This year is full of momentous sporting events in the United States, including a first-of-its-kind UFC card at the White House. 

However, the event, scheduled for June 14, will cost the UFC a pretty penny. 

TKO Group Holdings President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro spoke about the White House event on a quarterly financial call during which he said the promotion is expecting a price tag “upwards of $60 million.”

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UFC President and CEO Dana White reacts during a bantamweight fight between Adrian Luna Martinetti of Ecuador and Mark Vologdin of Russia during Dana White’s Contender Series Season 9, week nine at UFC APEX Oct. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas.  (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I think by the time all is said and done with the event and what we pay the fighters and the fan fest that we’re going to have, that could move north,” Shapiro said of the expected cost, according to SB Nation. “It’s definitely not moving south. It could move north. Bottom line, it’s still a moving target.”

TKO Group Holdings is taking on all the costs of the event, which included building an arena on the south lawn of the White House and paying its fighters. The UFC hopes to get at least half of that $60 million back through sponsorships and other avenues, but it’s still expected to be a big loss. 

“We are working to determine, on a parallel track, a package of inventory in and around the weekend of events we can monetize, primarily with corporate partners,” Shapiro said. “[Business to business] players that will offset half of the spend. Even if that $60 [million] goes up or rides up on us, we believe we can offset half of the spend.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.

Shapiro said there are “several current and prospective partners that are pursuing multi-year partnerships” with TKO that would be inclusive to the White House event. 

It isn’t a surprise to TKO or the UFC that the price tag is so high. The promotion’s CEO, Dana White, previously said it would be one of his most expensive events in history. 

UFC CEO Dana White talks to President-elect Donald Trump ringside during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

In the end, everyone involved wants to do whatever it takes to make this event one of the greatest in American history, especially with it being heavily involved in the America 250 celebration this year. 

“I want to be clear about something. We will not profit from the White House event independently,” Shapiro said. “We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary. 

“This is an investment for the long term. This is about earned media. This is about sampling, new fans, casual viewers, a spectacle on a stage that will ultimately expand our audience, our viewership and our success on Paramount+.”

UFC CEO and President Dana White during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena June 29, 2024. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)

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White has previously promised the “greatest fight card ever assembled” for this event. Many superstar fighters have publicly lobbied to be involved on the card, though negotiations have not begun yet. 

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The Champions League knockout stage draw takes place this morning as Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham discover not only their last-16 opponents, but their potential route to the Budapest final.

For the first time, there are six English teams through to the last-16 of the competition, with the potential for several all-Premier League clashes once the bracket is set: Newcastle, for example, will draw either Chelsea or Barcelona in the round of 16.

Arsenal, who topped the league phase, will play Bayer Leverkusen or Atlanta, while their Premier League title rivals Manchester City await to see if they face another blockbuster clash with Real Madrid or a rematch with surprise package Bodo/Glimt.

Liverpool and Tottenham are paired together in the draw – one will play Atletico Madrid while the other will meet Galatasaray – while Chelsea will either take on Newcastle or Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

This morning’s draw will not just create the last-16 schedule, but will reveal the path of the Champions League final, as teams also discover who they could face if they progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Follow live updates from the Champions League draw, below

Newcastle will take on either Chelsea in all-Premier League clash, or Barcelona

Newcastle United are proving that they are a competitive Champions League team as they look to progress further in the European top-flight.

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Four wins and two draws (plus two defeats) was not enough to ensure that Eddie Howe’s side finished in the top eight spots of the league phase table and a battling 1-1 draw with PSG on the final matchday of the league phase meant both teams entered the play-off stage.

Newcastle were drawn against Qarabag who finished 22nd in the table and Azerbaijani side’s form all but abandoned them in the first leg as Anthony Gordon inspired the Magpies to a 6-1 rout in Baku. Newcastle then finished off the job in the second leg to progress 9-3 on aggregate.

Four wins from their last five matches across all competitions puts Newcastle in good form but will they be strong enough to battle past their opponents in the round of 16?

Coming through the play-off stage means that Newcastle will only face one of two opponents: Chelsea or Barcelona. Those two clubs have been paired together after finishing fifth and sixth in the league phase and will be drawn on opposite sides of the bracket.

