When you're on your second loan deal within a six-month span, you know things haven't exactly gone well for the club that bought you all of a year ago. But that is the reality for João Mário, whose move to Juventus wasn't all that popular to begin with and it certainly didn't improve with how little he played during his five months in Turin before the loan cycle began.
After returning to Juve following his loan spell at Bologna, the diminutive fullback/wingback is heading out on loan again, this time to Fiorentina, the two clubs announced on Monday. It is no surprise to see this happen considering João Mário was very much out of the project the minute he stepped back through the doors at Continassa, and there was old buddy Fabio Paratici to lend a helping hand to allow the 26-year-old summer signing a year ago to try and find more consistent football this coming season.
Fiorentina have an option to buy on top of paying the €1.8 million loan fee. If they are to take up said option, then La Viola would pay €9.5 million next summer and officially take another one of Damien Comolli's wonder-signings off Juventus' hands.
Turin, 03 August 2026 – Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that an agreement with ACF Fiorentina for the temporary disposal, until 30 June 2027, of the registration rights of the player Joao Mario Neto Lopes has been reached for a consideration of € 1.8 million, payable in a single financial year.
The agreement further envisages the right for Fiorentina to definitively acquire the player's registration rights for an additional consideration of € 9.5 million, payable in three financial years.

#summer #option

For the second straight week, there's a first-time winner on the PGA Tour with Michael Thorbjornsen following hot on the heels of Jackson Koivun.
Making his 65th start on Tour, the golfer known as Thor, 24, broke through at the 2026 Rocket Classic.
There were 17 first-time winners in 2025 on the PGA Tour.
Todd Kelly is an **** istant managing editor at Golfweek.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Michael Thorbjornsen joins list of first-time winners on the PGA Tour in 2026

#koivun

The Eagles have waived defensive end Ta'Quon Graham, the team announced on Sunday.
Waiving Graham opens a spot on Philadelphia's 90-man roster, so the Eagles will likely add another player soon.
Graham, who was buried low on the Eagles' defensive line depth chart, was a long shot to make Philadelphia's 53-man roster. He joined the Eagles' practice squad last season and re-signed with the team in March, but with the Eagles having a deep defensive line unit, the chances of him making the roster was always steep.
Graham previously spent five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, finishing with 88 tackles and one sack in 51 games. He started 16 of those 51 appearances, carving out a decent career as a former fifth-round pick.
The Eagles will have tougher decisions to make later this summer on roster cutdown day. Letting go of Graham is just one of many moves that will be made over the next month.

#roster #defensive #team #line

Eintracht Frankfurt have officially announced the signing of Raphael Onyedika from Belgian champions Club Brugge, with the Nigerian international becoming the club's new midfield anchor ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract after Frankfurt reached an agreement with Brugge following weeks of negotiations. According to reports, the transfer package is worth up to €21 million, making Onyedika one of the club's biggest signings in club history: he is as expensive as Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Doan and is therefore sharing rank 4 in Frankfurt's most expensive signings with them.
Frankfurt had identified Onyedika as their top target for the defensive midfield role thanks to his physical presence, ball-winning ability, and extensive Champions League experience. The Nigerian made 183 appearances for Club Brugge, winning two Belgian league ******* les as well as the Belgian Cup and Super Cup during his four-year spell in Belgium.
The Eagles beat competition from several clubs, including teams from Saudi Arabia, to secure Onyedika's signature. His arrival is expected to give head coach Adi Hütter a commanding presence in midfield as Frankfurt aim to return to European competition after missing out last season.

