Aston Villa manager Unai Emery did not blame the referee for the decision, despite being involved in a lengthy discussion with officials during the match.

He said: “We played a good first half. The second half the mistake changed everything. The key was the mistake we made.

“His mistake is completely strange. It’s only happened one time in all my life.”

Villa defender Ezri Konsa, added: “It is part of football. Our first loss in the Champions League and we have to move on, we cant be too down about it.

“I didn’t see it, I just saw the players running to the referee saying handball.

“It kills the game. If it is a handball, a deliberate one, why not give give him a second yellow? It is a mistake but we have to learn from it.”

Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Sport: “Arsenal got away with doing the same thing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season – maybe this time the referee has seen that the Brugge players are closing Mings down?

“I don’t think Tyrone Mings has looked at Emi Martinez at all when he took the goal-kick, which is why he thinks he can pick it up because he does not know it has been taken.”

Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, said: “That’s ridiculous. It is crazy from Mings, absolutely crazy.

“What is he thinking? It’s a brain freeze from Mings. Tyrone Mings might have done it when he was three.”

Crouch added on TNT: “It was very, very bizarre.

“Even if you don’t think it is live, you don’t put your hand on it. It is a moment of madness. The moment he did it we all shouted that was a penalty.”

Just a couple of months ago, former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo expressed interest in a potential return to flyweight, but the division’s current champion isn’t buying it as Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t think Cejudo is seriously considering a drop from bantamweight.

Pantoja doesn’t have the confidence in Cejudo’s ability to get back down to 125 pounds at age 37 – unless maybe there’s medical intervention.

“When you go to the surgery doctor, yeah, he needs (liposuction) to make the weight,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie jokingly. “I don’t think he can make the weight again. He’s too big.”

Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC), who returns to defend his belt against Japan’s Kai Asakura at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas, likes the fight with Cejudo and sees it as a dream matchup. He just doesn’t think it can happen at 125 pounds.

“I’d love the opportunity,” Pnatoja said. “If Cejudo can do that, I’ll give him five pounds to fight. It will be a dream to fight with Cejudo, of course. He’s a legend.”

Pantoja and Cejudo share history. Cejudo was Pantoja’s coach during Pantoja’s stint on “The Ultimate Fighter” back in 2016. Yet, despite both competing at flyweight for several years, the two have never crossed paths.

Pantoja is now on a six-fight winning streak with two title defenses, while Cejudo is coming off two consecutive defeats, with one against then-champion Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title.

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul is nearly here and Tyson looks ready.

Next Friday, Tyson and Paul face off in an eight-round boxing match broadcast live on Netflix. The fight figures to be one of the biggest combat sports events of the year and while some have concerns about the 58-year-old Tyson returning to the ring, his coaches are not among them.

On Wednesday, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions released training footage of Tyson training and though the former heavyweight champion is clearly not his best, he still packs one heck of a punch. That trademark Tyson power was on display during sparring where Tyson dropped his sparring partner with a powerful left hook.

The footage also shows Tyson going through his workout routine outside of sparring as he prepares to fight a man 30 years his junior.

Tyson was last in the ring for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones J. in 2020, and has not fought professionally since a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride. Paul last fought Mike Perry in July, scoring a sixth-round TKO.

Tyson vs. Paul takes place on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Tempers are beginning to flair between Anatoly Malykhin and Oumar Kane (better known as “Reug Reug”) ahead of their ONE 169 heavyweight title encounter.

What started a peaceful faceoff at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference in advance of Friday’s event, which takes place at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, turned into a physical one between the combatants.

Reigning ONE Championship triple champ Malykhin (14-0) approached his opponent and stuck his hands out in a gun motion. That caused “Reug Reug” (6-1) to react by slapping the hand away, then the pair inched closer to each other.

They traded words, and Malykhin put his arm around the body of Malykhin, who did not like the aggressive move. The pair tangled and a group of security jumped in to tear them apart.

Check out the video above to see the entire exchange between Malykhin and “Reug Reug” at the ONE 169 press conference.

MLB free agency is here!

Similar to how last winter was defined by the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, this offseason will revolve around another generational superstar: Juan Soto. The 26-year-old slugger is coming off a career year with the New York Yankees, having also helped the Bronx Bombers back to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Now, he’s likely staring down a record-breaking contract that might very well span the next decade-plus. 

But where? The chatter has already begun during this week’s GM meetings. He’s not the only big fish on the open market, of course. There are plenty of other top-tier free agents, including ace pitchers Corbin Burnes of the Baltimore Orioles and Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves as well as Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.

RELATED: 2025 MLB free-agent rankings, team fits: Juan Soto leads top 30

And as Soto himself knows, after being dealt to New York from the San Diego Padres last offseason, there could always be landscape-shifting trades made in the winter.

Follow along below for the latest rumors around MLB free agency!

