Cory Sandhagen has spent years hovering around the UFC bantamweight title picture without quite breaking through. He’s challenged for championship gold twice, fallen short both times, and now finds himself back in familiar territory – needing another statement win in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions.His assignment at International Fight Week is a familiar face. Seven years after submitting Mario Bautista in Bautista’s third UFC appearance, Sandhagen meets him again in a fight that carries far greater consequences than their first meeting ever did.The matchup comes with contrasting narratives. Bautista has framed it as a wrestling advantage and vowed to chase a finish. Sandhagen isn’t buying that assessment.In an exclusive conversation with Timesofindia.com, Sandhagen discusses how Bautista has evolved since their first meeting, why he dismisses the wrestling narrative, the lessons from his latest title defeat, and why he believes a showdown with Sean O’Malley makes the most sense if he gets past Bautista.Excerpts: This is a rematch with Mario after seven years. How different is he now compared to the debutant you faced in 2019?I think he’s a much better fighter now. I think we both are. He’s come a long way, and I think it’s going to be a challenging fight.Mario says he’s hunting for the finish and sees this as a wrestling mismatch. How do you react to that kind of public assessment of the fight?I think Mario has shown almost no great offensive wrestling that I’ve seen. He got out-grappled by Umar by a much bigger margin. He was held down, whereas I got taken down a bunch of times but got back up right away every time. So I don’t know what he’s talking about.What do you see as Mario’s single biggest strength, and how do you plan to neutralize it?I think Mario’s biggest strength is that he’s a really hardworking guy. He has a lot of self-belief, and he doesn’t quit. I plan on countering that by being the same, while also being more technical, more skilled, and more hardworking than him.You’ve had spectacular finishes against guys like Edgar and Moraes, as well as tactical wins over opponents like Font. How do you decide, fight by fight, whether to go for fireworks or settle for a controlled win?You always try to win with fireworks, but sometimes the other guy does really good stuff and you’re not able to get him out of there. That’s just how it goes.

Cory Sandhagen against Merab Dvalishvili (AP Photo)

After UFC 320 [Merab Dvalishvili], you said the fight was absolutely winnable. What specifically went wrong, and how have you addressed it in preparation for Mario?I think if I had a better second round, I would have done well. There were also some technical mistakes that I made that are pretty easy to fix, and I think they would have changed the outcome of the fight. So it really came down to those technical mistakes and not getting hurt as badly in the second round.You’ve been one of the top bantamweights for years. How much of this fight is about proving to yourself that you can still handle the new wave of fighters like Mario, not just the older contenders?I think I only have a few more fights than Mario, so I don’t really see him as an up-and-coming guy. I think he’s been in the UFC for quite some time now. Maybe I’ve only been in the UFC a year or two longer than him.

Mario Bautista (Special Arrangements)

So I don’t really see him as an up-and-coming fighter. I just see him as someone who hasn’t been in as many big fights as I have and hasn’t fought for titles yet. I think I’m simply more experienced, but I don’t see him as a newcomer to the UFC.Finally, if you win this fight, what do you think the UFC should book next? O’Malley, Merab again, or someone else?I think, realistically, I still have one more fight before I can fight for the title again. But the only fight the fans really want to see is me against O’Malley.Hopefully, it’ll be that. If it’s not O’Malley, then I’m open to anyone or any idea because I know I probably still have one more fight left. But if I beat Mario really decisively and do something crazy to win, that could change too. Realistically, though, I think I have one more fight, and I think it should be against O’Malley. I don’t really know who else there would be.(Watch UFC 329 – McGregor vs Holloway 2 on July 12, 2026, from 6:30 AM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu & Kannada) and Sony LIV)

FILE–Evan Nelle shoots during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—In his first move since being appointed as the new coach of NLEX, Jimmy Alapag brought in Evan Nelle to boost the Road Warriors’ backcourt ahead of the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup.

Nelle and Alapag are no strangers to each other.

Two years ago, Nelle went to California to hone his skills under the guidance of Alapag, who was then the developmental coach of the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

READ: After US coaching journey, Alapag gets his big break in PBA

NLEX acquired Nelle from Phoenix in exchange for forward Sidney Onwubere in a straight swap.

“Welcome to NLEX, Evan Nelle! A floor general who thrives under pressure, sees every play before it unfolds,” the team wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday.

“The journey starts now and we’re coming full speed.”

Nelle was a vital piece for the Fuel Masters in the Commissioner’s Cup, where they reached the quarterfinals with a 6-6 record before getting eliminated by eventual champions Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.

Now, the 28-year-old point guard, who are among the few players to win titles in the UAAP and NCAA, bolsters an NLEX side, which had a promising yet disappointing campaign last conference, where they suffered a quarterfinal exit as the top seed.

Nelle joins a star-studded NLEX backcourt featuring MVP candidate Robert Bolick, Kevin Alas and young gun LJay Gonzales.

The Road Warriors will headline the Governors’ Cup opener on Friday, taking on guest team Macau Giant Pandas at Ynares Center in Antipolo.

