As a part of Kody Steele’s UFC job interview process, he had to endure back-to-back weight cuts in a month’s time.

It wasn’t a planned scenario, and it certainly wasn’t what Steele (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) envisioned, but it happened when his first Dana White’s Contender Series opponent pulled out just minutes before their fight.

Steele was primed to impress Dana White and the UFC matchmakers at DWCS 71 on Sept. 10 , but his scheduled opponent, Quemuel Ottoni, didn’t allow him to fight for a contract.

Steele was invited back a month later to compete at DWCS 75 against Chasen Blair, so all hope was not lost for his shot at the UFC. But it meant a second weight cut to 155 pounds in a month, which is never ideal. However, Steele made the weight, and impressed with a second-round finish to earn a UFC contract.

It wasn’t easy, but worth it.

“It just wasn’t fun, you know?” Steele told MMA Junkie. “I feel fine. I think I lost a little bit of weight, so now I’m just going to try to lift some weights and get myself back up a little bit. Honestly, it was all mental. I went to go fight, the fight didn’t happen, and then the next day I took a break. The day after that, I was back in the gym, back in the classes, back in the grinding, back to drilling, back to diet.

“So, that was a little rough, but I was just like, it’s just mental. I’ve just got to stay strong and it’ll be good. Then, the fact that I did it, and I handled it just gives me more confidence that I can do these things. If they need me on two weeks’ notice, I’m the guy to call.”

Steele is still very young in his pro MMA career. He’s a grappler who has competed at Submission Underground, Subversiv, ADCC, and the UFC Fight Pass Invitational, among other events, but he knew fighting was in his future.

While living in Austin, Texas, Steele says he didn’t even have an MMA coach. Now, after living in Las Vegas for a few months, he’s around all of the tools he needs to become a full-fledged MMA fighter.

Even though he’s a new addition to the UFC’s roster, Steele believes we won’t see the best version of himself for a few years. As a part of that growth process, he wants to be incredibly active to the tune of three or four fights in 2025.

“I feel like I’ve gotten so much better just being out here in a short amount of time,” Steele said. “I’m still a baby in this sport. I’m only 7-0. It’s not that many fights, and I’m still learning a lot every day. I’m learning on the job. Every fight I do, I pick something new up. I say in like two more years, that’s when you’re really going to start seeing me really start to shine.”

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BRENNAN JOHNSON is ready to ink his name into Tottenham’s history books — with a helping hand from his mum.

The forward, 23, bids to join ex-Spurs stars Steve Archibald and Garth Crooks in an exclusive club by scoring for the SEVENTH club match in a row against West Ham on Saturday.

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Johnson receives good luck wishes before every match from his mother in the form of a four-leafed clover — which is also one of many tattoos on his body telling the story of his life.

The Welshman revealed: “I’ve got a four-leafed clover which my mum has always texted me before every game. She sends me a little one  on messages.”

Johnson has already scored in his last six games in all competitions against Coventry, Brentford, Qarabag, Manchester United, Ferencvaros and Brighton.

He then netted for his country against Iceland in the Nations League a week last Friday but was suspended for the Montenegro clash on Monday.

Yet Johnson wants to keep on writing new chapters in his blossoming career.

The £47.5million ace has several tattoos across both arms and he got his first bit of ink at the age of 18.

Johnson added: “My first was of my family initials in Greek. The main reason behind getting it was I wanted to get a tattoo but I didn’t really know what to get.

“So I felt like getting the family initials always goes down well. I also got this one – on his left forearm – at the same time. It means family over everything. It’s what my sisters, my mum and dad all have so I wanted one as well. I felt it would be a nice thing to do.

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“I have my grandparents’ date of birth but I also have a map which represents where my family are from. I designed it myself.

“It has an outline of Wales and Jamaica with the co-ordinates around the side and shows where my family are from. It means a lot to me so I thought it was a nice idea. I’m very happy with it.

“I’ve got an eagle above the map. The idea was to do it all in one at first but then I wanted the get the map a bit lower. It was going to be on top of the map and flying over it. But I liked it the way it was done and keep it on its own.”

Johnson’s mum Alison is from Wales while his dad David, who played for Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, was born in Jamaica and attends his matches. And the bulk of Johnson’s tattoos are dedicated to his family.

Johnson has some tattoo collection which has built up from his days playing at ex-club Nottingham Forest and a loan spell at Lincoln.

‘I STARTED SMALL’

He said: “I grew up seeing my family and other people that I inspired to be like having tattoos and I looked at them as cool. I didn’t want to force it and get one that didn’t mean anything.

“I started small. Over time not all of them have crazy meanings or are really personal to me.

“I’ve got the number 23 because I was born on the 23rd of May. I really like the number. But some of them I just like and I’m comfortable with.

“I’ve got Bart Simpson. I was a big Simpsons fan growing up. I have a Daft Punk helmet. I’m not like a super crazy fan but I thought the helmet was really cool. It has got a smiley face and thought it looked quite cool.