#onyedika #club #midfield #year

The Los Angeles Queens will face the New York Heights in the first game of the Women's Pro Baseball League today in Springfield, Illinois.
The best-known member of the Queens is outfielder Mo'ne Davis, who in 2014 became the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series and first Little Leaguer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Davis played softball at Hampton University in 2020 and 2022, was an intern in the Dodgers' video production department in 2023, received a master's degree in sports management from Columbia University in 2024 and played for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Banana Ball Championship League earlier this year.
The Queens chose ******* anese right-handed pitcher Ayami Sato with their first selection in the league's draft, the second overall pick. The 36-year-old has helped lead ******* an to six Women's Baseball World Cup championships. The Queens' lone Southern Californian is catcher Jamie Mackay, who played on the baseball team at Pacifica Christian High School in Newport Beach and college softball at Mississippi and South Carolina.
Saturday's 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time game will be streamed by ESPN Select.

#played #little #World #sports

Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo has been put on leave by CBS Sports after he was arrested and cited last week for drunk driving in Wisconsin.
Shortly after news broke of his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee, police released body cam footage showing Romo's interactions with cops.
During the traffic stop, Romo claimed he hadn't been drinking at all and was even willing to take a field sobriety test.
Throughout the exchange, Romo repeatedly said he wanted to get in contact with his lawyer.
Moments later, an officer could heard saying she smelled alcohol in the vehicle and observed multiple unopened bottles inside.

#tony #milwaukee #throughout

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) says it "stands in solidarity" with Uefa and Concacaf in opposition to Fifa's proposal to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.
In a statement published on Friday, the AFC said Fifa president Gianni Infantino's plan could not "realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward".
"The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations," it said.
"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."
The AFC's opposition means Infantino's plans are unlikely to approved by members if put to a vote.

#confederation #uefa

The MMA landscape is changing, and PFL CEO John Martin is at the helm of what appears to soon be the de facto second-biggest player in the field.
The argument was already there for PFL, but now that an MVP merger has been announced, it seems the promotion has accelerated its momentum and is entering 2027 with its foot on the gas. Martin revealed Thursday that when the calendar flips at the end of this year, the promotion's branding will, too.
"We're going to work to start to integrate the organizations now," Martin told Home of Fight on Thursday. "Our goal is we're going to be fully integrated, and we're going to see the brand change over for the product January 2027. For the rest of this year, we'll be crowning PFL champions. But obviously, we're already thinking like one company. Things will officially cross over with MVP on Jan. 1."
A lot of questions remain coming out of Thursday's announcement, but perhaps none bigger than that of where fight fans will be able to watch the events. MVP MMA held one event on Netflix in 2026, while PFL's deal with ESPN concludes at the end of the year, and renewal seems unlikely.
"I hope so," Martin said of Netflix. "There's not much I can say on that other than I think, whether it's Netflix or other broadcasters, I think this merger is going to catch a lot of attention. I think for anybody who wants to partner with us, to think through it with us about what are the real opportunities and the type of events we can put on now with the strength of the PFL roster, with the strength of the women's boxing MVP has, with the blockbuster live events that it's been successfully able to put on now – not once, twice, three times – but many times. I'm looking forward to those conversations. I'm really excited."

#we 're #netflix #year #Events

Liverpool are interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola this summer.
According to The Athletic, the Reds are set to make an official bid for the 23-year-old.
PSG are reportedly demanding a £145 million fee to sanction a sale, but the Premier League giants have no intention to meet such a high valuation.
Liverpool want to secure a deal closer to £100m, given the player has made it clear he won't sign a new contract at the Parc des Princes.
Barcola has significantly enhanced his reputation as one of the best young forwards since joining PSG in 2023.

#Liverpool #germain

Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let's start the night off by taking a look back over the three biggest stories of Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Former UFC ******* le challenger (and current ******* yst) arrested for alleged felony domestic violence, faces 20 years in prison: Anthony Smith seemed to be in a weird mental ******* e after his UFC retirement, but this is SHOCKING!
Reinier de Ridder 'never going back' to middleweight after UFC Sacramento — 'Dumbest s—t I've ever done': I can't help but think de Ridder's best chance at UFC gold was at Middleweight, but I cannot blame him for not wanting to suffer the misery and longterm affects of that drastic cut.
Sean Strickland details disturbing Russian Roulette incident: 'It still gives me chills': I'm genuinely happy Strickland is in a better mental ******* e nowadays.

