標籤: returns

It seems Cooper Flagg loves his alma mater, Duke, so much that he’s finding a new love interest at school.

Over the past few years, Flagg has been winning big in life. Three years ago, he was the most sought-after high school player in the country. He then parlayed his success into a massive void deal with college basketball powerhouse Duke in 2024 and leading them to the national championship game.

Last year, he was taken No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. And while the Dallas Mavericks had a rough season during his NBA debut, the 19-year-old looked like a future superstar. Led the Mavs in points (21.0) and steals (1.2) and earned 2025–26 Rookie of the Year honors.

As a teenage millionaire the world is truly his oyster, and he certainly has countless suitors who would love to know about Dallas and be seen with the new NBA star. However, this week it was confirmed that Flagg has a new girlfriend, and it’s not an actress, supermodel or social media influencer.

Ariana Roberson confirms she’s dating fellow Duke alumnus Cooper Flagg

On Thursday, Ariana Roberson surprisingly confirmed the relationship between herself and Flagg in a new TikTok post, which showed the pair having a little fun over the holidays. What’s interesting about the couple is that Flagg is a Duke alumnus, while Roberson, 20, currently plays for the women’s basketball team.

Flagg posted a separate Instagram Story late last night that took things a little further and showed the pair in a lip lock.

Roberson was a five-star recruit out of Texas who earned McDonald’s All-American honors as she led Clark High School to a state title. Playing just 18 minutes during his first season, the 6-foot-4 player averaged 8.0 points, 5.7 boards and 1.3 blocks per night. She’ll certainly play an even bigger role in her sophomore season.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

chelsea Filipe Luis could once again be seen as a managerial option following the sacking of Liam Rosenior, with the Brazilian coach’s name having resurfaced just months after previous talks with the club.

The Blues sacked Rosenior after seven consecutive defeats in eight matches, bringing an abrupt end to a run that had lasted only three months.

That decision has reignited internal discussions about alternative profiles, and Filipe Luis is once again part of that conversation.

Previous contact and Flamengo exit

Filipe Luis built a strong reputation during his time at Flamengo, delivering five major trophies and maintaining a win rate close to 70% in 101 matches. His team scored over 180 goals in that period, showing a clear attacking identity.

However, his departure came shortly after an 8–0 defeat to Madureira in March. Although that result triggered the decision, there were already underlying issues. Reports pointed to disagreements behind the scenes and a difficult start to the new season.

The thing is that this is not a new link. Philippe Luiz had already held talks with the club’s hierarchy before Rosenière’s appointment in late December, when Chelsea were exploring various options.

Such suggestions have also come in Brazil Those conversations played a role in his eventual departure From Flamengo, interest from Europe affected both the timing and internal dynamics at the club.

a new opportunity

according to DayThe former Flamengo manager is one of the names being considered as Chelsea reassess their direction.

Obviously, the Brazilian is no stranger to Chelsea. He was part of the club’s 2014–15 title-winning team under José Mourinho, and contributed in several competitions during that campaign.

The left-back made a total of 26 appearances, appearing in Premier League, domestic cup and European matches. Although he was not always a starter due to competition with César Azpilicueta, he played a role in a season that ended with Chelsea winning both the Premier League and League Cup.

Filipe Luis is currently based in Spain and intends to wait until the European season ends before making a final decision.

Chelsea’s potential renewed interest introduces a different level of opportunity. However, this also comes with uncertainty given the club’s recent instability and frequent managerial changes.

Major hurdle: UEFA license and eligibility

Despite interest, there is a significant hurdle to any immediate move. As noted Lance! In Brazil, Filipe Luis does not yet have a UEFA Pro License, which is mandatory to officially manage in England or UEFA competitions.

He currently holds A and B licenses from the Brazilian FA, but has not completed the highest qualification.

There is another issue also. UEFA regulations usually require at least three years’ experience as a head coach at the top level to validate a foreign license. Filipe Luis’ time at Flamengo lasted less than two years, meaning he does not currently meet that threshold.

As a result, even if Chelsea wanted to move quickly, they would face a regulatory challenge.

There is a possible solution. The Bluco group could consider a formation similar to the one used by Cesc Fàbregas at Como. In that case, Fàbregas effectively led the team while a licensed individual was officially registered as head coach.

However, implementing that model at Chelsea would carry far greater risk. The club operates under intense scrutiny, and such an arrangement would require strong justification to supporters and the media. It will also depend on internal alignment within the club’s hierarchy.

