List of All Articles with Tag 'epgb sports'

Julianna Pena has labelled Amanda Nunes a ‘coward’ for retiring at UFC 289. Nunes, 35, retained the bantamweight title with a points win over Irene Aldana on Saturday, before calling time on a career seen by many as the greatest in women’s mixed martial arts history. One of the few blemishes on the Brazilian’s career came in 2021, when Nunes – who also holds the UFC women’s featherweight title – was submitted by Pena with the bantamweight belt on the line. Nunes avenged the upset loss by dominating the American in 2022, and the pair were due for a trilogy bout at UFC 289 until Pena withdrew due to injury. Pena, 33, was in attendance in Vancouver to see Nunes retire, and the former champion said on The MMA Hour on Monday: “There was a part of me that really wanted to storm the cage. I had so many people like, ‘Yes, we’ll do it, we’ll throw you over the gate!’ Then my coach was like, ‘Don’t do it. Be classy and don’t do it.’ So, I let her have my moment, but it was really difficult for me, because there were so many times where my urge was to go, ‘Now is the time, go, go go.’ “But at the end of the day, she’s retired, she’s off in the sunset, she’s dead to me at this point, and we’ve just got to keep the division moving. Now we’re stepping into day one of the ‘Pena Power’ era. I’m the champ, I’ve always been the champ in my heart and in my head [...] It’s just a matter of time before the belt’s around my waist again. “I’ve been telling you from the beginning: She’s been wanting to retire, she was one foot out the door the entire time. “She even said it herself: She was going to retire after she tapped to me, but she didn’t, because she decided I’m too good looking and she doesn’t want me to have the belt. Seriously, she’s got a problem with me.” Pena has not fought since losing the bantamweight title to Nunes last July. The rivals were set to headline UFC 289 until a rib injury forced Pena out of the bout, leading Aldana to step in. “At the end of the day, Amanda didn’t want the fight,” Pena said. “The whole time, the UFC asked her to make the trilogy, she didn’t want to make it, and they made that clear to me. They said, ‘She doesn’t want to fight you.’ That’s why it took so long to book the trilogy, and when I fell out because of injury, she said it was ‘less heavy’ for her. “Hopefully she comes back. That would be best-case scenario, so we can squash this thing and finish this trilogy. It was literally going to be the greatest trilogy in women’s MMA. It’s never happened before, and she lost that opportunity to make it happen. I lost that opportunity because I got injured, she lost that opportunity because she wants to retire early. I say she took the coward’s way out, and that’s all there is to it.” Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More MMA great Amanda Nunes retires after win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289 Miami Heat mascot hospitalised after Conor McGregor punch Meet Charles Oliveira, the UFC’s miracle man

The final day of the Premier League season saw only the relegation battle still outstanding to be sorted, ultimately with Leeds United and Leicester City joining Southampton in dropping down to the Championship - while Everton, again, survived. Naturally there will be plenty of off-field developments at each of the relegated sides, with Leeds a good example after the agreement of a club sale to the owners of the San Francisco 49ers. Alongside that, the natural implication of failing to survive in the top flight is that bigger clubs will come calling for those players deemed too good to go down. Rumours have already circulated around a number of those names and Youri Tielemans has already agreed to join Aston Villa after deparing Leicester; here are 12 more who could easily attract a move to a top-flight club this summer if their present sides feel the need to sell to balance the books after departing the richest league on the planet. James Ward-Prowse Starting with the side who are already gone, central midfielder and dead-ball expert Ward-Prowse will certainly be in demand. An England international, the 28-year-old hasn’t been at his best this term but failings around him haven’t helped. Still has eight goals and four assists in a dismal team, and it’s hard to see him spending even a season in the Championship. Armel Bella-Kotchap While Saints’ defensive unit as a whole has been far too porous, individually there are a couple of players who have impressed. Centre-back Bella-Kotchap is one, with some tenacious displays earning him strong reviews earlier in the campaign. Put him alongside a more experienced player in a more cohesive unit and it’s safe to say his career is on an upward trajectory. Romeo Lavia Another recent recruit, teenage midfielder Lavia is already interesting plenty of top-half clubs who have been impressed with his tactical intelligence as much as his ferocious defensive work, overstretched as he has been in the middle of the park and even with one or two errors on show, as is usual for young players. Considering this was a rookie season for him in the top flight he has acquitted himself very well and the Belgian is already capped at senior international level. Kyle Walker-Peters Not so much a star for the future this time, but Walker-Peters has long since proven his capabilities in the Premier League. Add in his versatility and the fact he has only two years left on his contract and this summer seems the right one for any clubs keen on him to make their move. Kamaldeen Sulemana Of all the January arrivals who failed to impact at Saints, former Rennes man Sulemana might be the biggest disappointment - and therefore potentially the bargain with the biggest upside. At age 21 there’s a long runway for improvement for the Ghanaian, who can play wide or central in attack and showed what he’s capable of on the final day with a brace against Liverpool - but then again perhaps a season as a guaranteed starter would actually prove more beneficial for him in the long run. If Saints keep hold of him he should be a standout star in the Championship. James Maddison Moving onto the teams still fighting for survival, James Maddison looks to be one who might move on regardless of the final day. The creative attacker is certainly playing at a higher level than most of his Leicester teammates and has already been linked with the likes of Newcastle. Perhaps the only real factor at play here is the transfer fee; the Foxes might be able to ask for significantly more if they do beat the drop. