Author: Mosope

Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.
Tennis

Brad Gilbert in her corner and changing mentalities, Gauff’s growth clear to see

Mosope

Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the champions trophy after defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the womens singles final on...

Coco Gauff completed her pre-US Open preparations in style, capping off a memorable hard court stint by winning the biggest title of her career to date – having snapped her Iga Swiatek hoodoo in the semifinals – outlasting Karolina Muchova in humid Cincinnati conditions little over 24 hours later. Armed with new coaches and more self-belief buoyed by recent results, the 19-year-old still remains a work in progress and that is a scary proposition for her rivals on tour. Continue reading “Brad Gilbert in her corner and changing mentalities, Gauff’s growth clear to see” →

NBA

Anthony Edwards stars as team USA go 5-0 in FIBA World Cup prep – it’s no surprise

Mosope

Anthony Edwards of the Senior Men's National Team dribbles the ball during the 2023 FIBA World Cup against the German National Team at Etihad Arena...

Minnesota Timberwolves’ All-Star guard Anthony Edwards led the charge for team USA during their final warm-up game before the FIBA World Cup, scoring 34 points as they recovered from a 16-point deficit to beat Germany – a side stacked with NBA-level talent. Steve Kerr has declared the 22-year-old ‘the guy’, and it’s no surprise off the back of a successful third season in the league. Continue reading “Anthony Edwards stars as team USA go 5-0 in FIBA World Cup prep – it’s no surprise” →

Boxing

Olympic flyweight champion Galal Yafai blasts past Tommy Frank within a round

Mosope

2020 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai needed just 100 seconds to dispatch former British champion Tommy Frank as the Birmingham-born flyweight contender wasted no time in his maiden main event, producing an assertive display which will again accelerate his own path towards world title contention. Continue reading “Olympic flyweight champion Galal Yafai blasts past Tommy Frank within a round” →

UFC

UFC 292: Sterling says the onus is on him to humble O’Malley tonight, and he’s right

Mosope

Aljamain Sterling makes the fourth defence of his UFC bantamweight title overnight, and has said plenty in the build-up about how Sean O’Malley – a growing star within the promotion – has purposely been matched up in a way allowing him to fast-track his way to a championship shot. So now, only he stands between Suga Show becoming the second DWCS alum to seize gold…
Continue reading “UFC 292: Sterling says the onus is on him to humble O’Malley tonight, and he’s right” →

Boxing

McCann-Baluta ends in majority draw, after frantic battle is stopped prematurely

Mosope

Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta was compelling viewing for as long as it lasted, before their gripping super-bantamweight clash was halted after McCann’s cut worsened in the ninth round and they went to the judges’ scorecards – majority draw – a contentious outcome to finish a fiery night of fights at York Hall. Continue reading “McCann-Baluta ends in majority draw, after frantic battle is stopped prematurely” →

Boxing

Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta: Compelling super-bantamweight battle tops tonight’s York Hall show

Mosope

Unbeaten super-bantamweight contender Dennis McCann vowed during Wednesday’s press conference that we’ll see the very best of him before his maiden main event matchup tonight against former European champion Ionut Baluta. The 29-year-old is riding a high after recovering from danger to outwork then-unbeaten prospect Andrew Cain – so will history repeat itself here? Continue reading “Dennis McCann vs. Ionut Baluta: Compelling super-bantamweight battle tops tonight’s York Hall show” →

News

Pavard push aside, Inter linked with Tottenham’s Tanganga and Chalobah at Chelsea as possible defensive signings

Mosope

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Japhet Tanganga of Tottenham Hotspur train ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and...

Per reports in Italy today, Inter are monitoring a series of Premier League-based defenders – Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga, Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah and Arsenal’s versatile fullback Takehiro Tomiyasu as their search for more defensive reinforcements continue after news broke of their accelerated interest in acquiring Bayern’s wantaway World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard. Continue reading “Pavard push aside, Inter linked with Tottenham’s Tanganga and Chalobah at Chelsea as possible defensive signings” →

Specials

WATCH: Daniel Dubois, Hamzah Sheeraz gear up for Poland trip with open workout

Mosope

WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois has an almost impossible ask abroad next weekend, looking to dethrone unbeaten, unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. Elsewhere, rising middleweight contender Hamzah Sheeraz (#6 WBO, #9 WBC) similarly returns from injury against an unbeaten Ukrainian, hoping to pick up where he left off at London’s 02 Arena last November. Click for more, to watch their individual videos at the Bermondsey Boxing Club.
Continue reading “WATCH: Daniel Dubois, Hamzah Sheeraz gear up for Poland trip with open workout” →

Tennis

Ons Jabeur still hurting from Wimbledon heartbreak, as she returns in Cincinnati

Mosope

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia celebrates against Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine during the first round on Day 3 of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner...

The three-time Major finalist, most recently back at Wimbledon last month, held her nerve to outlast Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in three sets – including a pair of tiebreaks – on her return to the tour, exactly a month after Marketa Vondrousova doused her Grand Slam dreams at SW19. All things considered, as the US Open edges closer, the Tunisian must continue playing fearlessly. Continue reading “Ons Jabeur still hurting from Wimbledon heartbreak, as she returns in Cincinnati” →

Boxing

Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez presser: Both pledge to bring war on October 21 in WBA light-heavyweight world title eliminator

Mosope

British and European light-heavyweight champion Dan Azeez has the momentum, having boxed three times in three different countries over the past nine months. Joshua Buatsi may have won the domestic strap four years ago, but the Olympic bronze medallist still hasn’t yet reached the world championship heights many tipped for him given such amateur pedigree. Now, one Londoner’s unbeaten streak will end on October 21. Who has the nerve? Continue reading “Joshua Buatsi vs. Dan Azeez presser: Both pledge to bring war on October 21 in WBA light-heavyweight world title eliminator” →

NBA

Josh Hart’s four-year, $81m extension with Knicks a testament to his work ethic

Mosope

Josh Hart of the USA Basketball Men's National Team during practice on August 9, 2023 at Pabellon Training Center Higueron in Malaga, Spain. NOTE TO...

Portland were surprisingly willing to trade him mid-season for an underwhelming return haul, and now versatile small forward Josh Hart has been rewarded for his intangibles, defensive effort and invaluable bench impact with a lucrative multiyear extension to stay in New York – paired alongside Villanova’s 2016 NCAA title teammates Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo. Continue reading “Josh Hart’s four-year, $81m extension with Knicks a testament to his work ethic” →

UFC

UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque

Mosope

Opponents Vicente Luque and Rafael Dos Anjos of Brazil face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on August 11, 2023 in Las Vegas,...

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos has this week confirmed he’ll stay at welterweight for the remainder of his career – unless a superfight tempts a 155lb return – stressing future possibilities are endless and another title shot could figure, especially with an impressive win over perennial contender Vicente Luque in tonight’s UFC Vegas 78 main event overnight. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 78: dos Anjos still bullish, as he continues welterweight return vs. Luque” →