Interview with Tommy Gantt, Undefeated UFC Lightweight
Introduction
Tommy Gantt doesn’t fit the typical UFC timeline – and he’s not trying to. The undefeated lightweight didn’t step into MMA until age 30, already carrying an All-American wrestling pedigree. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Rather than ease in, he attacked the clock: over ten fights in a single year, a run through the Carolinas regional circuit and Dana White’s Contender Series. Then, a UFC debut capped by a 2nd round TKO.
Now 1-0 in the Octagon, Gantt returns September 12th against Drakkar Klose – his toughest test yet, and his first UFC fight outside the APEX. In this interview, Gantt talks about the risk he took leaving a coaching job at NC State to chase this full-time, the influence of mentors like Daniel Cormier, and what life at 30-plus looks like in a sport built for younger people.
Featured Upcoming Bouts (Outside of UFC)
| Saturday, August 22nd 2026: PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira | |||
 [#1 W145] Cristiane Justino | [#4 W135] Ketlen Vieira | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#2 W145] Sara Collins Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 5/16/2026 [UFC] Last Opponent: [#10 W135] Jacqueline Cavalcanti Last 5: W L W L W | ||
| Thursday, September 10th 2026: Super RIZIN 5: Naniwa No Chou Fukkatsu Matsuri | |||
 [#5 FW] A.J. McKee |  [#6 FW] Rajabali Shaidullaev | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 FW] Salamat Isbulaev Last 5: W L W W W | Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#249 FW] Yuta Kubo Last 5: W W W W W | ||
| Thursday, September 10th 2026: Super RIZIN 5: Naniwa No Chou Fukkatsu Matsuri | |||
 [#1 W105] Natalia Kuziutina |  [#16 W105] Rena Kubota | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 4/12/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#9 W105] Ayaka Hamasaki Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 12/31/2025 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#2 W105] Seika Izawa Last 5: W L W W L | ||
Featured Fighters
| [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | [#5 WW] |  Ian Garry | |
| [NR] | Khabib Nurmagomedov | [#29 WW] | Myktybek Orolbai | |
| [#2 LW] |  Ilia Topuria | [#2 W115] | Mackenzie Dern | |
| [#25 WW] | Neil Magny | [#161 WW] | Conor McGregor | |
| [#5 W115] |  Gillian Robertson | [#12 MW] |  Israel Adesanya |
FightMatrix Prediction Performance Report
During May, 2025– July, 2026, we have published a series of analytical MMA fight previews and betting articles for FightMatrix, covering UFC main events, co-main events, and selected featured bouts.
Performance Summary
Articles analyzed: 13
Total fight predictions verified: 22
Correct predictions: 17
Incorrect predictions: 5
Prediction accuracy: 77.3%
How PicksDb is Revolutionizing Combat Sports Handicapping and Creator Economy
In the fast-moving world of mixed martial arts and sports betting, credibility is everything. Between social media “gurus” hiding bad losses and cappers selling unverified fight picks via direct messages, fight fans have long needed a transparent, centralized home to track records and share fight insights.
Enter PicksDb—a sports prediction and creator platform engineered to bring absolute transparency, real-time odds, and creator monetization under one roof.
What Happens to Your UFC Bet When a Fighter Misses Weight?
You placed the bet before the weigh-in. One fighter comes in heavy. Does the ticket still count? A missed weight does not automatically cancel a UFC wager — but catchweights, cancellations, replacement fighters and sportsbook house rules can all change what happens next.
You place a UFC bet on Thursday.
The matchup looks good. You get the price you wanted. Then Friday morning arrives and one fighter steps onto the scale over the contracted limit.
Now the questions start.
Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson: Preview
[#2 W115] 
Mackenzie Dern (C) defends her strawweight title against [#5 W115] 
Gillian Robertson this Saturday, Aug 15, at UFC 330. Here’s the case for Robertson, based on how analysts and Robertson herself have broken down the matchup:
Dern’s Vulnerabilities
Weak takedown defense: one analyst pegs it at just 38%, meaning Robertson doesn’t need elite wrestling to get this fight to the mat.
Inconsistent takedowns of her own – Robertson has pointed out Dern “doesn’t have a great ability to take it to the ground,” saying Dern’s shot is just okay and she relies mainly on a lateral hip throw.
This Week’s WHR Bets/Parlays (2026/#25)
Still trying to get out of this hole…
Fights considered must satisfy all of the criteria below:
- Both fighters must be active (fought in 360 days prior to event). Reduces uncertainty.
- Both fighters must have at least 7 fights in the prior 7 years, including 1+ loss. If the loss was in their debut, then 2+ losses are required.
- Both fighters must be rated in the same division as the fight. Further reduces uncertainty.