After a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, which had no shortage of top-class action, it is referee Francois Letexier who has taken centre stage. The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) has reportedly approached FIFA, lodging a formal protest against the decisions of referee Francois Letexier after their team suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against the defending champions Argentina in Atlanta on Tuesday.

Egypt appeared close to a historic upset after taking a 2-0 lead, but Argentina produced a late comeback, with Lionel Messi playing a decisive role by scoring one goal and setting up another before Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround in stoppage time.

However, the match left the Egyptian camp furious as several key decisions by the officials went against the team, including a disallowed goal following a VAR review and a penalty appeal that was not reviewed in the buildup to Argentina’s winning goal.

According to a report in Spanish publication Diario AS, the president of the Egypt Football Association, Hany Abo Rida, has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA against French referee Francois Letexier and his officiating team.

Who Is Francois Letexier?

The 37-year-old Frenchman is ranked as a UEFA Elite Category referee. He generally officiates in Ligue 1. He has been a FIFA referee since 2017. According to reports, he is a professional lawyer with expertise in rental disputes and illegal occupation.

He was named the world’s best male referee for 2024 by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics). Letexier has, in the past, officiated the UEFA Euro 2024 final between Spain and England. He is the youngest referee to take charge of a UEFA Euro final. He has also officiated in the Champions League and the Olympic Games.

According to a report by L’Equipe, the Frenchman’s performance “will be reviewed, and FIFA’s refereeing officials will decide, based on his technical performance, the officials’ reports, and the disputed video footage, whether he will continue in this World Cup.”

However, the report added that the complaint may not succeed, as a country/member association “cannot exercise a veto over the appointment of the refereeing body, which falls under the purview of the FIFA Referees Committee.”

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was particularly frustrated by the refereeing of French official Francois Letexier and pointed to two major incidents that he felt changed the course of the game: Egypt’s disallowed goal and a late penalty appeal involving Alexis Mac Allister before Fernandez’s decisive strike.

“We haven’t seen respect or fair play,” Hassan said. “A penalty was ruled out. It was not even checked by VAR, and our second goal was, remarkably, for whatever reason, disallowed. We have been treated unfairly, and it has been an injustice.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead holds a strong hand in the €100,000 Kilmurray Group Midlands National at Kilbeggan Racecourse on Friday night.

De Bromhead will be represented by three horses in the 14-runner field over 3 miles and one furlong for Kilbeggan’s seasonal highlight, sponsored by Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware in Mullingar.

The 2025 winner of the Listed contest, Amirite, will carry top weight of 11-12 in a race that he was also runner-up in back in 2024. Five-pound claimer Paddy O’Brien will ride the 10-year-old on Friday evening.

Recent McHale Mayo National winner, Native Speaker, will have the assistance of de Bromhead’s stable jockey Darragh O’Keeffe as bids to add a second summer National to his resumé.

Raglan Road, a winner of two of his last three races, is the final Knockeen Stables’ inmate, and will have the assistance of J.P. McManus’ retained rider Harry Cobden in the saddle.

Mullins yet to win Midlands National

Champion jumps handler Willie Mullins will attempt to win the race for the first time since its inauguration back in 1997. The Closutton trainer will saddle both Uncle Tom, a Punchestown Festival winner, and Yoradreamer, runner-up in the three-horse Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase at Punchestown early last month. Paul Townend will take the mount on Uncle Tom, while Seán O’Keeffe will wear the Brookhouse colours aboard Yoradreamer.

Tipperary trainer John Ryan is responsible for four of the horses contesting the Midlands National, with seven-time winner and €5,000 purchase Drumgill likely to be his best chance of landing the €100,000 race. The Templemore handler has an impressive recent record at Kilbeggan, having had two winners and two seconds from just six runners at June’s meeting.

Enda Bolger’s runner Pride Of Place was successful in the Tote Killarney National on his penultimate outing, while Boston Rover, who hasn’t run since last October, may be the strongest of the Gordon Elliott trio to face the starter.

The first of seven races will start at 4.50pm. The Kilmurray Group Midlands National goes to post at 6.32pm

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

General Salute presents with some of the most competitive recent form of any horse participating at Rosehill on Saturday, and jockey Tim Clark is optimistic that the gelding only needs to reproduce those performances to secure the feature sprint race.

The gelding secured the runner-up position behind the outstanding mare Autumn Glow in last year’s Theo Marks Stakes (1300m). He followed this achievement with two successive placings behind Group 1 performers Headley Grange and Transatlantic in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) and the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m), respectively.

“There are any of three or four runs in the spring which, if he replicated, he’d win the race on Saturday. Simple as that,” Clark commented.

Bookmakers and punters might express caution after General Salute faded to a midfield finish in the Civic Stakes (1400m) at his last start. This performance came after an unlucky second place to the quick Wanaruah in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) when resuming.

However, Clark feels the horse had justifiable excuses and predicts he will perform much better in the Listed Winter Stakes (1400m) this Saturday.