Championship interest still active

While Chelsea are reconsidering their options, Filipe Luis continues to attract attention from the Championship.

Sports Witness Source It has previously been revealed that both Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough have made contact in recent weeks, with discussions having already taken place with their representatives.

Watford also admire him, although they are currently taking a more cautious approach after appointing Edward Still in February.

Middlesbrough remains the most competitive of those options. They still have a credible path to reach the Premier League via the playoffs. Meanwhile, QPR and Watford are around 10 and 11 points behind the top six respectively.

what happens next

For now, several avenues remain open. Championship clubs have already taken concrete steps, while Chelsea’s situation could evolve rapidly following Rosenior’s dismissal.

The next few weeks are likely to be decisive as Filipe Luis takes the first European step of his managerial career.

It looks like Nikki Bella will not be cleared to compete at WrestleMania 42: Night 1. However, a new rumor reveals a replacement that longtime WWE fans will love.

Three weeks earlier, on an episode of SmackDown, Bella injured her ankle in a tag match with her sister Brie against two WrestleMania 42 opponents, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. After the show, it was reported that the injury was not minor, and his availability for this weekend’s show was up in the air.

Well, on Friday, PW Insider is not cleared to participate in the Women’s Tag Team Title match also featuring Bayley and Lyra Valkyria and defending champions Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend). However, while Nikki is out of the match, her sister is reportedly staying in. But will she be competing alone?

No, Bella will have a mysterious partner. The outlet also revealed that none other than Paige, aka Saraya in AEW, will be making her grand return to WWE on Saturday night for the first time since retiring from the company due to a neck injury in 2018.

Paige will return at the long-awaited WWE WrestleMania 42

PW Insider’s Mike Johnson wrote, “Sarayah Jade-Beavis, better known as Paige during her original tenure with the company, has signed to return as a wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment and is expected to return to the ring as part of WrestleMania 42 this weekend.”

After ending his wrestling career at just 26 years old, Page worked as an interviewer and host for WWE until his contract expires in the summer of 2022. A few months later, she would end her retirement and return to the ring for AEW. She would go on to win the top women’s title.

Paige/Saraiya officially parted ways with AEW last year after their contracts with WWE’s top rival expired.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The John Tortorella era is in full effect and it’s already bringing some memorable moments. During Tortorella’s post-practice press conference on Wednesday, a reporter asked if he could share a moment of laughter on the ice during practice without any explanation. He answered clearly, “No.”

Welcome to the Golden Knights Notebook, a look at all things Golden Knights. With the regular season entering its final stretch, things could get interesting for the Golden Knights – and indeed the entire NHL, especially in both wild-card races.

The Anaheim Ducks lost a thrilling matchup to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night, and the Golden Knights remain five points behind the Ducks and three points behind the Edmonton Oilers.

How the top three shake out in the Pacific Division is yet to be determined, but it will come down to the wire. Now let’s come to the news.

Carter Hart will start Thursday against the Calgary Flames

On February 24, Hart was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and returned to skating two weeks later, but is now back. According to Danny Webster, he will get the starting nod tonight against the Flames.

“Carter and I have a really good relationship,” Tortorella said during practice Thursday. “The year he had to stop playing in the NHL, I think the Philly team would have been in the playoffs by six or seven points with how well he was playing. He’s really turned into a good professional and I love that kid. I think he’s got a good heart, no pretense intended.”

Hart and Tortorella spent time together in Philadelphia with the Flyers, and now, the two have reunited in Vegas in a unique circumstance, to say the least.

This season, Hart has split time between the Henderson Silver Knights and the Golden Knights. He has recorded an .871 save percentage with a 3.28 goals-against average in 12 games at the NHL level.

His last game was on January 8 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, when he left the game midway through the first period due to an injury. Now, almost three months later, he is back on the crease.

Is there a change in the line?

When head coach Bruce Cassidy was fired, many thought that Tortorella’s arrival would bring about a lot of changes, but in reality, that has not been the case.

First of all, since the season is nearing its end, it is difficult to make any major changes. This is absolutely not possible. However, Tortorella, as he becomes more comfortable, may begin to make some adjustments to the lineup.

“I don’t think we need to take advantage of anything,” Tortorella said during practice Wednesday. “With an experienced team and the position we are in right now in the standings, we don’t have to worry about ourselves and focus on anything else other than taking each day one at a time.”

