David Benavidez has given his honest thoughts on Ryan Garcia’s unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios, which saw him become the WBC world welterweight champion last Saturday.

Entering their showdown as the defending champion, despite coming off back-to-back draws, some felt that Barrios’ engine would prove too relentless for Garcia.

The 30-year-old had previously tied with a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao in July, but nonetheless showed that he is capable of fighting at a considerable pace for 12 rounds.

Garcia, on the other hand, had left many unanswered questions – mostly regarding his psychological state – after losing a unanimous decision to Rolando Romero in May.

That was his first outing since being handed a year-long drugs ban by the New York State Athletic Commission, who acted in response to him testing positive for ostarine, a banned substance, following his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.

The result of their encounter in April 2024 was then overturned to a no-contest, with Garcia openly admitting to ‘drinking and partying’ during his suspension.

But despite his lack of discipline throughout that period, the 27-year-old ultimately produced a dominant performance to drop and outpoint Barrios over the weekend.

Reacting to his friend’s world title triumph, WBC light-heavyweight champion Benavidez told DAZN Boxing that he was mightily impressed by Garcia’s ‘great’ performance.

“I think it was a great comeback – not only a comeback fight, but a comeback victory for Ryan.

“Now he’s world champion. He looked great; he looked fast. [His] movement was good. He has the world at his feet right now.

“I’m happy for Ryan and I just wish the best for him. I feel like, if he worked on some different stuff, he could’ve got the knockout.

“But Barrios [was] a live dog in there. Not only was he a live dog; he was the champion, so he wasn’t going down without a fight.”

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Garcia called out WBO super-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson immediately after his victory over Barrios, hoping to get the ball rolling for their potential clash.

Previously, ‘King Ry’ has said that he would meet the pound-for-pound star at a catchweight of 144lbs, though the finer details of their matchup are seemingly yet to be discussed.

The PGA Florida Swing gets underway on Thursday with the 2026 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches at the PGA National Champion Course. Coming off two Signature Events, the Cognizant Classic field is missing some of the top names on tour, but it does feature past major winners like Adam Scott, Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, who is playing in his third event since rejoining the PGA this season. 

The latest 2026 Cognizant Classic odds via FanDuel Sportsbook list Lowry as the +1600 favorite, followed by Scott and Ryan Gerard at +1900. Koepka is +3000 after missing the cut in his last prior event, the WM Phoenix Open. Before locking in any 2026 Cognizant Classic picks, or making any PGA DFS picks on sites like FanDuel or DraftKings, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable. 

This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as this year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites. 

New users can also target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins:

Now that the 2026 Cognizant Classic field is locked in, the model simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard. 

2026 Cognizant Classic predictions 

One major surprise the model is calling for at the Cognizant Classic 2026: Lowry, the favorite this week and the 2019 Open Championship winner, doesn’t even crack the top 3. He’s a golfer to fade this week. Lowry hasn’t won an individual event on the PGA Tour since that major championship, though he did team up with Rory McIlroy to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2024. Lowry finished T8 at Pebble Beach earlier this month, but that marked his first top-10 finish since May of 2025. See who else to fade here. 

Another surprise: The model is extremely high on Daniel Berger as a +3300 longshot, saying he’s a top-six contender despite not being in the top 10 on the odds board. Berger struggled in his past two events, though he does have a pair of top-20 finishes this season — one at the Sony Open and another at the WM Phoenix Open. He has three top-five finishes at this event, which used to be known as the Honda Classic, including one in 2022. See who else to pick here. 

New users can also check out the latest FanDuel promo code and get $100 in bonus bets at FanDuel if your first $5+ bet wins:

How to make 2026 Cognizant Classic picks

The model is also targeting four other longshots with odds of +3000 or higher as top-10 contenders. You can only see the model’s picks here. 

Who will win the 2026 Cognizant Classic, and which massive longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Cognizant Classic odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including three in 2025.

