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UFC Fight Night predictions — Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Card, picks, odds

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UFC bantamweights are front and center. The four highest-ranked bantamweights all recently competed in major fights. On Saturday, Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira step into the spotlight.

People are starting to wake up to the skill of Bautista (16-3). The Arizona native had won eight fights in a row since 2022 before getting a step up opportunity against top contender Umar Nurmagomedov. While he was swept on the scorecards, Bautista put up a strong effort in defeat. Bautista stunned Nurmagomedov with a knee and nearly yanked his foot off with a toehold. His strong showing, plus a dominant win over former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, helped mend fan feelings after his contentious win over the great Jose Aldo.

“I thought I blew the [Nurmagomedov] fight. That’s the mindset I had,” Bautista told CBS Sports. “Being around people saying, ‘That was an awesome fight. You actually went out there and fought him. You didn’t hold anything back.’ I’m glad people saw that from me. I think that’s what landed me this main event.”

On Saturday, Bautista can utilize his wealth of experience against a fighter with a rapidly rising profile.

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“His hand placements,” Bautista said of Oliveira’s technical gaps. “Outside of the UFC, I saw three separate videos of him getting knocked out. He lives and dies by the sword. I think there’s a higher possibility for that to happen the higher you climb up the UFC rankings.

Oliveira (23-3) is a madman. He marches forward with his hands down and strikes from odd angles. Oliveira is already calling out elite stars like Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili only four fights into his UFC career. “Lok Dog” won’t be far from those conversations if he makes good on his first-round knockout prediction.

“No one in the top five wants to fight me. They’re all close to fighting for the belt. If UFC asked them to fight ‘Lok Dog,’ they’d say no…” Oliveira told CBS Sports. “They don’t want to fight me because they have many things to lose. 

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“I’m dangerous in this division. When you see me fight, you can see I’m crazy. I move forward with my hands down. I dodge stuff and throw punches from nowhere. I’m not technical or orthodox. It’s strange to fight me. If I were someone in front of me, I’d run away. I wouldn’t want to face me.”

Saturday’s co-main event has important implications for the flyweight division. Kyoji Horiguchi, who enjoyed four title reigns between Rizin and Bellator, has the second fight of his second UFC stint. To date, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is the only flyweight to beat Horiguchi. The Japanese star could make a serious splash in the title conversation by beating Amir Albazi. Once considered a future title contender, significant health issues have stunted Albazi’s career. Heart and neck surgery are among the serious procedures that Albazi underwent over the last few years.

Plus, grappling expert Jailton Almeida is back in a heavyweight bout with Rizvan Kuniev in a featured slot. Almeida, 34, debuted in 2022 after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He ripped off six straight wins, including a strong decision over former title challenger Derrick Lewis in 2023. After a setback against Curtis Blaydes by knockout in 2024, Almeida bounced back with a pair of finishes against Alexander Romanov and Serghei Spivac.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

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UFC Fight Night card, odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Mario Bautista -170

Vinicius Oliveira +142

Bantamweight

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Kyoji Horiguchi -375

Amir Albazi +295

Flyweight

Jailton Almeida -155

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Rizvan Kuniev +130

Heavyweight

Michal Oleksiejczuk -500 Marc-Andre Barriault +380 Middleweight
Farid Basharat -285 Jean Matsumoto +230 Bantamweight
Dustin Jacoby -185 Julius Walker +154 Light heavyweight

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Meta APEX — Las Vegas
Stream: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as little as $8.99 per month)

Prediction

Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Oliveira doesn’t seem concerned with Bautista, technique, or much else. You can chalk up his swagger to some combination of confidence and stubbornness. Oliveira was a vicious KO artist on the regional scene. Things haven’t come so easily for him in the UFC. He might not like that, but I do. Oliveira showed that his skills hold up over 15 minutes. 

