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Which White House fight fell through? Dana White dismisses UFC theory

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Dana White has dismissed a report that Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev was originally meant to take place at this summer’s UFC White House event.

On Saturday night, the card for an unprecedented event on 14 June was confirmed, with Topuria defending his lightweight belt against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event.

In the co-main event, Alex Pereira will face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, with regular champion Tom Aspinall waiting in the wings – but still suffering from an eye injury caused by Gane’s eye pokes in October.

UFC president Dana White

UFC president Dana White (AP)

Many fans have expressed disappointment in the card, after promises that it would be the greatest in UFC history. Some fans craved a match-up between pound-for-pound No 1 Makhachev and No 2 Topuria, for example, as well as a dream fight between Pereira and all-time great Jon Jones.

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Over the weekend, Marca journalist Irati Prat actually reported that Makhachev vs Topuria had been planned for the White House event. The report followed comments by White earlier in the week, when the UFC president said a fight had fallen through at the 11th hour.

But at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference on Saturday, White denied that Makhachev vs Topuria was the bout that collapsed. The American, 56, even denied that the contest was ever planned.

“That’s not true [that Makhachev was going to fight Topuria],” said White. “It was never Islam vs Topuria. Don’t worry about what fights are being made; we announce which ones are made and which ones will be happening.

“I told you there were some weird circumstances [as] the reason that fight fell out […] All the boys went back to the office and literally were there ‘til 9 in the morning, and that’s how Gaethje ended up on the card. And Topuria wasn’t originally supposed to be on the card either, so he got the call, too.

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Ilia Topuria is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, and a former featherweight champion

Ilia Topuria is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, and a former featherweight champion (Getty Images)
Justin Gaethje (left) almost finished Paddy Pimblett multiple times in their interim-title fight

Justin Gaethje (left) almost finished Paddy Pimblett multiple times in their interim-title fight (Getty)

“I don’t know [when Makhachev will return]; he’s got some hand issues, I know that. I don’t know how serious the hand issues are or how long that will keep him out, but yeah, he’s injured.”

That same evening, Gaethje had claimed: “Two days ago, I got a call and they said, ‘You’re definitely not fighting on the White House card, so I was like: ‘Oof.’ And then yesterday, I got a call and they said: ‘You might hear something, you might be on the White House card.’ I was like, ‘How are you gonna do a complete 180 turn on me?’, and then today, I found out that I was on it. I didn’t know if I was main event or not.”

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At the UFC 326 post-fight press conference, White did say: “That is true [that Gaethje was brought in on late notice].”

Topuria has long called for a showdown with Makhachev, but so far the dream fight has eluded him.

Islam Makhachev (top) with coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC icon

Islam Makhachev (top) with coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC icon (AP)

Topuria vacated the featherweight title last February to move up and challenge for the lightweight belt, which Makhachev held at the time. However, the Russian gave up the lightweight strap last May and set his sights on welterweight gold.

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In June, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight title. Then, in November, Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight belt.

With Topuria subsequently taking a break from MMA due to personal reasons, the UFC booked an interim-title fight between Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The American dominated the Liverpudlian for a points win in January.

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What Omar Marmoush did to offer Man City new threat without Erling Haaland

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Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush was the match winner on Saturday night as they beat Newcastle 3-1 in the FA Cup

Pep Guardiola could not hide his delight on Saturday night as Manchester City progressed to the FA Cup quarter finals. Despite going behind early on to Newcastle, City rallied and were deserving winners.

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After the game, Eddie Howe insisted the Blues were on their way back to their best. A huge compliment, particularly as City were without their talisman. Erling Haaland was rightly rested and Omar Marmoush replaced him.

The Egypt international repaid Guardiola’s faith with a match-winning brace that earned him praise from the boss. “He’s a top striker and the finishing, especially our second goal and our third is his biggest quality. He has to improve in small spaces and his first control but he deserved it.”

The unfortunate thing for Marmoush is he will almost certainly lose his place to Haaland on Wednesday night for the trip to Real Madrid. The Norwegian was rested specifically with the Champions League in mind.

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However, that does not mean Marmoush’s efforts were in vain. MEN Sport has looked at the 27-year-old’s performance at St James’ Park and spotted three ways he can offer City a different threat without Haaland.

