TEMPLEGATE tackles Wednesday’s racing confident of winners.

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FORT AUGUSTUS (4.35 Kempton, nap)

He ran a cracker when second on handicap debut here 14 days ago. This son of Blue Point left his challenge a little late from a wide draw and the line came too soon. Hold-up king Jamie Spencer is on board today and can hopefully time his run better.

DEEP PURPLE (3.18 Southwell, nb)

Showed promise when second on his bumper debut at Warwick. He will have learned plenty from that and can get off the mark for the Skelton team.

FRENCH SYMPHONY (1.55 Fontwell, treble)

Looked a decent type in bumpers but can do a lot better now jumping hurdles. Trainer Ben Pauling has plenty of first-time-out winners.

INSTANT GAMBLER (4.15 Fontwell, Lucky 15)

Made it three wins in a row at Hexham last time. He scored twice here before that and can strike again despite a reasonable 7lb rise in the weights.

Templegate’s tips

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Thanks to a fight against Nate Diaz back in 2019, Jorge Masvidal ushered in the “BMF” era after he became the first ever “baddest motherf*cker” champion in UFC history.

At the time, UFC CEO Dana White said the symbolic title that was wrapped around Masvidal’s waist by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was just something fun to heighten the stakes in the fight but he had no plans for the belt to stick around long term. That changed in 2023 when the UFC re-introduced the “BMF” title with Justin Gaethje claiming the belt following a stunning second-round knockout over Dustin Poirier.

Less than a year later, Max Holloway took that belt from Gaethje with arguably one of the greatest finishes in UFC history after he pointed to the canvas and invited the human wrecking machine to stand and trade with him. The final punch from Holloway that landed sent Gaethje crashing face first to the canvas and a new “BMF” champion was crowned.

“I’m the biggest Max fan also,” Masvidal said about Holloway when speaking to MMA Fighting. “I love this guy. I love how he fights. I love his style. I love how he carries himself outside of the ring. One of my favorite all-time fighters.”

While he’s still holding the “BMF” title, Holloway’s next assignment comes in October when he faces reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in the UFC 308 main event.

Immediately after flattening Gaethje at UFC 300, Holloway called for the chance to reclaim the belt he previously held until coming up short in a trilogy of fights against Alexander Volkanovski.

The “BMF” title isn’t going up for grabs but no matter what happens in that matchup, Masvidal loves the idea of putting himself against Holloway in a fight for the ages.

“It would be an honor to get in there with Max,” Masvidal said. “It would be an honor and we could throw down. We’d put on a f*cking epic show. One of those fights for all the generations, all lifetime. I wouldn’t mind that.”

The promotional possibilities for a fight like that are nearly endless, especially considering Masvidal’s standing as the first ever “BMF” champion and Holloway now holding onto that same “BMF” title.

Masvidal isn’t necessarily calling for that fight but he has so much admiration for Holloway that he couldn’t at least entertain that idea if the UFC came calling.

“Me and Max could do some serious shit out there,” Masvidal said. “One of the greatest fights ever. One ‘BMF’ has the quickest knockout ever, the other ‘BMF’ has the latest knockout ever in a fight. It was at 4:59 in round five. So many interesting [parts] to me and Max fighting.

“We’re not going to grapple obviously, We’re just going to stand there and bite down on the mouthpiece and f*cking let the leather go. A f*cking dream match.”

Now if there was one major obstacle preventing that fight from happening it would be the weight class.

Holloway has spent most of his career fighting at 145 pounds but he has traveled up to lightweight a few times in his career including the fight against Gaethje in April.

Meanwhile, Masvidal started his career at 155 pounds but in recent years he’s been competing only at welterweight and he admits there’s very little chance he could ever go back down to his old division again.

That said, Masvidal understands the entire concept behind the “BMF” title is a willingness to throw down against anybody, at any time and doing it anywhere — and he has a feeling Holloway lives by that same code.

“It’s also a lot to ask of Max to come up to 155 or 170,” Masvidal said. “I can’t really fight at 155 anymore. I wouldn’t mind it one bit. Max is a legend and I’d love to get in there and mix it up with him.”

Thomas Frank says becoming the manager of a big club would “probably not make my life better” and he is “happy” at Brentford.

It comes amid reports he is a leading candidate, external to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, who have won just three of their eight Premier League games this season.

United beat Frank’s Brentford in their last outing on Saturday to relieve some of the pressure on Ten Hag, but the Bees boss says he is not thinking about leaving the club.

Speaking on the Sports Agents podcast, external, Frank said: “I am probably at one of the best clubs in the world. End of discussion.

“In terms of alignment, leadership, culture, everything. Why should I ever leave this place?

“Things can happen and you can want new inspiration, maybe you find another inspiration at your club and you stay.

“For sure, if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better. I think we all know that.

“Maybe it is a challenge you need to try. It is not something I am thinking about.”

