After more than a decade and a half of delivering thrilling knockouts, Edson Barboza called it a career and retired from MMA at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. As it stands today, the veteran lightweight is feeling the effects of his 16-year UFC run.

Barboza, 40, came up short in his final walk to the Octagon against Esteban Ribovics this past Saturday. Despite his best efforts, Barboza (25-14) took heavy shots early in the fight that carried over en route to a second-round TKO stoppage. The loss extended Barboza’s losing skid to four straight, but the lasting damage was done two fights prior, he said.

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Speaking on Wednesday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Barboza revealed that he’s been fighting virtually blind in one eye since his loss to Lerone Murphy in May 2024 — the first blemish of his career-ending losing streak. That was the moment he initially started thinking about retiring from MMA.

“I was like, man, I don’t know if I want to do this for a long time, because I have a bad injury in my eye. I can’t see with my right eye,” Barboza told Uncrowned.

“It’s crazy. … I don’t see anymore with my right eye. I see nothing coming from outside, and I did two surgeries, and I had a hard time going back to training because it’s been super hard. I’ve always seen with both eyes. Imagine you start training with only one eye — it’s not easy. I have a hard time. So, last two fights, I didn’t feel 100%.”

Barboza described his vision in his right eye as more of a flashiness rather than being fully blacked out. His peripheral vision is essentially gone, and he can’t explain how he was cleared for competition other than telling doctors he was ready to go.

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“I said I want to fight, and I said, ‘Hey, if anything happens, it’s my fault,’” Barboza said.

“I love the doctor, my eye doctor — he gave me big support, and yeah … it’s crazy because some days, I feel a little bit better. I start to see a little bit. Some days I don’t see nothing. When I go outside with the sun, I can’t see nothing with this eye.”

Fortunately, Barboza said doctors have told him that his vision is potentially recoverable.

After making his UFC debut in late 2010, Barboza quickly became a fixture in the promotion’s lightweight division and eventually enjoyed a six-year stint at featherweight as well. Although he never challenged for UFC gold, Barboza still looks back fondly on his highlight-filled career and said he’s very happy with the run he had.

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Barboza decided the Ribovics fight would be his sendoff, he said, when he signed the contract. Once fight night came around, he felt even more justified in his decision.

“It’s crazy because I never sleep after the fight,” Barboza said. “Thank God, on Saturday night, I finish the fight, go to my room, and I slept like a baby. The first time in my career, I sleep after the fight. That’s crazy. It means a lot for me because I think that’s the end. I’m happy and proud of myself.

“I’m not competitive in the high level anymore. I still had a hard time when I lost — look at my last three fights I lost. When UFC offered me to fight this guy, I said, ‘Whoa, that’s going to be a perfect fight for me. That’s the fight for win.’ And I lost.

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“I feel on this level, I’m not competitive anymore. That’s why I decide to stop. I promised my wife and I promised my mom, I would never fight for money. And I’m not going to do this for money.”

Barboza may still compete in some fashion in his new life in retirement, he admitted. The likeliest place for a return would be on the mats for jiu-jitsu matches above all else. He intends to leave MMA fully in his rearview mirror, but knows he’ll still face the eventual tough decision of whether or not he should fight again at some point.

What will help suppress his urges to return for one more? Well, to all the promoters out there, don’t contact the man. Let him instead enjoy the rest of his days in peace.

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“It’s hard to say [I won’t fight again] because I’m a fighter. I was born into this. I’ve never done nothing [else] in my life. My first professional fight I was 16. I’m still fighting. I do this my whole life,” Barboza said.

“To be honest, my wife gets crazy, but I hope, please, any organization, don’t call me. Please don’t call me, don’t call me or my manager. Please forget me, because, to be honest, I don’t want to go back to fight.”

Representative photo (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: A 31-year-old former national-level wrestler, who had been on the run for nearly three years after being declared a proclaimed offender in an alleged opium smuggling case, has been arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said.Amit Sheoran, a bronze medallist at the 2013 National Cadet Wrestling competition, was apprehended near Madhuban Chowk Metro Station on Tuesday night following a coordinated operation. The Rohtak resident was wanted by Jharkhand Police in connection with an NDPS case registered at Dhurwa (Tupudana) police station in Ranchi.According to police, Sheoran was allegedly involved in sourcing opium for supply to wrestling training centres, or akhadas, across Haryana and Delhi. He was subsequently handed over to the Jharkhand Police for further judicial proceedings.

