Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell heads toward the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium during a Nov. 20, 2022 matchup, departing the field after the second quarter as Minnesota struggled against Dallas. The moment captures a tense afternoon in Minneapolis, with O’Connell assessing adjustments before halftime amid mounting pressure. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
If you’re hoping the Minnesota Vikings will rebound in 2026 and win a playoff game, ESPN has bad news for you. That outlet ranked the Vikings as the NFL’s 10th-worst team after the calendar flipped to 2026 following the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl triumph on Sunday night.
Minnesota’s ESPN placement reflects uncertainty at quarterback, while the roster’s defensive foundation and recent draft additions keep upside alive.
Why so low? Well, the general population thinks Minnesota must figure out its quarterback situation, or it will be relegated to low power rankings indefinitely.
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Quarterback Uncertainty Drives the Low Vikings Rank
Not ideal to start at No. 23
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy goes through pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov. 9, 2025, preparing to face the Baltimore Ravens in Minneapolis. The routine offered a glimpse of McCarthy’s early-game focus as Minnesota readied its offense ahead of a high-profile interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
ESPN Power Rankings for Vikings: No 23
ESPN sandwiched the Vikings between the Carolina Panthers at No. 22 and Atlanta Falcons at No. 24, as Kevin Seifert wrote about the club, “The Vikings already had a big task ahead of them this offseason. At the very least, they need to upgrade their quarterback depth to give them a better hedge against J.J. McCarthy’s performance and injury history than they had in 2025.”
“But after firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Jan. 30, they’ll have to address that need with an interim leadership structure led by Rob Brzezinski, their longtime executive vice president of football operations. Adofo-Mensah’s replacement isn’t likely to be named until after the 2026 draft, putting the franchise in an extended stretch of limbo.”
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Onlookers aren’t impressed by the optics of firing Adofo-Mensah, especially three and a half weeks after the end of the regular season.
Identify the Right QB(s)
The Vikings can subdue many fears — from fans and national media — if they successfully address their quarterback situation this offseason.
McCarthy battled injuries in 2025 — after missing all of 2024 with a torn meniscus — and inconsistent play, even for a first-time starter. At times, he couldn’t complete a basic pass; then he’d turn on the gas in the game’s final offensive drive and look like a Pro Bowler.
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Minnesota has publicly stated its desire to trade for or sign another quarterback to provide competition this summer. If it adds a non-threat vet for McCarthy, like Jimmy Garoppolo or Carson Wentz, the power ranking will remain the same. If interim general manager Rob Brzezinski raises the bar by trading for Kyler Murray or Mac Jones, for example, the Vikings can climb in power rankings.
Make no mistake: power rankings are usually a referendum on the QB1, and Minnesota’s strategy is unclear as of February.
The Defense Is There
Thankfully, Minnesota has the defense on autopilot, courtesy of Brian Flores.
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The Vikings ranked second overall in EPA per play in 2024, then No. 3 in 2025. Flores signed a mammoth contract extension last month, so there’s no reason to believe the unit will fall out of the Top 10 in 2026.
Key players will remain, like Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, Jalen Redmond, Blake Cashman, Byron Murphy Jr., and Isaiah Rodgers. The club will start from a position of strength at defense, which will make the eventual quarterback’s life much easier.
Other power rankings were kinder to Minnesota after the Super Bowl. Pro Football Network‘s Jacob Infante named the Vikings the league’s 17th-best team, six spots up from ESPN’s estimation.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores studies the field from the sideline at Soldier Field on Oct. 15, 2023, as Minnesota battles Chicago in a divisional road game. The moment captured Flores tracking adjustments and personnel as the Bears challenged the defense deep into the second half. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
Infante explained, “Kevin O’Connell is a great head coach. Brian Flores is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings also have a strong defensive line and some talented offensive weapons. The main thing that held them back in 2025, though, was the quarterback position.”
“Whether or not J.J. McCarthy was healthy seemingly had little impact on the Vikings’ offense. He ranked 37th in the NFL with a PFSN QB Impact Score of 64.5 in his first year as their starter. The flaws were abundant, and it led to Justin Jefferson’s worst receiving season of his career. Minnesota has talent; they just need stable QB play to maximize it.”
