While Romero was always dangerous, and even hurt his man in round five, it was Lopez who ultimately proved the busier and more skilful operator.
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As a result, the 29-year-old is now eager to secure unification matches against either Devin Haney, Liam Paro or the winner of Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, which takes place at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12.
At the same time, though, Lopez could soon be ordered to face mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, who claimed his WBA ‘regular’ title with a unanimous decision victory over Shakhram Giyasov in May.
Before that, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza had ruled that the winner would earn his shot at the full welterweight belt within 180 days of their contest taking place.
And while, admittedly, a title defence by November 19 seems entirely unrealistic, Bradley has nonetheless expressed his desire for Lopez to face leading contender Catterall.
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“Teo, you gotta face Jack Catterall next. Yeah, you gotta honour that [mandatory duty]. You just got the belt, right? You gotta defend that title against Jack Catterall.
“He’s been waiting patiently, and it’s his time and his opportunity.”
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Nottingham Forest star Neco Williams
Neco Williams would not be drawn into any transfer speculation amid ongoing links with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur after impressing for Nottingham Forest in recent months. The Wales international has been linked with a move away from the City Ground ahead of the September 1 deadline, with United looking for a new left-back.
Williams is a right-back by trade but can play on both flanks and is admired by United, according to BBC Sport. Spurs were also looking to make a late move for the 25-year-old defender, though Oliver Glasner’s Forest do not want to sell.
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When asked about transfer speculation, Williams told TNT Sports: “You’re trying to stitch me up there? Listen, every day I’m focused on the badge I’m wearing right now.
“Of course, it’s nice to see that there’s interest and teams showing interest, but I’m a Nottingham Forest player and fully focused on what I’m doing here. Every day is showing full commitment and giving my best to help this team.”
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard coached Williams in the early stages of his coaching career and has heaped praise on the full-back, calling him one of the best in the Premier League.
“He deserves to play and I don’t want to cut him off, but this a player who trains the way he plays,” Gerrard said in an interview on TNT Sports.
“He comes in of a morning, he does everything right. He’s very professional, he’s a winner.
“He’s very aggressive, he’s a competitor. We already know he’s got the talent. If you’ve got everything around you, your talent, you can play at this level and you can stay at this level.
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“I still think he hasn’t hit his ceiling yet. I still think he’s at an age where he can go to the next level, with experience, and time and more games.
“He’s playing out of position. He’s doing an incredible job on the left side. Can you imagine what he’d be like if he played on the right side?
“For me, he’s a fantastic full-back. And I’m not just saying it, and I apologise to the Forest fans, Liverpool should have kept him.”
Michael Carrick’s side, who take on Ipswich Town this weekend, will be hoping they can get a left-back through the door before the summer transfer window deadline passes on September 1.
With NFL cutdown day fast approaching, teams continue to make moves to finalize their 53-man rosters. The first notable move on Saturday was the Ravens trading defensive lineman C.J. Okoye to the Giants for a 2028 seventh-round pick, according to ESPN.
Okoye was traded hours after recovering a fumble during Baltimore’s preseason win over the Commanders. During his first season in Baltimore, Okoye clearly made a good impression on John Harbaugh, who is embarking on his first season as Giants coach.
A native of Nigeria, the 24-year-old Okoye was part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. He broke into the NFL with the Chargers in 2023, and in his first preseason game, he sacked Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett in what was the first organized game of his professional life. Okoye was awarded the game ball afterward.
Okoye spent two years on the Chargers’ practice squad before signing with Baltimore in 2025. He started the season on the practice squad but was promoted to the active roster in October. Okoye appeared in 13 games and registered 15 tackles and a pass breakup.
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Who won the trade? Let’s find out.
Giants: A-
The Giants get dinged a little bit because they probably could have acquired Okoye off waivers after he was released by the Ravens. That being said, the Giants deserve credit for being proactive in pursuing a player that Harbaugh clearly sees potential in. Instead of risking another team picking Okoye up on the waiver wire, the Giants made sure that Okoye would not hit the open market.
Overall, though, this is a good move by the Giants for several reasons. They acquired a young, promising player at limited cost who gives the Giants valuable depth at an important position. The best-case scenario is Okoye developing into an impact player who can help solidify New York’s interior defensive line. If it doesn’t work out that way, the Giants didn’t spend much in the form of money or draft capital.
