Category: 6. Sports

DES MOINES, Iowa — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s thinking of staging a UFC match on the White House grounds with upward of 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence.

“We have a lot of land there,” said Trump, a UFC enthusiast who has attended several of its mixed martial arts matches in recent months and is close friends with Dana White, the league’s president.

Trump announced his plan in Iowa during the kickoff for a year’s worth of festivities to celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.

The Republican president also announced a culminating festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and a separate athletic competition featuring high school athletes from across the country.

“So every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said.

″Think of this on the grounds of the White House,” he said, adding that it would be a “full fight” with 20,000 to 25,000 people.

A White House spokesperson said they had no details to share beyond the president’s announcement, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said Trump was “dead serious” about those plans.

Trump has recently enjoyed standing ovations and cageside seats for several UFC fights, including an appearance immediately after his 2024 reelection and another just last month alongside White for two championship fights.

David Benavidez is set to make the first defense of his WBC light heavyweight title against Anthony Yarde in November, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and president of the Saudi Boxing Federation, said Thursday.

The date and location of the bout, which will mark Benavidez’s Riyadh Season debut, have not been determined.

Benavidez, 28, has wanted to fight undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. However, with Alvarez showing little interest, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) moved up to the light heavyweight division.

Benavidez earned a decision win in his debut in the weight class in June 2024 over Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title. Benavidez beat David Morrell for his first successful defense of the interim title in February.

Benavidez was elevated to full champion when the then-undisputed champion Dmitry Bivol fought Artur Beterbiev for a third time rather than fulfill the WBC’s request to defend the championship against the interim titleholder.

Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs) will make his third attempt to win a world title. Fighting out of London, Yarde started his career 18-0 before suffering his first loss against Sergey Kovalev in 2019 when he challenged for the WBO light heavyweight title. Yarde fell short in his second attempt for championship gold when he was knocked out by Beterbiev in their January 2023 meeting for the WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

In his last outing, Yarde won a decision over Lyndon Arthur on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn in April.

It was a day dominated by India and their captain Shubman Gill, who scored a majestic, record-breaking double century. The 25-year-old’s knock powered India to a massive first-innings total of 587 and cemented his place among the game’s greats.By stumps on Day 2 of the second Test, England found themselves staring at a mountain, reeling at 77 for 3, still trailing by 510 runs.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Gill’s monumental 269 was not just a career-best – it was a statistical spectacle that obliterated long-standing Indian records in overseas Tests. In only his second Test as captain, Gill surpassed legends such as Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, compiling a catalogue of elite milestones in one extraordinary knock.“I worked on a few things before the series,” Gill said after the day’s play. “Looking at the results, they are working for me.”

Here are the major records smashed by captain Gill in Birmingham:* Highest by an Indian captain in TestsGill’s 269 now stands as the highest score by an Indian Test captain, overtaking Kohli’s unbeaten 254 against South Africa in 2019. It is only the second double hundred by an Indian captain in an overseas Test, after Kohli’s 200 in Antigua in 2016.* Record in England and outside AsiaIn England, Gill’s effort is now the highest score by an Indian batter, bettering Gavaskar’s 221 at The Oval in 1979 and Dravid’s 217 in 2002. His 269 also tops Sachin Tendulkar’s 241* at Sydney in 2004 as the highest Test score by an Indian outside Asia.* Among India’s All-Time BestOverall, Gill’s 269 is the third-highest away Test score by an Indian, behind only Sehwag’s 309 (Multan, 2004) and Dravid’s 270 (Rawalpindi, 2004). It’s the seventh-highest Test score for India across all venues.He also became only the fifth batter ever, after Sehwag, Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle (the lone non-Indian), to notch up double hundreds in both Tests and ODIs.

* Rarified company at EdgbastonAt Edgbaston, only Graeme Smith (277, 2003) and Zaheer Abbas (274, 1971) had scored more as visiting batters. Gill’s 269 is now the third-highest score at the venue by a tourist, and the eighth-highest overall by a visiting batter in England.* Elite company in captaincy debut trailGill is now one of only seven players to hit centuries in each of their first two Tests as captain. Indians Vijay Hazare, Gavaskar and Kohli had achieved this before. At 25 years and 298 days, he is also the second-youngest Indian skipper to post a double ton, after MAK Pataudi.Only Graeme Smith scored a double century in England at a younger age among captains, doing so twice in 2003 at age 22.