2026 Cognizant Classic odds, favorites 

Get full 2026 Cognizant Classic picks, best bets and predictions here. 
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)

Shane Lowry +1600
Adam Scott +1900
Ryan Gerard +1900
Nicolai Højgaard +2200
Rasmus Højgaard +2500
Keith Mitchell +2500
Michael Thorbjornsen +2500
Brooks Koepka +3000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +3000
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +3000
Aaron Rai +3300
Daniel Berger +3300
Thorbjørn Olesen +3300
Will Zalatoris +3500
Max McGreevy +3500
Davis Thompson +3500
Max Homa +4000
Kristoffer Reitan +4000
Mac Meissner +4000
Haotong Li +4000
Alex Smalley +4000
Chris Kirk +4000
Richard Hoey +4500
Jordan Smith +4500
Patrick Rodgers +5000
Stephan Jaeger +5000
Mackenzie Hughes +5000
John Parry +5500
Sami Valimaki +5500
Seamus Power +5500
Johnny Keefer +5500
Doug Ghim +6000
Austin Eckroat +6000
Tom Kim +6000
Kevin Yu +6000
Matt Wallace +6000
Ricky Castillo +6000
Nico Echavarria +6000
Sam Ryder +6000
Kris Ventura +7000
Dan Brown +7000
Michael Brennan +7000
Garrick Higgo +7000
Eric Cole +7000
Emiliano Grillo +7000
Vince Whaley +7000
Jesper Svensson +7500
Lee Hodges +7500
Matt Kuchar +7500
Gary Woodland +7500
Billy Horschel +8000
S.H. Kim +8000
Joel Dahmen +8000
Kevin Roy +8000
Steven Fisk +8000

In a statement of support for their players, Rangers say: “For any player, opening a phone and seeing abuse tied to the colour of their skin is simply unacceptable.

“The accounts appear to be anonymous and are not connected to the club in any way. That may make action harder to take, but it does not lessen the seriousness of what happened, or the responsibility of the platform involved.

“Our immediate priority is the wellbeing of the players involved. We are in direct contact with Djeidi and Manny and have offered our full support both now and through any future judicial process.

“We are proud that they stood up for themselves by highlighting this vile abuse last night.

“Manny and Djeidi represent Rangers with commitment and pride. Every time they step on to the pitch, they do so on behalf of this club and our fans.

“Many supporters have already reached out with messages of support. We welcome that backing. It reflects what this club stands for: pride in the shirt, respect for those who wear it and a commitment to stand together.”

Last month, Livingston wrote to the Scottish FA over an alleged racial comment made to striker Jeremy Bokila during their Premiership defeat by Aberdeen.

And, after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri and Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana both received racist abuse on Instagram.

On Sunday, Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle were also sent racist abuse on social media.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman described the abuse as “abhorrent”, adding: “The Prime Minister has supported footballers before who have had the courage to come forward and call out discrimination and racism and this is no different.”

The spokesman pointed out that English top-flight clubs have said they want to work with social media sites, including Meta, the Premier League and the police to identify those responsible.

“And Meta has said that it will continue to work to protect people from abuse,” he said. “Ministers will be holding them to account to ensure it happens.”

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said it had been an “appalling weekend” but “the sad fact is, we know it happens regularly”.

In November, a BBC investigation found more than 2,000 extremely abusive social media posts – including death and rape threats – were sent about managers and players in the Premier League and Women’s Super League in a single weekend.

After his win in Dubai, with Roger Federer watching from the stands, Stan Wawrinka spoke about the level of the current generation and where he believes the sport is heading.

Wawrinka, who won Olympic doubles gold with Federer at the 2008 Beijing Games, reflected on how the game continues to evolve.

“I think the evolution of the game is, right now, the level is really high, that’s for sure,” he said. “The new generation is always going to be better than the last generation. We can see that. A little bit changed with the conditions and the balls, the tournaments being a bit slower. The game style is a little bit different. But in general, I always try to improve myself, play my best tennis, and find a way against players against me.”

Asked whether the peak of this generation could surpass the previous one, Wawrinka did not hesitate.

“Yeah, I think if you look at the level right now of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, they’ve been crazy high… crazy high level,” he said. “You have Novak Djokovic still in the fight with them. And as a fan of tennis in general, it’s amazing to watch that.”

Wawrinka added that facing the new generation has not been easy.

“I had the chance to play Jannik many times. Last few times was really tough. And hopefully I can play Carlos once before I stop playing.”

In Dubai, the Swiss veteran reminded fans of his own enduring presence, earning a win with Federer in attendance.