The Ravens did their old coach a solid with this trade. Baltimore obviously wasn’t planning on Okoye being part of their 53-man roster, and instead of releasing him and getting nothing in return, they chose to get something in return while reuniting him with his former coach. It’s a rare trade situation where everyone wins.
Baltimore didn’t receive a higher grade because they probably could have gotten a little more for Okoye, given the Giants’ clear interest in acquiring him. They also chose to part ways with a promising player, which could hurt them if they suffer injuries on the defensive line this season.
Another Fight Night has come and gone, and just like the last one, it didn’t disappoint.
Capping off the 13-fight card from Shanghai was China’s Song Yadong, who upset Umar Nurmagomedov in a matchup between ranked bantamweights contenders.
Yadong entered the night as the No. 6-ranked fighter at 135 pounds, but will surely climb the ladder after knocking out No. 2 Nurmagomedov just two minutes into Round 2 of the main event.
As the two fighters sized each other up in the middle of the octagon, Yadong feinted with a left hook and caught a ducking Nurmagomedov with a straight right that put an abrupt end to the fight and sent the local Chinese crowd into a roar.
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The victory made it back-to-back stoppage wins for Yadong — bouncing back well from a loss to Sean O’Malley in January with a submission of Deiveson Figueiredo before knocking out Nurmagomedov — and earned him consecutive performance of the night bonuses.
The stunning finish improved the 28-year-old to 13-4-1 in the UFC, and handed Nurmagomedov just his second loss under the banner. The now 8-2-0 fighter began his UFC career a perfect 6-0-0 but has since lost two of his last four fights. The other defeat came via unanimous decision against former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in a title bout last year.
It was also the first time that Nurmagomedov had been knocked out since turning pro a decade ago, and the final of 10 early stoppages on the night, which included eight KO/TKOs and two submissions.
Just before Yadong’s big win, Denise Gomes pulled off an upset of her own in the co-main event against China’s Yan Xiaonan. The No. 9-ranked women’s strawweight secured a first-round TKO win over the division’s No. 4 thanks to a perfectly placed elbow.
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It was Gomes’ fifth straight victory, which made it the longest active win streak in the division and tied Jessica Andrade for most knockouts in UFC women’s strawweight history (four). The Brazilian has not lost since 2024 and is now 7-2-0 in the UFC. Xiaonan is now trending in the opposite direction, with Saturday’s defeat making it back-to-back losses and three of her last four, to drop to 9-5-0 under the banner.
As for the rest of the card from the Oriental Sports Center, Liu Ce and Levi Rodrigues made sure to do their part in entertaining the crowd of 16,188. The pair of heavyweights earned fight of the night bonuses after immediately letting their fists fly following the opening bell — exchanges that ultimately ended with China’s Ce earning a first-round KO in his UFC debut and handing Rodrigues his first pro loss.
Bonuses for first-timers didn’t stop there, however, as another debutant in Bilal Hasan did enough to impress and earn some extra cash. The “IndoNinja” managed to secure a second-round KO against Nilson Rojas even after facing some early troubles in the fight. Hasan landed a roaring right that left no debate on who the winner would be, while improving his unbeaten pro MMA record to 10-0-0.
Kai Asakura, Francesco Nuzzi, Hector Santiago and Julia Polastri rounded out the fighters to record KO/TKO wins, while Andre Lima and Kevin Borjas secured the lone submission victories of the night.
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All in all, it was a mixed bag of results for the eight Chinese fighters on home soil, with a combined showing of 3-5-0. The losses began as early as the opening bout of the card as Canada’s Cam Nelson — in his UFC debut — kicked off prelim action with a unanimous decision win over Ding Meng.
Harry Maguire had the Manchester United captaincy taken from him and given to Bruno Fernandes before showing who he truly was in a difficult career moment
Maguire, who signed a new one-year contract extension on Friday, was relieved of the captaincy by then-manager Erik ten Hag in 2023 after a prolonged loss of form. Fernandes, 31, emerged as the obvious choice to succeed him, though the pair continue to share a dressing room at Old Trafford.
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The United skipper has now shed light on the private exchange that took place between the two players in the wake of that decision. Rather than any awkwardness lingering, Maguire’s gracious response quickly put Fernandes at ease and set the tone for a respectful working relationship that endures to this day.
“To be honest, [when] I got asked if I wanted to be captain of the club, it was a bit awkward for me because obviously I hadn’t spoken to Harry about it,” Fernandes told LIFEJACKET. “But he already knew it before me, so I think the manager spoke with him before speaking with me.