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Finally Connect on a Full Draft Class
How can the Vikings get back in the mix of Super Bowl contention? After the quarterback decision, the path is straightforward: draft better.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah lost his job a week and a half ago, mainly due to poor drafting, as the former boss connected about about 18% of all draft picks since taking over in 2022. Failing to find productive players in the only “free” place in sports — the draft — has cost the franchise and forced it to spend big on aging free agents.
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner poses with commissioner Roger Goodell at Campus Martius Park on Apr. 25, 2024, moments after the Vikings selected him No. 17 overall in Detroit. The draft-night snapshot marked Turner’s introduction to Minnesota following his first-round call at the podium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The interim general manager and future permanent executive must nail the next few drafts to restore Minnesota’s roster youth and competence.
If they do not, the Vikings will habitually live on lists like ESPN’s around No. 23.
Second-year guard Stephon Castle suffered a pelvis contusion against the Los Angeles Lakers and was ruled out for the remainder of the game at the beginning of the third quarter. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss reported that X-rays on the injury came back negative.
Castle, 21, appeared to sustain the injury when he went up to block a Rui Hachimura dunk in the second quarter. He fell hard to the floor and was spotted grabbing his lower back on the way to the locker room.
The UConn product had two points and seven assists in 11 minutes against the Lakers before being forced to exit.
Castle entered Tuesday’s contest as the Spurs’ third-leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. He also leads the team in assists, dishing out 7.0 per game.
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The Spurs sit second in the Western Conference with a 36-16 record.
According to Paananen, the real-time strategy mobile game saw 500% increase in new players, and “every major measure of playtime and engagement grew significantly.” The Finnish personality attributed these positive growth metrics to the Supercell team members’ “relentless focus on making things better for players.”
Sketch took to X on the same day (February 10, 2026) to express his dissatisfaction with Supercell for not recognizing Jynxzi’s role in making Clash Royale popular in 2025.
Claiming that he was “done letting” Jynxzi “be humble,” Sketch wrote:
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“Not touching @ClashRoyale again until @supercell acknowledges Jynxzi’s impact. Disgusting to act as if a dev changed a game that’s been the same for years. @jynxzi I’m done letting you be humble. From Clash, RL & R6 YOU revived those games. The only creator to do so AND include the community of those games. While also bringing in even more creators‼️ You change lives and deserve RECOGNITION and COMPENSATION. NUMBERS DONT LIE‼️‼️‼️ THE JYNXZI EFFECT IS REAL, PAY THAT MAN 🗣️ 🗣️ 🗣️ @supercell”
MrBeast, Lacy, and more streamers react, as Jynxzi says Supercell’s recent statement about Clash Royale’s popularity is “probably the biggest spit in the face he has ever seen”
On February 10, 2026, Jynxzi shared a screenshot of Ilkka Paananen’s blog post from the same day, where Supercell CEO described 2025 as “a historic year” for Clash Royale.
Jynxzi claimed the game developer’s comments were “probably the biggest spit in the face he had ever seen,” and posted:
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Jimmy “MrBeast” responded, saying that he started playing Clash Royale again “only because” of Jynxzi:
“I only started playing again because of you” MrBeast wrote.
Several prominent Twitch streamers, including Nick “Lacy,” Din “Agent 00,” and Jack “CouRage,” commented on the 24-year-old’s social media post:
“there is a serious problem with gaming companies not recognizing us creators when we are a pivotal piece in reviving the games” Lacy wrote.
“Ngl I thought they gave you equity from how hard you were pushing it 😭😭 they owe you some millions” Agent 00 wrote.
“I only watched/engaged with Clash Royale content because of you. It was honestly the most interested I’ve ever been with the game in its life cycle.” CouRage wrote.
Supercell has not addressed the backlash from streamers and content creators, as of this writing.
The American luger became emotional when she checked the scoreboard and realized she earned her first Olympic medal. Her performance in the women’s luge singles on Tuesday also marked just the second time an American has won an Olympic medal in the event.
Farquharson, who started sliding as an after-school activity when she was growing up in Park City, Utah, said it was almost hard to believe what she had accomplished.