When he talked about Mitch Marner specifically, he said he would be “moved” along with other players on the team.

“He’s such a good player that he can be stuck in one line all the time,” Tortorella said. “Jack (Eichel) will be moved around. I’ll move some guys to different positions here depending on the pace of the game.”

More adjusted and comfortable, expect Tortorella to be more active on the bench. We’ll see what’s involved, but it will happen naturally as he becomes more familiar and the noise quiets down.

Loose pucks:

• Zach Whitecloud returns to Vegas tonight. He was sent to the Flames in the package that sent Rasmus Andersson to the Golden Knights. He has scored six points in 23 games played in Calgary.
• In response to Hart activating an LTIR, the Golden Knights sent Braden Bowman to the Silver Knights.
• As for the Silver Knights, they have been in the doldrums since the AHL All-Star break. As of April 2, they are in sixth place in the Pacific Division, but only three points behind third place.
• Pavel Dorofeyev is warming up. He has four goals and nine points in his last 10 games. He leads the Golden Knights with 34 goals.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

There were plenty of scenes for sore eyes as everyone from the Carolina Hurricanes, regardless of injury, gathered at Lenovo Center for their annual picture day. However, it was the optimistic developments in practice that attracted the most attention on Friday.

Shayne Gostisbehere returned to full practice, skipping the non-contact gear and going straight to standard. Back in business, he claimed his usual spot alongside Alexander Nikishin and ran drills in his typical role on the power play.

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour was asked if he was confident he would participate in Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the first of a weekend back-to-back set.

“Hopefully,” he said. “I’ll find out tomorrow. I can’t commit right now, because I don’t know…Nowadays, with injuries, I just wait until they say they’re ready to go.”

Gostisbehere was injured in a March 6 game against the Edmonton Oilers during the Hurricanes’ final Western Conference road trip of the year. After delivering a hit to Colton Dach, the Oilers forward’s skate came up during his fall and struck Gostisbeer in the groin.

While he initially went down the tunnel, Gostisbeer returned for two more shifts – one in which he scored on the power play – then officially left.

Gostisbehere has missed 26 games this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNut. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

MIAMI – With Miami Heat stars Norman Powell and Tyler Herro set to return together for Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic, there’s no denying it will make for an interesting transition for head coach Erik Spoelstra. While the Heat have to differentiate the roles of Powell and Herro as Saturday approaches with 15 games left in the season, Spoelstra is relishing the challenge.

Saturday night against the Magic will be the 12th game that Herro and Powell will play together, as both have long battled injuries, especially the former, who has missed 47 games overall. However, Herro was returning to All-Star level since the break, specifically averaging nearly 26 points per game in March.

Powell had missed the last seven games before the Magic clash with a right groin strain, while Herro had been absent for the last two matches due to quadriceps soreness. In his first year with Miami, he led the Heat in scoring with 22.5 points per game, en route to becoming a first-time All-Star, with Bam Adebayo being the team’s main offensive weapon as Herro missed a portion of the time.

“I mean, we felt like we had to do whatever we needed to do the last two games, but guys being healthy and getting back on the court, it’s definitely encouraging, and they’ve both been very good the last few days at attacking the way they needed to attack. And I think they’ll be ready to go,” Spoelstra said.

Erik Spoelstra talks about the progress he’s made in getting Tyler Herro and Norman Powell back in the first video.

In the second video, Spo explains how the duo’s return will affect the rotation and lineup, “We’ll do it the best we can…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9PKHCKs0qU

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 14 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra in lineup with Norman Powell, Tyler Herro

Since the Heat can’t rely on Adebayo to score 83 points every game, like his historic night against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, Powell and Herro want to take some weight off his shoulders. However, there is some question whether both Herro and Powell should eventually start together or whether one will come off the bench.

For Spoelstra, the thought process of figuring out rotations and lineups won’t be 100 percent immediately.

“We’ll do it the best way we can think of,” Spoelstra said before Saturday’s game against the Magic. “You know. Is everything going to be OK right now? I don’t know, you know, but now is the time. So it simplifies the definition of the role. We have to do whatever it takes right now to get the job done and get the win. And we need our firepower there.”

Either way, the goal for Miami is simple as they head into the home stretch of the season, which is to avoid the play-in tournament, as the team currently sits in sixth place in the East, having the needed spot to do so.