Shubman Gill’s knock in context of India’s batting historyIndia’s 250-plus scores in away Tests:309 – Virender Sehwag vs PAK (Multan, 2004)270 – Rahul Dravid vs PAK (Rawalpindi, 2004)269 – Shubman Gill vs ENG (Edgbaston, 2025)254 – Sehwag vs PAK (Lahore, 2006)Youngest to score a Test double hundred as India captain23y 39d – MAK Pataudi vs ENG, Delhi, 196425y 298d – Shubman Gill vs ENG, Edgbaston, 202526y 189d – Sachin Tendulkar vs NZ, Ahmedabad, 199927y 260d – Virat Kohli vs WI, North Sound, 2016Among Indian captains, only Kohli (7 double tons) has more, but Gill’s has a unique prestige – it came outside the subcontinent, the first ever by an Indian skipper in SENA countries.

Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies fly half Jack Debreczeni and wing Ben O’Donnell will depart the club after next Wednesday’s game against the British & Irish Lions.

The pair are available for selection for the Lions and will receive a farewell in front of a packed house at GIO Stadium.

Head coach Stephen Larkham thanked the players for their efforts at the club during their stint in the nation’s capital.

“Everyone at the Brumbies wishes Ben and Jack the best for the future,” Larkham said.

“They’ve both made a massive contribution to the club on and off the field during their time here. I’m sure they’ll be looking forward to the chance of playing in front of our fans at GIO Stadium one last time next week, against a world-class team in the British & Irish Lions.”

Debreczeni and O’Donnell arrived at the club on the same day in 2023, from Canterbury Rugby Club and Connacht respectively.

Debreczeni, 32, joined the Brumbies after also having spells at Melbourne Rebels, Honda Heat and Hino Red Dolphins in Japan and the Chiefs.

He has gone on to receive 28 caps for the Brumbies, showcasing plenty of standout performances as a playmaker, including guiding us to a crucial 29-21 win against the Waratahs in torrential rain at Allianz Stadium in Sydney during Round 12 last year. The 32-year-old is currently considering whether he will continue his playing career.

O’Donnell, 29, also joined the club in 2023 after playing for Australia Sevens and Connacht, winning the prestigious Shawn Mackay award for Australia’s Sevens’ Player of the Year in 2018.

His time in Canberra has been impacted due to injury, playing nine times for the club in total, after being ruled out for this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a hamstring operation in February.  O’Donnell is set to join French side Aurillac on a two-year deal.

If you would like to see Debreczeni and O’Donnell feature for the Brumbies for the final time next Wednesday against the British & Irish Lions at GIO Stadium, buy tickets here.

Novak Djokovic crushed British wildcard Dan Evans in the Wimbledon second round as he stepped up his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title, while world number one Jannik Sinner cruised into round three on Thursday.

But there was heartbreak for home favourite Jack Draper as he crashed out to former finalist Marin Cilic.

Djokovic avoided becoming one of the host of big names eliminated in week one in south London as the Serb needed just one hour and 47 minutes to dispatch Evans in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 victory on Centre Court.

“It means I’ve been playing quite a long time!” Djokovic said when told he had just secured his 99th Wimbledon match victory.

“I still enjoy it. This court has given me so much. Wimbledon has a special place in my heart. Any history made here is obviously extra special.”

Djokovic is dreaming of putting an exclamation point on his incredible career by becoming the most successful singles player in tennis history.

The 38-year-old has been tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning his most recent major prize at the 2023 US Open.

Despite losing the last two Wimbledon finals to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic believes the lawns of south-west London provide his best chance to win that elusive 25th major.

“I’m aware of the history on the line. I’m thinking about the big things I can do in this tournament,” he said.

Sinner is yet to reach a Wimbledon final, but the US and Australian Open champion has been ruthless in dropping just 12 games in his opening two matches.

The Italian thrashed Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 to set up a third round clash against Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

“We saw there have been so many upsets this tournament so we try to stay focused and raise our level,” said Sinner.

Draper’s dream of following in the footsteps of Andy Murray as a British champion were dashed as 36-year-old Cilic rolled back the years.

The Croatian, who is making his first Wimbledon appearance for four years after major knee surgery, blasted 53 winners in a 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.

“The emotions I’m feeling are incredible,” said Cilic, who lost the final to Roger Federer at the All England Club in 2017.

“It’s been a long journey but I never lost any doubt. This was a huge challenge, to come back and play at this level against Jack, in front of this crowd.”

Krejcikova’s relief

Only one of the top five seeds in the women’s draw — world number one Aryna Sabalenka — is still standing.

But defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek avoided joining the big name casualties with hard-fought three-set wins.

Krejcikova has had a miserable time with injuries this year and arrived at Wimbledon with just six matches under her belt in 2025.

Despite not feeling 100 percent, she overcame American Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to set up a meeting with Emma Navarro.

“Definitely a huge relief,” said the Czech. “I wasn’t feeling that well but I was fighting for every ball. I’m really happy I won the third set.”

