All 20,000 tickets for Conor McGregor's upcoming fight sold out in just four minutes, averaging 83 tickets per second. Ben Askren is booked to face Belal Muhammad at a RAF event on July 18, with Muhammad's first reaction to the offer being concern for Askren's health. Merab Dvalishvili broke his nose again during a grappling session with Frankie Edgar at RAF, though the champion downplayed the injury. Demetrius Johnson also commented that Russian and Dagestani fighters are reportedly being avoided by some promotions due to their dominant skill level.
All 20,000 tickets for Conor McGregor's upcoming fight were snapped up in just four minutes, equating to an average of 83 tickets sold every second, underlining the enduring commercial pull the Irish star carries regardless of his time away from competition.
Elsewhere, Ben Askren and Belal Muhammad have been booked to meet at a RAF event on July 18. Askren, 41, carries a 19-2-0 record and competes out of Roufusport. The American wrestler averages 4.33 takedowns per 15 minutes and brings a 49 percent striking accuracy to the table, numbers that reflect his grappling-heavy approach throughout a long career. Muhammad, also 37 and also representing Roufusport, enters the bout ranked sixth in the welterweight division and eighth in the pound-for-pound standings with a 24-5-0 record. He averages 4.43 significant strikes per minute and holds a 43 percent striking accuracy. Notably, Muhammad's initial reaction to the offer was reported to be concern over Askren's physical condition rather than enthusiasm for the matchup itself.
In other RAF news, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili suffered a broken nose during a grappling session with Frankie Edgar, though the Georgian champion chose to play down the injury publicly. Dvalishvili, 35, holds a 21-5-0 record and is ranked first in the bantamweight division and second pound-for-pound. Known for relentless pressure and an elite wrestling output of 6.4 takedowns per 15 minutes, any health setback ahead of a future title defense will naturally draw attention.
Why it matters
- Askren vs. Muhammad is a compelling welterweight clash between a decorated wrestler and a top-ten ranked finisher, with divisional positioning on the line for Muhammad
- Both fighters share the same gym, Roufusport, adding an unusual dynamic to the buildup
- Dvalishvili's nose injury, however minor, is worth monitoring given his standing as bantamweight champion and the number-two pound-for-pound fighter in the sport
- Demetrius Johnson's reported comments about Russian and Dagestani fighters being avoided by some promotions add a broader political dimension to current matchmaking discussions
