC Vegas 120 is locked at the Meta APEX, with No. 11 lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (26-4, 1 NC) facing streaking Australian Quillan Salkilld (12-1), who is 5-0 in the UFC and riding 12 straight wins after knocking out Beneil Dariush. Amanda Lemos, mired in a 2-4 skid, needed three trips to the scale before hitting 115.5 pounds, while 42-year-old Darren Elkins made 145.5 for the retirement bout that closes out a 16-year UFC run. All 24 fighters made weight.

Why it matters: It's a classic prospect-versus-veteran headliner with real stakes near the top of a stacked lightweight division — a win vaults Salkilld into the rankings conversation.

Volkanovski expects Evloev next as featherweight title booking nears

Champion Alexander Volkanovski said his next featherweight defense will 'pretty obvious[ly]' be against No. 1 contender Movsar Evloev, adding the fight isn't locked but confirmation should come soon. Evloev is a perfect 10-0 in the UFC and 20-0 overall, and has long been passed over for a shot in part because he has zero finishes in the Octagon. The bout could headline UFC 332 or UFC 333 later this fall.

Why it matters: It would finally settle the sport's most overdue title shot and close off the last live contender at 145 pounds.

UFC re-signs Dumas to face CM Punk-slayer Gall in ridiculed booking

The UFC has reportedly re-signed Sedriques Dumas — thought to have been cut after going winless in his last four — to face Mickey Gall at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26. Gall, who hasn't fought since a 2024 knockout loss to Ramiz Brahimaj, is best known for submitting CM Punk and has also dropped four straight. The matchmaking drew near-universal mockery online, with fans branding it one of the worst bookings of the year.

Why it matters: Two fighters on long losing skids getting a card slot is a curious use of roster space in a year fans have repeatedly criticized for thin matchmaking.

Garry hangs empty frame for the belt a week out from Makhachev

With UFC 330 a week away in Philadelphia, challenger Ian Machado Garry (17-1) revealed an empty frame in his home reading 'UFC World Champion coming soon,' waiting above his old Cage Warriors title. He faces pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev (28-1), who can set the UFC record for most consecutive wins by breaking his tie with Anderson Silva at 16. The full card is set, with Mackenzie Dern defending the strawweight title against Gillian Robertson in the co-main.

Why it matters: Garry is a heavy underdog with questions on the mat, but a win would make him champion and hand Makhachev only his second career loss — and history is on the line either way.

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