“Nobody in this sport should be a -2500 favorite.”
Those were the words uttered by Daniel Cormier on the UFC 331 Paramount+ broadcast after Sean Sharaf needed just one punch to knock out Gable Steveson. Given Steveson’s status and accomplishments in the world of wrestling, as well as the state of the heavyweight division, many expected that Sharaf was going to be a sacrificial lamb.
Even the MMA records stated such. Sharaf entered the UFC 4-0 in 2024, but he was finished in his two Octagon bouts before the night, losing to Junior Tafa and Steven Asplund. Steveson, meanwhile, went 3-0 on the regional scene before a first-round finish of Elsha Ellison at UFC 329.
Many expected that Steveson’s power and wrestling abilities would be too much for Sharaf. And on paper, things looked like this would be the case. But the fights are fought in the Octagon, not on paper.
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It was a lesson we should have learned just last month on Dana White’s Contender Series. Bella Mir, the daughter of legendary former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, was just as much of a favorite against short-notice opponent Alex Apodaca. But Apodaca was ready for the challenge and brought her A-game, going on to win a decision in an odds-defying victory.
It’s one of the most beautiful things about sports, not just MMA. The underdog can still find a way to win.
And UFC 331 had plenty of that.
On the preliminary card, Michael Aswell Jr. was in a situation where he needed a victory. “The Texas Kid” had some stock as a 10-2 fighter when he entered the UFC in 2025, but things have not played out the way he’d like it. He entered UFC 331 1-3 in the Octagon; a loss surely would have marked the end of his tenure in the promotion.
Instead, Aswell used his striking and pressure to outwork Yoo Joo-sang to earn a narrow split decision win.
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The main card opener saw Iwo Baraniewski in action; he entered 9-0 in professional MMA, with all first-round finishes. A lot of people thought that Baraniewski would blitz Alonzo Menifield and finish him quickly to earn a spot in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings. Instead, Menifield weathered the storm and cracked Baraniewski on more than one occasion to take Baraniewski’s 0 and maintain his own placement.
Plenty of people thought that Patricio Pitbull’s time in the UFC would be done after UFC 331. Instead, Pitbull gave us a performance that reminded us of his time reigning on top as a world champion in Bellator, blasting Doo-ho Choi in a first-round finish.
Even Arman Tsarukyan, who was a favorite heading into his lightweight title eliminator co-main event, had a surprise in store. Not to take away from the power he possesses, but with his wrestling base, combined with facing a dangerous striker like Mauricio Ruffy, it would be fair to think that Tsarukyan would take him down and score a submission or get a TKO via vicious ground-and-pound.
Instead, Tsarukyan landed a pair of brutal standing elbows to crumble Ruffy out cold. And just like that, any doghouse Tsarukyan was in seemed to be ended and a title shot appears to be next.
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But nothing could prepare anyone for that Sharaf knockout. And in one swift move, one punch – the only strike Sharaf even needed to throw and land in that matchup – he put his stamp on things. It’s the third-quickest finish in UFC heavyweight history. It’s one of the biggest odds-defying victories in the history of MMA, let alone the UFC. It impressed Dana White so much that he got the special “chaos” bonus they were giving out – and White even matched it to help Sharaf pay off some of his debt.
The band Spoon once sang “You got no fear of the underdog. That’s why you will not survive.” Never doubt an opponent, especially in this sport. You just never know what might happen. That’s what UFC 331, one of the most entertaining numbered cards the UFC has held this year, showed us.
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Rocco Mediate is honest about his Ryder Cup future.
He doesn’t have one.
Mediate knows his chances of a U.S. Ryder Cup team roster spot ended long ago — around the moment Tiger Woods’ final putt dropped in the Monday playoff of the 2008 U.S. Open. He never played on an American Ryder Cup team. Never competed for the stars and stripes. Never felt the pressure over a 6-footer to extend your match. And maybe that’s for the best.
“I would have been the antichrist,” he says with a grin.
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But Rocco knows golf. He’s played professionally for more than three decades, and has been obsessed with sport’s history and traditions for just as long. He might not know what it feels like to be inside the team room, but he knows that success and failure in golf are decided in unusual ways. And this week, at the PURE Insurance Championship out in Pebble Beach, he has some ideas on how the Americans can turn things around after consecutive Ryder Cup losses despite what many view as a talent advantage.
“I think it’s overblown, overdone, and overanalyzed completely,” Mediate told GOLF on Saturday afternoon at Pebble. “First of all, the Ryder Cup is an exhibition. Okay, it does not matter in the history of the sport. Enjoy it. Make jokes. Have a great time with the guys.”
Mediate says he’s been amazed to witness the growth in the spectacle of the Ryder Cup over the last two decades. At the same time, he’s been amazed by the lack of innovation from the American side over the same period.
“We keep having the same captains, same ones. Find someone else, do something else, change it up. But they’re not gonna,” Mediate said. “Love Jim Furyk. Love the guys. Love them — but change something up. Same assistant captain. Same everything.”
