MMA Brain Breaks Down UFC Abu Dhabi and Makes Its Picks for UFC Belgrade
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Who wins at UFC Abu Dhabi? Jeremy Fairhurst’s latest MMA Brain coverage breaks down the matchup and asks fans to make their pick.
Jeremy Fairhurst examines Magomed Ankalaev’s return, rising contenders, major UFC news and the three fights that could define the promotion’s first event in Serbia.
The latest episode of MMA Brain gave viewers more than a standard UFC recap.
JMurrayAthletics host Jeremy Fairhurst reviewed the most important performances from UFC Abu Dhabi, addressed several developing stories from around mixed martial arts and made his predictions for the UFC’s upcoming debut in Belgrade, Serbia.
Fairhurst’s coverage centered on one question that frequently determines the direction of a UFC division: Which fighters are building genuine momentum, and which established names may be running out of opportunities?
That question applied to nearly every major topic discussed during the episode, from Magomed Ankalaev’s methodical victory over Bogdan Guskov to Uroš Medić’s dangerous UFC Belgrade main event against Daniel Rodriguez.
Conor McGregor Expected to Miss Another Year
Fairhurst opened the show with an update on Conor McGregor, whose return at UFC 329 ended after only 69 seconds when he suffered ACL and meniscus damage during his fight with Max Holloway.
UFC CEO Dana White has since said McGregor is expected to remain out for approximately one year. That timeline would potentially place his next appearance in the summer of 2027, when McGregor will be approaching his 39th birthday. McGregor has publicly floated the idea of returning during International Fight Week for what could become the final fight of his UFC contract.
Fairhurst remained skeptical that another McGregor comeback will materialize.
That skepticism is understandable. McGregor has now suffered two major leg injuries during an extended period of limited activity. Rehabilitation videos may demonstrate that he intends to return, but a social-media workout is not the same as completing a training camp or receiving medical clearance to compete.
The UFC will almost certainly continue building its biggest events without depending on McGregor. Should he return, it will be treated as a major attraction. Until a contract is signed and he reaches fight week healthy, however, another McGregor appearance remains a possibility rather than a guarantee.
Salahdine Parnasse Receives Immediate UFC Paris Main Event
Another major announcement covered during the episode was the UFC signing of former KSW champion Salahdine Parnasse.
The French lightweight is scheduled to make his promotional debut against Dan Hooker in the UFC Paris main event on September 5. Parnasse enters the organization with a 23-2 record and a reputation as one of the most accomplished fighters previously competing outside the UFC.
Giving a newcomer an immediate main-event position is unusual, but the matchmaking makes sense.
Parnasse is already an established attraction in France, while Hooker remains one of the lightweight division’s most recognizable and consistently entertaining veterans. Hooker has lost consecutive fights to Benoît Saint Denis and Arman Tsarukyan, but those defeats came against elite competition. He remains a dangerous test for anyone entering the division.
A Parnasse victory could immediately create another contender at 155 pounds. A Hooker victory would remind the division that international hype does not guarantee success inside the UFC.
Anthony Smith Faces Serious Felony Charges
Fairhurst also addressed the arrest of former UFC title challenger and current analyst Anthony Smith.
Smith was arrested in Nebraska and charged with attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats and first-degree false imprisonment. A judge set his bond at $500,000 during a July 29 court appearance. Smith waived his preliminary hearing, and the case will proceed to district court. The arrest affidavit remained sealed at the time of publication, meaning the specific allegations underlying the charges had not been publicly released.
The charges are allegations, and Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty in court.
That distinction matters. The seriousness of the charges should not be minimized, but neither a mugshot nor a fighter’s appearance can establish what happened. Responsible coverage must remain focused on court records, statements from authorities and evidence released through the legal process.
Magomed Ankalaev Wins but Leaves Questions Behind
Inside the Octagon, UFC Abu Dhabi ended with Magomed Ankalaev defeating Bogdan Guskov by fifth-round TKO at 2:41.
Guskov entered as a replacement for Khalil Rountree Jr. and carried a five-fight unbeaten streak into the opportunity. Ankalaev controlled much of the fight before securing the stoppage with strikes on the ground.
Fairhurst acknowledged Ankalaev’s effectiveness but criticized the performance for lacking urgency.
That is a fair debate following a five-round victory. Ankalaev did what was necessary to neutralize a dangerous finisher, but this was also his opportunity to rebuild momentum following his title-fight loss to Alex Pereira.
He won convincingly. He did not necessarily produce the kind of performance that forces the UFC to immediately build another championship opportunity around him.
