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FIFA WC 2026: Check Belgium’s full schedule, squad and team preview here | FIFA World Cup 2022

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Belgium head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup looking to begin a fresh chapter after finally moving beyond the long-standing “golden generation” label that defined the previous decade of Belgian football.

 


The Red Devils struggled to let go of several aging stars during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a decision that ultimately contributed to an early and disappointing exit. Although signs of transition began to emerge at Euro 2024 under Domenico Tedesco, it is now under new coach Rudi Garcia that Belgium appear ready to fully embrace a younger and more dynamic era.

 

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While experienced figures from Belgium’s most successful generation still remain part of the setup, the spotlight has now shifted towards a new wave of talent eager to establish its own identity on the world stage. Entering the tournament without overwhelming pressure or expectations could work in Belgium’s favour this time around.

 
 


Belgium enjoyed another unbeaten qualification campaign, finishing with 5 wins and 3 draws while scoring 29 goals and conceding just 7. Kevin De Bruyne once again proved decisive, finishing as the team’s top scorer with six goals, while Alexis Saelemaekers led the assist charts with four.

 

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Although Belgium only secured top spot in Group J on the final matchday, they consistently showcased attacking quality throughout qualifying. A commanding 4-2 victory over Wales in Cardiff perfectly highlighted the balance and attacking intent of this evolving Belgian side, while effectively sealing their place at the 2026 World Cup.

 


Belgium’s Group G in FIFA World Cup 2026

 

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Belgium


Iran


Egypt

 

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Will Belgium’s next gen spring a surprise?

 


Jérémy Doku enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Belgium’s biggest attacking weapon and a true game-changer on the wings. The Manchester City star is known for his explosive pace, dazzling footwork, and fearless dribbling, consistently troubling defenders in one-on-one situations and bringing excitement every time he touches the ball.

 

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Alongside him, Malick Fofana is emerging as one of Belgium’s brightest young talents. Much like Doku, Fofana thrives in direct attacking situations and possesses the ability to unsettle defenders with his unpredictability. Although an ankle injury briefly slowed his progress, the young winger continues to attract strong interest from several top European clubs.

 

Belgium schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026 

FIFA World Cup 2026 Belgium schedule

Fixture

Date

Venue

Belgium vs. Egypt

Monday, June 15

Lumen Field

Belgium vs. Iran

Sunday, June 21

SoFi Stadium

New Zealand vs. Belgium

Friday, June 26

BC Place

 

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Belgium Strengths

 


Belgium are expected to operate in a possession-based 4-2-3-1 system under Rudi Garcia, built around technical quality, midfield control, and attacking fluidity. One of the team’s biggest strengths is its balanced and deep midfield unit, capable of dictating tempo while also providing defensive stability.

 

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Kevin De Bruyne remains the creative heartbeat of the side, but Belgium’s attacking threat is heavily driven by its dynamic wide players. Jérémy Doku’s explosive dribbling and ability to dominate one-on-one situations make him a constant danger, while Dodi Lukébakio’s tendency to cut inside from the right creates additional attacking variety. Combined with elite talent in the final third, Belgium possess the firepower to overwhelm opponents when their attacking system clicks into place.

 


Belgium Weaknesses

 

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Despite their technical quality, Belgium have often struggled mentally against the strongest teams in world football. There remains a lingering inferiority complex in high-pressure matches against elite opposition, something that has affected them in previous major tournaments.

 


Another issue has been their tendency to start games slowly, occasionally allowing opponents to settle into matches before Belgium can establish control. Against top-tier sides, these sluggish openings can prove costly and place unnecessary pressure on the team later in matches.

