Category: 6. Sports

Defending champions Australia eased into basketball’s FIBA Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals with an 84-60 win over the Philippines at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, 13 August.

After racing to a 48-28 first-half lead, draining 7 of their 11 three-pointers in the opener, the men from Down Under looked in formidable form once again.

But their opponents, who went into the game off the back of a dramatic overtime comeback win over hosts Saudi Arabia in the Qualification to Quarter-Finals, put on a spirited display to take the third quarter and get back into the game.

The cheer was short-lived, however. Australia’s superior speed and size played a deciding factor in the fourth quarter, with the Philippines eventually succumbing.

Owen Foxwell and Jaylin Galloway topped the scoring charts for the Boomers with 15 points each, with five players hitting double figures in total for their team**.**

Kevin Quiambao was the Philippines’ biggest threat with 17 points and 4 rebounds.

Australia have yet to lose a single FIBA Asia Cup game since joining the competition in 2017, and will enter their final four showdown against the winner of New Zealand versus Lebanon in tomorrow’s quarter-final as the strong favourites once more.

 

USMAN NURMAGOMEDOV VS. PAUL HUGHES FOR THE PFL LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

COREY ANDERSON VS. DOVLET YAGSHIMURADOV FOR PFL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE

PFL CHAMPIONS SERIES: ROAD TO DUBAI – THE REMATCH TAKES PLACE FRIDAY, OCT. 3 AT COCA-COLA ARENA IN DUBAI

 

 

NEW YORK (August 13, 2025) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a massive championship double-header for its return to the UAE, as two PFL World Title bouts will headline PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch on Friday, October 3, live from Coca-Cola Arena.

The biggest rematch in PFL history takes center stage in Dubai, as Dagestan’s undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov (19‑0, 1 NC) and Ireland’s Paul Hughes (14‑2) battle for the PFL Lightweight World Title in the main event.

In the co-main event, former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Corey Anderson (19-6) will face 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1) for the PFL Light Heavyweight World Title. 

In addition, three early card bouts have been confirmed, including a Heavyweight clash between former Iranian National Team wrestler Pouya Rahmani (4-0) and former Tunisian Olympic wrestler Slim Trabelsi (8-0), with both fighters looking to preserve their undefeated records.

A grudge match nearly seven years in the making is officially set, as Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) finally faces Artem Lobov (14-15-1) in Dubai. Originally booked to fight in 2018, the matchup was scrapped following the UFC 229 post-fight brawl and subsequent suspensions. On October 3, the two will finally settle their score inside the PFL SmartCage.

2024 PFL MENA Welterweight Champion Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) of Egypt will fight 2024 PFL Europe Welterweight Champion Florim Zendeli (10-1-1) of Albania in a battle of two PFL Regional Tournament winners who are both in the midst of multi-fight unbeaten streaks. Additional main card and early card bouts will be announced shortly.

Fans can register now for the pre-sale to exclusively buy tickets on Thursday, 14 August at 4:00 pm GST via this link. The pre-sale will be available for registered fans before the general sale on Friday, 15 August at 12:00 pm GST via www.coca-cola-arena.com.

This event further cements Dubai’s evolving role as a global MMA hub. It’s made possible through PFL’s multi-year partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Since its official launch in November 2024, the “Road to Dubai” campaign has brought a series of PFL global MMA events to the UAE, positioning the region as a centerpiece for elite combat sports. While the Road to Dubai Finale is scheduled for January, this October event is an additional showcase, designed to build momentum and further engage fans ahead of the finale. 

“PFL Champions Series on October 3 in Dubai will be one of the biggest nights in PFL history,” said PFL CEO John Martin. “To have two PFL World Titles on the line, featuring four world-class athletes at the top of their game, shows exactly what makes the PFL different. This is more than just a fight card, it’s a global showcase of elite talent, compelling narratives, and the power of our international platform. Dubai is quickly becoming one of the sport’s true capitals, and there’s no better setting for a night of championship-level drama and the biggest rematch in PFL history.”

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes – PFL Lightweight World Title
The pair first met this past January in the very venue where they’ll clash again this October, delivering an instant Fight of the Year contender. The event sold out Coca-Cola Arena, with fans travelling from Russia and Ireland, creating a charged atmosphere for an electric five-round battle. While Nurmagomedov emerged victorious, the outcome sparked fierce debate among fans, many of whom felt Hughes had done enough for the win, setting the stage for a can’t-miss rematch between two of the world’s most elite Lightweights.

