UFC burning questions — Is that this actually the top for Nate Diaz? Is Sean O’Malley near gold?

After two title fights stole the present in Dallas final weekend at UFC 277 to finish the month of July, the promotion will flip the web page, beginning with a stacked schedule in August, which is able to function two UFC Battle Nights earlier than UFC 278 on Aug. 20.

With a busy month forward, our writers study the TUF Season 30 finals, fascinating fights occurring this month, and the upcoming prime contender elimination combat between Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley. Plus, what does Nate Diaz do after his bout with Khamzat Chimaev?

Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim reply these UFC questions and extra forward of UFC Battle Evening: Thiago Santos vs. Jamahal Hill on Saturday (9 p.m. E.T. on ESPN and ESPN+).

After Usman-Edwards at UFC 278, which combat in August intrigues you most?

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Marlon Moraes and Merab Dvalishvili showcase their unimaginable stamina in Spherical 1 of their UFC 266 bout.

Wagenheim: Sorry to be Captain Apparent by pointing to the co-main occasion, however Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili fascinates me as a gathering on the crossroads between a legendary former champion and a surging contender. Aldo has rejuvenated his profession with a three-fight profitable streak, however will he nonetheless be on prime of his sport at 36? Particularly, will his famously stingy takedown protection maintain up towards the relentless Dvalishvili, who has had 11-, 12- and 13-takedown nights within the UFC? If Aldo can maintain the combat standing, Dvalishvili can be out of his factor, along with his seven-fight profitable streak on the road.

Okamoto: I am gonna go together with Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. Marlon Vera vs. Dominick Cruz is a detailed, shut second — and truly, I feel that can be a extra entertaining combat to observe, however Costa vs. Rockhold has my curiosity. Costa is an entire thriller at this level. He has all of the bodily instruments to be a serious participant at this weight (or gentle heavyweight) for a very long time, however the place is his mindset at?

The entire state of affairs final yr with Marvin Vettori and lacking weight was weird. Now, he is coping with inactivity. The date of this combat was pushed again. Rockhold wished it lots earlier than August. I do not know what we will get, and that is irritating as a result of Costa can combat. And Rockhold, he sounds as fired up and as devoted as he is ever been. There are a whole lot of query marks round this one.

Raimondi: Aldo vs. Dvalishvili. Not solely will the winner be one of many prime contenders within the bantamweight division — the very best weight class within the sport — however the stylistic matchup is past fascinating. Dvalishvili is without doubt one of the most relentless wrestlers in MMA historical past, a takedown machine. Aldo, in the meantime, has spent his legendary profession avoiding takedowns masterfully and maintaining issues on the toes, the place he’s superior to simply about everybody else. One thing must give right here, and it is not possible to foretell precisely how this may go. Aldo represents by far the hardest check of Dvalishvili’s profession.

Who of the 4 TUF finalists has the very best ceiling?

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Crew Peña heavyweight fighter Zac Pauga explains his mindset heading into his semifinal matchup towards teammate Jordan Heiderman.

Okamoto: Zac Pauga. It is a whole homer decide by me, full disclosure. Pauga and I share an alma mater in Colorado State College. However, it is also simply the right reply. The one factor working towards Pauga is time. He is already 34, which is not precisely a younger age to interrupt into the UFC. However, all the pieces else is working for him. He is an A-plus athlete. Any time you are speaking a few former NFL participant, that is motive sufficient to take a better look. He is at an ideal camp in Elevation Battle Crew in Denver, working with one other nice heavyweight in Curtis Blaydes. I am unable to consider a greater state of affairs for Pauga to develop right into a reliable contender. He is additionally in a division that’s all the time large open. It would not take that lengthy to make a splash at heavyweight should you can string collectively a few good outcomes.

Wagenheim: I am not a TUF man. I choose the Contender Sequence as a gauge of the place UFC hopefuls stand as a result of they’re ready for his or her tryout by their common coaches, not by energetic fighters who use the fact present to pump up curiosity in their very own conflict. So, once I watched the Season 30 semifinals to reply this query, these have been the primary TUF fights for me in no less than ten seasons. And, I did not precisely come away because the president of anyone’s fan membership.

Mohammed Usman has the title worth to get himself observed, however that hasn’t been a lot of a boon for Antonina Shevchenko, the sister of UFC ladies’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. And actually, I disagreed with the break up determination that went Usman’s means in his semifinal combat towards Eduardo Perez. I used to be most impressed by Usman’s finals opponent, Zac Pauga, who may make some noise if he drops again all the way down to his standard division, gentle heavyweight.

Raimondi: How cool wouldn’t it be to see The Usman Brothers within the UFC? The elder Usman, the pound-for-pound king within the sport, has often been in his youthful brother’s nook for matches and will add an fascinating dynamic to the game. Usman, a former collegiate defensive finish at Arizona with a wrestling background from his highschool days in Texas, has the potential to develop within the sport. Plus, having mentors like UFC Corridor of Famer Rashad Evans and the present welterweight champ helps.

Over/underneath: Nate Diaz will combat 1.5 extra fights in his UFC profession.

Wagenheim: I will go together with the underneath. Diaz marches to the beat of his personal drum, which is without doubt one of the many issues that endear him to followers. He has lengthy been a person who desires out of the UFC to money in with a boxing match towards a YouTuber or launch a hashish model or one thing. And the UFC certain appears prepared (lastly) to say goodbye to Diaz, reserving him towards probably the most daunting names on the roster.