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Saturday’s headliners are surprisingly similar considering their contrasting personalities and game plans. They have comparable striking offense and defense stats, though Oliveira sees less artillery coming his way. They’re also difficult to ground. I’m torn here. Bautista’s performance against Nurmagomedov opened my eyes to how good he is. I don’t think he’ll finish Oliveira, and that creates concerns about a potential KO loss over 25 minutes. However, Oliveira’s inexperience against elite fighters and failure to finish his last three opponents are more concerning. I’ll side with the veteran over five rounds. Pick: Bautista via unanimous decision

Who wins Bautista vs. Oliveira, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the advanced model that showed a 6.1% ROI from over 500 fights from 2023-25, and find out.

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Kirsty Muir battles nerves but keeps ski slopestyle medal hopes on track

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Kirsty Muir might be excited about qualifying for an Olympics final, but it’s the mention of trading pin badges that really lights up the skier’s face.

The 21-year-old from Aberdeen cruised into the women’s freestyle skiing slopestyle final with a third-place finish in qualifying at Milano Cortina 2026.

Fighting off the Olympic nerves, Muir’s first run score of 63.18 was quickly backed up by a slight improvement of 64.98 on her second to cement her spot in Monday’s medal showdown.

And if her recent X Games victory, with a mammoth score of 93.66 is anything to go by, not holding back in the final might just mean a medal is on its way to the Scottish skier.

“I think this morning I was quite good. I was focused, I was able to calm myself down a little bit, but my heart was maybe racing a little bit more than usual,” she said.

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“After I put my first run down, then I felt a bit of relief and could just be a bit smoother in myself.

“It’s about knowing that I can do it when I’m feeling a little bit nervous, when I’m feeling a little bit of pressure – knowing that I can trust myself and put it down.

“I’m just going to give it everything [in the final]. I’m not going to hold back, and I think that if I do that and I put a run down that I’d like to do, then I’ll be just super proud of myself.”

Kirsty Muir comfortably qualified for Monday’s ski slopestyle final

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Kirsty Muir comfortably qualified for Monday’s ski slopestyle final (Getty Images)
The slopestyle course at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The slopestyle course at the 2026 Winter Olympics (PA Graphics)

While Muir is relaxed and gives straightforward answers about her performance, the Scot can only beam when it comes to the Olympic niche that is pin trading.

A phenomenon among athletes and staff alike during every Games, Muir is on a mission to procure the best pin badge collection she possibly can – even documenting her journey with daily updates on TikTok. And if you missed the update from the Opening Ceremony, never fear, as she confirms it’s on its way.

“I’ve got a little bit of an animal collection going,” she said. “I’ve got a kiwi, a moose and a llama from different countries and I’m really liking them. I’ve got the clogs from the Netherlands – they’re like the popular ones. I mean, last night at the Opening Ceremony was the best thing for pin trading; everyone was going at it.

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“I didn’t update my peeps last night, but I’ve got some good ones to add to my haul tonight. I think it’s such a cool, different aspect of the Olympics and I love how sociable it can be.

“When would I ever have the courage to go up to another country and just randomly start talking to them? So at least it’s nice to have a purpose to go and speak to more people.”

Muir slightly improved on her second run in qualifying

Muir slightly improved on her second run in qualifying (AP)

Muir’s fiercest competition in the women’s slopestyle final will come in the form of world No 1 Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland and face of the sport Eileen Gu of China.

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It was a nervy start for the high-flying Gu, who was caught out on a tricky top rail to score a meagre 1.26 points on her first run.

But it’s not that easy to count out the two-time Olympic champion, as she roared back with a second run of 75.30 to qualify in second.

Gremaud sits top with a monster score of 79.15, meaning Muir will have some work to do if she is to challenge for gold on Monday.

:: TNT Sports on discovery+ will be the go-to destination in the UK to watch everything of Milano Cortina 2026 live all in one place, with over 850 hours of action from every sport, venue, and medal event.

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NFL Players from McQueen H.S. (Reno, NV)

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NFL Players from McQueen H.S. (Reno, NV) | SuperWest Sports





















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Here’s an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Robert McQueen High School, Reno, NV.

The list includes only those players who have played in an NFL game.

See where it ranks among other schools in the state here.

