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Makhachev's GOAT Talk, Chimaev's Return, and DWCS Standouts

Makhachev's GOAT status sparks debate, Chimaev eyes a return, and DWCS delivers big payouts and historic finishes.

Makhachev's GOAT Talk, Chimaev's Return, and DWCS Standouts

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Today’s MMA news is buzzing with big names and exciting developments. We’re diving into the ongoing debate about Islam Makhachev’s GOAT potential, Khamzat Chimaev’s anticipated comeback, and the impressive talent emerging from Dana White’s Contender Series.

Makhachev’s GOAT Debate

While some acknowledge his impressive run, others are pushing back on the idea that he’s already reached that elite level. It’s a conversation that highlights the high standards and fierce competition at the top of the sport, and it’s clear that opinions are divided on where Makhachev currently stands in the pantheon of MMA greats.

Chimaev’s Anticipated Return

Khamzat Chimaev is eager to get back into the octagon, with Dana White considering a potential return at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. White confirmed that Chimaev is always in the conversation for a fight, aligning with the UFC’s goal for most fighters to compete three times a year. This potential return has fans excited, especially with UFC 333 reportedly featuring two title fights that betting markets predict will be closely contested.

DWCS Delivers Big

Week two of Season ten was particularly historic, with six fighters earning contracts. Trent Miller secured a UFC deal with a rare Von Flue choke submission. Kaik Brito also delivered a brutal knockout, further showcasing the high level of talent on display at the Apex.

UFC 332 and ONE Championship Updates

The UFC 332 card in Salt Lake City is taking shape with the addition of four new bouts, promising an exciting night of fights. Meanwhile, ONE Championship has announced what sounds like two compelling matchups for ONE Fight Night 48 in October, including an MMA clash between Erdogan and Elliott, and a Muay Thai firefight featuring Lessei and Guest. These additions highlight the busy schedule across different promotions, offering fans plenty of action to look forward to in the coming months.

Cejudo Doubts Garry’s Title Shot Future

Henry Cejudo has expressed doubts about Ian Garry’s chances of securing another UFC title shot. Cejudo suggests Garry missed every box in the fallout from his UFC 330 title opportunity and that the UFC might be hesitant to give him another crack at gold. This perspective from a former champion adds an interesting layer to the ongoing discussions about fighter promotion and the path to title contention in the UFC.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Anderson Silva vs Islam Makhachev: Who has the more impressive win streak?.

Sources

Every source behind today's roundup (14)

We summarize the day’s news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

Open Scoring MMA is a daily AI-produced MMA and UFC news podcast. Listen to today’s episode, read the full Feed, or get every episode by email.

Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 62 for August 19th, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We’re diving straight into some big talk today, with former champions weighing in on whether Islam Makhachev has truly earned GOAT status. It’s a conversation that’s been bubbling up, especially after his recent performances.
NORA: It has, and it’s a significant discussion. When you have former champions, who know what it takes to reach that level, giving their opinions, it adds a lot of weight to the debate.
DUKE: Absolutely. And it’s not just a simple yes or no. There’s a lot of nuance to what makes a fighter the ‘greatest of all time,’ and different eras, different competition levels, all play into that.
NORA: Exactly. It’s about sustained dominance, the quality of opposition, and the impact they’ve had on the sport. Makhachev’s run has been impressive, but the GOAT conversation is a high bar.
DUKE: It really is. And speaking of high bars, Khamzat Chimaev is back in the news, with Dana White addressing his potential return to the octagon, specifically for UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
NORA: This has been a long time coming for fans. Chimaev has been vocal about wanting to fight, and Abu Dhabi seems like a logical place for his return given the UFC’s history there.
DUKE: He’s certainly not shy about it. He told The Mac Life, and I quote, “I want to fight,” end quote. That’s a fighter who’s hungry to get back in there.
NORA: And Dana White’s response, also to The Mac Life, was pretty standard. Quote, “Yeah, I mean, he’s always in conversation to fight. The whole roster is. I mean, everybody, in a perfect world, everybody fights three times a year,” end quote. It’s a diplomatic answer, but the Abu Dhabi mention is key.
DUKE: It suggests there’s a real possibility there. A big name like Chimaev on a card in Abu Dhabi would definitely draw a lot of attention.
NORA: It would. And it’s not just Chimaev. UFC 333 is already shaping up to be a massive event, with betting houses releasing initial odds for the two title fights on the card.
DUKE: And from what we’re seeing, Nora, it looks like balance is the keyword for those title fights. No runaway favorites, which always makes for exciting matchups.
NORA: That’s right. The early lines suggest very competitive bouts, which is exactly what you want for championship contests. It means the market sees both fighters as having a legitimate path to victory.
DUKE: Which is great for us as fans, because it usually translates to a barnburner in the cage. Shifting gears a bit, UFC 332 is also adding some serious depth to its card in Salt Lake City.
NORA: It’s good to see these cards filling out with solid matchups.
DUKE: It is. It means we’re going to have a packed schedule of fights coming up. primetime show, ONE Fight Night 48.
NORA: It’s always good to see ONE Championship bringing their events to U.S. primetime.
DUKE: Definitely. It gives more fans a chance to catch that action live. Now, let’s talk about some controversy. Henry Cejudo has some strong opinions on Ian Garry’s title shot prospects.
NORA: He does. Cejudo believes the UFC might look to avoid giving Ian Garry another title shot, especially after what he perceives as Garry’s failure to capitalize on his UFC 330 opportunity.
DUKE: He’s not holding back, saying Garry “missed every box” in the fallout from that title shot. That’s a pretty harsh assessment from a former two-division champion.
NORA: It is. Cejudo’s argument is that Garry didn’t generate the kind of buzz or fan engagement needed to solidify his position as a top contender, which could impact his future title aspirations.
DUKE: That’s a tough pill to swallow for any fighter, especially one who’s been on such a strong run. It highlights the importance of not just winning, but also building a compelling narrative.
NORA: Absolutely. In today’s landscape, it’s not just about performance inside the cage; it’s also about marketability and fan connection. Cejudo’s comments suggest Garry fell short on that front.
DUKE: Alright, let’s move to some good news out of Dana White’s Contender Series. It’s been a big week for new talent.
NORA: It certainly has.
DUKE: That’s an incredible testament to the success of the Contender Series. It’s clearly a vital pipeline for new talent and a significant financial opportunity for these fighters.
NORA: It shows the direct impact the show has on fighters’ careers and the overall financial health of the roster. It’s not just a stepping stone; it’s a launchpad.
DUKE: And we saw some of that talent on full display in Week 2 of Season 10. Dana White awarded six UFC contracts after what he called a historic week.
NORA: Six contracts in one week is indeed a strong showing. It indicates a high level of talent and some truly impressive performances from the fighters.
DUKE: One of those impressive performances came from Trent Miller, who earned his UFC deal with a rare Von Flue choke submission. That’s not something you see every day.
NORA: It’s a very technical submission, and to pull it off in such a high-stakes environment like the Contender Series speaks volumes about his skill and composure.
