It’s August o’clock and high time that an article half-focused on identifying the next prospect call-up came clean about something.

We’re probably not seeing any for the next couple weeks.

True, an injury could force a GM’s hand, and the upcoming trade deadline could create new pathways for some of the most obvious promotion candidates. But if a team has waited this long to loop in that top prospect who’s tearing up Triple-A, what’s a couple more weeks?

By waiting that length of time, a team can ensure that the prospect in question, provided he’s up for the first time, will retain his rookie standing for next year, and that’s important because only true rookies can secure teams extra draft picks if they place high enough in awards voting, namely Rookie of the Year. Who doesn’t love draft picks?

The past few years have introduced us to this dead promotion period leading up to the critical point when 45 days remain in the season. That point this year is Aug. 14.

You’re free to stash prospects until then — it is only two weeks, after all — but I wouldn’t expect any high-impact promotions until then. 

FIVE ON THE VERGE

(Here are the prospects most worth stashing in redraft leagues.)

Kade Anderson, SP, Mariners

2026 minors: 9-1, 1.27 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 77 2/3 IP, 10 BB, 115 K

After a three-week respite, save for an inning in the All-Star Futures Game, Kade Anderson returned to the mound Friday and, in keeping with the theme of everything coming too easily to him in his first professional season, threw five perfect innings. The only thing that hasn’t come easily for him is a promotion. He’s been begging for one for months now but happens to be in the one organization that’s managed to keep its starting rotation healthy all season. Word is that the Mariners are shopping Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo, though, ostensibly to create an opening for Anderson, and what makes it so ostensible is their handling of him. Why shut him down for three weeks midseason if not to have those innings available later on, like during postseason play? I doubt they pull the trigger before mid-August, for reasons already discussed, but their deadline maneuvering is likely to telegraph what’s coming.

Charlie Condon, 1B, Rockies

2025 minors: .268 BA (365 AB), 14 HR, .820 OPS, 52 BB, 112 K
2026 minors: .288 BA (330 AB), 20 HR, .964 OPS, 55 BB,100 K

Charlie Condon has held steady over the past week, with no significant changes to his production or outlook. As with all potential prospect call-ups, we’re in a holding pattern for now, just waiting to see what avenues are created at the trade deadline and then counting down the days until Aug. 14. For Condon, a Jake McCarthy or Mickey Moniak trade would present the clearest opportunity, seeing as he’s spent nearly half of his time in the outfield this season. Trading both would be even better since it would prevent Condon from taking a back seat to Zac Veen, who’s already on the 40-man roster. Condon is the more disciplined hitter and has a batted-ball profile that lends itself better to power, but he’s not the base-stealer that Veen is.

Joshua Baez, OF, Cardinals

2025 minors: .287 BA (418 AB), 20 HR, 54 SB, .884 OPS, 59 BB, 103 K
2026 minors: .247 BA (364 AB), 31 HR, 15 SB, .886 OPS, 32 BB, 123 K

Is Joshua Baez getting closer to a promotion or further away? His batting average has crept up a couple points since the last Prospects Report, with another two home runs added, but the contact gains he enjoyed during his massive May and June have fallen by the wayside. He’s simply striking out too much, which isn’t always a deal-breaker for a player with his kind of power, but seeing as president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently talked about major league pitchers potentially exploiting Baez’s weaknesses and how he doesn’t want the 23-year-old to be “just a one-dimensional guy,” I’m skeptical that Baez has demonstrated the kind of growth Bloom is looking for. Even so, it’s hard for me to believe the Cardinals would pass up the chance to promote him this year, for all the success he’s had, which is why I’m keeping him in my Five on the Verge for now.

Quinn Mathews, SP, Cardinals

2025 minors: 4-7, 3.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 99 IP, 74 BB, 115 K
2026 minors: 5-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 92 IP, 52 BB, 111 K

Quinn Mathews may not be as impactful as Baez, but his arrival is more assured. There’s already a case to install him over Matthew Liberatore, and if the Cardinals end up moving Dustin May at the trade deadline, then the need will become even more acute. Mathews was one of the breakout prospects of 2024, putting together a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 12.7 K/9 across four levels, but then his control abandoned him last year. It’s been pretty shaky this year, too, accounting for his 5.1 BB/9, but that number has dropped to 3.3 in his past nine starts as he’s put together a 1.55 ERA, 0.78 WHIP (very difficult to hit, clearly) and  10.1 K/9. His last start Friday was arguably his best yet, seeing him strike out 10 without allowing an earned run in seven innings. I still think his control could be his undoing in the majors, but with the way his stuff is playing up again, the upside is promising enough to stash him preemptively.

Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins

2025 minors: .286 BA (308 AB), 10 HR, 17 SB, .850 OPS, 50 BB, 76 K
2026 minors: .297 BA (195 AB), 6 HR, 10 SB, .883 OPS, 30 BB, 32 K

Walker Jenkins has been a consensus top 15 prospect basically from the time the Twins drafted him fifth overall in 2023, and the only reason I have to say top 15 rather than top 10 or even top five is because he’s spent so much of the intervening period injured. Even this year, a shoulder sprain cost him about six weeks in the middle of the season, but he’s come back looking as polished as ever, slashing .292/.364/.494 in 23 games at Triple-A with 10 walks and 12 strikeouts.

It’s that polish, most evident through his plate discipline, that’s bolstered his stock since he was still a teenager, and even with all the lost development time, he’s well ahead of where a 21-year-old would normally be. The power production is a bit lacking, but his average and max exit velocities both rank in the top 20 percent at Triple-A, suggesting he has the tools for much more. Whether the Twins buy or sell at the deadline, it’s likely they’ll want Jenkins to be part of things in September.

FIVE ON THE PERIPHERY

(Here are some other prospects doing something of note.)

Max Clark, OF, Tigers

2025 minors: .271 BA (431 AB), 14 HR, 19 SB, .835 OPS, 94 BB, 90 K
2026 minors: .277 BA (358 AB), 10 HR, 21 SB, .795 OPS, 49 BB, 63 K

Sometimes the Five on the Verge spills over to the Five on the Periphery, and while Zac Veen would probably be my sixth choice to stash, I want to give a nod here to Max Clark, who has had an open path to the majors basically from the second week of the season, when Parker Meadows got hurt. Whether Clark deserved to be promoted at that time is debatable, but with the ups and downs he’s had at Triple-A this year, the lengthier stay was probably justified.

His July, though, may be reworking the math. He’s batting .343 (23 for 67) for the month with four home runs, four stolen bases and more walks (15) than strikeouts (13). He rarely chases pitches out of the zone and basically never misses pitches in it, having compiled an absurd 94.2 percent zone-contact rate. How much thump he’ll provide has long been in question, but his exit velocities are at least respectable. He could make an impact akin to A.J. Ewing if and when he gets the call.

Sebastian Walcott, SS, Rangers

2025 minors: .255 BA (474 AB), 13 HR, 32 SB, .741 OPS, 70 BB, 108 K
2026 minors: .395 BA (43 AB), 3 HR, 3 SB, 1.191 OPS, 4 BB, 11 K

Sebastian Walcott is about two weeks into his return from a torn UCL, having had an internal brace procedure to stabilize the ligament, and is clearly no worse for wear, taking a wrecking ball to Double-A in a way he didn’t last year. It probably means he’s soon destined for Triple-A, and his stay there could be a short one. Prospects of this caliber (he was in line to be in everyone’s top 10 prior to the injury) are like a runaway train once the talent clicks. Walcott always projected for massive power, and he may have grown into it, finally. What could slow him down is his continued recovery from the surgery. For as well as he’s hitting, he has yet to play the field, with all of his starts coming at DH. He won’t be joining the big club until he’s prepared to handle all facets of the game.

Cam Cannarella, OF, Marlins

2025 minors: .284 BA (88 AB), 0 HR, 1 SB, .712 OPS, 7 BB, 18 K
2026 minors: .349 BA (229 AB), 13 HR, 14 SB, 1.014 OPS, 37 BB, 42 K

The Marlins liked Cam Cannarella enough to take him with the 43rd pick in last year’s draft, and that gamble has paid off so enormously that they may be installing him as their center fielder as soon as next year. I want to stress center field because his defense may be what stands out the most, which means there isn’t some sneaky reason why his offensive dominance would go unrewarded. His recent move up to Triple-A has so far met with the same success as his previous stops. The plate discipline is stellar. The contact quality is strong. To this point, no obvious weaknesses have revealed themselves (too opposite field-minded, maybe, but whether that’s an actual weakness is debatable). He’s looking like one of the most underrated prospects in Dynasty play right now, particularly for how close he is to contributing.