UFC Houston was a mixed bag of action – the prelims were boring, some of the officiating was questionable, and Sean Strickland simultaneously got just his second finish in six years – and stirred the controversy pot around him.

But if there’s one breakout fighter from the UFC Houston card, it has to go to the other performance bonus winner, Uros Medic, who knocked Geoff Neal out in quick and devastating fashion in the evening’s co-main event.

Medic was in control from the start, coming out of the gate with forward pressure while trying to back Neal up and dictate the fight early on. And all Medic needed was 79 seconds to connect with a left hand that dropped Neal, head smacking on the mat, out cold.

Taking on Neal, who was ranked No. 12 entering the fight, and winning in that devastating fashion makes this the most important win of Medic’s career so far. And he’s shown his growth since coming into the UFC off a 2020 win on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Medic originally dropped to lightweight to start his UFC run, and, as noted on the broadcast, in retrospect, it’s amazing how the 6’1” Serbian was able to drop to and compete at 155.

He moved up to welterweight in 2023, and while his run there started just 2-2, he’s now won three straight. And this is now three straight victories in the first round, following up on finishes of Gilbert Urbina and Muslik Salikhov in 2025.

The certainty of Medic’s success in the welterweight division isn’t too certain. While Medic’s stock is on the rise, Neal’s has been falling. This is now Neal’s fourth loss in his last five fights and his sixth loss in his last nine. It’s also his second straight fight losing via a harsh-looking, first-round knockout; this was his first fight since the knockout he suffered at the hands of Carlos Prates at UFC 319. Neal’s time in the rankings is certainly done, and now he might be fighting for his UFC future.

But the highlight knockout and the post-fight bonus money wasn’t all.

If a fighter is looking to make a statement with a post-fight promo, but not go over the top, Medic nailed the kind of verbiage you can look for. Making a “Houston we have a problem” reference and referring to himself as the problem of the welterweight division was perfect. Additionally, his callout of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards was bold, but a solid play with the momentum he’s got.

Medic even used his time to appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump – not about competing on the UFC White House card, but to ask for his assistance in trying to get home to Serbia.

And guess what? It worked. Backstage, Medic got to speak to President Trump, who helped to ensure Medic could return to his family in Serbia without restriction, eliminating travel difficulties.

To get the biggest win of your career, a spectacular highlight knockout, cut a solid post-fight promo, get $100,000 extra with a bonus, rub elbows (over the phone) with the U.S. President, and the President helps you back home to your family?

Yeah, that’s got to be one of the best nights of Medic’s life. Hats off to “The Doctor” and bright hopes for his next UFC outing.

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss formed an unlikely alliance last year, and it has been fruitful for them. Not many expected The Queen to work side by side with another star, but she has surprised many by forming a successful team with Bliss.

However, all good things must eventually come to an end, as cracks have started to form in the friendship between Flair and Bliss. Given The Queen’s history, it’s more than likely that she would be the one to turn on Little Miss Bliss.

With Elimination Chamber coming up, now would be the perfect time for Flair to betray her partner. Let’s look at three reasons for it.

#3. The “Royal” mishap

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair had an unfortunate accident at the Royal Rumble. During the titular women’s match, Flair eliminated Bliss. While it looked unintentional, one can never be sure when it comes to The Queen.

The mishap in Saudi Arabia has caused friction between the two. While they are still together, it might not last long. With growing tensions, now would be the perfect time for the Triple H-led creative team to have Charlotte betray Alexa.

#2. Alexa Bliss has qualified for the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match; Charlotte Flair has not

After failing to win the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair attempted to punch their WrestleMania 42 ticket by potentially winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match.

However, while Bliss successfully qualified for the gimmick match, Flair didn’t. This could escalate the tensions between them, especially if Little Miss Bliss rubs it in The Queen’s face. The natural progression of this storyline would be to have Charlotte turn on Alexa.

#1. The Queen could take her partner’s place in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

Charlotte Flair has a special relationship with gold, which likely trumps any other relationship she has, including the one with Alexa Bliss. With the Five Feet of Fury competing in the Women’s Elimination Chamber Match, The Queen isn’t someone who would sit on the sidelines and watch.

Flair could find a way in the match at any cost. If she has to take out her partner to make it inside the steel structure on February 28, then that’s what she will do. Jealousy would be the driving factor behind the 14-time Women’s Champion’s actions.