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But not everybody shares Mediate’s sense of fire and brimstone. Among the players in the field at Pebble this week is Justin Leonard, who is moonlighting as an assistant captain for Jim Furyk’s squad next fall in Ireland. Leonard said he and Furyk have already gone to great lengths to innovate the American Ryder Cup approach, investing in new stats-and-research teams, a new points system and developing new plans to improve the continuity between U.S. team play events. At the center of the new U.S. strategy is the goal of building a “program” — catching up to the Europeans’ sense of continuity and consistency between events.
“We’ve changed our stats and data analysts and we’ve changed our points structure too, and trust me, a lot of time and effort and phone calls went into those decisions,” Leonard told GOLF. “The PGA of America wants us to come up with a little better playbook, so that there’s more continuity from team to team, beyond just having similar players and all that stuff.”
Of course, one early test of that new gameplan will take place next week in Chicago, where the U.S. team will gather again for the biennial playing of the Presidents Cup. Many Ryder Cup critics have suggested that the Presidents Cup, which is operated by the PGA Tour rather than the PGA of America, represents a major missed opportunity for American team golf, serving as an impediment between team golf settings as opposed to a continuation between them. Leonard was quick to point out that while he has no formal capacity at the Presidents Cup, the experience could prove helpful for Ryder Cup leadership in other ways.
“The fact that Jim [Furyk] is there, Keegan [Bradley] is there, and Brandt [Snedeker] has been around the teams and Webb [Simpson] as well,” Leonard said. “You know, I’m sure there’ll be some things, some good things that we’ll take from next week to get things going in a better direction.”
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While the Presidents Cup will provide a rare data point on team golf performance to American Ryder Cup leadership, there could be even more to learn from the players on the other side of the ledger. More than three decades’ worth of Ryder and Presidents Cup experience was on display at Pebble Beach this week, and among that crew, there was no shortage of ideas about the recent run of American struggles.
“Europe’s been underdogs historically, and that group coming together — they grew up together and played a lot of golf together and competed together, so maybe they’re a little bit tighter,” said Henrik Stenson, owner of five Ryder Cup appearances from the Euros, with a grin. “Maybe team USA played more college golf and are trying to beat each other up more than the Euros — I don’t know — but clearly there’s been a good team spirit from team Europe for many times.”
Stuart Appleby, owner of five Presidents Cup starts for the Internationals, suggested the problem might be less about American disagreement and more about European cohesion.
“The U.S. team has got a lot of desire to win, that’s nice, but you’ve got to get out of your way,” Appleby said. “The Europeans, they want to win just as bad, but they have the warrior mentality. They’re totally divorced from the outcome.”
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But the unifying theory among those who spoke was simple: The harder the U.S. tries to squeeze success out of its team golf appearances, the more elusive that success will become.
“If I’m the captain, I’m not in a cart riding around. I’m going to sit in the locker room, watch it on TV, maybe have a Diet Coke,” said Mediate. “I’d tell them, ‘Guys, listen — pair yourselves up. If you don’t like the clothes, play in your own clothes.’ It shouldn’t make a difference in your life. It should just be fun.”
Mediate isn’t expecting calls from U.S. leadership anytime soon, and he’s pretty sure he won’t be on the PGA of America Christmas card list, either. But after back-to-back lackluster Ryder Cup performances and back-to-back closer-than-expected Presidents Cups, the only bad ideas are the ones left unsaid.
“People will say, ‘That’s the dumbest thing,’” Mediate said. “But then you’ve got to remember, ‘Wait a minute — this isn’t working.’”
Ferran Torres continued the impressive start to his Paris Saint-Germain career by scoring the opener as the French and European champions won 2-1 at bitter rivals Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
SpainWorld Cup final hero Torres came off the bench to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia just before the hour mark and headed in a Desire Doue cross to give PSG the lead in the 66th minute at the Velodrome.
That brought the game to life, with England midfielder Angel Gomes scoring an excellent equaliser for Marseille on 72 minutes only for PSG captain Marquinhos to win the game for the visitors three minutes later.
The Brazilian defender met a Nuno Mendes cross and had his initial effort saved by Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange before bundling in the rebound.
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United States star Timothy Weah, a former PSG player, was then sent off for a second booking as Marseille finished the game a man down.
Torres scored PSG’s winning goal in Brest last weekend and now has seven goals in six appearances in all competitions since joining the reigning European champions from Barcelona. He has only started three times.
“We knew that for us it was one of the most important matches of the season. We knew it wouldn’t be easy but we managed to get the victory,” Torres said at full-time, with PSG now up to sixth in the table, five points behind leaders Monaco after five fixtures.
“Now we can go away and play for our countries and disconnect from club football for a bit.”
Struggling Marseille have now suffered four straight Ligue 1 defeats, and five losses in a row in all competitions. They therefore find themselves in the relegation zone as club football takes a three-week break.
Monaco extended their unbeaten start to the campaign by beating Lens 2-1 on Friday, and the principality side are two points clear at the top of Ligue 1 from both Lyon and Paris FC.
Lyon hammered Rennes 4-0 on Saturday, while Paris FC won 2-1 against Strasbourg.
