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Last Word On MMA

Last Word On MMA Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: June 2026

Eddie Hearn Rips Michael Bisping Over Tom Aspinall Comments as Heavyweight Champ Eyes UFC Comeback 

Posted on by Kshitiz Kumar Singh

The ongoing tension between Tom Aspinall and Dana White only intensified following the heavyweight champion’s eye-poke controversy against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. After enduring a 14-month layoff while Jon Jones declined to unify the heavyweight titles, Aspinall finally returned to action. However, his comeback ended in dramatic fashion when the fight was halted late in the opening round.

At the 4:35 mark of Round 1, an accidental double eye poke from Gane left Aspinall unable to see, forcing referee Jason Herzog to stop the contest and rule it a no-contest. Despite being given nearly four minutes to recover and undergoing examinations by two cageside physicians, the champion informed officials that his vision remained compromised and that he could not continue. As a result, Aspinall retained his heavyweight title under unfortunate circumstances.

 

The situation became even more concerning in the aftermath when Aspinall was diagnosed with bilateral traumatic Brown’s syndrome and subsequently underwent double eye surgery. He is now reportedly preparing for a return, with Gane calling for an immediate rematch following his victory over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Aspinall has welcomed the challenge, and the pair are being linked to a potential showdown in Paris later this September.

Away from the Octagon, Aspinall recently signed a new management deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. The move drew scrutiny from former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who questioned the lack of transparency surrounding Aspinall’s injury situation. Speaking on a recent episode of the Believe You Me podcast alongside fellow UFC veteran Paul Felder, Bisping suggested that the details surrounding Aspinall’s recovery remain unclear. 

While careful with his wording, ‘The Count’ admitted that the limited information coming from Aspinall’s camp had raised questions. Bisping said, “I’ve got to choose my words carefully here, but he’s just said, ‘I’m still not clear to fight. But he’s been very vague with the details. If I wasn’t cleared, because he’s got a YouTube channel, he posts content all the time, you’d talk about it, the procedures that he had, the operations, whatever.”

 

ALSO READ: Ian Garry Backs Conor McGregor to Capitalize on Max Holloway’s Welterweight Debut at UFC 329

Bisping also questioned the timing of Hearn’s decision to sign Aspinall, suggesting that the promoter’s ongoing friction with UFC CEO Dana White could potentially be a motivating factor. Those comments did not sit well with Hearn, who strongly pushed back against Bisping’s remarks and criticized the former champion for failing to support a fellow British fighter during a difficult period.

During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn did not hold back in his criticism of Bisping’s comments. Hearn said, “These are people that are on the payroll. These are people that have been suppressed, themselves, and these are people that don’t have any backbone about them. Michael Bisping should be ashamed of what is being proposed to Tom Aspinall to be in a fight like Ciryl Gane with that amount of money that is in the pot. He is a fighter. He should stand up for what’s right for fighters.”

Hearn continued his tirade by accusing Bisping of prioritizing the UFC’s interests over those of the athletes. According to the Matchroom chief, fighters deserve a far greater share of the revenue they help generate and should not be pressured into accepting unfavorable terms.

He added, “So what are you saying, Bisping? ‘Do as you’re told, shut up, take your money. That’s all you’re worth. There’s $60 million in the pot. Be quiet. You’re getting three percent of the pot.’ You’re the fighter. You’re putting your health on the line, you’re the talent, you’re the reason this organization is what it is, and Bisping should be ashamed of himself for that.”

He concluded with, “I keep saying to Bisping, ‘Sit down with me, live, and we’ll have a debate about it,’ and he’ll never do it because he knows he can’t say certain things. But he’s a fighter. He should be standing up for the best interests of the fighter, not allowing fighters to be suppressed and bullied and told what to do or what to accept.”

 

Amid his criticism of Bisping, Hearn also provided a positive update on Aspinall’s condition, confirming that the heavyweight champion is now fully healthy and ready to defend his title against Gane. While a rematch remains the immediate priority, Hearn emphasized that the timing of the fight and its financial terms must also make sense.

According to Hearn, the current contract on the table does not adequately reflect Aspinall’s value as one of the UFC’s biggest stars. He argued that the champion’s contractual compensation is disproportionately low compared to the revenue and attention he brings to a fight of that magnitude.

Ilia Topuria’s Trainer Offers Encouraging Health Update, Hints at December 2026 UFC Comeback 

Posted on by Kshitiz Kumar Singh

UFC Freedom 250 lived up to the immense hype, as fans witnessed a finish in every fight across the seven-bout card. However, the action-packed event came at a steep cost, with several fighters leaving the cage nursing significant injuries. That was especially true in the main event, where Ilia Topuria absorbed a brutal beating at the hands of Justin Gaethje. The damage was so severe that Topuria was forced to retire on his stool at the conclusion of the fourth round, unable to continue and finish the fight. 