#mental #midnight #mania

The Seattle Seahawks will be throwing it back to the 1990s for two of their nine home games this regular season.
Seattle's widely acclaimed throwback uniforms will be worn in primetime against a pair of high profile opponents:
Week 7 (Oct. 25) vs. Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football
Week 13 (Dec. 7) vs. Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football
The Seahawks are permitted up to three throwback games under the NFL's alternate uniform policy. Last year they had an iconic double throwback thriller with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were also celebrating their 50th season and came out of Lumen Field as 38-35 winners. Seattle took its throwbacks on the road to Maryland for a 38-14 beatdown of the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, before scoring a 26-0 shoutout win in the same unis against the Minnesota Vikings.

#night #throwback #seahawks

Southampton's Brazilian forward Leo Scienza, 27, says he expects talks with the club about his future and is "open to possibilities". (Transfermarkt - in German)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
[BBC]

#take

According to a report from Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk, Michael Olise is not leaving Bayern Munich this summer — which tracks with much the recent reporting on the matter.
If, however, transfer armageddon happens and Olise goes nuclear to force his way out of Bavaria (an extremely unlikely — nut not impossible — scenario), Bayern Munich would make a beeline to pursue Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola:
✅ It is TRUE: Bradley Barcola is one of the names on the shortlist at Bayern Munich if they have to replace Michael Olise. I reported last summer that there was an idea to sign the France international anyway. Even the summer before, the 23-year-old was considered a very interesting player for FC Bayern. He's on the shortlist, but at the moment there is no chance of getting this player for the club. That's because PSG want to give the winger a new contract, and amounts in the region of €150m have been floated if the Ligue 1 champions were to sell the player. However, when you look at the situation – and, as we say, Bayern don't want to sell Olise this summer – the club has to think about the Frenchman's situation if he doesn't sign a contract with Bayern.
When you look at Bradley Barcola's contract, you see he's got a year less left on his terms compared to his international teammate (running out in 2028). So, if he isn't sold this summer to Liverpool, who are clearly interested, or to another club that can afford the asking price, and he's still on the market – and ******* uming that Bayern are forced to sell Michael Olise – with one year left on his contract next summer, then PSG have a decision to make. I personally think he's a player who would fit in perfectly at Bayern Munich. That's also partly due to his affordable salary demands (currently earning €7m-8m gross in Paris, which is half of what Olise earns at Bayern). So, he's one to keep an eye out for as a potential replacement in case Michael Olise leaves.
Barcola is highly coveted by Liverpool and could pursue that destination in the coming weeks. There is a significant chance that if PSG thinks it should cash out on Barcola, it will look to sell him this summer. In that case, Liverpool would have a clear advantage over Bayern Munich as it will likely have a better chance to work out a deal before any type of aggressive move by Olise — which, again, is not likely to happen.

#michael #barcola #player

Among those caught up in the excitement of James' decision? Saquon Barkley, the Eagles' superstar running back who welcomed James to Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. "Welcome to the city!" Barkley wrote on social media. "Let me know when you tryna tee it up." Barkley is an avid golfer, and James has just recently gotten into it. Surely, they'll be playing together in the near future.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Welcome to the city!" Barkley wrote on social media. …

#barkley #welcome

CLEVELAND — Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis still occasionally drives by the house in North Carolina that serves as a reminder of a post-playing career life that was almost very different for him, and would have been outside of the game of baseball.
Willis, now 65, is a true baseball lifer. But that almost wasn’t the case, and it wouldn’t have been if not for a fated phone call that altered his path.
When Willis was in his playing days, he spent several years stuck in the minor leagues. It was then he started planning ahead for what might be next, and whether he might be a quality coach one day. He was able to put all that on hold for a while, as he eventually did break through to the majors as a pitcher and enjoying a nine-year career (with a few lost to injury) before retiring after the 1995 season.
Then the question hit his doorstep he knew would come eventually: What now?
He was 34 years old, living in North Carolina and raising a family with his wife, Rachel.

