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The Roundup: biggest MMA & UFC stories, Aug 18

This week, the MMA world is buzzing with title shot drama, commentary changes, legal troubles, and some serious trash talk.

The MMA world never sleeps, and this week has been no different. We’ve got fighters calling out champions, new faces stepping into the commentary booth, legal battles brewing, and even a legendary coach throwing in the towel. Let’s dive into the biggest stories.

The Lightweight Title Picture is a Mess

Islam Makhachev just defended his title at UFC 330, but who’s next for the champ? We’re hearing that the commentary team was hyping up Carlos Prates and Michael Morales as potential contenders [1]. Prates, for his part, is full of confidence and has a “chilling promise” for Makhachev [12]. However, Prates also had to deny turning down a fight with Morales, stating, “I’m not scared” [1]. Tsarukyan also accused Charles Oliveira of using the death of his friend, Allan Nascimento, as an excuse to avoid a rematch [16]. It seems like everyone wants a piece of Makhachev, and the UFC has some tough decisions to make.

Michael Chiesa Steps into the Commentary Booth

UFC veteran Michael Chiesa is making the jump to the commentary desk, and he’s not holding back his excitement. Word is that Chiesa is making his color commentary debut at UFC Shanghai, calling it “my world title” [18]. This comes after Joe Rogan was in attendance at UFC 330 [4]. It’s always interesting to see a fighter transition into this role, and Chiesa’s passion for the sport should make for some engaging broadcasts.

Anthony Smith Facing Serious Charges

Former UFC title challenger Anthony Smith is in some deep trouble. He pleaded not guilty to several serious charges, including attempted aggravated assault in a close relationship and unlawful threats [7]. Smith was arrested in July and is facing multiple felonies [15]. This is a developing story, and we’ll have to see how it plays out in court.

Din Thomas Retires from Cornering

In a surprising turn of events, coach Din Thomas announced his retirement from his corner role. We’re hearing that this announcement came after his pupil, Gillian Robertson, lost to Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330, and it reportedly provoked a strong reaction backstage [5]. Sean Strickland, never one to mince words, “detonated” Thomas for his decision [5]. It’s a big loss for the fighters Thomas coached, but it’s understandable that a coach might want to step back after years in the game.

Khabib Compares Dana White to the Mafia

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the legendary former UFC champion, has some strong opinions about Dana White. Khabib compared White’s business strategy to how the mafia operates, claiming that “for him, UFC always comes first” [9]. He believes White’s “uncompromising style and unscrupulous decisions” are what made the organization number one [9]. It’s a bold statement from Khabib, but it highlights the cutthroat nature of the fight business.

Hexagone MMA’s European Expansion

French promotion Hexagone MMA is making big moves, with co-founder Jerome Pourrut discussing their “rapid rise in France” and “ambitious European expansion plans” [11]. Pourrut believes Hexagone is “only getting started” and sees a bright future for MMA in the country [11]. It’s always good to see new promotions gaining traction and expanding the sport globally.

Sources

Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen on Spotify, read the Feed, or get every episode by email.