Sports
Evloev beats Murphy to punch UFC featherweight title ticket
Movsar Evloev overcame a point deduction to earn a majority decision victory over Lerone Murphy at a UFC Fight Night in The O2 Arena Saturday, likely securing a title shot against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
With the two fighters putting their undefeated records on the line to decide who will face the 37-year-old Australian Volkanovski for the belt, the bout turned into an intriguing clash of styles.
Evloev, who is known for his wrestling, tried to showcase his striking while Murphy displayed some superb defensive work on the ground.
Murphy evaded the fearsome grappling attack of his Russian opponent for the first two rounds of the five-round bout, using a selection of stiff right hands to keep him at bay.
Evloe, meanwhile, took the chance to exhibit some of the dangerous spinning strikes he has added to his repertoire since his last fight in December 2024.
He finally managed to take the fight to the mat early in the third round, but Murphy was quickly back to his feet, uncorking a spinning back kick of his own shortly afterward.
However, it was his opponent who finished the frame strongest with a big overhand right, followed up by a flurry of strikes.
His momentum was derailed somewhat when he landed a second kick to Murphy’s groin early in the fourth round and referee Marc Goddard deducted a point from Evloev for the foul.
Knowing that the deduction could be decisive if the fight went to the judges’ scorecards, Evloev turned up his energy-sapping grappling attack in the fifth and final frame as he chased a finish, but again Murphy was able to get back to his feet with relative ease.
Despite not really threatening to submit his opponent on the ground, it proved to be enough for the 32-year-old Evloev, with two of the judges scoring the fight 48-46 in his favor and the third scoring it a draw 47-47 after the point deduction was taken into account.
Ronald Araujo rose highest to head Barcelona to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, stretching their La Liga lead over Real Madrid to seven points.
Real Madrid, coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, face city rivals Atletico Madrid later in a derby clash that could shape the title race.
Araujo powered in Joao Cancelo’s corner in the 24th minute at Camp Nou, a decisive moment in an otherwise tense contest in which goalkeeper Joan Garcia proved just as vital.
“We knew how important it was to win before the international break. We did, but we suffered more than we wanted,” Garcia told DAZN.
“They caused us problems, and we weren’t at our usual level on the ball. But we knew we had to win. What the other teams do is out of our hands.”
Hansi Flick’s side started sluggishly and were nearly punished early, but Garcia reacted sharply to deny Carlos Martin from close range, setting the tone for a resilient defensive display.
Recently called up by Luis de la Fuente to the Spain squad for upcoming friendlies, Garcia made several excellent saves to keep Rayo at bay, with the visitors dominant in the second half.
At the other end, Raphinha was guilty of wasteful finishing on several occasions. The winger scuffed wide after picking Pathe Ciss’s pocket and charging through on goal.
A few minutes later, Ciss appeared to bring down teenage star Lamine Yamal in the area, but the Barcelona player’s appeals were waved away by the referee.
Yamal’s superb outside-of-the-boot cross created another fine chance for Raphinha, but the Brazilian’s mis-hit effort was tipped over by Augusto Batalla.
Barcelona took the lead through Araujo’s header from Cancelo’s corner midway through the first half.
Araujo has not featured much since taking a mental health break late last year but came on as a substitute in Barcelona’s 7-2 Champions League rout of Newcastle in midweek.
With Eric Garcia rested because of a muscle issue, Flick started the Uruguay international at right back and was rewarded with what proved to be the winner.
Barcelona hold firm
The hosts came close to a second after the break, but Yamal dragged a low effort across the face of goal.
Rayo took control and began creating dangerous chances in search of an equalizer.
Joan Garcia denied Alvaro Garcia and then produced a spectacular save to push away Unai Lopez’s header.
Pacha Espino should have leveled for the visitors but, after beating Barcelona’s high line and staying onside, curled his effort over the bar.
Garcia pushed away a Jorge de Frutos drive before six minutes of stoppage time were added, but Barcelona held on.
“The second half was perfect, but we lacked the goal,” said Rayo coach Inigo Perez.