Blake Burke, 1B, Brewers

2025 minors: .292 BA (490 AB), 16 HR, 15 SB, .832 OPS, 65 BB, 135 K
2026 minors: .276 BA (326 AB), 27 HR, 25 SB, .966 OPS, 40 BB, 90 K

Drafted 34th overall in 2024, Blake Burke has grown into the power you’d expect from his 6-foot-3, 236-pound frame. We don’t have official exit velocity readings for Double-A, but there have been reports of multiple home runs in the 115 mph range, including his latest one Tuesday, shown here:

The real surprise is that he’s nearly matched his home run total with his stolen bases. Surely, that’s just a byproduct of a less competitive league and not something that would translate to the majors, but in a world where Josh Naylor is a perennial 30-steal threat … maybe? For as impressive as his totals are, Burke is also striking out at less than a 25 percent rate, so I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off.

Josiah Ragsdale, OF, Brewers

2025 minors: .300 BA (70 AB), 0 HR, 9 SB, .751 OPS, 16 BB, 15 K
2026 minors: .318 BA (289 AB), 15 HR, 31 SB, 1.005 OPS, 63 BB, 91 K

The Brewers system has given us a bunch of standout performers on the hitting side this year, and Josiah Ragsdale might be the most surprising. A seventh-round pick just last year, the 22-year-old has slashed .318 /.444/.561 between High-A and Double-A with enough home runs and stolen bases to make the whole stat line reminiscent of Josue De Paula — a little better than his, actually. Now, Ragsdale isn’t actually De Paula. The strikeout rate runs five percentage points higher, and while I can’t cite the actual data, my understanding is that he doesn’t hit the ball nearly as hard. Still, numbers like this are simply too good to ignore, particularly from a player who’s already in the upper minors.

Manchester United are reportedly putting contingency plans in place should they sell one star this summer

Manchester United could save millions of pounds in the transfer market with a swoop for former Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer. United have reportedly placed the 26-year-old on their transfer wishlist, along with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins should they try to sign a new striker.

United have invested heavily in their forward line in recent years, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee all moving to Old Trafford for considerable fees. However, United could revamp their front line again this summer, with ongoing uncertainty around Zirkzee’s future at the club.

The Dutch striker has struggled for consistency since his move to the club from Bologna, with Michael Carrick’s side preparing for a return to the Champions League. Several clubs are reportedly keen on signing Zirzkee, with Juventus, Roma and Como all believed to be keen.

All three clubs are said to be pushing for a loan arrangement, with either an obligation or option to buy included, despite United’s preference for an outright sale. If Zirkzee is sold before the deadline, United could move to bring in a new frontman.

It’s claimed by i News that Vlahovic, who is now a free agent after leaving Juventus earlier this summer, and Aston Villa’s Watkins are amongst the names under consideration. Vlahovic, of course, wouldn’t require a transfer fee.

Vlahovic’s contract in Turin expired earlier this summer and he’s already been connected to several clubs, including Barcelona. Turkish side Besiktas were also one of them, though that prospect now appears to have faded.

“Regarding Vlahovic, since the player is a free agent, the matter is in his hands,” Besiktas director of sport Onder Ozer admitted previously. “If he prefers one of the major five leagues, then Turkiye isn’t one of them. If an opportunity does arise for Vlahovic, then of course we would want to evaluate it as a club.

“He had the best season of his career with Vincenzo Italiano at Fiorentina and the coach still occasionally speaks with him. He has great respect for the coach.

“There is surely a desire to work with him again, but the priority for players isn’t choosing a coach, it’s choosing a contract. I imagine Vlahovic is expecting a big contract and a team competing in the Champions League.”

Former Fiorentina and Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli rated Vlahovic as one ‘one of the best strikers in Europe’ when asked about the Serbian striker.

