Daniel Franzese has revealed a striking change in his appearance, sharing shirtless photographs after losing 135lb over three years.
The Mean Girls star, who played Damian Leigh in the much-loved 2004 comedy, posted comparison pictures on Threads alongside a brief explanation of the changes he has made.
The actor, 48, shared the images responding to a conversation inviting people to celebrate their progress and encourage others. His reported weight loss amounts to approximately 61kg, or nine stone and nine pounds.
Daniel Franzese in 2024 (@ Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)
Daniel's post paired an earlier shirtless photograph with a more recent mirror selfie, showing the difference over the three-year period.

#daniel #franzese #girls #damian

Looks like Mean Girls star Daniel Franzese is going to need a brand-new pink shirt.
Franzese, 48 — who played Damian Leigh in the hit 2004 film — showed off his impressive 135-pound weight loss with a rare shirtless photo on September 24.
"Three years. Down 135lbs. No booze, no sugar, workout 4 times a week (or more) now counting macros," he captioned the post shared to Threads.
Fans flooded the comments section of his post with praise for his hard work.
"The progress is impressive😘," one follower wrote.

#mean #september

There are two Money in the Bank qualifiers so far, Sol Ruca and Bron Breakker. They punched their tickets with wins on Raw.
Friday's episode of WWE Smackdown in Mexico City was eventful, but it didn't have any MITB qualifying matches. We did see Sami Zayn regain the WWE Championship and Damian Priest turn on R-Truth, but no official new qualifiers. Trick Williams announced he has intentions on entering the MITB match, but shortly after, he and Lil Yachty were attacked by Baron Corbin, so it remains to be seen if he will get one of the slots. Here's everything we know about the card. Let's talk wrestling.
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#city

By Ari Liljenwall
Player of the Matchday 25: Bruno Damiani
Philadelphia Union forward Bruno Damiani has earned MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob ULTRA honors for Matchday 25.
Damiani helped power Philadelphia's 5-0 rout of FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park with his first career MLS hat trick. The 24-year-old now has six goals this season, one shy of his 2025 total.
Damiani's big night helped extend Philadelphia's unbeaten run to nine matches (7W-0L-2D), tied for the second-longest streak in club history. The victory also lifted the Union into eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, keeping them above the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs line.

#damiani #player #union #philadelphia

Elon Musk's first wife, Justine, says the tech ******* an had a tumultuous relationship with his daughter Vivian, who is transgender.
In Alex Gibney's new documentary, Musk, she recalled what it was like to be married to the world's first trillionaire, who is also the father of her six kids, twins Vivian and Griffin, triplets Saxon, Kai and Damian, and their late son, Nevada. Justine noted that Musk cut off Vivian's health insurance when she came out as trans and said he "never tried to repair things" with her. "It's not in his nature," she said, per People.
More from SheKnows
Elon Musk's Ex-Wife Justine Reveals The Chilling Thing He Told Her At Their Wedding To Make Her Feel 'Insignificant'
However, Justine alleged that Musk told her to tell Vivian that "I'll always love her."

#justine #alex

The Heat were ready to offer Tyler Herro a smaller contract extension before the trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tyler Herro is now playing for his hometown team, the Milwaukee Bucks, after seven seasons with the Miami Heat. At one point, it seemed Herro was destined to be a Heat for the rest of his career, but that didn't happen because he was their best trade piece in the 2026 offseason.
After a long wait, the Heat finally have a megastar again in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Before they pulled off the trade, it seemed that the Heat were ready to keep building on their core group, including Herro. That would have involved an extension for Herro, but they were unwilling to give him the max.
Throughout his Heat tenure, Herro always had the support of the front office. Team president Pat Riley saw him as a long-term piece, but when the opportunity to trade for Giannis came up, it was hard to deny the package that the Bucks wanted.
Before that, he was also involved in the potential Damian Lillard package back in 2023, but that did not lead to anything. Herro was superb for the Heat, as he had two trips to the NBA Finals and an All-Star nod to be proud of. However, his time came to an end after the Antetokounmpo trade.

