Jon Jones has claimed he may “need to try to focus on getting out” of his UFC contract, amid renewed talk of a fight with Francis Ngannou.

On Saturday, Jones joined Netflix’s punditry team to discuss Ngannou’s knockout of Philipe Lins, after the Cameroonian stopped the Brazilian in round one at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The bout took place on the undercard of Ronda Rousey’s comeback to mixed martial arts (MMA) after a decade away, at an event organised by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Ngannou’s win saw him move to 2-0 in MMA since leaving the UFC in 2023, an exit that saw him vacate the UFC heavyweight title, which Jones won two months later.

Jones ultimately relinquished the belt last summer as he retired from MMA, yet the American has repeatedly teased a return to the cage. And a potential super-fight with Ngannou was put to the former light-heavyweight champion on Saturday.

“I’ve got to focus on trying to get out of my UFC contract,” Jones said. “That’s going to be the difficult part, if this fight is going to happen.

“I don’t think Dana [White, UFC CEO and president] is interested in doing business with Francis. Doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen. If we can get out my contract, that would be great.”

Still, Jones admitted: “I think I am [retired], I think I am. I have a really good agent, the Kawa brothers, and these guys keep me busy. I’m constantly on the road, creating my own businesses and endorsing other businesses.

“So, I feel like if things weren’t going so well, I’d feel the pressure to get back in the cage, but things are going so well on a professional level that I really have no reason to fight anymore.”

Ngannou’s UFC heavyweight title reign coincided with Jones’s absence from the UFC, as the latter focused on bulking up to transition from a light-heavyweight frame. Many fans accused Jones of actively avoiding a fight with Ngannou – who is widely considered the most-fearsome puncher in MMA history – especially given Jones returned to the UFC as soon as the Cameroonian left.

“Tonight he looked good,” Jones said on Saturday, “but he also fought against a guy that weighed like 220lb. That guy was afraid to engage with Francis. He definitely wasn’t on the same kickboxing level as Francis.

“[But] I thought Francis was very impressive tonight. He’s starting to throw kicks, he threw really nice high kicks tonight. I’m just excited to see what’s next for him.”

After leaving the UFC, Ngannou (19-3) fought once in the PFL, winning the promotion’s Super Fights heavyweight title in 2024. He did so by stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round.

The 39-year-old has also boxed twice since leaving the UFC. He a controversial decision to then-champion Tyson Fury in 2023 after dropping the Briton, before suffering a brutal KO defeat by Anthony Joshua in 2024.

Jones, 38, last fought in November 2024, stopping heavyweight great Stipe Miocic to retain the UFC heavyweight belt. Jones (28-1, 1 no-contest) then refused to face interim champion Tom Aspinall, ultimately giving up his title and leading Aspinall to be elevated to official champion.

There were heartwarming scenes at Old Trafford after Manchester United’s final home game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Casemiro said an emotional farewell to Manchester United fans on Sunday. A banner paying tribute to him was unfurled in the Stretford End, and there were a few Brazilian flags dotted around the stadium.

The midfielder and his family were presented with a special commemorative gift ahead of his departure, while Bruno Fernandes was presented with a framed shirt after equalling the single-season Premier League assist record.

Another gift was handed to Tyrell Malacia. The presentation was low-key, with a framed shirt handed to the defender and his family, who posed for a photo by the tunnel.

Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter

Malacia was one of the last players to leave the pitch. He made a promising start to his time at United in 2022/23, but he played through a knee injury with pain injections at the end of that season before undergoing two rounds of knee surgery after the first operation proved unsuccessful.

It was, therefore, no surprise that he spent as long as he could on the Old Trafford pitch. Malacia’s daughter was by his side, and he appreciated the gift presented to him by a staff member.

The lap of honour finished in front of the Stretford End, and there were heartwarming scenes with the players and their loved ones everywhere you looked, albeit “a little bit chaotic”, as Michael Carrick described it when he made his way upstairs to speak at his post-match press conference.