“For me, he’s a champion,” he said in an interview with Tuttosport in September. “I’d like him to score even more goals: he’s one of the best strikers in Europe.

“But he shouldn’t shy away from the attack: there’s no point in asking him to link the play or contribute to the play.”

Watkins, meanwhile, has been frequently linked with a move to Old Trafford, though Villa are anticipated to demand a substantial fee for the England international, especially following the sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.

At present, neither Vlahovic nor Watkins are being actively targeted, at least while Zirkzee remains at the club. However, this could shift quickly should the former Bayern Munich and Bologna player edge closer to leaving.

Zirkzee arrived at United in a £36.5m transfer two years ago, but has netted only nine goals since then.

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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Training Camp has arrived, with this year’s rookies, the quarterbacks, and selected veterans the first to return to the Twin Cities. It is a big moment for this year’s Vikings rookies as they look to fulfill the dream and secure a place on the Vikings’ final roster.

Vikings Rookies to Look Out for in Training Camp

There will be a lot to unpack over the course of training camp as players battle for their place on the roster. This article aims to focus on this year’s Vikings rookies, which ones to keep a particular eye on, and why. We have a mix of early-round draft picks all the way to some potential undrafted gems.

Caleb Banks (Defensive Tackle)

There is only one place to start: the 2026 first-round pick.

Selected with the 18th overall pick, Caleb Banks presents a risky choice for Minnesota. The talent isn’t in question but after turning heads in the scouting combine it was revealed he had suffered a new foot injury – one that had already caused him to miss much of the 2025 college season. His draft stock quickly tumbled from first-round potential to being seen as a Day 2 prospect.

Minnesota decided to gamble on his talent and all signs point to his inclusion at training camp. Seeing Banks out on the field this early would be a boost and should give Vikings fans excitement that he can be ready to show off his talents come the start of the season.

Domonique Orange (Nose Tackle)

Minnesota doubled down on big defenders in this year’s draft when they selected Domonique Orange in the third round. With the nickname Big Citrus, Orange profiles as a true run-stuffer with the potential to start at nose tackle.

Standing in Orange’s way is Levi Drake Rodriguez, a seventh-round pick who proved himself a solid depth player in his second season with the Vikings in 2025. Orange should have the credentials to beat him out if he can adapt quickly to life in the pro ranks and prove his game-readiness as a rookie to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

The Rodriguez and Orange battle could be one of the most intriguing of the preseason.

Jake Golday (Linebacker)

In between the two big defensive linemen the Vikings selected linebacker Jake Golday with their second-round pick. There has been discussion over Golday’s position, notably whether he’s a true off-ball linebacker or whether he could play from the edge. Given the way Flores likes versatility in his players – see Andrew Van Ginkel and Josh Metellus – it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Golday lining up in various spots.

With the potential of Golday, Van Ginkel, Metellus, and new signing Jamal Adams lining up together, Flores could have fun making offenses try to figure out who is playing where. That makes Golday a dream player for the Vikings DC and someone to keep a close eye on in training camp to see him develop.

Dillon Bell (Wide Receiver)

Undrafted rookies making the final roster was a theme of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era. Will that be the same now that Nolan Teasley is the general manager? The best chance seems to come in the form of Dillon Bell who has been creating some hype already.

He’s being likened to former Viking Percy Harvin with his versatile skill set and ability to make things happen once the ball is in his hands. Whether Bell can make a play for a 53-man roster spot is a story worth following. It will be tough with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison,  and Jauan Jennings locking up the top three places on the depth chart. It leaves Bell trying to beat out Tai Felton and Myles Price on the WR depth chart, with the latter having punt/kick return ability on their side.

Demond Claiborne (Running Back)

I (like most people) expected the Vikings to do something to address a running back situation that hasn’t been great in recent seasons.

Minnesota waited until the sixth round of the draft to bring in Demond Claiborne. On the surface, that doesn’t appear much of a threat to Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason. However, the trend in recent years has been to draft RBs later, and some good ones have come out of the mid-to-late rounds.

Claiborne brings 4.37 speed to the Vikings’ offense; it’s up to him to use that asset to carve out a role in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

Max Bredeson (Fullback)

When O’Connell became the Vikings head coach there was an expectation he would do away with the fullback position that his predecessor Mike Zimmer had valued so highly. Instead, O’Connell embraced CJ Ham and found a role for him in his offense while keeping a team captain and special teams contributor on the roster.