“(Joan Garcia) appeared at key moments when we might have been able to draw.”
The Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Sunderland was overshadowed by a racism incident that forced a second-half stoppage, before Sunderland sealed a dramatic late derby victory at St James’ Park.
Play was halted shortly after the restart when Lutsharel Geertruida, Sunderland’s defender, was subjected to reported discriminatory abuse from sections of the home crowd.
Referee Anthony Taylor paused the match for several minutes in line with the league’s anti-discrimination protocol after being alerted by Sunderland players, with Granit Xhaka among those raising the issue.
The Premier League confirmed the halt followed established procedures and pledged a full investigation, reiterating its zero-tolerance stance.
Newcastle echoed that position, vowing to identify and sanction those responsible, while authorities confirmed heightened pre-match tensions had already led to a police presence and at least one arrest.
The interruption came in a derby already charged with hostility, the first top-flight meeting between the rivals at St James’ Park in over a decade.
Disorder flared before kickoff as rival supporters clashed outside the stadium, with reports of objects thrown at the Sunderland team bus and isolated confrontations requiring medical attention.
On the pitch, the contest delivered the intensity expected of a Tyne-Wear derby.
Newcastle struck first through Anthony Gordon, who punished a defensive lapse early on, while Sven Botman came close to doubling the lead when he rattled the post.
Sunderland responded with growing authority after the break. Chemsdine Talbi leveled the score just minutes after the restart, reacting quickest in the box after a set-piece scramble.
Newcastle thought they had reclaimed the lead late on, only for a header to be ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Melker Ellborg.
The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time. Enzo Le Fee carved open the defense with a sharp cutback, and Brian Brobbey pounced on the rebound after an initial save from Aaron Ramsdale to fire Sunderland to a 2-1 win.
The result completed a league double for Sunderland over their fiercest rivals and extended their long-standing derby dominance, while deepening Newcastle’s slide with another damaging defeat in a faltering campaign.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to power the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Washington Wizards Saturday, while LeBron James set a record with his 1,612th regular-season game.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander bagged his seventh 40-point game of the season to help the Thunder roll to an 11th straight victory, downing Washington 132-111 on the road.
Chet Holmgren added 18 points and 10 rebounds while Isaiah Hartenstein had nine points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game that saw four players ejected during a first-half brawl.
The altercation, which halted the game for 11 minutes, came with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter, just after Oklahoma City grabbed a 68-63 lead.
Thunder forward Jaylin Williams held the ball after the basket and twice bumped into Washington’s Justin Champagnie.
Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell came up to confront Champagnie and was smacked in the face for his trouble to ignite the brawl.
Referee Nate Green pushed Champagnie back to try and ease tensions, while Mitchell kept advancing and was pushed forward and into a camera and a wave of players tumbled into a pile behind the baseline, all trying to support their side in the melee.
After the mayhem was unraveled by the officiating crew, Champagnie, Williams, Mitchell and Thunder teammate Cason Wallace were all ejected.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said while he disagreed with the ejections, he was pleased at how his team responded to the skirmish.
“Those are emotional situations, and everybody is competitive and amped up after that,” Daigneault said. “But if you’re a true competitor, you channel that into execution, and that’s what I thought we did.”
“We got better from that point on, which is how you have to handle those situations. I thought that was a good learning moment and good growth for us,” he said.
Wizards coach Brian Keefe praised his team’s response to the confrontation.
“Our guys stuck up for each other, which I always love,” Keefe said.
LeBron record
Elsewhere on Saturday, Oklahoma City’s nearest pursuers in the Western Conference – the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers – extended their respective winning streaks in contrasting fashion.
The Lakers bagged their ninth straight victory with a thrilling 105-104 defeat of the Orlando Magic in Florida, with Luke Kennard’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining sealing a sensational win.
The victory ensured LeBron James’ record-breaking 1,612th regular season game would be a cause for celebration for the Lakers, who are third in the West with a 46-25 record.