“I mean, it goes without saying, but right now it’s getting really competitive. You can see pictures of the playoffs. You can see the light in the tunnel, and I think it’s just bringing great competition. And so you’re either about it or you’re not. I think that’s our locker room,” Spoelstra said.

At any rate, the Heat’s upcoming games are important to solidifying their spot in the Eastern Conference as they enter Saturday on a seven-game winning streak. It remains to be seen how Herro and Powell will be utilized in the coming days. After Saturday, Miami will take on the Charlotte Hornets next Tuesday and return home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

On Saturday night at UFC 326, two of the greatest fighters of their generation went head-to-head in the main event as Max Holloway put his UFC BMF belt on the line against Charles Oliveira. Despite being weakened, the Brazilian easily defeated the Hawaiian and won by a dominant decision.

Following his massive win, take a look at where “Du Bronx” ranks in our new UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

10. Tom Aspinall (15-3)

Englishman Tom Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the UFC. It became official when MMA GOAT Jon Jones decided to step away from the sport earlier this year. The Englishman has defeated many of the best fighters in the division over the past three years and is the undisputed leader in the eyes of most UFC fans.

After definitively avenging the only defeat of his UFC career in the summer of 2024, he made his first defense of the undisputed title in October. Unfortunately, a nasty blow from opponent Cyril Game ended the UFC 321 main event after just a few minutes. An immediate rematch in early 2026 appears likely.

9. Charles Oliveira (36-11)

Charles Oliveria holds several UFC records and is considered one of the greatest Brazilian MMA fighters of all time. There’s a lot to like about his fighting style, and his resume is full of big wins. But age catches up with everyone, and it has taken its toll on “Du Bronx” over the years as he has split his last four fights.

Since he is so far out of the title pictures, the former lightweight king chose to go for the BMF title in March instead. At UFC 326, Oliveira had the best performance of his career, as he completely dominated fellow future Hall of Famer Max Holloway to win his second championship in the company.

8. Khamzat Chimaev (15-0)

Khamzat Chimaev has been an absolute destructive machine throughout his career. He has rarely faced serious resistance during his current UFC run. And that was the case at UFC 319 when he reached the top of the middleweight mountain and defeated Draculas du Plessis. Although it’s not always pretty, few fighters on the UFC roster are as impressive as “Borz.”

7. Alexandre Pantoja (30-6)

Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja had a long, difficult journey to become the UFC flyweight king. He toiled in the division for several years before finally winning a title fight at UFC 290. In his first opportunity to become champion, he performed well by scoring his second (3rd unofficial) victory over division king Brandon Moreno.

He has been a major champion since picking up a win over Brandon Royval and another win against Moreno. However, his reign came to an unfair end at UFC 323 when the fight had to be stopped early in Round 1 due to a non-contact injury to his elbow.

6. Merab Dvalishvili (21-4)

Merab Davlishvili is truly “The Machine”. His tenacity and wrestling have turned him into one of the best bantamweights on the planet. If there were any doubts after his 2024 win over Sean O’Malley, he silenced them with an even more decisive rematch victory at UFC 316.

Following that fight, the champ put his gold on the line against fan-favorite Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, and like his previous 13 fights, he dominated with his wrestling and cardio. He seems invincible at this time.

5.Petr Yan (20-5)

The three consecutive losses led many to wonder if Petr Yan’s days as a top five bantamweight were over. However, his recent wins over Yadon Song, Deiveson Figueiredo and Marcus McGhee helped rebuild his title contender status. Earning a title shot at UFC 323.

In a rematch with a man who had defeated him two years earlier, the Russian was the greatest version of himself as he decisively defeated Merab Dvalishvili to become a two-time bantamweight champion. “No Mercy” proved that he is fully back to being an elite fighter in the world.

4. Alexander Volkanovski (28-4)

Alexander Volkanovski has solidified his place as the best featherweight of all time. However, a move up in weight for a second title shot and the rise of Ilya Topuria led to “The Great” suffering three consecutive losses and speculation that his best days were behind him.

However, he has bounced back from those setbacks to establish his dominance at 145 pounds with back-to-back wins over Diego Lopes. Most recently appearing in front of his countrymen at UFC 325. Although he did not get the finish, he once again proved that he is a cut above the Brazilian native.

3. Alex Pereira (12-3)

Alex Pereira’s UFC story is legendary. After nine fights, he became a two-division champion and scored devastating victories over some of the best fighters of the era at middleweight and light heavyweight. The 38-year-old has been a revelation for the company and has connected with the MMA fanbase with a fighting approach similar to cage fighting icon Fedor Emelianenko.