“So he was very good, he came and talked to me about it and he said that if he had to lose the armband, it would go to someone like me. So that made me a little bit more relaxed about the situation, also because me and him had a very close relationship before because he was already captain, I was captain when he wasn’t there.
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“So we knew this would keep the communication [about] things we needed to sort out in the dressing room, or whatever. And that hasn’t changed since then, because obviously I’ve got the armband but I’ve always made Harry aware [he’s] part of the captain’s armband, too, because I think he deserves that respect in terms of everything he’s done for the club and everything he’s done also for me since I came to the club.”
Fernandes admitted it was nevertheless hard for him to hide his pride at being chosen as skipper at Old Trafford. He recognised the lengthy succession of legendary United captains and what a significant moment it represented for him to enter that select circle.
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In a perfect world, a captaincy transition would take place when one leader departs a club on a positive note having fulfilled his responsibilities impeccably. Yet in Maguire’s situation, it was viewed almost as a relegation within the United squad during a spell of poor form.
When questioned about how matters have altered for him as captain, Fernandes continued by saying the only genuine distinction is the amount of media obligations. The PFA Player of the Year was already familiar with handling media responsibilities but assumed an even heavier burden as captain.
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On a more detailed level, though, he’s strived to ensure his relationships with other squad members remain broadly unchanged. More precisely, Fernandes wrapped up by noting he has consistently attempted to treat others the same as he offered a humble overview of his responsibilities.
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“I haven’t changed the way I behave around people or the way I treat people,” he added. “Because I think the main thing always has to be respect between the people you work with, towards you and you towards them.
“And it doesn’t change by you being the captain. It doesn’t make you any bigger than anyone else, so it’s just an armband that gives you responsibility in certain moments that you have to make decisions on behalf of others. But that’s the only thing and you can’t step on top of anyone just because you’ve got the armband.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) wait for a new title sponsor for the Indian cricket team’s home matches is still on. The deadline for bid submission was August 13. Two weeks have passed since that deadline, but the BCCI is yet to find a suitable sponsor. The BCCI had released the invitation on July 20, with the last date for ITT document purchase being August 4. The BCCI kept August 5 as the last date to seek clarifications. The Board is in talks with potential sponsors, with Google Gemini emerging as one of the brands involved in discussions. Spinny and SBI Life are also reportedly in talks.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, quoting industry sources, “the board is engaged in talks with potential corporates. Google Gemini, the artificial intelligence and generative AI brand that has been associated with several sporting properties of late, is understood to be among the brands being discussed. Spinny and SBI Life are the other parties that are apparently being spoken to.”
BCCI’s current rights holder, IDFC First Bank, pays Rs 4.2 crore per match, but the increased base price of Rs 4.75 crore appears to be a stumbling block for a potential deal. The proposed agreement is for two years (ending March 31, 2028), down from the three-year deal that IDFC First Bank secured in 2023. The Indian board had confirmed in its ITT that it expects the holder to sponsor nearly 35 matches (10 Tests, 12 ODIs and 13 T20Is).
The report added that some brands, mainly tyre, paint and sports apparel companies, cannot bid to become title sponsors of Indian cricket in this cycle. This has been done to protect the rights of existing sponsors such as Apollo Tyres (the Indian team’s lead jersey sponsor), Adidas (the Indian team’s kit sponsor) and Asian Paints (BCCI’s Associate Partner).
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The BCCI has also set strict financial criteria for each of the bidders. “The average turnover of each bidder for the last three years must be at least INR 100 crore (Indian Rupees One Hundred Crore only) as per the last three audited accounts. Or the average net worth of each bidder for the last three years must be at least INR 100 crore (Indian Rupees One Hundred Crore only) as per the last three audited accounts,” the report quoted a BCCI bid document as saying.
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“Winning World Cup Most Beautiful thing”: Golden Ball Winner Rodri
Earlier this year, McLaren Golf — the automotive and Formula 1 company — launched their first irons, the Series 1 and Series 3 models, to great fanfare. Justin Rose and Michelle Wie West were the first pros to put the irons in their bags, joining McLaren as global brand ambassadors and investors.
It’s perhaps no surprise, then, that the Series 1 irons sold out almost immediately after their release. But if you missed out on the launch back in April, there’s good news! Series 1 irons are being freshly restocked, and you can pre-order yours now from Fairway Jockey to avoid disappointment and guarantee that a set will be coming your way.
