Spinning Back Clique: MVP-PFL merger, Medic dominates, Usman's future

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Farah Hannoun and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

• UFC hosted its first-ever event in Serbia with UFC Fight Night 282. In the main event, Uros Medic made sure to close out the show favorably for the home crowd, putting away veteran Daniel Rodriguez in just 30 seconds. It was an impressive win that now has Medic on a 4-0 run with all victories coming by stoppage. What’s next for Medic? How far can he go at 170 pounds? We discuss.

• Big news for the MMA industry. PFL is set to merge into MVP MMA at the start of 2027. Both rosters will be merging, along with the promotional machines, to create a stronger promotion on paper to rival the UFC. We discuss all the implications this merge can have on the sport, along with what this means for the UFC and their practices.

• Usman Nurmagomedov is now a free agent after he fought out his contract with the PFL this past Friday at PFL New York. Nurmagomedov steps into free agency fresh off a quick stoppage over Archie Colgan and a second title defense of the PFL lightweight title. This result accompanies Dakota Ditcheva’s decision win over Denise Kielholtz in the co-main event of the card. We recap the PFL New York headlining bouts.

• We take a glance at the PFL Charlotte, which features a middleweight bout between Bryan Battle and Dalton Rosta. The card goes down this Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Anthony Smith was arrested this past week. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is being accused of threatening to kill wife, attempting to run her over with vehicle. We react to this unfortunate news, and the potential role CTE plays in these situations, given how common these headlines can be in combat sports.

• Lastly, we close out the show with a preview for UFC Vegas 120. This card is headlined by a lightweight matchup pitting veteran Mateusz Gamrot against rising contender Quillan Salkilld. Who will win? We give our predictions and analysis.

UFC hosted its first-ever event in Serbia with UFC Fight Night 282. In the main event, Uros Medic made sure to close out the show favorably for the home crowd, putting away veteran Daniel Rodriguez in just 30 seconds. It was an impressive win that now has Medic on a 4-0 run with all victories coming by stoppage. What’s next for Medic? How far can he go at 170 pounds? We discuss.

Big news for the MMA industry. PFL is set to merge into MVP MMA at the start of 2027. Both rosters will be merging, along with the promotional machines, to create a stronger promotion on paper to rival the UFC. We discuss all the implications this merge can have on the sport, along with what this means for the UFC and their practices.

Usman Nurmagomedov is now a free agent after he fought out his contract with the PFL this past Friday at PFL New York. Nurmagomedov steps into free agency fresh off a quick stoppage over Archie Colgan and a second title defense of the PFL lightweight title. This result accompanies Dakota Ditcheva’s decision win over Denise Kielholtz in the co-main event of the card. We recap the PFL New York headlining bouts.

We take a glance at the PFL Charlotte, which features a middleweight bout between Bryan Battle and Dalton Rosta. The card goes down this Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Anthony Smith was arrested this past week. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is being accused of threatening to kill wife, attempting to run her over with vehicle. We react to this unfortunate news, and the potential role CTE plays in these situations, given how common these headlines can be in combat sports.

Lastly, we close out the show with a preview for UFC Vegas 120. This card is headlined by a lightweight matchup pitting veteran Mateusz Gamrot against rising contender Quillan Salkilld. Who will win? We give our predictions and analysis.