USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 6: Cory Sandhagen enters top 5
Last weekend, UFC on ESPN 67 took place in Des Moines, Iowa. The event prompted moves in multiple weight classes.
The event featured a bantamweight showdown between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo. The fight came to an abrupt ending in the second round after Sandhagen injured Figueiredo's knee in a grappling exchange. Entering the week at No. 6, Sandhagen's performance changed up the rankings, and he now holds the No. 5 spot, while Figueiredo keeps his No. 11 placement.
Reinier de Ridder entered the week at No. 15, but after a big win over an undefeated Bo Nickal, the former ONE champ lands at No. 12.
Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
Fast-Growing Backyard Games Pioneer CROSSNET Gets Acquired
CROSSNET, a trendsetter in backyard games, has been acquired by the Canadian outdoor living company Vivere, Ltd., for an undisclosed amount. 'Selling CROSSNET to Vivere marks an exciting new chapter for both our brand and our sport,' said Chris Meade, co-founder of CROSSNET. 'Vivere's reach, resources, and shared vision for the backyard space makes them the perfect partner to take CROSSNET to the next million players. We're incredibly proud of what we've built, the sport we've invented, and know Vivere will continue to make CROSSNET a household name for years to come.' Miami-based CROSSNET started out as a three-man business seven years ago, and was bootstrapped by founders and brothers Chris and Gregory Meade and their friend Mike Delpapa to $1 million in revenue with no employees before scaling up to an estimated $48 million in annual revenue. Brainstorming business ideas into the wee hours one night in 2017, they came up with the idea to combine volleyball with Four Square to create a four-way volleyball game. Chris's goal was to leave his job in sales for a food-delivery app behind. Tapping the cold-calling skills he honed at that job, Chris persuaded SCHEELS, a Midwestern sporting goods chain, to test the product in two stores. When CROSSNET sold out, the chain ordered it for 22 locations. The trio built it to $2.25 million in 2019, before hiring a single employee. Today, it is sold on Amazon and in major retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods, Target and Walmart. The game got a boost during the pandemic, when more Americans were looking for backyard entertainment. CROSSNET also benefited from institutional sales to schools, that incorporated it into physical education programs. Chris estimates that 1 million people have now played it—a number that is likely to grow now that it has inroads into the vast Canadian market, where volleyball is already a popular sport. 'Adding CROSSNET to our lineup is about more than just acquiring a game,' said Jason Stoter, president of Vivere, based on the Toronto area. 'It's about continuing a story that started with three friends, a dream, and a net — and making sure that story reaches every backyard, beach, and park possible.' Vivere owns approximately 30 backyard games, including bestselling Ladder Golf, and has a presence in the U.S.., Europe and Australia, according to Gary Pepper, sales manager for Vivere. 'We are extremely pleased with the purchase and think we'll be able to bring the business to new heights,' he said. Chris has already started two new ventures. He cofounded a network for young entrepreneurs called The Founders Club with Aaron Spivak, who founded and exited the weighted blankets startup Hush Blankers. The application-only group, launched in 2023, has grown to more than 500 members, according to Chris He also co-founded a fast-growing fitness studio, BODY Hot Pilates, with his wife Lyndsey. Gregory is an owner in Vonu, which makes baby products such as a burping pillow, and Delpapa is an active real estate investor. Chris said he is looking forward to seeing Vivere bring CROSSNET to even more locations by tapping its vast retail network and expanding its impact further. 'It's not every day that a new sport is invented and takes off,' said Meade. 'It's a remarkable feeling that our game is having an impact and thousands of kids are going to school every day and playing it in their gym classes.'