Casemiro’s son showed he could follow in his dad’s footsteps as he playfully wiped out Bruno Fernandes’ child in the penalty area during a casual kickabout. Fernandes set his son up to score a goal with a pass. He finds a way to make an assist even when he’s not on duty.

Casemiro’s family were emotional pitchside. His mother carefully folded away a home-crafted ‘thank you’ message to fans that they’d stuck up on the glass of their box, making sure to take it home.

A red-tinted Brazil flag was folded away by another family member. Casemiro and his wife, Anna Mariana, held hands as they disappeared down the Old Trafford tunnel for the final time. The midfielder only let go of her hand to blow a kiss to United fans and to wave goodbye.

Casemiro was scheduled to speak at a post-match press conference. The idea of speaking to journalists after the game was his own, but a United staff member eventually confirmed he was “too emotional” to do so.

Carrick would have been made emotional by the reception he received as he left the pitch. He saluted the Stretford End, applauding and giving a thumbs-up, before heading down to the busy tunnel area.

Advertisement

Steve Holland was the first member of Carrick’s backroom staff to go down the tunnel, which felt appropriate for a man who shuns the limelight in favour of cracking on with the job behind the scenes.

Holland applauded United fans before disappearing. The 56-year-old was a massive United fan as a boy, and the significance of what he could achieve at United over the next few years won’t be lost on him.

Carrick and his coaching staff have been key to Kobbie Mainoo’s comeback at United, having immediately restored him to the starting team after Ruben Amorim left him on the periphery of the squad.

Mainoo played with his niece on the pitch while the chants of “Mainoo, United can’t play without you,” to the tune of Billy Ocean’s hit track ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’ cranked up a notch from the terrace.

The academy graduate eventually acknowledged the chant by fist-pumping and applauding the fans. The new Mainoo chant is catchy, but it’s also true: United should not be playing without him starting.

Bryan Mbeumo was pleased to see two French speakers in the front row. They appeared to know Mbeumo and called him over. The 26-year-old spoke to United’s security guard, and the pair were invited down the tunnel.

Fernandes came back out from the dressing room to speak to Manchester-based reporters because the mixed zone was not accessible. He was in great form, smiling as he chatted about the assist record.

A United staff member eventually shouted, “stewards, it’s time to clear the stands, please can you tell the fans to leave?”. Some supporters couldn’t get enough of the celebratory scenes in front of them.

There have been plenty of bad final days at Old Trafford. Sunday was an uplifting one.

The Vikings’ offseason was several things, but boring was not one of them. After an initial quiet free-agency period, Minnesota still found a way to overhaul the roster over the last couple of months.

For some players, doors opened; for others, doors closed. For Levi Drake Rodriguez, somehow, both things happened.

Drafted in 2024, Rodriguez almost had a redshirt rookie season, but not only did he defend his roster spot last offseason, but he also claimed a significant role on the defensive line in his sophomore year. In the early stages of the offseason, Rodriguez was the fourth defensive lineman on the depth chart (with Jalen Redmond expected to return).

Then, the Vikings released both Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. Suddenly, Rodriguez was a strong candidate for a starting job next to Redmond. Sure, the Vikings might add a player in the draft or in free agency, but they wouldn’t add two, would they?

Well, they did, drafting Caleb Banks in the first round and Domonique Orange in the third. On the projected depth chart, Rodriguez went from fourth to second and back to fourth.

In his rookie campaign, Rodriguez appeared in only two games and logged one tackle, playing six defense snaps and 11 on special teams. He was expected to have a steep learning curve, given that he played his college ball at Texas A&M Commerce. The jump from there to the NFL was gigantic.

As a sophomore, the defensive tackle made 16 appearances and even started two contests, playing 461 defensive snaps (45%) and 85 on special teams. The Vikings used him as the backup nose tackle, a position Hargrave mostly played, though it might not have been the veteran’s best usage.

