Latest news with #Fighting
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman holds no grudge against Steve Angeli
Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman holds no grudge against Steve Angeli Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman holds no grudge against former QB Steve Angeli When Notre Dame begins its quest to return to the College Football Playoff in the season opener at Miami (FL) Labor Day weekend, either redshirt freshman CJ Carr or redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey will be taking the first snap. Steve Angeli saw the writing on the wall this past spring, which is why he decided to become a graduate transfer at Syracuse. And that was totally fine with Marcus Freeman. The Fighting Irish head coach told local media Thursday that he supports Angeli because it was the right decision for the former backup.'Nothing is guaranteed,' Freeman said, 'but Steve made the decision to transfer where there was probably a better opportunity for him to be the starter in the fall. There was a more clear picture. That's why he made that decision. He's graduated, and there's no hard feelings.' Angeli led Notre Dame to a Sun Bowl win over Oregon State to conclude the 2023 season, and he also led a drive that resulted in a key field goal in relief of Riley Leonard in the team's Orange Bowl win over Penn State this past January. In April's Blue-Gold game, Angeli went 8-of-11 passing for 108 yards and was sacked once. He entered the transfer portal thereafter and chose Syracuse, which travels to South Bend on November 22. Minchey and Carr will now compete for the starting job. Angeli, who has two remaining years of eligibility, could face the Irish twice. In addition to the tilt this fall, the Irish visit the JMA Wireless Dome in 2026, but the date of that matchup has yet to be determined.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Classic Rock Guitarist, 74, Reveals He ‘Actually Died' During Recent Operation
The rock world nearly lost Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham. Gorham, who joined Phil Lynott's band in 1974, is recuperating after nearly dying on the operating table. "I had a health issue scare about a year ago with a kidney that had to be removed, and I got sepsis from it," Gorham said on the May 21 episode of Darren Paltrowitz's Paltrocast podcast. "And the second surgeon said I actually died on the operating table and all that. And I was, like, 'Really, man? What the hell is all that about?'" Though Gorham wasn't a founding member, he's considered an essential part of Thin Lizzy. He was one of the band's "twin lead guitarists" and Scott played on albums like Nightlife, Fighting and Jailbreak (which featured the band's biggest U.S. hit, "The Boys Are Back In Town"). Gorham reformed Thin Lizzy in 1996, 13 years after the band broke up and a decade after Lynott's death. He also played in the Thin Lizzy spin-off band, Black Star Riders, before departing in 2021 to focus strictly on Thin Lizzy. In November, Gorham discussed putting together "just an absolute kick-[explicative] Thin Lizzy band" together for a tour, but he told Paltrocast that he's not ready to get back on the road. "And now I had a third operation, and [my doctor] said, 'Maybe you should take some time out and just kind of rehabilitate and all that, get your strength back and all that.' So that's what I'm doing," said Gorham. "And in the meantime, I've got the drawing to keep me occupied," he said. Last year, Gorham revealed his secret passion as an artist and held his first art exhibition in London. "[Drawing] is the new thing for me," said Gorham. "It's something that I thought I'd never really do as a constant thing. So I'm kind of enjoying this kind of break from the music right now and going into this little bit of a different direction." This doesn't mean his music career is over. Scott said that he hopes to "get my buns back out on the road" sometime Rock Guitarist, 74, Reveals He 'Actually Died' During Recent Operation first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Strange UFC curse hangs over Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira's title decider
To trace the lineage of the UFC lightweight title is to follow a crooked line. In a sport like MMA, in which fans are used to definitive transitions of power, there have been surprisingly few of those at 155lb. When Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira share the ring in June, a new lightweight champion will be crowned. Yet while the title has been won in the Octagon consistently, it has not been lost in the cage for nine years. Advertisement The main event of UFC 317, the latest duel over the lightweight gold, pits former featherweight champion Topuria against former 155lb king Oliveira, after Islam Makhachev's dominant reign came to an end at the hands of... well, himself, or the UFC, depending on how you look at it. Makhachev, who proved near-untouchable in a two-and-a-half year spell as champion, has machinations of moving up and challenging for the welterweight title. Per UFC president Dana White, the Russian will get his wish, yet with the promotion no longer keen on fighters holding two belts at once, Makhachev 'vacated' the lightweight gold first. Or was it stripped from him? Did he jump, or