NFL Players from McQueen HS
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Burnley fans boo own players as West Ham claim vital points

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Burnley fans boo own players as West Ham claim vital points

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2026 WM Phoenix Open Saturday TV coverage: Watch Round 3

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The third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open gets underway Saturday morning at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Saturday, including full WM Phoenix Open TV coverage, streaming details and Round 3 tee times.

How to watch WM Phoenix Open on Saturday

Two players from Japan lead the way at the WM Phoenix Open’s halfway point, with Ryo Hisatsune in the top spot on the leaderboard at 11 under par and Hideki Matsuyama one shot behind him at 10 under par.

There’s still plenty of golf to play, though, and lots of room for movement over the weekend. A total of 18 players are within five shots of Hisatsune’s lead, including Chris Gotterup, Matt Fitzpatrick and Sahith Theegala.

Scottie Scheffler is also within shouting distance, after firing a second-round 65 to climb to four under par overall.

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You can watch the third round of the WM Phoenix Open on TV via Golf Channel starting at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by the CBS broadcast at 3 p.m. RT. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide streaming coverage beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET Saturday morning, as well as featured group and featured hole coverage all day long.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open.

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How to watch on TV Saturday

Golf Channel will air third-round TV coverage of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open from 12-3 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by the CBS broadcast from 3-6:30 p.m. ET.

How to stream online Saturday

You can stream the third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, which will offer streaming coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday in addition to featured group and hole coverage. Paramount+ will stream the CBS broadcast.

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2026 WM Phoenix Open Round 3 tee times (ET)

2026 WM Phoenix Open tee times for Saturday: Round 3 (ET)

Tee No. 1

11:23 a.m. – Takumi Kanaya, Mac Meissner, Tom Kim
11:34 a.m. – Ryan Fox, Scottie Scheffler, Zecheng Dou
11:45 a.m. – Rasmus Højgaard, Daniel Berger, Ben Griffin
11:56 a.m. – Chad Ramey, Sami Valimaki, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
12:07 p.m. – Michael Thorbjornsen, Davis Thompson, A.J. Ewart
12:18 p.m. – Max Homa, Brian Campbell, Brian Campbell
12:29 p.m. – Chandler Phillips, Kristoffer Reitan, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
12:40 p.m. – Nicolai Højgaard, Michael Kim, Jake Knapp
12:51 p.m. – Maverick McNealy, Zach Bauchou, Kevin Roy
1:02 p.m. – Sam Stevens, Stephan Jaeger, Min Woo Lee
1:13 p.m. – John Parry, Sahith Theegala, Matt Fitzpatrick
1:24 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim
1:45 p.m. – Ryo Hisatsune, Hideki Matsuyama, Pierceson Coody

Tee No. 10

11:23 a.m. – Keith Mitchell, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young
11:34 a.m. – Rickie Fowler, Neal Shipley, Adrien Saddier
11:45 a.m. – Max McGreevy, Nick Taylor, Harris English
11:56 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Jacob Bridgeman, Rico Hoey
12:07 p.m. – Cam Davis, Jordan Smith, Christo Lamprecht
12:18 p.m. – Sepp Straka, Kurt Kitayama, Joe Highsmith
12:29 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Gary Woodland, John VanDerLaan
12:40 p.m. – Keita Nakajima, S.H. Kim, J.T. Poston
12:51 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Hank Lebioda
1:02 p.m. – Johnny Keefer, Patton Kizzire, Bud Cauley
1:13 p.m. – Wyndham Clark, Alex Smalley
1:24 p.m. – S.T. Lee, Kensei Hirata

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Detroit Lions Lose Another Coach to Aaron Glenn’s Jets

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The Detroit Lions have officially lost another member of their coaching staff, this time to a familiar face.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the New York Jets are hiring Lions assistant tight ends coach Seth Ryan as their new passing game coordinator, continuing what has become a steady pipeline from Detroit to New York under head coach Aaron Glenn.

Aaron Glenn

Aaron Glenn

Ryan’s move marks the latest example of Glenn pulling from the Lions organization as he continues to build his staff with coaches he knows and trusts.