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Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 08:05

Champions League play-off results

• Atletico Madrid 7-4 Club Brugge
• Newcastle 9-3 Qarabag
• Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 Olympiacos
• Bodø/Glimt 5–2 Inter Milan
• Galatasaray 7–5 Juventus
• Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 Monaco
• Real Madrid 3-1 Benfica
• Atalanta 4-3 Dortmund

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:50

What are the Champions League match dates?

Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026

Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026

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Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026

Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:35

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How the Champions League bracket is shaping up

• vs Liverpool or Tottenham

• vs Sporting or Manchester City

• vs Arsenal or Bayern Munich

• vs Tottenham or Liverpool

• vs Manchester City or Sporting CP

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:20

Give me the last-16 draw permutations!

Barcelona and Chelsea will be drawn against:

Liverpool and Tottenham will be drawn against:

• Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Sporting and Manchester City will be drawn against:

• Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid

Arsenal and Bayern Munich will be drawn against:

• Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:10

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So, the draw: How does it work?

The teams have been grouped into seeded couplets according to how they finished in the league phase.

So, for example, Arsenal (who finished top) or Bayern Munich (who finished second) will play Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Olympiacos, or Atalanta, who knocked out Borussia Dortmund.

The eight teams who progressed automatically from the league phase are seeded and will play the second leg at home in the last-16. The eight teams who progressed from the play-offs are unseeded.

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:05

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When is the Champions League draw – and how to watch

The Champions League last-16 draw will take place in Nyon at 11am GMT (12pm local time) this morning

The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website, YouTube channel and Champions League app.

Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:01

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Hello and welcome

Oh it’s a good day: the Champions League knockout draw for the last-16, quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place this morning.

Five Premier League teams – Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City – had already qualified for the knockout rounds, with Newcastle joining them via the play-offs this week.

The outline of the draw has already been made, with teams grouped into small four-way pools of possible opponents based on their league placings.

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Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:00

The Tennessee Titans released a couple of players on Wednesday, some 12 days before the start of free agency, and one just so happened to play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. He’s Xavier Woods, a safety, and he’ll be looking for work as early as now.

Tennessee clears money, and Woods becomes a plug-and-play option for teams seeking experience.

Woods spent just one year in Tennessee and will now seek his fifth NFL team this offseason.

Titans’ Cap Savings Move Puts Xavier Woods on the Market

A little bit of roster maintenance for the Titans.

TEN Drops Woods

TitanWire‘s Mark Mihalko delivered the news this week: “On Wednesday, the Titans decided to part ways with veterans Xavier Woods and Lloyd Cushenberry (failed physical designation), freeing up roughly $7.1 million in salary cap space heading into free agency.”

“Woods was brought in last offseason to be a veteran presence for both the defense and the secondary, but battled some injury issues and eventually gave way to rookie Kevin Winston Jr. as the season progressed. Woods finished 2025 with 11 games played and 39 total tackles. Unlike Cushenberry, Woods’ release did not accompany a failed physical designation, meaning he has recovered from the hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.”

To refresh your memory, Woods was the guy who took over for Anthony Harris in 2021 for the Vikings.

The Cap Savings and Future at Safety for Titans

The Titans free up about $4 million in cap space with the Woods maneuver, eating about a $1 million in dead cap, which is certainly manageable.

Without Woods in the mix, Winston Jr., last year’s rookie safety mentioned by Mihalko, will presumably get the nod as a starter. Winston Jr. is 22 years old, and Tennessee spent a 3rd-Rounder on him last year.

The rookie played 10 games in 2025, starting 5, and logged 34 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback hits, and a sack. Winston Jr. has the necessary size at 6’2″ and 208 pounds, producing a commendable 61.2 Pro Football Focus mark as a rookie. His pass coverage is suspect — a 43.4 grade from PFF — but his pass-rush scoring was stellar (91.7)

Winston Jr. could be on the cusp of a breakout season under new head coach Robert Saleh.