#team

Draymond Green wrapped up a rocky 2025-26 season that saw the Golden State Warriors fall in the play-in tournament, with the veteran forward starting all 68 games while averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 ******* ists.
This offseason, Green has used his podcast to speak freely, and this week he turned his attention to one of the NBA's biggest storylines. However his take has already caught plenty of attention around the league, there is more to why Green feels this way.
Green's comments on his podcast reflect a recent pattern of him weighing in publicly on league matters, from a warning he sent the NBA over Damian Lillard's shooting display to issues touching his own Golden State Warriors locker room. This time, the target was the structure of the salary cap itself, not just the punishment handed down.
Apr 10, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) gestures toward the Sacramento Kings bench during the third quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
"Why is there a salary cap? Why are guys being prevented from making money from team sponsors or league sponsors, or whoever else?" Green said.

#draymond

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Cavan Sullivan scored in the second half to become the first 16-year-old in MLS history with goal contributions in four straight matches, and the Philadelphia Union beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Saturday night to extend their unbeaten streak to seven.
Sullivan found the net for a second straight match and third time this season in 34 career appearances to give Philadelphia (6-10-6) a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute. He is the third player in league history age 18 or younger with a scoring contribution in four straight matches.
The Union took the lead in the 21st minute on Milan Iloski's career-high 11th goal. Indiana Vassilev and Danley Jean Jacques both picked up their first two ****** ists of the season on the first two goals.
Teenager Neil Pierre scored in the 65th minute for a 3-0 advantage. It was the fourth goal in seven appearances for the 18-year-old rookie midfielder. Bruno Damiani and Iloski had ****** ists.
The Red Bulls avoided a shutout in the 74th minute when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting netted his third goal of the season after scoring 17 times as a rookie last year.

#season

An eventful Week 2 of the high school season saw some wet bulb delays, a coach get his first-ever victory, and a Sun Valley sweep.
Here is "The Friday Five" — that's what we call our new feature rounding up the five most important things that happened in Week 2.
Congratulations to Nick King. The former Palm Springs high athletic standout and now first-year head coach at Shadow Hills picked up the first victory of his coaching career Friday. The Knights' defense solved the Wing-T offense of Palo Verde Valley and the offense got on track as Shadow Hills pulled away for a 26-6 victory. Damian Walls had a pair of rushing touchdowns in the win. King and Company will have a short week and a tough task in Week 3 as they play at Yucaipa on Thursday. But tonight, Coach King can go ahead and exhale and celebrate the fact that he's a winning high school head coach.
Last week, the Rancho Mirage defense bent, but rarely broke, as they turned away and shut down a solid Yucca Valley offense. This week, the Rancho Mirage defense bent, but rarely broke, as they turned away and shut down a solid Coachella Valley offense. The Rattlers flummoxed their second straight DVL team and have found a nice mix of offense and defense early this season. There's been a lot of talk about the Rattlers sophomore class and that was on display in this one as the four touchdowns were scored by four different sophomores. Wow! Bentley Arredondo, Jadarius Hester, Reid Keane and Jayden Ayers all scored. That's 2-0 for the Rattlers and that's a good feeling.
The Blackhawks took their usual opening week bye week and there was absolutely no rust to be found as La Quinta ran around, over and through Yucca Valley for a 58-28 victory. The only thing that slowed them down was a wet bulb delay to start the game as La Quinta showed off its balanced offense. Talented tailback Colton LaCrone did his thing with 136 yards rushing and two TDs on 16 carries, while QB Mason Flores threw for 187 yards and three touchdown passes. The defense did its part getting a safety from Dominyck Gonzalez and a pick six from Alfredo Castro. Sure there was some sloppy play that gave coach Juan Ruiz something to talk about during film sessions, but he said it best "Even if there was some sloppy moments, nothing beats starting off the year with a W." One note for Yucca Valley in a mostly forgettable night, Aiden Pope did return a kickoff for a touchdown.

#week

Lazio are facing an uphill challenge in their quest to sign Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, as Matteo Cancellieri has reportedly rejected his most keen admirers.
Earlier this week, the Kosovar international emerged as a target for the Biancocelesti, who would like to bolster their flanks after sorting out other departments by signing Alfonso Pedraza, Danilho Doekhi, Davide Frattesi, Josip Sutalo, and most recently Andrea Pinamonti.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), Lazio are hoping to acquire Zhegrova on loan with an option to buy from Juventus. The 27-year-old's current net salary is €2.5 million per year, so the Biancocelesti should be able to cover it. However, the pink newspaper insists that the arrival of the former LOSC Lille player would only be plausible if Cancellieri were to leave.
Over the past few days, the Roman winger has been linked with several Serie A clubs, with Genoa making the most concrete offer. But according to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, Cancellieri is refusing to join Daniele De Rossi's team.
The 24-year-old might be holding out for a more prestigious destination, like Fiorentina or Bologna, who have more ambitious projects and are aiming to fight for European slots. Perhaps he would end up reconsidering his decision if no other offers arrive, as he risks spending his campaign on the bench, since Gustav Isaksen is reportedly ahead of him in Gennaro Gattuso's pecking order.

