Sports

UFC Indefinitely Postpones Next Three Events Due to Coronavirus Pandemic – Sherdog.com

Published

5 years ago

March 16, 2020

This weekend’s UFC event, as well as 3/28
and 4/11, have been indefinitely postponed per an email from Dana
White to all UFC employees. #UFC

— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript)
March 16, 2020

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has finally been forced to back
down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Las Vegas-based promotion has elected to indefinitely postpone
its next three events – UFC Fight Night 171 on March 21, UFC on
ESPN 8 on March 28 and UFC Fight Night 172 on April 11 – the United
States and the rest of the world race to battle the coronavirus
outbreak. UFC president Dana White revealed the decision in an
email to company employees, which was initially
revealed by statistician Michael
Carroll. At the moment, UFC 249 is still scheduled for April
18, though a location and venue have yet to be determined.

The contents of the message (per
MMAjunkie.com ) is as follows:

My Crew

This has been a crazy couple of weeks.We’ve been doing everything
possible to stick to our live events schedule because the fighters
want to fight, our employees want to work, and the fans want to
watch our sport.So many people have reached out over the past few
days to say thanks for not canceling our Brasilia event on
Saturday.

When weird things happen in the world, or when there’s a tragedy,
like the October 1 shooting, people want things to get back to
normal, and nothing feels more normal than watching sports.

We did everything we could to relocate our next three events–
London, Columbus, and Portland. 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.

As you heard me say, I’ve been in the fight game for 20 years, and
this is what we do—we find a way to keep our events going no matter
what. If fighters miss weight, if fighters get hurt, or if states
won’t regulate us, we figure out a way. But this is different. The
whole world is being affected right now, and nothing is more
important than the health and safety of you and your families.

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 PI will also be closed to all
personnel, including athletes, during this time. The next three
events– London, Columbus, and Portland—will be postponed. UFC 249
is still scheduled as planned, but the location may change. We’ll
keep you posted.

I tell you guys all the time, you are the BEST TO EVER DO IT. It
feels shitty now, but WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS, and we’ll be
TOUGHER, STRONGER, AND MORE BADASS than before.Right now, the
number one priority is to take care of yourselves and your
family.

Finally, I want you to know that UFC has your back. If you or any
member of your family is showing symptoms of coronavirus and you’re
having trouble getting to a doctor, please reach out to me,
Lawrence, or Hunter.

Thanks,
Dana

As recently as Saturday night,
White was adamant that the UFC would move forward with upcoming
events. UFC Fight Night 170, originally scheduled for London, was
to be relocated in the United States. UFC on ESPN, slated for
Columbus, Ohio, and UFC Fight Night 171, set for Portland, Ore.,
were to be moved to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. However, as White
said, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended all combat
sports in the state until a March 25 meeting.

Virtually every major sports organization has shut down operations
for the time being, and now the UFC will follow suit. On March 14,
the promotion was essentially the only major athletic event
happening as it held UFC Fight Night 170 in Brasilia, Brazil, with
no spectators in attendance.

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Sports

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

Published

19 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.

___

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

___

AP sports:

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Sports

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

Published

19 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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