 

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Belgium squad for FIFA World Cup 2026: 

 


Goalkeepers


Mats Sels — Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

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Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid (LaLiga)


Senne Lammens — Royal Antwerp (Belgian Pro League)

 


Defenders

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Arthur Theate — Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)


Brandon Mechele — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)


Nathan Ngoy — Luton Town (Championship)


Koni De Winter — Genoa (Serie A)

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Zeno Debast — Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)


Maxime De Cuyper — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)


Joaquin Seys — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)


Thomas Meunier — Trabzonspor (Süper Lig)

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Timothy Castagne — Fulham (Premier League)

 


Midfielders


Nicolas Raskin — Rangers (Scottish Premiership)

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Axel Witsel — Atlético de Madrid (LaLiga)


Hans Vanaken — Club Brugge (Belgian Pro League)


Kevin De Bruyne — Napoli (Serie A)


Youri Tielemans — Aston Villa (Premier League)

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Amadou Onana — Aston Villa (Premier League)

 


Forwards


Jérémy Doku — Manchester City (Premier League)

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Alexis Saelemaekers — AC Milan (Serie A)


Mathias Fernandez-Pardo — Lille (Ligue 1)


Lucas Stassin — Saint-Étienne (Ligue 1)


Romelu Lukaku — Napoli (Serie A)

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Leandro Trossard — Arsenal (Premier League)


Charles De Ketelaere — Atalanta (Serie A)


Dodi Lukebakio — Sevilla (LaLiga)

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Arnold Allen snaps win streak of Melquizael Costa at UFC Fight Night

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Arnold Allen will hold onto his spot in the featherweight rankings after snapping the win streak of rising contender Melquizael Costa.

England’s Allen won a five-round unanimous decision over Brazil’s Costa in a UFC Fight Night main event Saturday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Allen often prepares for his matchups with training camps in Canada at Montreal’s Tristar Gym but the Ipswich, England native prepared for Costa in his home country and it paid off.

The 32-year-old had lost decisions in three of his previous four appearances, while Brazil’s Costa had won six in a row in the UFC and had stopped his two most recent opponents in the opening round.

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Allen out-landed Costa 156 to 118 in total strikes and effectively mixed up his attack by going seven for seven on takedowns and accumulating 9:28 of cage control time.

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Two judges gave Allen all five rounds and the other scored it four rounds to one for Allen who entered the weekend as the No. 7-ranked contender in the 145-pound division.

Allen told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter earlier in the week he hopes to stay busy in 2026 once he gets by Costa.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “Busy busy. Get back in that title contention, take some people out. Take names, call for titles. That’s the plan.”

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In other featherweight action, Dooho Choi stopped Daniel Santos with body shots in the co-main event. Choi is now unbeaten in his past four fights. This was Choi’s first appearance since December of 2024. Santos had been on a four-fight streak prior to the loss. The pair were originally supposed to meet in September but the bout was postponed after Choi sustained a knee injury.

Peru’s Juan Diaz upset Malcolm Wellmaker with a second-round rear-naked choke submission. Diaz improved to 16-1-1 and was making his UFC debut. He was coming off a spectacular spinning elbow knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series in October that earned him a UFC contract.

Khaos Williams earned a first-round technical knockout win over fellow welterweight Nikolay Veretennikov.

Croatia’s Ivan Erslan picked up his first UFC win after starting 0-3 in the organization thanks to a unanimous decision over England’s Tuco Tokkos.

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Brazil’s Nicolle Caliari began her UFC tenure 0-2 after losing two tough matchups as an undersized flyweight, but earned her first UFC win after dropping down to the strawweight division. Caliari submitted Shauna Bannon in the third round of their 115-pound contest. Ireland’s Bannon has been tapped out in each of her past two outings.

Alice Ardelean tapped out Polyana Viana with a unique submission in the second round of their strawweight bout. Romania’s Ardelean became the first fighter in UFC history to win a fight with a move called a “Capsule lock” as she used leverage 

Colorado’s Luis Gurule lit up Spain’s Daniel Barez with 149 significant strikes and snapped his three-fight losing streak, winning a spirited flyweight bout via unanimous decision.

Tommy Gant improved to 12-0 as a pro by handing Artur Minev his first loss. Gant was originally scheduled to face Trey Ogden who withdrew earlier in the week with an injury.