In his playing time, Rodriguez registered a couple of sacks, 43 tackles, and 8 tackles for loss. A crucial play in his second season was a blocked field goal attempt in a three-point victory over the Detroit Lions in November. That play earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

He’ll certainly be at least a rotational player in his third season, but it remains to be seen how much and where he’ll play. It all depends on how quickly rookies Banks and Orange can acclimate to the NFL level.

Banks is, like Redmond, more of a defensive end in a base 3-4 defense, meaning he’s expected to line up between the nose tackle and an edge rusher. That nose tackle spot is where things could get interesting this summer.

Those at training camp practices should watch the rep splits between Orange and Rodriguez. particularly at nose tackle, right in the middle of the defensive line across from the center. Both could and will also get snaps in even fronts, when only two interior linemen are on the field, but the one higher in the nose tackle hierarchy will likely get more playing time in the upcoming season.

Rodriguez might not enter training camp with the same momentum he briefly had earlier this offseason, but that doesn’t mean his role has disappeared. If anything, the Vikings’ moves simply changed the challenge in front of him.

The former seventh-rounder already proved last season that he belongs on an NFL field. Now comes the next step: proving he can hold off highly-drafted competition and carve out a permanent role in Brian Flores’ defensive line rotation.

And given the way Rodriguez responded to long odds a year ago, counting him out now would probably be a mistake.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

The sixth season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) is set to begin with a major financial boost after league promoter Innovative Production Group FZ, LLC (IPG) secured fresh backing through a strategic merger with United States-based Flash Sports & Media Inc.

The all-stock merger brings IPG’s cricket league commercial rights portfolio, including the LPL, under NASDAQ-listed platform UGRO. Backed by the new structure, IPG has announced plans to invest $20 million into the LPL over the next two years as the tournament targets commercial growth, improved broadcast standards and wider international expansion across multiple cricket markets.

IPG merger brings institutional backing

IPG confirmed that it has completed its merger with Flash Sports & Media, placing its portfolio of T20 league rights under the publicly listed platform. The development is expected to strengthen the commercial structure of the LPL while providing access to institutional capital and governance systems aimed at long-term growth.

While Sri Lanka Cricket will continue to own the intellectual property rights of the tournament, IPG will retain exclusive commercial and media rights for the league. The company said the latest move would help scale the competition in a more structured manner while focusing on franchise growth and operational stability.

Two-year investment plan for LPL

As part of the expansion roadmap, IPG plans to invest $20 million into the league over the next two years. The company said the focus would be on improving league infrastructure, strengthening sponsorship integration and building recurring commercial revenue streams.

The investment will also be directed towards upgrading broadcast production standards to 4K and improving fan engagement initiatives. Officials said the objective is to create a sustainable commercial model that can support multiple cricket properties across emerging markets.

Flash Sports & Media chief executive officer Bradley Nattrass stated that the merger would help the company execute projects across several cricket economies simultaneously. He indicated that centralised commercial operations and aligned franchise strategies would support stronger sponsorship deals, improved broadcast partnerships and greater audience engagement.

Chief financial officer Eric Sherb said the public-market structure would allow phased capital deployment while maintaining financial discipline and focusing on long-term commercial returns.

Expansion plans beyond Sri Lanka

Apart from the LPL, IPG also holds long-term agreements related to T20 leagues in Malaysia and Zimbabwe. The group confirmed that expansion into these markets forms part of a wider strategy to establish an integrated multi-market cricket business across South Asia and other emerging territories.

The company said the aim is to connect standalone leagues under one commercial platform that can centralise sponsorship opportunities and create long-term asset value across different competitions.

Officials added that future growth plans would focus on scaling operations, increasing media reach and developing a stronger international cricket entertainment network.

LPL 2026 schedule and venues confirmed

The sixth edition of the LPL will be held from July 10 to August 5. For the first time, matches will be played across four venues, including Colombo, Dambulla and Kandy, with the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo set to host games for the first time in league history.

The tournament is expected to feature several overseas players alongside leading Sri Lankan cricketers. The player registration window opened on May 4, while the player draft is scheduled to take place on May 24.

