Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
35 next month and forced to impatiently wait for his next matchup, #9 ranked featherweight contender Giga Chikadze has spoken of his frustration at multiple fights falling out as he continues to ready himself for a long-awaited return. He’s not the only ranked fighter in this position, though it reiterates how little they can control outside of getting themselves to the cage fully healthy. Continue reading “Giga Chikadze’s UFC inactivity concerns shine light on issues out of their control”
News of Wesley Fofana sustaining a serious ACL injury today will have only strengthened Chelsea’s stance about securing the long-term future of a highly-rated youngster itching for more first-team football next season and beyond, after impressing at the heart of England’s U21 Euros-winning side this month. Continue reading “Pochettino lays down Levi Colwill gauntlet as Chelsea insist centre-back not for sale”
Mayra Bueno Silva was understandably overcome with emotion after Saturday night’s UFC headliner, as the size of her latest achievement dawned on her. The 31-year-old Brazilian became the first since her compatriot and former two-division champion Amanda Nunes to stop Holly Holm, sending the future Hall of Famer closer to retirement – before calling for a shot at bantamweight gold. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 77: Mayra Bueno Silva scores a massive scalp as 135lb title talk resumes”
Little over four weeks after my update on Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun’s club future, it appears the United Status international – 22 earlier this month – could be nearing a permanent switch to Italy, if this weekend’s reports are to be believed. Inter are favourites for his signature after their Romelu Lukaku pursuit went cold, though they’re attempting to whittle his price down.
Continue reading “Inter frontrunners for Arsenal’s Balogun, attempting to lower £34m price-tag”
The undisputed super-featherweight world champion defends her belts against an old foe in Detroit later tonight, and Alycia Baumgardner has already reiterated a desire to fight the sport’s biggest names – assuming she can avenge her 2018 split decision defeat over eight rounds by Christina Linardatou.
Continue reading “Alycia Baumgardner eyes huge fights, but must avenge Linardatou loss tonight”
Since losing to Holly Holm (UD3) at UFC 246 in January 2020, Raquel Pennington [2] has won five straight and looks set for a second crack at UFC gold later this year. Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement leaves a long-awaited matchup vs. former champon Julianna Pena the most likely play for the promotion, but will Holm have a say when she returns on Saturday night? Continue reading “Raquel Pennington expects Julianna Pena matchup to be for newly-vacant 135lb title”
Marketa Vondrousova ended an inspiring run to the semifinals for returning mum Elina Svitolina in straight-sets, and now faces a friend in Ons Jabeur as they both look to secure their first Major title after the Tunisian – a runner-up here twelve months ago – fought back once more to topple Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka from a set and 4-2 down in the second semi-final. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Vondrousova vaults past Svitolina, as Jabeur overcomes Sabalenka”
Ons Jabeur showed mental toughness and brilliant shot-making in tight moments, recovering from a set down to beat reigning champion Elena Rybakina – the exact opposite of their 2022 final. She must beat Madison Keys’ conqueror Aryna Sabalenka to return there, while Carlos Alcaraz vs. Daniil Medvedev is next on Friday after different wins by one-time Major champions. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Jabeur avenges defeat in Rybakina rematch, Alcaraz-Medvedev set”
Elina Svitolina returned to the Wimbledon semifinals, four years after her career-best Major achievements, but had to do it the hard way against world no. 1 Iga Swiatek – eventually ousting her in three sets. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic was down a set before clicking into gear and holding his nerve when it mattered most against Andrey Rublev, as Jannik Sinner awaits him on Friday.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Svitolina stifles Swiatek, Djokovic punishes Rublev in quarterfinals”
It was a bittersweet day as two players enjoying career-best Wimbledon runs had them cut short via injury against a defending champion and former world no. 1 respectively, while Christopher Eubanks continued his inspiring run with a rousing five-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and the 27-year-old’s compatriot recovered from a set and 4-1 down to end a talented teenager’s run elsewhere.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Haddad Maia + Lehecka retire injured, Eubanks stuns Tsitsipas”
Having led in both sets, with three set points on his racquet in the first, Hubert Hurkacz has a mountain to climb against Novak Djokovic after their entertaining R4 encounter paused due to curfew rules overnight. Andrey Rublev and Iga Swiatek battled back to prevail elsewhere as five maiden Wimbledon quarterfinalists sealed their place into the second week proper on Day 7. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Rublev rallies, Swiatek saves match points, Hurkacz’s big task”
Daniil Medvedev and Ons Jabeur recovered from a set down in contrasting circumstances, world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz survived a Chilean scare in four sets before last year’s champion Elena Rybakina needed less than an hour to extinguish British wildcard Katie Boulter’s hopes in the Centre Court nightcap.
Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Medvedev, Jabeur’s recovery wins as Rybakina bests Boulter”
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