Ham has now retired but it appears that the fullback position lives on in Minnesota with fifth-round rookie Max Bredeson. While Bredeson is set to succeed Ham, he is a very different player. He was a tight end in college and never attempted a single rushing attempt. Training camp will give us the first look at how O’Connell plans to use Bredeson.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

Following another encouraging day at the Games, the Indian contingent will aim to maintain its momentum as weightlifting, athletics and para athletics present fresh medal opportunities, while a strong boxing contingent will fight for places in the semifinals and guaranteed medals. Swimmers Sajan Prakash and Aneesh S Gowda will also be in action, hoping to progress from the heats to the evening finals.

Weightlifting presents another medal opportunity

India’s medal campaign begins with Sanjana competing in the women’s 77kg final. The Indian lifter will be aiming to continue the country’s impressive performances on the weightlifting platform and add another medal to the tally. 

Athletics targets podium finishes

India will have a busy day on the track and in the field with qualification rounds and multiple medal events.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Samardeep Singh Gill will compete in the men’s shot put qualification, while Animesh Kujur lines up in the men’s 200m heats. Yashas Palaksha and Santhosh Kumar Thamilarasan will also begin their campaigns in the men’s 400m hurdles heats.

India’s biggest athletics medal hopes rest on Sreeshankar Murali and Lokesh Satyanathan in the men’s long jump final, Manpreet Kaur in the women’s shot put final, and Parul Choudhary in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.

Five Indian boxers chase guaranteed medals

India will have another strong day in boxing, with six quarterfinal bouts on the schedule. Victory in each contest will assure the boxer of at least a bronze medal.

Sakshi Choudhary takes on Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers in the women’s 51kg division, while Arundhati Choudhary faces New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson in the women’s 70kg quarterfinal.

Sachin Siwach meets Botswana’s Treasure Moremi in the men’s 60kg contest before Ankush Yadav faces Seychelles’ Jade Micock in the men’s 80kg category. Narender Berwal rounds off the evening session against Samoa’s Michael Seko in the men’s 90+kg quarterfinal, while Jaismine Lamboria takes on England’s Elise Glynn in the women’s 57kg quarterfinal later in the night.

Swimmers eye finals

India’s swimming campaign will feature Sajan Prakash and Aneesh S Gowda in the men’s 200m freestyle heats.

Should either swimmer qualify, they will return later in the night for the medal race. Aryan Nehra will also compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle final, where he will look to challenge for a podium finish.

Para swimming and para athletics offer medal hopes

India will also have representation in para swimming as Suyash Narayan Jadhav and Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni compete in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 heats.

If they progress, they will return for the final later in the night.

In para athletics, Devender Kumar and Sagar Thayat will compete in the men’s discus throw F42-44/F61-64 final, while Mohammed Basil M and Dilip Mahadu Gavit will contest the men’s 100m T47 final, giving India two more medal opportunities.

Bowls campaign continues

India’s bowls challenge will continue with Dinesh Kumar and Navneet Singh facing Namibia in the men’s pairs sectional play, while Nayanmoni Saikia takes on Caroline Whitehead of the Isle of Man in the women’s singles sectional play.

India schedule: Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 6 (July 29)

Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 6: Live streaming and telecast details

What time do India’s events start on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

India will begin its Day 6 campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with the women’s 77kg weightlifting final from 2:00 pm IST.

How many medal events will India take part in on Day 6 of the Commonwealth Games 2026?

India is scheduled to compete in eight confirmed medal events, with two additional medal opportunities in swimming and para swimming if the Indian athletes qualify from the heats.

Where to watch the live telecast of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?

The live telecast of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on Sony Sports Network and DD National in India.

Where to watch the live streaming of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in India?

The live streaming of Day 6 events of the Commonwealth Games 2026 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Jurrien Timber has travelled back to London from Arsenal‘s training camp in Spain in a move related to the groin injury that caused him to miss the end of last season.

The Netherlands international missed two months towards the end of last season because of an ankle injury, but returned in time for the Champions League final loss to Paris St-Germain.