“I’ve even got an alien. They are random things that I find cool. This left arm shows little things I like and I’m not too serious about myself. It’s a reminder to always try and be happy.

“The first one weren’t actually too bad or painful. They were quite small and thin. I’ve got a palm tree with some sun which is on the back. I was lying with my arm out and it was killing because it was in an awkward place to do. That one was quite painful.”

‘I’M LOOKING FOR AN ARTIST IN LONDON’

Johnson plans to add more tattoos in future. He told an episode of Cymru Ink: the stories behind the tattoos: “I don’t have an artist that I go to in London yet. I would have liked a few dates of when we got promoted with Forest or the day I signed for Spurs which I still have time to get. I’m looking for an artist in London.

“I probably got most of them on my right arm in the space of six to eight months. You kind of fall out of it and then you get back into it.

“I had a tattoo artist in Nottingham who was really flexible and would fit me in whenever. I didn’t really want to have to wait too long and think about it too much. They are pretty instinctive.

“I’d definitely say at times it was addictive. When I first started I got a lot then I chilled a bit. I’d definitely get some more. I’ve got the arms pretty much done. Maybe a few more on my right arm.

“Now it’s just if something happens or I find a bit of inspiration or something that means a lot to me, I’d definitely get it tattooed on me.”

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The UFC Vegas 99 weigh-in video features 20 fighters stepping on the scale Friday morning in Las Vegas. Watch a live stream of the event above, courtesy of Ag. Fight.

In the main event, Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira have to hit the middleweight limit of 186 pounds for the non-title fight. Hernandez has won five straight fights, while Pereira has reeled off eight straight victories.

Rob Font and Kyler Phillips have to hit the 136-pound limit for the non-title bantamweight fight in the co-main event.

The UFC Vegas 99 official weigh-in video begins at 12 p.m. ET.

Check out UFC Vegas 99 weigh-in results below.

Main Card (ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET)

Anthony Hernandez (185.5) vs. Michel Pereira (185.5)

Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips

Charles Johnson vs. Sumudaerji

Jake Hadley (135.5) vs. Cameron Smotherman (135.5)

Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Preliminary Card (ESPN+ at 4 p.m. ET)

Matheus Nicolau vs. Asu Almabayev

Brad Katona vs. Jean Matsumoto

Joselyne Edwards vs. Tamires Vidal

Jessica Penne (115.5) vs. Elise Reed

Melissa Martinez vs. Alice Ardelean (115)

Austen Lane vs. Robelis Despaigne (264)

The 2024 MLB postseason has entered the American League and National League Championship Series round.

Which two squads will qualify for the World Series? 

Will there be two New York teams vying for a title? Will the Boys in Blue spoil the party? Or can the Guardians make some noise?

Check out the odds for the two best-of-seven Championship Series via DraftKings Sportsbook as of Oct. 18.

NL CHAMPIONSHIP

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers lead 3-1

Series winner: Dodgers -1600 favorites (bet $10 to win $10.63 total); Mets +900 underdogs (bet $10 to win $100 total)

GAME 4 (Friday @ N.Y.)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
O/U: 7.5 total runs scored
Moneyline: Dodgers -130, Mets +110

AL CHAMPIONSHIP

Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees
Yankees lead 2-1

Series winner: Yankees -360 favorites (bet $10 to win $12.78 total); Guardians +280 underdogs (bet $10 to win $38 total)

GAME 3 (Friday @ CLE)
Spread: Yankees -1.5
O/U: 7.5 total runs scored
Moneyline: Yankees -118, Guardians -102

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Data from the Black Footballers Partnership found 43% of footballers in the Premier League are black. Despite that, just 4.4% of management positions are occupied by black ex-players, dropping down to 1.6% in executive, leadership and ownership positions.

Corinaldi called for change in March, saying black footballers were becoming a “lost generation” after playing careers. At Thursday’s event he reiterated the plea to Culture secretary Lisa Nandy.

“We can have black players not only be entertainers, but wonderful leaders in the game,” said Corinaldi.

“We know it is a narrow bill at the moment but I think we all need to get serious.

“There’s a big problem in the game. There’s a bias in the game and this football regulation bill. Lisa Nandy, please, if you are listening, we need to do more with it.

“The bill is an opportunity for change. The bill is an opportunity to deliver for the people of this country. The bill is, a new government for change, an opportunity for us to show what success looks like.”

Corinaldi’s calls were echoed by former Newcastle, Brighton and Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton, who received the Tony Collins award at the event for showing leadership on and off the field.

“It has to be about the future,” said Hughton. “We all have kids and grandkids and what we want is certainly to [have] far better representation in the coming day.

“I think for someone who has been in the game a long time and has seen the changes, I think there is an enthusiasm for change. But of course, it means those numbers have to change.”

Among those in attendance at the event was Mary Phillip, the first black player to captain England’s women in 2007.

“People ask me if I was playing football now, would I have got into the England team now?” she said after receiving the Emma Clarke award.

“It would be very hard to answer that question and it’s probably no because the pathways aren’t there.”