UFC 307 is in the books which means it’s time to head back to the APEX!

UFC Vegas 98 takes place this Saturday, headlined by a flyweight contest between former title challenger Brandon Royval and rising super-prospect Tatsuro Taira, and No Bets Barred is back to break the whole card down.

This week, host Jed Meshew is joined by former professional fighter Billy Ward of Action Network to dive into all the UFC action this weekend. Topics discussed include Royval’s chances at denying the wunderkind Taira, just how past his prime is Brad Tavares, and the possible return of heavyweight overs? All that, plus, Jed unveils his newest gimmick: The Climb.

Tune in for episode 103 of No Bets Barred.

New episodes of the No Bets Barred podcast drop every Wednesday and are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts. The latest episode can be heard below.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain described City’s win as a “huge statement” to Europe’s elite.

“They didn’t just win by luck, they didn’t just rely on their goalkeeper to keep them in it, they fully deserved to win the game and win the game comfortably,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“That is going to give them so much confidence in any competition they are playing in this season.

“It’s a huge statement, a brilliant performance, a brilliant result and one that will remain in their record books and will be talked about for a long, long time.”

From the start, City pressed Barcelona and put pressure on the defence and goalkeeper Cata Coll.

As well as Layzell’s aggression down the right, Lauren Hemp was a constant threat on the left, Khadija Shaw was through the centre and Yui Hasegawa was a strong foundation in midfield.

Barcelona, usually so composed and intimidating, were not allowed to settle and though they improved in the second half, they were caught out by Layzell’s well-timed pass for Shaw which confirmed City’s victory with just over 10 minutes to go.

“But if you want to talk about winning competitions and tournaments, it needs to be sustained. It can’t be a one-off performance,” Chamberlain added.

“It’s got to be maintained. That’s the challenge that faces them now. Can you maintain this week in, week out?”

LAS VEGAS – Junyong Park wishes he could’ve fought Brad Tavares in July as originally scheduled, but he’ll have to settle for UFC Fight Night 244 on Saturday.

The first date between Park (17-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) was canceled when, after both men made weight, the doctor investigated a scratch on the South Korean middleweight’s ear that was determined to be a staph infection.

That decision did not make Park very happy.

“So there was a small scar or small scratch on the back of my ear, and the physician said it was staph infection, so the fight got canceled, unfortunately,” Park told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 244 media day. “It was kind of whack. … I told (Tavares) what happened and I was sorry. We both cut weight, and we were both looking forward to this, and unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Brad was very understanding. Things happen, you know?”

Although Park admits he’s annoyed he has to cut weight for a second time against the same opponent, he is happy he ultimately pleased with the situation, and intends to get the win in the co-main event clash, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (ESPN+).

“I’m a company man and I’ll fight whoever the UFC says,” Park said. “When I got the contract and it said Brad Tavares again, it was just another day at the job. … Nothing really changed for the game plan. It’s the same opponent. I’m the same guy. The only thing that’s changed is we are going to cut weight twice for this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.

New UFC middleweight Torrez Finney is a big fan of The Rock.

Finney earned a contract after becoming the first fighter to earn three wins on Dana White’s Contender Series, picking up a first-round TKO of Abdellah Er-Ramy at DWCS Season 8, Week 8. Throughout his MMA career, the 25-year-old would sign off his post-fight interviews by paying homage to The Rock’s famous WWE tagline, “If you smell what The Rock is cooking,” by changing it too, “If you can smell what Torrez is cooking.”

Growing up playing pro wrestler on the back yard trampoline, it was meant to be.

“Well, I’m a big professional wrestling fan,” Finney told MMA Fighting. “I’m big into WWE, obviously, even AEW. I’ve watched those things. Now I don’t watch them as religiously as I used to growing up. But growing up, man, with all my cousins, we used to get on the trampoline. If anybody knows anything about [that], the trampoline is the WWE ring for a lot of kids. And when they tell you not to do those things at home, we surely did not listen.