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Phil Foden makes Pep Guardiola plea after Man City FA Cup win – ‘All I can say’

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Phil Foden was an unused substitute as Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final and he was asked about Pep Guardiola’s future after the game.

Phil Foden would love Pep Guardiola to stay at Manchester City for another year after the Blues boss masterminded a 20th trophy in his decade in charge.

City beat Chelsea 1-0 to claim a domestic cup double and keep alive hopes of a treble heading into the final two Premier League games of the campaign.

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The Blues need a favour from either Burnley or Crystal Palace to have any chance of overhauling Arsenal but the signs are there that this City vintage can challenge the best and bring sustained silverware to the Etihad.

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But it remains to be seen whether Guardiola will be there to oversee it with a growing expectation that the Catalan will depart in the summer. The Blues boss has had ample opportunity to provide clarity but has yet to do so and while he is under contract for another 12 months, that is no guarantee of him extending his Etihad stay into an 11th year.

But Foden, who was an unused sub at Wembley, would love to see the 55-year-old stay on at City.

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“To play with him now for so many years has been a blessing,” he said. “He’s certainly helped my game.

“I’m really happy that he’s still here at the moment and let’s see what happens at the end of the season. Hopefully he can be here next season.

“All I can say is it’s been a pleasure playing under him.”

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Fantasy Fallout: Rodgers signs with Steelers

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Aaron Rodgers took his time deciding whether to return to Pittsburgh, but the reunion finally happened Saturday night. According to multiple reports, Rodgers signed a one-year deal worth up to $25 million for the 2026 campaign.

Fantasy managers should view Rodgers, 42, as a desperation play in one-quarterback leagues, and he’s not worth drafting in those formats. In Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, Rodgers is worth a mid- to late-round pick.

Ideally, Rodgers will play well now that he’s back with Mike McCarthy, who was hired this offseason to replace Mike Tomlin. McCarthy coached Rodgers for 13 seasons in Green Bay.

We also hope the combination of Rodgers and McCarthy will help the Fantasy value for the receivers in Pittsburgh, namely DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman and Germie Bernard. More on them below.

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First, let’s look at Rodgers, who had some positive moments in 2025 with the Steelers, but he only averaged 17.2 Fantasy points per game. He passed for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he added 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. He only had six games with more than 20 Fantasy points in 17 games, including the playoffs.

McCarthy’s offense should benefit Rodgers more than the system he had in 2025 under former offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. McCarthy helped Rodgers average at least 21.5 Fantasy points per game in every season they were together with the Packers from 2006-18. And McCarthy helped Dak Prescott average at least 20.4 Fantasy points per game in four of five years when they were together in Dallas.

That version of Rodgers and Prescott was in their prime, so it’s hard to have high expectations for Rodgers in 2026. But the Steelers improved their receiving corps with the addition of Pittman and Bernard, and Rodgers could surprise us now that he’s back with McCarthy.

I still like Metcalf more than Pittman, but both should be considered No. 3 Fantasy receivers at best. Metcalf had a down season in 2025 in his first season in Pittsburgh with 12.5 PPR points per game, which was his lowest total since his rookie campaign in 2019. 

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Metcalf, with Rodgers, had 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns on 99 targets. I expect Metcalf’s targets to rise, but the earliest he should be drafted is Round 8 in the majority of leagues.

Pittman is also worth drafting as early as Round 8, and he just averaged 11.9 PPR points in his final season with the Colts in 2025. He had 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns on 111 targets.

Pittman might get more targets and receptions than Metcalf, given the expected routes for both. But Metcalf still offers more upside given his big-play ability.

As for Bernard, the second-round rookie from Alabama is worth drafting as a late-round flier in seasonal leagues. In rookie-only drafts for dynasty leagues, Bernard is worth a second-round pick. He just had 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games in 2025.

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The Fantasy value for the tight ends (Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth) and running backs (Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle) doesn’t change much with Rodgers back. Either Washington or Freiermuth could become a streaming option during the season, but neither is worth drafting. And Warren and Dowdle should be considered high-end flex options on Draft Day.