The LPL, operated by IPG under the patronage of Sri Lanka Cricket, has grown into one of the region’s prominent T20 competitions since its launch, attracting international participation and increasing commercial interest with each season.

Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova at Strasbourg Open.– FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP, MARTIN KEEP/AFP PHOTOS

• Alex Eala opens her campaign at the WTA 500 Strasbourg Open in France against Ukrainian World No. 66 Oleksandra Oliynykova in the round of 32.

2026 Strasbourg Open schedule

8:00 p.m.**** – Alex Eala vs Oleksandra Oliynykova

Alex Eala to play at Strasbourg Open main draw

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns the ball to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Alex Eala has entered the main draw of the Strasbourg Open in France this coming week.

The Women’s Tennis Association website and the organizers confirmed Eala’s entry after initially being listed as a qualifier in the WTA 500 tournament.

Advertisement

Eala will be facing a Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova to start her campaign in France — her fifth tournament on clay.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Read Next

Advertisement

Don’t miss out on the latest news and information.

Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs race is showing no end to its drama, with seven teams competing for the three remaining slots as the tournament enters the final week of the league stage. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the first team to qualify after beating the Punjab Kings on Sunday, but Delhi Capitals’ victory over the Rajasthan Royals added another layer of complexity to the top-four battle. Now, a total of seven teams are vying for the remaining three slots in the playoffs. (IPL 2026 Points Table)

While the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have sealed their spot in the next round, only two teams have been eliminated so far: the Mumbai Indians and the Lucknow Super Giants. We take a look at the qualification scenarios for the remaining seven teams:

Gujarat Titans: The Shubman Gill-led side needs just one win from their remaining two matches to officially seal qualification and firmly challenge RCB for the top spot. Even if they lose both, they are highly likely to go through on points or net run rate (NRR) unless an impractical statistical shift occurs with the trailing teams.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: SRH control their own destiny. Two wins could potentially push them to 18 points, safely placing them in the top four and potentially allowing them to fight for a top-two spot. One win takes them to 16 points, which should comfortably clear the logjam below them due to their healthy, positive NRR.

Punjab Kings: The costly defeat to RCB means PBKS can only reach a maximum of 15 points by winning their final fixture against LSG. Because they cannot reach the 16-point safety threshold, a win is non-negotiable. Even then, they must hope that the likes of CSK, RR, and KKR fail to clear the 14-point mark cleanly with a better NRR. SRH are likely to end the campaign above PBKS, while DC can only muster a maximum of 14 points, which would be irrelevant if Punjab get to 15.

Rajasthan Royals: With four defeats in their last five matches, Rajasthan’s campaign is on the brink of a complete collapse. At present, their playoff destiny remains in their own hands. If RR win both of their remaining games, they will finish on 16 points, putting them ahead of PBKS, KKR, and DC. If they only win one, the situation will force them into an ugly NRR battle with CSK and DC, provided that either KKR or PBKS fail to reach 15 points.

Chennai Super Kings: After their recent setback against LSG, CSK find themselves in must-win territory. They must ideally win both remaining matches to reach 16 points. Winning just one match (14 points) leaves them completely dependent on RR, KKR, and PBKS not crossing the 14-point mark, as well as keeping their NRR above the competition.

Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR are the only side apart from PBKS who can reach 15 points. That gives them a slight advantage if other teams end up managing just 14 points. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side need to win both of their remaining matches and in that case, Net Run Rate (NRR) is expected to decide their future as many teams still remain in contention. However, just one win will take them to 13 points and it is very unlikely that it will be enough for them.

Delhi Capitals: By defeating Rajasthan, Delhi kept their campaign alive, but they only have one game left, capping their maximum possible tally at 14 points. To qualify, they must win their final match-and do so by a big margin-whilst heavily relying on CSK, PBKS, and RR to lose all of their remaining fixtures, and KKR not to win more than one. Furthermore, because of their severely compromised NRR (-0.871), they desperately need massive margins of victory or a total points collapse from the rest of the field.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi