Oct 22, 2022 “Father’s plan” worked. Islam Makhachev is the new lightweight champion after defeating Charles Oliveria by second-round submission (arm triangle) to win the vacant belt at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday. Makhachev entered the fight on a 10-fight winning streak and was set to finalize the plan of
2:30 PM ET NEW YORK — Facing the prospect of going down 3-0 in the American League Championship Series, the Yankees are shuffling up their lineup. Facing Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier, New York will lead off with first baseman Anthony Rizzo, move Harrison Bader down from the leadoff spot to No. 6, start Oswaldo
5:38 PM ET ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts two years ago as an undefeated champion, Islam Makhachev‘s reclaiming that lightweight title felt like a preordained moment. That moment came Saturday. Makhachev (23-1) seized the UFC’s 155-pound championship by submitting Charles Oliveira (33-9) at UFC 280
Carlos Sainz took pole position for the United States Grand Prix, beating Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Sainz beat Leclerc by 0.065 seconds and Verstappen by 0.092secs, but the world champion will be second on the grid because Leclerc has a 10-place penalty. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who has a five-place
6:32 PM ET Jeff Wagenheim By becoming UFC lightweight champion Saturday, Islam Makhachev fulfilled a prophecy. Maybe it was really just a lifelong friend expressing faith and brotherhood, but when Khabib Nurmagomedov briefly interrupted a Makhachev news conference three years ago, it felt like something far more consequential. Let’s call it a coronation-in-waiting. Nurmagomedov was
5:21 PM ET Brett Okamoto Close ESPN Staff Writer MMA columnist for ESPN.com Analyst for “MMA Live” Covered MMA for Las Vegas Sun Marc Raimondi What can we take away from a fascinating slate of title fights and marquee matchups at UFC 280? Marc Raimondi and Brett Okamoto offer up their thoughts from a highlight-packed
2:38 PM ET NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in recent comments to Phoenix Suns employees, addressed possible solutions for tanking while noting that he understands why teams would do it when a “once-in-a-generation player” is about to enter the league, according to sources who were present. Calling it a “serious issue” that has sparked “hundreds” of
Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, a major global business figure as a result of his energy drinks empire, has died aged 78. Mateschitz was the driving force behind the establishment of what became the global market leader in energy drinks. He used the fortune created by that to set up a Formula 1 team that
2:56 PM ET LONDON — Chelsea and Manchester United played out a tight 1-1 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Jorginho converted a penalty to put the hosts in front, only for Casemiro to eke a header over the line and end the 10-plus-hour clean-sheet streak of Kepa Arrizabalaga, and give the Red
4:03 PM ET Associated Press HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Chandler Smith, Zane Smith and Ben Rhodes became the final drivers to punch their tickets to the NASCAR Truck Series finale next month when Ty Majeski, already in the title race, won after Saturday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The drivers rounded out the championship-deciding final four on
4:14 PM ET CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made a change at quarterback that helped spark a 27-21 come-from-behind win against Syracuse, but afterward, he insisted D.J. Uiagalelei remains Clemson’s starting QB. Down 21-10 midway through the third quarter, Uiagalelei threw his second interception of the day — his third turnover overall —
4:45 PM ET Associated Press Three eagles, and a round of nine-under-par, saw Yannik Paul power up the leaderboard at the Mallorca Golf Open on Saturday to move to 16 under par and a share of the lead with Ryan Fox. Fox enjoyed another highly consistent round — six birdies and no dropped shots for
Great Britain won six gold medals on the penultimate day at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships. Jody Cundy won a 13th C4 world kilo title in a row, while Jaco van Gass and Fin Graham claimed a one-two in the men’s C3 1km time trial. Blaine Hunt and Daphne Schrager claimed first world titles
American Logan Sargeant will race for Williams next year as long as he qualifies for a Formula 1 driver’s ‘super-licence’. The plan for Sargeant’s F1 debut in 2023 as Alex Albon’s team-mate was confirmed by Williams team principal Jost Capito. “We feel he’s ready to race in F1 and on the condition he has enough
Red Bull have accused their rivals of waging a “concerted campaign for a draconian penalty” for them breaking Formula 1’s budget cap. Team principal Christian Horner said that “what is in contention is a couple of hundred thousand dollars” in the team’s financial submissions for 2021. Governing body the FIA has offered Red Bull a
12:51 PM ET Associated Press HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Bubba Wallace is missing Sunday’s NASCAR race, and that is evidently not his only sanction after losing his cool in Las Vegas last weekend. Denny Hamlin — who, along with Michael Jordan, co-owns the 23XI Racing team Wallace drives for — said Saturday that the team has
Reigning Asian champions Sri Lanka face Ireland in a T20 World Cup Group 1 match at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. In the qualifiers, Sri Lanka lost their first match to Namibia, but made a strong comeback to reach the Super 12s. The Dasun Shanaka-led side thrashed UAE, before edging out Netherlands. Ireland, on the
9:05 AM ET Pete ThamelESPN Ohio State star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to return against Iowa on Saturday, sources told ESPN. Smith-Njigba, who broke the Big Ten record for yards in a season in 2021, has been recovering from a hamstring injury that has limited him to parts of just two games this