Fueled by the loss, Hughes came roaring back with a statement win, electrifying fans this May with a 42-second stoppage of Bruno Miranda in front of a sold-out crowd in Belfast. After the fight, he made his intentions crystal clear: “Usman Nurmagomedov! You can run and delay this rematch as long as you want, but your day is coming.”

Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov remains undefeated and is widely regarded as one of the most technically complete fighters in MMA. Competing in what many consider the sport’s toughest division, the 27-year-old champion’s resumé includes victories over elite opponents including former champions Patricky Pitbull and Benson Henderson, as well as Alexander Shabliy.

Corey Anderson vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov – PFL Light Heavyweight World Title
This Light Heavyweight World Title contest is also a rematch of their 2021 Bellator World Grand Prix Quarterfinal, where Corey Anderson earned a third-round finish over Yagshimuradov. Anderson went on to capture the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship and most recently handed 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov his first loss in nearly two years, stopping him last month at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the pride of Turkmenistan has been on a tear since that defeat, riding a dominant seven-fight win streak, a run capped by a victory over Impa Kasanganay to claim the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Title. Now, on Friday, October 3, these two champions will meet once again to crown the new PFL Light Heavyweight World Champion.

 

PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – The Rematch Main Card:

Friday, Oct. 3
PFL Lightweight World Title Main Event: Usman Nurmagomedov (19-0, 1 NC) vs. Paul Hughes (14-2)
PFL Light Heavyweight World Title Co-Main Event: Corey Anderson (19-6) vs. Dovlet Yagshimuradov (25-7-1)

Early Card:
Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Pouya Rahmani (4-0) vs. Slim Trabelsi (8-0)
165-Pound Catchweight Bout: Zubaira Tukhugov (20-6-1) vs. Artem Lobov (14-15-1)
Welterweight Showcase Bout: Omar El Dafrawy (14-5) vs. Florim Zendeli (10-1-1)

 

Ticketing information and broadcast details will be announced soon.

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BACK TO NEWS

Alfie Davis reflects on one fight in particular when he points out one of the most difficult moments of his career.

Fighting Alexander Shabliy in 2021, the Londoner admits he was “outclassed” as the Russian cruised to a unanimous decision win.

The 33-year-old says that while his preparations for the bout were hampered by a bacterial infection in his foot, the main reason for his defeat was psychological.

“I just didn’t pull the trigger and I think I choked under the pressure that he is this big star I felt I shouldn’t have been in there with,” Davis tells BBC Sport.

When a person doubts their ability and achievements it is sometimes described as impostor syndrome – a psychological experience where someone fears being exposed as not competent at their profession.

Confidence and bravado play such important parts in many fighters’ mindsets that it is uncommon for them to voice doubts about their standing in the sport.

Davis says throughout his career he has performed to his exciting potential in the gym, but has sometimes struggled to replicate it during fights.

This year however, things have changed. His career has reached new heights.

Having won two fights in 2025, Davis faces Russia’s Gadzhi Rabadanov in the PFL lightweight tournament final in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday – with the winner securing a $500,000 (£372,000) pay day.

Davis puts his change in fortunes down to two factors. The first is a swap of gym and coaches, which he says have allowed him to “express myself a bit more”.

The second is altering the way he thinks about competing. Davis appears calm and confident as he envisions the fight with 32-year-old Rabadanov.

“I think I used to put too much pressure on myself, but when I just go in there and go with the flow, not concentrating on the result too much, I get into my flow state. Before, I was overthinking,” he adds.

“I feel this guy I’m fighting now, if he was in the gym, I’d make easy work of him – I’ve just got to prove that under the big lights.”

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — It’s 11:30 on a Sunday morning, and Khamzat Chimaev is pacing barefoot around the one-story California home he has been living in for more than a month.

In 13 days from this moment, ESPN’s No. 2-ranked middleweight will fight for a UFC title for the first time when he challenges champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago (Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV; prelims at 6 p.m. on ESPN+). It’s an opportunity that the undefeated Russian fighter (and the entire sport of mixed martial arts) has been anticipating for years — far longer than anyone predicted or probably imagined. But right now, “Borz” isn’t thinking about any of that. He’s aimlessly wandering around the living room, almost as if he’s lost.