“He was going from 1100 to 1400 . . . and I ended up being a bit close to what turned out to be a really fast speed. It just gassed him a little bit late,” Clark elaborated. “Now he’s had that run over 1400 under his belt, he will be a lot better for it.”

“A bit of cut in the track won’t hurt, and he’s drawn one, so he’s going to have a much more economical run throughout.”

General Salute is set to benefit from a 3-1/2 kilo weight advantage over Midnight Dynamite. With the advantage of a recent 1400m run, Clark anticipates his mount will be significantly better prepared for what is expected to be another strongly run contest, due to the presence of Whinchat and Cool Jakey, who finished first and second in transit last start.

“The two horses who set the speed are there again, so they’re going to go quick,” Clark said. “But now he’s had that run under his belt over 1400, he’s going to be better for it and able to cope with that type of pressure. He did race a little bit keenly the other day, but it’s a far better set-up for him on Saturday.”

Considering General Salute for your bets? Explore the leading Australian betting sites to find competitive racing odds.

Jan 18, 2026; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Chris Gotterup holds the championship trophy after winning the Sony Open in Hawaii. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: golf

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: golf

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: golf

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: golf

Creamline players celebrate during a win over Nxled in the PVL on Tour in Ilagan City, Isabela.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline flexed its depth to take down Brooke Van Sickle-less Nxled, 25-18, 25-23, 16-25, 25-19, in the PVL on Tour on Wednesday night at Capital Arena in Ilagan, Isabela.

The Cool Smashers’ old reliables and newcomers delivered a winning start to their preseason, winning the first of the Cool Smashers’ three stops.

Michele Gumabao led the bench mob with 18 points off 16 kills, one block, and an ace. Lorie Bernardo stepped up as a starter with 13 points, while Jema Galanza had eight points and 13 digs.

READ: Creamline finds way to the top of PVL and what a climb it was

New outside spiker Ishie Lalongisip debuted as a Cool Smasher with nine points, while setter Donna Paralejas started for Creamline before Kyle Negrito took charge with 16 excellent sets, while Rose Marie Vargas also scored eight.

“Of course, I’m happy because our team played well. Even though some of our senior players didn’t get to play, it was a great opportunity for the younger players to experience a game like this,” said Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses in Filipino.

“We told them that now that they’re here, they just have to work hard and enjoy playing with Creamline. That’s what’s great about these young players—they’re confident and they’re willing to follow. Hopefully, they can continue performing well moving forward.”

Creamline played without Jia De Guzman and Jen Nierva, who are committed to Alas Pilipinas for the Asian Games, as well as Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Bea De Leon, who all sat out but joined the team’s trip, bringing home P100,000 after the win.

READ: PVL: Jema Galanza calls Creamline’s 11th title ‘most memorable’

Nxled won’t have Brooke Van Sickle the entire preseason due to a shoulder injury. MJ Phillips led the Chameleons with 13 points. EJ Laure-Cariño stepped up with 12 points and 14 excellent receptions, while Jonah Sabete-Escamilan and Myla Pablo added 11 each.

New Nxled setter Gel Cayuna’s debut was spoiled despite her 22 excellent sets and three points, as well as her fellow ex-Cignal standout Jackie Acuña, who had nine points in the loss with a consolation prize of P50,000.

Creamline returns to Isabela on August 8 against Capital1 in Santiago City, while Nxled takes on Galeries Tower on Aug. 1 in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Timothy Bradley believes Keyshawn Davis has the speed, power and mid-range capabilities to make Devin Haney feel “uncomfortable”.

The two welterweights have been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO title, which the 27-year-old claimed with a unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr in November.

After flooring his man in round two, ‘The Dream’ produced a largely dominant performance and dethroned Norman to become a three-division world champion.

In doing so, Haney may have put some demons to rest following his 2024 encounter with Ryan Garcia, where he suffered three knockdowns before losing a majority decision.

This result was then overturned to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, and received a year-long ban.

Yet still, Hall of Famer Bradley believes Davis could replicate much of the success ‘King Ry’ enjoyed against Haney, who has cemented himself as one of the sport’s most technically polished operators.

In a bid to disrupt the champion’s rhythm, though, Bradley has said on his YouTube channel that he feels Davis must carry out his best work at mid- to short-range.

“It’s gonna be a tough fight for Haney. I definitely feel like Haney has more experience, but I have been watching both styles.

“The thing about Keyshawn Davis is that he’s so good at mid-range. Keyshawn can be right in front of you, make you miss and be right there to counter you.

“But not falling in with his counters – he lets his shots fly … similar to the way Ryan Garcia throws his combinations.

“Ryan Garcia throws his combinations before his feet go with him … and that gave Haney issues. Haney’s not going to like being uncomfortable like that, because Keyshawn is going to come forward.”

Bradley admits this could make for an ugly fight on the inside, but suggests that no-nonsense referee Thomas Taylor, for instance, would not stand for any excessive clinching.

Either way, mandatory challenger Davis has been promised a shot at the WBO title following his unanimous decision victory over Nahir Albright in May.