What kind of performance can you expect from these premium irons? Both the Series 1 and Series 3 irons utilize MIM (Metal Injection Molding) to create a strong structural geometry and precise internal weighting to produce soft feel and increase MOI, enabling you to launch long irons higher and flight short irons more easily.
The Series 1 irons are specifically designed for precise ball strikers who desire more speed and stability than a traditional forged muscle-back can offer.
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Did we mention that the clubs are sleek and beautiful to look at? Fans of the McLaren W1 Supercar will probably recognize some design references, like the mesh honeycomb pattern on the back of the clubhead, with a hint of trademark orange in the logo. That honeycomb isn’t just for looks either — it aids forgiveness by removing mass from non-critical areas while also maintaining rigidity and an attractive Tour-preferred profile.
Check out the Series 1 irons in detail by clicking the link below, and lock in your chance to own these special clubs while you can! Fulfillment of this batch is expected within 5-6 weeks.
A Tour blade with the feel you expect and the forgiveness you don’t. Series1 is a modern Tour blade, engineered through Metal Injection Molding. It delivers a level of forgiveness traditional forging can’t achieve, while maintaining the feel and workability often lost in cast designs. The result is performance without compromise – a blade for elite players who demand more from their irons.
A dramatic start to Matchday 2 in Ligue 1. Just like last week at Rennes, Paris Saint-Germain found themselves 2-0 down, only to produce another miraculous comeback. Vitinha sparked the revival before Marquinhos rescued a point for the Parisians in Lille.
Elsewhere in sports news, Manchester City ran riot in the Premier League. Powered by braces from Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland, the Citizens swept aside Crystal Palace 4-1 on Friday.
In Germany, Bayern Munich’s French contingent was on fire. Dayot Upamecano scored the first goal of the Bundesliga season, while Michael Olise, also on the scoresheet and named Man of the Match, inspired Bayern to a 5-1 win over Stuttgart.
In Serie A, AC Milan’s star signing Gonçalo Ramos made an instant impact. The former PSG striker broke the deadlock as the Rossoneri beat Venezia 2-0.
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In the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo was on target too. The Portuguese forward scored his 978th career goal to hand Al-Nassr victory.
The Europa League and Conference League draws were held in Monaco on Friday. Lyon will face Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace, among others. Marseille will also take on Leverkusen, as well as travelling to Celtic and Besiktas. Rennes will meet Juventus. In the Conference League, Monaco will travel to Brighton.
There’s also been plenty of movement in the transfer market, particularly at Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins has left, with Senegal international Nicolas Jackson arriving. PSG youngster Ibrahim Mbaye is also closing in on a move to Villa. Meanwhile, Marseille are looking to offload Leonardo Balerdi, who is reportedly heading for Roma.
And finally, in cycling, Andreas Leknessund produced a stunning ride on the Vuelta a España. The Norwegian won Stage 7, while Tadej Pogačar remains firmly in control of the race.
College football is back on FOX, and Saturday night’s Week 0 spotlight belongs to Memphis at UNLV. The Tigers and Rebels meet for the first time at Allegiant Stadium, with kickoff set for 10 p.m. ET on FOX and live streaming available on FOX One.
How to Watch Memphis at UNLV
What to Know About Memphis at UNLV
The late FOX window brings a fresh start for both teams. Memphis opens the Charles Huff era after adding 81 newcomers, including 61 transfers, while Dan Mullen begins Year 2 at UNLV after guiding the Rebels to a 10-4 record and a spot in the 2025 Mountain West Championship Game.
There is no history to lean on here. This is the first meeting between Memphis and UNLV, and both teams enter with quarterback questions still being sorted out. That puts extra weight on the proven playmakers around them.
Players To Watch
Memphis rebuilt the roster for Charles Huff’s first season, but Dallan Hayden gives the offense one proven place to start. The redshirt senior brings 1,185 career rushing yards and eight touchdowns into the opener, valuable experience while the Tigers sort through their new pieces. His work Saturday can shape the entire game. If Hayden keeps Memphis ahead of the chains, he can take pressure off the quarterback rotation, quiet the crowd and keep UNLV’s offense on the sideline. A steady night from Hayden would give Memphis exactly the kind of foundation it needs in Huff’s debut.
J’Mond Tapp followed Huff from Southern Miss after piling up 7.5 sacks and earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2025. Now he gets the first chance to set the edge for a Memphis defense featuring plenty of new faces. The matchup puts him directly in the path of UNLV’s biggest strength: a rushing attack led by 1,000-yard back Jai’Den Thomas. If Tapp wins on early downs and makes the Rebels play from behind the sticks, he can simplify the night for the Tigers’ rebuilt defense. Memphis needs disruption up front, and Tapp is built to provide it.
