A LAW student who called Arsenal and England ace Bukayo Saka a “monkey” has dodged a jail term after insisting he was not being racist.

Suhel Ali, 20, put an audio message on X/Twitter, calling Saka, 23, a “fing black piece of s**t” following Arsenal’s 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in May last year.

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The Arsenal fan, of Wembley, North London, also called him the N-word and said: “You’re a f***ing monkey.”

The second-year law student admitted posting an offensive message.

Westminster magistrates chair Kieran O’Donnell told Ali: “Your lawyer said your intention was not to be racist, but whoever heard it would have heard racial abuse.

“But you are of previous good character.”

“You have no previous convictions. You are remorseful

Ali, who, like Saka is of Nigerian heritage, got a 12-month conditional discharge with £111 costs.

Wing wizard Saka scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

He is set to star for England against Greece at Wembley.

Erika Andreeva defeated her higher-ranked younger sister Mirra in the first professional meeting between the two talented siblings to reach the last 16 at the Wuhan Open.

The Russian pair became the first sisters to play each other in a WTA main draw match since Serena Williams defeated older sister Venus at the Top Seed Open in Kentucky in August 2020.

Erika, 20, claimed a 6-3 6-1 win over 17-year-old Mirra and will now play Italian world number six Jasmine Paolini for a quarter-final place.

Mirra, the 16th seed, said prior to the meeting that she and Erika had agreed to split the prize money from the second round contest, whatever the outcome.

French Open semi-finalist Mirra became the youngest player to be ranked in the top 20 since 2006 last week, courtesy of her run to the quarter-finals at the China Open in Beijing.

But, despite being favourite against Erika, who is ranked 70th in the world, Mirra correctly predicted facing her sister would be “a nightmare”.

Erika is yet to progress beyond the second round in five Grand Slam appearances but, a lucky loser entry in the main draw in Wuhan, she rose to the occasion against her younger sibling.

Already apprehensive about the “stressful” prospect of facing an opponent who knows her game inside out, Mirra claimed the first break of serve and led 3-1.

But Erika responded emphatically by clinching three successive breaks amid a five-game streak to take the opening set.

Erika, a junior French Open runner-up in 2021, extended that unanswered run of games to eight as she took charge with a 3-0 lead in the second set, before earning another break on her way to completing a commanding victory with her third match point.

UFC 308 is right around the corner, and the headliners Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are itching to step into the cage to settle things for the featherweight title.

The undefeated champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is confident he will not only retain his gold, but also become the first to finish former champ Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) by knockout.

The fight goes down in the main event of UFC 308 on Oct. 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. While there are still two weeks before they can get their hands on each other, that hasn’t stopped them from hurling verbal jabs at one another.

“You already know how it feels to bounce back,” Topuria said to Holloway in a pre-fight interview moderated by Brendan Fitzgerald. “You already have seven professional defeats. I have zero. So, you’re going to do it once again really well, I don’t have any doubts about that. You are a great example of that.”

The interview began with respectful yet sarcastic banter, but with each exchange, the sarcasm grew until full-on insults were spewed.

“I took a lot of people’s doughnuts, bro,” Holloway replied. “I hope you like churros because you’re about to get one come Oct. 26, buddy.”

Topuria dismissed Holloway, and claimed he will become the first person to knock out the former featherweight champion, whose only stoppage loss came by submission to Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 in 2012.

“The only thing I’m going to do is take your lights out and party with all my people, all my team. That’s what I’m going to do,” Topuria said. “And Still. This is what’s going to happen.

“… I don’t have any doubts that I will be the first one to knock you out. I don’t even want you to trust in that because if you’re starting to trust in what I’m saying, you’re not going to show up, and I need you to show up for the fight.”

Topuria explained his confidence comes from studying the division’s greats before him, including Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway. Topuria knocked out the former in his last fight at UFC 298, finishing the former champion in the second round.

Holloway enters this title opportunity coming off a Knockout of the Year contender at UFC 300, when he violently slept Justin Gaethje with one second left on the clock after pointing to the ground, inviting him to trade bombs until the final horn.

Topuria was not impressed with that fight, nor the finish. He even took it a step further, issuing a challenge to Holloway.

“Bro, I was so bored watching that fight,” Topuria said. “The only thing exciting about that fight was the last 10 seconds, to be honest. But I didn’t see any technique in that fight. I didn’t see any strategy. I didn’t see any f*cking thing. I just saw a bar fight, to be honest. It was very spectacular for the fans, but for me, as a professional, it was a – I don’t know. Not something very impressive.

“I challenge you to have that exchange in the first 10 seconds of the fight and you will see what’s going to happen. When you face a fighter like me inside the octagon, who brings that technique and that power, you can’t do that. I’m going to take your head off if you do that.”

Holloway laughed at the challenge and said Topuria wouldn’t do it because he gets tired quickly. The recurring response from “Blessed” was to express his excitement for fight night while repeating, “We’ll see,” and, “We’re going to find out,” in rebuttal to Topuria’s bold opinions.

Topuria claimed Holloway didn’t want to take the fight against him and would have rathered face Michael Chandler, which prompted a fiery reply.

“You were the first guy I asked for,” Holloway said. “I said I want Ilia Topuria. I want the easiest fight. I want Ilia Topuria. That’s what I said.”

HARRY MAGUIRE and Sheffield United led the tributes to George Baldock after his shock death.

Former Sheffield United defender Baldock, 31, was found dead at his home in Athens, just months after his transfer to Panathinaikos from the Yorkshire club.

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Greek media reported the alarm was raised by Baldock’s wife, who lives in England, after she was unable to contact him.

She then asked the home owner to check up on him before he was found dead in his swimming pool.

Baldock was a 12-time Greece international who was eligible to play for them through his gran.