- Must have odds from at least three bookmakers.
How to Bet on UFC Fights in South Africa: A Virgin Bet Walkthrough
Image: Ellis Yates
The card drops a few weeks out, and if you follow the sport closely the reading starts immediately. You check the main event, look at the styles, weigh reach against wrestling, and try to work out where the fight actually gets decided. For a South African fan planning to bet a UFC card, that homework is the fun part. Turning it into a placed bet is the step that trips people up.
Exploring the Connection Between Online Gaming and Sports
Digital technology has changed how people spend their free time, bringing gaming and sports closer to everyday online experiences. Platforms such as qqmacan are part of a growing digital environment where users can access entertainment through computers and mobile devices. Alongside online gaming, sports content has also moved strongly into the digital space, giving fans more convenient ways to follow competitions and stay connected with their interests.
Nurmagomedov vs. Song Headlines a Loaded Late August
Can a Fight Night card without a numbered pay-per-view banner still generate the kind of buzz usually reserved for a title night? The answer arrives on August 29, 2026, when Umar Nurmagomedov meets Song Yadong in a bantamweight main event that ranking-watchers have already circled. On paper it’s a Fight Night. In practice, it carries the weight of a division realignment, with two top-ten fighters colliding just as the 135-pound picture gets crowded again. The storylines run deep, the stat sheets are fascinating, and the anticipation is climbing well before fight week even opens.
UFC 331 Rematch Puts Flyweight on the Line
Can a fighter step into a title rematch, having already tasted defeat, and walk out with the belt? That question hangs over Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on September 19, when UFC 331 delivers a flyweight main event built on unfinished business. Alexandre Pantoja and Joshua Van are set to run it back, and for the ranking-obsessed corner of the MMA world, this is the kind of matchup that reshapes a division’s entire top ten in a single night. The 125-pound weight class has been one of the sport’s most quietly compelling stories all year, and the rematch angle only sharpens the stakes.
How Fight Fans Fill Weeks Between UFC Cards
For anyone who tracks MMA by the numbers, the back half of summer is a gift. The calendar is stacked, the storylines are ripe, and the divisions are shifting fast enough that the rankings genuinely matter again. UFC 330 lands in Philadelphia on August 15 with Islam Makhachev meeting Ian Machado Garry, and from there the schedule barely pauses for breath. A card in Sacramento follows on August 22, then Shanghai on August 29, then Paris on September 5. For the kind of fan who reads a fighter’s takedown accuracy the way others read box scores, this is prime season — and the weeks between events fill up with previews, interviews, and long dives into the data.
Makhachev vs. Machado Garry Headlines UFC 330
UFC 330 lands at Xfinity Mobile Arena on August 15, and the headline says it all: Islam Makhachev meets Ian Machado Garry in a matchup that has the ranking-obsessed corner of the MMA world buzzing. It is the kind of card that sends fans straight to the divisional standings, arguing over pound-for-pound placements and poring over control-time splits and takedown accuracy. For anyone who tracks a fighter’s win-loss column with the same care others reserve for their fantasy rosters, this is the main event of the late summer — a clash of a grappling technician against an undefeated welterweight who swears the rankings have him pegged too low.
Noche UFC Brings Its Fiesta to Arizona
Why does one September fight card feel less like a sporting event and more like a citywide celebration? The answer arrives September 12, 2026, when Noche UFC: Rodriguez vs. Silva touches down at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. This is the promotion’s annual salute to Mexican Independence Day weekend, and it carries a different kind of charge than a standard Fight Night. The walkouts hit harder, the crowd sings louder, and the fighter journeys behind each name feel personal in a way that keeps hardcore followers glued to their seats. For fans who track divisional rankings and dissect matchup metrics all year, Noche is where the numbers meet the noise. And when a card like this rolls around, plenty of viewers start mapping out how they’ll follow every second of the action.
Do you owe taxes on fight betting winnings?
If you place a bet on a boxing match, UFC bout or another major fight, winning can feel refreshingly simple. You picked a fighter, watched the result go your way, then saw the balance in your betting account rise. Taxation can make the picture more complicated, however, because your winnings are treated differently across the world.
Your country of tax residence generally matters first, while the type of gambling activity and the operator’s jurisdiction can also affect the outcome. A $1,000 fight betting win can therefore leave you with very different tax obligations depending on where you live.
Best Boxing-Themed Online Slots with the Highest RTP
Photo: shutterstock
Boxing is a physical sport known for its thrill, and that effect has grown beyond the rings. Online slot developers have taken it upon themselves to create games with almost the same excitement level. Even better, some of these games have a high return to player rate. So, if you enjoy boxing and spinning the reels, choosing these games can make your experience more enjoyable over time.