If he derails the Khamzat Chimaev hype practice on his means out the door, would not it’s essentially the most Diaz factor ever?

Raimondi: I will take the underneath. After his combat with Chimaev at UFC 279 on Sept. 10, Diaz will virtually definitely stroll. What he does subsequent is not as sure.

Diaz will definitely have a boxing match with Jake Paul on the desk, and hey, perhaps now that Paul is just not combating Hasim Rahman Jr. on Saturday it will increase the probabilities of Diaz vs. Paul much more. If Paul misplaced to Rahman, a possible bout with Diaz would have misplaced a little bit of its luster. Now, the sphere is large open, relying on what occurs with Diaz towards Chimaev.

Okamoto: Beneath. If he have been to signal a brand new contract with the UFC, he would have accomplished it over the past a number of months. There have been a whole lot of negotiations, and I’d say the UFC was aggressive of their pursuit to re-sign him. They’d a plan for Diaz if he selected to remain round, and so they introduced him with it. Supposedly, they wished to place collectively a package deal that may have benefited everybody, and on the finish of the day, Diaz nonetheless selected to combat out his present deal.

Now, can each side reconvene after September and are available to a brand new deal? In fact, it is potential. However I do not see what would change between every now and then to influence Diaz to signal when he already had an opportunity. I feel it is fairly clear Diaz has different plans outdoors of the UFC for his rapid future.

The very best prospect to combat in August is ________________.

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Terrance McKinney wins his second UFC combat in simply 2:11 as he submits Fares Ziam.

Raimondi: Some individuals might need gotten off the Terrance McKinney bandwagon after he misplaced to Drew Dober in March. I’m assuredly not a type of individuals. McKinney damage Dober in that combat and practically completed him. And Dober is rattling good. Take a look at his end of Rafael Alves at UFC 277 final Saturday evening. The man is a stud.

McKinney is 2-1 within the UFC with two first-round finishes, together with a seven-second knockout over Matt Frevola. He is nonetheless solely 27 years previous and getting higher. One factor he has that can not be taught is confidence. He went toe to toe with Dober, who has enormous energy in his fingers, and he did not hesitate. Perhaps that might get him in hassle at occasions, however it’s additionally one thing he can harness as he positive aspects extra expertise.

Okamoto: Terrance McKinney. His loss to Dober doesn’t suggest he is not an ideal prospect. Dober is hard as nails, and albeit, I used to be a bit stunned the UFC made that combat in McKinney’s third look.

McKinney has bodily instruments that leap off the display. He already would not have many holes in his sport, and he is a type of guys I count on to see actual enhancements in each time he fights. Together with his bodily items, measurement and mentality, I count on a whole lot of enchancment from him within the subsequent few years. Verify again in three when he needs to be hitting his peak at 30 years previous, and I feel we will have one thing right here.

Wagenheim: Jamahal Hill, one-half of subsequent Saturday’s principal occasion, is within the prime 10 of the UFC’s gentle heavyweight rankings, so perhaps he is elevated himself above “prospect” standing. His reserving on the prime of the cardboard helps the notion that the UFC views Hill as a contender. However, there is a lengthy highway from No. 10 to the belt, so I will spotlight the truth that he constructed his 10-1 report on the power of first-round knockouts of fellow prospects Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute in addition to a KO of veteran Ovince Saint Preux. If Hill can deal with former title challenger Thiago Santos, he’ll supercharge his ascent.

If Sean O’Malley beats Petr Yan, will he have accomplished sufficient to earn a title shot?

Wagenheim: Completely and emphatically. And it is about time. From the second O’Malley burst on the scene in 2017, he has been underneath a shinier highlight than his matchups have warranted. That is largely a byproduct of his blustery mouth, his radiant hairdo, and his edge-of-the-seat combating type. However, whereas O’Malley has talked an enormous sport, he has but to legitimize his high-octane hype with a high-level win. A victory over Yan, a former champion who’s the No. 1 contender within the UFC males’s bantamweight division, could be the “Suga Sean” eye opener we have all been ready for.

Okamoto: Completely. Yan is as legit as they arrive at 135 kilos. He is ranked solely behind the champion, who some felt he beat of their rematch earlier this yr. Originally of the yr, I had Yan ranked contained in the Prime 5 pound-for-pound fighters on this planet.

It is a quick observe for O’Malley. You’ll be able to definitely make the argument that even when he does beat Yan, he was capable of speed up via the division a lot sooner than most — due to the chance that is been given to him. However, he earned that by making individuals care about his fights and delivering when wanted. I am personally not stunned the UFC put this combat collectively, and sure, I consider O’Malley’s subsequent combat can be for a championship if he beats Yan.

Raimondi: The highest of the bantamweight division is fairly darn crowded. TJ Dillashaw, the previous champion, is subsequent to problem champion Aljamain Sterling. One must think about if Aldo beats Dvalishvili, he’d be subsequent in line. However actually, the reply to this query is totally.

O’Malley already has a large following amongst followers and if he have been to beat Yan, that help ought to solely go up tenfold. If O’Malley wins this combat at UFC 280 in October, the sky is the restrict for him when it comes to stardom. We would not be speaking about Conor McGregor-level but, however it could be the closest factor the UFC has needed to that in years. So, absolutely O’Malley would have accomplished sufficient simply when it comes to marketability alone to get the title shot with a Yan victory.