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Might be one Leicester hope to hang onto even if they are in the second tier, given he has a very long-term contract, but Dewsbury-Hall is almost certain to have top-flight admirers. Energetic, diligent in both halves of the pitch and with a sprinkling of magic about his play, the 24-year-old is too good for the Championship but might be too pricey to prise away. Harvey Barnes Finishing up at the Foxes, Harvey Barnes is already a known target - the Independentreported Aston Villa’s keen interest in the left-sided attacking outlet this week. Despite Leicester’s struggles he has 12 goals to his name this season and with two years remaining on his deal it’s probably time to make a step up, since even if they survive this weekend, his club don’t look like mounting a real revival any time soon. Timothy Castagne Far more wing-back than full-back, Timothy Castagne is a versatile defender who has had an up-and-down time at Leicester to be kind - but Arsenal have already reportedly eyed him up as a squad booster this summer, maybe on the cheap. The 27-year-old was a big-money recruit three years ago, and still has two years left on his deal. But relegation, along with the financial struggles the club have had over the past year or so, will lower the amount the Foxes can ask for. Tyler Adams Onto Leeds and the first probable departure is American midfield dynamo Tyler Adams. An excellent ball-winner, ball-carrier and team leader in the centre of the park, it’s unthinkable he’d drop down into the second division. An injury absence at the end of this season hasn’t helped Leeds at all but he has long since shown himself a top performer. Luis Sinisterra Given the ability of some of their players, it’s a bit of a wonder Leeds are down there at all - until you watch some of the defensive work, at least. At the other end of the pitch it can be a very different matter though and Sinisterra is another who, having fought around the top of the Eredivisie for Feyenoord before a £25m last summer, surely won’t be a Championship player. Injuries have hampered him this term but he’s electric when fit. Wilfried Gnonto One of the bargains of the season, Leeds signed the Italian for about £4m in September and he is a real gem in the making. Given the length of his deal and the fact he’s only 19, perhaps he’s one of those they’ll hope to keep and shoot straight back up with - but other, bigger clubs have been impressed this season by Gnonto, make no mistake. He’s already a senior goalscorer for Italy; he probably isn’t going to be keen on facing Rotherham and Hull next term. Read More Premier League 2022/23 season awards: Best player, manager, transfer flop and breakthrough act Aston Villa sign Youri Tielemans from Leicester Man City secure landmark Champions League victory that stretches beyond historic treble Kylian Mbappe alerts Premier League clubs with surprise announcement about his future Jack Grealish revels as Manchester City parade treble Manchester City’s trophy parade in pictures

Heavyweight Stipe Miocic (20-4; 15 knockouts/TKOs, 5 decisions) Former two-time champion Miocic holds the record for the most consecutive successful defences of the UFC heavyweight title, in a division where the belt is frequently passed around. The American won the title by knocking out Brazil’s Fabrico Werdum in hostile territory in 2016, going on to record stoppage victories over Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos before outpointing Francis Ngannou with a wrestling masterclass. Miocic then dropped the belt to Daniel Cormier with a knockout loss later in 2018, but the part-time firefighter regained the gold with his own stoppage of his compatriot one year later. The pair rounded out their trilogy in the summer of 2020, when Miocic beat Cormier on points to retain the title. In his most recent bout, in March 2021, Miocic was knocked out by old foe Ngannou to lose the belt for the second time, though that result said more about Ngannou’s improvements than any waning of Miocic’s skills. Although the versatile American is now 40, heavyweights tend to fight later into their lives than most mixed martial artists, and he could now be set for a showdown with the next man on this list... Light-heavyweight Jon Jones (27-1, 1 No Contest; 10 KO/TKOs, 7 submissions, 10 decisions) This passage is written with great reluctance, on account of Jones having tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs numerous times – as well as having been charged with and found guilty of numerous offences outside of the Octagon. The problem is, if the greatest light-heavyweight of all time is not Jones, you have to start making cases for fighters whose resumes just don’t come anywhere close to the American’s. Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history at 23 years old (a record yet to be broken) by winning the title with a stoppage of Mauricio Rua in 2011. That win took Jones’ UFC record to 7-1 – with his sole loss having come via an unfortunate disqualification – and “Bones” only improved his standing by running through a ‘who’s who’ at 205lbs. Jones retained the light-heavyweight title against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier and Glover Teixeira. Almost all of those men had previously held titles in the UFC, and the latter two eventually did. In the time since that run, Jones’ transgressions outside of the ring and with performance-enhancing drugs have seen him stripped of the light-heavyweight title twice and interim belt once – as well as seeing a second win against Cormier overturned to a No Contest. His third reign as champion brought a second victory over Gustafsson and a dominant win against Anthony Smith but also controversial decision victories over Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos. Jones relinquished the belt after his successful defence against Reyes in 2020, teasing a move up to heavyweight. That move finally came this March, as Jones submitted Ciryl Gane to win the vacant belt in the first round. Jones, 35, is seen by many as the most naturally-talented fighter in UFC history and a combatant with almost unrivalled ring IQ. Unfortunately we may never know how natural his talents really are. Middleweight Anderson Silva (34-11, 1 NC; 23 KO/TKOs, 3 submissions, 8 decisions) Like Jones, though not to the same extent, Silva’s legacy has been tainted by failed drugs tests, and the Brazilian is not quite as far ahead of the middleweight pack as “Bones” is at light-heavyweight. Recent 185lbs champion Israel Adesanya, who has a victory over Silva, had been staking an increasingly sharp claim to be regarded as the best ever in the division prior to a title loss to Alex Pereira, but his hero’s own argument stands on strong foundations built over a long period of time. Silva won the UFC middleweight title with a game-changing performance in 2006, devastating Rich Franklin in the Thai clinch to secure a stoppage within three minutes and begin a seven-year reign, which included 14 successful title defences in a row. Both the length of time and number of successful defences remain UFC records to this day. Silva’s title loss to Chris Weidman in 2013 marked the start of a nine-fight run in which Silva recorded one win, one No Contest and seven defeats. He has not fought since the most recent of those results – a stoppage loss to Uriah Hall in 2020 – and at 48 years old is unlikely to compete in MMA again. However, he has already boxed professionally since then, at one point impressively outpointing former WBC middleweight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr – who is nine years Silva’s junior. Welterweight Georges St-Pierre (26-2; 8 KO/TKOs, 6 submissions, 12 decisions) St-Pierre is in a similar position to Silva in as much as he has long been the consensus GOAT in his division. Unlike Silva, however, there are no indiscretions to count against GSP. He was a model mixed martial artist and is seemingly a model human being. The Canadian embodies the value of respect that has always been a core component of martial arts, and his game was as well-rounded as any in the history of the sport. St-Pierre, now 41, also avenged the only defeats of his professional MMA career, beating Matt Hughes in a rematch to win the welterweight title in 2006, then overcoming Matt Serra in 2008 to reclaim the belt after losing it to the American in what is widely seen as the biggest upset in UFC history. St-Pierre left the sport in 2013 after a controversial points victory over Johny Hendricks, but the wrestling specialist returned in 2017 to beat Michael Bisping for the middleweight title – thus joining a small group of two-weight UFC champions. The Canadian has resisted the temptation to return to MMA, wisely preserving his almost faultless legacy as the consensus GOAT in the sport. Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0; 8 KO/TKOs, 11 submissions, 10 decisions) There are some who believe that Khabib was one marquee win away from establishing himself as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. Others would argue that the Dagestani never had a well-rounded enough game to qualify for that status in any case. What is less disputable, however, is that the former lightweight champion utilised his greatest strength – his wrestling – in a faultless manner. Perhaps no other mixed martial artist has excelled to such an extent in one discipline, or applied it so effectively. The indefatigable Russian’s record is also remarkable. Almost no mixed martial artist makes it out of the sport undefeated – especially not after competing in the UFC – but that is exactly what Khabib did in 2020. The “Eagle” won the lightweight belt in 2018 and defended it three times, retaining it by submitting elite opposition on each occasion. First to fall was Conor McGregor, then Dustin Poirier, then Justin Gaethje. Khabib’s victory over the latter came a few months after the death of the champion’s father and coach Abdulmanap, a moment that planted the seeds for the fighter’s retirement. That exit from the sport came immediately after Khabib’s win against Gaethje, marking the rarest of endings for the rarest of athletes. He now helps to coach Islam Makhachev, his childhood friend who has become UFC lightweight champion like Khabib before him. Featherweight Jose Aldo (31-8; 17 KO/TKOs, 1 submission, 13 decisions) The casual MMA follower might be stunned to see the Brazilian’s name here, with their mind jumping to Aldo’s knockout by Conor McGregor in fewer seconds than it took for the Irishman to dethrone the former champion. Indeed, some more invested fans might even think of that 13-second KO before they think of any other performance by Aldo, but memories of those other fights and trademark performances will soon flood in. Before Aldo’s loss to McGregor, few would have challenged the Brazilian’s status as the greatest featherweight of all time. In fact, the now-36-year-old Aldo was unbeaten in 10 years prior to that famous result in 2015. While his record was patchy thereafter (6-6), up until his retirement in 2022, all of those bouts came against elite opponents. A drop down to bantamweight rejuvenated the former 145lbs king, whose status as the greatest featherweight ever now depends more on how Max Holloway and reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski fare in their remaining years in the sport. Both