Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) staged UFC 250 last night (Sat., June 6, 2020), which went down from inside the promotion’s Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the headlining act, Amanda Nunes defending her Featherweight title to remain UFC champ-champ by brutalizing Felicia Spencer for five rounds (video replay here). Cody Garbrandt, meanwhile, scored perhaps the knockout of the year after blasting Raphael Assuncao to another dimension with a one-hitter quitter.
Winner: Amanda Nunes
Who She Should Fight Next: Megan Anderson, Valentina Shevchenko, other?
Who’s left? The 145-pound weight class is pretty much non-existent, with only Megan Anderson standing out with two straight wins. After that, there aren’t enough fighters to fill out a top 15 list. She can always face current’s women’s Flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko a third time at Bantamweight, but Dana White doesn’t seem to keen on the idea. Speaking at Bantamweight, you know who the No. 1 contender there is? Germaine de Randamie, who’s last loss came to Nunes at 145 pounds. Odd times indeed. Thankfully, UFC will have time to figure it out, as “Lioness” revealed that she won’t be returning to action until 2021.
Winner: Cody Garbrandt
Who He Should Face Next: Marlon Moraes
I get the Marlon is the No. 1 ranked fighter at 135 pounds at the moment, but this fight makes sense, and it’s one fanshave been wanting to see for some time. When Cody was UFC champ, Moraes was leading the way for World Series of Fighting (SOF), and a fight between the two was one many dreamed of. With Marlon coming off a win over Jose Aldo, and Garbrandt fresh off his knockout performance, it makes sense to pit them together. Yan and Aldo are in line to fight for the title, Sterling is up for a title shot, Cory Sandhagen is coming off a loss; so at the end of the day, I can’t see anyone else that makes sense for either man.
Winner: Aljamain Sterling
Who He Should Face Next: Petr Yan vs Jose Aldo winner
Sterling stamped his ticket to the big dance after submitting Cory Sandhagen in jut 88 seconds. With the win, “Funkmaster” improved his win streak to five, which means all he has to do is sit back to see how Aldo vs Yan plays, out, which has yet to be officially scheduled. In the meantime, Sterling may want to stay sharp and in shape, as he could be called upon to fill the void if either man bows out.
Winner: Neil Magny
Who He Should Fight Next: Vicente Luque
Magny really wants a fight against Michael Chiesa, calling him out once again after defeating Anthony Rocco Martin. The problem? Chiesa has his sights set a little bit higher at the moment. A fight that I’d rather see is Mangy vs Luque. Vicente is coming off a win over Nike price at UFC 249, his first since having his six-fight win streak snapped by Stephen Thompson. Luque is hanging on to the No. 13 spot, while Magny is close to breaking in, so booking them to tango seems appropriate.
Winner: Sean O’ Malley
Who He Should Fight Next: John Dodson
O’ Malley picked up one of the biggest wins of his young career after knocking out Eddie Wineland in the first round. It was an impressive win for “Suga,” who will now be facing stiffer competition moving forward. A fight against Dodson seems appropriate, as “The Magician” is coming off a win and has a wealth of combat experience inside the Octagon to really test O’ Malley. Bantamweight is proving to be one of the most -talent-rich divisions under the UFC banner, so if O’ Malley wants to score bigger and better fights, getting through Dodson is a good way to keep going.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 250: “Nunes vs. Spencer” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
