Jon Jones re-enters drug testing pool. Tom Aspinall's ambitious plan for the next 12 months.

Mixed Martial Arts

Jon Jones has seemingly come out of retirement after re-entering the UFC’s drug testing pool. Jones’ retirement last a total of thirteen days. 

UFC Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria says his real goal was always to fight Islam Makhachev.

“My real goal always was Islam but since he decided to run away, he knows that I’m going to put him to sleep.”

Ilia Topuria doesn’t view Arman Tsarukyan as a threat – shares his thoughts on a potential bout.

“Tsarukyan is the easier of them all. He’s much easier than Paddy [Pimblett]. Much easier. I don’t even know what to call him. Imagine having the opportunity to fight for the world title and when the day comes, you pull out because your back hurts. I can’t conceive it. I can’t even understand it. I would have fought without an arm.”

Arman Tsarukyan says Ilia Topuria has never fought anyone in their prime. 

Daniel Cormier believes Ilia Topura being Pound-For-Pound No. 1. currently is correct but says should Islam Makhachev win the UFC Welterweight title from champion Jack Della Maddalena, Makhachev will be No.1. again.

"He is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter today. But if Islam is able to beat Jack Della Maddalena, it flips again and Islam goes back to No. 1. Only because of this, fighting style will then be proven to go up to the next weight class. Islam will have done everything Topuria has done at a heavier weight. Four title defenses at 155 and then the new champion at welterweight. So yes I agree, he is pound-for-pound No. 1 today. But I think the moment if Islam is able to win, he then goes back to pound-for-pound No. 1."

Jack Della Maddalena says that Islam Makhachev will be too small for him at Welterweight.

“We saw what Volk did to him. I’m going to get him, he’s too little.”

Paddy Pimblett believes Ilia Topuria is being a copycat to Conor McGregor – takes a prime Conor McGregor over Topuria if they fought.

"He's trying to be Conor McGregor isn't he? He's got the same tattoos. He even said the other day 'I'm gonna put my balls on your forehead' to me which is sort of what McGregor said to Chad Mendes. He's just a carbon copy of McGregor. Some people can't see through that even though you see some people now saying he's better than McGregor, but he's not. In the prime, at the same time, McGregor would have knocked him out with the straight left."

Leon Edwards is eyeing a fight with Ian Machado Garry this year. Says it’s a good fight and it’s the fight he’s mentioned to the UFC. 

UFC Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has ambitious plans for his future.

“I’d like to do four [fights] in the next twelve months. If you look at the top ten, I have beaten six of them. My goal is to beat ten of the top ten. I want to beat them all.”

Boxing

The Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev trilogy fight for the Ring Magazine light heavyweight title was originally scheduled for November during Riyadh Season. However, both fighters requested to hold the fight in Russia with different organizers, receiving approval from Turki Alalshikh. As a result, the timing and location of the third fight are now uncertain, with plans shifting away from Riyadh due to promises of lucrative paydays in Russia.

David Haye shows support to Jake Paul being ranked by the WBA at No. 14. at cruiserweight.

"It’s very good for boxing. Jake is bringing in lots of new fans to the sport. Being ranked in the top 15 is a good thing as Jake now has to fight other fighters that are also ranked and we will see how good he is. If he genuinely believes he wants to be a world champion, he’s on the right path."

Culture

Donald Trump signs the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ into law. 

The Caesar salad turns 101 years old today. It was created on July 4, 1924 by Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, Mexico, during a busy kitchen shortage and was originally – and still is – prepared tableside at the original restaurant.