Chimaev’s nutritionist and chef for this camp, Matteo Capodaglio, is meant to be preparing lunch right now, but today’s itinerary has been thrown into question. Chimaev slept in and pushed back a recovery session and that was scheduled at 10 a.m. After playing video games by himself for a while and eating a late breakfast, he decided to cancel the recovery session altogether. It’s fine, everything is fine. This happens, according to Johnathon Michael Knapek, a longtime member of Chimaev’s management team whom everyone knows as “Sweep.” It just means no one on Chimaev’s team knows exactly what to do at the moment.

“I told you this was going to be one of those days,” Sweep says to Capodaglio, his eyes still on Chimaev 10 feet away. “He’s going Rodman.”

The reference, of course, is to NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, who notoriously disappeared to Las Vegas for 48 hours in the middle of the 1998 NBA Finals before returning to help the Chicago Bulls win their third straight NBA championship. Like Rodman, Chimaev needs to occasionally veer off-course. He needs freedom. It’s less worrisome now than when he first gained UFC success and a “Rodman Day” might involve him disappearing in a fast, expensive car for several days. Now, it looks more like this — a brief mutiny against routine.

“You can see it with his personality, his fire starts to die out,” Sweep says. “That’s when you know you need to let him loose for a day. Let him do what he wants, and he’ll come back a monster.”

On cue, a sense of clarity brightens Chimaev’s face. He wants to go to the beach. It’s a convenient, 10-minute drive from the house, but he’s only been there twice since the team arrived. He’s not a “beach guy,” but for whatever reason, it’s what he needs right now. Sweep grabs the car keys while Capodaglio returns unused ingredients to the fridge. Lunch will wait.

Chimaev only swims for about 15 minutes, but his mood and energy elevate immediately. He begins shadowboxing on the sand and mentions Du Plessis for the first time today. He jokingly throws a sloppy haymaker with his right hand and claims it will be the punch that wins him a UFC title.

Back home, he pulls his Russian teammate Issa Isakov into a wrestling match on the living room couch, which is already broken from a wrestling session the week before. Capodaglio emerges from the kitchen with freshly baked bread and fish, and the day is back on track. Another Rodman Day has worked its magic.

“Most important recovery is here,” Chimaev says, pointing to the side of his head.

It’s good for Chimaev’s team to see him like this. It’s good that in 13 days, regardless of outcome, the world will see him fight for a UFC championship in the United States, where the Russian national who lives in the United Arab Emirates hasn’t been since September 2022 because of visa issues.

It’s good, because there were times it truly felt as if this wasn’t going to happen — that despite all of Chimaev’s talent, work ethic and unique viciousness inside the Octagon, his legacy would be defined by delays and lack of opportunity.

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IN MID-JULY, a rumor surfaced that Chimaev could retire if he were to win the belt in Chicago. UFC middleweight Caio Borralho, who has trained with Chimaev, revealed he’d heard “whispers” that Chimaev would leave the sport once that job was finished.

At the mention of Borralho’s comments, Chimaev scoffed.

“I don’t know where he hears these things,” Chimaev said. “This is not enough, just to go for one title. Hopefully, if I don’t get injured, I’m gonna defend the belt, fight for another belt.”

The idea of Chimaev retiring from MMA at 31 and in the prime of his career seems absurd on many levels. He is coming off an utterly dominant first-round submission of Robert Whittaker nine months ago, in which his opponent, a former champion, managed to only attempt two strikes before being badly outwrestled. Chimaev is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC and arguably its most intriguing and mysterious figure. Fans want to see him in the Octagon, which puts him in a position of massive earning potential.

Still, the retirement rumor never felt completely far-fetched. There are legitimate reasons for Chimaev to walk away from fighting.

He was hospitalized multiple times in 2021 after contracting a severe case of COVID-19. He underwent medical treatments in Las Vegas, in Sweden, where he lived from 2013 to 2023, and in his native Chechnya. In March 2021, he pondered retirement in a post on Instagram after coughing up blood during a training session. He was already such a big deal in MMA (despite having only three fights on his UFC record) that the mere possibility of him retiring drew a global response.

“It was not looking good,” Sweep said. “We were just hoping he survived. And when he put that out about retirement, we got so much feedback, so much advice. There were people from Russia trying to help, telling us to send him here, send him there. There were doctors from Turkey saying they would personally fly out the next day to treat him. It was panic.”

During the course of those many medical evaluations, it was determined by physicians in Russia that Chimaev suffered from an issue with his thyroid, and he underwent a procedure to remove part of it in spring 2021. The thyroid is a gland in the neck that releases hormones vital to the regulation of metabolism, cardiovascular health and brain activity, among other things, and although Chimaev has continued his career and maintained his undefeated record beyond the operation, he has struggled to stay healthy.