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At just 31 years old, Ryan has quickly established himself as a fast-rising assistant in NFL circles. He joined Detroit in 2021 as an offensive quality control coach, later moved into an assistant wide receivers role, and most recently served as the Lions’ assistant tight ends coach. His versatility across multiple offensive positions made him an attractive candidate for an expanded role.

The hire also carries a strong family legacy. Ryan becomes the third generation of Ryans to coach the Jets, following his father Rex Ryan and grandfather Buddy Ryan, both of whom left significant marks on the franchise.

While the loss stings for Detroit, Ryan’s departure is also a reflection of how highly regarded the Lions’ coaching staff has become across the league. Coaches leaving for promotions elsewhere is often the price of success — and a sign that Detroit is developing top-tier talent both on and off the field.

For Aaron Glenn, it’s another trusted voice added to his staff. For the Lions, it’s another reminder that their assistants are in demand.

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NFL Insider ‘Increasingly Skeptical’ Maxx Crosby Stays With Raiders Amid Patriots Trade Rumors

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Senior NFL insider Dianna Russini wrote on Saturday that she’s “increasingly skeptical” that Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby will remain with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Russini’s report comes amid rampant trade rumors linking the superstar edge rusher to the New England Patriots.

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“But to coaches and general managers around the league, it’s pretty obvious. The Las Vegas Raiders’ star edge rusher would be highly interested in pursuing a change of scenery,” Russini wrote for The Athletic. “Crosby remains under contract, but there’s a strong sense in league circles that he could be there for the taking, despite the Raiders likely demanding a high price (think a Micah Parsons-like package). Las Vegas is not expected to try to make Crosby stay if he truly wants out.”

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The insider added that even the Raiders’ expected hiring of Klint Kubiak as their next head coach isn’t likely to sway Crosby’s desires.

“Once the Raiders, as expected, hire Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Crosby will have a fifth full-time head coach since he debuted in 2019. He has played in one career playoff game. Imagine what he could do with a stable organization accustomed to winning,” Russini said. “The reality is, if Crosby does become available, the Patriots would be just one of many interested teams. It’s unclear how this will play out, but I’m increasingly skeptical he’ll play a down for Kubiak.”

The 28-year-old addressed the trade chatter on Friday, saying “For me, I just sit back and laugh. Because I know my truth…”

Crosby underwent knee surgery in January after missing the end of the regular season with a meniscus injury.

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NFL news: Matt Hasselbeck reveals his regret from Seahawks’ Super Bowl XL loss

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

When the Seattle Seahawks take the field against the New England Patriots on Sunday, it will be their fourth Super Bowl appearance.

The franchise’s first appearance came in 2006 in Super Bowl XL, as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck led them to a 13-3 record in the regular season. However, the Seahawks’ first trip to the big game did not go as they hoped, as they lost 21-10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In that game, Hasselbeck completed 26 of his 49 passes for 273 yards with one touchdown and one interception. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 50-year-old said there is only one thing he would have done differently.

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Matt Hasselbeck warms up

Seattle Seahawks quarterback (8) Matt Hasselbeck warms up before the Super Bowl XL against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on Feb. 5, 2006. (Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006)

“I don’t think there’s anything that I would have done differently other than maybe not losing my poise. There were a couple of calls in the game that didn’t go our way, and I lost my cool on the referee and didn’t regain my poise by the time the 40-second clock had, you know, it was time to snap the next play,” Hasselbeck told Fox News Digital in a recent interview with the Family Heart Foundation.

“So, I did throw an interception on that play that I’m talking about and then I made the tackle on that interception and then I got flagged again for making the tackle which, you know, that’s a whole (other thing) I got even more upset.”

PRO BOWL QUARTERBACK MATT HASSELBECK ADVOCATES FOR CHOLESTEROL SCREENING AFTER FATHER’S CARDIAC ARREST DEATH

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Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Jan. 16, 2011. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The three-time Pro Bowler said that he learned the lesson of just taking things at a time. That lesson from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl loss didn’t just help him as an athlete, but also a father.

