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Max Holloway addresses the future of the ‘BMF’ title, praises Diego Lopes as an ‘animal’ and legit contender

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Max Holloway addresses the future of the ‘BMF’ title, praises Diego Lopes as an ‘animal’ and legit contender

A huge part of the reason why Max Holloway took a fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 was knowing that a win would give him any number of options for his career.

He not only won but Holloway pulled off one of the greatest finishes in UFC history when he pointed to the ground late in the fifth round and invited Gaethje to throw down with him. With one second remaining on the clock, Holloway delivered a stunning knockout that sent Gaethje face first to the canvas as the crowd at T-Mobile Arena erupted with applause.

That fight crowned Holloway as the “BMF” champion but he ultimately decided that his next move was returning to featherweight where he challenges Ilia Topuria for the title in the UFC 308 main event. While the title fight is all that matters to him right now, Holloway knows a win on Saturday puts him right back in that same advantageous position and he promises he hasn’t forgotten about his other belt.

“For sure. I think so for sure,” Holloway said about defending the ‘BMF’ title. “At the end of the day in this sport, the thing that you want is options. I go out there, I get my hand raised. What is the saying? The world is my oyster. I can’t wait for it.”

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Assuming he gets through Topuria and becomes a two-time featherweight champion, Holloway understands that there’s going to be plenty of work to do in that division as well.

Winning the title potentially lines up Holloway for a fourth fight against Alexander Volkanovski after suffering three past losses to him. Volkanovski was promised a shot at the belt in his return to action following a knockout loss to Topuria back in February.

Of course, Holloway hasn’t forgotten about the other name in the hat right now and that belongs to Diego Lopes, who is actually serving as the backup fighter for the UFC 308 main event. Whether it’s Volkanovski or Lopes next, Holloway can’t wait for those kinds of challenges as champion.

“He’s an animal,” Holloway said about Lopes. “The way he’s been fighting. Taking fights on short notice. Showing up in those short notice fights and he’s a beast. When I saw that he was the backup, I was kind of blown away for a little bit because of all the talk that Alex was saying that he’s the next guy up in line and this and that and then also, it makes sense that Alex ain’t no backup fighter. They told him he’d get the next title fight.

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“It’s just weird that they’re telling Alex he has the next title fight and then to have another guy as the backup. But I guess so. If you look at the heavyweight division, anything can happen in the world. At the end of the day, I think Diego Lopes is a promising upcoming star. He’s not even upcoming anymore. He’s doing what he’s doing. It’s cool. Congrats to him having that moment.”

Before he can think about defending his “BMF” title or really paying attention to who’s next at featherweight, Holloway first has to reclaim that 145-pound title on Saturday.

While he can’t totally encapsulate the feeling of winning at UFC 308 given that it hasn’t happened yet, Holloway has a good idea at just how much another title run would mean to him.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Holloway said. “With all the naysayers, with all the doubters, with all the fanbase that he’s bringing in, the support that he has. It’s going to be great. I can’t wait to go out there and prove to the world.

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“To be the best you’ve got to beat the best and the best is ‘Blessed.’ On Oct. 26, I get to show the world again.”

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Football

Best college football hype videos ahead of Week 9

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7 mins ago

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October 26, 2024

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Best college football hype videos ahead of Week 9


FOX Sports Video Team

Week 9 of the college football season features a loaded slate of games, and that includes one of the top in-state rivalries in the sport as the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines welcome Jonathan Smith’s Michigan State Spartans to the Big House.

The Spartans are coming off an impressive win over Iowa and made it a point to release a must-see hype video ahead of Saturday’s in-state showdown.

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Meanwhile, in other Week 9 action, No. 21 Missouri has a massive SEC matchup against No. 15 Alabama, while James Franklin’s Penn State team gets set to travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Badgers.

Here is a look at the best college football hype videos heading into Week 9 of the season:

Michigan State Spartans

“In this state, you’re either green or you’re blue.”

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That is the truth when it comes to the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, and the Spartans didn’t disappoint with this incredible hype video ahead of their in-state showdown with the Wolverines.

Michigan State does a great job of capturing this huge in-state rivalry with compelling shots and game highlights from battles over the years. Check out the :49 mark, where you can see the famous “Oh, he has trouble with the snap!” moment from the unforgettable finish in the 2015 version of this rivalry.

Michigan State used a perfect mix of current and previous game footage, and it’s impossible not to love the way it was mixed seamlessly together.

Missouri Tigers

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“It’s just us.”

That is the message in this must-see hype video, which is narrated by former Mizzou Tiger Brock Olivo, who currently serves as a special teams analyst for the Tigers. Olivo delivers a strong and passionate performance in the video.

Something about hearing the Missouri brotherhood hits different coming from a player who was born and raised in Missouri. The writing was strong in this video, and the way they shot Olivo’s portion was visually exciting. 

Penn State Nittany Lions

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“Put it on film!”

