UFC In July: Predicting Every Main Event Winner

Holloway is coming off a rather bitter loss against Charles Oliveira. It was a rematch from more than ten years ago, and he looked lost on the ground en route to losing the BMF title.

Fortunately for Holloway, the ground game will mostly not matter against a striker like McGregor. As a matter of fact, McGregor will be a complete non-factor after five years away.

This is easy to predict: Holloway by however he wants. It will be the last time McGregor fights, as he retires in utter shame, and the UFC will lose arguably one of its last true megastars.

UFC Oklahoma, July 18 – Dricus Du Plessis

Takedowns proved to be Du Plessis’ undoing in his third title defense against Khamzat Chimaev, as they prevented him from flaunting his vaunted punching power. If that was not enough, the submission game that he had showcased against Darren Till was nowhere to be found.

That should be a cause for concern against another wrestler like Usman, but one thing will help Du Plessis: size. He has been well-accustomed to 185, while Usman is fighting at the division for just the second time, and that is not to mention his knee issues.

South Africa’s “Stillknocks” should rebound with an emphatic stoppage.

UFC Abu Dhabi, July 25 – Magomed Ankalaev

It was very telling that Ankalaev was not given a chance to regain the light heavyweight title when Alex Pereira vacated it. Instead, Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg got the nod. Perhaps the UFC did not want to see the takedown-heavy style that he employed when he won the belt.

That slight, however, will only motivate Ankalaev. Rountree is a fantastic striker with knockout potential, but he lacks his adversary’s well-roundedness. If he chooses to trade, Ankalaev also has finishing potential on the feet. On the ground, Rountree will prove helpless as his opponent accumulates control time.

Just like the two winners before him, Ankalaev dominates the fight to reassert himself in the title mix. That is, unless Pereira decides to return after his failed bid at history at the White House…

End Of My July UFC Rant

Those are not the only key fights the UFC has in store in July.

Each card’s co-main is also brimming in potential. At 329, Paddy Pimblett looks to rebound from his title fight loss to Justin Gaethje as he faces Benoit Sanit-Denis. In Oklahoma, surging middleweight contender Christian Leroy Duncan looks to enter the elite against former challenger Jared Cannonier. Finally, in Abu Dhabi, Umar Nurmagomedov looks to halt the rise of David Martinez.

Add to that the likes of Cory Sandhagen, Brandon Royval, Gable Steveson, Fatima Kline, and Valter Walker, and the start to the second half of 2026 looks juicy…