#lazio #year #zhegrova #biancocelesti

Lazio have reportedly improved their bid for Andrea Pinamonti as they try to find an agreement with Sassuolo before the transfer deadline.
Although the club's campaign began last Sunday (with a shocking elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Mantova), the Biancocelesti have yet to add a new striker to their ranks, even though Gennaro Gattuso had considered it the main priority of the summer transfer market.
The Aquile were on the cusp of signing Bamba Dieng, who arrived in Rome on Thursday, but the deal collapsed due to a knee issue detected during the medical. As for Mauro Icardi, he wasn't completely sold on the project, preferring to bide his time while waiting for other offers. Therefore, Pinamonti re-emerged as the main target to bolster the attack.
According to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, Lazio have raised their offer for Pinamonti, and they're now awaiting a response from Sassuolo. It should be noted that the Italian capital club can only afford to sign the 27-year-old on loan with an option to buy, but since the player's contract with the Neroverdi will expire next June, he would first have to sign a renewal.
Er Faina adds that AC Milan outcast Santiago Gimenez was never a serious option for Lazio. The Mexican is instead a top target for Porto, who are working tirelessly to recruit him.

#sassuolo #italian

Lazio have reportedly secured the services of Croatian defender Josip Sutalo after reaching a full accord with Ajax.
This has been an eventful day for the Biancocelesti, who were supposed to complete the signing of Senegalese striker Bamba Dieng on a free transfer, but the deal has been called off due to a failed medical. But while Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani are back to square one on the attacking front, they have apparently solved their defensive dilemma.
According to multiple sources in the Italian media, including Gianluca Di Marzio, Fabrizio Romano, and Damiano Er Faina, Lazio and Ajax have reached a final agreement on Sutalo's transfer. The 26-year-old will join the Italian capital side on an initial loan for €3 million with an option to buy set at €7.5 million, while the Amsterdam-based giants would receive a 10% cut in case of a future resale.
Sutalo is a Dynamo Zagreb youth product who climbed his way up the ranks to become a stalwart for both club and country. In 2023, he earned a €20 million move to Ajax and went on to make 108 appearances for the Dutch club.
The Croatian international will join a centre-back department that includes Oliver Provstgaard and fellow new signing Danilho Doekhi, while Alessio Romagnoli's fate remains undecided, and Patric and Samuel Gigot are dealing with career-threatening long-term injuries.

#ajax #million

Bamba Dieng is no longer set to sign for Lazio, as the first medical results detected a knee problem, preventing him from joining Gennaro Gattuso's ranks.
The 26-year-old is a Senegalese striker who has had a relatively modest career, but did enjoy a solid final campaign at Lorient (15 goals from 25 appearances) before seeing out his contract with the Ligue 1 side. The forward landed in Rome on Wednesday after reaching a surprising agreement with the Biancocelesti directors.
But as we reported this morning, Dieng had already failed a medical at Amed SK earlier in the summer, allegedly due to an issue in his knee. While Lazio were presumably aware of this issue, they still proceeded with the negotiations with the player.
According to several reliable sources in the Italian media, including Gianluca Di Marzio, Dieng's move to Lazio has been called off due to the first medical's results. The Sky Sport Italia correspondent believes the decision is almost final.
With Dieng ruled out of the equation, Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina believes Andrea Pinamonti is once again the big favourite to bolster the Aquile's attack. The 27-year-old Sassuolo striker is a profile admired by Gennaro Gattuso, who considers him the right candidate for the role.

