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<\/a><\/p>\nWASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 15: Justin Gaethje holds up his belts following a press conference with other fight winners and Dana White following UFC Freedom 250 at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC on June 15, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner\/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Looking for Lightweight Contenders<\/p>\n
Question: The 155 division got even more murky with the crowning of the new champ,(which I didn\u2019t think was really possible)but with the Baku main event not really making much of a difference, where do we go now in your opinion with Gaethje not gonna give Ilia an immediate rematch? (JudgefnMueller13)<\/p>\n
Andrew Richardson: Gaethje will give Topuria an immediate rematch if that\u2019s what the UFC wants. That said, I would guess Topuria might not return until like March or April, so it\u2019s reasonable to think Arman vs. Oliveira 2 goes down before then, and the winner faces Gaethje in Q1 2027.<\/p>\n
Thomas Myers: Give Arman the winner of BSD vs. Pimblett. That\u2019s a true #1 contender match. Gives UFC time to see how Ilia heals. Worst case just pull the trigger and do Gaethje vs. Arman next, then Ilia vs. Paddy (if Paddy wins), rip off the Band-Aids.<\/p>\n
Jesse Holland: Topuria didn\u2019t even register a single title defense and got absolutely smashed by Gaethje, so I\u2019m not in favor of an immediate rematch. Even if Pimblett beats Saint Denis, he shouldn\u2019t be anywhere near a title shot after his drubbing against Gaethje. I think UFC waits to see what happens between Conor and Max before deciding on how to proceed. Right now I can live with Arman vs. Gaethje and Saint Denis vs. Oliveira.<\/p>\n
Tim Edwards: I think you either do Gaethje vs. Tsarukyan or Gaethje vs. Oliveira as soon as possible. I\u2019d prefer Tsarukyan in that scenario. You\u2019ve got the whole truck-gate thing to build on and Tsarukyan seems fine to wait for fights (he doesn\u2019t need the money, after all). If you do Gaethje vs. Oliveira right away you get to unify the lightweight and BMF titles (I\u2019m being half serious about that).<\/p>\n
JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE – Walt Disney Television via Getty Images\u2019s \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live\u201d returned to the host\u2019s hometown of Brooklyn, New York for five original shows which tape live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music\u2019s Howard Gilman Opera House. The guests for WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 included actor Michael J. Fox (\u201cBack to the Future\u2019s 30th Anniversary Trilogy\u201d), Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders and musical guest Big Grams. (Photo by Randy Holmes\/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Q: Let\u2019s say we were to send two of today\u2019s UFC fighters through some sort of Time Machine to UFC 1 in 1993. One active fighter that is most likely to dominate that tournament and an active fighter that is most likely to struggle. Which two fighters should we send? (AceSpadez37)<\/p>\n Andrew Richardson: I think the most hilarious option would be to send the smallest guy possible to obliterate the early competition, like Manel Kape or something. As for somebody who would struggle, any of the sloppy bar brawler-types. I doubt either Tafa brother makes serious waves in the early tournament. Or how about Trevor Peek? He might get ankle locked by Ken Shamrock.<\/p>\n Alex Behunin: I want to see chaos. I would send Carlos Prates back in time to knock everyone out and then send back Leon Shahbazyan to lose to whoever he faces.<\/p>\n Jesse Holland: I\u2019d like to send Ji\u0159\u00ed Proch\u00e1zka back to UFC 1 just to see how crazy things get. Tai Tuivasa gets my other vote because he fights like he just stepped out of the 1993 time machine.<\/p>\n Tim Edwards: Can you imagine the legend that would have been born out of Francis Ngannou if he had run through that tournament? His size and power is unlike anything we had in that tournament and I think that might have trumped the surprise that was Gracie jiu-jitsu. I don\u2019t know if he would struggle, but Kevin Holland feels like the kind of character you would have wanted in that kind of set-up.<\/p>\n ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 26: Shara Magomedov of Russia prepares to face Marc-Andre Barriault of Canada in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena on July 26, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n Is Pereira vs. Magomedov the People\u2019s Main Event?<\/p>\n Q: Shara vs Michel. Is this the silly-fun fight of the year? I have a feeling I\u2019m gonna be laughing my ass off at the chaos (Saku\u2019sMissingEar)<\/p>\n Andrew Richardson: Two years ago, it\u2019d be funny, but Pereira has lost his swagger and probably just gets taken apart here.<\/p>\n Thomas Myers: Michel is compromised and I feel like he knows it \u2013 he fights way more conservatively lately. Shara works great at-range. Hard to predict declining UFC fighter IQ, but I see Shara just piling up the points unless Michel wants to impose his size and take this fight to the mat. I don\u2019t see chaos here with this version of Michel.