Kevin Holland stated he wants to avenge his losses but firmly declined any rematch with Khamzat Chimaev. Brendan Allen, who claimed he would dominate Chimaev, visited his training camp for sparring sessions with results shown on video. Carlos Ulberg announced he wants to fight Magomed Ankalaev in his first title defense. Paulo Costa moved up to number seven in the light heavyweight rankings and called out Josh Hocket for a BMF title fight. Sean O'Malley is reportedly struggling with Jiri Prochazka's recent loss, and footage surfaced of a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Josh Hocket showing Hocket in much leaner condition than currently.
Kevin Holland made clear this week that while he is motivated to settle old scores in the UFC, a rematch with Khamzat Chimaev is not something he is willing to pursue, drawing a firm line on that particular chapter of his career.
The news came alongside a separate development involving Brendan Allen, the fifth-ranked middleweight contender who had publicly claimed he would handle Chimaev with ease. The 30-year-old American, who fights out of Kill Cliff FC and carries a 26-7 record, backed up his words by visiting Chimaev's training camp for sparring sessions, with footage of those sessions circulating publicly. Allen is one of the more well-rounded threats in the 185-pound division, averaging 1.56 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a steady striking output.
In the light heavyweight division, Carlos Ulberg confirmed he wants Magomed Ankalaev as his first opponent in a title defense, setting up what would be a significant test for the new champion.
Paulo Costa, the hard-hitting Brazilian known as The Eraser, added another storyline by calling out Josh Hocket for a BMF title fight after moving to number seven in the light heavyweight rankings. The 35-year-old, who holds a 16-4 record and lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, is one of the sport's most aggressive volume strikers. Adding an unusual backdrop to the callout, footage emerged of a college wrestling match between Bo Nickal and Hocket, showing Hocket in noticeably leaner physical condition than he carries today.
Meanwhile, Sean O'Malley is reportedly affected by the recent loss suffered by Jiri Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight from Czech Republic who holds a 32-6-1 record and is widely regarded as one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
Why it matters
- Holland's refusal to face Chimaev again reshapes the middleweight contender picture
- Allen's camp visit puts genuine competitive context behind his Chimaev callout
- Costa's move to light heavyweight and BMF callout signals a potential division crossover
- Ulberg targeting Ankalaev sets a clear direction for the light heavyweight title
