MMA News Roundup — June 24, 2026

Roe Jogan
Jun 24
3 min read

Introduction

It's been a loaded stretch on the MMA calendar. The UFC is barreling toward a trip to Azerbaijan this weekend, the heavyweight title picture has finally snapped into focus, and a murderers' row of summer pay-per-views is taking shape. Here's everything you need to catch up on from the last few days.

Fiziev vs. Torres Headlines UFC Baku This Saturday

The UFC lands in Azerbaijan this weekend, with UFC Fight Night 280 going down Saturday, June 27, at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku. Home favorite Rafael Fiziev (ranked #11 at lightweight) headlines against Mexico's hard-hitting Manuel Torres (#15) in a 155-pound clash with real divisional stakes — both men need a statement win to climb back into the contender conversation.

The card did take a hit: a scheduled middleweight bout between Marvin Vettori and Ismail Naurdiev was scrapped after Vettori broke a rib in training. With Fiziev fighting in front of a hometown crowd, expect a raucous atmosphere when the main card streams on Paramount+.

Aspinall vs. Gane II Set for Paris in September

The heavyweight title picture finally has clarity. After Ciryl Gane brutalized Alex Pereira to claim the interim belt at UFC Freedom 250, undisputed champion Tom Aspinall has accepted the Frenchman's callout for a unification rematch — and he's agreed to do it in enemy territory, with the UFC targeting its Paris card in September.

Their first meeting last October ended in a no-contest after Aspinall was poked in the eye, so there's plenty of unfinished business. For Gane, it's a fourth crack at undisputed gold on home soil; for Aspinall, a chance to settle the score in the loudest possible building.

Pereira Weighs His Future After KO Loss

Alex Pereira's heavyweight experiment ended badly — a second-round TKO loss to Gane — and the former two-division champ sounded shaken afterward. "Honestly, I'm afraid to go back to fighting with all this going on. I think I've already done my part," Poatan said, fueling retirement chatter.

At the same time, he's lobbying for an immediate rematch and floating a fall return, while blasting referee Herb Dean and accusing Gane of late blows to the back of the head. Whatever comes next, one of the sport's biggest stars is suddenly at a crossroads.

Makhachev vs. Garry Locked for UFC 330

Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev will make the first defense of his 170-pound crown against No. 1 contender Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 main event on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Makhachev (28-1) is riding a 16-fight win streak — tied with Anderson Silva for the longest in UFC history.

Garry (17-1) has rebounded from his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with wins over Carlos Prates and former champ Belal Muhammad, and he isn't short on confidence, insisting Makhachev has never shared the cage with anyone as tall, long and fast. Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson co-headlines.

McGregor vs. Holloway 2 Headlines UFC 329

International Fight Week has its centerpiece: Conor McGregor returns to face Max Holloway in a welterweight main event at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It's McGregor's first walk to the Octagon since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021, and a rematch of their 2013 featherweight bout, which McGregor won by decision.

Also on that card: a lightweight banger between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis — and Pimblett is already promising to submit the Frenchman.

Du Plessis vs. Usman to Headline Oklahoma City

Former champions collide as Dricus du Plessis meets Kamaru Usman in a five-round middleweight main event when the UFC returns to Oklahoma City on July 18 at the Paycom Center — the promotion's first trip to the city in nearly a decade.

Du Plessis is looking to rebound from losing his middleweight belt to Khamzat Chimaev, while Usman, now fighting permanently at 185 pounds, is chasing a second world title in a brand-new division.

BKFC Books Boston's Fenway Park

It's not just the UFC making moves. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has booked Boston's iconic Fenway Park for an upcoming event — the latest step in BKFC's push into marquee American sports venues.

That's the wrap for this cycle. With UFC Baku this weekend and a stacked summer of pay-per-views on deck, the action isn't slowing down — check back for the next roundup.