Why Somalia's once-banned boxing thrives in the former warzone
Somalia's only official boxing club offers a haven for a group of young people in Mogadishu.
2023-05-17 07:27
UFC’s ‘BMF’ title returns as Dustin Poirier fights Justin Gaethje for vacant belt
The UFC’s ‘BMF’ title will make its return in July, as Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje clash in the main event of UFC 291. Poirier beat Gaethje via TKO in 2018, and the Americans will square off again in Utah, with the ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title on the line. The UFC introduced the belt in 2019 as a prize for the winner of a fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, with the latter winning via doctor stoppage. WWE star-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson then wrapped the gold around Masvidal’s waist. The title has not been involved in any fights since then, and Masvidal retired from mixed martial arts last month after a loss to Gilbert Burns. The UFC is now reintroducing the belt, which will be up for grabs when Poirier and Gaethje meet in a lightweight bout on 29 July. After beating Gaethje in 2018, Poirier went on to become interim champion in 2019 before losing to official champion Khabib Nurmagomedov via submission later that year. In 2020, Gaethje similarly claimed the interim title before losing to Nurmagomedov by submission while trying to unify the belts. In Poirier’s last fight, the “Diamond” submitted Michael Chandler in November, a year after Gaethje outpointed “Iron Mike”. Gaethje most recently fought at UFC 286 in March, narrowly outpointing Rafael Fiziev. The winner of Poirier vs Gaethje 2 may emerge as the next challenger for reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who is due to return to the ring in October. In the co-main event of UFC 291, Alex Pereira will take on Jan Blachowicz. The bout marks Pereira’s light-heavyweight debut in his first fight since losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya. Meanwhile, Blachowicz is a former light-heavyweight champion. Also, Paulo Costa faces Ikram Aliskerov, while Tony Ferguson goes up against Bobby Green, and Michael Chiesa fights Kevin Holland. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year How world’s best sports interviewer copes when the stars hit back Francis Ngannou explains unprecedented PFL deal and how it will help his opponents
2023-05-17 07:25
2023 Leagues Cup: Groups, teams and what to know
The 15 League Cup groups have been set consisting of all 47 clubs, 18 from Liga MX and 29 from the MLS. Each region will have four different groups except for the West which will only have three.Two teams will not have to play in the group stage and get an automatic bye to the round of 32. LAFC ...
2023-05-17 07:24
Braves targeting surprising answer to pitching injury woes?
It's clear the Braves are leaving no stone unturned in finding an answer to their pitching injuries, but they might have a surprising solution in the works.Though Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has remarked that the club won't overreact and try to make a trade to fill ...
2023-05-17 07:23
Rory McIlroy toning down criticism of LIV Golf at PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy is toning down his anti-LIV Golf rhetoric ahead of the PGA Championship
2023-05-17 07:23
Kerr: Draymond Green's return crucial for Warriors title hopes
Coach Steve Kerr was frank about the lasting impact Draymond Green’s punch of Jordan Poole in a preseason practice had on the Golden State Warriors’ season, which ended with a second-round loss to the Lakers
2023-05-17 07:22
NFL Rumors: Joe Burrow contract gets major hints dropped
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is now eligible to ink a contract extension, and based on recent reports, he's leaning more toward the team-friendly kind.The Cincinnati Bengals know what's coming: a massive contract for the one and only, Joe Burrow.The former Comeback Player of the ...
2023-05-17 07:20
Sunny NHL playoffs: Every Stanley Cup semifinalist is from Sun Belt for first time
The NHL is about to stage a very non-traditional pair of conference finals
2023-05-17 07:19
Sunny NHL playoffs: Every Stanley Cup semifinalist team is from the Sun Belt for the first time
The NHL is about to stage a very non-traditional pair of conference finals
2023-05-17 06:55
I liked everything about our win, says Inter coach Inzaghi
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi said he had been impressed by every facet of his team's "extraordinary" journey to the Champions League final after they beat AC...
2023-05-17 06:50
Kang enters partnership with Lyon for multi-team women's soccer organization
Washington Spirit owner Michelle Kang has struck a deal to form a multi-team women’s soccer organization that will include her National Women’s Soccer League team and French club Lyon
2023-05-17 06:28
Luton Town one game from the Premier League after comeback win over Sunderland
Luton booked a place in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final with a 2-0 win over Sunderland. The Hatters delighted a noisy crowd at Kenilworth Road as first-half goals from defenders Gabe Osho and Tom Lockyer gave them victory over the Wearsiders. It proved enough for Rob Edwards’ team to overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit and seal a 3-2 aggregate success. A Wembley final against Coventry or Middlesbrough awaits on May 27, with Luton targeting a return to English top-flight football after a 31-year absence. The Hatters got the breakthrough they needed in the 10th minute when Osho tapped home from close range after the visitors failed to clear a Jordan Clark corner. Sunderland came close to an equaliser three minutes later when Pierre Ekwah saw a flicked effort from Patrick Roberts’ corner saved by Ethan Horvath. The midfielder was sharpest to the rebound but his effort struck the woodwork and penalty appeals from the visitors came to nothing. Luton came close to a second in the 22nd minute when Luke O’Nien cleared a Carlton Morris effort off the line after Anthony Patterson failed to hold Alfie Doughty’s cross. The home side threatened again when Morris drew a full-length save from Patterson, who was relieved to see Lockyer’s header drop just wide of his post seconds later. Morris fired just wide in the 38th minute following good work by Elijah Adebayo as the hosts sought to go ahead in the tie. They did just that five minutes later when Lockyer took advantage of space to head Doughty’s cross past Patterson. Morris had a great chance to make it 3-0 within 30 seconds of the restart when Patterson miskicked the ball to him, but the striker blazed over. This was proving a game too far for a Sunderland side ravaged by injury, particularly in defence, in the closing stages of the campaign - although Aji Alese returned from injury as the game’s first substitute in the 58th minute. The contest was becoming stretched and Alese produced a timely challenge soon after to deny Adebayo as he lined up a shot, before Roberts rounded off a promising run with a weak shot wide. The same player fired over with 14 minutes remaining as the Black Cats, who finished 11 points behind their opponents, sought to take the game to extra time. But they rarely looked like doing so, with Luton‘s Cody Drameh the closest to scoring in the closing stages, firing wide of an empty goal in added time after Patterson had come up for a corner. The final whistle signalled joyous celebrations from the majority of the 10,013 crowd, including a large-scale pitch invasion. PA
2023-05-17 06:24
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