#dieng #knee

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced several new bouts for the upcoming UFC 332 event on Paramount+, recently made official for Sat., Oct. 3, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chief among them is the bantamweight contest pitting Deiveson Figueiredo against Payton Talbott, a bout that could land Talbott a spot in the division Top 15.
Elsewhere on the card, former UFC middleweight **** le challenger Marvin Vettori returns to battle Austrian import Ismail Naurdiev, not long after Johnny Walker makes his heavyweight debut against well-traveled veteran Mick Parkin. In addition, Court McGee will throw hands with Eric Nolan in what is expected to be "Crusher's" final appearance inside the Octagon.
Here's the current UFC 332 lineup:
135 lbs.: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott
265 lbs.: Mick Parkin vs. Johnny Walker
185 lbs.: Ateba Gautier vs. Roman Kopylov
185 lbs.: Damian Pinas vs. Andrey Pulyaev
185 lbs.: Ismail Naurdiev vs. Marvin Vettori
125 lbs.: Alden Coria vs. Imanol Rodriguez
170 lbs.: Court McGee vs. Eric Nolan
Expect more UFC 332 fight card announcements in the coming weeks.

#talbott #figueiredo #vettori #johnny

Lazio are struggling to meet Mauro Icardi's salary demands, so they continue to work on Andrea Pinamonti, who represents a more affordable alternative.
The Aquile's shocking Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Mantova confirmed, beyond any reasonable doubt, the squad's desperate need for a new striker. Boulaye Dia was once again wasteful in front of goal, while Petar Ratkov has failed to earn Gennaro Gattuso's trust despite a promising pre-season.
The Italian capital side has already missed out on several profiles, including Carlos Espi, who signed for Real Madrid, and Franjo Ivanovic, who preferred RC Lens. In recent days, it has been reported that the club's shortlist has been reduced to two names: Sassuolo's Pinamonti and free agent Icardi.
According to Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina, Lazio are only willing to offer Icardi a yearly net salary of €2.5 million, while the Argentine hitman is holding out for €5 million. Therefore, the gap could be too wide to be bridged through negotiations.
The club realises that Pinamonti is the more plausible option. The 27-year-old is open to joining the Biancocelesti, but as Er Faina reports, Sassuolo must first find themselves a replacement. Lazio are hoping to sign the Italian striker on loan with an option to buy, but this temporary formula is only applicable should the player extend his contract, which is set to expire in June 2027.

#italian

By José Nuñez
Cavan Sullivan has the Philadelphia Union firing on all cylinders.
Philadelphia continues to heat up in MLS play, earning their fourth straight victory in stunning fashion, completing a second-half comeback at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night.
Trailing New York City FC, 2-0, the Union managed to flip the script and secure a 3-2 win, courtesy of a trio of **** ists from the Sullivan brothers, igniting the scoring and setting up a Bruno Damiani brace.
Philadelphia's second-half turnaround was sparked by Cavan continuing his fantastic post-World Cup form, providing a pair of helpers to equalize. The 16-year-old has now recorded 1g/3a in his last two matches, proving a clear catalyst for the Union's playoff push.

#yankee #stadium #sunday #trailing

Tommy John, the major league pitcher who achieved 288 victories over a 26-year career and became the first player to successfully return after revolutionary elbow surgery later named in his honor, has died at age 83.
He passed away Saturday night at his home in Bradenton, Florida, according to his agent Mike Maguire on Sunday. He was under hospice care.
On Aug. 8, the New York Yankees shared a social media post written by John to bid farewell to friends and supporters from his career, writing, "I will never forget you."
Tommy John praises his late friend, Dr. Frank Jobe during a memorial service at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, April 7, 2014 (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
A four-time All-Star, the left-hander compiled a 288-231 record with a 3.34 ERA between 1963 and 1989. His career included stints with Cleveland, the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Yankees, the California Angels and the Oakland Athletics.

#angeles #saturday #Florida

According to English outlet The Daily Mirror, Newcastle United have identified João Palhinha as an option in their search for an experienced midfielder following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.
With Aston Villa also reportedly interested, the situation could develop into a race for the Portuguese international's signature. Villa may now be forced to accelerate their efforts, having previously been reluctant to meet Bayern Munich's asking price, with Newcastle potentially able to spend following their significant sales this summer.
Aston Villa sporting director Damián Vidagany revealed his side's interest in Palhinha in recent days, stating: "João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans. We are in talks, but there's currently no agreement."
Bayern are reportedly demanding €25 million for the 31-year-old, a figure Villa are currently unwilling to meet. A loan deal is also not considered an option, although it remains to be seen whether Newcastle would be prepared to meet Bayern's demands.
It is worth noting that Newcastle are currently in talks with Marseille for midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, with Palhinha being viewed as an alternative at this stage.