‘Many wrestlers used to take opium’

The investigation has drawn particular attention to Sheoran’s disclosure about alleged opium use among wrestlers at prominent training centres.During interrogation, Sheoran reportedly told investigators that he had observed several wrestlers using opium during his time training at the Mehar Singh Akhada in Rohtak and Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium.“Many wrestlers used to take opium to increase their working hours and practice sessions,” he told investigators, according to the Delhi Police.The claim has emerged during an investigation into an alleged drug-supply network targeting wrestlers in North India. Police said a Jharkhand-based supplier, Rajesh Nag, was arrested in April 2023 with nearly half a kilogram of opium. During questioning, Nag reportedly told investigators that his supplies were “specifically dedicated to the wrestlers of North India” and identified Sheoran as one of the primary receivers.The allegations are part of the police investigation and do not establish that wrestlers at either training centre generally use opium.

From national-level wrestling to alleged drug network

Sheoran had been evading arrest since December 6, 2023, when a court declared him a proclaimed offender. Police said he had previously worked as a bouncer at bars and nightclubs in Delhi before allegedly becoming involved in drug trafficking.Despite winning a national-level medal, Sheoran’s ambitions of securing a job with the Indian Railways were eventually derailed, according to the Crime Branch. Police said he was allegedly “lured to work as a drug supplier with the promise to earn quick and easy money” by an associate identified as Ranjeet.A “credible human intelligence input” regarding Sheoran’s movement in the Ranibagh-Pitampura area eventually led investigators to him. On August 18, a joint team of the Delhi Police Crime Branch and Jharkhand Police laid a trap near Madhuban Chowk Metro Station. Sheoran was identified and apprehended at around 10pm.Police records indicate that Sheoran is currently involved in six criminal cases. The Crime Branch described the arrest as “a major blow to organised crime” and said it followed continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated field operations targeting suspects evading the judicial process.Sheoran has now been handed over to Jharkhand Police.

Atalanta midfielder Ederson was on the verge of a move to Manchester United this summer, until a deal fell through as a result of concerns with his medical

Ederson has explained that he ‘doesn’t know what happened’ regarding his failed move to Manchester United this summer. Well ahead of the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, the Atalanta midfielder was on the verge of arriving as the Reds’ first signing of the summer.

United had been long-time admirers of the 27-year-old, and had planned to utilise him as a straight replacement for an outgoing Casemiro, who left the club as a free agent at the end of the season. After weeks of negotiations, a £39million price tag was agreed for the Brazilian, who headed to Greater Manchester to undergo what was meant to be a routine medical.

However, during examinations, it emerged that Ederson was carrying a knee injury significant enough for the Reds to pull the plug on their swoop. As a result, the midfielder returned to Atalanta, where he was handed a fresh contract which runs through until 2031 – committing practically the rest of his career to the Serie A club.

And now, Ederson has broke his silence on exactly what occurred during his United medical which prevented a move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Speaking ahead of Atalanta’s Europa Conference League play-off clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv, which is set to take place on Thursday, he said: “I honestly don’t know what happened.

“I always had interest from other clubs, and I could’ve gone to another English side. The tests went well, I don’t know what changed.

“I’ve been with Atalanta for four years and always played. I could’ve just waited to see what happened, but the great rapport with the club convinced me to stay and sign a new contract.”

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It comes as United were quick to target and secure other options for their engine room in the days following Ederson’s failed move. The Reds first snapped up Tielemans in a £35m agreement with Aston Villa, following a stellar season with the Midlands club which saw them secure a fourth-place Premier League finish.

They then announced the £52m signing of Santos from Chelsea, ensuring plenty of variation in the heart of midfield for the coming season.

However, it appears as though United are still on the lookout for at least one more addition in the position, reigniting their interest in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

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The club were linked with the 23-year-old for the majority of last summer’s window, only for a £100m price tag to deter any concrete move.

While the Cameroonian is currently harbouring a minor ankle ligament injury, United have now submitted a £65m offer, with hopes of finally landing the up and coming talent at a cut price. Whether the Seagulls will consider a move for that fee remains to be seen.

Much like it is a tradition for a footballer to take away the match ball after scoring a hat-trick, a bowler will pocket the cricket ball after claiming a five-wicket haul.

