The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has a contingency plan in place
for the UFC
330 main event.

Undefeated welterweight contender Michael
Morales has been tabbed as the official backup for the
championship bout between Islam
Makhachev and Ian Garry,
which headlines UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in
Philadelphia.

Michael Morales becomes UFC 330 backup for Islam Makhachev vs.
Ian Garry title fight

Morales (19-0) has confirmed that he has been instructed to make
championship weight (170 pounds) and remain on standby should
either Makhachev (28-1) or Garry (17-1) be forced to withdraw due
to injury, illness or any other unforeseen circumstance.

The assignment marks another significant milestone for the
Ecuadorian prospect, who has rapidly emerged as one of the
division’s top contenders. Morales has remained unbeaten through
seven Octagon appearances and secured the biggest victory of his
career with a first-round knockout of Sean Brady
in November last year.

The
Dana White's Contender Series alum has also built significant
momentum, in terms of both results and popularity, winning three
consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses in his last three
outings.

Sean
Strickland has slammed fighter compensation in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Strickland recently detailed the financial plight of newly signed
UFC fighters. The outspoken reigning middleweight champion also hit
out at a UFC matchmaker and some of the promotion's practices that
have rubbed him the wrong way.

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland says aspiring
fighters should understand the financial challenges of MMA

During a recent appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show,†Strickland
offered a blunt assessment of the life of the average UFC athlete,
arguing that entry-level contracts and the financial realities of
competing in the Octagon leave many fighters struggling to make
ends meet despite reaching MMA's biggest stage.

“When you're a fighter, you're so f*cking poor,†Strickland said.
“Even in the UFC. UFC guys, they're signing guys at like, 10 and
10, [$10,000] to show, [$10,000] to win, $20 grand. So, then you
pay off your manager, you pay taxes; if you lose, you only get like
eight, seven grand.â€

According to Strickland, the financial challenges become even more
severe when injuries or inactivity enter the equation. While he
acknowledged that the UFC provides life-changing opportunities for
many international fighters, he described the promotion's pay
structure as “predatory,†particularly for athletes based in the
United States.

Strickland also criticized the UFC's matchmaking process, claiming
fighters often feel pressured to accept short-notice bouts because
declining them can lead to lengthy layoffs. He then singled out
longtime UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby, saying fighters often fear
turning down opportunities because of the possibility of being
sidelined for months.

“This guy [Shelby] is so f*cking brutal,†Strickland added. “You
could have a boring fight or something, and this mother*cker will
bench you for like eight months. Or you could say, ‘Hey Sean, I
want a fight.' He'll call you two weeks out from a fight… And if
you say no, he'll bench your ass. Yeah, the UFC is f*cking
brutal.â€

Strickland even suggested he'd discourage aspiring fighters from
pursuing a UFC career, though he stopped short of dismissing the
opportunities the organization has provided him. Despite his
criticism, Strickland acknowledged the opportunities the UFC has
provided.

“As much as I hate the UFC and I knock on them, they give people
opportunity you'd never have,†Strickland concluded. “I'd never
have opportunity.â€

Coach Javier Mendez claims Magomed
Zaynukov is a well-rounded fighter.

Muay thai specialist Zaynukov (9-0) stands out in Khabib
Nurmagomedov's team, which is known for its dominant
wrestling-heavy approach. However, Mendez claims Zaynukov has
developed a well-rounded arsenal and has the potential to emerge as
a big star in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Javier Mendez explains why Magomed Zaynukov's wrestling growth
makes him more than a Muay Thai specialist

The
American Kickboxing Academy head coach claims Zaynukov gives
Islam
Makhachev tough rounds in sparring as he has sharpened his
wrestling defense and has even accrued some ground attacks. Mendez
also believes that “Wild Chanco†will grow into a fan favorite,
given his fighting style.

“Chanco gives Islam some really tough rounds because he's gotten
really good at defending and surviving on the ground and getting
back up,†Mendez told Red Corner MMA. “Or even attacking on the
ground. ‘Chanco' is a total MMA package. Don't look at him as just
a Thai boxer. He's a total package. He can do it all… He likes to
strike because that's what he's done his whole life… People
normally tend to like the strikers over the ground guys. So
‘Chanco' is going to be a fan favorite for sure.â€

Zaynukov earned a contract on
Dana White's Contender Series last year and made his UFC debut
against Damian
Rzepecki at
UFC Abu Dhabi. He battered Rzepecki with a variety of strikes,
including some flashy elbows, en route to a decision win.

“Chanko is a total MMA package. Don't look
at him as just a Thai boxer.â€

Earlier this year, we caught up with coach Javier Mendez, who spoke
highly of Magomed “Chanko†Zaynukov, calling him a complete mixed
martial artist with all the tools to become a UFC fan favourite
and… pic.twitter.com/koOENnlzWG

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
July 29, 2026