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Lille missed the opportunity to move level on points again with Monaco as they lost 2-1 at Nice on Sunday.
Algerian international Mohamed Amoura got what proved to be the winner for Nice, with Japan’s Ayase Ueda scoring for Lille, his third goal in four games since signing from Feyenoord.
Former Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer scored in a third straight game for Auxerre as Will Still’s team defeated Brest 2-1.
Jacob Bridgeman geared up for his first Presidents Cup matches in the best way possible: by picking up his second PGA Tour win at the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, N.C.
After winning the Genesis Invitational in February, Bridgeman’s bag remains largely unchanged with a few notable exceptions to the top of his bag.
While he won using last year’s TaylorMade Qi35 LS driver, Bridgeman switched to the new Qi4D driver at last month’s BMW Championship. He also switched shafts to the new Project X Titan Green, becoming the second player to win with the new Titan family after Wyndham Clark won three times with Titan Yellow, and first with Titan Green. The green is billed as the stiffest profile in the family.
Instead of the Qi4D 7-wood he played in February, Bridgeman now plays a slightly longer 9-wood build bent to 22-degrees. He also changed the shaft in both of his fairway woods to Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White.
“Jacob likes to feel a nice arc at release with his putter and does a lot of practice with a blade to feel that,” TaylorMade putter rep James Holley said. “The Spider Tour short slant has less toe hang, but with the back CG it feels very similar to him as a blade. The mallet gives him more forgiveness and consistency with launch.”
With his irons, Bridgeman predominantly plays a set of the popular P7CB, but at the 5-iron, he switches to a 2022 P770, and then plays a 12-year-old Tour Preferred UDI driving iron for his 4-iron.
Until the P7CB was released in 2024, Bridgeman had only played blades for his entire career.
“He liked the clean look from address and slightly higher launch with a cavity back iron,” Springer said. “The biggest selling point, though, was the soft feel and better turf interaction than his blades.
“The 770 5-iron was added to his bag simply find a 5-iron that launched higher and landed softer into long par 3’s and par 5’s. He found the 770 to be a versatile club that he could flight when he needed to.”
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Bridgeman originally played 1 degree weaker lofts in his 7CBs, but upon switching to the new TP5x golf ball this season, the added spin allowed him to bend his irons back to a more standard loft spec.
“Jacob is one of the lowest spin iron players on tour so we spent the offseason working on a ball switch and reworking the iron lofts to start and hit his window,” TaylorMade Tour Rep Cory Johnson said. “He noticed in the playoffs that the harder firmer greens were tough for him. This switch to TP5x was made for him to win on the hardest set ups in golf. Additionally, TP5x was 2-3 mph faster with driver.”
Keep reading below for all of Bridgeman’s detailed WITB specs.
Jacob Bridgeman’s winning WITB at the 2026 Biltmore Championship Asheville
Driver
Jack Hirsh/GOLF
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TaylorMade Qi4D 10.5˚ Actual Loft: 10˚ Lie: 59˚ FCT Setting: Standard Upright Front TAS Weights: 11g toe, 4g heel Back TAS Weights: 8g toe, 9g heel Shaft: Project X Titan Green 60 6.5 Tipping: 1″
SHAPED FOR SPEED The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations. FACE FOR DISTANCE 60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight. TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
You can only evolve so many times. Then you have to reinvent. Designed and engineered in our R&D Lab in San Diego, CA, Titan Black is built to meet the demands of today’s faster, more aggressive swingers. A more elastic handle section progressively firms through the mid and tip, delivering a smooth feel with added stability where it matters most. Synex Technology utilizes multi-axial carbon fibers to reinforce the shaft’s outer structure, increasing hoop stiffness from the handle through the mid-section for efficient energy transfer and enhanced control. By blending feel and stability, Titan Black gives players the confidence to swing faster without sacrificing dispersion or consistency.
PROVEN RECIPE TaylorMade Fairways have dominated on Tour for over a decade because of their unique performance recipe, which enables maximum distance and versatility. The Qi4D fairway is designed for golfers who want the most advanced technology while still prioritizing versatility and control with amazing distance. ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE Utilizing a single Trajectory Adjustment System weight (8g x1) provides the golfer a more mass efficient way to adjust flight, spin and swing weight. 4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight and is available in all lofts. REFINED ATTRIBUTES, BIG CHANGES Engineers conducted an objective analysis of all the performance attributes and discovered new methods to enhance performance and confidence. Sit points, lie angles, address views, and center of gravity locations were all updated based on Tour feedback and the expertise of leading fitters worldwide, ensuring the optimal fairway across skill levels. TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes. Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation for TaylorMade fairway performance. Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature designed to provide straighter shots on mishits. Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to maximize performance by increasing discretionary weight.