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Andrew Giuliani on Leading Trump's World Cup Task Force
The son of the former New York mayor has his hands full trying to organize the World Cup with fellow host nations Canada and Mexico. This week we have an interview with Andrew Giuliani about what he's doing in his role as head of a White House task force that's helping to organize the 2026 World Cup. We also get into ballpark food (it might make you hungry) and a twist on the start of the Premier League. As always, send us any feedback, tips or ideas here. If you aren't yet signed up to receive this newsletter, you can do so here.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dear Disney Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendar for August 21
Disney (DIS) is set to launch the long-awaited direct-to-consumer (DTC) service for ESPN on Thursday, Aug. 21. Sports are a key pillar of Disney's growth strategy, and the launch will be a key event that investors should watch closely. In this article, we'll look at Disney's outlook as it takes yet another step in its pivot toward streaming. ESPN has priced its DTC service, which CEO Bob Iger termed a 'sports fan's dream,' at $29.99 per month. The company is also offering ESPN as a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu at a promotional price of $29.99 per month for the first 12 months – a price Iger said is an 'incredible, incredible bargain for the consumer.' More News from Barchart UnitedHealth Stock Soars as Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Discloses $1.57B Stake Palantir CEO Alex Karp Sees More Gains Ahead With America-Focused Growth Strategy, Calls U.S. The 'Leader of the Free World' Lucid Motors Is Caught in a Tariff Trap. Is LCID Stock More Likely to Hit $1 or $7 in 2025? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! The company has touted features such as increased personalization, integration of statistics, and a personalized sports center for the app. It will also include access to betting, fantasy sports, and commerce solutions, which will help the company add to its revenues. Disney Has a Diverse Portfolio of Media and Entertainment Assets Disney is a media and entertainment conglomerate with a diverse portfolio. It has the legacy linear TV business, which is in a structural, if not terminal, decline. Disney also has a movie production business, which holds some of the most popular intellectual property. The company has a streaming business, which has turned profitable. Then we have the Experiences segment that houses the theme parks and cruises, and is the proverbial cash cow for the company. Sports Are a Key Pillar of Disney's Strategy Sports have been a key growth area for Disney, and the company has taken several steps to make its offering even more attractive for users. These include: Partnering with Penn Entertainment (PENN) to launch the sports-gambling platform ESPN Bet. Sports betting is gaining traction and could be a key growth driver for ESPN in the coming years. Signing a deal with WWE for exclusive domestic rights to major WWE events starting in 2026. As part of the $1.6 billion agreement, Disney will stream all Premium Live Events (PLEs), including WrestleMania. Partnering with the NFL, giving the football league a 10% stake in ESPN. In return, ESPN will own and operate the NFL Network. It will also acquire some other media assets owned by the NFL, including the NFL's linear RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy. ESPN has also launched a streaming bundle with FOX One priced at $39.99 per month. Why ESPN DTC Launch Is a Key Event for Disney The launch of ESPN's DTC service is a key event for Disney. While the company will need to pay a dividend to the NFL for its 10% stake in ESPN, Disney is confident that the launch will be accretive to its earnings in the first year after the close of the transaction. The company expects the NFL partnership to add to its revenues and operating profits and also lead to lower churn among its subscribers. Disney will be launching ESPN DTC ahead of key live sports events, including college football and NFL seasons. Live sports is a fast-growing market for broadcasters, and that's where the real value for ESPN DTC will lie. No wonder streaming companies like Alphabet's (GOOG) YouTube and Netflix (NFLX) are betting big on live sports. Disney Stock Forecast Disney has a consensus rating of 'Strong Buy' from the 28 analysts covering the stock, while its mean target price of $134.52 is 15.6% higher than the Aug. 14 closing price. I have been bullish on Disney stock for quite some time amid the transformation under Iger, in which the company's streaming business has turned profitable. For context, that business lost almost $1.5 billion in fiscal Q4 2022, which was the last full quarter under Iger's predecessor Bob Chapek. I remain bullish on Disney as the company progresses in its turnaround. The stock's valuations are also reasonable at a forward price-earnings (P/E) multiple of 19.83x. While the levels are not mouthwateringly cheap, I find them decent enough to add some more shares to my existing holdings. On the date of publication, Mohit Oberoi had a position in: DIS, NFLX, GOOG, PENN. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