His tragic passing has sent shockwaves through the football world, with players, clubs and national teams alike paying tribute.

In a statement Sheffield United, whom Baldock had starred for from 2017 to July of this year, said: “Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.

“The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.

“The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.”

Manchester United star Harry Maguire – who graduated through the Blade youth team before leaving in 2014 – paid tribute by posting a picture of Baldock on his Instagram page with a broken heart emoji.

His club greyed out its website and social media icons on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, following the news.

They later released a statement which read: “We are shocked by the loss of our George.

“The family of Panathinaikos mourns his untimely death. We stand with the family and loved ones of George Baldock.”

His most recent appearance had come against Olympiacos on October 6.

Baldock missed out on the most recent Greece international squad, who are due to play England in the Nations League at Wembley on Thursday night, and had been ruled out of the September games against Finland and Ireland through injury.

The Greek national team are expected to wear black armbands for the match against the Three Lions.

His former club Northampton released a statement paying tribute to Baldock.

It read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former loanee George Baldock at the tragically young age of 31.

“George made 5 appearances in 2011 before playing for Oxford United and Sheffield United.

“Sending our sincerest condolences to George’s family and friends.”

A statement from the England team said: “We’re extremely saddened by the passing of George Baldock.

“George was close to many of our players, and represented Greece – our opponents on Thursday night.

“We’re thinking of George’s family, friends and team-mates at club and country at this difficult time.”

His older brother, Sam, played for Derby, Reading and Brighton during his career, and all three clubs paid tribute to Baldock’s passing.

A Derby statement said: “Everyone at Derby County is deeply saddened by the passing of George Baldock.

“The thoughts and condolences of all at the club are with his brother and former Derby striker Sam, his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

A Reading statement said: “Everyone at Reading Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of George Baldock.

“A brother to former Royal Sam, our thoughts are with George’s family, friends and former colleagues at this difficult time.”

A Brighton statement said: “We are shocked to learn of the passing of George Baldock at the age of 31.

“Our love and condolences are with George’s brother and our colleague Sam, and his family and friends at this time.”

The Greece Super League said in a statement: “The entire Super League football family expresses its deep sorrow for the untimely loss of Panathinaikos and our National Team footballer, George Baldock, and extends its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Sports presenter Ian Abrahams said: “Unbelieveably tragic news tonight, the passing at just 31 of former ⁦Sheffield United, MK Dons, Oxford United, Northampton Town⁩ defender George Baldock.

“My thoughts at this incredibly sad time to his brother Sam, family and friends. RIP my friend.”

Police were pictured outside of his home following his death and are currently investigating.

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George Baldock career stats

George Baldock has tragically died aged 31

2009-2017 – MK Dons 125 games (2 goals)

2011 – Tamworth (loan) 3 (0)

2012 – IBV (loan) 18 (1)

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2012 – Tamworth (loan) 15 (1)

2015-16 – Oxford United (loan) 47 (3)

2017-2024 – Sheffield United 219 (6)

2024 – Panathinaikos 4 (0)

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Yaroslav Amosov hopes to claim gold once again, but this time in the UFC.

Approaching one year since his most recent fight, the Ukrainian star Amosov (27-1) is a free agent. His sights are firmly set on the same end location they’ve been for a few years now behind the scenes.

“We have a plan,” Amosov recently told MMA Junkie in his first interview since his Bellator departure. “We want to sign a contract for just one fight (somewhere). After one fight, we want to go to the UFC.”

According to Amosov, the conclusion of his Bellator contract was the result of an expiration of time, not the conclusion of fights. Amosov says he informed the promotion in 2022 or 2023 of his plans to explore free agency and thinks perhaps that’s what led to a delayed exit.

When he withdrew from a bout vs. Michael Page to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, Amosov said one year was tacked onto the end of his contract – but claims he was not offered additional fights during this time.

“In 2023, one maybe two years ago, we said, ‘Bellator, we have plan. We don’t want to sign new contract. After finishing the contract, we’ll go outside.’ I think that’s maybe why they continued my contract one year. Maybe that’s why. But yes, we have plan to go to the UFC.”

Manager Andriy Spivachuk hinted his client might already know where he’s going next, but elected to not yet publicly announce.

“They promised, but they didn’t give,” Spivachuk said.

Amosov aims for a January 2025 return to action. Renowned for his strong grappling abilities, Amosov thinks he might have to show more exciting aspects of his game to twist the arm of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.

That’s why he’s training boxing with WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk (19-0), a fellow countryman.

“I feel I can change my style,” Amosov said. “That’s why I’m an MMA fighter. That’s why I’m an MMA fighter because I can fight in striking, grappling. Now, the last couple months, I trained in boxing. Maybe a couple months ago, I’ve been in boxing camp. Then, maybe now I go to boxing camp again now in Spain. … For me, I think I can grapple and striking. Sometimes, for me, I feel better if I do takedowns and ground-and-pound. Maybe submissions. It’s maybe better for me. I feel it’s, for me, comfortable.”

Despite the result of his last fight, a TKO loss to Jason Jackson in November 2023 that shocked bookmakers, Amosov said he’s identified the problems that went wrong and is not deterred from UFC title gold aspirations.

“I had in my last fight it was many problems in my camp,” Amosov said. “I had many situations close to my family about my country and I had a couple problems. It’s just my problem and he’s a very hard guy. 100 percent. But my last fight was me, but not me.

“… Of course, I have big motivation because my last fight was not so good. I want to show this world I’m a good fighter and I will be champion. My last fight is my fault. I want to show it’s just a mistake. I show this world this mistake. … I think I can do this. I will do this. Maybe that’s better. I’ve trained with many guys, many years and I feel I can do this. I’ll take this belt.”