Canadian bantamweight Charles (Air) Jourdain returns to UFC action in June in Atlanta
Canadian bantamweight Charles (Air) Jourdain will face American Ricky Simon on a June 14 UFC Fight Night card in Atlanta.
The main event at State Farm Arena sees former welterweight champion Kamaru (The Nigerian Nightmare) Usman, a Nigerian-born American currently ranked fifth among 170-pound contenders, against No. 7 Joaquin (New Mansa) Buckley of the United States.
Jourdain (16-8-1) snapped a two-fight losing streak with a submission win over Victor (La Mangosta) Henry in November in Edmonton. The 29-year-old from Beloeil, Que., is 7-7-1 in the UFC since making his debut in the promotion in May 2109.
Simon (21-6-0) had lost three in a row before knocking out England's Javid (The Snow Leopard) Basharat in February. The 32-year-old is 9-5-0 in the UFC.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.
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Winnipeg Free Press
22 minutes ago
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Tajon, Buchanan, Jonathan David lead the way as Canada downs Ukraine 4-2
TORONTO – Tajon Buchanan scored a goal and set up two more by Jonathan David as Canada defeated Ukraine 4-2 on Saturday in the opening game of the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament. Promise David, no relation, also scored for Canada in his senior debut. Both Ukraine goals came in the dying minutes. Illia Zabarnyi scored in the 89th minute, tapping home a teammate's header to cheers from the pro-Ukraine crowd. Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko added another from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Buchanan was pinged for handball in the Canadian penalty box. It was an impressive outing, full of offensive flair, by the 30th-ranked Canadian men in their first outing since finishing third at the CONCACAF Nations League Finals in March. And when No. 25 Ukraine threatened, goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was up to the task for the first 88 minutes. Jonathan David upped his Canadian men's record goal total to 34 in 62 appearances. 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Toronto Star
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Coco Gauff handles bad memories and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to earn first French Open title
PARIS (AP) — Drawing on the painful memory of her defeat three years ago in the French Open final gave Coco Gauff just the motivation she needed to win the clay-court major for the first time. The 21-year-old American defeated top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday for her second Grand Slam title, two years after winning the U.S. Open. 'I think (the U.S. Open victory) was more emotional but this one was harder,' said Gauff, who managed to handle the elements and the momentum swings better than Sabalenka. 'I knew it was going to be about will power and mental (strength).' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The victory put to rest the bad memories of her 2022 French Open final loss to Iga Swiatek when, as an 18-year-old, Gauff felt overwhelmed even before stepping onto Court Philippe-Chatrier. 'It was a tough time, I was doubting myself,' Gauff recalled. 'I was crying before the match, and so nervous, literally couldn't breathe and stuff.' Gauff said that the lopsided loss rocked her confidence to such an extent that she was left 'in a dark place' and feared she was not cut out for winning major titles. 'I thought if I can't handle this how am I going to handle it again?' she said. She handled it just fine on Saturday. The second-ranked Gauff made fewer mistakes and kept her emotions in check to get the better of Sabalenka again at major final, having come from a set down to beat the Belarusian in the 2023 U.S. Open final. Gauff raised the winners' trophy aloft, then kissed it several times. She held her hand over her heart when the U.S. national anthem played. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'This one is heavy,' Gauff said. 'It feels great to lift it.' She is the first American woman to win at Roland-Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. It was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Paris since 2013, when Williams defeated Maria Sharapova, and just the second in the last 30 years. After Sabalenka sent a backhand wide on Gauff's second match point, the 21-year-old American fell onto her back, covering her face with both hands as she started to sob, then got up and held her hand over her mouth. She continued to sob as she patted the clay with her left hand. Gauff greeted Sabalenka at the net with a warm hug and thanking the umpire, Gauff screamed out with joy and relief, then got to her knees and crouched forward, continuing to cry as she savored the win. She hugged later film director Spike Lee and celebrated with her entourage in her box before thanking the fans. 'You guys were cheering for me so hard,' she said. 'I don't know what I did to deserve so much love from the French crowd.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW One thing Gauff could not manage — yet — was a victory speech in French. 'I completely tanked on that,' she said, adding that she will try in the future. 'I don't think I could do a whole speech but maybe a good something to say to the French crowd.' Sabalenka praised Gauff for being a 'fighter' and said she deserved the win, but added that the windy conditions made for an error-strewn contest. 'This will hurt so much,' Sabalenka said. 'Coco, congrats, in the tough conditions you were a better player than me.' Both players were sloppy in the first set, conceding 21 break-point chances and making 48 unforced errors between them, with Sabalenka making 32 yet still winning the set. She made 70 altogether in the match, compared to 30 overall for Gauff. Sabalenka was often frustrated, remonstrating and shouting at herself and frequently turning around to look at her team with an exasperated look on her face. She put her head on her hands a couple of times, and at one point raised her shoulders as if to say 'What's going on?' Gauff said she paid no attention, knowing full well that Sabalenka could find her best game at any moment. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The first set looked to be heading Gauff's way when she led 3-0 in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka steadied herself and clinched it with a forehand volley at the net. Gauff leveled the match with a smash at the net. But Sabalenka stuck to her high-risk approach in the deciding set. One superb rally in the third game drew loud cheers. After an intense exchange of drop shots, Gauff hit a lob that Sabalenka chased down before attempting a shot between her legs — only for Gauff to intercept it at the net. It was a rare highlight on a day when swirling wind troubled both players with the roof open. 'It was tough to plant your feet, the ball was moving so much,' Gauff said. 'It was not a day for great tennis, honestly.' ___ AP tennis: Read more on the French Open at
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
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Canadian men score nine tries, thump Tonga in Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge
NADI – Liam James scored two of Canada's nine tries in a 57-27 win over Tonga at the Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge on Saturday. The Canadian under-20 men finished at 2-1-0 after opening the tournament with a 44-20 victory over Samoa before falling 56-24 to host Fiji. Angus Dewar, Kaea Griffiths, Seb Poyser, Josh du Toit, Daniel Lucic and Kohl Kletke also scored tries for Canada, which led 24-10 at the half. Canada also was awarded a penalty try. Kohl Kletke kicked four conversions and Joe Kaufmann added another, James is the son of former Canada star forward Mike James. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025
