Author: Jeremiah Labilwa
Arman Tsarukyan has reignited his rivalry with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, asserting that he surpasses Makhachev in both wrestling and stand-up striking. Following his recent victory over Joaquim Silva, Tsarukyan expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, “I think I’m going to defend his wrestling and beat him in the standup. I believe my striking is better, my kicks, my boxing” . Tsarukyan’s belief in his superiority stems from their initial encounter in 2019, where he took Makhachev down during his UFC debut. Reflecting on that fight, Tsarukyan remarked, “He’s not that good like people think… People think he’s unbeatable,…
The Oklahoma City Thunder have a rare opportunity to win a championship and draft a lottery-level talent at a position of need in a span of mere weeks. It’s a unique example of arguably the best team in the NBA having a chance to not only solidify its future, but do so in a sustainable manner. In possession of the Nos. 15 and 24 overall selections at the 2025 NBA Draft, the rich could get richer—and, more specifically, the Thunder could find their center of the future. Oklahoma City boasts one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. Led by…
Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, chairman of the Dalian Wanda Group, is reportedly planning a significant investment to elevate softball’s global profile. While specific details remain undisclosed, Wang’s history of substantial investments in sports suggests a strategic move to bolster softball’s international presence. Wang’s previous ventures include acquiring a 20% stake in Spanish soccer club Atlético Madrid for €45 million and establishing Wanda Sports, which integrated Infront Sports & Media and the World Triathlon Corporation. These initiatives reflect his ambition to build a world-leading sports enterprise . Softball has been gaining momentum in China, with cities like Shaoxing emerging as hubs…
The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense is poised for a significant resurgence in the 2025 season, aiming to establish a formidable presence in the SEC under the leadership of head coach Brent Venables. Defensive Line: A Dominant Force ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic has identified Oklahoma’s defensive line as the best in the SEC, highlighting it as a cornerstone of the team’s defensive strength . Key players like defensive end R Mason Thomas and nose tackle Damonic Williams are expected to play pivotal roles in anchoring the line and disrupting opposing offenses. Linebackers: Experience and Leadership Linebacker Danny Stutsman returns as a…
Britain’s Charley Hull tees off alongside world number one Nelly Korda for the first two rounds of this week’s US Open, the biggest championship in women’s golf. Worth a record-equalling $12m, the event comes at a crucial moment. A new LPGA Tour boss has just been appointed with an immediate priority to halt a perceived period of damaging stagnation. While other elite women’s sports have boomed, golf has drifted despite attracting larger prize funds for its biggest events. Observers talk of the female game now being “at a crossroads”. Kessler to the rescue? So Craig Kessler -…
The Florida Panthers want a repeat of last year’s playoff result, and what they did with the Prince of Wales Trophy was no different. As part of Stanley Cup playoff superstition, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left the trophy on the stand as the NHL’s Eastern Conference champions got their photo taken. The Panthers are back in the Stanley Cup final for the third straight time after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 in Game 5 to take the Eastern Conference final 4-1. “This is when the fun starts,” Panthers left winger Carter Verhaeghe told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas on the ice post-game.…
Highlands University went looking for a new athletic director, the answer wasn’t too far off. Scott Noble has served in the same capacity at Western New Mexico for the last seven years. On Tuesday, he was introduced as the new athletics boss at fellow Division II school NMHU. “I’ve been wanting to get closer to my roots for a while,” Noble said with a laugh. “Las Vegas is six hours closer.” The Kansas native takes over a department going through significant changes. In the past two months, the school has dismissed its men’s basketball coach, fired its baseball coach,…
Since the beginning of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Florida Panthers have been the cream of the crop in the NHL. They made the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, won it all in 2024, and are now one win away from their third finals appearance in a row. The 2025 Toronto Maple Leafs were a goal away from sinking this team in round two, and would’ve set themselves up nicely with a favourable matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, they did not, and now the Panthers find themselves up 3-1 in their series against…
While UAE Emirates-XRG is busy battling it out in Italy to win the Giro d’Italia, another part of the Emirates team is logically preparing for the Tour de France. This includes lead rider Tadej Pogacar, although the Slovenian, who lives in Monaco, interrupted his altitude training for a few days to experience the Formula 1 Grand Prix last weekend. Pogacar has already spent the past few weeks in the Sierra Nevada, where his opponents Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) are also staying to prepare for the Tour de France. The three-time winner of…
The Southeastern Conference gathers for its annual spring meetings in Destin this week as the leagues’s 16 head coaches debate and discuss the upcoming season and the future of the league. The group plans to discuss the future of conference scheduling and how it impacts the league’s positioning in the future with proposed changes to the College Football Playoff. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer enters his second season in the SEC and was asked his preference on scheduling eight or nine conference games and how that might impact the Crimson Tide’s scheduling going forward. “I’m open to whatever, I’m open…