All 20,000 tickets for Conor McGregor's upcoming fight sold out in just four minutes, averaging 83 tickets per second. Meanwhile, Demetrious Johnson has said Russian and Dagestani fighters are no longer being signed by the UFC because they are simply too dominant. Alex Pereira has also released a trailer for his upcoming horror film role, playing a villain called Shama the Butcher. Additionally, Merab Dvalishvili confirmed he broke his nose again during training with Frankie Edgar ahead of his RAF appearance, and Ben Askren is booked to face Belal Muhammad at an RAF event on July 18.
Conor McGregor's upcoming fight generated extraordinary demand as all 20,000 available tickets sold out in just four minutes, a pace equivalent to roughly 83 tickets per second.
The sellout underscores McGregor's enduring commercial power, cementing his status as one of combat sports' premier box-office attractions regardless of his activity inside the cage.
Elsewhere, former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has weighed in on a notable trend in UFC roster construction. Johnson, who carries a 27-3-1 record and is 39 years old, suggested Russian and Dagestani fighters are no longer being signed by the promotion because of how dominant they have become, framing it as a competitive concern for the broader roster.
Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has moved into acting, releasing a trailer for an upcoming horror film in which he portrays a villain named Shama the Butcher.
Merab Dvalishvili has confirmed he suffered a broken nose during training with Frankie Edgar ahead of an upcoming Road to the Apex Fighting (RAF) appearance, adding an injury complication to his preparation.
Why it matters
- Ben Askren, 41, is booked to face Belal Muhammad at an RAF event on July 18, a matchup that pits two Roufusport-affiliated fighters against each other.
- Askren carries a 19-2-0 record and averages 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent grappling threat at five-foot-eleven and 180 cm.
- Muhammad, ranked sixth at welterweight and eighth pound-for-pound at 37 years old, averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute and holds a 24-5-0 professional record.
- The bout represents a significant step up in profile for the RAF promotion and carries real stakes for Muhammad's welterweight standing.