That is the overlying message in this outstanding hype video from Penn State ahead of its Big Ten showdown against Wisconsin.

This video features exciting narration, this time by CL Shepherd, who played in the NFL and is now a motivational speaker. The video makes you feel like you’re in a huddle with him and he is getting ready to lead you out to battle. The exciting highlights in this video matched Shepard’s energy.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

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MMA

Kennedy Nzechukwu swarms Barnett for first-round TKO

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14 mins ago

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October 26, 2024

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Kennedy Nzechukwu swarms Barnett for first-round TKO

ABU DHABI – Kennedy Nzechukwu’s size proved to be too much for Chris Barnett at UFC 308.

In his return to heavyweight, Nzechukwu (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) was able to overwhelm Barnett (23-9 MMA, 2-3 UFC) by landing a knee to the body, followed by a right hook that sat “Beast Boy” down at the 4:27 mark of Round 1 Saturday at Etihad Arena. Barnett appeared to have sustained an injury during the fight and was carried out of the octagon.

Check out the replay of Nzechukwu’s finish below (via X):

Nzechukwu was able to snap a two-fight losing skid after back-to-back losses to Dustin Jacoby and Ovince Saint Preux. Barnett has now lost two of his past three.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 308 results include:

  • Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Chris Barnett via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:27
  • Farid Basharat def. Victor Hugo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Carlos Leal via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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Football

Watch Hibs and Hearts share four goals in 2011

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1 hour ago

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October 26, 2024

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Watch Hibs and Hearts share four goals in 2011



In preparation for Sunday’s Edinburgh derby, watch Hibernian and Hearts share four goals in 2011 in Sportscene rewind.



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Football

2024 World Series MVP odds: Freeman rockets to second on oddsboard

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2 hours ago

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October 26, 2024

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2024 World Series MVP odds: Freeman rockets to second on oddsboard


Has there ever been a World Series with more star power?

Probably not — but only one can emerge as MVP when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the New York Yankees.

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Let’s check out the odds for World Series MVP at FanDuel Sportsbook as of Saturday, with Game 2 of the Fall Classic set for this evening.

And don’t forget, you can catch all the action on FOX and FOX Sports App.

World Series MVP odds:

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total)
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers: +350 (bet $10 to win $45 total)
Mookie Betts, Dodgers: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Aaron Judge, Yankees: +950 (bet $10 to win $105 total)
Juan Soto, Yankees: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)

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If the Championship Series MVP results were any indication, the World Series MVP will be up for grabs based on who has a breakout performance.

And so far, Freddie Freeman has been that star.

Freeman ended Game 1 in dramatic fashion with a walkoff grand slam in the 10th inning, giving L.A. a 6-3 win.

Freddie Freeman crushes walkoff grand slam to give Dodgers Game 1

Freddie Freeman crushes walkoff grand slam to give Dodgers Game 1

With that, Freeman rocketed to second on the oddsboard, just behind favorite Shohei Ohtani. 

Freeman is an eight-time All Star and former NL MVP (2020) who won the World Series with Atlanta in 2021.

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Football

Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to be first full-back to win Ballon d’Or

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3 hours ago

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October 26, 2024

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Liverpool: Trent Alexander-Arnold wants to be first full-back to win Ballon d'Or


Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, who played at left-back, was second in the 2002 Ballon d’Or, which was won by Brazil team-mate Ronaldo after their World Cup triumph that year.

England’s Lucy Bronze, a right-back, came second to USA’s Megan Rapinoe in the women’s award in 2019.

Two full-backs have been nominated for the men’s 2024 award – Spain and Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal and Spain and Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo. The ceremony takes place on Monday.

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Real Madrid are reported to be interested in signing Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of this season.

He has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup at Liverpool, his boyhood club, and made more than 300 appearances.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate occasionally played Alexander-Arnold in midfield, including during Euro 2024.

Asked how he wants to be remembered after he retires, Alexander-Arnold said: “A legend of football, someone who changed the game.

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“That is the main thing that I have – ‘don’t play the game; change the game’. I want that legacy of being the greatest right-back to have played football.

“I have got to reach for the stars and that’s where I believe my ceiling can go.”



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MMA

UFC 308 cold open – MMA Fighting

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3 hours ago

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October 26, 2024

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UFC 308 cold open - MMA Fighting

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway are set to cap off UFC 308 with a generational clash for the UFC featherweight championship.

Topuria and Holloway will headline the promotion’s pay-per-view return to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday. It will be featherweight champion vs. BMF champion, as Topuria defends for the first time against Holloway, a former 145-pound titleholder.

Check out the cold open for UFC 308, narrated by Ron Perlman.

Topuria captured the title with a sensational knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February to remain undefeated. Holloway delivered one of the most memorable moments in UFC history at April’s UFC 300 event, knocking out Justin Gaethje in the final second of their BMF title fight.

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In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to state his case for a title shot as he faces the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round matchup.

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