After being on the wrong side of a disappointing decision loss in March, the Brazilian returned with a vengeance at UFC 320. He came out of the gate in his rematch with Magomed Ankalev and blew him away in a matter of minutes to regain his place at the top of the division.

2. Ilya Topuria (17-0)

Ilya Topuria will go down as one of the greatest featherweights of all time. But instead of further enhancing his 145-pound resume, “El Matador” moved to lightweight in search of history. Well, he achieved the feat in June by becoming just the 10th fighter to win gold in two divisions. Crushing former 155 pound champion Charles Oliveria and adding him to his hitlist of veterans.

1. Islam Makhachev (28-1)

Islam Makhachev has solidified his place as one of the greatest UFC lightweights of all time with his wins over Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Charles Oliveira. Not only is he a dominant wrestler, but he has one of the most underrated standup games in the game.

At UFC 322, he made his mark in UFC history when he moved up in weight and became the latest fighter to win titles in two divisions, as he became the new welterweight king with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Friday at Albert Park, home of this week’s Australian Grand Prix, we got our first real look at what F1 2026 is really all about. It didn’t look like that on the test track in Bahrain in the heat of February, but under the pressure of a race weekend, on a road circuit drivers were pushing and teams were making real decisions. After two practice sessions, this is what we know.

Ferrari’s influence continues

The Ferrari came out swinging. Charles Leclerc topped FP1, his red car fast and clean around a track that rewards precision over raw power. Lewis Hamilton finished right behind him in second place. This is the Ferrari 1-2 the Scuderia faithful have been dreaming about for three years.

Hamilton seemed like a man reborn – spontaneous, aggressive, clearly at home in the SF-26 in a way that was difficult to imagine before Melbourne. Even his initial dominance was not a mere glimpse. When FP2 rolled around, both Ferraris were still in the mix, with Hamilton fifth, Leclerc sixth. The speed is real.

Mercedes and George Russell look good despite setbacks

Mercedes had a bit of a messy day but don’t panic. His FP1 was relatively quiet, with the Silver Arrows hiding rather than pushing forward. Then FP2 happened. Kimi Antonelli – yes, the 19-year-old second-year driver – became the first driver to break the 1:19 second barrier and finished second overall. George Russell finished third. alert? Russell spun off and went through the gravel at Turn 3, and has two stewards checks hanging over him after some pit lane contact with Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad. Clean weekend, this ain’t. But the pace is absolutely there.

Max Verstappen is, well, Max Verstappen

Then there’s Verstappen. He stopped the car in the pit lane before the start of FP2. He lost a large portion of the session’s time. Then, with 10 minutes remaining, he hit the wall at turn 10 at high speed, went through the gravel, and damaged his floorboards. He still finished sixth. That’s Max. There are real question marks over the reliability of the car, as Honda reportedly only has two working batteries left, and is still looking for a way to get into the conversation. Don’t ignore it because RB-22 is still complicated. Complex has never stopped him before.

Saturday’s final practice and qualifying will tell us much more. But it’s hard to argue with Friday’s headlines: Ferrari look like a real threat, Mercedes look like the team they can beat if they get things together, and Verstappen remains exactly the kind of problem that doesn’t go away just because you want it to.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

The Los Angeles Lakers were giving the Denver Nuggets everything they could handle on Thursday night, even if their starting center Deandre Ayton had to leave after just four minutes with a knee injury. This made the Nikola Jokic matchup more difficult.

The Lakers almost had to deal with being shorthanded even more, because at one point in the fourth quarter, it looked like LeBron James was going to chase Ayton into the locker room with an early exit of his own.

With about four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, James made a hard layup in Jokic’s grill. However, the Lakers star didn’t go down easily; Actually, while doing this he fell on the ground and got injured in his left elbow.

California Post price via Khobi:

LeBron James was holding his left elbow after the fall. He is currently on the bench being tended to by his longtime coach. pic.twitter.com/Oy676TN19U

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 6 March 2026

James slammed his elbow into the camera, and was slow to get back to his feet. The Lakers then committed a foul to stop the game and then called a timeout to remove James from the field.

But with 2:05 remaining in the period, James returned to play, checking in for Rui Hachimura, with the Lakers trailing the Nuggets by just one, 112–111. In the end, the Lakers didn’t have enough to overcome the Nuggets. The good news is that James escaped serious harm.