Following the event, Topuria was immediately transported to a hospital. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed as much during the post-fight press conference, while Marca later reported that the Spaniard sustained non-displaced fractures in both orbital bones. According to the report, the damage to Topuria’s right eye was more significant than that of his left, although he is expected to avoid surgery. Unsurprisingly, there is currently no timetable for his return to competition.

The extent of the punishment Topuria’s body endured was further reflected in the medical suspensions issued after the event. California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster released the official medical suspensions from the UFC White House card after serving as one of the event regulators on behalf of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.

 

ALSO READ: Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Handpicked Max Holloway Over Him for UFC 329 Return

As expected, Topuria received a 180-day medical suspension following the memorable war. The suspension can be reduced if he is cleared by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. However, he was also handed a mandatory 60-day suspension with no exceptions. Despite the severity of the injuries, there has been an encouraging update from the Topuria camp. 

Recently, Topuria’s physical trainer, Jesus Gallo, revealed in an interview with SerEbro EnlosDeportes that the former champion has made an incredible recovery. According to Gallo, Topuria’s face is no longer swollen or covered in bruises, and he does not look like someone who endured four grueling rounds of punishment inside the Octagon.

He revealed, “Day by day, he already looks like an entirely different person. Obviously, you still feel discomfort, but it doesn’t seem like he’s had any fights, really. All the swelling in his face has gone down. All the bruising he had has gone down. To the naked eye, you can see a person who has already recovered a lot, and it has been a week and two days.”

Owing to this remarkable recovery, Topuria’s team remains hopeful that the Spaniard could make his return before the end of 2026. Gallo believes the former champion should make significant progress over the next two to three months. He added, “What the doctor told us was that within 6 to 8 weeks, it should heal properly, especially because there was no orbital bone displacement, so it will heal on its own.”

He concluded with, “After that, for him to start wrestling again, to start doing things again, it’ll take a little while for it to really solidify there. I think we’re talking about at least 2 to 3 months, easily. If you saw us in a rematch or in a fight, it would be toward the end of the year, in December. Who knows? We’ll see.”

 

While Gallo’s update suggests that a return later this year remains a possibility, such a timeline may prove overly optimistic given the circumstances. Not only did Topuria suffer the first defeat of his professional career, but he also endured extensive facial injuries and a physically grueling battle against Justin Gaethje. Any potential comeback would require both physical healing and mental recovery from such a setback.

Complicating matters further is the fact that Gaethje has already indicated he does not plan to compete again in 2026 after enduring back-to-back wars against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 and Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. With no immediate rematch available and little reason to rush back into competition, it may be in Topuria’s best interest to prioritize a full recovery and target a return in 2027 rather than risk coming back before he is completely healed.

Ian Garry Backs Conor McGregor to Capitalize on Max Holloway’s Welterweight Debut at UFC 329 

Posted on by Kshitiz Kumar Singh

With UFC 329 less than three weeks away, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of Conor McGregor, who is set to face Max Holloway in a welterweight main event during the promotion’s International Fight Week card on July 11. One of the biggest questions surrounding McGregor’s comeback is his prolonged inactivity. The former two-division champion has not competed inside the Octagon since July 2021, when his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier ended in disaster after he suffered a gruesome leg break. 

McGregor was originally scheduled to make his long-awaited return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in 2024, but those plans were scrapped after he sustained a broken toe just weeks before the event. In contrast, Holloway has remained one of the UFC’s most active elite fighters. Since McGregor’s last appearance, the Hawaiian has stepped into the cage eight times, taking on a murderer’s row of opponents that includes Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, and Dustin Poirier.

However, a key talking point heading into UFC 329 is the weight class. Every one of Holloway’s recent fights has taken place at either featherweight or lightweight. Against McGregor, he will make his welterweight debut, a factor that Ian Machado Garry believes could significantly alter the dynamics of the matchup. According to Garry, McGregor’s power will be even more dangerous at 170 pounds.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry said, “It’s not an easy fight. Max is very good at what he does. He’s obviously been in there against the best guys in the world repeatedly over and over and over again. But, whilst Conor has been inactive, the hunger will start to thrive in his mind and in his skull. And at 170 pounds, I think this fight is very, very interesting. Conor is going to have the knockout power.”

 

ALSO READ: Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Handpicked Max Holloway Over Him for UFC 329 Return

For those unfamiliar, McGregor has previously fought three times at welterweight and holds a 2-1 record in the division. He first moved up to 170 pounds to face Nate Diaz at UFC 196, suffering his first UFC defeat. He later avenged that loss at UFC 202 before returning to the weight class at UFC 246, where he demolished Donald Cerrone in just 40 seconds.

