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UFC 314 takeaways: Volkanovski is back, Pimblett shines — again

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UFC 314 takeaways: Volkanovski is back, Pimblett shines -- again


Alex Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision to win the featherweight championship at UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday. After five rounds, Volkanovski won by scorecards of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.

In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett dominated Michael Chandler in a third-round TKO and showed he’s a problem for the lightweight division, especially because he’s younger than all the top contenders.

Also on the card, Yair Rodriguez revived his career with an impressive performance to ruin Patricio Pitbull‘s UFC debut. When Rodriguez is at the top of his game, the already tough featherweight division is better than ever.

Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale share their thoughts on these fights.


The kingdom Volkanovski reigns over looks different this time around

“Old Man Volk” is champion once again but the division is a lot different than the one he reigned over when he was champion from 2019 to 2023. Yes, it’s only been two years but a look at the landscape at 145 pounds reveals that the division has seen an overhaul over the past 24 months. Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria have moved on to the lightweight division and there are new names that weren’t knocking at the door looking for a title fight.

Volkanovski’s initial featherweight title reign saw him spend more than half of his 145-pound title fights against Holloway. Chan Sung Jung has since retired while Brian Ortega has struggled with a 1-3 record in his last four fights. This run could be seen as far more challenging because the 36-year-old will be tested by a new breed of featherweights that include Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy and Jean Silva, who put together a blistering demolition of Bryce Mitchell on the main card. There are also recent signees Aaron Pico and Patricio Pitbull. And even though the latter fell short against Yair Rodriguez, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he works his way up the ladder.

Stylistic matchups and the youth of his opponents could present quite the mountain for Volkanovski to overcome. However, if he manages to make a couple of successful title defenses, Volkanovski has an opportunity to separate himself from fighters likeHolloway and José Aldo as the greatest featherweight in UFC history.

What we do know is that this is one of the deepest, most talent-rich featherweight divisions in recent memory. Volkanovski has his work cut out for him, but it will be a treat to watch based on his Saturday’s performance. — Hale


Pimblett is a huge problem at lightweight, especially because of his youth

If this sounds like a backhanded compliment, it’s truly not. Pimblett’s skills are legit and he’d be a handful for any lightweight in his prime. But the fact he’s wading into the deep end of the lightweight waters at a time when those waters are filled with fighters in the twilights of their careers certainly doesn’t hurt.

Pimblett, 30, is confident, talented and a very dangerous finisher. He’s already fought Tony Ferguson (41), King Green (38) and Chandler (38). He’s now targeting Charles Oliveira (35), Justin Gaethje (36) and Dustin Poirier (36). Again, I am not taking anything away from Pimblett — but it’s OK to point this out. He is coming into his prime at the best time possible for this division.

If Pimblett can keep this going, we could be looking at a UFC superstar. And let’s be honest, the sport needs as many as it can get right now. The UFC is relatively star starved at the moment, if you compare it to other eras. That’s cyclical and it’ll come around, and Pimblett could be one of the key fighters to turn the tide.

Pimblett is the real deal, he knows he’s the real deal and the gauntlet of absolute killers at the very top is (mostly) fighters who are starting to slow down. He has a tremendous opportunity ahead of him. — Okamoto


A “good” Rodriguez is so good for this division

The featherweight division is in a solid place, but it is so much more interesting and better with a great Rodriguez. And not just a great Rodriguez, a fired up one.

When he is on, he’s nothing short of dazzling. That 2018 knockout of “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the final second was the greatest knockout in UFC history – until Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 last year. The spinning attacks, the flying attacks, the choke of Josh Emmett for the interim championship at UFC 284 in 2023 — Rodriguez can do things that others simply cannot do. His best moments against Pitbull on Saturday came when he was under fire and in danger. Rodriguez can be a menace at times, and it’d be so welcome if he could be one always.

Don’t get me wrong, his losses have come against elite talent, but I can’t help but think I still haven’t seen Rodriguez at top speed. I want to see him emotionally invested, if that’s what it takes. I wouldn’t mind seeing him fight Diego Lopes after they went at it during this week’s press conference. Rodriguez has been great in flashes, but he’s also been inactive at times, including when the UFC nearly cut him in 2018. I’m nitpicking a little, but I just want to see what Rodriguez looks like with a bit of swag. A bit of that arrogance people accused him of having before he lost in the UFC for the first time to Frankie Edgar back in 2017.

The 145-pound division would benefit greatly from that Rodriguez. — Okamoto



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James Wood, Nationals aim for fences against Mariners

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James Wood, Nationals aim for fences against Mariners


MLB: Washington Nationals at Seattle MarinersMay 27, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) is congratulated by third base coach Ricky Gutierrez after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

James Wood has played less than a full season in the major leagues, but he has already shown he can hit the ball hard and far.