An antitrust settlement between the UFC and a group of its former fighters has been temporarily approved by a U.S. district court judge, according to reports.

On Tuesday, Judge Richard Boulware of Nevada temporarily approved a $375 million settlement agreement for Le vs. Zuffa, multiple attendees of the hearing revealed on X shortly thereafter.

Per sports economist Paul Gift, who was present at Tuesday’s hearing, approximately $240 million to $260 million will be paid out to qualifying fighters (those who competed in at least one UFC bout from December 2010 to June 2017) over the next year.

Former UFC fighter Tom Lawlor was also present at the hearing and confirmed the temporary approval.

The Cung Le antitrust settlement is preliminarily APPROVED. Over the next year the #UFC will pay out approx $240-260 million to Zuffa fighters from Dec 2010 – June 2017.

The net number after fees was $260M in court but lawyer costs were unclear.

— Paul Gift (@MMAanalytics) October 22, 2024

Boulware initially denied a $325 million settlement agreement proposed by the two parties in August. That initial agreement also included plaintiffs from a second lawsuit, Johnson vs. Zuffa. Boulware cited concern with the discrepancy in agreement compensation as compared to the initial claims made.

For the new agreement, the parties removed Johnson vs. Zuffa and added an additional $40 million.

Over 100 former UFC fighters wrote letters in support of the agreement on the basis of needing relief for physical, mental, emotional, and financial struggles post-UFC career.

Veteran combat sports reporter Josh Gross was also on site Tuesday and said Boulware specifically highlighted the letters as a factor in the settlement’s temporary approval.

Fighters will be paid after June 2025, when the last of three payments by Zuffa is put into an escrow account. Boulware said the declarations from fighters played a “quite significant” role in his decision on Tuesday. https://t.co/N3lQOqmxEW

— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) October 22, 2024

While Tuesday’s temporary approval of the agreement is a step in the direction of what the two parties are seeking, final approval will still be needed.

Qualifying members of the Le class will be notified of the decision and asked to voice their support or disapproval of the terms. A hearing for final approval will be held in the coming months.

While Le vs. Zuffa strictly sought compensation, Johnson vs. Zuffa seeks injunctive relief, or potentially permanent changes to UFC contracts and business practices.

Five separate class-action lawsuits between December 2014 and March 2015 were eventually consolidated into one (Le, et. al), with a second separate lawsuit filed in 2021 (Johnson, et. al).

The lawsuits centered around alleged violations of the Sherman Act. Class-action lawsuits allow for treble damages, meaning the court could’ve tripled the amount it required the UFC to pay.

The group of former fighters claimed the UFC contract structure and business practices suppressed fighters’ abilities to negotiate and explore other promotional options, creating a monopsony. The efforts were headed by former fighters, including Cung Le, Kyle Kingsbury, Kajan Johnson, Jon Fitch, and Brandon Vera.

CUNG LE VS ZUFFA IS OVER🚨

LIVE FROM THE COURTHOUSE

Judge Boulware grants preliminary approval in the HISTORIC $375 million Le v ZUFFA antitrust lawsuit

BIG TIME BLOW LANDED BY UFC VETS
👊🏼#ufc #mma pic.twitter.com/rROqcAN1hK

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— “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (@FilthyTomLawlor) October 22, 2024

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New Zealand produced a clinical performance in a high-stakes final to beat South Africa by 32 runs and win their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title in Dubai on Sunday.

It turned out to be a historic Sunday for New Zealand cricket as the White Ferns got their hands on the ICC trophy hours after the men recorded their first Test win in India after 36 years.

South Africa, playing their second successive final, sent New Zealand in to bat and the Sophie Devine-led side thrived under pressure to post an above par 158 for five at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Amelia Kerr collected 43 off 38 balls while Brooke Halliday made an impactful 38 off 28 balls to push New Zealand beyond 150 in what has been a low scoring tournament.

South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (33 off 27) took her team to 47 for no loss in the powerplay before New Zealand bowlers were able to stifle the opposition.

South Africa could not keep with the scoring rate and ended with 126 for nine in 20 overs. Kerr starred with her leg-spin as well, ending with three wickets for 24 runs in four overs.

It was a remarkable change of fortunes for New Zealand, who had come into the tournament with the baggage of 10 losses in a row. They were the best bowling unit in the competition by a fair distance and on Sunday, improved their batting by a few notches.

There was no coming back from South Africa after they lost their gutsy leader Wolvaardt in the 10th over. Kerr got the prized wicket as Wolvaardt, in her attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, found Suzie Bates at cover.

When the hero of the semifinal, Anneke Bosch, perished five balls later, the writing was on the wall. South Africa’s untested middle-order could not respond to the pressure put by the New Zealand bowlers.

Brief scores: New Zealand 158/5 in 20 overs (Amelia Kerr 43, Brooke Halliday 38; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/31). South Africa 126/9 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 33, Amelia Kerr 3/24).