Ashley Farquharson of United States reacts after her run during women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Feb. 10, 2026. (Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
“It really didn’t feel real,” Farquharson said after her victory. “And then everyone meeting me on the ice, and the whirlwind it’s been since then has really cemented it. For a couple seconds when I was coming up the outrun, I was like, ‘that’s not real.’”
Germany’s Julia Taubitz took the gold medal, winning by almost a full second, a monster margin in luge. Latvia’s Elena Bota was second, matching her country’s best Olympic result.
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Until Farquharson’s feat, Erin Hamlin was the last American to earn a bronze medal, doing so at the 2014 Sochi Games.
Ashley Farquharson of Team United States starts the Women’s Singles Run 1 on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb. 09, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“This was the dream,” Taubitz said. “And now the dream comes true.”
Farquharson didn’t medal in any of her first 54 World Cup races before finally breaking through this season.
She wasn’t the fastest, but she was more than good enough. She’s an Olympic medalist. Farquharson’s ability will never be questioned again.
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“Super happy for Ashley, very happy for USA Luge,” longtime U.S. teammate Emily Fischnaller said. “I mean, we are the ones on the sled, but there’s a team behind us with everything that we do. So, that’s just a testament to all the work that everyone has put into it.”
Bronze medallist Ashley Farquharson of United States celebrates after women’s single luge during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Sliding Centre on Feb 10, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.(Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters via Imagn Images)
Luge is a sport in which athletes slide on their backs on sleds down an iced track at high speeds.
Fischnaller was 12th for the Americans in 3:33.035, falling from fifth after three runs following trouble in her final heat. Summer Britcher of the U.S., a two-time World Cup race winner this season and now a four-time Olympian, was 14th in 3:33.553.
Australian snowboarder Cam Bolton was airlifted to Milan after breaking his neck in a training crash.
The 35-year-old, competing at his fourth Winter Olympics, fell during a snowboard cross training session on Monday in Livigno.
He initially walked away from the crash but woke up the next day with worsening pain in his neck. Scans later revealed two fractures, and Bolton was transported by helicopter from the mountain for further treatment.
Team chef de mission, Alisa Camplin, said Bolton was in good spirits despite the severity of the injury and had been joined by his wife.
“Cam wanted to make his teammates understood what was happening and that he was fine and doing well and being looked after well,” she said.
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“He knows how seriously we’re taking the process of support around him and the communication has been really good. I’m proud of the level of care.”
Bolton took silver in the mixed team snowboard cross with Mia Clift at last year’s world championships in Engadin, Switzerland.
The Australian Olympic Committee said it had enacted the Late Athlete Replacement option, bringing Olympic debutant James Johnstone onto the team alongside Adam Lambert and Jarryd Hughes for the men’s snowboard cross qualifying on Thursday.
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Cameron Bolton of Team Australia wins the silver medal, Mia Clift of Team Australia wins the silver medal during the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships Day 13 on March 29, 2025 in Engadin, Switzerland (Getty Images)
The injury is the fourth setback for Australia’s team at the Milano Cortina Games. Aerials medal favourite Laura Peel injured her knee at a pre-Olympic training camp, while young freeskier Daisy Thomas also hurt her knee in a fall and has withdrawn from slopestyle, though she remains hopeful of contesting big air.
Snowboard halfpipe rider Misaki Vaughan was ruled out of her Olympic debut after failing a head injury assessment following a training fall. Under team protocols, the 20-year-old cannot compete for at least seven days.
“Unfortunately with winter sport injuries happen along the way, in 53 athletes doing relatively high risk sports it’s not something that’s unusual I’m afraid to say,” Ms Camplin said.
“My heart breaks on their behalf – I know how much work goes into an Olympic dream.”
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Loan Bozzolo of Team France. Cameron Bolton of Team Australia and Valerio Jud of Team Switzerland during the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships in 2025 (Getty Images)
Bolton was Australia’s highest-placed men’s snowboard cross rider at the Beijing Games, finishing 13th. He also placed ninth in the inaugural mixed team event alongside Belle Brockhoff.
There was better news on the slopes for defending Olympic champion Jakara Anthony, who topped moguls qualifying in Livigno to extend her unbeaten Games run to five rounds of competition. The 27-year-old, who claimed Australia’s first women’s moguls gold in Beijing, said she was satisfied with her opening performance.