Garry also shared his thoughts on the contrasting striking styles of the two stars, comparing Holloway’s relentless volume to McGregor’s fight-ending power. He added, “Max Holloway is more like an Uzi when he fights. The consistency, the significant strike numbers he has are out of this world. It’s always in your face. It’s constant movement. It’s touch, touch, go. Touch, touch, move, advance. It’s constant activity. But he doesn’t have that one-punch power, that shotgun. That’s what Conor has.”

Garry also expanded on McGregor’s famed knockout power, a weapon that has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous in MMA. Even Dustin Poirier, who shared the Octagon with several elite strikers throughout his career, once described McGregor’s punches as the hardest he had ever felt.

Discussing the former two-division champion’s ability to end a fight with a single shot, Garry said, “Conor has always had that shotgun. If that left hand lands, it’s game over, and he is laser focused with it. … If one of them lands, fight’s over. If I’m Conor, and I’m walking into that first round and I enter the middle of that octagon and Max hasn’t started to instantly put the pace on him, I’d walk his ass down.”

Garry then outlined what he believes is the ideal game plan for McGregor against Holloway, emphasizing pressure, variety, and forcing the Hawaiian onto the back foot. He concluded, “I’d put his back to the cage, I’d go high, I’d go low, I’d keep him guessing, and I’d put everything straight down the middle. Just boom, and sneak one around the corner when he doesn’t expect it. That’s it, goodnight. It’s a good fight for both of them. When you look at the state of the UFC over the last couple of months, you can’t say that anybody is going to win.”

While McGregor is set to headline UFC 329 against Holloway, Garry has a massive challenge of his own awaiting him. The Irish contender is scheduled to challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15.

Should both Irishmen emerge victorious in their respective bouts, the UFC could find itself with a blockbuster matchup on its hands. A showdown between McGregor and Garry would instantly become one of the most talked-about fights in the sport, pitting the promotion’s biggest star against one of its fastest-rising champions.

Charles Oliveira Claims Conor McGregor Handpicked Max Holloway Over Him for UFC 329 Return

Posted on by Kshitiz Kumar Singh

Remember when Conor McGregor sported a Brazilian flag-themed mouthguard during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021? The move appeared to be a calculated attempt to catch the attention of then-newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, who had captured the vacant title by defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 262. Had McGregor defeated Poirier in their Sin City rubber match, he likely would have secured an immediate shot at the 155-pound title. 

The customized mouthguard seemed to hint at exactly where his focus was: a blockbuster showdown with Oliveira. However, those plans came crashing down when McGregor suffered a gruesome leg break at the end of the opening round, bringing the fight to a premature conclusion. The long-anticipated matchup with Oliveira never materialized, as McGregor did not return to UFC competition for years. 

Now, ‘The Notorious’ is finally set to make his Octagon comeback against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on July 11 during International Fight Week. Despite the passage of time, Oliveira still appears interested in securing a lucrative fight against the Irish superstar. In fact, the former lightweight champion recently suggested that McGregor deliberately chose Holloway over him for his return bout.

Speaking to Action Network, Oliveira said, “He actually asked for the fight to be three rounds, and he picked the opponent. Because, in reality, everyone knows that fight was supposed to be against me, but he chose the opponent. That’s part of the game. You’ve got to choose what you think is best for you.”

 

Oliveira’s argument carries some weight. After all, he delivered a dominant performance against Max Holloway at UFC 326, capturing the BMF title in convincing fashion. Based on that showing, there was a strong case for ‘Do Bronx’ to be the man welcoming McGregor back to the Octagon. Instead, the Irish superstar opted for a rematch with Holloway, likely due to the history they share.

McGregor and Holloway first met in August 2013, when the Irishman defeated the future featherweight king early in both men’s UFC careers. The bout was notable not only for the result but also because both fighters competed through adversity. Holloway entered the contest with an ankle injury, while McGregor famously tore his ACL during the fight, an injury that ultimately required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process. Despite the significance of their first encounter, the two fan favorites never met again inside the cage. 

Following his defeat to McGregor, Holloway embarked on one of the greatest runs in UFC history, winning 13 consecutive fights while capturing the featherweight title and successfully defending it multiple times. Over the years, the Hawaiian has built a Hall of Fame-caliber resume and later transitioned to the lightweight division, where he currently holds a 1-1 record, highlighted by a memorable victory over Justin Gaethje and a loss to Oliveira.

 

Meanwhile, Oliveira appears ready to shift his focus back to championship gold. After Gaethje stunned Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to claim the undisputed lightweight title, the Brazilian has made it clear that he wants a shot at the new champion. With Gaethje reportedly not expected to compete again in 2026 and McGregor choosing a different opponent for his return, Oliveira believes the most logical path is to wait for a title opportunity in 2027, potentially challenging for both the lightweight and BMF belts in a blockbuster showdown and a rematch from their iconic UFC 274 encounter four years ago.