In a sport where entertainment value frequently influences matchmaking, those are not always the same achievement.
Valter Walker Continues Historic Submission Run
The most memorable technical finish of the event came from Valter Walker.
Thomas Petersen successfully defended the heel hook that had become Walker’s signature attack, but Walker immediately adjusted and secured a calf slicer at 1:32 of the opening round.
The victory gave Walker his fifth consecutive first-round submission and earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
That sequence may have revealed more about Walker than another heel-hook victory would have.
Opponents now understand what he wants to attack. Petersen prepared for it and initially stopped it. Walker’s ability to transition into another uncommon submission showed that he is not simply relying on one move against unprepared heavyweights.
The competition must become more difficult, but Walker is creating a legitimate identity in a division that desperately needs emerging personalities and specialists.
Ramazan Temirov Makes a Statement Against Steve Erceg
Ramazan Temirov delivered the card’s other major breakthrough when he stopped former title challenger Steve Erceg at 4:21 of the first round.
Temirov pressured Erceg, found his range and closed the fight with punches before the opening round ended. The performance earned him a bonus and moved him deeper into the flyweight conversation.
Erceg was once viewed as a potential long-term contender after pushing Alexandre Pantoja in a competitive championship fight. His recent results have made his position considerably less secure.
Temirov, meanwhile, now owns the type of victory that can accelerate a fighter through the rankings. Flyweight may have another dangerous finisher demanding a ranked opponent.
Rizvan Kuniev also defeated Tyrell Fortune by third-round TKO in a heavyweight fight that earned Fight of the Night. Kuniev’s repeated knees and sustained offense eventually overwhelmed Fortune after a competitive and physically demanding fight.
Jeremy Fairhurst’s UFC Belgrade Predictions
The UFC will hold its first event in Serbia on Saturday, August 1, at Belgrade Arena. The preliminary card is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the main card at 1 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Fairhurst identified three fights as the most important contests on the card.
Marcin Tybura Over Aleksandar Rakić
Aleksandar Rakić will make his heavyweight debut after losing four consecutive fights at light heavyweight. Marcin Tybura also enters needing a victory after two straight defeats.
The betting market has installed Rakić as the favorite, but Fairhurst selected Tybura.
His reasoning centers on proven heavyweight experience. Rakić may have the speed advantage, but adding weight does not automatically solve the durability, activity and confidence issues that accompanied his recent losses.
Fairhurst’s pick: Marcin Tybura
Navajo Stirling Over Jan Błachowicz
Former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz faces rising contender Navajo Stirling in the co-main event.
The fight creates a clear generational test. Błachowicz brings championship experience, proven power and years of elite competition. Stirling brings youth, momentum and the opportunity to claim the biggest victory of his career.
Fairhurst believes Stirling’s pace and current trajectory will be enough to overcome the veteran. That pick aligns with current betting odds, which list Stirling as a substantial favorite.
Fairhurst’s pick: Navajo Stirling
Daniel Rodriguez Over Uroš Medić
The main event presents the most difficult prediction.
Medić enters with a 13-3 record and a three-fight finishing streak, including a first-round knockout of Geoff Neal. Rodriguez holds a 20-5 record and has also won three consecutive fights, including victories over Alex Morono, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Kevin Holland.
Medić is the more explosive starter and will carry the support of the Serbian crowd. Rodriguez is the more experienced five-round fighter and has shown an ability to maintain his offense beyond the opening exchanges.
Fairhurst’s prediction comes down to survival.
Should Rodriguez withstand Medić’s early power, the fight could begin shifting toward the veteran’s pace, volume and experience. Fairhurst summarized the matchup by admitting that his heart favored the hometown finisher while his analysis favored Rodriguez.
Fairhurst’s pick: Daniel Rodriguez
UFC Belgrade Could Signal Several Changing Divisions
UFC Belgrade is not built around a championship fight, but the card carries significant consequences.
Medić can become a legitimate welterweight contender in front of his home crowd. Rodriguez can complete one of the most unlikely career recoveries of the year. Stirling can defeat a former champion, while Rakić can either successfully reinvent himself at heavyweight or suffer a fifth consecutive loss.
That is what made this week’s MMA Brain coverage compelling.
Fairhurst did not simply list winners and losers. He examined where the fighters are heading, which names still have momentum and which careers may be approaching a critical turning point.
The predictions are now official: Tybura, Stirling and Rodriguez.
On August 1, we find out whether the brain got it right.
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