“My goal was just that I wanted to get through in qualification one so that I just have the chance to come out for finals tomorrow and I don’t need to worry about qualification two,” Anthony said. “So, yeah, happy.”
Nigeria secure Promotion to Davis Cup World Group II
Nigeria Davis Cup Team has earned promotion to Davis Cup World Group II after defeating Uzbekistan Davis Cup Team 3–1 in their playoff tie.
The result confirms Nigeria’s return to World Group II for the first time in almost 30 years. The tie was played on home ground, where Nigeria won enough matches to seal the contest before the final rubber.
Nigeria’s promotion follows consecutive playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025, with the breakthrough coming in 2026.
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World Group II is one level below World Group I and will feature stronger teams from around the world. This promotion for Nigeria means they will have tougher matches ahead, but it also brings greater exposure and opportunity for Nigerian players on the international stage.
Thomas Frank found himself under further pressure as Newcastle inflicted yet another Premier League defeat on Tottenham.
Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to spare Manchester United’s blushes at lowly West Ham with a late equaliser which left interim boss Michael Carrick purring.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has admitted how challenging his side’s title defence has become, while Bayern Munich are talking to Harry Kane over his future.
Defiant Frank
Under-fire Thomas Frank is convinced he will still be Tottenham manager for the North London derby despite the club’s relegation fears increasing after a 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle.
Spurs looked likely to be only three points above the bottom three until Manchester United’s last-gasp equaliser at 18th-placed West Ham, and the Dane was once again subjected to chants suggesting he would be “sacked in the morning”.
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However asked after the final whistle if he expected to be in charge for leaders Arsenal’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 22, he said: “Yeah, I’m convinced I will be.”
Frank added: “Everyone knows, directors, ownership, myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better. That is what we are working very hard on.”
Ben’s beauty
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick hailed super-sub Benjamin Sesko’s “unbelievable finish” after the striker’s stunning late volley snatched a draw at West Ham.
Sesko got his toe to Bryan Mbeumo’s cross six minutes into stoppage time and rifled it into the top corner to deny Carrick’s old club a vital victory in the relegation battle.
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It was second time the £66.3million Slovenian, yet to start a match under Carrick, has climbed off the bench to score at the death after his 94th-minute winner against Fulham.
Carrick said: “It’s an unbelievable finish from the angle to generate that, to get it on target, to finish it – it’s some goal.”
Slot in a spot?
Arne Slot admits he is enduring by far the most challenging season of his managerial career as he attempts to secure Champions League football with Liverpool.
Sunday’s eventful 2-1 home defeat by Manchester City left the reigning Premier League champions in sixth place and prompted mounting speculation over Slot’s position less than two years after he moved from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp.
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“By a mile,” said the Dutchman when asked if it was his most difficult campaign. “Because all the other seasons I’ve managed there was only positives, I don’t think I’ve ever lost two games in a row (before).
“It is different with the season we’re having now than all the other seasons I’ve managed where we always did something special – and there’s still the possibility that we can do something special this season as well.”
Bayern in ‘intensive’ Kane talks
Bayern Munich are in “intensive talks” with England captain Harry Kane over his future amid speculation that he could make a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old, who has scored 123 goals in 129 appearances for the Bundesliga champions since his £100million switch from Tottenham during the summer of 2023, is under contract until 2027 but has been linked with a move to the Middle East should he not extend his stay at the Allianz Arena.
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However, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl told a press conference: “We are talking. That doesn’t mean negotiations have started. We are in intensive talks with Harry, then the next steps will follow.
“I can’t comment on the rumours circulating that someone is preparing anything (on a transfer bid for Kane). All I can say is that we are in close contact with Harry regarding him and our success.”
What’s on today?
Manchester City have the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just three points when they welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool will attempt to bounce back from their home defeat by City at Sunderland, who remain unbeaten in the league at the Stadium of Light this season, while third-placed Aston Villa entertain Brighton.
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Elsewhere, struggling Burnley travel to Crystal Palace and bottom-of-the-table Wolves head for Nottingham Forest.
Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to rescue a point for Man Utd as they maintained their unbeaten record under Michael Carrick.
