Kamaru Usman will face Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 294, after replacing Paulo Costa on 10 days’ notice. Usman, who reigned as welterweight champion from 2018 until 2022, will make his middleweight debut in the bout, which pits him against one of the most dominant prospects in mixed martial arts. Swedish-born Russian Chimaev is 12-0 as a professional with 11 stoppage wins. The match-up was confirmed on Wednesday (11 October), when Costa revealed that he would need two elbow surgeries this week, having already undergone one two weeks ago. As such, the Brazilian is out of UFC 294, which takes place in Abu Dhabi on 21 October. The 32-year-old’s withdrawal was the second by a Brazilian in the space of two days; on Tuesday (10 October), Charles Oliveira withdrew from the main event of UFC 294 due to a severe cut over his right eye. Oliveira was due to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in a rematch – 12 months after the Russian submitted him in the same venue in Abu Dhabi. Alexander Volkanovski, who holds the featherweight title, is stepping in to replace Oliveira and contest his own rematch with Makhachev, who narrowly outpointed him to retain the lightweight belt in February. Usman, 36, last fought in March, suffering a decision loss to Leon Edwards while challenging for the welterweight title, which Edwards took from the Nigerian-American with a brutal head kick last August. Chimaev, 29, last fought in September 2022, submitting Kevin Holland in Round 1. Chimaev was originally set to face Nate Diaz on that occasion but missed weight, leading the card to be altered on short notice. Diaz instead fought and submitted Tony Ferguson in the main event. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Usada ends UFC partnership over ‘untenable’ Conor McGregor situation Charles Oliveira replaced by Alexander Volkanovski in Islam Makhachev fight UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year

Even more than his old dog!

Al Ettifaq failed with late move for Manchester United's Jadon Sancho.

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Mad Dog is at it again.

The Detroit Lions invested in their linebacking corps in the offseason, drafting former Iowa star Jack Campbell with the No. 18 pick and re-signing Alex Anzalone to a three-year, $18.75 million deal to bolster a position group that was shaky at times last year

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Pep Guardiola felt his team were given a useful test after coming from behind to begin their Champions League defence with a 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade. The holders were stunned when the Serbian champions claimed a shock lead on the stroke of half-time through Osman Bukari in Tuesday’s Group G clash at the Etihad Stadium. Yet as they did in the Premier League at West Ham last weekend, they hit back to win after the break, this time with two goals from Julian Alvarez and one from Rodri. City manager Guardiola said: “At the end, going in at half-time 1-0, after what we’ve done that’s nice – after winning the treble we need to be the type of champions who prove to ourselves that we are able to make a comeback. “In this situation it’s nice to prove it. In both games we played incredible and immediately at the start of the second half. “We have things to improve in general but that’s really, really good.” Guardiola was particularly impressed with the performance of his goalscorers. Alvarez has benefited from a run in the side this season while Rodri, match-winner in last season’s final, continues to excel. Guardiola said of Alvarez: “His movement was so quick and he’s so young. What a signing the club have done. “He has everything – fighting, goals, assists. Incredible. And he’s a lovely guy. Playing behind Erling (Haaland) he is an incredible threat.” Rodri has developed into one of the best midfielders in the game during his time at City and Guardiola is in no doubt he is now at the top. He said: “Yes, he’s the best – but hopefully he can be better. He has a good mentality and good things to improve. “But we were lucky again that the club has signed these type of players.” The downside for City was the loss of Bernardo Silva shortly before half-time with an unspecified injury. Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with the doctors but apparently for the next games he will not be able to play.” The Portuguese joins an injury list that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic. Guardiola said: “When we have five important players – really, really important players – injured, to sustain that for a long time will be difficult. But it is what it is. “We cannot have the salaries and budgets for transfers to have 55 players. It would be chaos for the clubs and they would be bankrupt. Sometimes it happens.” Red Star coach Barak Bachar admitted City were the better side. He said: “We tried, we fought, but we conceded an early goal in the second half. They should have scored more. “They are a great team, they have exceptional players. After we conceded it was difficult to maintain the pace, because we never play at this pace in our league. We learned a lot from this match.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Eddie Howe feels Newcastle’s point at AC Milan will ‘look better and better’ Erik ten Hag concerned by Manchester United’s mounting injury problems England’s Rachel Daly believes calendar in women’s game needs a re-think

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday for intentionally throwing at Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs

In this week's edition of The Fifth Down, Kinnu Singh surveys the outcome and implications of three Thanksgiving Day matchups, plus a look ahead for the rest of the week's games in Week 12 power rankings.

Greg Olsen would not be surprised if Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals won the Super Bowl this season.If you do not think the Kansas City Chiefs are repeating as Super Bowl champions this season for whatever reason, then the Cincinnati Bengals need to be on your shortlist of candidates to do...