have victories over Aldo, with Holloway having stopped “Junior” twice. Bantamweight Dominick Cruz (24-4; 7 KO/TKOs, 1 submission, 16 decisions) Cruz has been the consensus greatest men’s bantamweight in UFC history for many years. The American was WEC champion before joining the UFC, where his belt became the promotion’s inaugural title at 135lbs. In his first defence, Cruz outpointed Urijah Faber to avenge the only defeat he had suffered as a pro at that point. A 13-fight winning streak would culminate in another victory over Faber, after the “Dominator” had vacated the title due to injury then regained it, before his second reign ended at the hands of his old rival’s protege Cody Garbrandt. After that surprisingly comprehensive decision defeat, the injury-plagued Cruz, now 38, took a four-year hiatus from the sport. He returned in 2020 to challenge then-champion Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title and was stopped – perhaps controversially – at the end of Round 2. Thereafter, Cruz responded with back-to-back wins over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz to affirm himself as one of the best bantamweights in the world – still – and he was leading against Marlon Vera before suffering a knockout loss. The veteran also holds wins over TJ Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson, who reigned at 135lbs and 125lbs in the UFC respectively. Flyweight Demetrious Johnson (24-4-1; 5 KO/TKOs, 8 submissions, 11 decisions) The UFC’s first ever men’s flyweight champion, Johnson’s reign spanned 12 fights and five years. Along the way, the American defeated Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson twice each, as well as Ray Borg (with one of the most inventine submissions that the UFC has ever seen) and future dual-weight champion Henry Cejudo. Cejudo avenged that loss by edging a narrow decision against “Mighty Mouse” in what would end up being Johnson’s final fight in the UFC before being traded to ONE in exchange for Ben Askren. Since that move in 2019, the 36-year-old has gone 3-1, surprisingly losing via TKO while challenging for the promotion’s title last spring. Women's featherweight and bantamweight Amanda Nunes (23-5; 13 KO/TKOs, 4 submissions, 6 decisions) In 2022, Nunes outpointed Julianna Pena to regain the bantamweight title and avenge one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Prior to the pair’s two clashes, the Brazilian was on a 12-fight win streak that saw her become one of just four dual-weight champions in UFC history by collecting the bantamweight and featherweight belts. The “Lioness”, 34, retained the bantamweight strap seven times before dropping it to Pena, and she added another defence in June 2023 by outpointing Irene Alada – before retiring from MMA. Nunes holds eight victories over six past and present UFC champions, having beaten Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie twice each, and having destroyed Ronda Rousey after winning the bantamweight belt from Miesha Tate. Nunes also blasted through Holly Holm and knocked out Cris Cyborg, with the latter result marking the moment that the Brazilian claimed the title at 145lbs to become a double-champ. Women's flyweight Valentina Shevchenko (23-4; 8 KO/TKOs, 7 submissions, 8 decisions) “Bullet” is one of the most beloved fighters in the UFC today. In 2022, Shevchenko recorded her seventh straight successful defence of the promotion’s women’s flyweight title, edging past Taila Santos in a competitive contest, before her reign finally came to an end with a surprise submission by Alexa Grasso this March. Prior to that, the Kyrgyzstani’s dominance in the division was inarguable. In fact, the 35-year-old’s only defeats had come at bantamweight – one early in her career against Liz Carmouche, and two in the UFC against Amanda Nunes. Both losses to Nunes came via decision, and the second was disputed by most observers. That latter result denied Shevchenko a bantamweight title win, but she went on to claim the flyweight belt and throughout her career has beaten numerous champions including Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Holly Holm, Jessica Andrade and Julianna Pena. Shevchenko also avenged her loss to Carmouche and has defeated Jennifer Maia, Katlyn Chookagian, Jessica Eye and Lauren Murphy among others. Her head-kick knockout of Eye is seen as one of the greatest KOs in UFC history. Women's strawweight Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-5; 4 KO/TKOs, 1 submission, 11 decisions) Poland’s first ever UFC champion, Jedrzejczyk recently called time on her in-ring career at the age of 35. Known by most simply as “Joanna Champion” due to her earlier dominance and the difficulty that many fans have with spelling her surname, Jedrzejczyk reigned as UFC strawweight champion between 2015 and 2017. She carried an aura of invincibility ahead of her title win against Carla Esparza, a reputation that was only bolstered as she beat the American for the belt and went on to achieve five straight successful defences in a short space of time. The Pole’s record over the last five years has been spotty at 2-5, but it is worth delving into. After a surprise knockout loss to Rose Namajunas in November 2017, Jedrzejczyk was arguably unlucky not to regain the strawweight belt in the pair’s rematch, which was closely contested over five rounds. She then picked up wins over Tecia Torres and Michelle Waterson, either side of a points loss to Valentina Shevchenko, before finishing her career with two straight losses to Weili Zhang. The first of those defeats came via split decision, however, in what is deemed by most followers to be the greatest women’s fight in MMA history and one of the best the sport has seen, full stop. The latter, in June, was the result of a devastating spinning back fist KO, but Jedrzejczyk was gracious in defeat as she expressed her love for the fans and left her gloves in the ring. “Joanna Champion” was only ever beaten by UFC champions.