He nearly withdrew from a fight against Kamaru Usman in October 2023 due to illness, then was hospitalized after the bout. He pulled out of a fight in June 2024 and was hospitalized again after falling “violently ill,” according to UFC CEO Dana White.

Lingering compromises to Chimaev’s immune system post-COVID-19 and thyroid surgery have led to significant changes in his lifestyle. Leading up to UFC 319, he has avoided interacting with anyone outside of his camp. He splits time between Abu Dhabi, where he has citizenship, and his home village in Chechnya, avoiding the crowds, nightlife and fan interactions that briefly appealed to him when he first tasted success.

“I like the people and they love me. They want to take pictures, but I have to be careful,” Chimaev said. “I have to be ready and not get sick. I have to show up to the fight and give my fans the thing they love. If we go to a mall and somebody gets sick and is a big fan and comes for me, maybe I get that sickness, you know? Better to stay home, prepare for the fight.”

The other major issue Chimaev has dealt with is international travel. As a famous citizen of Chechnya, Chimaev has had many interactions with the head of the republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, who is subject to U.S. sanctions tied to human rights abuses.

Chimaev has tried to stay out of politics, but the real complexities of his Chechen citizenship and U.S.-Russian relations have had an undeniable effect on his ability to fight on the UFC’s biggest stages in the U.S. His last two appearances — against Usman in October 2023 and Whittaker in October 2024 — took place on the UFC’s annual pay-per-view card in Abu Dhabi.

The situation only changed when Chimaev became a UAE citizen and President Donald Trump, a longtime UFC fan and friend of White, took office in January.

“Everyone knows I didn’t have the visa,” Chimaev told a throng of media at a recent open workout. “That’s why I [only fought] in Abu Dhabi. Now, Donald Trump is here, so we go for a fight.”

For now, the travel issue has been resolved and the visa Chimaev secured in February is valid for the next two years. Also, for now, his team said it has learned to navigate his medical condition far better than in the first months post-procedure. Everything from rest to nutrition to social habits has improved.

“Dark times make a person stronger,” Chimaev said. “I like to be going through tough things.”

Do the trials and tribulations of the last few years make this championship fight more meaningful than it would have been if it had been handed to him much more easily five years ago?

“I don’t know,” he said. “I just want to go, fight, make money. When we start talking about the belt — like guys saying, ‘You’re the first Chechen to fight for the belt’ — yes, it’s maybe big, but it’s still one fight. I’ve [fought] before — 14 times. Now, I’m going to go one more.”

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RETIRED UFC VETERAN Ilir Latifi will never forget watching the security footage of Chimaev inside Allstars Training Center in Sweden in the middle of the night.

Chimaev joined Allstars in 2017 and lived in a small storage room in the gym during the first two years of his career. At night, he would pass the time watching television shows on his phone, and occasionally he would wander out onto the mats.

“The guys used to send videos from inside the gym, like 1 or 2 in the morning — Khamzat hitting the bag by himself,” Latifi recalled. “He was living there, you know, and we’d get movement on the security cameras. It was him training. Some fighters are just special like that.”

When Chimaev’s career has been free of complications and he’s simply been allowed to compete, he has shown more potential than anyone in MMA since the great Jon Jones. Much of that promise is because of his work ethic, which has become something of a folk tale in itself. Part of the reason Chimaev became so sick in 2021 is that he refused to stop training, even after he’d tested positive for COVID-19 and could barely walk up a flight of stairs.

Many assume that work ethic is something Chimaev was born with, but his Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainer Alan “Finfou” Nascimento suspected there is another explanation: Chimaev was always driven to take care of his family, who struggled with poverty in their Chechen village.

“What is too much to save the life of your family?” Nascimento asked. “I know that I grew up in a favela in Brazil, and I lost my father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and two brothers to crime. I am the man of my house. What is too much for me to do, to put food on the table for my family? There is no limit.

“I have always felt Khamzat and I have this in common. He came to Sweden when he was 19 as a refugee. He was born into a country at war in Chechnya. He is fighting to take care of his loved ones, this is what motivates him.”

Chimaev has fulfilled that motivation in many respects. There are multiple homes under construction in close proximity to one another just outside of his village in Chechnya, where Chimaev plans to live alongside his mother and one of his brothers. Not far from the family’s compound, his father lives in Chimaev’s childhood home, which has been remodeled. Not far from that, Chimaev is in the process of erecting a large MMA gym, where he will train for future fights and, more importantly, provide training opportunities for local youth.