“If something in your mind (that’s) ridiculous happens, move on. And so I think that’s something that’s helped me certainly as an athlete, it’s helped me as a dad. You know, you get in the car, my kids would tell you, you get in the car after a sporting event with me, you are not allowed to talk about the referees. You can talk about whatever you want to talk about, but you’re not talking about the officials. Not doing it. And it’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way,” Hasselbeck said.

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Matt Hasselbeck greets

Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck greets fans before the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Jan. 25, 2026. (Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

While the Seahawks did not win Super Bowl XL, they returned to the Super Bowl in the 2013 season, and trounced the Denver Broncos 43-8 to capture the franchise’s first-ever title. They made the Super Bowl the following season, against the Patriots, but lost 28-24 as Russell Wilson was intercepted on the goal line by Malcolm Butler to seal the loss.

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Now, the latest iteration of the Seahawks hopes to bring the franchise’s record in Super Bowls to .500 and get revenge on the Patriots for the heartbreaking defeat from over 11 years ago.

The Seahawks play the Patriots at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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‘Bigger than World Cup’: Rashid Khan’s one dream Afghanistan cricket still can’t fulfil

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Afghanistan’s cricketers have toured continents, lifted trophies and earned global recognition, yet one deeply personal ambition remains unrealised — the chance to play an international match on home soil. For Rashid Khan, that absence still outweighs any silverware collected abroad.

Decades of conflict have meant Afghanistan has never hosted a full international fixture in Kabul. With infrastructure repeatedly damaged and security concerns persistent, the team has been forced to adopt overseas venues as makeshift homes. Across different phases, Greater Noida, Dehradun and Lucknow in India, along with Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, have all served as Afghanistan’s de facto bases.

Despite the prolonged exile, Rashid refuses to let go of the dream.

“Yes, that’s bigger than the World Cup to be honest, for me and for the team and every individual. We play an international game in Afghanistan and then all these people will see how people back home in Afghanistan are, how they are welcoming players and how they are enjoying cricket and that’s something which is more than a dream to be playing international cricket in your own country,” Rashid said, speaking on the eve of Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand.

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The Afghan captain acknowledged the affection the team receives wherever it travels, especially during stints in the IPL, but stressed that nothing compares to playing before one’s own people.

“When we play IPL here (in India), when we play an international game, we see how much their international stars are supported by the local fans and how much they give them love, like we get so much love, I am not saying we don’t get love here.

“Whenever we play here, we get lots of love and support, especially playing in IPL and also the World Cup we played (2023), we haven’t felt like being away from Afghanistan. But when you play in your own country, it’s a kind of different feeling and the world will see the country Afghanistan as well, how beautiful it is. But hopefully, one day we make that possible for an international team to come and they play cricket there,” he said.

Beyond the absence of home internationals, Rashid highlighted another structural challenge — the lack of a robust domestic cricket ecosystem. He admitted that talent identification becomes increasingly difficult without regular white-ball competitions.

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“We don’t have much cricket in Afghanistan, especially the shorter format. We have four-day cricket, but not much of the white ball cricket and then some time for you as a captain, it becomes very hard to pick the team because you don’t have many options like in India where lots of tournaments are happening every day and you see lots of talents,” he said.

According to Rashid, what Afghanistan cricket misses most is sustained competition, something he believes is essential for growth.

“For me, what we are missing at the moment is competition. When you have competition, you will try your best. Any spinner from Afghanistan who wants to play for Afghanistan will know that he will have to compete with Rashid, to compete with Noor or Mujeeb. The target is set very high and I also have to work very hard.

“I feel if we get that kind of competition in the batting as well, we are going to go to different level. But it only comes when you have a very strong domestic cricket, you have lots of competition back home, that’s where you can get the talent and I hope we focus more on our domestic cricket. But whatever you see on TV, it’s all just natural talent,” he said.

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Rashid also expressed his desire to see Afghanistan’s women cricketers represented on the international stage, while acknowledging that such decisions lie beyond a player’s control.