Music City Miracles‘ Jimmy Morris noted on the Woods release, “Woods signed a 2-year $8 million deal with the Titans before the 2025 season. He was mostly a non-factor for the team during his time in Nashville. This will not be the end of the cuts for the Titans. L’Jarius Sneed is certainly going to be cut, and all eyes are on Calvin Ridley. Will the Titans keep or cut him?”

Woods’s Career Resume

A 6th-Round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, Woods has played for four teams in nine seasons, with 134 games to his name, including 121 starts. Here’s his destination resume:

• Dallas Cowboys (2017–2020)
• Minnesota Vikings (2021)
• Carolina Panthers (2022–2024)
• Tennessee Titans (2025)

He’ll turn 31 this summer, so he should have a few seasons left as a dependable safety. He could start with the right team or serve as a reputable backup.

Time in MIN

The Vikings used the franchise tag on Anthony Harris in 2020 — the last time they used that tactic on anyone — and didn’t bring him back in 2021. In return, general manager Rick Spielman signed Woods to patrol the back end of Mike Zimmer’s defense. Woods logged a 66.4 PFF grade that year, and most fans considered him a wise free-agent signing.

But when 2022 rolled around, Minnesota had cleaned house in the front office and on the coaching staff, rendering Woods a non-priority. He eventually signed with the Panthers and registered the best season of his career in 2023 with an 80.3 PFF score.

The Vikings replaced Woods with a combination of Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus. Metellus remains on the team to this day.

Of course, the grand plan to replace Woods was a man by the name of Lewis Cine. Minnesota drafted him in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft. But Cine broke his leg as a rookie, and when he recovered, the NFL had passed him by. He remains one of the biggest busts in Vikings draft history.

Woods, meanwhile, should have no problems finding work this offseason. He’s steady.

The Titans could also be in play to draft Ohio State’s Caleb Downs in April, a safety who is considered by some to be the best defensive player in this year’s draft. If so, the Woods move in February will make a lot of sense.

After last year’s 3-9 campaign, Nevada football has played 39 seasons at the FBS level, dating back to 1946, playing non-FBS football between 1951 and 1991.

During their time as an FBS program, the Wolf Pack have compiled a 238–226 (.513) record through the 2025 season.

Nevada has appeared in 19 bowl games, winning seven, and has won seven conference championships.

The Wolf Pack have also produced one consensus First Team All-America player.

Nevada will begin its 40th FBS season under head coach Jeff Choate in the retooled Mountain West Conference, looking to resume its winning ways.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has confirmed that he submitted requests as part of his contract extension talks with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In recent days, a confidential document detailing Chelle’s proposed terms for continuing as Nigeria’s national team coach was leaked on social media, sparking debate among fans and analysts. The leak came after Nigeria finished third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a result that prompted the NFF to open discussions over extending Chelle’s stay despite him still having about a year left on his current contract.

Chelle, a Franco-Malian coach, explained that the 19-point proposal he submitted covered technical structure, working conditions and financial terms. Public attention, however, quickly focused on his request for an increase from a reported $50,000 monthly package to about $130,000, which drew strong reactions across Nigeria’s football community.

Speaking about the situation, Chelle admitted he was surprised that the private negotiation documents became public.

“Today, the first question I ask myself is how these documents ended up in the media,” Chelle said. “They are part of a negotiation, absolutely. There are many things in those requests. Look, if I’m being honest with you, I don’t really know. The first question I ask myself today is: how did these documents end up in the media?”

Chelle insisted that he neither leaked the document nor believes the NFF was responsible, leaving questions about people previously involved in his professional representation. The coach recently ended his relationship with his former agency before moving to Wilders Sport, a step he says was purely professional.

“As a man and as a coach, you don’t have unanimous support,” Chelle said. “I know that through my actions, some people like me and others like me less. So I’m the Nigerian national team manager, and I decided to give a new direction to my career. I made a choice.”

He explained that the agency change was aimed at helping him grow and reach a higher level in his career.

“I analysed the situation and told myself I need to put this structure around me that will allow me to reach the next level, with all the ambition that defines me, and with my vision of where I want to go. So maybe some people were hurt by that. If they think I disrespected them or undervalued their abilities, no, not at all. I simply decided to choose another agency that I identified with more and that would allow me to take a few steps forward. I’m not saying it was those people who leaked these documents, but my first question remains: how did these documents get out?”