BEST-IN CLASS FEEL Using Tour feedback and modal analysis we’ve strategically designed mass placement for best in class feel. Crafted using Compact Grain Forging and 2000 tons of pressure to deliver the purest feeling 1025 soft carbon steel possible. PRECISE CONTROL Precise milled face and grooves combined with a constant CG the P•7CB is designed to deliver an optimal launch and spin combination for the ultimate control and precision. CONSISTENCY Created to maximize accuracy and consistency. The P•7CB optimized perimeter weighting and co-forged tungsten designed to deliver a beautiful blend of stability and workability. COMPACT TOUR SHAPING Every aspect of shaping in this iron was intended to meet the needs of discerning ball strikers. A compact blade length and thin topline create a confident, clean look in the playing position while the sole camber and progressive bounce profile provide consistent turf interaction.
FORGED FEEL Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback. MAXIMUM SPIN MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions. PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions. CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time. CHARCOAL FINISH MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
BLACK PVD FINISH The durable PVD coating creates a beautiful high-quality finish with sole plate, back badge and copper accents. TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT The patented alignment system provides visual clarity and helps golfers better envision the line to the hole. WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERTMade from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the white TPU Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel.Grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward roll as well as better sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. The white insert also creates better symmetry with the white True Path alignment. THIN WALL UNDERCUT CONSTRUCTION We’ve engineered a super stable structure by removing excess weight to create high MOI and legendary Spider performance. HYBRAR ECHO®DAMPENER HYBRAR is behind the face to dampen unwanted vibrations, delivering premium sound and feelon every putt with the best possible sensation. TSS WEIGHTING TSS weights provide balanced weighting and help optimize performance for all various putter lengths. STEEL WIREFRAME Allows engineers to better control weight distribution and CG location.
Built on the success of the best Team TaylorMade athletes in the world, TP5x is designed to deliver unparalleled low spin and distance off the tee and world-class feel and control where you need it most around the green. Microcoating No two golf balls are the same, but the all-new TP5x sets out to solve an invisible problem through our revolutionary microcoating finish process. Uneven paint and excess pooling in the dimples can compromise distance and accuracy. Microcoating uses precision application technology to ensure uniform coverage across the ball’s entire surface. Click on the video for a deep dive. Thinner Than a Human Hair Microcoating is thinner than a human hair and delivers measurable performance advantages: more consistent ball flight, optimized distance, and tight left-to-right dispersion. Tour-Level Speed The reengineered Speed Wrapped Core in TP5x increases the coefficient of restitution (COR) for exceptional ball speed at the top end of your bag.
Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya on Sunday rated teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a “different kind of talent” but advised against rushing him into India’s playing 11. Sooryavanshi was in India’s squad for the recent three-match T20I series against Afghanistan but the management stuck to the regular opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. “He’s a different kind of talent. I think he’s the future for India. He has a lot of time. So, give him the opportunity to do well and he will do well,” Jayasuriya told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of the Corporate World Cup.
The star performer of the 1996 World Cup for Sri Lanka said Sooryavanshi has the talent to grab the opportunities.
“Opportunities will come. I can’t tell which position he will play, it depends. But when the opportunity comes, he will grab them. So, let’s wait and see.
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“I can’t comment on the selection and the batting line-ups. I think he is highly talented,” said the prolific all-rounder of yesteryears.
In that context, Jayasuriya said Abhishek and Samson need to keep performing.
“The individual cricketers have individual talents and they work hard at practice and training. In India, there are always players ready to take their place and perform. The competition is so high.” The 57-year-old lauded India’s standards of cricket across the three formats.
“India has a high standard of cricket. They play all the games – ODIs, T20s, and Tests. When you play all three formats of the game, it’s not easy.
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“In India, they have that high level of passion to play for the country. So, that’s why most of the players are doing well and they want to represent the country.” Jayasuriya underlined the growing relevance of corporate presence in the sport and the necessity for a Corporate Cricket World Cup.
“When you play in all the cities across India, there are corporate players, who have the opportunity and want to do well, wanting to show that some individuals are capable of representing the country.
“There are so many players who haven’t gotten the opportunity during the IPL, so, they get these opportunities.
“So, the players who are in the corporate sector and haven’t gotten the opportunity to play at the club, other levels, or state levels… they get the opportunity to come and play here. So that’s why, I think this is going to be good for Indian cricket,” he concluded.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Manchester United players screamed for a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey – they now have a verdict why it was not given
Not long after Lisandro Martinez bundled a strange own goal into his own net, the Argentine clipped the ball onto the arm of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey. The Cottagers’ ace had his hands raised to his face when the ball struck his wrist, leaving the United players screaming for a penalty.
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Despite the ball hitting his arm, neither Peter Bankes on the pitch nor the officials in the VAR studio believed it was a penalty.
After the match, United defenders argued with Bankes about the incident, while Michael Carrick was also seen speaking with the official on the pitch after the game.
The club have since been given a VAR verdict from the Premier League Match Centre, who posted a transcript of the decision process from the studio. It read: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Manchester United for a potential handball offence by Bassey was checked and confirmed by VAR.
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“AR1: ‘It’s close to his body – it has hit but his arm is close to his body’. REF: ‘On-field decision is play on’. VAR: ‘Arms close to his body. As seen – confirming the on-field decision to play on, exactly as described on-field’.”
Analysing the incident post-match for Sky Sports, former United striker Louis Saha remarked: “It’s 50-50. You don’t know now with the rules.