was he pushed? This might be a case where the answer to an either/or question is 'yes', as it seems the UFC politely forced Makhachev to vacate his belt. Similarly, Topuria 'vacated' the featherweight title in February, as he announced his plan to move up and challenge for the lightweight belt. As such, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes clashed over the vacant 145lb title in April, with former champion Volk – whom Topuria dethroned last year – reclaiming his throne. Now, it is Makhachev's vacant title that is up for grabs as Topuria faces Oliveira. Ilia Topuria (left) and Charles Oliveira will clash over the vacant lightweight title (Getty Images) This brings us to a quirky stat, which Indy Sport found via MMA Fighting, when the publication shared a comment from one of its articles: user @Bloody_Hellbow wrote, 'Interesting stat: Eddie Alvarez is the last LW [lightweight] champion to lose his title in the Octagon.' Advertisement It is an interesting stat. Alvarez was famously knocked out by Conor McGregor in November 2016, as the Irish icon achieved the kind of performance that fans have swooned over for nearly a decade, and which they will swoon over for many decades to come. Yet then came McGregor's game-changing venture into boxing, as he faced Floyd Mayweather in 2017, leading 'Notorious' to be stripped of the lightweight title due to UFC inactivity (though not until April 2018, remarkably). That set up Khabib Nurmagomedov to claim the vacant belt with a dominant victory over Al Iaquinta, and after Nurmagomedov recorded three defences, he metaphorically left the title in the Octagon in 2020, as he retired from fighting in the moments after choking Justin Gaethje out cold. So, the belt was vacant again, until Oliveira knocked out Michael Chandler in 2021, before the Brazilian's scintillating form continued with a submission of Dustin Poirier at the end of that year. But in an abrupt end to Oliveira's run, he lost the strap on the scales; after narrowly missing weight one day before a planned defence against Gaethje, he was stripped of the title. Oliveira choked out Justin Gaethje in what would have been a title defence, if he hadn't been stripped of the belt for missing weight one day earlier (USA TODAY Sports) Oliveira's ensuing submission of Gaethje therefore only made him the No 1 contender to the lightweight title, which was on the line when he squared off with Makhachev in late 2022. There, Makhachev submitted the UFC's greatest submission artist to kickstart his own record-breaking reign; before vacating the belt this week, Makhachev achieved four successful defences – one more than his childhood friend and now-coach Khabib, and a few of the old guard. Advertisement On that note: what has been discussed less than this week's intriguing stat is that the 'curse' hanging over the lightweight title has arguably existed since the belt's inception in 2001. Jens Pulver became the inaugural champion by stopping Caol Uno, but he left the title vacant when he exited the UFC in 2002. What followed was a tournament to crown Pulver's successor, but the final ended as a draw between Uno and BJ Penn in 2003. There were sporadic lightweight fights in the UFC thereafter until 2006, when the division returned in full. Still, there was to be little consistency as concerned the title. Sean Sherk beat Kenny Florian that October to claim the vacant gold, but he only earned one defence before being stripped thanks to a failed drug test. Penn won the again vacant title in 2008, stopping Joe Stevenson, before achieving three successful defences. Advertisement The next title change was the first in-ring example in the division, as Frankie Edgar overcame Penn in 2010, mercifully marking the start of a run of normal dethronings. Islam Makhachev was peerless as 155lb champ, earning a record four title defences (Getty Images) Another clean title change followed after two retentions, when Benson Henderson took the title from Edgar in 2012, before he achieved three successful defences to match Penn's then-record. Next, Anthony Pettis dethroned Henderson in 2015 and retained it once before a loss to Rafael dos Anjos, who similarly scored one title defence before dropping the strap to Alvarez. While Alvarez was unable to achieve any title retentions, his championship loss was at least another straightforward one – the most recent in UFC history – as he fell to a transcendent McGregor. Advertisement This is all to say nothing of interim champions, but in any case: seven years on, Oliveira and Topuria will aim to be crowned the 13th undisputed UFC lightweight champion. If Oliveira can do what no one else has done and beat the Spanish-Georgian, he will also become the first ever two-time undisputed UFC lightweight champion; in that case, there would be only 12 different historic champions, of course. The hope is simply that whoever wins at UFC 317 will be dethroned in the cage, not outside of it. However, don't get those hopes up. The odds favour Topuria, and it wouldn't be surprising if he mirrored his featherweight run: winning the belt, retaining it once, then giving it up – to sail into the sunset young and healthy, perhaps.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can you guess this 8-time UFC fighter in today's in-5 trivia game?