Swiatek has previously struggled on Wimbledon’s lush lawns despite being a former junior champion at the All England Club.

The former world number one dropped the first set to American Caty McNally before roaring back to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

“For sure second and third set I played how I wanted to play,” said Swiatek.

Elena Rybykina, Wimbledon winner in 2022, demolished Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.

Russian seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, aged 18, beat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

Published – July 04, 2025 04:32 am IST

Australia won the first Test by 159 runs but were bowled out for 180 on day one and the top order struggled again in the second innings. They slipped to 65-4 before Travis Head, Webster and Carey bailed them out.

In Grenada teenage opener Sam Konstas and veteran partner Usman Khawaja put on 47 before both were dismissed without another run added.

Smith top-edged a pull shot to fine leg, trying to take the attack to fast bowler Joseph, as Australia lost three wickets for three runs.

Smith, who has replaced Josh Inglis, missed the first Test after dislocating his right little finger during defeat by South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last month.

Cameron Green fell to Jayden Seales off the final ball before lunch to leave the tourists in trouble at 93-4.

Following a brief delay for rain, Head was dismissed for 29, caught behind off Shamar Joseph, with the third umpire ruling wicketkeeper Shai Hope’s take low to his left was clean.

All-rounder Webster and wicketkeeper Carey responded brilliantly to steer Australia to 209-5 at tea.

Carey was more scratchy and was dropped on 46 by Hope but also hit 10 fours and one six in his 63 off 81 balls, before he tamely picked out mid-wicket off Justin Greaves.

Webster was firm in defence in making 60 off 115 but misjudged a risky second run to deep point and was run out by Keacy Carty as Australia’s lower order subsided.

For nearly two decades, Novak Djokovic has spent his time crushing the hopes and dreams of all of his adversaries while in pursuit of his own lofty goals. He did so again on Centre Court, ensuring there would be no fairytale ending to Dan Evans’ encouraging grass-court season as he marched into the third round of Wimbledon with a devastating performance and dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 win.

“He can be causing a lot of trouble for you if you’re not on the top of your game, which I think I was from the very beginning,” said Djokovic, the sixth seed. “I was preparing well for the match. Technically, tactically, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I executed perfectly – sometimes you have these kinds of days.”

In a tournament that has hosted 23 British singles players, the most in a generation, Evans has surprisingly been one of the most interesting British stories of all. Having spent a large part of the past seven years firmly inside the top 50, rising to a career high of 21 in 2023, last year the 35-year-old tumbled down the rankings. He fell as low as 217 last month.

For most of the past year, Evans has been forced to compete on the ATP Challenger circuit, but he continued to struggle even against much lower-ranked opponents. Before the tournament, he spoke with great emotion about his doubts and struggles during this period, particularly the feeling that he was letting his family and team members down.

On a lovely summer afternoon on Centre Court against the greatest player of all time, there were no miracles to be uncovered here. From the beginning of the match, Evans employed all the trickery and hand skills that, with his diminutive frame, he has used so effectively throughout his career. He dragged Djokovic into endless, protracted rallies with his wicked backhand slice, he flitted forward to the net whenever he could and he kept himself in complicated points with his improvisational brilliance.

But Djokovic was sharp from the beginning. Even when Evans ground through some difficult early service holds, his opponent continued to pile on the pressure with his excellent return. He also served well throughout, breezing through his service games, and his backhand managed Evans’ slice with ease, allowing him to patiently wait for his opportunities to force himself inside the baseline and attack. Once the Briton’s early resistance broke down, Djokovic picked up steam and eased to victory, further building his confidence and conserving his energy for future matches.

“You have these kinds of days where everything goes your way, everything flows,” said Djokovic. “It’s good to be in these shoes and holding the racket on a day like this, no question about it.”

With ample attention on Evans’ attempts to hold off retirement for as long as possible, this is a further reminder that at 38 Djokovic continues to perform at a spectacular level considering his age and the mileage in his legs. A year on from Djokovic’s remarkable run to the Wimbledon final just weeks after undergoing knee surgery on a torn anterior meniscus, it is striking how calm and positive he appears at the beginning of this tournament.

Aside from his stomach issues in the middle of his first round win over Alexandre Müller, the seven-time Wimbledon champion is in great physical shape. After playing well to reach the French Open semi-finals, a result that underlined his status as the top contender to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz even at his advanced age, he is also playing with great confidence, fully aware that the grass courts of Wimbledon present his best chance of winning his elusive 25th grand slam title.

As he departed the court, Evans appeared to savour his final moments as he saluted all corners of the crowd and then signed ample autographs. After enduring such a difficult period on the court, he returned to the grass court season carrying perhaps his final hopes of a resurgence. He actually found what he was looking for, defeating two top-15 opponents in Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, winning a round at Wimbledon and performing at a good level throughout the grass season.