His mother, who used to put off eating until she was certain her children were fed and had left the table, is able to enjoy her life, spending time between Sweden and Chechnya. She asks her son regularly if he has become a UFC champion yet, because he once told her that maybe he would stop fighting after that happened. These are the details that could make fans nervous that just when it finally appears Chimaev is cleared to fight, his reasons to do it have been fulfilled.

He admits he doesn’t care about the idea of a UFC belt. When he points to how many belts former UFC champions Jones and Demetrious Johnson must have in their possession, he follows up by acknowledging that what truly matters to them is family.

That said, he still wants money. He jokes that it feels like every UFC fan believes he’s rich, but that his bank account disagrees. He feels a responsibility to make money — for himself and his family but also for the kids in his village and for teammates who train alongside him, a number that, according to Sweep, can grow to 40 fighters when Chimaev is in Russia. Offering them help is more appealing to him than luxury.

“I went through all of those things, you know? I’ve seen all the money,” Chimaev said. “I’ve seen the good life — crazy cars, private jets, watches and clothes. I want to make more money to help somebody who needs it, you know? A lot of the young guys who are helping me, I hope that one day they become better than me. I see myself in them when I was in their position. So I can’t stop. If somebody from my team becomes a UFC champion, maybe then I can stop.”

There is still some talk of winning three UFC titles, something that’s never been done in the history of the sport. Five years ago, some would have considered it possible for Chimaev to have reached that goal by now. He’s instead shooting for his first on Saturday, but there have been conversations among the team about him dropping to the welterweight limit of 170 pounds, where he hasn’t fought since April 2022. And there are always talks of going up to challenge for a belt at light heavyweight.

In Du Plessis this weekend, he will face a two-time defending champion who has made a career out of proving doubters wrong. Du Plessis has widely been regarded as one of the most unorthodox fighters in the world but has earned respect by finishing the two best middleweights of his generation — Israel Adesanya and Whittaker — and outpointing Sean Strickland twice in the past two years.

Still, Chimaev is a betting favorite in this title matchup, according to ESPN BET, and money has poured in against the champion. Anytime Chimaev has made it to the Octagon in his career, the odds have been in his favor.

As the challenger, he will walk out first at UFC 319, meaning he will have time to himself in the Octagon while awaiting Du Plessis. Nascimento, who was in Alexander Gustafsson’s corner for his title fights against Jones and Daniel Cormier, will probably try to hype Chimaev up as he always does, reminding Chimaev of why he’s there. He’s doing it for his family, his village and, although to a lesser extent these days, his own legacy. But as much as those reasons have helped him get through the hardships of the past few years, Chimaev said they don’t matter once he steps into the cage.

“I say to them, ‘Guys, I don’t need that. I don’t need you to say anything,’” Chimaev assured. “If I go to the cage, my heart, it’s closed. It’s going to fight anyway. My heart wants to fight.”

It’s another reason why he’s so special. And why despite everything that’s happened, the best might still be to come.

Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo were all present as well, as they await their competitive debuts for the club.

Cunha and Mbeumo started in the penalty shootout win over Fiorentina in the Snapdragon Cup in our final warm-up fixture, getting a taste of the Old Trafford atmosphere as a Red for the first time, while young wing-back Leon was an unused substitute.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have a doubt over forward Leandro Trossard, who has a groin issue, and Gabriel Jesus is still sidelined, after being injured against United back in January.

More team news will be forthcoming after Amorim and Mikel Arterta hold their pre-match press conferences later in the week.

Former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is set for a medical at Leeds United after reaching an agreement to join the newly promoted Premier League side on a free transfer.

The 28-year-old ended his nine-year stay at Everton in June, saying it was an “incredibly difficult decision” to leave the club.

Calvert-Lewin scored 71 goals in 273 games for Everton after joining from Sheffield United for £1.5m in 2016.

Leeds’ other striking options are Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha, while Patrick Bamford has been told he is “not part” of manager Daniel Farke’s plans this season and Mateo Joseph has joined Mallorca on loan.

Calvert-Lewin’s best season was in 2020-21, when he scored 16 goals in 33 Premier League games and was part of the England squad that reached the final of the European Championship that summer.

He struggled with injuries and form the following season and in 2024-25 started just over half of the 26 matches he played.

He has not added to his 11 England caps and four goals since 2021.