Michael Carrick believes Benjamin Sesko is ready to go to another level after praising the impact he made in rescuing a point for Manchester United at West Ham. The 22-year-old is yet to start any of Carrick’s five games in charge but scored a decisive injury-time goal for the second time in three games, with his instinctive finish in the 96th minute securing a point after Tomas Soucek had opened the scoring.
Sesko has two goals in 61 minutes of football under Carrick and has five goals in his last six games, only two of which have been starts, and despite his lack of action he looks in a rich vein of form at the moment.
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The £73million striker was unfortunate not to start at the London Stadium and Carrick admitted he could have brought him on earlier than the 69th minute, with United in need of a focal point to their attack, but when he did come on he proved to be worth the wait.
“It’s always the balance. I think the boys have done fantastically well who have played as well,” said Carrick. “That’s the importance of the whole group and importance of the squad and I’ve said it to them after every game.
“Leny’s come on and made a big difference for us tonight in big moments and then Ben scored again. Ben’s doing a lot work. He’s in a good place, he’s ready to kick on, it’s just managing the balance.
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“We could have changed things a little bit earlier. That’s obviously the decision we’re always trying to make and we were actually having a bit of a spell in the game at that point where we thought we might come back into it, but when Ben came on the pitch he made a big difference.”
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Sesko took his goal brilliantly, producing a clever finish to make Bryan Mbeumo’s cross look better than it was and loop the ball over Hammers goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Carrick has referenced the quality of his finishing in training and is delighted with the steps the young striker is taking in his first season at Old Trafford.
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“It’s an unbelievable finish from the angle to generate that, to get it on target, to finish it,” he said. “It’s some goal from him. He’s capable of that, Ben. He’s done it over time. It’s not that he’s just suddenly burst on the scene.
“He’s been doing it, he’s proven that he can score goals as well. He’s been doing it in training for us as well. It’s not surprising, to be honest. I think that’s what he does, it’s what he’s good at. But certainly to actually do it and to feel it. He did it with the last one [against Tottenham], tonight, a little bit different with the emotion of the game, but certainly important and a big moment for him and us.”
Carrick opted to keep faith with the same team that had beaten Fulham and Tottenham, but a fluid attack failed to fire in the capital, although that flexibility was helpful in the end as he threw players on to try and make the difference.
“There’s a little bit on different games as well as situations in games and how you want to attack, where the space is or what the game looks like,” he said. “We probably didn’t quite get the balance right, if we’re honest, for the first part of the game
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“Which happens, teams are allowed to stop you from scoring, but we kept going and mixed things up, and because we have got that flexibility, I think it certainly helps to find different solutions.”
Brazilian star Gabriela Fujimoto debuts on the global stage of ONE Championship with one clear goal in sight – gain the fifth highlight-reel finish of her career.
The 22-year-old opens her promotional account against Malaysian talent Jihin ‘Shadow Cat’ Radzuan in an atomweight tiff inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13.
Their three-round contest will be part of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
Fujimoto’s well-rounded arsenal makes her a dangerous fighter regardless of where the fight unfolds. Ahead of fight night, she’s confident that trait of hers will propel her to a victory over the Fairtex Training Center athlete.
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Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
“I am a fighter who takes advantage of opportunities. I don’t prioritize a specific outcome, only capitalizing on what presents itself. My varied record reflects that,” she told ONE Championship.
“I believe this fight is wide open, but it will end before 15 minutes.”
A win for the young gun, who turns 23 on fight night, will instantly position her as a legitimate threat in the loaded women’s atomweight MMA division.
Filipina superstar Denice Zamboanga currently serves as the divisional queen, having been elevated to undisputed status after Stamp relinquished her spot atop the throne. Zamboanga captured the interim crown against Alyona Rassohyna in January 2025.
Jihin Radzuan expects an all-out war against Gabriela Fujimoto
Jihin returns to the ring in search of her first win in three outings. But ‘Shadow Cat’ knows getting her hand raised won’t be as straightforward as it seems.
The Malaysian star has done her homework on Gabriela Fujimoto and expects her to be a tough test inside the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
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“I can assure you, both of us are going to give our best. Of course, she wants to show her best performance since this is her debut, and I want to show my best to claim myself back in the winner’s column,” the 27-year-old told ONE Championship in a separate interview.