<\/p>\n Alex Behunin: If this were Michel Pereira pre-Fluffy, I\u2019d say this would be a competitive, fun fight, but Fluffy took that man\u2019s soul and his confidence. Jesse Holland: Pereira at welterweight was fun. At middleweight he\u2019s unremarkable and his fights are forgettable. Expecting a Wac-A-Mole fight from Shara.<\/p>\n Tim Edwards: I actually think there is a high letdown potential for this fight. Pereira has not been the same since that beating he took from Anthony Hernandez. And Shara-Bullet can sometimes cruise and not get too hesitant to pull the trigger. I\u2019m hoping there will be cartwheels and spinning shiz, but I don\u2019t know\u2026 it might end up being a slow dance.<\/p>\n WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Alex Pereira of Brazil speaks following his loss in the UFC interim heavyweight championship fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n Q: Is Poatan whining? I count 3 illegal blows in the slow motion video; is that enough to warrant all this? (Adam Wagner)<\/p>\n Andrew Richardson: Pereira definitely got fouled quite a bit, it\u2019s just that fouls are legal in MMA, so complaining about them doesn\u2019t gain you any favor with the fans (see Aspinall, Tom).<\/p>\n Thomas Myers: Use fucking replay, like every other major sport. Fouling in UFC is rewarded. I\u2019d kick my opponent in the nuts, poke his eyes and use 12-6\u2019s to the back of the head in every fight. No one, especially Herb Dean, is going to do anything about it. Bring back red \/ yellow cards. Reffing in UFC \/ MMA is a clown show. Complaining is useless, just a bad look because nothing will change.<\/p>\n Alex Behunin: Yes, he was fouled, but also, so many other fighters have been fouled and haven\u2019t whined as much as he currently is. I do understand it was a gigantic fight but come on bro, he was dropped by a jab.<\/p>\n Jesse Holland: He\u2019s definitely whining \u2013 and has every right to whine. I don\u2019t understand this argument that it was \u201conly\u201d three illegal blows. How many have to land before you earn the right to complain? They\u2019re either legal or they\u2019re not and when they\u2019re not, they need to be addressed. You will never hear, \u201cHe only got tagged in the nuts three times, he should STFU already.\u201d A foul is a foul.<\/p>\n Tim Edwards: Pereira has reasons to be aggrieved here. It certainly looked like he took some illegal blows. The degree of which he is showing his grievances does feel like a little much, though. I think this feels out of character for him and that\u2019s part of why people are reacting poorly to it. Also, I don\u2019t think the illegal blows were a big reason why he lost the fight. I think he was getting pieced up and hurt with plenty of legal shots and it was pretty clear that he had both the speed and power disadvantage in the fight. There\u2019s no rematch coming here, so I don\u2019t quite understand why he\u2019s trying to make his case for being able to beat Gane if those shots to the back of the head didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Q: What\u2019s your favourite dirty but legal move? For me it\u2019s the foot stomp. (gadgetsCA)<\/p>\n Andrew Richardson: Covering the mouth from back mount.<\/p>\n Thomas Myers: Oil checks, borderline illegal, but no referee ever takes a point.<\/p>\n Alex Behunin: Side oblique kick \u2013 it is so fucking brutal, but man, it is effective and could be a career ender<\/p>\n Jesse Holland: The hand over the mouth feels wrong. But it\u2019s a great way to fuck with your opponent.<\/p>\n Tim Edwards: It\u2019s not my favorite, but Jones\u2019 shoulder wrench<\/a> move on Teixeira is one of the more brutal, cheap and effective moves I can remember seeing.<\/p>\n LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 20: (R-L) Manel Kape of Angola and Kyoji Horiguchi of Japan touch gloves to start a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on June 20, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n Manel \u2018The Sprinkler\u2019 Kape<\/p>\n Q: In the Kape-Gooch fight during walkouts, Kape kept putting water on his feet and then was sprinkling it around the cage until the cage guy made him stop. I\u201dve seen this a lot when guys sprinkle a little on the ground and then rub their feet in it, but not to this extent. Why do fighters do this? Doesn\u2019t that make their feet more slippery? (LoneCowboy)<\/p>\n Andrew Richardson: I\u2019ve never done that, but the UFC canvas is famously rough and abrasive. A lot of guys walk away with serious road rash, so maybe the water helps find more of a middle ground?<\/p>\n Jesse Holland: Having damp feet improves your traction and can help with takedowns and body locks.<\/p>\n Tim Edwards: I notice that, too. I defer to Andrew\u2019s take, since he\u2019s likely heard fighters chatting about this in person.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Pereira literally might not win another fight, unfortunately.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n