It was a bad night for Josh Taylor in the Garden ring in New York City on Saturday. Taylor was beaten by Teofimo Lopez over 12 rounds in a shock. It was certainly not the fight that Taylor expected. Taylor suffered defeat for the first time in 20 fights, he lost his one remaining world championship belt and at the end he offered no excuses. “The better man won,” he managed, his voice crackling with emotions. Taylor was putting on a brave face to mask the despair. It had been a fiery and ugly build-up and Lopez had talked of killing Taylor in the ring. Lopez, who has his own personal battles away from the ring, apologised for the comment and received a peck on the cheek for his honesty. “It’s all song and dance,” Taylor told him. It was an oddly respectful end to a week of promises, insults and stupid claims. It was also glorious redemption for Lopez, once the No 1 at lightweight. Lopez had lost his way on both sides of the ropes, and finished his last fight asking his team live on air if he still “had it”? It was a difficult interview to watch; on Saturday in the ring in the Garden’s basement theatre, Lopez rediscovered the form most people thought had vanished. He is still only 25, by the way. It was a close fight that Lopez won clearly and that often happens when two very good boxers meet. One judge, Benoit Roussel, scored it wide in Lopez’s favour. His 9-3 verdict was too wide, to be honest. The other two judges, Steve Gray and Joseph Pasquale, returned identical scores of 115-113, which means 7-5 in rounds in Lopez’s favour. Taylor never complained, but had he won the last round, he would have retained his title with a majority drawn verdict. Instead, Taylor had to surrender his beloved world championship belt; last year, Taylor held all four belts at super-lightweight before slowly losing the struggle to keep the quartet of baubles in a protracted series of skirmishes with the sanctioning bodies. Taylor has not fought since February of last year and had been placed under relentless pressure to carry out his mandatory requirements. He surrendered, under threat of being stripped, three belts and was left with just the WBO; he was still considered the best at his weight. Taylor, incidentally, had won all four belts in a series of fights against six men with a combined record of 133 wins and not one loss. Taylor was, make no mistake, the best in the world at his weight. That changed in the Garden ring. Lopez was too mobile, too slick and Taylor was just off the pace. It is not a tricky fight to understand; Lopez just worked that bit harder. Taylor had talked before about moving away from the 140-pound limit of super-lightweight and going to welterweight. In New York late on Saturday, there was also talk of a rematch. Taylor will let the loss settle and then make a decision, but hopefully he will not take another sixteen-month break. On the same night, it was the Sunny Edwards show at Wembley Arena and he retained his IBF flyweight title for the fourth time. On his undercard, Nina Hughes retained her WBA bantamweight title over 10 rounds against Katie Healy and in the bloody fight of the night, Ellie Scotney won the IBF super-bantamweight title. Scotney, having just her seventh fight, was too smart, tough and determined for New Zealand’s Cherneka Sugar Johnson. There was a dark and deep cut by Johnson’s right eye for most of the blood-splattered fight. Scotney was quite brilliant, Johnson’s five Māori-haka men stole the show with their routine before she walked to the ring. It was her highlight, they were exceptional. Edwards was a clear winner of nine of the 12 rounds, but the Chilean, Andres Campos, kept it competitive. “I need tests,” Edwards admitted. And he does and the tests might start later this year. And I hope so - Edwards has the style, craft and personality to be a big attraction. Edwards has a deal with his new promoter, Eddie Hearn, for the big fights; there are three other world champions at flyweight, but Edwards wants Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – the WBO flyweight champion and a genuine threat. Rodriguez is unbeaten in 18, just 23, the former world champion at super-flyweight and, according to heavy rumour, he wants our Sunny. As a twist - and it is a good one - Sunny has signed and agreed to the fight, which includes the money terms, with Rodriguez as part of his deal with Hearn. Rodriguez can be enticed over for a December showdown. That, by the way, is a super fight. Edwards won clearly, Hughes did the same, Scotney’s win was hard but clear and in New York, in the basement theatre at the Garden once evocatively known as the Felt Forum, Taylor was left wondering what went wrong. There were no excuses, but there will be some questions. Read More Teofimo Lopez hands Josh Taylor his first defeat with decision win in New York Josh Taylor says move up to welterweight is ‘imminent’ after first career defeat Miami Heat mascot hospitalised after Conor McGregor punch Josh Taylor says move up to welterweight is ‘imminent’ after first career defeat Teofimo Lopez hands Josh Taylor his first defeat with decision win in New York Who is fighting on Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez undercard tonight?

