Issue 232

August 2026

Fighters Only’s social media editor, Paul Browne, picks out his highlights from the past month on MMA social media.

COMEBACK SEASON HAS A VIEW

Nothing says the real work begins quite like delivering your comeback manifesto from beside a swimming pool. Conor McGregor may be sitting in a cast, but the promotional machine remains completely uninjured. Even surgery somehow becomes another chapter in the comeback story. Rehab starts now. Presumably after someone brings the drinks over.

ALI’S CRYSTAL BALL IS BACK

Ali Abdelaziz got one prediction right and has immediately decided this is now a transferable skill. This time he’s putting Usman Nurmagomedov forward as the next man to solve the Topuria problem, complete with a four-round deadline. One correct pick and suddenly the manager has become Mystic Ali. 

MATCHMAKER BY MORNING

Josh Hokit has decided winning fights is only half the job, so he’s apparently taken over matchmaking too. Gane at MSG, Pereira in January and Aspinall politely removed from the storyline. It’s less a callout and more a six-month UFC business plan delivered by a man volunteering to do all the punching. 

JUST CLEARING THE AIR

Speaking of Tom Aspinall. He has reached that entertaining stage of a story where he has to publicly deny something he never publicly announced in the first place. It’s very English. One rumour was apparently enough to have the heavyweight champion packing imaginary bags. Social media remains the only place where you can quit your job without knowing you quit your job. 

PATIENCE WAS NEVER THE PLAN

Khamzat Chimaev has never shown much interest in waiting rooms, queues or the general concept of taking your turn. While everyone else discusses contenders and matchmaking, he’s gone directly to Dana White asking for someone to fight.