Tommy McMillen wants another fight before the year ends, and UFC 335 is the date being discussed for his return. Luke Riley would make an appealing opponent, but that part remains a suggestion rather than a booking. MMA Sucka reported McMillen’s interest in the December 12 card while explicitly noting that the UFC has not been linked to arranging the matchup. Riley has already entertained the idea himself, telling Ronins MMA last month that he would welcome a fight with the unbeaten American featherweight.
Luke Riley Has Already Welcomed The McMillen Matchup
Riley did not need much encouragement when McMillen’s name came up. He praised what McMillen was bringing to the division, then predicted he would finish him quickly.
“Me and Tommy would have a great fight,” Riley said in the interview, quoted by Sherdog. “I would knock Tommy out in Round 1. 100%.”
That confidence comes with a 14–0 professional record. Riley has won all three of his UFC appearances, most recently stopping Kai Kamaka III in the first round on July 11. His previous outings brought a decision over Michael Aswell Jr. and a knockout of Bogdan Grad.McMillen is 12–0 and also has three UFC wins. He beat Manolo Zecchini in April, finished Alberto Montes in July and went the distance against Marwan Rahiki at Noche UFC on September 12.
The Rahiki result matters here. McMillen has already come through a meeting of unbeaten prospects without surrendering his record. Riley would offer another such test, with two fighters who have each finished two of their three UFC opponents.
UFC 335 Could Offer A December Opening
UFC 335 takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Charles Oliveira defending the BMF belt against Diego Lopes. Alex Pereira is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich on the same card.
There may also be room opening elsewhere in the lineup. Bo Nickal said his scheduled fight with Joe Pyfer had been moved from UFC 335 to a February main event in Cleveland, according to MMA Fighting.That change prompted MMA Sucka’s discussion of McMillen as a possible addition. It does not mean the vacant space has been offered to him, or that Riley is the UFC’s preferred opponent.
For McMillen, a December appearance would be his fourth UFC fight of 2026, a busy first year since joining the promotion in April. Riley’s last appearance was in July. Both have reason to want another outing this calendar year, but the matchmaking still belongs to the UFC.