Tour de France overall leader Jonas Vingegaard is calling on fans to behave better at cycling’s biggest race after another mass crash marred the 15th stage

An injury-hit Canterbury Crusaders missing All Blacks forwards Sam Whitelock and Ethan Blackadder are anticipating a bruising encounter when they host the Auckland Blues in the...

Jack Roslovic scored 3:07 into overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 Saturday

Francis Ngannou has corrected Dana White’s false claim that the heavyweight was released by the UFC, after White criticised Ngannou for signing with the PFL. Ngannou left the UFC at the end of his contract in January, relinquishing the heavyweight title before announcing last week that he had signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). As part of Ngannou’s PFL deal, the Cameroonian will be able to box on the side, and his opponents will receive a guaranteed pay of $2million. Furthermore, Ngannou, 36, will serve as chairman of PFL Africa and have equity in the promotion. The “Predator” is expected to box this year and make his PFL debut in 2024. UFC president White said on Saturday that the deal “makes no sense to me” and that Ngannou “wants to take zero risks”. The American also referenced “the day that we released him”. Ngannou took exception to the 53-year-old’s comments, however. “What is your problem with me?” Ngannou tweeted on Sunday (21 May). “I completed my contract, was a free agent, and chose to walk away. You didn’t release me. “I hate taking risks? That’s why I defended my title to [fulfil] my contract with no acl or mcl? “I’m finally getting paid and respected, and have a deal that’s fair and equal for all parties. Why are you so against me being free and happy?” Ngannou also hit back at White’s claim that the Cameroonian had turned down fights in the UFC prior to his exit. “The reason I fought three times in three years is because you wanted to control my deal and [sign] a new one. And freeze me out,” Ngannou wrote. “‘I owe these guys three fights a year.’ Isn’t that what you say? What happened? I always asked for & never said no to any fight in the 3 years.” Ngannou most recently fought in January 2022, outpointing former teammate Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight title with an injured knee. He later underwent treatment for the injury, before leaving the UFC this January. In March, UFC light-heavyweight icon Jon Jones won the vacant heavyweight title by submitting Gane in Round 1. Jones and Ngannou have long gone back and forth on Twitter and in the media, with White previously accusing Jones of avoiding a fight with Ngannou. On Saturday, however, the UFC president claimed the opposite, leading Ngannou to write: “If you ever really want that Jon Jones fight to happen, reach out to @PeteMurrayPFL. Whenever, wherever.” Ngannou also shared footage of White suggesting, after Ngannou had beaten Gane, that Jones had no desire to fight the Cameroonian. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Francis Ngannou: Who will the heavyweight fight next after signing with PFL? Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones McGregor Forever: The problem with the new Conor McGregor documentary Who will Francis Ngannou fight next after signing with PFL? Francis Ngannou explains unprecedented PFL deal and how it will help his opponents Conor McGregor makes guarantee for Michael Chandler fight

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The Pan American Games open Friday in Chile’s capital with more than 100 spots available for next year’s Paris Olympics and the usual contest to see who will finish second behind the United States in the medals chart

Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Joey Votto homered on consecutive pitches by Eury Pérez in the fourth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds stopped a six-game slide by holding off the Miami Marlins for a 5-2 victory

Michigan State must regret giving Mel Tucker such a massive contract. His buyout is prohibitive even as he struggles to beat lesser opposition.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams looks to win the Heisman Trophy for the second year in a row. Here is the Week 1 edition of the Heisman Trophy Power Rankings.

The Spanish league's relegation fight has seven teams trying to avoid joining Elche in the second division next season

Norway forward and 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg is out with a groin injury for her country’s final group stage match against the Philippines