#willis #playing #Career

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Tricky Trees this evening.
The 19-year-old has been with Manchester City for the last decade after joining the club's academy system at the age of nine. She has successfully negotiated her way to the senior squad and she was handed her first team debut by former Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor in the 2024/2025 season. Thomas has gone on to make four senior appearances for The Cityzens so far.
On the international stage, Thomas has featured for England at Under-19 level.
After completing her loan move to Nottingham Forest, Thomas said "I'm really excited to be here and to get started.
"Last season, I had the opportunity to play in the SWPL with Glasgow City, where I learned a lot from spending time away from home for the first time. Coming here now is a great opportunity and one I'm really looking forward to.

#here

30 YEARS AGO — 1996
— Mark Gardner and his five-man crew aboard the Bark Ode captured the Mayor’s Cup as overall winner in the Racing Division, covering the course in 1:07:36. Gardner, who had already been sailing three hours before the 10 a.m. start, had been coming to Plattsburgh by sailboat for the race since 1984.
— Girls’ softball in the MVAC turned into a family affair as Elizabethtown-Lewis coach Nancy Bassett was named Coach of the Year and her daughter Hadley took MVP after leading the Lions to a perfect championship season two years after the team went winless. The junior pitched a one-hitter against Schroon Lake, followed with a no-hitter against Crown Point, and finished with 121 strikeouts.
— Meghan Welch, of West Chazy, broke her personal best in the 100-meter **** troke twice in one day at the Empire State Games in Buffalo, going 1:21.37 in the preliminaries and 1:21.22 in the final for a fifth place finish — the top individual swim by a North Country athlete on the games’ opening day. Bombay’s Jessica Jock took sixth in the open 200 individual medley.
— Post 20 (19-6) captured its league **** le and headed to Glens Falls for sub-state play against Lake Placid, having beaten the Adirondacks in all three meetings. Plattsburgh had won seven straight.

#state #games #three #took

Just hours after Chelsea made Morgan Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history by spending £117m to sign him from Aston Villa, they are in talks to loan Alejandro Garnacho to the Villans.
But how can Chelsea afford to sign Rogers? And why did Villa pursue a loan with a conditional obligation to buy rather than buying Garnacho outright?
Here are the key questions answered...
One of the clauses in Uefa's transfer regulations defining "player exchange transactions" is that such deals must be concluded within 45 days of each other.
Clubs can still transfer players between themselves in that 45-day period, but those deals would have to be perceived as not connected to not be seen as part of a swap.

#rogers #loan

Between now and training camp, we will be going through the Indianapolis Colts' full 90-man roster, previewing each player.
Up next is guard Matt Goncalves, who wears No. 71.
Height: 6-6
Weight: 317
Age: 25

#goncalves #going #full

Real Madrid approach every summer under a spotlight bright enough to illuminate every corridor of Valdebebas, every whisper in the boardroom, every tactical preference of the coach. This window already carries that familiar sense of theatre, yet the mood around the Bernabeu feels particularly instructive. There is movement, there is patience, and there is a clear idea emerging of what the club believe the current squad can yet become.
According to The Athletic, the biggest immediate development has been the departure of Fran Garcia, with Real Betis set to pay close to €4million and Madrid retaining a 50 per cent sell-on clause. It is tidy business, practical rather than dramatic, and significant chiefly because it continues a process of reshaping around the fringes of the first-team group.
The report notes that Fran Garcia is the fourth departure since the end of last season, following the exits of Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Dani Ceballos. That matters because Madrid's summer, at least so far, has been defined less by flamboyant recruitment and more by recalibration. At a club where expectation often demands a marquee storyline, this is a more deliberate piece of squad management.
Photo IMAGO
At the heart of that strategy lies one of the clearest statements of intent in the entire piece, "midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, 26, signed a new contract until 2031." In a market that can lure clubs into unnecessary restlessness, that renewal feels substantial. Tchouameni is not simply retained, he is reaffirmed. He represents physical authority, positional intelligence and a degree of midfield control that elite sides still require when knock-out football tightens and games become contests of nerve as much as imagination.