However, a groin issue then caused him to miss the World Cup.

It is now understood that the right-back has returned to London from the Gunners’ training camp in Spain but sources insist the visit is part of his rehabilitation schedule and not because of a setback in his recovery.

Timber is expected to return to Spain to rejoin the squad.

Timber, the Gunners’ first-choice right-back, played 30 Premier League games as they won the title last season.

He joined Arsenal from Ajax in July 2023 for an initial fee of £34m, but missed most of his first season after tearing his anterior cruciate knee ligament.

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on 16 August (15:00 BST), before beginning their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry City on 21 August (20:00 BST).

Neymar has seemingly confirmed his retirement from international football, stating he no longer wishes to represent Brazil, weeks after initially hinting at the end of his national career following their World Cup last-16 defeat to Norway.

The 34-year-old forward, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, made the definitive comments after Santos secured a 4-2 victory over Venezuela’s Universidad Central in a Copa Sudamericana match on Tuesday evening.

“I think my time with the national team has already passed. I made history there, and I’m very happy about it. I experienced a lot there, gave my blood and my life, and always fought and battled for the yellow jersey. But I don’t think I want it anymore,” he told reporters.

These remarks echo sentiments expressed immediately after Brazil’s 2-1 World Cup loss to Norway on 5 July.

Having come on as a substitute and scored a stoppage-time penalty, Neymar suggested his international career was over during an interview with Brazilian broadcaster ge, stating: “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over.”

The defeat left Neymar visibly emotional, and marked Brazil’s earliest World Cup exit since 1990 while prolonging the five-time champions’ wait for a record-extending sixth title.

The forward, who made his World Cup debut in 2014 and competed in four global tournaments, has enjoyed a stellar club career with Santos, Barcelona, and Paris St Germain, yet secured only one senior title with the national team, the Confederations Cup in 2013.

He came back into the national team fold ahead of the World Cup after failing to play for Brazil for almost three years due to injury setbacks and loss of form.

Carlo Ancelotti opted to pick him for this summer’s tournament, but Neymar missed the opening two games due to a calf problem, and only returned as a substitute in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland.

He was then an unused substitute in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32, before he came on in the second half of Brazil’s loss to Norway, with Erling Haaland’s brace sealing victory for the European nation.

Neymar’s international career concludes with an impressive 80 goals and 58 assists across 130 appearances.

Brendan Allen believes UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is a bad matchup for Nassourdine Imavov.

Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) said he’s 100 percent confident that he’s next in line for a title shot against Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC). Imavov hasn’t lost a bout since dropping a five-round decision to Strickland in January 2023 – a fight which Strickland took on short notice at light heavyweight.

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Allen (27-7 MMA, 15-4 UFC), who also has a loss to Strickland, explained the difference between their short-notice fights.

“It was up at 205. I think Sean took it on Tuesday, but from what I understood from that one is Sean was out, he was chilling, that’s why it was at 205,” Allen told Submission Radio. “When I fought Sean, he had just fought two weeks before. So, he was still in really good shape. I was the one who didn’t want to make ’85 back to back. I didn’t know how my body would recover, so that’s why we fought at ’95, but he was still in really good shape. But with Imavov, I heard he’d been out. He was recovering, not really training super a lot.”

Despite the different circumstances that a rematch would take place in, Allen still sees Strickland getting the best of Imavov.

“It’s one of those things. Styles make fights,” Allen said. “I think Imavov is overall a better fighter, but maybe that style just gives him a little bit of a problem with how he leans and how he moves and things like that, and the pressure he’s going to try to put. I like Imavov. He’s a good guy. I have a lot of respect for him, but I just think that style is going to be hard. But if I’m pulling for someone, I’m going to pull for Imavov.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Brendan Allen: Sean Strickland’s style tough for Nassourdine Imavov

Sakshi Chaudhary in action© Getty

Also in this edition:

In Italy, Roberto Mancini returns as national team manager. RC Lens are continuing their strong pre-season form. Bradley Barcola could be set to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Liverpool. In tennis, Arthur Fils is causing concern, while Adrian Mannarino is causing a surprise. In the NBA, Draymond Green has extended his contract with the Golden State Warriors.