Pressing

Haaland is an exceptional athlete but there are some things City sacrifice to have a goalscorer of his quality on the pitch. One of those can be pressing from the front. Guardiola once said he loved it when Haaland ‘presses like an animal,’ and while that is in his repertoire, it is not a constant in his game.

What was impressive about Marmoush was how quickly he closed down the Newcastle defence throughout the match. In the second half, he did exceptionally to win the ball from Malick Thiaw to spark an opportunity for Jeremy Doku to cross.

Finding pockets

Considering how good he is, it is no surprise Haaland sees scoring goals as ‘easy’. In a recent interview, the striker admitted he was inspired by Leicester City icon Jamie Vardy when he was growing up.

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Vardy, much like Haaland, loves to play off the last man and use his pace to score. This is a trait Haaland adopted and nobody can argue with its effectiveness.

Interestingly, Marmoush showed for his second and City’s third, how he can offer something entirely different. Instead of looking for Matheus Nunes to play the through ball, the striker held back to allow himself a pocket of space on the edge of the box to fire past Aaron Ramsdale.

It was a smart decision as Newcastle’s defenders frantically regathered their shape. He still had a lot to do, but that difference to Haaland can give opposition teams a major headache.

Invisible man

When a centre-back sees he will be coming up against Haaland, they know instantly he will be their sole focus. As we saw at the Etihad against Newcastle last month, Dan Burn’s job was to effectively wrestle with Haaland and stop him from scoring.

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It worked but opened up space for other players and, ultimately, City won. Haaland plays a selfless role in that respect and that can be forgotten.

What was striking about Saturday night was how often defenders were not man marking Marmoush. He became the invisible man just gliding under the radar before popping up to score.

His first was a prime example. By the time the ball reached him at the back post, Newcastle’s players were not alert to the danger and Marmoush was free to fire in.

Marmoush will not be the centre-forward at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night. But, Guardiola will be delighted the striker has added another dimension to an already stacked attack.

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‘Indian cricket in golden phase’: BCCI after T20 World Cup 2026 triumph | Cricket News

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'Indian cricket in golden phase': BCCI after T20 World Cup 2026 triumph

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) congratulated India cricket team after their victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.India registered a commanding 96-run victory in the summit clash, lifting the trophy in front of a packed home crowd.

Ahmedabad erupts as Team India arrive at hotel after T20 World Cup win

The triumph marked a historic milestone as India successfully defended the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to retain the trophy. The victory was also significant as India became the first nation to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil, making the occasion even more memorable for millions of fans.Under the leadership of captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team showcased fearless and dynamic cricket throughout the competition. With explosive batting, disciplined bowling and exceptional fielding, the side remained consistent across all phases of the tournament and delivered when it mattered most.The BCCI also praised head coach Gautam Gambhir and the support staff for their leadership, planning and preparation, which helped build a confident and well-balanced team capable of performing under pressure.“The Board also commends the Men’s Selection Committee for identifying and backing a group of players who combined experience with youthful energy, resulting in a formidable squad that delivered on the biggest stage. The BCCI also thanks all its affiliated State Associations for their continued contribution in helping achieve this vision,” BCCI said in a statement.Congratulating the team, BCCI president Mithun Manhas said, “Winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a moment of immense pride for the entire nation. To defend the title and achieve this feat on home soil makes it even more special. The team played outstanding cricket throughout the tournament under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav and the guidance of Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. I congratulate every member of the squad, the coaching staff and the selectors for this remarkable accomplishment.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said, “Indian cricket is currently in its golden phase. India hosted two major ICC events — the ICC Women’s World Cup last year and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup — and to emerge champions in both is simply remarkable. This success is also a reflection of the strong foundations laid over the years through progressive planning and vision. The contributions of Mr Jay Shah during his tenure in strengthening Indian cricket’s structures and global standing have played a significant role in shaping this era of excellence. Kudos to Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his fearless group, the team management led by Gautam Gambhir and the selectors for building a balanced side capable of excelling on the world stage yet again.”BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla added, “This victory is the result of collective effort, meticulous preparation and the commitment shown by the players and support staff throughout the tournament. The team has displayed remarkable composure and confidence in high-pressure situations, a hallmark of champion sides. To win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in front of our home fans makes the moment even more special and memorable. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of ICC Chair Mr Jay Shah, whose strong leadership continues to strengthen the global growth of the game. We thank the ICC for organising such a wonderful tournament that showcased the very best of T20 cricket. This triumph will remain a historic milestone for Indian cricket and a source of immense pride for the entire nation.”