Nov. 6

Sasaki more likely to be posted than not

The 2024-25 MLB free-agent class might add another monumental talent. “Indications” are that Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki will be posted by NPB club the Chiba Lotte Marines, ESPN reported. If he is posted, the Dodgers are “heavily favored” to land the 23-year-old, according to ESPN. MLB on FOX insider Ken Rosenthal also reported that the Dodgers are the “heavy, heavy favorites” to land Sasaki, who was teammates with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The possible sweepstakes for Sasaki won’t be as highly competitive from a spending standpoint as other free agents. Due to posting rules, teams can only use money from their international signing pools to offer him. Sasaki has pitched fewer than six professional seasons, meaning he can earn a maximum of $8 million if he’s posted after Dec. 15. If he’s posted before that date, the most he can receive is roughly $2.5 million, according to ESPN. 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been in contact with Soto, checked in on Alonso

As free agency commenced Monday, Cashman shared that he spoke with Soto following the team’s World Series loss in late October. Cashman added that he’s already been in communication with Soto’s agent, Scott Boras.

RELATED: Juan Soto sweepstakes: Is he Yankees’ to lose? Analyzing 9 potential suitors

Cashman figures to be busy in the coming weeks, as first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres are also free agents. With that, Cashman confirmed the Yankees have interest in Pete Alonso, who’s available after starring for the Mets the past six seasons.

“There are a lot of high-quality players in this marketplace, and certainly Pete did an amazing job with the Mets,” Cashman said. “I had a brief conversation with Scott about a lot of his — he has a lot of free agents, which is normal, and Pete’s one of them, so yes.”

As for Torres, the Yankees did not extend him a qualifying offer, and Cashman offered a tepid response on whether the former All-Star could return. 

“I’m not gonna dissect what he’s good at and not as good at,” Cashman said. “Obviously, he’ll have a lot of conversations with a lot of teams that have a need in that area and that might include us, who knows. But appreciate his efforts while he was here.” 

Astros GM Dana Brown: Re-signing Bregman the “biggest priority”

Houston has a few key free agents to mull over, including Alex Bregman, Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Verlander. As Houston looks to retool after an early playoff exit, Brown was pretty blunt on which player the team is coveting this most this offseason. 

“We’d love to have Alex Bregman back,” Brown told reporters at the GM meetings. “It’s our biggest priority.”

The Astros, of course, have allowed a handful of homegrown stars walk in free agency in recent years. But Brown seemed bullish about the club’s chances to retain Bregman.

“Our mindset right now is that he’s not going elsewhere and we want to sign him,” Brown said. “If he ends up going elsewhere, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, but I’m going into this offseason with the thought that we’re going to get Bregman back. Hopefully we can do it.”

In an interview with MLB Network, Brown shared that he’s had initial conversations with Kikuchi and Verlander’s agents. He also said he’s “gone back and forth” with outfielder Kyle Tucker’s agent about a possible extension. Tucker is entering the final year of team control.

“We hope to narrow things down and have more conversations,” Brown said. “But we’ve had multiple conversations.”

Bichette not available for trade

With Bo Bichette set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins made it clear that the team isn’t willing to move on from the shortstop sooner than it has to. He told MLB Network that any trade calls involving Bichette are “an easy no.”

Bichette is coming off an underwhelming 2024 campaign, slashing .225/.277/.322 with just four homers in 81 games. 

Rooker not available via trade

Athletics general manager David Frost insisted the A’s, who are temporarily relocating to Sacramento beginning next season, will not part with star designated hitter Brent Rooker.

“We’re going to keep [Rooker],” Frost told the New York Post.

Rooker was one of the most sought-after players ahead of the trade deadline in 2024. He finished the season with 39 homers and a 165 OPS+.

Nov. 4

Dodgers in on Soto? Mets not?

The New York Mets have long been seen as the most likely candidate to lure Juan Soto away from a return to the New York Yankees. But the Dodgers, fresh off beating Soto and the Yankees in the World Series, intend to make a bid for Soto “if he’s interested,” the New York Post reported last week. However, the Yankees reportedly believe a Soto-Dodgers union would “never happen” and regard the Mets and Toronto Blue Jays as their biggest threats in keeping the slugger.

Brewers could trade closer Devin Williams

One of the more surprising developments of the opening days of the MLB offseason was when the Milwaukee Brewers declined closer Devin Williams’ $10.5 million team option. Williams is a two-time All-Star who also won National League Rookie of the Year in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, but did not make his 2024 season debut until late July due to stress fractures in his back. It’s part of the reason the defending NL Central champion Brewers declined his option, believing the 30-year-old closer will make less in arbitration anyway. 

That not only helps the small-budget Brewers but also makes Williams a more attractive trade candidate, and he’s reportedly expected to be just that. Milwaukee has been aggressive in moving star players in the past. Williams, of course, only ascended to the closer role after the Brewers stunningly dealt Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres at the 2022 trade deadline.

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Jon Jones is ready for UFC 309 and his first heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic.

Jones and Miocic headline next weekend’s pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “Bones” makes his first walk to the octagon since winning the heavyweight title at with a first-round submission of former interim champ Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023, and just his second outing in nearly five years.

Ahead of the matchup, Jones released new training footage as he gets set to face Miocic. Check out the video below, courtesy of Jones’ Instagram page.

During this training camp, Jones has been training with the likes of jiu-jitsu whiz Gordon Ryan, as well as Olympic gold medalist and ex-WWE superstar Gable Steveson. The 37-year-old has continuously teased that this could be his final fight, although UFC CEO Dana White feels that if Jones is victorious, he could face current interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall in a unification bout.