Chelle also defended his salary request, noting that much of the proposed increase would cover the salaries of his technical staff, an expense that coaches in African national teams often pay themselves.

“When you look at the document and examine it carefully, in the end, what I asked for is nothing more than what I’m entitled to,” he said. “They are requests to ensure I have the right conditions to do my job. When you talk about $130,000, first of all, those aren’t euros, they are dollars. And what people don’t know is that in Africa, in the national teams I’ve been with, I have to pay my own technical staff.”

Chelle was appointed Super Eagles manager in January 2025 after impressing with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite the controversy, contract negotiations with the NFF are expected to continue as both sides aim to build on Nigeria’s recent continental progress.

The Minnesota Vikings finished 2025 ranked 13th in rushing offense DVOA, its highest standing since the Dalvin Cook days. They ran the ball 43% of the time, which ranked 19th leaguewide. And because these marks still need improvement, the team’s running back strategy is among the top topics this offseason. So, here’s what we would do.

It’s a balanced blueprint: salary cap, touches, and an upside swing.

Yes, it’s the VikingsTerritory RB endorsement plan of 2026.

A Three-Step RB Blueprint That Fits Minnesota’s Budget and Backfield Identity

A blend of in-house solutions, free agency, and the draft.

Step 1: Release Aaron Jones

Minnesota can save up to $7.7 million by cutting Jones. It’s time. He’ll turn 32 in December, and he will not improve as a playmaker. The team needs a youth injection at running back for the first time since the aforementioned Cook nine years ago. Jones is the antithesis of youth.

Jones is a fabulous locker room guy, and he’ll be missed, but the experiment has run its course. The business aspect of the NFL should prevail, and Minnesota should seek more pop in the ground game by severing ties with an aging tailback.

Step 2: Temporarily Nominate Jordan Mason for RB1

In 2025, despite Minnesota’s quarterback carousel, Mason received 159 carries and rushed for 758 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. He also recorded 14 receptions for 51 yards and scored 7 total touchdowns, maintaining consistent production despite the team’s offensive instability.

Mason’s performance mirrored his 2024 season in San Francisco, where he gained 789 rushing yards on 153 carries. Although his yardage remained similar after joining the Vikings, he found the end zone more frequently.

However, a costly fumble against Cleveland in London allowed Jones to reclaim the lead running back role. It’s time to move back toward Mason as the RB1, at least for a while in 2026.

There is also this encouraging stat to consider:

Step 3: Sign Kenneth Gainwell from Free Agency

In 2025, Gainwell quietly amassed 1,023 scrimmage yards and 8 touchdowns, showcasing his reliability and versatility as both a runner and receiver, and providing consistent offensive production throughout the season.

Notably, Gainwell delivered an efficient, momentum-shifting performance against Minnesota after Jaylen Warren’s pre-game injury in Dublin back in October.

If Minnesota moves on from Jones and promotes Mason to the lead back role, Gainwell would be a good fit, especially considering his next contract is projected to be in the $3–5 million per year range.

Gainwell is also one of the best pass-blocking running backs in the NFL. The Steelers seem to cultivate and covet such players. Minnesota’s coaching staff, too, is all about its halfbacks who can pass-block. Gainwell is therefore a fit.

Step 4: Use a Mid-Round Pick on Nick Singleton of Penn State for Eventual RB1 Duty

Singleton is big, fast, young, and versatile. What more do you need? That’s enough for the Vikings to take the plunge in the draft on his services. He’s 6’0″ and 225 pounds with 4.39 speed. The man can catch the ball out of the backfield. And from Round 3 or 4, he’s easily attainable.

He played 53 games at Penn State, totaling 4,448 yards from scrimmage and 54 touchdowns. The production gene is there.

The Consensus Big Board has Singleton listed at No. 111 as of late February, meaning Minnesota can probably get him in Round 4. The only problem? The Vikings don’t have a 4th-Rounder because of the ill-fated Adam Thielen trade. They’d either have to “reach” for him or trade down into Round 4.