The American League and The National League took the field at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for the ninety-sixth All-Star Game. This is the fifth All-Star Game in history hosted in Philadelphia, and the first since 1996.
Speaking of the number five, the Atlanta Braves had five representatives on the NL All-Star roster. Drake Baldwin and Ozzie Albies were starters, while Matt Olson was a reserve. On the pitching side of things, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias were active for the game.
Small little side nugget, Braves legend Hank Aaron holds a tied for the record for most All-Star Games played with twenty-four. It should be noted that for part of his career they played two All-Star Games per year, but it is still a fun Braves stat.
The NL struggled mightily with their bats against the elite AL pitching. Other than the first inning the NL pitching did great as well. Let’s break down what each Braves player was able to accomplish in the game.
Albies, who is having his best season since 2023, was elected as a starter. It is his first All-Star appearance since the aforementioned 2023 season. He hit sixth in the lineup and the first pitcher he saw was Parker Messick in the second inning. Albies swung on the second pitch he saw, which was an outside change up, and grounded out sharply to Bobby Witt Jr. at SS.

So, in a state with a history of Spanish conquest, history could be repeating itself for Spain. As in Euro 2024, they beat France in a semi-final. As in 2010, they could follow victory in the European Championships by doing the double, by adding a World Cup. Deep in the heart of Texas, Luis de la Fuente’s side took a sizeable step towards greatness.
Didier Deschamps had ***** ounced them as the favourites to win the World Cup. It turns out that was not just kidology. As the France manager’s epic reign came in effect to an end, it was without a second World Cup or a third consecutive final. Kylian Mbappe may yet go on to become the greatest World Cup goalscorer and player; but not yet, not in Dallas, not now.
Instead, he was outscored on the day by Mikel Oyarzabal, the unheralded striker whose goal decided Euro 2024 and who set Spain towards a still greater triumph. The Real Sociedad captain had an unlikely ally. Pedro Porro, fresh from a Premier League relegation battle with Tottenham, scored a goal to take his side into a World Cup final. But Spain need no reminding that defenders can chip in: their previous World Cup semi-final victory, 16 years ago, came courtesy of Carles Puyol. Watching on, he must have remembered; so, surely, did Sergio Ramos and Xavi, alongside him.
De la Fuente’s team are less defined by tiki-taka but they nevertheless prospered by exerting control. They are borrowing from the 2010 formula, global domination secured by reigning European champions who were immune to conceding.
An almost impenetrable defence has been breached only by Belgium’s Charles de Ketelaere. France, with their previously fabulous front four, were supposed to provide the stiffest test. But they were not the unstoppable force: not when pitted against the immovable object of the Spanish rearguard. After 35 minutes, France had an xG of 0.01. By the interval, it had crept up to 0.04. The numbers showed how negligible their threat was.

Arsenal appear set to lose one of the brightest prospects from their Hale End academy, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming that Kyran Thompson has agreed a move to Newcastle United.
Romano revealed the news with his trademark "Here we go", stating that the England Under-17 international will leave ****** nal as a free agent after choosing Newcastle despite receiving interest from several clubs.
According to Romano:
"Newcastle agree deal to sign England U17 winger Kyran Thompson from ****** nal Academy, here we go!
Thompson has agreed to join Newcastle among five proposals, leaving ****** nal as free agent.

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has given teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a new nickname - "Terminator 6" - and said he would love to mentor the youngster just as he did with India opener Abhishek Sharma.

Yuvraj believes the 15-year-old is a "serious player in the making" and has a bright future ahead.

