Ilia Topuria

Paddy Pimblett purchased the corner stool on which Ilia Topuria retired from his fight against Justin Gaethje, paying $13,700 at auction. Pimblett posted a photo with the stool alongside news of the purchase, delivering a pointed troll aimed at the former featherweight champion.

Ilia TopuriaPaddy PimblettJustin Gaethje

UFC’s second-half 2026 slate includes several high-profile matchups that materially shape multiple divisions, including Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane, and Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane 2. ESPN’s fight-center preview and related coverage identify these as the most anticipated bouts still to come, with championship implications at lightweight, heavyweight, and beyond. The same UFC schedule discussion also points to other notable matchups such as Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev and Jean Silva vs. Aaron Pico. These bookings matter because they set the title landscape heading into late 2026 and clarify who is next in line across several weight classes.

Tom AspinallJean SilvaIlia TopuriaAaron Pico+5

UFC Oklahoma kicks off tonight with preliminary bouts starting at midnight and the main card beginning at 3:00 a.m. Four unbeaten fighters are featured on the main card, adding extra stakes to the evening. The co-main and main event are expected to deliver striking-heavy action.

Seokhyeon KoIlia TopuriaSean O'Malley

Ilia Topuria has responded to accusations that he is copying Conor McGregor, calling McGregor one of his favorite fighters to watch. Topuria drew a distinction between McGregor's in-cage career and his conduct outside the octagon, declining to comment on the latter.

Ilia TopuriaConor McGregor

At the UFC 317 weigh-ins ahead of Topuria vs. Oliveira, middleweight Christopher Ewert was removed from the UFC roster after coming in an estimated 10 pounds over the contracted limit for his bout with Jackson McVey.[10] The promotion opted to cut Ewert rather than proceed with a catchweight, underscoring the UFC’s growing intolerance for severe weight misses, especially on major cards with title implications.[10] This decision reshapes the middleweight depth, opening a roster spot that could be filled by a contender from the regional scene or Dana White’s Contender Series. Observers will be watching future weigh-ins closely to see if this marks a tougher league-wide stance on weight management.[10]

Charles OliveiraIlia TopuriaJackson McVey

Conor McGregor has acknowledged that five years away from competition left him overeager when he returned, causing him to "rush out the gate." McGregor said he does not regret opening with a flying kick but believes he executed it incorrectly.

Jon JonesMax HollowayAnderson SilvaIlia Topuria+6