“Your natural instinct is to protect your face because you know you are going to be hit. But it’s different rules every weekend. Some referees will blow while some others will say ‘No go on’.”
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In the moment, Gary Neville believed Bassey was fortunate, as he presented the referee with a call to make by lifting his arms. He said: “It’s strange for a defender to put their hands up, because they know the referee will have to make a decision. Bassey is asking for trouble.”
United managed to rescue a point at Craven Cottage thanks to Matheus Cunha’s deflected effort in the 89th minute. A loss in west London would have represented a third successive defeat across all competitions for United.
Carrick told BBC Sport: “We want more points, we’re going to have a spell where it’s not quite going for you and we’ve had a spell of that where small things have ended up as big things.
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“We don’t think things are perfect by any means. We need to win football matches. The supporters were top-drawer again today and we have to give them something to keep shouting about.”
PHOENIX — There was no music. Just a smattering of idle clubhouse chatter. The New York Yankees weren’t even in the mood to turn on the big-screen TV on Sunday to check on their fantasy football teams.
The Yankees, who lost 8-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, came to grips with reality after their latest loss, and now are faced with the inevitable.
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They’re going to have no choice but to watch the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate the AL East title on their home field this week.
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The Rays (95-90), who have a six-game lead with six games remaining, need to win just one of the next four scheduled games at Yankee Stadium, including a doubleheader on Tuesday, to celebrate their first AL East title since 2021.
The way the Rays have played all season, they just might be celebrating their first World Series title in October, too.
“You know, it’s tough,” Yankees infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero said. “We fight for the whole season, but at the end of the day, we’re already in the postseason. So that’s what we look forward to, and just be better and learn from little mistakes.”
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
The New York Yankees lead the pack by a wide margin with 27 World Series titles, the most championships in major American professional sports. They’re followed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won the Fall Classic 11 times, while the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers have catapulted into the No. 3 spot with their ninth championship − and third in the last five years − in 2025. Also tied for third-most World Series are the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics. The A’s former neighbors across the Bay, the San Francisco Giants, are fourth (eight championships). The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates round out the top five with five titles apiece. Here’s a complete ranking of every MLB club by World Series titles:
(Bettmann, Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
The New York Yankees lead the pack by a wide margin with 27 World Series titles, the most championships in major American professional sports. They’re followed by the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won the Fall Classic 11 times, while the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers have catapulted into the No. 3 spot with their ninth championship − and third in the last five years − in 2025. Also tied for third-most World Series are the Boston Red Sox and the Athletics. The A’s former neighbors across the Bay, the San Francisco Giants, are fourth (eight championships). The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates round out the top five with five titles apiece. Here’s a complete ranking of every MLB club by World Series titles:
(Bettmann, Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Atlanta Braves – 4 titles (1914, 1957, 1995, 2021)
(CHRIS WILKINS, AFP via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Detroit Tigers – 4 titles (1935, 1945, 1968, 1984)
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(Mary Schroeder, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Baltimore Orioles – 3 titles (1966, 1970, 1983)
(PORTER BINKS, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Chicago Cubs – 3 titles (1907, 1908, 2016)
(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Chicago White Sox – 3 titles (1906, 1917, 2005)
(Eileen Blass, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Minnesota Twins – 3 titles (1924, 1987, 1991)
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(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Cleveland Guardians – 2 titles (1920, 1948)
(Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Houston Astros – 2 titles (2017, 2022)
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Kansas City Royals – 2 titles (1985, 2015)
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Miami Marlins – 2 titles (1997, 2003)
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(H. DARR BEISER, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
New York Mets – 2 titles (1969, 1986)
(Bettmann Archive via Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Philadelphia Phillies – 2 titles (1980, 2008)
(H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Toronto Blue Jays – 2 titles (1992, 1993)
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Arizona Diamondbacks – 1 title (2001)
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(JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Los Angeles Angels – 1 title (2002)
(ROBERT DEUTSCH, USA TODAY)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Texas Rangers – 1 title (2023)
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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MLB teams ranked by their World Series championships
Washington Nationals – 1 title (2019)
(Erik Williams, Imagn Images)
The Yankees (89-66) have been looking up at the Rays in the standings since June 28, so it’s hardly stunning they didn’t win the division. Yet, they always circled this week on the calendar believing that they could use the four-game series to finally vault ahead of the Rays.
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Realistically, it will be nothing more than tune-up games for their best-of-three wild-card series beginning Sept. 29 against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, with the winner playing the powerful Rays in a best-of-five series.
“You got to make sure guys are in a good spot going in, you know …” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But first things first is we’re going to show up Tuesday and try and kick their butts. I mean, simple as that. And then I’ll do what I think is best for the club and for the guys trying to get ready.
“We’ve been through a lot as a team already, and we’ve answered the bell, mostly all of the turns, and looking forward to playing a good week of baseball and building some momentum going into the postseason.”
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If it means limiting Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler and other pitchers in their next starts, they’ll do it. Why pitch their high-leverage relievers in consecutive games? If position players need a day off, they’ll get it. There’s no reason to take any unnecessary risk at this juncture.