We're back for another day of the SB Nation UFC in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you're new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. Today's UFC in-5 game If you can't see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Monday, May 5, 2025 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5 MLB in-5 Advertisement The goal of the game is to guess the correct random UFC fighter player with the help of up to five clues. We'll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED FIGHTERS. It won't be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. It will be a mix of well-known players and some 'that guys' that we haven't thought of in some time. The game will appear in slot #3 of the MMA Fighting layout each morning, with occasional movement later in the day. After you correctly guess the player, you can click 'Share Results' to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. More from
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Outcry as Falklands War landing craft is decorated for Pride
The decoration of a Falklands War landing craft to celebrate Pride has sparked uproar among veterans. Foxtrot 8, which landed Royal Marine and Parachute Regiment soldiers on the South Atlantic archipelago, has been coated in a rainbow vinyl wrap. Portsmouth Historic Quarter, which owns it, commissioned the decoration to mark the 25th anniversary of the ban on homosexuality within the Armed Forces being lifted. But the decoration has been criticised as disrespectful by veterans. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who was mentioned in despatches for his actions in the war, said the decoration was 'quite divisive'. 'Frankly, this battle was fought and won 25 years ago when gays were openly allowed in the Armed Forces,' he said. 'In fact, the first gay officer in the Navy was in my ship. He was allowed to come out quite openly. 'This is something that has been fought and won. The drum doesn't need banging any more. It's quite divisive, I think.' Retired Colour sergeant Dean Ferguson, who served in the Falklands as a private in the Parachute Regiment, added: 'Our Falklands dead will be turning in their graves.' Lee Anderson, a Reform UK MP, said: 'Pride flags have no place on naval ships, in our classrooms, or flying above Government buildings. 'Let's stop making everything about what you like to do in the bedroom and get back to work.' The landing craft is the first war vessel in British history to be wrapped in the Pride colours. The redecoration was commissioned by the charity Fighting With Pride to celebrate 'inclusivity' ahead of events marking UK Pride in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on June 7. Gay soldiers deserve 'gratitude and respect' LGBT people were banned from the Armed Forces until 2000 and faced a dishonourable discharge if discovered. Roly Woods, a former sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy who served on HMS Leeds Castle during the Falklands War, said that he had chosen to lie when challenged by his commanding officer about his relationship with another man. He said: 'My captain accepted it and I got away with it but it was an extremely difficult situation to deal with both professionally and personally and I wrestled with it for many years.' Mr Woods added: 'The unveiling of Landing Craft F8 in her Pride colours is a celebration of real progress for the LGBTQ+ community in the armed forces, and it is an extremely proud moment for both LGBTQ+ veterans and for those serving today.' Hannah Prowse, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Historic Quarter, said: 'To those under the age of 40, it seems astonishing that men and women who served with courage and were willing to risk their lives for their country, were punished for their sexual orientation. They deserve our gratitude and respect. 'In wrapping Landing Craft F8 in this manner, we're celebrating the inclusivity now present in our armed forces, celebrating the men and women who serve and have served our country with honour, and celebrating the bravery of those who fought to overturn the ban.'
