UFC 318: The last dance for Dustin Poirier
MMA will be waving goodbye to one of the most entertaining fighters the sport has seen, as Dustin Poirier makes the walk to the octagon for the final time at UFC 318.
Ufc Sport News
Jannik Sinner’s decision to sit out Davis Cup criticized at home in Italy
ROME: Jannik Sinner’s decision not to play for host Italy in the Davis Cup Final 8 is being met with a sense of abandonment in his home country — where he was fiercely defended during his doping case earlier this year. The second-ranked Sinner, who led Italy to tennis’ biggest team trophy the past two years, said that he prefers to prepare for next season instead of helping the Azzurri aim for another title in Bologna next month. “It wasn’t an easy decision, but after Turin (where the ATP Finals are played the week before the Davis Cup), the goal is to start off on the right foot in Australia,” Sinner said, referring to the Australian Open, where he is the two-time defending champion. “It doesn’t seem like it, but a week of preparation in that period can make a difference,” Sinner told Sky Italia on Monday from Vienna, where he is playing this week. “We already won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024 and this time we decided like this with my team.” The front-page headline in Tuesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport translated to: “Sinner, think it over again.” An accompanying editorial in the Gazzetta took Sinner to task for saying he already won the Davis Cup twice, pointing out how he also defended his title over the weekend in a lucrative exhibition in Saudi Arabia. “So you’re not going to return to Riyadh for another $6 million? If you win another Wimbledon, you won’t go to London anymore? Pasta, coffee … Every five minutes you promote an Italian product.
Barca Miami match ‘adulterates’ La Liga: Real Madrid’s Courtois
MADRID: Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Tuesday the plan to take Barcelona’s La Liga match against Villarreal to Miami is “adulterating” the competition. La Liga announced they were moving the game to the United States in December, which will be the first European League fixture to be held abroad. “It’s totally adulterating the competition,” Courtois told a news conference. “It’s easy to talk about the NFL and the NBA (which move locations), they have 82 games and it doesn’t change anything for them, and in the NFL it’s voted for by the owners of the teams... “Here it’s the opposite... they decided to do it and it adulterates the competition.” Courtois said Barcelona would gain an advantage by facing Villarreal at a neutral stadium, rather than in a normal away game. “Villarreal away is a difficult game...
‘We believe in him’: Dubai Basketball extends contract of Mam Jaiteh until 2028
DUBAI: Mam Jaiteh and Dubai Basketball have reached an agreement to extend his contract for one additional season, now running through 2028.
From Fight Island to UFC: Khamzat Chimeav’s success parallels Abu Dhabi’s rise to global MMA capital
ABU DHABI: When the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi signed its long-term partnership with the UFC in 2019, it did so with a vision to establish the city as the world capital for combat sports.
England captain Kane could miss Wales friendly
Kane joined up with England despite suffering an ankle issue in Bayern’s win over Eintracht FrankfurtThe 32-year-old, who is England’s record scorer with 74 goals, sat out Wednesday’s sessionLONDON: England captain Harry Kane could miss Thursday’s friendly against Wales after the Bayern Munich striker was unable to train on Wednesday.Kane joined up with England despite suffering an ankle issue in Bayern’s win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.Speaking after the Frankfurt game, Kane said: “I am recovering at the moment — I took a knock. A few days and then I should be fine, so no problem for the national team.
Sabalenka battles to keep Wuhan record alive, Pegula survives marathon
WUHAN, China: Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka battled hard Wednesday to keep her unbeaten record in Wuhan intact, having to come from behind to beat Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. The world number one started slowly in her first match since she clinched a fourth Grand Slam title at the US Open last month. But the Belarusian found her power game in the final set to reach the Wuhan Open last 16, where she will face the 16th-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. Sabalenka is chasing a fourth consecutive crown in Wuhan where she has a perfect 18-0 win-loss record. The first three games went against serve but it was Sramkova who consolidated for 3-1, and it was all she needed to grab the opening set in 35 minutes, firing 15 winners. Sabalenka hit back to level and swept through the decider to win in just under two hours. “She played incredible tennis, especially in the first set.
Tommy Fleetwood to defend Dubai Invitational title
DUBAI: Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood will return to Dubai Creek Resort from Jan. 15 to 18 to defend his Dubai Invitational title.
Arsenal start Women’s Champions League title defense on the wrong foot with 2-1 defeat to Lyon; Barcelona thrash Bayern
LONDON:Defensive mistakes cost Arsenal again as they kicked off their defense of the Women’s Champions League title with a 2-1 home loss to Lyon on Tuesday.