DUKE: Absolutely. And the main event of Week 2 delivered a brutal knockout, with Kaik Brito starching Namo Fazil. That was a savage finish and definitely got the fans talking.
NORA: It was a highlight-reel knockout, and it’s exactly the kind of performance that gets you noticed and earns you a contract. The Contender Series really delivered on the action this week.
DUKE: It did. It’s always exciting to see new talent emerge and make such a strong statement. Now, before we get to our OSM Pick, let’s talk about the community pulse. There’s a lot of chatter on Reddit about Islam Makhachev.
NORA: There is. The r/MMA community is having a field day with the question of who has the more impressive win streak between Anderson Silva and Islam Makhachev. It’s a classic debate.
DUKE: Oh, that’s a spicy one. You’re comparing two absolute legends, and it really gets into the subjective nature of what defines an impressive streak.
NORA: Exactly. Silva’s streak was legendary for its length and the way he finished opponents, often with spectacular KOs. Makhachev’s is impressive for its dominance and the caliber of opponents he’s faced in a very tough division.
DUKE: It’s a great discussion point, and it shows how engaged the fans are with these historical comparisons. It’s not just about who won, but how they won and who they beat.
NORA: And the context of their respective eras plays a huge role too. The depth of talent in the lightweight division now is arguably different from the middleweight division during Silva’s prime.
DUKE: That’s fair. Alright, let’s get to our OSM Pick for the week. Nora, what’s the model telling us?
NORA: Our system has Jean Silva to win against Yair Rodriguez.
DUKE: Okay, and what’s the confidence level there?
NORA: We’re at about seventy-nine percent for Silva.
DUKE: Seventy-nine percent. That’s a strong lean.
NORA: It is. The betting line implies around seventy-five percent, so we’re a little higher than the market on this one.
DUKE: So we’re seeing something the market might be underestimating?
NORA: Potentially. Our top reasons are that the finishing favors Silva, and his recent form is also a significant factor.
DUKE: The eye test definitely backs up that form. He’s been looking incredibly sharp.
NORA: He has. And when you combine that with his finishing ability, the model sees a clear path to victory for him.
DUKE: I mean, Rodriguez is tough, but Silva’s just been on another level lately.
NORA: That’s what the data suggests. His recent performances have been very convincing.
DUKE: Alright, I’m with the model on this one. Jean Silva to win.
NORA: We’ve got him.
DUKE: Now, let’s look ahead to the upcoming cards. We’ve got UFC Fight Night: Hernandez versus Rodrigues this Saturday, August twenty-second.
NORA: That’s right. Word is that Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues are on the card, and we’re hearing Serghei Spivac and Vitor Petrino might also be featured. It’s shaping up to be a solid card to kick off the weekend.
DUKE: Then next week, on August twenty-fifth, we have Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 10, Week 3. We’ll wait and see who gets the main event and co-main slots for that one.
NORA: Always exciting to see the next crop of talent coming through the Contender Series. And then on August twenty-ninth, we have UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov versus Song.
DUKE: That’s a big one. Song Yadong versus Umar Nurmagomedov is reportedly on the card, and we’re hearing that Yan Xiaonan versus Denise Gomes could be a key matchup. That’s a fight that could have serious implications for the bantamweight division.
NORA: Absolutely. Nurmagomedov is looking to make a statement, and Song Yadong is a very tough opponent. It’s a crucial matchup.
DUKE: And then we roll into September first for Dana White’s Contender Series: Season 10, Week 4. We’ll be keeping an eye out for the official announcements on the matchups for that week.
NORA: The Contender Series just keeps delivering. And to round out that first week of September, on the fifth, we have UFC Fight Night: Hooker versus Parnasse.
DUKE: We’re expecting a fantastic event for that one, with Dan Hooker and Salahdine Parnasse reportedly on the card. It’s a real striker’s delight.
NORA: It promises to be a high-action fight. Hooker always brings it, and Parnasse is a very exciting prospect.
DUKE: It’s going to be a busy few weeks for fight fans.
NORA: Definitely. The schedule is packed with compelling matchups across the board.
DUKE: Alright, that’s going to wrap it up for us today. Thanks for tuning in to Open Scoring MMA.
Before you go, two quick things. Check out our free Fight Tracker at tracker dot open scoring m m a dot com, with every upcoming UFC and PFL card, live odds, and where to watch, all in one place. And follow us on YouTube, just search Open Scoring MMA, for breaking news alerts, fight breakdowns, and videos you won’t get here on the feed. That’s it for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Keep your hands up, and we’ll see you next time.