#newcastle #villa #currently #following

Aston Villa have been linked with Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha.
Palhinha is expected to leave Bayern this summer after spending last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
Villa sporting director Damian Vidagany has confirmed that the club are in talks with Bayern over Palhinha.
"We need a player for midfield because Amadou Onana is out for the entire season – and Joao Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans," he told Bild.
"We are in talks, but there is currently no agreement. If something should happen, it will always be on the basis of the great respect we have for FC Bayern.

#palhinha #joao

Bayern Munich's ongoing quest to offload João Palhinha- as well as Sacha Boey and Bryan Zaragoza- reportedly got a boost via interest from Aston Villa. The Villans, who Bayern beat 2-1 in a recent friendly, have lost star midfielders Amadou Onana to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United. Despite the recent addition of the impressive João Gomes, they need more personnel and Palhinha is a concrete target of theirs.
That last tidbit of news is something Damián Vidagany, Aston Villa's sporting director, confirmed to Bild reporter Nico Linner.
"We need a midfielder because Amadou Onana will be out for the entire season, and João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans," Vidagany stated (as captured by iMiaSanMia). "We are in talks, but there's currently no agreement. If anything does happen, it will always be on the basis of the big respect we have for FC Bayern. Our clubs are friends, and our relationship with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund and all the other people in charge is excellent. That is why I cannot and do not want to comment on any further details."
Of course, the problem is immediately apparent. Aston Villa wish to obtain a one year stopgap until Onana returns from his unfortunate injury, while Bayern wish to offload Palhinha permanently. How the two clubs reconcile that issue remains to be seen.
Perhaps the Bavarians will be willing to acquiesce and settle for a loan deal after all. The issue with Palhinha is that the club likely amortized the €51 million transfer fee and is still paying it to this day. If any potential loan deal can cover this year's amortization as well as the player's wages, perhaps the Bavarians would be willing to accept such a deal.

#deal

BILD have confirmed that Damián Vidagany, Aston Villa's director of football, revealed their interest in signing FC Bayern's João Palhinha.
"We need a midfielder because Amadou Onana will be out for the entire season," the Villains' chief said after yesterday's friendly clash.
"João Palhinha is a very good player who would fit our plans. We are in talks, but there's currently no agreement.
"If anything does happen [regarding a transfer], it will always be on the basis of the big respect we have for FC Bayern.
"Our clubs are friends, and our relationship with Max Eberl, Christoph Freund and all the other people in charge is excellent.

#amadou #onana #bayern #eberl

Anfernee Simons understands his new sixth-man role with the refreshed 76ers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For the 2026-27 season, the Philadelphia 76ers will be one of the exciting teams because of LeBron James' arrival. However, they are much more than that because they also have more additions, including All-NBA player Jaylen Brown and explosive scorer Anfernee Simons.
Considering he is not an established star, Simons is not the most popular player for the 76ers. However, people might be surprised because he can be one of the most impactful players due to his skill set as an offensive player, especially as a dynamic scorer.
Dating back to his days with the Portland Trail Blazers, Simons has always been an explosive scorer. He thrives without the ball in his hands, as he loves getting open with smart off-ball movement. His three-point shooting is elite, especially when he serves as a spot-up shooter.
Playing off elite players like James, Brown, and Embiid can open up all kinds of opportunities for him to shine. He already has experience playing with Brown and other top-level players like Damian Lillard, so this won't be a problem for Simons to adjust to this kind of role.

