Pimblett's Next Move and RDA's Return

We summarize the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

• Andrew Tackett calls out Paddy Pimblett after nasty UFC BJJ 10 win; Moura vs. Fornarino finals set (Yahoo Sports MMA)
• “Just Can’t Do That” Paddy Pimblett on Sean Strickland, Khamzat Chimaev and Why Fake Beef Is Not for Him (LowKick MMA)
• Main Card Results | UFC Sacramento (UFC News)
• Former UFC champion returns after two years out at UFC 332 despite fan calls for him to retire (Bloody Elbow)
• Paddy Pimblett: ‘I’m gonna absolutely terrorize’ Ilia Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan if we fight in the UFC (MMA Fighting)
• Paddy Pimblett teases fight news after encounter with Justin Gaethje at UFC 330: ‘Next few days...’ (Bloody Elbow)
• Tyron Woodley Says Islam Makhachev’s UFC 330 Discipline Is ‘A Lost Art’ After Ian Machado Garry Win (MiddleEasy)
• Paddy Pimblett calls one potential Islam Makhachev challenger a ‘future champion’ (Bloody Elbow)
• Gregory Robocop rejects age factor and focuses on title run in UFC (Ag. Fight (BR))
• Paddy Pimblett Says UFC 329 Cage Weight Hit 190 Pounds After Benoit Saint Denis Win (MiddleEasy)
• Rafael dos Anjos Gets Alexander Hernandez UFC 332 Return After Two-Year Layoff (MiddleEasy)
• Ex-NFL Linebacker Anthony Wint Makes UFC Debut Days After Winning Contract by KO (Yahoo Sports MMA)
• Arman Tsarukyan Plays Matchmaker for Ilia Topuria (Yahoo Sports MMA)
• Ketlen Vieira Calls UFC Release ‘Unbelievable’ Before Cris Cyborg PFL Tampa Title Fight (MiddleEasy)

