Artem Vakhitov dismisses the notion that UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is the best striker in MMA.

Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) retained his title by battering Khalil Rountree in Round 4 of Saturday’s UFC 307 main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Vakhitov (2-1), a former rival of Pereira’s in kickboxing, wasn’t as high on Pereira’s performance as everyone else was.

“I don’t think that he’s really good and the best striker because to have just one good punch, it doesn’t mean you’re a really good striker,” Vakhitov told Submission Radio.

“A real striker is someone who has a lot of combinations, very different opportunities. He’s just taught well: one punch and deliver in it. But it doesn’t mean having good distance and timing and other stuff. So I think he’s not a really good striker because of it.”

Vakhitov and Pereira fought twice in Glory Kickboxing in back-to-back bouts. Pereria won their first meeting by split decision at Glory 77 in January 2021. Vakhitov avenged that loss eight months later by majority decision at Glory 78.

Pereira said he doubts Vakhitov can recreate their kickboxing history in the UFC, but Vakhitov thinks otherwise. The 33-year-old will look to earn a UFC contract Tuesday when he meets Islem Masraf (3-0) at Dana White’s Contender Series 75 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

“Yes, for sure I saw it, and he could say now whatever he wants. But the time will come, and he will change his opinion, I’m sure,” Vakhitov said. “Fighting in small gloves is a different sport. We have a very good and experienced team. For sure in the future, if the fight would happen, we would do everything to be ready for it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has signed a new long-term contract at the club.

The 21-year-old has been at the Reds since he was five and made 33 appearances in all competitions in his debut season last term.

He has played twice in the current campaign under head coach Arne Slot – the 2-0 win against Ipswich in Liverpool’s Premier League opener and the 5-1 victory over West Ham in the League Cup.

“I couldn’t be happier at this minute,” he told Liverpool’s official website., external

“I think the way the new manager has come in, his coaching style has definitely been a massive part of that.

“I think this is the best club in the world for me to develop at and become a better player.”

Quansah made his first-team debut under previous boss Jurgen Klopp, with an impressive display off the bench against Newcastle in August 2023.

He also played as Liverpool beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final last season.

Pre-tournament favourite Luke Littler fell to a 2-1 defeat by Rob Cross on his debut in the World Grand Prix in Leicester.

Teenage star Littler made six maximums in the match but at times struggled to get going in the double-start format despite levelling at 1-1 after losing the first set.

Cross impressively held his nerve against the 17-year-old, finishing with a bullseye in the fourth set to claim only his third victory in the tournament.

Englishman Cross, who won the World Championship on his debut in 2018, will now face Germany’s Martin Schindler in the second round on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, reigning champion Luke Humphries fought back from a set and two legs down to beat Masters winner Stephen Bunting 2-1.

Bunting won the first five legs against the world number one but missed a double 16 to win the match and watched on as Humphries took the next three legs to level, before pulling clear.

Humphries, who celebrated his maiden TV ranking title with victory over Gerwyn Price 12 months ago, is aiming to bidding to become the third player to retain it after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

He now plays Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko, who defeated Dutch five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld 2-1.

In Monday’s other results, Nathan Aspinall defeated Ryan Searle 2-1, Schindler beat Brendan Dolan 2-0 and Ryan Joyce, Jonny Clayton and Ross Smith triumphed by the same scoreline against Josh Rock, Ritchie Edhouse and Gian van Veen, respectively.

Amanda Nunes took on social media to send a unique message to UFC CEO Dana White.

“The Lioness”, who retired from the sport after defending her UFC bantamweight title against Irene Aldana in June of 2023, posted a video singing “Outdoor”, of Brazilian samba group Só Pra Contrariar.

Nunes changed the lyrics to ask White to “call me, please,” adding that “I miss you so much.”

The original lyrics are as follows.

I can’t believe you won’t look for me

I’ve suffered too much beyond what I deserve

Oh, please call

I miss you so much

Nunes left the UFC as a two-division champion, winning 14 of her past 15 fights. Julianna Peña — the lone loss for Nunes during that stretch, who beat “The Lioness” for the 135-pound belt before losing their rematch — called for a trilogy bout after defeating Raquel Pennington in the co-main event of UFC 307 this past Saturday in Salt Lake City.

THE World Grand Prix is underway – with some of the biggest names in darts featuring in Leicester.

