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USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tom Aspinall dismisses value of BMF title for Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier 3
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is not a fan of the BMF title. Max Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) defends it in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC), which headlines Saturday's UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Aspinall thinks a fight like this doesn't need a BMF belt attached to it. "Do you want my honest opinion? I mean, it's a title, but it's not a world championship, so what are we doing?" Aspinall told TNT Sports. "These guys don't need a title. They're two legends of the sport. Look at the name value, even look at the rankings, look at the amount of fights they've got, look at the shorts they're wearing. We don't really need a title on the line, to be honest." Aspinall was then asked if former interim UFC lightweight champion Poirier is the best fighter to never win an undisputed title. As a fighter who was just promoted from interim heavyweight champion to undisputed champ after Jon Jones retired, Aspinall had an honest answer. "I'm going to give you a controversial answer again," Aspinall said. "My opinion, it doesn't matter what it says in front of the word world champion. If you have the words UFC and title on it, you're a champion regardless. Is he the best fighter to ever not win an undisputed title? I would say definitely Dustin Poirier. He's had such a respectable career that I don't think the title matters for somebody like him in my opinion."
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Paulo Costa wants to hurt 'coward' Khamzat Chimaev for sending girlfriend 'nasty' DMs
Things are getting personal between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev. NEW ORLEANS – Things between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev seem to be getting worse. The two UFC middleweights have been feuding for many years, taking shots at each other online, but it looks like things have now escalated. According to Costa (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), things have now taken a personal turn, as Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) allegedly slid into Costa's girlfriend's direct messages on Instagram to talk bad about the Brazilian. This was a step too far for Costa, and he now wants to fight Chimaev more than anyone in the UFC. "I want to fight him very badly," Costa said at the UFC 318 media day. "I want to hurt him. It doesn't matter if he won the fight or not; it doesn't matter. We need to fight. He talked very bad things about me to my girl on Instagram DM's. This is totally personal. I feel angry just to hear his name, so we need to fight. ... I'm going to do my best Saturday, if God gives me the victory because he controls everything, but I'm pretty sure I'll get the victory and I'll call his name. It doesn't matter if he wins or not. This fight will only not happen if he retires." Costa returns to the cage this Saturday against Roman Kopylov (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 318 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Smoothie King Center. He plans on calling out Chimaev, should he get his hand raised. Chimaev is currently scheduled to challenge UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis next month in the main event of UFC 319. "Borrachinha" didn't reveal the exact content of the messages Chimaev sent to his girlfriend, but he did give a hint of the sentiment. "Dirty things," Costa said. "Like, 'You should look for a better man.' Something like that, you know. Dirty things, dirty things. These are not things a real man, a confident man, ought to do. Why he messaged her? Why he didn't message me? Coward. He is a coward." Costa can't say Chimaev won't be champion, but he's also not too sure he can overwhelm Du Plessis the way Chimaev has with previous opponents. "It's hard to predict something, but I feel Dricus is more solid," Costa said. "He can resist the very first rush from Chimaev, and then we never know after the third round how Chimaev can maintain his energy after the third round, so I think this is my question."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shane Gillis ESPYs monologue: Comedian's best jokes about Shedeur Sanders, Donald Trump, more at sports award show
The ESPYs are the biggest sports award show that isn't focused on just one sport. They're basically the Oscars, but all about sports. Similar to the Oscars, a host is tasked with presenting an opening monologue that introduces everyone to the show and then guides the program through the rest of the night. Previous hosts have included high-profile athletes and actors. The 2024 show was hosted by Serena Williams, while comedian Tracy Morgan hosted the 2019 ESPYs. The 2025 ESPYs were hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, who's known for his stand-up comedy career as well as the TV show "Tires," a comedy series starring Gillis as a mechanic. The second season premiered on June 5 of this year, and it has been picked up for a third season. Gillis has been known to push the envelope with his comedy, and his ESPYs monologue was no exception. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Here are the best jokes from Gillis' monologue to open the 2025 ESPYs. Shane Gillis ESPYs monologue The tough part about hosting an award show is that the host has to give a monologue. Later in the night, the show is carried by the award results and guest presenters. There are also usually sketches to entertain the crowd and keep the vibe light. The host, though, has to start the show with a monologue. Gillis is known for his edgy humor and wouldn't be considered politically correct. He mixed in jokes about athletes in the crowd, along with political humor that included a Trump impersonation. Some of his jokes landed, many didn't. Gillis saved face, joking that the crowd wasn't into his commentary and that they should have cut some of the jokes. Shane Gillis' best jokes Gillis was all over the place in his monologue. He took shots at Shedeur Sanders, Aaron Rodgers, Jake Paul, and Megan Rapinoe. While it doesn't seem like he landed with the audience with every joke, he had some pretty good commentary mixed in. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gillis started his monologue by pointing out some athletes in the crowd. He called out SGA and added, "And now, everyone sitting around him is in foul trouble." Donald Trump Gillis is known to have a great Trump impersonation. He brought up the President the first time in his monologue by talking about how he wants to host a UFC fight on the White House lawn. Gillis followed that up with, "The last time he staged a fight in DC, Mike Pence almost died." Later on in his monologue, Gillis came back to Trump. "Can we stop pretending that Donald Trump knows ball? He doesn't know anything about sports. Every time a team comes to visit the White House, he's like (in a perfect Trump impression), "And you must be the guy who catches. Look at these guys, big guys." Simone Biles "Simone Biles is 4-8 and has seven gold medals. She's short and has a lot of gold. When she isn't competing, she leads a quiet life at the base of a rainbow." Gillis then added, "If you tell Simone a riddle, and she can't answer it, she has to give you all of her gold medals." Aaron Rodgers "Aaron Rodgers did not take the vaccine because he predicted it would be bad for him. And then he joined the New York Jets." Shedeur Sanders "Shedeur Sanders had his jersey number retired at Colorado this year, and people are saying it was because of nepotism because of his father. And it's not. It's because he went 13-12 over his career and almost won the Alamo Bowl." Caitlin Clark "Caitlin Clark and I have a lot in common. We're both whites from the Midwest who have nailed a bunch of 3s." Gillis had another about her, saying, "When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House, so she can continue doing what she loves most, fist fighting black women." Shohei Ohtani "Shohei Ohtani couldn't make it tonight. Man, I hope his interpreter didn't bet that he was going to be here." Gillis added, "Shohei is a once-in-a-generation talent; no one has been able to do what he does at so many positions — pitcher, hitter, and bookie." Bill Belichick Right after the second Ohtani line, Gillis went right into, "a bookie is what Bill Belichick reads his girlfriend before bedtime." Gillis started listing off fake book titles that the couple would read together and included, "The Little Engine That needed a pill first." Jake Paul "Sugar Ray [Leonard], you're the man. But in 10 years, Jake Paul is going to try to knock you out, so take it easy." Travis Hunter Gillis took inspiration from the late comedian Norm MacDonald for his final monologue joke of the night, who delivered a variation of this joke when he hosted in 1998. "Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy this year. He is the first defensive player since Charles Woodson to win the Heisman. Congratulations, Travis Hunter, winning the Heisman is something they can never take away from you — unless you kill your wife and a waiter, in which case, they can take it away from you."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on Umar Nurmagomedov: 'Where is he now?'