#players #james #playing

During the 2026/27 league year, only one NBA player will have a formal no-trade clause in his contract. That player is Damian Lillard, who negotiated a no-trade clause into his deal with the Trail Blazers last summer. LeBron James and Bradley Beal had no-trade clauses in their respective contracts in recent years, but Beal gave his up when he agreed to a buyout with the Suns during the 2025 offseason, and James no longer has one after his contract with the Lakers expired this summer. LeBron would have been eligible for a no-trade clause if he had rejoined the Cavaliers or Heat in free agency, but since he hasn't played for Philadelphia before, he couldn't add one to his new contract with the Sixers.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Damian Lillard the only player with a no-trade clause

#lillard #lebron #james

Elizabeth Hurley had never met Miley Cyrus before beginning her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus, but Miley's work had already been a familiar part of life with her son, Damian Hurley.
During a July 27 appearance on SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live, Andy Cohen asked whether Hurley had met Billy Ray's daughter. "I have met Miley. She's adorable," Hurley replied.
Hurley added that she has been fortunate to meet some of Billy Ray's other children and described them as "fabulous." Her introduction to Miley, however, followed years of seeing her on television and hearing her music at home.
Damian grew up watching Hannah Montana and later became a fan of Miley's pop career. Hurley said that history had already convinced her that she would like Miley before the two ever met.
Image Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.

#andy

Elizabeth Hurley formed an opinion on Miley Cyrus way before they were introduced by Billy Ray Cyrus.
While appearing on Sirius XM's Andy Cohen Live, the Bedazzled actress, 61, revealed Miley was a well-known name in her house for years prior to her becoming her boyfriend's daughter. She recalled, "I'd never met her, but my son used to love Hannah Montana, so he loved Father Montana," speaking of her son Damian, who she shares with businessman Steve Bing.
"He loved Miley too, so I always knew who she was, and when he was a young teen, he used to love all her music," she continued. "I used to have to watch her music videos, like "Wrecking Ball," a zillion times with him, so we were very familiar with who she was, and I knew I was going to like her."
Since meeting the Grammy winner, the actress' thoughts haven't changed much.
"I do like her," Elizabeth said. "She's adorable."

#miley #actress #love #loved

The Portland Trail Blazers have seemingly decided that having too many guards isn't actually a problem.
Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson are all expected to enter training camp on Micah Nori's roster, with Portland reportedly believing it can make the overcrowded group work.
That's certainly one way to handle it.
But if the Blazers are committed to keeping Henderson despite acquiring another ball-dominant point guard in Morant, then it's time to prove they remain equally committed to his future.
Henderson is eligible to sign a rookie-scale extension until Oct. 19, the day before the 2026-27 regular season begins. If the two sides don't reach an agreement, he'll make $13.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract before entering restricted free agency next summer.

#morant #make

Image: Ben Duffy/Sherdog.com illustration
We at Sherdog provide regular, in-depth preview coverage for allmajor events, including our oft-praised preview column along withour "Sheehan Show" handling all sorts of related matters includingbetting. With those official sources for picks handled, we wouldlike to take the edge off here and get a bit lighter with ourbreakdowns.

The industry of sports betting is exploding before our very eyes,with billions of dollars pumping in since legalization stateside.Oftentimes, those driving the lines are right on the money withtheir openings, valuations and ****** yses. Occasionally they are wayoff, or otherwise merit some additional conversation. That is wherewe come in with this reinvigorated series of Prime Picks, where,stealing a line from game show host Sam Reich, we hold hands andjump into the abyss together for Saturday morning's Ultimate Fighting Championship's jaunt toAbu Dhabi. Try it out.
MagomedAnkalaev (-575)
MagomedZaynukov (-290)
MagomedTuchalov (-900)

We admit, we're getting away with a technicality here by notincluding MuhammadSaid in our same-name parlay. After all, Magomed is the Russiantransliteration of Muhammad. Also, good luck trying to search thename "Muhammad Said" without any additional qualifiers and stillgarner any information about the fighter of that namesake. All ofthese Magomeds are rightful favorites, and in the case of two ofthe more expected victors of Tuchalov and Ankalaev, moneyline betsare just not worth it.

Therefore, we pair these three gents together, all of whom haveclear paths to victory against foes who have displayed exploitableweaknesses. Some are giving BogdanGuskov a proverbial "puncher's chance" to win this fight,although he might have some surprise jiu-jitsu in his back pocket.Nevertheless, unless Ankalaev chooses to take things horizontal—heis not nearly as keen on doing this despite his reputation, onlydoing so in his first triumphant meeting against AlexPereira. Against "Poatan," he did attempt a clean dozen shots.While he did not land a single one, the mere threat of the takedownallowed him to get in on the stoic striker and do some work. A fewfaked shots against "Hitman," whose takedown defense has alreadycome into question despite his recent successes, would payimmediate dividends.