Lakers can’t hit shots in tough times vs. Nuggets

The Lakers gambled that they would play short and make enough shots to counter the Nuggets led by Jokic. And it worked to some extent, as LA came back and made it a close game vs. the Nuggets. However, with the Lakers trailing by only three (114-111), they could not hit open shots – Marcus Smart hit two triples on back-to-back possessions.

It was Jokic who scored the dagger in the end, as he made a routine floater to give Denver a five-point lead that proved to be enough for a 120–113 victory.

Burnley youngster Andreas Hountondji is close to a return to St Pauli after recovering from a hairline fracture in his left ankle.

This is according to BILD. The German newspaper has today covered the 23-year-old’s return and revealed how St. Pauli will celebrate.

According to the newspaper, Hountondji was seen by staff taking several laps around the pitch during St Pauli’s latest training session on Wednesday.

While the rest of the team practiced with head coach Alexander Blesin, he was busy working hard on his recovery in individual sessions.

Hauntondji is out by the end of 2025 He has a hairline fracture in his left ankle. It is the latest setback in an injury-hit season for the Burnley striker.

How injury problems have held him back

He has made only 12 Bundesliga appearances this season, plus two in the cup, as injuries and recurring knee and thigh problems have limited his participation.

Nevertheless, he is still St. Pauli’s most effective striker this season. He has scored a goal every 152 minutes, including three goals in his first three games. He also scored in a 3–1 defeat to Bayern Munich in late November.

Now the focus is on getting him fit to play again. St Pauli Burnley have been cautious about Looney, with his foot placed in a special boot following the injury.

End of season plans for Burnley player

The team has continuously increased his workload week after week to test his strength.

Hountondji’s response to that workload will determine when he can return. If he doesn’t show any negative reactions, employees can immediately reintegrate him into the team.

In fact, St. Pauli hopes to return to partial team training in a week or two. Realistically, he could be back well after the international break.

The ideal situation would be for the Burnley loanee to return for the final seven games of the season. St. Pauli could certainly use his goalscoring skills as they look to avoid relegation.

On Saturday night, the MMA world leaders return to Paramount+ with a new UFC Fight Night card in Houston, Texas. On the main card of the event, Top 15 heavyweights Sergey Spivack and Ante Deliza faced off to advance in the UFC heavyweight rankings.

After a violent and sustained battle Spivack ultimately won in a decision. Let’s see how his win changed our latest UFC heavyweight rankings.

Sergei Spivak has been a consistent top-15-tier fighter at heavyweight for the past five years. While he has lost six times inside the Octagon, his most recent failures have come against elite competition such as Tom Aspinall, Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Cyril Gane. However, he has also achieved some big wins against big-name or ranked foes.

He scored another goal in February when he scored in a very hard-fought victory over talented finisher Ante Delija. Their latest win halted a potential losing streak and brings them back into our top 10.

9. Shamil Gaziev (14-2)

Former Brave CF star Shamil Gaziev has had notable performances in the division. Although a doctor’s stoppage cost him his first loss in 2024, the Dagestani big man is 3-1 inside the Octagon, including two nasty knockouts. Gaziev is a rising heavyweight fighter to keep an eye on. However, he took a major risk in November when he accepted a short-notice fight with Waldo Cortés Acosta. This decision backfired and he suffered a crushing knockout defeat.

8. Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1)

PFL and Contender Series veteran Rizwan Kuniev joins our UFC heavyweight rankings after scoring the biggest win of his career with a hard-fought victory over Zelton Almeida in February. While it wasn’t great, he proved he could compete with top-10 talent. He’ll need a definite W in his next fight if he wants to maintain his spot in our latest rankings.

7. Marcin Tybura (27-9)

Marcin Tubura has quietly been a mainstay of the UFC heavyweight rankings over the past half-decade. Although his record in the company stands at 14-8, he has grown significantly as a fighter over the years. He is 10-3 in his last 12, with his only losses coming to elite talents Alexander Volkov, Sergei Spivak and current interim heavyweight king Tom Aspinall.

In March, he won a hard-fought victory over Mick Parkin, Aspinall’s trainer partner and one of the better rising prospects in the division.

6. Sergei Pavlovich (20-3)

Sergei Pavlovich has been an absolute crushing machine during most of his UFC career. After losing to Alistair Overeem in his debut match, he reeled off six consecutive wins and all of those wins came via devastating knockout. However, a string of two-match defeats halted all their momentum. But he has righted the ship in 2025 and has scored two decision wins. The most recent fight was against Waldo Cortés-Acosta in Shanghai.