Wood belted his second tape-measure home run in as many nights as the Washington Nationals defeated the host Seattle Mariners 9-0 Wednesday.

He will try to make it 3-for-3 when the interleague series concludes Thursday night.

Wood socked a 435-foot solo blast off the facade of the Hit It Here Cafe in right field in the fifth inning on Wednesday, then delivered a two-run double in the eighth.

The homer had an exit velocity of 113.3 mph. It was his fifth time going deep at 112 mph or higher, tying Kyle Schwarber (2021) for the most in a single season in franchise history since Statcast began its tracking in 2015.

“He’s incredible,” Nationals designated hitter Josh Bell said. “It’s not surprising. It seems like it doesn’t matter the field, doesn’t matter the pitch, he’s locked in. And if you make mistakes over the heart of the plate and he gets extended, no ballpark can hold him.”

Not even T-Mobile Park, which is known to limit hitters because of its marine layer.

Wood’s career-best 448-footer off the batter’s eye in straightaway center field Tuesday was the longest hit at Seattle’s ballpark this season, surpassing a 444-foot shot by the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge on May 14.

“I love the way he hits,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “Whether it’s this ballpark or any ballpark, he’s a really good hitter. … I’ve seen him hit a lot of balls really far and really hard.”

Bell, Luis Garcia Jr. and Robert Hassell III also went deep for the Nationals on Wednesday to back Trevor Williams’ six shutout innings. It was Hassell’s first homer after making his major league debut last week.

Martinez praised his team for bouncing back from a 9-1 loss to the Mariners the previous night.

“If you do not try and do a whole lot and stay on the baseball, it allows them to be successful,” the skipper said. “It was a tough game (Tuesday), and we came back and played the game the right way.”

CJ Abrams, Wood and Hassell were among the prospects the Nationals acquired on Aug. 2, 2022, from the San Diego Padres in exchange for All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and Bell, who returned to D.C. as a free agent in January.

Another player Washington got in that deal was left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2-5, 3.47 ERA), who is set to start the series finale against Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.95).

Gore took a tough-luck loss in his most recent start, especially considering the game was scoreless when he exited after issuing a leadoff walk in the seventh inning on Friday. He wound up charged with one run on two hits in what became a 4-0 defeat to the San Francisco Giants.

The only time that Gore has faced the Mariners, he earned a win on May 24, 2024, after throwing seven innings of one-run ball and striking out eight.

Hancock, who has never opposed the Nationals, snapped a four-start winless streak when he prevailed at Houston on Friday. He limited the Astros to three runs on nine hits in six innings.

The Mariners have lost four of their past six games, but the Wednesday setback was Seattle’s most-lopsided of the season. The Mariners managed just five hits — all singles — and fell to 2-12 in games in which they fail to homer.

“Tough one tonight,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “One to move on from.”

–Field Level Media



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Josh Hazlewood dismisses in-form Josh Inglis for just 4 to leave hosts reeling in PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 [Watch]

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2025 IPL - Lucknow Super Giants v Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Source: Getty


Josh Hazlewood made an immediate impact as he returned for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the all-important IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The match is going on in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Thursday, May 29. After removing skipper Shreyas Iyer, Hazlewood dismissed Josh Inglis for just four runs off seven deliveries to leave Punjab reeling at 38/4 inside the powerplay.

The dismissal came in the sixth over of PBKS’ innings. Hazlewood bowled a short delivery to his Aussie teammate, and Inglis was surprised by the extra bouncer. The right-hander pulled the ball, but with no control. The ball went up high in the sky towards the long leg, where Bhuvneshwar Kumar completed a regulation catch.

Watch the video below:

Josh Hazlewood is playing his first game since April 27. He missed several games due to a shoulder injury. The speedster scalped 18 wickets in his 10 games ahead of the playoffs.


PBKS lose half their side for 50 in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1 vs RCB

A clinical bowling display from RCB helped them dominate the table toppers PBKS in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1. Apart from Hazlewood, Yash Dayal got rid of opener Priyansh Arya and middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera for 7 (5) and 8 (10), respectively. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Prabhsimran Singh for 18 (10).

At the time of writing, Punjab were 52/5 after seven overs, with Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh at the crease.

The two teams are facing each other for the third time this season. PBKS beat RCB by five wickets in a 14-over game at M Chinnaswamy Stadium before the Royal Challengers defeated the Kings by seven wickets in Mullanpur.

The winner of this game will book their place in the IPL 2025 final. The losing team will play the winner of the Eliminator (Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians) in Qualifier 2, another chance to reach the summit clash. Neither RCB nor PBKS have won an IPL trophy.

Follow the PBKS vs RCB IPL 2025 live score and updates here.