Here’s some of Singleton’s early Penn State footage:

Pro Football Focus‘s Trevor Sikkema on Singleton’s scouting report: “At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Singleton is a gifted athlete who converts top-tier speed and acceleration into power. He is also utilized frequently as a receiver out of the backfield. While he possesses all the physical tools teams look for in a running back, his style is fairly straightforward — when runs are blocked well, he maximizes yardage, but when they are not, he can leave evaluators wanting more.”

“That limitation stems from inconsistent creativity with his vision and an inability to consistently force missed tackles in space. At times, his tempo can feel one-speed and linear. If he develops more playmaking nuance to complement his athletic profile, he has the potential to be an impactful NFL back. If not, he risks becoming more of a “what if” than a consistent contributor.”

For a mid-rounder, Singleton is more than worth it. Mason, Gainwell, and Singleton would do the trick for the 2026 Vikings.

Canelo Alvarez has held back a degree of credit for Terence Crawford, which he will only give the American under one condition.

The pair squared off in a super-middleweight encounter last September, with Crawford moving up from 154lbs to claim a monumental unanimous decision victory.

In doing so, ‘Bud’ became a three-division undisputed champion against Canelo, who had unified all four major titles at 168lbs earlier that year.

The Mexican therefore entered their showdown as a slight favourite, having established himself at the weight with previous victories over the likes of Caleb Plant and Callum Smith.

A truly masterful performance, however, ultimately saw Crawford become a five-weight world champion, only to then announce his retirement in December.

Prior to confirming his exit from the sport, the unbeaten technician had reportedly been exploring a potential rematch with Canelo, whose next outing has since been slated for September of this year.

Not only that, but while extending his partnership with boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, the 35-year-old is set to secure a world title shot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

But despite looking forward to enhancing his legacy, Canelo has told Ring Magazine that, without being given the opportunity to exact his revenge, he cannot quite bring himself to give Crawford all the credit he deserves.

“I always give [Crawford] credit, but we need to run it back.

“After the fight I said, ‘We need to run back this fight’, because I don’t feel I really won and I need to make this fight happen again. [If the rematch happens], it’s going to be different.

“For him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch. But he decided to retire, and we need to accept that and move forward.”

While an opponent is yet to be confirmed, it appears likely that Canelo will face a world champion at 168lbs later this year.

Potential options include Christian Mbilli and Jose Armando Resendiz, who respectively hold the WBC and WBA titles, while Crawford’s old IBF and WBO belts remain up for grabs.

Professional golfer Andrea Pavan withdrew from the DP World Tour’s Investec South African Open due to injuries he sustained in a freak elevator accident.

Pavan, 36, was hospitalized and “thankful to be alive” after he fell down an elevator shaft in the building he was staying in near Cape Town, South Africa, for the tournament, according to Monday Q Info.

“By all accounts, he’s in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” Pavan’s former Texas A&M coach, J.T. Higgins, told the Golf Channel. Higgins hadn’t spoken to Pavan yet, but he was updated on his condition.

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Andrea Pavan of Italy tees off on the sixth hole during round one of the Qatar Masters 2026 at the Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 5, 2026. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

Golf Channel learned through sources within Pavan’s inner circle the golfer had called for an elevator within the building where he was staying. However, when the doors to the elevator opened, a cab had not come up.

Pavan didn’t realize that as he stepped through the doors and fell three stories below.

Pavan sustained multiple injuries, including to his back and shoulder. He underwent “extensive surgeries” Wednesday night to repair the damage.

Andrea Pavan of Italy tees off on the sixth hole during round one of the Qatar Masters 2026 golf tournament at the Doha Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 5, 2026. (Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto)

No known recovery timeline for Pavan has been released.

The Italian golfer has eight professional wins in his career, including two on the DP World Tour. His latest was in 2019 when he took home the BMW International Open.

Pavan defeated Matt Fitzpatrick, a fixture on the PGA Tour, in a playoff at the event.

Andrea Pavan of Italy tees off on the 16th hole at the Qatar Masters 2026 at Doha Golf Club Feb. 6, 2026, in Doha, Qatar. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

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During this season, Pavan has tallied two top 15 finishes, which includes a tie for ninth at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship earlier this month.

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