Sooryavanshi recently made his senior India debut in the T20I series against England. Earlier this year, he also broke Yuvraj's record for the fastest List A fifty by an Indian, reaching the milestone in just 11 ******* during the India A vs Sri Lanka A Tri-Series final.
Speaking on Star Sports, Yuvraj explained why he calls Abhishek Sharma "Terminator 4" and revealed that Sooryavanshi has now earned the ******* le of "Terminator 6."

"I always call myself a Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more. I did my part in my time, Abhishek elevated it, and now Vaibhav is setting new standards. This is the third phase of the same journey. It is great to see the sport evolving," Yuvraj said.
— StarSportsIndia (StarSportsIndia)
Yuvraj said he has already spent a lot of time working with Abhishek and hopes to do the same with Vaibhav. Drawing a comparison with modern tennis stars, he said the game continues to evolve with every generation.

"When I watch Sinner and Alcaraz, I see how tennis is changing. I see the same evolution in Abhishek and Vaibhav. I have spent a lot of time training Abhishek, and I would love to spend time with Vaibhav as well. He has a great career ahead of him. He is a serious player in the making, and I believe he will get there," he added.

Yuvraj, Sooryavanshi and Abhishek on Sunday attended the Wimbledon men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev at the All England Club.

Speaking about Yuvraj's influence, Sooryavanshi said meeting his idol was a special moment.

"Yuvi Paaji is my idol too. Meeting him for the first time was a special moment. I got to spend time with him and he shared a lot of insights about the game."

"He spoke about the mental side of the game, how to handle pressure, and the importance of believing in yourself. It feels great to have so much to learn from someone like him. I am sure it will help me a lot in my career going forward," Sooryavanshi said.

Terence "Bud" Crawford has addressed ConorMcGregor's anticlimactic return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

McGregor's return to the Octagon ended in just 69 seconds atUFC 329. The former two-division champion seemingly injured hisright knee in the opening sequence of the fight, leading to astoppage from the referee as he was unable to continue.

UFC CEO DanaWhite subsequently speculated that it could be an ACL-relatedissue, an unfortunate occurrence considering McGregor's last boutbefore UFC 329 also ended in a leg injury.
Crawford, who has gone back and forth with McGregor previously,believes the Irishman got what was coming his way. The unbeatenboxer and the MMA superstar were once rumored to be squaring off ina two-fight crossover series across both combat sports, andMcGregor claimed Crawford turned down a $200 million deal, whichthe latter has since dismissed.

"It's crazy when they talk sh*t to me God punish them," Crawfordwrote on X.

This isn't the first time Crawford has addressed an MMA result.After IliaTopuria suffered the first defeat of his professional career atUFC Freedom 250 to JustinGaethje, "Bud" questioned the hype behind "El Matador" goinginto the historic White House event. Notably, Topuria hadpreviously claimed he could beat Crawford in boxing.

"This the guy that said he would knock me out and whoop me andShakur at the same time?" Crawford posted after UFC Freedom250.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel's future is "in doubt," according to multiple reports, as the findings from a $12 million investigation into his department are set to be presented.
The Free Press had previously learned from multiple people that higher-ups at Michigan have been briefed on the findings from the investigation run by the law firm of Jenner & Block. More recent reports indicate Manuel's future is in jeopardy, with the decision potentially related to the findings from the investigation.
RELATED: Ex-Sherrone Moore aide sues U-M, says school hiding public records
The investigation began after Sherrone Moore, U-M football coach for two seasons, was fired Dec. 10 for a romantic relationship with ****** istant Paige Shiver, as well as for lying about the relationship when asked about it. A major focus of Jenner & Block's investigation was Manuel, a U-M alumnus hired as AD in 2016, as well as the culture within the department after numerous unrelated scandals during his tenure.
A U-M Board of Regents meeting is set for Thursday, July 16, in Traverse City, but no agenda has been announced.