Dominican legend Waldo Cortes Acosta has quietly become a serious force in the heavyweight division. In his 12 bouts inside the Octagon, he has recorded 10 wins, including wins against some notable talents in the top 15. The latest came against fan-favorite Derrick Lewis at UFC 324 in January.

“Salsa Boy” showed why he is one of the more athletic and polished strikers in the division when he added the two-time challenger to his hit list inside the Octagon.

4.Curtis Blaydes (19-5)

Although Curtis Blaydes has had some very tough losses in his career, he has remained a top-five tier heavyweight for most of the last decade. At UFC 299, he finally got a chance to make up for his big fight mistakes and he did so in a big way when he handed Zelton Almeida his first defeat in the Octagon.

The win moved “Razor” into a UFC 304 title match against Tom Aspinall. Unfortunately, the curse of his big fights returned, and he suffered a TKO loss in Round 1 after a strong start. At UFC Baku, the talented wrestler returned and was able to win in a tough fight over Rizvan Kuniev. But this victory could not make any significant contribution in bringing them back into the title race.

3. Alexander Volkov (39-11)

Alexander Volkov has been a top-tier MMA heavyweight for a long time. Although he has been unable to earn a UFC title shot, he has remained a veteran in the top 10 over the years. For many watching UFC 310, he scored a win against Cyril Gane that should have cost him the title. However, the judges did not judge it his way and he suffered a crushing defeat from the Frenchman.

In October, he bounced back from the setback to get himself back into title contention with a hard-fought split-decision victory over top-five talent Zelton Almeida.

2. Cyril Gane (13-2)

Cyril Gane is a superb athlete and one of the most technical heavyweight strikers in the game. This is the reason why he is constantly in the title discussion. However, his wrestling shortcomings remain a problem, and they were evident again in his UFC 310 bout with Alexander Volkov. Fortunately “Bon Gamin” was able to escape and win the decision.

This victory earned him a title opportunity at UFC 321. However, his good luck ran out against Volkov, and his chance to win UFC gold was halted after just a few minutes when he kicked champion Tom Aspinall in both eyes, ending the fight.

1. Tom Aspinall (14-3)

Englishman Tom Aspinall is the best heavyweight in the UFC. It became official when MMA GOAT Jon Jones decided to step away from the sport earlier this year. The Englishman has defeated many of the best fighters in the division over the past three years and is the undisputed leader in the eyes of most UFC fans.

After definitively avenging the only defeat of his UFC career in the summer of 2024, he made his first defense of the undisputed title in October. Unfortunately, a nasty blow from opponent Cyril Game ended the UFC 321 main event after just a few minutes. An immediate rematch in early 2026 appears likely.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Brooklyn Nets center Nick Claxton may be sidelined for long due to an ankle injury. Claxton has missed the team’s last two games after injuring an ankle during practice on Wednesday. However, he is available to return during Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.

Brooklyn is in desperate need of frontcourt reinforcements after two consecutive losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nets’ offense stepped up during their first appearance during the All-Star break. Jordi Fernandez’s team averaged 85.0 points on 35.5 percent shooting from the field and 23.3 percent from three with 16.5 turnovers per game in the pair of losses.

Nick Claxton returns from injury for the Nets after two big losses in a row

With Claxton sidelined, De’Ron Sharp was Brooklyn’s only available center. Rookie first-round pick Danny Wolf, who has spent most of the season on the wing, filled the backup center minutes.

Claxton should get a significant offensive boost upon his return. The veteran big man has had the most productive offensive season of his career, averaging 12.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 59.0 percent shooting in 50 appearances.

Wins in the upcoming contests against the Hawks and Dallas Mavericks would undo some of the recent progress Brooklyn has made in the tank race. After three consecutive losses, the Nets have dropped to third in the draft lottery standings. They are in second place, one game behind the Indiana Pacers.

Ziare Williams will be sidelined for Brooklyn on Sunday due to personal reasons. Atlanta will be without Jonathan Kuminga because of a left kneecap injury.

The Hawks have lost four of their last five games, including a blowout 128-97 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.

The Chicago Bulls were given serious news on Saturday. center zach collins Will be out for the rest of the season. the reason is Causes of long term injury to toe Which will require surgery.