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“Give me a refund” — Fans furious after repeated rescheduling of ENHYPEN online fansign amid members’ poor health

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Fans of ENHYPEN have expressed frustration online after another schedule change affected the group’s video call fansign event. On March 8, the organizers of the event titled [VIDEO CALL EVENT 2] ENHYPEN ‘THE SIN: VANISH’ announced that the event would no longer take place on its previously scheduled date of March 10, 2026.

In an official notice shared online, the organizers says that the event has been postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances.” The video call event will now take place on April 2, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. KST, while the test call for participants has been scheduled for 7:00 p.m. KST on the same day.

In the notice, the organizers apologized to participants and fans who had been preparing for the event. They stated that the team would work to provide a “smoother and more stable service” and asked fans for their understanding regarding the change.

The announcement came shortly after another disruption related to ENHYPEN’s another online fansign events earlier in March. On March 2, a separate video call event involving ENHYPEN was canceled only two hours before its scheduled start time. At the time, the organizers explained that the postponement was due to the members’ poor health.

The second cancellation drew criticism from some fans, many of whom had already adjusted their schedules to participate in the event. Several participants also raised concerns about the lack of earlier notice. One fan wrote online,

“If you’re going to do that, you should give me a refund. What are you doing taking the money?”

One fan wrote (Image via TheQoo)One fan wrote (Image via TheQoo)
One fan wrote (Image via TheQoo)

Others also questioned the repeated schedule changes and expressed confusion about the newly announced date.

“Shouldn’t there be a clause that allows cancellation when changing the date of the call? It’s so arbitrary. What if I don’t receive the test call? What if someone else shows up during the call? Threats are rampant” said this fan.

“I don’t think there’s any need to badmouth the members. I’m just annoyed by companies that treat fans’ time and money as a joke” wrote this user.

“Is there a problem with Hello Live? Why does it keep doing that in the episodes they do?” asked another fan.

Some ENHYPEN fans said the situation suggested that there might be additional factors behind the postponements.

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“There must be something going on. There’s no communication ” said one netizen.

“It seems like there’s trouble with the record label, probably due to money ” read a comment,

“At this point, it seems like there really was a contract problem” wrote this user.

“It seems like there’s trouble with the record label, probably due to money” added this fan.


ENHYPEN’s THE SIN: VANISH surpasses 2 million first-week sales, continues steady run on Billboard charts

Meanwhile, ENHYPEN began 2026 with a strong commercial performance following the release of their seventh mini-album THE SIN: VANISH on January 16, 2026. The album recorded high sales both domestically and internationally soon after its release. Data from Hanteo Chart showed that THE SIN: VANISH sold 2,075,056 copies between January 16 and January 22, becoming the first album of 2026 to surpass two million copies within its first week.

On its release day alone, the album sold more than 1.6 million copies, becoming the highest first-day sales figure recorded by any album this year. THE SIN: VANISH is the group’s fourth album to exceed two million first-week sales and the third album to reach the milestone within a single week, following ROMANCE: UNTOLD and DESIRE: UNLEASH.

The album also continued to perform on international charts. According to the March 7 chart update published by Billboard on March 3, THE SIN: VANISH ranked No. 95 on the Billboard 200, the publication’s main album chart. The release remained on the chart for six consecutive weeks since debuting at No. 2 on the January 31 chart.

In addition, the album held No. 2 on the World Albums chart for three consecutive weeks and ranked No. 7 on the Top Album Sales chart. ENHYPEN as a group also appeared at No. 57 on the Artist 100 chart.

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Outside of music promotions, ENHYPEN continues to engage with fans through their self-produced variety show EN‑O’CLOCK. New episodes of the show is released every Thursday on the group’s official YouTube channel.