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. This is episode 64 for August 21st, 2026, your daily look at what's happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC. DUKE: We're kicking things off today with some big news out of the grappling world, and it involves none other than Paddy Pimblett. Andrew Tackett, after a nasty win at UFC BJJ 10, didn't just call out fellow grapplers; he went straight for the MMA fighters, specifically naming Paddy. NORA: That's right. Tackett had a brutal submission win, and he's not shy about who he wants next. He told Yahoo Sports MMA, quote, "I think most of the jiujitsu people are scared. I don't think they'll step up to go against me, so I'm going to call out MMA fighters because I know they have balls," end quote. DUKE: He didn't stop there either. He actually called out Sean Brady first, which is a pretty bold move, but then he threw down the gauntlet for Paddy Pimblett. NORA: It's an interesting challenge, especially given Paddy's own submission game. Tackett clearly sees an opportunity to make a name for himself against a high-profile UFC fighter, even if it's in a BJJ setting. DUKE: And the MMA community on X is already buzzing about it. It's the kind of crossover challenge that always gets people talking. But speaking of Paddy, he's been making some waves himself, teasing some big fight news after an encounter with Justin Gaethje at UFC 330. NORA: He did. He mentioned, quote, "Next few days..." end quote, implying an announcement is imminent. This comes after his statement win over Benoit Saint Denis, which really re-inserted him into the lightweight conversation. DUKE: Yeah, Joe Rogan has been pretty high on Pimblett after that performance. It feels like he's finally hitting his stride and getting some serious attention for his in-cage work, not just his personality. NORA: And he's been talking about potential opponents too. He said he's going to, quote, "absolutely terrorize" end quote Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan if they ever fight in the UFC. That's a strong statement, especially considering Topuria's recent upset loss to Justin Gaethje. DUKE: He's not shying away from the top guys, that's for sure. It's clear he sees himself in that upper echelon. And he even called one potential Islam Makhachev challenger a, quote, "future champion," end quote, which shows he's paying attention to the division's landscape. NORA: He's definitely got his eye on the welterweight division as well, not just lightweight. And it's worth noting that after his win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329, Paddy said his cage weight hit around one hundred ninety pounds after rehydration. That's a significant cut for lightweight. DUKE: One hundred ninety pounds? That's a serious rehydration. It makes you wonder how long he can comfortably make one hundred fifty five pounds, or if a move up to welterweight is in his future. But let's shift gears a bit. We've got a former UFC champion making his return after two years out, despite some fans calling for him to retire. NORA: Rafael dos Anjos is back. He hasn't been in action since two thousand twenty four, when he suffered a knee injury against Geoff Neal. He's set to return at UFC 332 against Alexander Hernandez. DUKE: Two years is a long time in this sport, especially with a knee injury. It's a tough comeback, but RDA has always been known for his grit. He is returning after such a long layoff. NORA: Absolutely. He's a veteran, a former champion, and he's faced the best of the best. But ring rust and age are real factors. This fight against Hernandez will be a true test of where he stands in the division. DUKE: Speaking of returns, Tyron Woodley had some interesting comments about Islam Makhachev's discipline after UFC 330, comparing it to the distractions that he felt hurt his own title reign. NORA: Woodley praised Makhachev's focus, calling it, quote, "a lost art," end quote. He highlighted the importance of staying grounded and avoiding distractions, which is something many fighters struggle with, especially after reaching the top. DUKE: It's a good point. The mental game is just as crucial as the physical in this sport, and maintaining that discipline when you're at the top is incredibly difficult. NORA: He does. And it's a testament to his team and his own dedication. It's easy to get caught up in the hype, but staying focused on the task at hand is what separates the good from the great. DUKE: We've also got some news about a fighter rejecting the age factor and focusing on a title run. Gregory Robocop Rodrigues is about to headline UFC Sacramento, and he's thirty four years old, but he says he hasn't reached his best physical form yet. NORA: That's Gregory Rodrigues, who's headlining UFC Sacramento in a decisive middleweight bout. He's confident in his longevity and believes he's still improving, which is a mindset you need to have at this stage of your career. DUKE: It's a tough division, middleweight. But if he truly feels he's still getting better, that's a dangerous proposition for his opponents. We're hearing he's got a main event this Saturday, August twenty second. NORA: And that's a big fight for him to prove that point. A win there could certainly propel him closer to a title shot, especially if he puts on a dominant performance. DUKE: And speaking of UFC Sacramento, we've got an ex-NFL linebacker making his UFC debut just days after winning a contract by knockout. Anthony Wint, who had a thirty four second knockout at Contender Series, is stepping in to fight Terrance Chatman. NORA: That's a quick turnaround. From a Contender Series knockout to a UFC debut in a matter of days. It shows the UFC's confidence in him and his ability to perform under pressure. DUKE: It's a huge opportunity for him. To get that quick call-up after such a dominant performance, it's a dream come true for many fighters. He's got a chance to make an immediate impact. NORA: He does. And it's always exciting to see athletes from other sports transition to MMA, especially with that kind of explosive power. DUKE: We've also got Arman Tsarukyan playing matchmaker for Ilia Topuria. Topuria hasn't fought since his upset loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom two hundred fifty, where he took a lot of damage. NORA: Tsarukyan is suggesting Topuria return later this year or early next. It's clear he's keeping an eye on the lightweight landscape, and he's not afraid to weigh in on who should fight whom. DUKE: It's a smart move for Tsarukyan to stay relevant and keep his name in the conversation, especially with Topuria being such a high-profile fighter. Everyone's looking for that next big fight. NORA: And finally, Ketlen Vieira called her UFC release, quote, "unbelievable," end quote, before facing Cris Cyborg for the PFL featherweight title at PFL Tampa. DUKE: That's a tough one. To be released from the UFC and then immediately get a title shot against a legend like Cris Cyborg in another major promotion. It's a testament to her skill, but also a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in this sport. NORA: It really is. It highlights the competitive nature of the UFC roster and the opportunities that exist in other organizations for top talent. That PFL fight is a huge moment for her career. DUKE: Okay, so let's talk about our OSM Pick for the week. We're looking at Jean Silva. NORA: We are. Our model has Jean Silva to win, with about seventy nine percent confidence. DUKE: Seventy nine percent. That's a strong lean. NORA: It is. The betting line implies around seventy five percent for Silva, so we're actually a bit higher than the market on this one. DUKE: So we're seeing something the market might be underestimating a little bit. NORA: Exactly. The top reasons our model is so confident are that finishing favors Silva, and form also heavily favors Silva. DUKE: Finishing and form. So he's got the power and he's been looking sharp. NORA: That's the read. He's been consistently performing at a high level, and his ability to finish fights is a significant factor in our projection. DUKE: So we're going with Jean Silva, seventy nine percent, for the win. NORA: That's our pick. DUKE: Alright, that's going to wrap up this edition of Open Scoring MMA. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you next time.

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