Watch the moment the World XI lifted the Soccer Aid trophy after beating England 4-2 at Old Trafford. The charity football match returned on Sunday (11 June), raising an incredible £14,619,005 for Unicef by full-time. Kem Cetinay made Soccer Aid history by becoming top scorer - he now has five goals over the years - as the World XI won 4-2 on the night. Cetinay rounded off the scoring after his captain and Olympian Usain Bolt scored the first goal before half-time. Sex Education star Asa Butterfield got England level after the break and Paul Scholes then put the Three Lions ahead. However, Robbie Keane stole the spotlight, scoring a double to put the World XI back in front, before Cetinay confirmed the team’s fifth consecutive win. Read More Soccer Aid: Who are the celebrities playing in charity football match Novak Djokovic lays down on French Open tennis court after historic win Champions League: Manchester City leave hotel after historic treble

It’s the return of Soccer Aid tonight at Old Trafford as England take on the World XI in a bid to raise millions of pounds for charity. England Euros winner Jill Scott captains the England team under the management of Harry Redknapp, with Paddy McGuinness, Sir Mo Farah and Gary Neville among her teammates for the home side. The World XI will be led by Usain Bolt after glory last year, with Lee Mack, Roberto Carlos and Tommy Fury all featuring for a team led by the new Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino. The annual charity football match, created by Robbie Williams in 2006, sells tickets in support of Unicef UK. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Soccer Aid 2023? Soccer Aid is set to kick off at 7.30pm BST on Sunday 11 June at Old Trafford in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the charity match on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm. Soccer Aid will also be available to view on STV, or via ITVX online. What are the line ups? England Jill Scott (c) Paddy McGuinness Jermain Defoe Karen Carney Gary Cahill Jack Wilshere Bugzy Malone Tom Grennan Sir Mo Farah Alex Brooker Gary Neville Paul Scholes Chunkz Joel Corry Eni Aluko David James Scarlette Douglas Nicky Butt Liam Payne Danny Dyer Asa Butterfield Tom Hiddleston Coaches Stormzy Emma Hayes Vicky McClure Harry Redknapp David Seaman Soccer Aid World XI FC Usain Bolt (c) Lee Mack Steven Bartlett Kem Cetinay Mo Gilligan Maisie Adam Tommy Fury Heather O’Reilly Kalyn Kyle Noah Beck Ben Foster Roberto Carlos Nani Francesco Totti Gabriel Batistuta Leon Edwards Sam Claflin Hernan Crespo Patrice Evra Niko Coach Mauricio Pochettino Robbie Keane Martin Compston Mel C How much does Soccer Aid raise for charity? Soccer Aid 2022, which was held at the London Stadium, raised £15,673,728 for Unicef, the highest tally in the event’s history. Read More Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest build-up starring Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Niko and Danny Dyer When is the Women’s World Cup and what are the fixtures? Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest score and updates Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI starting line-ups Man City match-winner Rodri named Champions League player of the year

Soccer Aid is back with England looking for revenge against the World XI after going down on penalties last year. Comedian Lee Mack struck the winning penalty for the World XI, who won the contest for a fourth straight year after a 2-2 over 90 minutes. The biggest charity football match in the world, which raised more than £15 million for charity Unicef last year, brings an added layer of intrigue this year with the new Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino back in the dugout ahead of his return to the club game with the Blues. This year’s teams include Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Jill Scott, Sir Mo Farah and Danny Dyer for England. While Mack is joined by Usain Bolt, Tommy Fury, Niko, Roberto Carlos, Francesco Totti and Patrice Evra for the World XI. Follow live updates, reaction and analysis from all the action at Old Trafford below: Read More What time is Soccer Aid 2023? Kick-off for Wembley showpiece between England and World XI Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI line-ups How to watch Soccer Aid 2023: TV Channel and live stream for Wembley showpiece tonight

Soccer Aid is back as England take on the World XI in Manchester this weekend, bringing celebrities from the sporting world and beyond together to again raise significant money for charity. The annual charity football match, created by Robbie Williams in 2006, sees a host of former footballers and famous faces from other industries come together in support of Unicef UK. Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott has been named as England’s captain this year, with the likes of Paddy McGuinness, Sir Mo Farah and Gary Neville among her teammates and Emma Hayes, Stormzy and Harry Redknapp coaching the side Meanwhile, the Soccer Aid World XI FC will be led by Olympic legend Usain Bolt, with the fastest man in history continuing in the role after leading his side to victory last year, as Lee Mack, Roberto Carlos and Tommy Fury are also in the Mauricio Pochettino-managed side. Here’s everything you need to know. When is Soccer Aid 2023? Soccer Aid is set to kick off at 7.30pm BST on Sunday 11 June at Old Trafford in Manchester. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the charity match on ITV 1, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm. Soccer Aid will also be available to view on STV, or via ITVX online. What are the line ups? England starting line-up 3-4-3: David James; Gary Neville, Gary Cahill, Bugzy Malone; Joel Corry, Jill Scott (c), Jack Wilshere, Tom Hiddleston; Liam Payne, Jermain Defoe, Tom Grennan England squad Jill Scott (c) Paddy McGuinness Jermain Defoe Karen Carney Gary Cahill Jack Wilshere Bugzy Malone Tom Grennan Sir Mo Farah Alex Brooker Gary Neville Paul Scholes Chunkz Joel Corry Eni Aluko David James Scarlette Douglas Nicky Butt Liam Payne Danny Dyer Asa Butterfield Tom Hiddleston Coaches Stormzy Emma Hayes Vicky McClure Harry Redknapp David Seaman Soccer Aid World XI startline line-up 4-2-4: Ben Foster; Heather O'Reilly, Sam Claflin, Roberto Carlos, Mo Gilligan; Noah Beck, Patrice Evra; Maisie Adam, Francesco Totti, Hernan Crespo, Usain Bolt Soccer AidWorld XI squad Usain Bolt (c) Lee Mack Steven Bartlett Kem Cetinay Mo Gilligan Maisie Adam Tommy Fury Heather O’Reilly Kalyn Kyle Noah Beck Ben Foster Roberto Carlos Nani Francesco Totti Gabriel Batistuta Leon Edwards Sam Claflin Hernan Crespo Patrice Evra Niko Coach Mauricio Pochettino Robbie Keane Martin Compston Mel C How much does Soccer Aid raise for charity? Soccer Aid 2022, which was held at the London Stadium, raised £15,673,728 for Unicef, the highest tally in the event’s history. Read More Why Wrexham? How Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney came to buy a club they’d never heard of Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest build-up starring Gary Neville, Liam Payne, Niko and Danny Dyer When is the Women’s World Cup and what are the fixtures? Soccer Aid LIVE: England vs World XI latest score and updates What time is Soccer Aid 2023? Kick-off for Wembley showpiece How to watch Soccer Aid 2023: TV Channel for Wembley showpiece

Inter Milan players can hold their heads high after losing the Champions League final to Manchester City, boss Simone Inzaghi has said. City had a glorious night at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium as they beat Inter 1-0 with a 68th-minute Rodri strike. Inzaghi admitted that his side does have regrets but he had to congratulate his players. “They are very sad, disappointed, but they must be proud of their campaign and the final they played. We didn’t deserve to lose but we played against a top team,” he added.

Pep Guardiola insisted it was “written in the stars” during an expletive-ridden reaction to Manchester City securing the Champions League and treble. Rodri’s goal was enough to clinch a 1-0 win in Istanbul over Inter Milan, which also represented the Spanish manager’s second European treble of his career, 14 years after his first with Barcelona. And Guardiola could not hide his relief at edging out the Italians in the final, lauding his team’s “patience” after a tough start. “Tired, calm, satisfied,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “This f***ing trophy, it's so difficult to win it. “It's impossible. It could have gone differently, we knew it, they are really good. Antonio Conte will learn a lot what they do. It's quite similar, They bring you up, they find strikers, link well to feet, then after they run to the other side. The first half we were anxious. “It's a question to be patient. Last time we were 1-0 down in Porto, this time, 0-0, you have to be lucky. Ederson's save, they missed it. This competition is a coin. It was written in the stars. We did it.” Guardiola also bemoaned the length of the season with many players now due to play international matches. “Right now I have no energy to think of the next season, we need a break, the season is too long,” Guardiola added. “Most go to the national team to play games, Uefa, Fifa, think about it, come on. “The Premier League finished two to three weeks ago. These guys will have two to three weeks off and then start again, it’s too much. Next season we’ll start from zero.” Read More Kyle Walker reveals six-word message to Man City teammates ahead of Champions League win Pep Guardiola ended 12 years of hurt thanks to masterful midfield reinvention Man City secure landmark Champions League victory that stretches beyond historic treble

It didn’t quite happen in the way expected, but Manchester City of course made it inevitable. The English champions have finally become the European champions to complete a treble and also bring a long-term Abu Dhabi project to its culmination. At least at this stage of it. After a 1-0 win over Internazionale that will offer a release as much as relief, it’s hard not to think they could go on and win it again and again, confirming Pep Guardiola as the greatest coach of all time. The Catalan already has a strong claim to that, after at last winning his third Champions League, a full 12 years after his second, to also become the first coach to win two trebles. It makes it al the greater that it is at two different clubs. There was no overthinking this time, even if a defiant and proud Internazionale did make City worry for long periods of the game. That also ensured City had to fight, in a way they haven’t been used to over three months when they have looked the closest team to football perfection the game has ever seen. This wasn’t that. The manner of victory was instead fitting in its own way as a passing midfielder in Rodri scored the goal that City will now replay and rejoice in as much as Sergio Aguero’s in 2012. The Spanish midfielder is a player in Guardiola’s own image, perhaps his perfect ideal, and he gave his manager the picture he has long craved. There was Guardiola lifting this grand trophy again, actually his fourth as a player and manager. It was quite a game for owner Sheikh Mansour to watch as his second in person, the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates taking his place alongside the club hierarchy. From that, it can also be noted that Abu Dhabi has its European Cup. A state-owned club has won