But what happens if two bowlers take five-wicket hauls in the same innings?

England seamers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue came up with a solution after they snared five apiece on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan.

“Robbo said we can split the ball in half,” Tongue told Test Match Special. “The groundstaff have kindly done that.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen that happen. I’m sure I’ll be putting that up somewhere.”

Robinson showed off his half in a media conference and explained: “We were walking off the field.

“Josh said it and I said: ‘We actually should do that, it would be quite cool.’

“You don’t really have too many halves of a cricket ball, so it would be something that we never forget.”

The efforts of the pace-bowling duo helped Joe Root get off to an ideal start on the first day of his second stint as England Test captain.

Tongue claimed 5-46 and Robinson 5-51 to skittle Pakistan for 171 after England won the toss. The home side moved to 112-2 by the close in Leeds.

Tongue and Robinson are the first pair of England bowlers to register five-wicket hauls in the same Test innings since Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2006.

They led England off the field at Headingley hand in hand, hatching their plan to make one ball into two halves.

“Wayne Bentley, the team manager, took it down to the groundstaff,” said Robinson.

“I said: ‘Do you reckon they will be able to do it?’ Within five minutes he brought it back up and it was done. It’s really nice.”

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has set his sights on the Ballon d’Or after receiving his second European Golden Shoe in Munich on Wednesday. The England captain collected the prize after scoring the most goals in Europe’s top divisions last season.  Kane won the 2023-24 award after a prolific first season at Bayern, but said this year’s honour “tasted even better than the first”.  The 33-year-old scored 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga games last term, the third most in a German top-flight campaign, while winning the league and cup double.

He also netted six times at the World Cup, becoming England’s top goalscorer at the competition with 14 career goals. 

In total, he scored 73 goals for club and country last season. 

Kane said he hoped to receive football’s highest individual honour after his “best season ever”.

“Obviously, that’s out of my control. I know, of course, there’s going to be a lot of talk about it from now until October when it’s announced,” he said. 

“Ultimately, I’ve done everything I can last season. It was my best season by far. I achieved a lot with the teams I was in.”

Kane made it to the Champions League semi-finals with Bayern, who were narrowly defeated by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. 

He also reached the semi-finals of the World Cup with England before an agonising 2-1 loss to Argentina.  

Only serial Ballon d’Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the Golden Shoe more often than Kane. 

Messi won the award six times, all with Barcelona, while Ronaldo won it three times at Real Madrid and once at Manchester United.

“That’s for you guys to debate and fans to debate,” Kane said of the possible winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or, which will be handed out in London in late October. 

“That’s what makes the Ballon d’Or so special as well. Many players have had great seasons.”

Kane said on Monday he was about to begin negotiations to extend his contract at Bayern, which will expire in 2027. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Item (10/1) was a surprise winner of the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.

Trained by Andrew Balding for the sponsors, Juddmonte Farms, the Colin Keane-ridden son of Frankel outstayed the opposition inside the final furlong to gain a head success over Almaqam (14/1).

While it had been billed as a clash of the generations, namely Constitution River representing the classic generation, and Ombudsman, the older generation, it turned out to be a generational clash alright, but with different protagonists.

The three-year-old Item, winner of the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes over course and distance last time, kept on well at the death to get the better of the five-year son of Lope De Vega, Almaqam, the mount of Kieran Shoemark.

Plans for the entire race were quickly dispensed with shortly after horses exited the stalls as the pacemakers for Godolphin, Devil’s Advocate (200/1), and for Coolmore, Action (200/1), both failed to get to the head of the field.

As a result, Hawk Mountain (20/1) and Wayne Lordan, the perceived Ballydoyle second string, had to make the pace for his stablemate, French Derby and Coral-Eclipse winner, Constitution River.

Though the latter claimed the lead at the two-furlong pole, his market rival, Ombudsman (5/6f), who had been in a poor position, found space along the rail to make his run, but he would ultimately only manage fourth place.

Almaqam, the eventual runner-up, and Item, came on Constitution River and Ryan Moore’s outside, with first, the Ed Walker-trained 122-rated Almaqam leading, before Item and Colin Keane outstayed them to the line.

Constitution River took third, three-and-a-half lengths behind the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned runner-up, with the race favourite, Ombudsman and William Buick, next to pass the post, a length behind the Aidan O’Brien-handled son of Wootton Bassett.

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England vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 1 Highlights© AFP