I like Warren slightly better than Dowdle since Warren should have a larger role in the passing game. But Dowdle and McCarthy were together in Dallas, and their history could help Dowdle emerge as the No. 1 running back in Pittsburgh this season. I would draft Warren as early as Round 6, and Dowdle should be selected in Round 7.

We’re glad Rodgers is back in 2026. Hopefully, he can have one more productive season with McCarthy before he likely retires after this year.

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Dave Allen makes feelings clear on his corner throwing in the towel to stop Hrgovic fight

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Tonight in Doncaster, trainer Jamie Moore threw in the towel in the third round to prevent Dave Allen from taking any further punishment at the heavy hands of Filip Hrgovic.

Allen was a significant underdog on paper, and once the opening bell rang, events unfolded exactly as many expected, even despite a vocal home support at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Hrgovic outgunned the Brit from the off and did not relent until the towel came in, with Allen throwing wild and landing little in return. Though he looked disappointed in the moment, the hometown hero said post-fight that he trusts his trainers, Moore and Nigel Travis, implicitly.

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“These two, they’ve been with me through it all. I love them to death. If Jamie and Nige say enough’s enough, enough’s enough. Thank you for looking after me. If Jamie and Nige think the stoppage is the right choice, it’s the right choice.”

Allen made no excuses for his loss, saying that Hrgovic is simply too good for him, and he thanked his fans for the support regardless.

Few will argue with Moore’s call, particularly given Hrgovic’s reputation as one of the division’s most durable heavyweights, making the chances of Allen landing one decisive shot increasingly slim. His decision, and it would not have been an easy one with the vocal crowd, allows his man to drop back down a level and fight another day.

Moore’s decision comes at a time amid ongoing debate on whether or not Ben Davison and team should have pulled Fabio Wardley out of his gruelling battle with Daniel Dubois earlier than the referee stoppage in the eleventh round. Tonight, Allen’s team wanted to leave nothing to chance.

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Atlanta scores late to pull even in draw vs. Orlando

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MLS: Atlanta United FC at Orlando CityMay 16, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Atlanta United FC forward Emmanuel Latte Lath (9) moves up field in the second half against the Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images

Jay Fortune’s 86th-minute goal cancelled out Griffin Dorsey’s first-half opener as visiting Atlanta United played Orlando City to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.

Fortune’s goal, his second in as many matches, secured a point for Atlanta (3-8-2, 11 points) and snapped its two-match losing streak at home.

With just minutes to go in normal time, Atlanta — who appeared destined for a second straight loss — pulled level. Matt Edwards used some brilliant footwork on the right side of the Orlando scoring area before passing it into the box to Fortune. Fortune’s first-time effort sailed over Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to make it 1-1.

Atlanta had a chance to take all three points from Orlando in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, but Crepeau dove to parry away Matias Galarza’s attempt from just beyond the box.

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That provided some consolation for Orlando (4-8-2, 14 points), who opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

Martin Ojeda’s pass between the legs of Atlanta centerback Enea Mihaj found Ivan Angulo charging into the scoring area. Despite Tomas Jacob’s attempts to defend, Angulo passed the ball in front of the goal to Dorsey, who tapped it in to give Orlando a 1-0 lead. It was Dorsey’s second goal of the season.

Orlando City had several opportunities to extend its lead but failed to capitalize, ultimately settling for a point after conceding Fortune’s late goal. They were also forced to take Robin Jansson out at halftime after the Orlando centerback and captain appeared to suffer a knee injury.

Angulo was credited with an assist on Dorsey’s goal, which was his team-high seventh of the season. Edwards’ assist on Fortune’s goal was his first of the year.

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Orlando and Atlanta will play each other again on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.