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The Yankees even shut down reliever Clarke Schmidt when he was warming up in the bullpen to enter the game in the sixth inning on Sunday. He felt tightness in his biceps, so they stopped his warmups, and immediately had him checked out. Everything was fine, but they still will have him see their own doctors on Monday.
“You know, he checked out pretty well afterwards and all of the strength tests,” Boone said. “So, I’m hoping it’s not a big deal, but enough to not have him go into the game, so we’ll see what we have there.”
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Schmidt, who just returned Wednesday for the first time in 14 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery, called it “precautionary” considering his lengthy absence.
“Obviously, given the circumstance coming back from the surgery,” Schmidt said, “I don’t want to push through anything. But all of the testing was fine. Nothing with the shoulder. Nothing with the elbow. It was more like a cramping-type feeling. …
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“In the previous days, I’ve been feeling very strong, so just kind of very, very minor.”
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Nolan Arenado of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Chase Field on Sept. 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Yankees, who are expected to have infielder Jazz Chisholm (sprained thumb) back Tuesday, and perhaps center fielder Trent Grisham (hamstring strain) before the playoffs, certainly have a bigger concern: the health of Aaron Judge. The Yankees have no idea whether he’ll be able to rejoin the team, but he’ll continue to undergo treatment in hopes he can be back sometime during the postseason.
“The first thing we’re focused on is getting Aaron healthy,” Boone said, “and hopefully we can get him back in the mix, in some way, shape or form.”
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In the meantime, the Yankees have a wild-card series to win against Boston, and then, a division series matchup against the Rays.
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“Now, it’s a race to the title,” Cabrera said. “They [the Rays] play their game and it’s kind of tough to play them playing the way they play. They did a good job during the whole year, and pitching wise as well, so that’s why they lead the American League.
“But at the end of the day, it’s about what we do in the postseason. The 162 first games doesn’t matter. Now, it starts in the postseason.”
The Yankees have to get past the Red Sox first, of course, but they’d love to take their chances and take down what has been the best team in the American League.
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“They’ve put together a great season to this point,” Boone said, “and they’ve put themselves in great position. You’ve got to respect the season they had so far.
“Hopefully, we’ll cross paths beyond Tuesday at some point.”
Back in February, Jacob Bridgeman arrived at the 18th hole at Riviera Country Club on Sunday with his dreams in his grasp. He was leading the Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods’ tournament, with one hole to play. His first PGA Tour win was within reach; he just needed to par the final hole to hold off a hard-charging Rory McIlroy.
It was a season that saw Bridgeman “hit all” of his goals.
But on Sunday at the Biltmore Championship Asheville, Bridgeman checked off another one. One that looked completely different than the one he checked off in Los Angeles in February.
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Bridgeman arrived at the Biltmore, the first FedEx Cup Fall event, looking to stay sharp for the Presidents Cup and put on a good performance, with many of his family members in attendance. Bridgeman, a South Carolina native and resident, had around 20 family and friends following him this week in Asheville. After Saturday’s third round at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, it looked like they wouldn’t be spending their Sunday night toasting Bridgeman in Asheville. Bridgeman was eight shots back of 54-hole leader Neal Shipley and would need something special to have a chance to hoist the trophy. But on a soft, gettable setup, the No. 1 putter on the PGA Tour had a chance if he could get hot.
He did that and more on Sunday.
Bridgeman birdied three of his first four holes and then eagled the eighth to turn in 5-under 30. With his irons and flatstick hot, birdies at 10, 13, 14 and 15 followed to put him on top of a jammed top of the leaderboard that included Shipley, Ricky Castillo and Ben James. A tap-in birdie at 17 put Bridgeman two clear of the pack, and he closed out a title-winning, 10-under 61 with a par on 18 to grab a trophy with a cohort of friends and family in attendance.
“I feel like I had a crowd the whole day,” Bridgeman said on Sunday after picking up over three shots on approach and making 90 feet of putts in the comeback win. “They were just kind of rooting me on. Kept the momentum going.”
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Seven months ago, Bridgeman faced a terrifying scenario to get his first win. With thousands of fans looking on, including Woods, and McIlroy breathing down his neck, Bridgeman dug deep and pulled off an improbable win. Sunday’s victory looks almost nothing like that triumph in Pacific Palisades.
For the most part.
“Same [poa] greens,” Bridgeman said on Sunday when asked to compare his two wins. “LA was such a high-profile event. Felt like everything was against me that last day and I pulled through and was able to take it down. To win Tiger’s event is a dream come true, and then to do it here in front of a home crowd is definitely a different feel but just as special.”
After a sizzling Sunday 61 to grab a second win in 2026, Bridgeman now turns his attention to the Presidents Cup, where he and the heavily-favored Americans will look to continue their dominance in the biennial event. They’ll arrive in Chicago with perhaps an underrated match-play weapon: Bridgeman’s putter, which has been hot all season and reached a different level in Asheville.
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“Super excited about Presidents Cup next week,” Bridgeman said. “I’m very pleased with how I’m playing rolling into it, and I think everyone else is just as pumped as I am.
