Sports

Dana White, UFC finally decide to postpone upcoming events – Sportsnet.ca

Published

5 years ago

March 16, 2020

The UFC held out as long as they could, however on Monday company president Dana White made the decision to postpone the organization’s next three scheduled events indefinitely.

White informed UFC employees of the decision via email, as first reported by UFC research analyst Michael Carroll.

Dana has praised the efforts of all employees for working so hard to constantly make it happen everywhere and every time. But, with the current state of affairs, it’s simply impossible.

— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) March 16, 2020

The UFC also offers support to any employee and/or family member who may require medical support in the coming weeks/months. Positive email tbh.

— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) March 16, 2020

An event originally scheduled to take place March 21 in London, England fell apart after new international travel restrictions were implemented by the United States government in light of the COVID-19 situation. The UFC initially announced the event would be relocated — with the new location to be determined — however the fluid nature of the ongoing global pandemic made piecing together an event on less than a week’s notice nearly impossible.

In addition to the March 21 event originally set to showcase Tyron Woodley vs. Leon Edwards, the UFC has postponed a March 28 event in Columbus headlined by heavyweight knockout artists Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik plus an April 11 card in Portland featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris.

“We did everything we could to relocate our next three events– London, Columbus, and Portland,” the email, of which a copy was obtained by MMA Junkie, stated. “But every day, there are new restrictions put in place on travel and large public gatherings that are making it impossible to stay on schedule. We can’t even hold an event in Vegas, our home town, because there’s a ban on all combat sports events in Nevada until at least March 25.”

The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced over the weekend that all combat sports events will be suspended until March 25, which meant the UFC wouldn’t have been able to hold an event at its UFC APEX facility at company headquarters in Las Vegas.

Various tribal reservations in California or in Alabama were reportedly considered as possible locations for a short-notice event so the UFC could temporarily circumvent athletic commission rulings, but nothing came of that.

“The whole world is being affected right now, and nothing is more important than the health and safety of you and your families,” White continued in his email. “That’s why we are closing all UFC offices effective immediately, including HQ in Vegas, through at least March 31st, and asking all employees to work from home. The [UFC Performance Institute] will also be closed to all personnel, including athletes, during this time.”

The world’s top mixed martial arts promotion held a 12-fight card behind closed doors in Brasilia, Brazil this past weekend. It remains unclear when and where the next live event will take place.

UFC 249 featuring an anticipated lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson is tentatively slated for April 18 in Brooklyn, N.Y., although the status of that event is also up in the air.

“UFC 249 is still scheduled as planned, but the location may change,” White added.

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Sports

Sports betting roundup: NFL and college football were all about the favourites

Published

21 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.

The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.

Trends of the Week

The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.

In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.

When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.

Upsets of the Week

The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.

Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.

Coming up

Right after the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees to win the World Series, odds for the 2025 World Series were released.

The Dodgers have the best odds at +400, while the Atlanta Braves and Yankees are next at +800.

The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies round out the top five, both at +1100.

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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.

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Longtime rivals Ovechkin, Crosby join Necas as NHL’s three stars of the week

Published

21 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.

Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.

The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.

Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.

Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.

Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Oliveira, Mitchell named as finalists for CFL outstanding player award

Published

5 days ago

October 31, 2024

Anne Joseph

TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).

Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.

Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.

Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.

The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).

The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.

The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.

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