Last year, Luke Humphries claimed his first major TV title after coming from behind to beat Gerwyn Price 5-2 in the final.

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Since then, Cool Hand has claimed even more accolades, most notably becoming world champion in January.

This week, Humphries will be aiming to join Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in becoming the third player to retain the prestigious crown.

Teenage sensation Luke Littler was hoping to stop the World No1 as he made his World Grand Prix debut this month.

The 17-year-old star has gone from strength to strength since losing to Humphries in the World Championship final in January.

But Littler could not make it after the first round after a tough draw against world No 4 Rob Cross, who beat him in a thriller.

When is the World Grand Prix Darts 2024?

• The World Grand Prix Darts 2024 will begin on Monday, October 7.
• The tournament will run until Sunday, October 13.
• The Mattioli Arena in Leicester will host.

What is the World Grand Prix Darts 2024 format?

32 of the world’s top players will compete for the coveted title in Leicester.

The World Grand Prix is one of the most unique tournaments in the darts calendar with its double-in and double-out format.

Every player will start on the usual 501, but they must begin and finish on either a double or the bull.

• First round – best of three sets
• Second round – best of five sets
• Quarter-finals – best of five sets
• Semi-finals – best of seven sets
• Final – best of nine sets

What TV channel is the World Grand Prix Darts 2024 on and can it be live streamed?

• The World Grand Prix Darts will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
• Sky Sports customers can live stream all the action on the Sky Sports/NOW app.
• Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

World Grand Prix Darts 2024 schedule

Here is the full schedule for the World Grand Prix:

Monday, October 7
8x First Round matches

• Josh Rock 0-2 Ryan Joyce
• Brendan Dolan 0-2 Martin Schindler
• Jonny Clayton 2-0 Ritchie Edhouse
• Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Ryan Searle
• Raymond van Barneveld 1-2 Ricardo Pietreczko
• Luke Humphries 2-1 Stephen Bunting
• Rob Cross 2-1 Luke Littler
• Gian van Veen 0-2 Ross Smith

Tuesday, October 8 (times approx.)
8x First Round matches

• Dave Chisnall vs Cameron Menzies (6.15pm)
• Luke Woodhouse vs Dimitri Van den Bergh (6.45pm)
• Mike De Decker vs Damon Heta (7.15pm)
• Peter Wright vs James Wade (7.45pm)
• Gerwyn Price vs Danny Noppert (8.15pm)
• Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson (8.45pm)
• Michael van Gerwen vs Daryl Gurney (9.15pm)
• Chris Dobey vs Joe Cullen (9.45pm)

Wednesday, October 9 (7pm BST)
4x Second Round matches – order of games TBC

• Luke Humphries vs Ricardo Pietreczko
• Jonny Clayton vs Ross Smith
• Rob Cross vs Martin Schindler
• Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Joyce

Thursday, October 10 (7pm BST)
4x Second Round matches – order of games TBC

• M Smith/Anderson vs De Decker/Heta
• Price/Noppert vs Wright/Wade
• Van Gerwen/Gurney vs Dobey/Cullen
• Chisnall/Menzies vs Woodhouse/Van den Bergh

Friday, October 11 (7pm BST)
Quarter-Finals

Saturday, October 12 (8.30pm BST)
Semi-Finals

Sunday, October 13 (8pm BST)
Final

Sean O’Malley thinks he could return earlier than he originally anticipated.

O’Malley underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip – an injury he was dealing with prior to losing his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 in September.

O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was initially looking at six-eight months off, but after going under the knife, “The Suga Show” is planning on coming back a little sooner.

“(I) got surgery Thursday,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “Today is Saturday, it’s been f*cking two days. I feel f*cking great. I’m going to come back better than ever. I’ll be back next week to sparring. I do think I am going to do everything right. I’m going to recover as fast as I possibly can, and I’m going to get back. Everyone is like, ‘Don’t come back too soon.’

“I’m coming back the right amount of soon. I want to be back ASAP. I want to get these fights in while I’m still young enough. I turn 30 this month. I want to recover, do everything right, but I want to get back in there April, May, June latest. I think I can be back before that. March even would be crazy, but who knows? I’m just going with the flow, day by day.”

O’Malley is not short of options in his return, and already has a slew of bantamweight contenders such as Cory Sandhagen, Henry Cejudo, and Jose Aldo hoping to fight him.