this grandiose continental competition for the first time, and that should provoke wider debate about where the game is. It cannot be overlooked in all the discussion of how supreme this team is. That is why they are supreme. It is ultimately why Guardiola is here. It is also why the game has changed so much, to the point the only real surprise from this match - and that against European Cup royalty like Internazionale - was that City didn’t put in the grand exhibition befitting the scale of their achievement. This was not 2011 or 1960. It is the future, though. A star in his early 20s like Erling Haaland was strangely subdued in this match, so he will eventually want his goal in a Champions League final. There is more to come, although the only bittersweet note for City was that Kevin De Bruyne did not get to gild this moment of glory with his brilliance. This purest of footballers again suffered the unfairness of having to come off injured in a Champions League final, and it did play into why City were so inhibited for so long. That is where these players deserve credit, for the way they dug in. This threatened to become a very different sort of occasion, and one where all the old criticisms about nerves and the weight of history could have played on them. City instead made it something else. They found something else, and just had more. Many would say they were just always going to have more, given the huge gap between the clubs. The nature of the goal was as telling as it was fitting. It was the first period where they applied real pressure. The ball came back to Rodri and he applied the perfect finish. It was a strike befitting the quality of football Guardiola sides so often play, all the more so since this wasn’t one of those displays. Simone Inzaghi’s side deserve huge praise for that. The manager’s gameplan made this mismatched final much more of a game of this than anyone expected, and Inter are actually left feeling they could have done so much more themselves. This may well be seen as one that got away, but it was actually three great chances that got away. One so cruelly bounced off substitute Romelu Lukaku. It wasn't going to go their way. It wasn’t to be his moment. Inter may not get as close for a long time. City have finally got over the line, and may well stay here a long time. They have become the 23rd club to win this competition but the first state club. They are also European champions who have been charged with multiple alleged breaches of their domestic competition;s regulations. That will weigh over them and bring an uncertainty until it is finally concluded, whenever that may be. The outcome of this almost always felt a certainty, though, even if Inter did well to bring some doubt. There is no doubt about this team’s greatness, or the project’s completeness. It is a landmark, in so many ways even beyond a treble. Read More The rise, fall and rise again of Inter Milan’s Andre Onana Soccer Aid 2023: England and World XI line-ups Man City owner attends first match in 13 years at Champions League final The key games that brought Manchester City a treble The key performers in Manchester City’s trophy treble Player ratings as Ederson and Rodri earn Champions League glory

Amanda Nunes makes the first defence of her second reign as UFC women’s bantamweight champion, taking on Irene Aldana at UFC 289. Nunes, who also holds featherweight gold and is widely deemed the greatest women’s fighter in MMA history, lost the bantamweight belt to Julianna Pena in a shock defeat in 2021, before regaining the title in a rematch last year. Now the Brazilian, 35, puts the gold on the line against Aldana, who is bidding to become the fourth Mexican champion in UFC history – with the other three still reigning at the time of writing. Aldana, 35, steps in for the injured Pena, who was due for a trilogy bout against Nunes. The Mexican is chasing a third straight win, having stopped Macy Chiasson and Yana Santos in her last two fights. In the co-main event, former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira faces Beneil Dariush, who is seeking his first shot at the division’s title. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? UFC 289 will take place on Saturday 10 June, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The early prelims are set to begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 11 June (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET). The main card is then due to begin at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET). How can I watch it? In the US, the event will air live on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. In the UK, BT Sport will broadcast the fights. BT Sport subscribers can watch the event live on TV, as well as on the broadcaster’s website and app. Odds Nunes – 2/7 Aldana – 13/5 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Amanda Nunes (C) vs Irene Aldana (women’s bantamweight title) Charles Oliveira vs Beneil Dariush (lightweight) Nassourdine Imavov vs Chris Curtis (middleweight) Dan Ige vs Nate Landwehr (featherweight) Khalil Rountree Jr vs Chris Daukaus (light-heavyweight) Prelims Mike Malott vs Adam Fugitt (welterweight) Miranda Maverick vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight) Marc-Andre Barriault vs Eryk Anders (middleweight) David Dvorak vs Stephen Erceg (flyweight) Early prelims Aiemann Zahabi vs Aoriqileng (bantamweight) Kyle Nelson vs Blake Bilder (featherweight) Diane Belbita vs Maria Oliveira (women’s strawweight) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More McGregor Forever: The problem with the new Conor McGregor documentary UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year How to watch The Ultimate Fighter 31 in the UK