After playing to a packed audience of 15,000 spectators on Centre Court, Evans will make the difficult transition back to the humble and sometimes empty surroundings of the Challenger circuit. He should leave Wimbledon with the understanding that although the journey ahead will be difficult, he has shown to the world, and particularly to himself, that it is not over.

“I think I’ve still got some tennis in me, which was what I was looking for,” said Evans. “It’s been positive. No real negatives.”

The last time a visiting skipper in England notched up a double century was Graeme Smith in 2003 and it led Nasser Hussain to fall on his sword mid-series. Smith – or “what’s-his-name” as Hussain called him beforehand – was a captain hunter on these shores, his South Africa team going on to account for Michael Vaughan in 2008 and then Andrew Strauss four years later.

Ben Stokes at least knew Shubman Gill’s name before this series and, in fairness, the England captaincy is unlikely to change hands in the next week. Nevertheless, Gill inflicted one of the toughest days of Stokes’ three years in charge as his chanceless and downright merciless 269 from 387 balls drove India to a position of dominance.

At stumps on the second evening, slow-cooked by India’s 587 all out from 151 gruelling overs, England had stumbled to 77 for three and the sleepy surface that served as the canvas for Gill’s artistry had fleetingly woken up. This is hardly uncommon when a fresh attack has a mountain of runs on the board. But the sight of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj reducing the hosts to 25 for three up top was still quite the jolt.

Hard hands also played their part during a frenzied half hour as the lively Deep, in for the much-discussed Jasprit Bumrah, wiped out Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for a pair of ducks in two deliveries. Duckett pushed to third slip, where Gill held a sparkler, while Pope ambitiously tried to whip one off his legs and edged to a juggling KL Rahul at first.

Once Zak Crawley sent another into the cordon with a wafted drive on 19, it left Harry Brook and Joe Root to see out proceedings and the pair just about survived to reach 30 and 18 not out respectively. Although for Brook this involved escaping a reviewed lbw on one thanks to umpire’s call and somehow using his shoulder to prevent the penultimate ball of the day from Prasidh Krishna ballooning back on to his stumps.

England’s top order needed to be more like Gill here. As Mark Butcher put it so neatly on air, perhaps the effortless charm by which he encouraged the ball to the rope 33 times should see him dubbed the Persuader. In an age of T20 hitters – Gill is no mug in that format, it should be said – the right-hander is all timing and grace; a back-foot game so wonderfully frictionless that MRF could probably be swapped for WD-40 on his bat stickers.

Gill was still on a baby hundred first thing, 114 not out as the tourists resumed on 310 for five. But by the time he walked off, accepting handshakes from his opponents and a standing ovation from a commendably engaged home crowd, he had turned it into a career-best daddy; the highest score by an India Test captain no less, surpassing the 221 that Sunil Gavaskar made in a famous near-miss at the Oval 46 years ago.

In that respect Gill had delivered on what he called his “biggest learning” after the defeat at Headingley. While the tail came under fire for two crepe-paper collapses – India responded by bolstering the lower order here – Gill was most annoyed with himself for holing out during India’s sub-par first innings in Leeds when set on 147. Presented with another benign surface this week, the 25-year-old was not going to repeat the mistake.

It no doubt helped that Stokes largely spared his seamers a flogging after an ominous morning in which India cruised to 419 for six. Chris Woakes was sent off to graze after an early burst alongside his captain, while Brydon Carse was once again in discomfort. England believed Carse’s struggles with a toe that buckles upon landing to have been solved by new insoles but all the signs here pointed to a recurrence.

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The one frontline quick pushed through was Josh Tongue, who after a scattergun opening day picked up two wickets. There was a bit of heat before lunch, too, Ravindra Jadeja bounced out for 89 and thus 11 short of repeating the glorious Rajput sword dance that met his half century. Still, India’s No 7 had added 203 runs with Gill and showed his successor, Washington Sundar, that all Gill needed was support.

After staring down an early barrage from Tongue, Sundar did just that with a watchful 42 from 103 balls and as the afternoon wore on, another 145 runs were trowelled on to India’s pile. There was even the sight of Brook sending down five overs of his wrong-footed dobblers. And while these did produce an edge, England’s slips had long since scattered and all it meant was Gill bringing up his 250.

The bulk of the work was performed by Shoaib Bashir and after 45 overs of graft, the off-spinner at least finished with three wickets to show for it. More ominous for England, given they will be batting last on this surface, was the beauty from Root that gripped and castled Sundar. This pitch may be flat but that delivery, plus Deep’s burst with the new ball, means the hosts have a whole heap of work still to do.