Head coach Billy Donovan, before the game against the Detroit Pistons expressed a wish For Collins to return next season. According to the Chicago Bulls, he is playing the final year of his contract.

“I think there are two sides to this,” Donovan said. “When a guy is in free agency, there’s a financial part to it, and then there’s the player, the make-up, the character. It’s hard for me, just not being in the conversation with a lot of people, to really know what a guy’s value is, so to speak, financially.”

“I know this from my perspective [value] It’s about winning. [When] He’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a really good player for us, and I really like him. So, from that standpoint, I’m just hoping everything works out to get back here next year, because I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a teammate and a worker. Just his mentality, his toughness.”

Collins is completing what remains of his two-year, $34.8 million contract. This was a deal he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. A deal that was later accepted by the Bulls.

Collins played ten games this season. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His last appearance was on December 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Collins came up with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 112–103 loss.

The Minnesota Timberwolves traded 38-year-old point guard Mike Conley Jr. at the NBA trade deadline, not only to create some financial flexibility but also to open the door for forward Ayo Dosunmu. After being traded again and ultimately released by the Charlotte Hornets, Conley is officially returning to Minnesota for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, as first reported by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Since the trade deadline, re-signing Conley has been a foregone conclusion for the Timberwolves. As a result of Minnesota having 13 players on its active roster for 14 days, it will have to fill at least one of its two open roster spots on Tuesday per league rule.

That’s why Conley has officially signed his contract and is rejoining the team he has spent the last four years with.

The reason Conley was allowed to re-sign with that team is because after being traded to the Chicago Bulls, the veteran guard was once again redirected to Charlotte. He was then released, allowing the Timberwolves to re-sign him.

Although his numbers and effectiveness have declined in his 19th NBA season, Conley is still a respected player, and has played an important leadership role for the Timberwolves over the past few seasons. Anthony Edwards, Chris Finch and many others in Minnesota have always praised his character and ability to help the team move forward.

After the trade deadline, Edwards advocated for Conley to return to the team, making it clear that everyone in the Timberwolves locker room wanted to see the veteran return.

“I keep hearing he might come back, so hopefully he comes back, and I hope he sees it,” Edwards said, via Chris Hine of the Minnesota Star Tribune, after a 128–126 win over the Toronto Raptors on February 4. “We want you back, Mike. He knows we miss him.”

In 44 games with the Timberwolves this season, nine of which he started, Conley has averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 assists while shooting 32.1 percent from 3-point range in about 18.5 minutes per game.

Conley will see less minutes on the court in this matchup with Minnesota, especially now that Dosunmu plays a key role in the backcourt behind Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. The Timberwolves are currently 34-22 and find themselves in sixth place in the Western Conference coming out of the NBA All-Star break.

Lucas Bergvall played regularly for Tottenham Hotspur until January.

On 20 January, the Sweden international suffered an ankle injury in Spurs’ Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund. Juneai Byfield replaced him in the 62nd minute of the European match.

Three days later, Tottenham confirmed that the midfielder had undergone surgery after suffering a ‘high ankle sprain’ against the Bundesliga team. Spurs did not specify a time frame for his recovery.

Bergvall doubtful for World Cup qualifiers

Last week, Sports Witness Covered claims from Sweden The 20-year-old could miss Norway’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in March.

Sweden boss Graham Potter admitted it is difficult for Bergvall and his Tottenham teammate Dejan Kulusevski to recover in time for the crucial clash.

Recent claims have suggested that Bergvall will be out of action for two to three months. football direct Relay it and then give your opinion on the 20-year-old’s rehabilitation.

Positive update on Tottenham player’s recovery

The Tottenham player wore a protective boot after going under the knife. According to the report, he no longer wears it and this is definitely a positive update.

Football Direct say ‘things are going in the right direction’ in the player’s recovery process.

The outlet says the current prognosis suggests he could be back on the field in about six weeks. This will happen only if his rehabilitation goes according to plan and he faces no further setbacks.

Sweden will face Ukraine on March 26. Considering the Tottenham midfielder’s recovery so far, the possibility of him being fit in time for the World Cup qualifiers cannot be ruled out. ‘A race against time awaits the midfielder,’ say Football Direct.

Earlier this month, Spurs parted ways with Thomas Frank after a series of poor results and performances. The north London club has failed to record a league win this calendar year.

Tottenham have already confirmed the appointment of Igor Tudor until the end of the season.