The post Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on Umar Nurmagomedov: 'Where is he now?' appeared first on ClutchPoints. Fresh off a remarkable run as bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili has never shied away from speaking his mind on contenders and the ever-shifting landscape of the UFC's 135-pound division. In a candid recent interview, Dvalishvili set the MMA world abuzz with his pointed assessment of Umar Nurmagomedov, a fighter many believe is a legitimate threat but, according to the champion, hasn't done nearly enough to earn the top billing fans and pundits have thrust upon him. Dvalishvili's Message: 'Experience and Activity Matter' Dvalishvili was clear in drawing a line between the accomplished Petr Yan and the up-and-coming Nurmagomedov, stating, 'Petr Yan is better than Umar because Petr has already had many fights with top fighters. He has more experience. He's constantly active, constantly fighting.' The message: real championship pedigree comes not just from talent and potential but from enduring the crucible of the division's elite, night in and night out. 'Umar… we've only seen him fight against me and Cory. He needs to fight the top guys in the division. Sure, Umar is a good fighter, but he needs to stay busy all the time. Where is he now? Why isn't he fighting?' Dvalishvili pressed, echoing concerns shared by some observers who have watched the Dagestani standout's UFC trajectory stall due to injuries and scheduling woes these past seasons. The roots of this critique trace to what Dvalishvili values most in an opponent: activity and résumé. He sees Yan, who has run the gauntlet of former champions and perennial contenders, as a model of what it means to be at the top. Dvalishvili's take is unfiltered but steeped in respect for the grind, and it is this ethic that has carried him to the top of the sport. While acknowledging Nurmagomedov's skills and the brilliance that saw him rise through various levels of competition, Dvalishvili's central argument hinges on a gap in experience against the division's very best fight after fight. In his view, only by staying 'constantly active' and 'constantly fighting', and not disappearing from the rankings for months at a time, can a fighter truly lay claim to elite status. Of course, reacting to Dvalishvili's assessment, some fans have pointed to Umar's impeccable record and precision inside the Octagon; his victory over Cory Sandhagen and his technical acumen continue to turn heads. But for Merab, the proof is in the longevity and level of opposition. The question he poses, Where is he now?, lands with palpable frustration, alluding to a perceived absence that Dvalishvili believes diminishes any claim to a title shot ahead of more seasoned, more visibly active contenders. Merab Dvalishvili 2025 Fighter of the Year As Dvalishvili's career continues to surge, the MMA world recognized his achievements at the highest level when he won the 2025 Fighter of the Year ESPY. Dvalishvili's run through the bantamweight ranks wasn't just about grinding wins; it was about making statements. His victory was marked by consistency, tenacity, and a willingness to engage with every style and every challenge the division could throw at him. Whether defending his belt against top challengers or calling out those hiding in the shadows, Merab's style was assertive, his pace unrelenting. Winning the Fighter of the Year ESPY marked the first time a bantamweight had seized the award in several years, reaffirming his place not just atop the 135-pound landscape, but in the conversation for the best pound-for-pound athletes in the sport today. Furthermore, this achievement underscores the very argument Merab made about Nurmagomedov. Activity breeds recognition. Staying present, taking on all comers, and facing adversity head-on isn't just the foundation for winning titles, it's the path to capturing the hearts of fans and the respect of peers and pundits alike. As the bantamweight division continues to evolve and contenders jockey for the next shot at gold, Merab Dvalishvili's challenge to Umar Nurmagomedov lingers in the air: 'Where is he now? Why isn't he fighting?' For those who believe in the gospel of activity, the answer is simple. In MMA, as in life, you can only silence the critics by showing up and proving yourself, again and again, on the sport's biggest stage. Related: 5 best light heavyweight UFC fighters ever Related: UFC Abu Dhabi suffers major blow as Evloev vs. Pico pulled from card
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dana White teases Jon Jones, Conor McGregor UFC White House card
The post Dana White teases Jon Jones, Conor McGregor UFC White House card appeared first on ClutchPoints. Related: 5 best light heavyweight UFC fighters ever Related: Merab Dvalishvili sounds off on Umar Nurmagomedov: 'Where is he now?'