Now, Ware can continue his growth alongside three former Heat teammates in Milwaukee. The Heat traded guard Tyler Herro, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and guard Kasparas Jakucionis along with Ware to the Bucks. "That helps out a lot more," Ware said of being traded to the Bucks with Herro, Jaquez and Jakucionis. "Some guys, they get traded by themselves. So I would say it helps to have three guys with me."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "That helps out a lot more," Ware said of being traded …

UFC 329 had some brilliant bright spots. But it ended in a letdown for the MMA history books after Conor McGregor succumbed to a leg injury almost immediately in his rematch with Max Holloway in the main event.
What a mess. What a disastrous attempt at a comeback. What a way to end the night. Here are all the key takeaways you need to know about after Saturday's UFC event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas:
1. What the **** did I just watch? Sorry. I should be more articulate than that. Finding the right words even in tricky moments is kind of my whole job description. But come on. After all the build-up, all the hype and delusions of grandeur, all the claims about sleeping in the gym and abstaining from the marital bed and every other fight sports movie cliche anybody could dream up, it ends like that? With Conor McGregor shattering like cheap glass the instant he attempts a single strike? It's an abomination, I tell you. A sick, sad joke.
Or maybe it's not. Maybe it's all very fitting. For years now McGregor's life and career have felt like a living parable on the dark side of fame. It's as if he got bored with the usual methods of squandering the love of the people and went hunting for new ways to lose fans and alienate people. Getting booed out of the same building that cheered him just a few minutes earlier, all because he wasn't up to the task of giving them anything at all for their money even after months of promises and predictions, yep, that feels like a new low point. That one's going to be hard to forget — and harder to come back from.
2. Max Holloway just made the easiest money in MMA history. He didn't have to cut weight. He didn't have to coach TUF or campaign for a "red panty night." Turns out he didn't even need to train except for the purposes of looking credible with his shirt off. All Holloway had to do was show up, wait for McGregor to topple like a Jenga tower, then collect his check.

The Kentucky Wildcats had a strong 2024-25 season, but things certainly didn't quite go as planned in Mark Pope's second campaign. He clawed his way into the NCAA Tournament and then struggled when he got there, having barely taken down Utah State just to be destroyed by Iowa State in the Round of 32.
The Cats lost the bulk of their team, either to the draft, graduation or the transfer portal. Several weeks into the transfer portal having been open, the Cats return looked disappointing, although they did add necessary backcourt stars like Washington guard Zoom Diallo and Furman guard Alex Wilkins. The truth is simple: this team just didn't have much firepower, and most thought the additions were done for Pope. That's where you add in Milan Momcilovic, arguably the best shooter in college hoops a season ago.
Momcilovic tested his luck at the NBA Draft and eventually withdrew and will be returning to collegiate territory, where he chose Kentucky for his last season. He played all three prior with Iowa State. Why did he choose Kentucky? Well, at least part of the matter is that Pope believes he's the perfect player for his system, and that's what Momcilovic recently relayed as well.
Pope wants to run, and he wants to shoot bunches of three pointers this season, like he did with the BYU Cougars. Momcilovic is going to help the Cats do just that, so there's good reason to believe he is the quintessential Pope player. Now, at that stage in the transfer portal, he was really the only elite option that could change the trajectory of this roster, and Pope likely knew that as well.
Momcilovic attempted 7.5 threes per game last season, connecting on 3.7 of those, or 48.7% on the season. He shot 50.6% from the field and averaged 3.6 non-three-point field goal attempts, so he certainly likes to hoist them from deep. Hopefully, for all parties, it is the perfect connection.

Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis meet on the UFC 329 main card Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie **** yst Dan Tom.
Last event's results: 5-1
UFC main cards, 2026: 69-37-1
Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) aims to rebound from his first loss under the UFC banner, which was a unanimous decision loss to now-champion Justin Gaethje.
Saint Denis (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) looks to extend his current winning streak to five. His current run includes wins over Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush and Dan Hooker.