We get to the meat of the order. More specifically, the pork. JohnPork. "Wild Chanco" Zaynukov, who actually had his nickname onFight Finder as "John Pork" until specifically reaching out torequest that it be taken down. RobertWhittaker didn't have the same problem when Ben Fowlkes andChad Dundas first crowned him "Bobby Knuckles" in the always-great"Co-Main Event Podcast" and it stuck. Even though DamianRzepecki will hold a slight bit more experience and morestoppages on his ledger, he and Zaynukov stand at differentterraces in their respective careers.

To get signed through the promotion, the Dagestan native in thepipeline of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just over 24 hours away from the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi mixed martial arts (MMA) event, which is set to go down this Sat. (July 25, 2026) on Paramount+ from inside Etihad Arena on "Fight Island" in Abu Dhabi, UAE. UFC Abu Dhabi will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight clash between former champion Magomed Ankalev and rising contender Bogdan Guskov.
Before the Paramount+ card gets underway this weekend in Abu Dhabi, which also includes a Flyweight showdown between former 125-pound ****** le challenger Steve Erceg and Ramazan Temirov, all 26 fighters must hit the scale to prove themselves worthy.
Complete UFC Abu Dhabi weigh-ins text results beginning at 1 a.m. ET below:
205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev () vs. Bogdan Guskov ()
125 lbs.: Steve Erceg () vs. Ramazan Temirov ()
265 lbs.: Rizvan Kuniev () vs. Tyrell Fortune ()
170 lbs.: Islam Dulatov () vs. Wellington Turman ()
155 lbs.: Magomed Zaynukov () vs. Damian Rzepecki ()
170 lbs.: Saygid Izagakhmaev () vs. Abubakar Vagaev ()
265 lbs.: Valter Walker () vs. Thomas Petersen ()
155 lbs.: Ismael Bonfim () vs. Axel Sola ()
205 lbs.: Brendson Ribeiro () vs. Magomed Tuchalov ()
155 lbs.: Nurullo Aliev () vs. Mike Davis ()
170 lbs.: Santiago Ponzinibbio () vs. Sam Patterson ()
205 lbs.: Dustin Jacoby () vs. Muhammad Said ()
135 lbs.: Abdul Hussein () vs. Cody Gibson ()

#guskov

After months of waiting, it’s finally “John Pork” fight week!
Everyone’s favorite viral fighter Magomed Zaynukov is set to make his official promotional debut at UFC Abu Dhabi where he faces fellow newcomer Damian Rzepecki on the main card of Saturday’s Fight Night event. Zaynukov came into the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series, scoring an impressive decision win over Lucas Caldas.
That performance isn’t why Zaynukov has become something of a sensation, though. All the extra attention comes via two unfortunate events: someone making a meme joking that his nickname is “John Pork,” and Zaynukov attacking Dillon Danis in the crowd at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden.
The “John Pork” thing has raised his profile, but it’s clearly an annoyance to Zaynukov, whose real nickname is “Chanko” after his hometown in Dagestan.
“It started back in 2009 when I was beginning my Muay Thai career,” he explained to Anatomy Of A Fight. “At the Dagestan Muay Thai Championships, my coach Ibrahim Khedirov started calling me ‘Chanko.’ I trained under him for nearly 12 years, and the name just stuck. From then on, everyone called me Chanko. Some people even thought it was my real name. Now when people hear ‘Chanko’ they know it’s me.”

#pork #fight #dagestan

MasterChef isn't about love — but off-screen, the judges have plenty of romance in their lives.
Season 16 of MasterChef: Global Gauntlet returned on July 15, following an extended hiatus for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The popular FOX cooking competition will bring more high-stakes culinary challenges, with Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich and Tiffany Derry continuing as judges.
Although the trio is known for their high standards and constructive criticism, their off-camera lives reveal a softer side.
"[Gordon] is, believe it or not, incredibly sensitive — he's a crier," Gordon's wife, Tana Ramsay, told PEOPLE in September 2023.
The celebrity chef has been married to Tana for nearly 30 years and frequently shares glimpses of their relationship in interviews and social media posts. His fellow judges have also found love: Joe married Deanna Bastianich (née Damiano) in 1995, per The New York Times, and just weeks before the cooking show's return, Tiffany announced on Instagram that she had wed William F. Johnson.