“Playing as a team but also playing for our country. It just means a whole lot more. I think you’ll see some emotion come out, some guys elevate their game just because of how focused we are and how much we want to win.”
In a dream season, that’s the final thing for now two-time PGA Tour winner Jacob Bridgeman to check off his “goals” list.
Matheus Cunha rescues Manchester United but their major issue remains clear
A game that had looked like it was edging towards a first Alvaro Arbeloa win, courtesy of Lisandro Martinez’s bizarre own goal, instead saw another wicked deflection divert it to a 1-1 draw.
Neither club is completely unhappy, but this could have been a lot worse for both.
An exuberant Fulham at least climb off the bottom of the table, ensuring it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit there going into this three-week international window. They look the closest to the “crisis club” enduring all manner of external criticism and introspection going into an unusually long break. That was so close to being United.
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Miguel Delaney20 September 2026 18:48
Gary Neville lambasts Manchester United’s display against Fulham as an ‘absolute disgrace’
Matheus Cunha rescued a point for the Red Devils with a deflected strike in the 89th minute after a Lisandro Martinez own goal had sent the Cottagers into the lead.
United took 29 shots throughout the game but were unable to capitalise in the final third and the scrutiny will now increase on manager Michael Carrick after a week of poor performances has seen them lose to Manchester City and Brighton (in the league cup) and now draw with Fulham who began the match bottom of the Premier League table.
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Michael Jones20 September 2026 19:50
‘They would not let Manchester United lose’: Fulham boss decries refereeing decisions after Premier League stalemate
Fulham went ahead in the 63rd minute after Lisandro Martinez turned into his own net, though United rescued a point late on as Matheus Cunha’s effort deflected past Bernd Leno in the 89th minute.
Both sides wasted chances in a game that was sluggish at times, though there were no particularly controversial calls made by either referee Peter Bankes or the VAR team.
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Chris Wilson20 September 2026 19:45
Saha: ‘Players need to play at full pace’
“At some points when they decide to accelerate, they look like a Manchester United side – there is no problem; the quality is there,” says former Man Utd striker Louis Saha on Sky.
“There are some moments, though, when they accept the speed of a charity game. That’s shocking.
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“Players need to play at full pace; if they can’t after 70 or 80 minutes, they should be substituted,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:59
United’s results so far
Here’s what Manchester United’s results look like so far this season then:
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(PA)
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:55
Neville: ‘Carrick will be relieved’
“It was a game that was a real struggle for both teams. Both lacked confidence,” said Gary Neville at full-time.
“There were challenges for both managers coming into this game, they both need the international break to start their seasons again.
“The defensive work from both teams was awful and lacked effort. Carrick will be relieved going back to Manchester with a goal and a point,” he added.
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(Reuters)
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:51
United ‘need to do a lot more’
“It was too slow, Fulham ran more and looked like they wanted to win more. Bassey just eased Cunha out the way [for Fulham’s goal] and looked like he wanted to take the game to Man United,” explains Ashley Young on Sky.
Carrick will be thinking ‘we need to do a lot more’,” he added.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:47
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Cunha: ‘
“It is so frustrating for us. In the beginning, we put the plan in and created some chances,” says Matheus Cunha on Sky after full-time.
“We didn’t score and then they scored in one action. It is hard to explain. It is frustrating for us. After the goal, we played much better snd had a lot of character,” he explains.
“It needs to be from the start. It is only one point but we should never play for one point.
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“It is hard. They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this.
“We need to do our best. We need to improve in every single position.
“It is only the beginning. Last season was the same, with noise around, but we finished third,” he added as he finished.
(PA)
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:44
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Next up
Manchester United’s next game comes against Tottenham on 10 October at Old Trafford, and they face a trip to Atletico Madrid in the Champions league after that.
As for Fulham, they play on the same day at 3pm, and they travel to Ipswich.
Chris Wilson20 September 2026 18:40
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How the table looks
That result leaves United languishing in 12th, with five points from their opening four games.
As for Fulham. they will head into the international break in 19th after earning just their second point of the season.
Manchester City went top after their win over Sunderland today, while Spurs are now rock bottom!
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin walks off the field before a college football game between Ole Miss and LSU at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Ole Miss defeated LSU 32-24.
It took until the late slate to save the weekend, but it was still another exciting week of college football.
There’s no debate about who the winner of the weekend was. Ole Miss couldn’t have scripted a better first matchup against their old head coach. The crowd absolutely won this game for Ole Miss; Trinidad Chambliss looked like the best quarterback in the country, and a Lane Kiffin-led offense choked under the bright lights for the millionth time. Many have doubted the Rebels as SEC contenders, and if this didn’t convince people, then nothing ever will.
Loser: Lane Kiffin
On the flip side, nobody had a worse weekend than Kiffin. He left Ole Miss high and dry because he felt LSU had more national-title upside. Well, one year later, LSU is still a bit of a mess, and Ole Miss is now a well-oiled machine, even with Pete Golding as the coach.