–Field Level Media

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IPL 2026 | ‘Jasprit Bumrah coming in as captain a fantastic move’: Kris Srikkanth

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IPL 2026 | 'Jasprit Bumrah coming in as captain a fantastic move': Kris Srikkanth

Jasprit Bumrah (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: Former India captain, 1983 World Cup winner and former selector Kris Srikkanth believes Mumbai Indians have rediscovered the high energy and dominance they are known for, even in the absence of captain Hardik Pandya. Pandya has missed Mumbai Indians’ last three matches.Sidelined with a back spasm, Pandya first missed Mumbai Indians’ home clash against Lucknow Super Giants on May 4. He then sat out the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Raipur despite travelling with the squad. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav led the side. Pandya also did not travel to Dharamsala for Mumbai Indians’ six-wicket win over Punjab Kings, where Jasprit Bumrah became MI’s third captain this season after Suryakumar missed the game following the birth of his child.Bumrah’s maiden outing as Mumbai Indians skipper turned into a memorable one as he guided the team to a six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings.Under Bumrah’s leadership, Shardul Thakur picked up four wickets, while Deepak Chahar claimed two as Punjab Kings posted 200/8. Mumbai Indians then chased down the target in 19.5 overs, powered by Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 75 off just 33 balls.Srikkanth felt there was a fresh energy within the side.“It is a good call. I think Bumrah coming in as captain is a fantastic move,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube channel.Srikkanth also felt there was a noticeable shift in the team environment in Hardik’s absence.“Definitely, definitely there is some issue. Definitely, the team’s mood was more lighter. The team suddenly looks more united overall.”“Surya too didn’t play in that match. He was not playing the match for personal reasons, he did not play the match. But whatever it is, the young side suddenly like you are saying. They come and Deepak Chahar is bowling well. That Raj Angad Bawa fellow is bowling decently. Everyone is performing. Tilak Varma performed brilliantly. Ryan Rickleton smashed and dominated with aggressive shots early on.”“Overall, like you said, the will to win, they will to succeed. Even though they were down in the dumps, they showed the will to succeed. That is the key in cricket. That energy was there,” said Srikkanth.Srikkanth added that Bumrah looked relaxed on the field and backed the bowlers with confidence.“And if you look at the bowling too, even Bumrah was smiling continuously. He was giving lots of confidence to the bowlers. And I thought Bumrah’s captaincy made a huge difference to people like Deepak Chahar. And of course Shardul Thakur, because otherwise, they bowl loose deliveries and leak runs. Today, everyone took wickets,” said Srikkanth.Mumbai Indians will next face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 20, with Pandya expected to return and lead the side again.

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I’m having some babies after this

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A three-time WWE Women’s Champion is gearing up to lace up her boots again. She recently revealed that her upcoming fight will be the last of her iconic career.

Ronda Rousey is all set to make her return to the cage for the first time in nearly a decade. She will face Gina Carano on May 16, 2026, marking her first MMA match since her consecutive losses to Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm in UFC.

The fight between Rousey and Carano will take place under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will be the first-ever MMA event to be streamed live on Netflix.

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The two women are expected to headline the show at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

During the ceremonial weigh-in, ex-WWE star Ronda Rousey was asked by Ariel Helwani if she would consider coming back after this weekend.

The Rowdy One ruled out the possibility, saying she’s planning to have more babies in the near future.

“I’m having some babies after this. I’m busy the night after the fight.”


Ex-WWE star Ronda Rousey addresses potential UFC return

Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, former WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey said she had to convince her husband, Travis Browne, ahead of her MMA return.

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She also promised her spouse that this would be the last time she would step inside the cage.

“To the UFC, to fight? No. I promised my husband that this is the last one. He is the one that I have to convince to get on board with this promoter sh*t after. He’s not going for the fighting at all after this. Honestly, I want to get started having babies again right away. I want to have at least two more, if I can. I can’t be taking detours anymore. This is the peak. I can’t go higher than this. This is the dream fight and the absolute pinnacle for me. This is the perfect way to end it.”

Rousey and Browne are proud parents of two kids. The couple is planning to have more children in the future.


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