“So we did all of that stuff at home and we’re there on the trampoline jumping up and down. We do all WWE moves, and I think that’s a part of, a little bit, what helps me be able to speak in that promo type way. We used to do that. We used to have our toy mic and we’re like, ‘Man, I’m coming on your birthday, and I’m coming to take that belt — when I have that belt with me and all my cousins and we were playing like that.”

Finney was a baby when The Rock, real name Dwayne Johnson, was making his initial run in the sports entertainment juggernaut. But with multiple returns to WWE, Finney got to experience the confidence and star-power Johnson would exude on the microphone.

So when it came to fighting for his first MMA amateur title, Finney knew exactly what to do once he got the opportunity.

“I’m a big fan of The Rock now, my favorite wrestler is The Undertaker,” Finney said. “I’m a big Undertaker fan, but I love The Rock. I love his promo cutting and I would just sit there and watch that and I used to do some of that type of stuff in high school. … But when I was getting into fighting, I said, ‘Man, I need to think of something [to say],’ and it was my second amateur fight. I won the title and one of my friends was like, what you gonna say after the fight? And I said, ‘I got something. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to do this.’

“[After] my second amateur fight, I said, ‘I’ve been wanting to do this my entire life,’ and I go ‘If you can smell,’ and I said, ‘what the champ is cooking,’ because I was a champion at that time.”

Since then, “The Punisher” has gone on to win all 10 of his pro bouts, including his first two outings on Contender Series. After finishing Yuri Panerov in October 2023, Dana White elected not to award Finney a contract, asking him to get more experience first. Finney returned in August to win a decision against Cam Rowston, where White ripped Finney saying that he would get “absolutely decimated” in the UFC.

Finney has always remained true to himself. As the wins kept piling him, so was the excitement for his post-fight interviews. When he makes his eventual octagon debut, Finney may have the chance to say his signature after the biggest moment of his professional life.

“I just kept it rolling because kids and people was like, ‘Man, I’ve been looking forward to that,’” Finney explained. ”They look forward to that, ‘If you can smell.’ I even have fans, they look forward to that, ‘If you can smell what Torrez is cooking.’

“So it’s really cool man. And yeah, it’s funny like how the stuff you would do as a kid is now being gravitated and translated to what you do as an adult now.”

Manchester United prepare a move for Randal Kolo Muani, Real Madrid are targeting Arsenal’s William Saliba, while Chelsea remain interested in Victor Osimhen.

Manchester United have prepared a £58.6m offer for Paris St-Germain’s 25-year-old France forward Randal Kolo Muani. (Fichajes, via Teamtalk), external

Real Madrid want to sign Arsenal and France defender William Saliba as a “top priority” in 2025, with Los Blancos already in contact with the 23-year-old. (Le 10 Sport – in French), external

Galatasaray will look to make Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen’s loan move from Napoli permanent, while Chelsea remain interested. However, the 25-year-old will cost £68m in January or £63m next summer. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Manchester City are considering Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, 25, as a replacement for Ederson, but the Portugal stopper will cost £63m. (Caught Offside), external

Manchester United have made Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell, 27, a top target for January. (Teamtalk, external)

Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi has reiterated his desire to stay at Real Sociedad despite speculation of interest from Manchester City. (Mirror), external

Crystal Palace will step up their pursuit of Hammarby’s 18-year-old Ivorian forward Bazoumana Toure, who is also of interest to Manchester United and Celtic. (Give Me Sport) , external

Arsenal will still target a striker in the January transfer window, despite the promising start to the season made by Germany forward Kai Havertz, 25. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, 33, is next in line for a new contract after the club secured the long-term future of France centre-back Ibrahima Konate, 25. (Teamtalk, external)

Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United are all interested in Aston Villa’s 23-year-old England youth midfielder Jacob Ramsey. (Give Me Sport), external

Newcastle might sell England striker Callum Wilson, 32, in January to facilitate a move for a new forward. (Football Insider), external

Marseille are in advanced talks to sign France midfielder Paul Pogba, 31, who can play again from March after a four-year ban for a doping offence was reduced to 18 months. (Mirror), external

Pogba will have his Juventus contract terminated following his doping ban. (Fabrizio Romano), external