LSU will catch a ton of heat from the media this week, and it’s pretty deserved. Kiffin continues to struggle in top-10 matchups, and it’s hard not to think the Tigers were overrated after their week one win against Clemson.
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Loser: Texas A&M
Sep 19, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) walks on the field prior to the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
After Alabama thumped Kentucky in Lexington, it felt like this weekend against Texas A&M would be another tough loss. However, Will Stein got a program-changing win on the road, and it wasn’t any fluke.
Marcel Reed has struggled in every big game the last two years, and turnovers killed him again against Kentucky. Texas A&M thrived on a weak schedule last season, and they won’t be as fortunate this season. LSU, Alabama, and Missouri are all on the schedule in the next six weeks, and Reed has to play much cleaner in those matchups.
Winner: West Virginia
Sep 19, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers tight end Josh Sapp (0) celebrates with West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (3) after defeating the Virginia Cavaliers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Over the past two weeks, I felt that Virginia was a contender in the ACC, but it’s actually West Virginia that might be a contender in the Big 12. WVU has thrived on elite quarterbacks since the turn of the century, but during their recent struggles, they haven’t had a game-changer under center.
Rich Rodriguez got his new dual-threat QB, Michael Hawkins Jr., to combine for 313 all-purpose yards and 5 total touchdowns. Hawkins, the Oklahoma transfer, has been one of the most fun watches in the country so far, and he could lead the Mountaineers to a Big 12 title if he keeps playing this well.
On “Sunday Night Football” against the Chiefs, Daniel Jones isn’t just trying to help the Colts avoid a 0-2 start in his second game back from tearing his Achilles; he’s trying to reverse his own prime-time issues. And these aren’t just any struggles. They’re historic struggles.
Jones has a 1-15 career record in prime time, the worst mark of any starting quarterback (minimum 10 starts) since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. It’s not particularly close, either.
Worst W-L as starting QB in prime time, since 1970
And for the “wins aren’t a quarterback stat” crowd, it doesn’t get much better when we look at Jones’ performance individually. Of the 78 quarterbacks who have started at least 10 prime-time games since 1970, Jones ranks …
78th — dead last — in touchdown-to-interception ratio (12-21)
76th in yards per attempt (5.8)
76th in passer rating (70.5)
70th in sack rate (8.8%)
Jones hasn’t thrown a touchdown in any of his last eight prime-time starts. It’s the longest streak by any quarterback since 1970, and no one else has a streak longer than five games. He’s also gone six straight games with zero touchdown passes and at least one interception, also the longest streak since 1970.
If there’s good news here, it’s that Sunday night’s showdown will be Jones’ first prime-time start with the Colts — all 16 previous contests were with the Giants.
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Jones’ lone prime-time win came in 2022, when the Giants beat Washington 20-12. Jones only threw for 160 yards and averaged 5.0 yards per attempt, but a win’s a win. He has lost his last six prime-time starts, including …
Week 1, 2023: Cowboys 40, Giants 0
Coming off a surprise playoff berth in 2022, the Giants were under the bright lights of “Sunday Night Football” to open 2023. It was a disaster from the start. Cowboys cornerback Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown to open the scoring, and Dallas produced the largest shutout win in the long history between the two teams.
Jones went 15 for 28 for just 104 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-six by Daron Bland that, unfortunately for Jones, wasn’t really his fault.
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Jones was also sacked seven times. Jones posted a 32.4 passer rating on the dreadful evening; for comparison’s sake, throwing every single pass incomplete is a 39.6 passer rating.
Week 3, 2023: 49ers 30, Giants 12
Under siege all night from the 49ers’ pass rush, Jones threw for just 137 yards on 32 attempts, had no touchdown passes and threw an interception to Talanoa Hufanga. It was very much a “Thursday Night Football” performance to forget.
“We didn’t create a rhythm,” Jones said. “We didn’t execute, didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. That’s a good defense, a good team and when you are playing good teams, you can’t afford to do that. We didn’t play well enough.”
Week 4, 2023: Seahawks 24, Giants 3
In his third prime-time start in four weeks, Jones was once again awful: 27 for 34 (good) but for just 203 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, including this Devon Witherspoon pick-six.
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Somehow that wasn’t the worst of it. Jones took 10 sacks, the most in a prime-time game since Donovan McNabb took 12 in a 2007 contest.
Week 4, 2024: Cowboys 20, Giants 15
Jones once again threw no touchdown passes — he has zero touchdown passes in eight of his 16 career prime-time starts — in a loss to the Cowboys. Jones actually put up decent numbers in this game, going 29 for 40 for 281 yards, but it ended on a sour note, with Amani Oruwariye picking him off to end the game.
Week 6, 2024: Bengals 17, Giants 7
Jones went 22 for 41 for 205 yards and a particularly brutal interception in this loss.
Week 8, 2024: Steelers 26, Giants 18
Another prime-time game, another back-breaking interception from Jones. This one hurts.
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Jones, who had been benched the week prior, went 24 for 38 for 264 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
“We hurt ourselves a lot tonight,” Jones said. “That’s the most frustrating part about it. We’ve got to be more detailed, starting with me. The good stuff that happened was negated by the mistakes.”
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