Jai’Den Thomas is the engine of the UNLV offense until somebody proves otherwise. He ran for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while averaging 7.0 yards per carry, then added 39 catches for 237 yards and another score. That all-around production makes him a tough opening assignment for a Memphis defense assembled largely through the transfer portal. Thomas can punish a missed fit between the tackles or turn a short throw into a chunk play. If he gets rolling early, the Rebels can keep their quarterbacks in comfortable situations and make Memphis chase the game.
Jake Pope gives UNLV an experienced organizer on the back end against a Memphis offense full of new personnel. The senior safety finished 2025 with 81 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and five pass breakups. His value Saturday goes beyond the box score. Pope has to identify formations, keep explosive plays in check and make sure the Rebels tackle cleanly in space. If he sees the Tigers’ plan quickly, UNLV can force Memphis to earn every yard instead of handing the new-look offense easy momentum in the first game of the Huff era.
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Can I Stream Memphis at UNLV on FOX One?
Yes. FOX One streams Memphis at UNLV live. Coverage begins Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.
Follow the full college football schedule for game times, TV information and updates throughout the season.
WWE legend D-Von Dudley has said that many major wrestling stars used the N-word for years. The decorated tag team star has spoken in the past about racism in the pro wrestling business.
Recently, on the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast, it was brought up how AEW star MJF has used the N-word in the past in his X posts. D-Von said he wasn’t aware of this but mentioned that the slur is used more commonly in the wrestling business than people believe.
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He said Hulk Hogan was rightly criticized for his racist comments over a decade ago but said he isn’t the only one who has used such words.
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“I didn’t know that either about the N-word. I didn’t know about that. Everybody got on Hogan for saying what he said and, you know, ‘He’s a racist,’ and things like that. Yes, it was wrong. But believe me when I say it: He’s not the only one. Neither one of them are the only ones who use that word on a regular basis or have said things that were inappropriate when it came to other races of people,” he said.
The WWE Hall of Famer then dropped a bombshell, saying that he has personally heard many prominent figures in pro wrestling use the word.
“There are a lot of people in the wrestling business who have said things, and I’ve heard it personally. I’m not exposing or anything, but there are a lot more people—people who are very prominent figures in professional wrestling today—who have said that. And said it back in the ’80s and ’90s and even the millennium. They’ve said it, and they used it frequently because they didn’t think they were going to get caught,” he added.
D-Von Dudley accused Jim Ross of racism in WWE
Last year, speaking on Maven’s podcast, D-Von Dudley talked about facing racism in WWE from a well-known name.
Then, in an appearance on Duke Loves Rasslin, he revealed that he was referring to legendary commentator Jim Ross.
JR responded to these accusations, saying he was shocked to hear this and said that it doesn’t merit a response from him.
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If you use quotes from this article, please credit Duke Loves Rasslin podcast and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.
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ONE Friday Fights 168 went down on Friday at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with bantamweight and flyweight Muay Thai headlining a card that streamed live in Asia primetime.
Wuttikrai Wor Chakrawut of Thailand came into the main event carrying immense momentum.
Iranian striker Mohammad Habibpour pressed forward with relentless aggression from the first bell, but Wuttikrai kept his composure and worked behind clean counters. A short elbow in round one opened a cut on Habibpour’s face and established a pattern that ran through much of the fight, earning Wuttikrai the decision victory.
Habibpour came out fighting through blood in the final round, throwing everything he had left. Another heavy left hook landed right before the final bell. But the early damage Wuttikrai had built up proved too much to overcome on the scorecards.
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Meanwhile, Brazil Aekmuangnon needed a response after back-to-back losses, and he delivered one in the co-main event.
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Petphupa Aekpujean controlled the opening round with sharp right hands through the middle and accurate combination work, but Brazil absorbed everything and refused to give ground.
The fight turned in round two when Brazil timed Petphupa stepping forward aggressively and landed a downward right elbow that dropped him cleanly.
Petphupa beat the count and came back swinging in the final round, but the knockdown was decisive. All three judges sided with Brazil, lifting his record to 48-15.
ONE Friday Fights 168 full results
Wuttikrai Wor Chakrawut def. Mohammad Habibpour via unanimous decision (bantamweight Muay Thai)
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