Jihin vs. Fujimoto is one of nine exciting battles set for ONE Fight Night 40, which will be available to active North American Amazon Prime Video subscribers, live in U.S. primetime, for free.
A top WWE star was attacked brutally backstage. This star was already hurt and could’ve worsened her injury.
Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan have been feuding with each other for the past several weeks. This feud has only gained more intensity in recent weeks. On the 13th January episode of NXT, Kelani Jordan faced off against Lola Vice in a singles match. Lola was able to put away Jordan, but this did little to settle their feud as Kelani made it clear she was not done with Lola. Last week on NXT, Lola competed against Izzi Dame and Thea Hail in a triple threat match for the Women’s North American Championship. However, Kelani Jordan jumped Vice from behind and smashed her wrist in a ladder. Despite this injury, Lola Vice was able to win the AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles a few days later.
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Thanks for the submission!
Tonight on WWE NXT, Lola Vice was getting checked backstage when Robert Stone walked in and congratulated her on winning the AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles. He then told her she could face Kelani Jordan next week if she is medically cleared. Lola said she is fighting her next week. Another official pulled Robert Stone away. Kelani took this opportunity to attack Lola again. She stomped her wrist again, which could’ve further injured her.
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WWE official Robert Stone has had a busy night so far
Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT kicked off with Joe Hendry. However, he was interrupted by Vanity Project who admitted they were the ones who attacked him a few weeks ago. Therefore, Hendry challenged Jackson Drake to a title match. Robert Stone then made the match official.
Later on in the night, Robert Stone had to deal with Keanu Carver who took out an entire locker room of NXT stars. If that wasn’t enough, Ethan Page confronted Stone and demanded a new challenger. Stone booked him to defend the North American Championship against Shiloh Hill.
Robert Stone is quickly finding out how stressful it can be to be GM.
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Under-fire Thomas Frank is convinced he will still be Tottenham manager for next week’s visit of Arsenal despite the club’s relegation fears increasing after a 2-1 home loss to Newcastle.
Spurs were set to be only three points above the bottom three until Manchester United produced a last-gasp equaliser at 18th-placed West Ham.
However, Jacob Ramsey’s 68th-minute winner for Newcastle consigned Frank’s injury-hit team to a fifth defeat in nine matches and they have won only two of their last 17 Premier League fixtures.
Fans once again turned on Frank during this latest home loss with chants for old manager Mauricio Pochettino and more calls for the current Tottenham head coach to be “sacked in the morning” in another toxic atmosphere in N17.
Even though Frank’s tenure slipped into crisis mode once more on Tuesday night, he claimed to still hold the support of the club’s ownership and revealed he had spoken with them on Monday.
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“Yeah, I’m convinced I will be,” Frank responded when asked if he expected to be in charge when Arsenal make the trip to Tottenham on February 22.
“I understand the question and I understand it’s easy to point on me but I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff.
“It’s everyone. If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course we are not in a top position now.
“Everyone knows, directors, ownership, myself, what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better. That is what we are working very hard on.”
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Pressed on if he had any doubts about being the right man for Tottenham after they slipped to only five points above the relegation zone, Frank appeared to aim thinly-veiled digs at some of his predecessors.
Frank added: “(I’m) 1,000 per cent sure. I am also 1,000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing.
“I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience.
“I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here, not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs, that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head.
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“Carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me and that is the fans. We’ve got to get through this.”
It was a painful evening for Tottenham and Frank, but a night to savour for Howe after a difficult run of form.
Malick Thiaw’s stoppage-time goal ensured Newcastle held a deserved half-time lead and even though Archie Gray levelled for Spurs in the 64th minute, Ramsey swept home four minutes later to restore the Magpies’ advantage and earn only a third away league win this season.
Howe had sympathy for opposite number Frank and said: “Momentum is very tough to get and it’s easy to lose. I think in my experience, the times I have really struggled to get results has been down to injuries and that is probably the main reason.
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“That is exactly why Tottenham are where they are currently. I have sympathy for Thomas and his staff because if you look at the list of players, they probably have a very strong Premier League team that they are missing.
“So, I think you need your players to really fight for you as I feel my players did for me.”