“I feel like that’s the kind of criteria for, I think, being a full member. So, the ICC, the Afghanistan Cricket Board, they have the better idea. But we love to see anyone representing Afghanistan on any stage, it’s a proud moment. But I think it’s all about the decision to be taken by the ACB and ICC, sometimes things as a player, you don’t have much in the control and we only think about the controllable things.

“But in this situation, we are in a kind of situation where you can’t really have much say in it, but yes, the support you have there, it’s always there, but bigger people come in and they take the decision and they take it forward,” he said.

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Shakur Stevenson targeted for 140lb unification fight after being stripped of lightweight title

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After becoming WBO super-lightweight champion and being stripped of his lightweight belt, it seems as though Shakur Stevenson may stick around in the 140lb division.

Stevenson beat Teofimo Lopez concincingly in New York last weekend and despite calling out welterweight Conor Benn, he also had the option of returning to the lightweight scene in an attempt to become undisputed champion

However, the WBC have since made the sudden decision to strip Stevenson of their green and gold belt – a decision that did not go down well with the fighter himself.

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As a result, Stevenson may now remain at super-lightweight and continue his WBO reign, particulary given the fact that he is only willing to take on welterweight contenders that agree to a 10-pound rehydration clause – a stipulation many not be willing to sign up for.

Speaking to Smitty Lewis, WBA super-lightweight world champion Gary Antuanne Russell explained that Stevenson’s fight with Lopez went exactly how he thought he would, before declaring that he is ‘belt chasing’ – opening the door to a clash with Stevenson.

“I already said how the fight was possibly going to go. I said that Shakur was going to put him on the ropes and keep him on the end of that stick. If Teofimo didn’t got the game plan, he was going to lose.

“If he didn’t come with the right game plan and the right mental, in the right shape, like how he fought [Vasyl] Lomachenko, he was going to lose.

“It was a 50/50, he got the ability to win, both of them is nice but styles make fights and I saw that Teofimo didn’t show up how he was supposed to.

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“[I will fight any champion at 140lbs] and 140 is boomin’. I am straight belt chasin’.”

Before Russell can truly focus on unifications, he must first get past mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka, whom he fights in two weeks’ time on the Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia undercard in Las Vegas.

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The P/PTSD Perspective: Flores Surprise, Exiled Viking Major Payday, and The New GM in MIN

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Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores on the sideline during an NFC wild card game against the Rams at State Farm Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the NFC wild card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The postseason appearance highlighted Flores’ aggressive defensive approach in a high-stakes environment as Minnesota faced playoff elimination on the road. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images..

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: February 7th, 2026

1) Report Suggests Brian Flores Has a Surprising Draft Priority: At this point, DC Brian Flores is known as precisely that: a defensive coordinator. Do note, though, that his background involves being a scout as well as a coach who has helped on offense and special teams. He happens to have a knack for identifying strong talent.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2025
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.

2) Exiled Vikings Player Projected to Sign Monster Contract: The growth from RG Ed Ingram in Houston has been tricky for the Vikings. Did that solid play down in Texas lead to the decision to move on from OL Coach Chris Kuper? At no point did Ingram play particularly well in Minnesota, a trend that broke once he became a Texan.

3) Why the New GM Wants to Work in Minnesota: Coming to Minnesota means inheriting a team with an unsettled QB position, a salary cap that needs a ton of work, and few young players coming up. The positive is that Minnesota has great facilities, Justin Jefferson at WR, and a talented coaching staff. Who ends up getting signed to be the new leader in the front office?

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Dec 31, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum (7) hands the ball off to running back Latavius Murray (25) during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.

4) The Buzzy Vikings Rumor Gets a Fresh Gust of Wind: Being able to pick Drake Maye would have made a major difference. Already, Maye is an elite passer who has led his team to the Super Bowl. Winning it all in just his second season will have fully solidified that he was more than worth the Patriots sticking at No. 3 to choose him.

5) Aaron Jones Slams the Vikings: Veteran running back Aaron Jones is a great leader. When Jones speaks, people should listen. Being disappointed in how things have gone at quarterback is sensible enough. After all, the QB spot in Minnesota is largely responsible for keeping the Vikings out of the playoffs.

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) catches a pass from quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.


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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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