Combat calendar in July: Frenetic end of month for UFC propped up by boxing events to keep fans entertained
July is a rather strange month for combat sports, with a decidedly backend-heavy UFC schedule and boxing cards flying under the radar.
With this week being one of the rare weekends with no UFC action, combat sports fans will have to turn their attention elsewhere for their fight fix.
Yet the rest of July is a rather stop-start affair too, with seven notable boxing cards scattered throughout the month alongside six solid MMA cards; all of which culminate in the enormous UFC Manchester PPV.
Here is your complete guide to combat sports in the month of July, kicking off with a trio of boxing events that are sure to keep fans entertained.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesNate Diaz vs Jorge Masvidal 2 – Boxing, Saturday 6
We start July with a grudge match for the ages, with former UFC superstars Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal and Nate Diaz set to settle their long-standing feud in the boxing ring.
The undercard also features Anthony Pettis and Sean Garcia, brother of ‘King Ry’, so there should be plenty of action both in and out of the ring in Anaheim.
Diaz vs Masvidal 2 goes down on Saturday, July 6 and will be available to stream via DAZN and via Fanmio.
Johnny Fisher vs Alen Babic – Boxing, Saturday 6
Earlier in the night and across the pond, undefeated British heavyweight hopeful Johnny Fisher looks to extend his record to 12-0 as he takes on Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic from London.
The undercard also features multiple undefeated prospects, with this event being one to watch for those boxing fans with a keen eye on the next generation of talent.
Fisher vs Babic takes place on Saturday, July 6 and will also be available to stream via DAZN.
Shakur Stevenson vs Artem Harutyunyan – Boxing, Saturday 6
Yet arguably the single best fight of the weekend will arrive from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey when superstar Shakur Stevenson puts his undefeated record on the line against Artem Harutyunyan.
That highly anticipated bout will be contested for the WBC world lightweight title, with the likes of O’Shaquie Foster and Keyshawn Davis also gracing the undercard.
Stevenson vs Harutyunyan is scheduled for Saturday, July 6 and will be available to watch on ESPN in America and Sky Sports Action in the UK.
PFL MENA 2 – MMA, Friday 12
The PFL returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for another enormous card of up-and-coming MMA talent, headlined by Jarrah Al-Silawi taking on Bashar Thaer in the main event.
There are seven undefeated fighters scattered throughout the card, which makes PFL MENA a fantastic way to spend your Friday evening.
That’s right, PFL MENA is a rare Friday fight card set for July 12 and will be available through DAZN.
UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs Cortez – MMA, Saturday 13
Following a week break, the UFC returns to Denver for a Fight Night card headlined by former champion Rose Namajunas taking on popular contender Tracy Cortez.
There’s a solid undercard in support of the main event, with the likes of Santiago Ponzinibbio, Gabriel Bonfim, Christian Rodriguez and Joshua Culibao also set to feature.
UFC Fight Night Denver takes place on Saturday, July 13 and will be live on TNT Sports in the UK, and ESPN in America.
Jaron Ennis vs David Avanesyan – Boxing, Saturday 13
One of the most popular champions in all of boxing, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis returns to action in his first bout of 2024 to fight David Avanesyan for the IBF world welterweight title.
Two other names standout on the undercard, undefeated title challengers Henry Lebron and Skye Nicolson – both of whom could be superstars in the making, should they win in Philadelphia.
Ennis vs Avanesyan goes down on Saturday, July 13 and will be available to watch on DAZN.
Cage Warriors 174 – MMA, Saturday 20
The first of two key Cage Warriors events goes down from the Indigo at The O2 with the flyweight championship title on the line between Shajidul Haque and Nicolas Leblond.
With a grand total of 16 bouts set to feature, this will certainly be one of those events fans will need to get one, if not several buckets of popcorn for.
Cage Warriors 174 takes place on Saturday, July 20 and will be available to watch via the UFC Fight Pass.
UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs Jandiroba – MMA, Saturday 20
The second UFC event of the month sees the promotion returning to The Apex for a card headlined by Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba.
Undoubtedly the worst main event of the month, the undercard thankfully makes up for it with Brad Tavares, Jun Yong Park, Doo Ho Choi, and undefeated prospect Hyder Amil also set to fight.
UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs Jandiroba goes down on Saturday, July 20 – the event will be available via TNT Sports in the UK, and ESPN in America.
Jake Paul vs Mike Perry – Boxing, Saturday 20
Whilst it certainly isn’t the ‘best’ boxing fight of the month, YouTube sensation turned pro boxer Jake Paul vs former UFC turned BKFC superstar Mike Perry will likely be the most-watched boxing event of July.
Amanda Serrano also returns to action in the co-main event of the evening, with former UFC star Uriah Hall also set to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr further down the card.
Paul vs Perry is scheduled for Saturday, July 20 and will be available to stream via DAZN.
Cage Warriors 175 – MMA, Thursday 25
The second CW event of the month is a big one, with Dario Bellandi set to defend his middleweight title against Swedish KO artist Robin Roos.
UFC fans will also be happy to see Welsh star Mason Jones return to action, he takes on Michael Pagani in the co-main event of the evening.
Cage Warriors 175 takes place on Thursday, July 25 and will be available to watch via the UFC Fight Pass.
Joe Joyce vs Derek Chisora – Boxing, Saturday 27
Go big or go home is the name of the game when heavyweights Joe Joyce and Derek Chisora clash at The O2 Arena in London, the loser is expected to hang up the gloves for good.
Elsewhere on that card, undefeated prospect Dennis McCann looks to earn the EBU European Super Bantamweight title from 16-4-1 Romanian fighter Ionut Baluta.
Joyce vs Chisora goes down on Saturday, July 27 and will be available via TNT Sports in the UK and via ESPN+ in America.
UFC 304: Edwards vs Muhammad 2 – MMA, Saturday 27
Undoubtedly the biggest MMA event of July and arguably the biggest combat sports event of the entire month goes down in Manchester, England in an enormous UFC PPV event.
Champions Leon Edwards and Tom Aspinall defend their titles, with the likes of Paddy Pimblett, Muhammad Mokaev, Arnold Allen and Molly McCann all set to return.
UFC 304 takes place on Saturday, July 27 and will be available to watch via TNT Sports in the UK and via ESPN+ PPV in America.
Claressa Shields vs Vanessa Joanisse – Boxing, Saturday 27
We round out July with the return of the GWOAT, Claressa Shields makes her move back into the world of boxing after her foray into MMA as she takes on 7-1 Canadian Vanessa Joanisse.
Shields remains 14-0 as a professional and looks to add the WBC female heavyweight title to her already iconic mantlepiece from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Shields vs Joanisse goes down on Saturday, July 27 and will be available to watch via DAZN.
Overall, July is a decidedly mixed bag for combat sports fans; there are plenty of amazing fights on, it just might take a bit of patience to get through some of the weaker events first.
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