Conor McGregor's return at UFC 329? Yeah, that was a disaster. But who's got time to sulk? The promotion is already sprinting from Las Vegas straight to Oklahoma City for a middleweight clash that's gonna set the summer on fire, kicking off a ridiculous stretch of fights.
Former Middleweight Champs Square Off In Oklahoma City
Mark your calendars for July 18 because Dricus du Plessis and Kamaru Usman are headlining a Fight Night in Oklahoma City, and this one has "must-see" written all over it. Usman's making his middleweight comeback with plenty of time to get ready, which is a big change from his short-notice debut against Khamzat Chimaev. Du Plessis, meanwhile, hasn't stepped into the cage since losing his middleweight title to Chimaev last year. What's wild is that both these guys have wins over the current 185-pound champ, Sean Strickland, who regained the belt after all that. This isn't just a fight, it's a statement from two former kings looking to reclaim their spot at the top. The middleweight division is absolutely wild right now, and this bout is just gonna crank up the chaos.Welterweight Gold On The Line And Philadelphia Is About To Explode
Just one month later, on August 15, get ready for UFC 330 in Philadelphia because it's going to be absolutely insane. Islam Makhachev, that prized pupil of Khabib Nurmagomedov, is putting his welterweight title on the line against Ian Machado Garry. Can you believe the stretch from UFC Freedom 250 to UFC 330? It's been ridiculous! And if one title fight isn't enough to get your blood pumping, Philadelphia is getting a second championship showdown: women's strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern defending her belt against Gillian Robertson. Two title fights in one night? Philly fans are gonna bring the noise for this one, and I cannot wait to see how Makhachev handles Garry's challenge, or how Dern defends her strap. This summer slate is just packed to the brim with insane action. From the middleweight fireworks on July 18 with du Plessis vs. Usman, to the double title defense in Philadelphia on August 15, the UFC is not letting up. There's so much to look forward to, and you absolutely do not want to miss any of it.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.