“It was a regular prep day,” James said. “I know once I stepped on the floor that I was breaking the record, and that’s a pretty cool thing.”
“I said the other night, the best thing you can do for your teammates is to be available and I’ve tried to be available throughout my career, two decades plus, for my guys,” he said.
Second-placed San Antonio improved to 53-18 with their fifth straight win in a wire-to-wire 134-119 blowout over the Indiana Pacers.
Keldon Johnson and Dylan Harper scored 24 points apiece while Victor Wembanyama added 20 for San Antonio.
In Houston, Kevin Durant’s 27 points helped the Rockets edge the Miami Heat 123-122.
Durant’s 3-pointer with 3:35 to play took him past Michael Jordan’s 32,292 career points into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
“It means a lot. I’m very grateful to be able to do this here for this fanbase that shows me so much love and support in every game,” Durant said of his scoring achievement.
“I’m grateful to be here and for this incredible journey it’s been. I’m looking forward to continuing.”
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 44-27 with a 111-106 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Atlanta Hawks eased to a 126-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Chelsea missed a chance to capitalize on Liverpool’s slip in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification, falling 3-0 to Everton FC on Saturday to remain outside the top five.
Champions Liverpool had slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton in the early kick-off – their 10th loss of a dismal Premier League title defense.
But Chelsea’s thumping reverse at the Hill Dickinson Stadium gives renewed hope to a clutch of clubs below them, including Everton themselves, Brentford and Fulham, who beat relegation-bound Burnley 3-1.
The top five teams in the Premier League are almost guaranteed to play Champions League football next season due to the strong showing of English clubs in Europe.
Arsenal are hot favorites to land the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, with second-placed Manchester City well clear of city rivals Manchester United.
United, who drew 2-2 at Bournemouth on Friday, are four points ahead of fourth-placed Aston Villa, who host struggling West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool arrived on the sunny south coast after completing a morale-boosting 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray at Anfield in midweek to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
But they were well beaten by Fabian Hurzeler’s hungry Brighton, for whom evergreen forward Danny Welbeck scored twice, either side of Milos Kerkez’s well-taken goal for the visitors.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot pointed to key injury absentees and a swift turnaround from Champions League commitments to explain the damaging defeat.
The Dutchman was without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Mohamed Salah at the Amex Stadium, while top-scorer Hugo Ekitike limped off early.
Defeat left the reigning champions with only one point from the past nine after they conceded late goals in a 2-1 loss at bottom club Wolves and last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Tottenham.
“Brighton away, that’s a difficult game for any team, especially if you miss out on a few very influential players,” said Slot.
“Of course, now, looking at the league table, this loss hurts a lot and it should hurt us a lot.”
Liverpool are still alive in the Champions League and the FA Cup but face the prospect of ending the season trophyless, with daunting quarterfinals to come against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Chelsea slump
Chelsea collapsed to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions against Everton, giving new coach Liam Rosenior a headache as he tries to salvage their season.
The Blues had the chance to go fourth, four points behind United, but they blew it in spectacular style after being outperformed and outworked by David Moyes’s men.
Everton’s win, courtesy of two goals from Beto and a stunning curler from Iliman Ndiaye, lifted them within three points of neighbors Liverpool with a home Merseyside derby to come next month.
Rosenior, who replaced Enzo Maresca in January, must find a way to lift his expensively assembled squad, who won the Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League last season.
Chelsea are still in the FA Cup but are licking their wounds after a humiliating 8-2 aggregate defeat by PSG in the last 16 of the Champions League.
“There’s been a lot of noise, a lot of negative noise, rightfully so, about our performances in the last week,” Rosenior told Sky Sports.
“So we have to forget the noise. We have to keep our confidence and our composure. The international break has probably come at a good time for us to restock, re-energize ourselves and go again for a really important run-in.”
Brentford edged ahead of Everton on goal difference after a 0-0 draw at Leeds.
A point took the home side four points above the relegation zone, but that gap could be narrowed by West Ham on Sunday, while Tottenham host Nottingham Forest in a huge clash in the battle to avoid the drop.
Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined with a hamstring injury, was omitted from Portugal’s squad announced Friday for pre-World Cup friendlies against co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.
The 41-year-old has not played for Saudi club Al-Nassr since late February, but coach Roberto Martinez said Ronaldo’s pursuit of a record sixth World Cup appearance remains on track.
“It’s a minor injury,” Martinez said at a news conference, adding that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could return “within one or two weeks.”
“Everything Cristiano has done physically this season shows he is in excellent form and has no physical problems. At the World Cup, the center-forward position will be for Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos. We are looking for a third striker with a different profile.”
Portugal will face Mexico on Saturday, March 28, in Mexico City, and the United States three days later in Atlanta.
“This is the last chance to experiment because it’s the final training camp before the World Cup squad is named,” Martinez said.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, places Portugal in Group K with Colombia and Uzbekistan.
The fourth team in the group will come from a playoff that could feature New Caledonia, Jamaica, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers/England), Rui Silva (Sporting)
Defenders: Matheus Nunes (Manchester City/England), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/England), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona/Spain), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting), Renato Veiga (Villarreal/Spain), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Tomas Araujo (Benfica)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Samu Costa (Mallorca/Spain), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham/England), Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/England), Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)
Forwards: Ricardo Horta (Braga), Pedro Goncalves (Sporting), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr/Saudi Arabia), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus/Italy), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/Italy), Pedro Neto (Chelsea/England), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad/Spain), Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender, has publicly refused to accept the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, highlighting a rare stand for sporting integrity in African football.
The decision follows a controversial CAF ruling that retroactively awarded Morocco the championship after Senegal temporarily walked off the field during the final.
Morocco entered the AFCON 2025 tournament as hosts and one of the continent’s strongest sides, featuring stars like Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.
The final, held on Jan. 18, 2026, at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, initially saw a tense 0-0 deadlock.
In stoppage time, a VAR-reviewed penalty was awarded to Morocco after a challenge involving Diaz.
Senegal’s players, protesting the decision and a denied request to review the VAR footage, walked off the pitch for roughly 15 minutes.
Captain Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his teammates to return, and the game resumed.
Pape Gueye scored a curling left-footed goal in the 94th minute of extra time, securing a 1-0 victory for Senegal and their second AFCON title.
Nearly two months later, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation filed an appeal, arguing Senegal’s walk-off violated Article 84 of the AFCON regulations, which addresses abandonment and failure to complete a match.
On March 17, 2026, CAF’s Appeal Board ruled in Morocco’s favour, officially recording the final as a 3-0 forfeit win for Morocco and awarding them their second continental trophy since 1976.
CAF’s decision sparked immediate controversy, with critics across the continent calling it a dangerous precedent that undermines on-pitch results and the spirit of fair competition.
Senegal’s football federation confirmed plans to appeal the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
Hakimi, 27, one of the world’s most highly regarded right-backs, rejected the awarded title outright.
“My mum told me to reject the AFCON trophy. I’m officially rejecting it and hope my teammates do the same. We had a chance but failed to win,” he said. “Senegal beat us fairly and deserved it. It will be unfair to ruin their joy after the hard work they put in. I respect the CAF decision but I’m officially rejecting the trophy. I didn’t win 2025 AFCON. Congratulations to Senegal once again.” He later posted a cryptic message on X: “Energy speaks, I don’t,” reinforcing his commitment to principle over formal recognition.
The defender’s stance is exceptional in professional football, where titles are almost universally accepted once awarded by governing bodies.
Hakimi’s decision underscores a tension between administrative rulings and sporting merit, raising broader questions about ethics, fairness, and respect in African football governance.
His rejection resonates not just as a personal moral choice but as a call to maintain the integrity of results earned on the pitch.
Observers note that while Morocco had strong performances throughout the tournament, Senegal’s resilience and tactical discipline made them deserving champions.
CAF’s ruling, however, prioritizes regulatory interpretation over match dynamics, leaving fans, analysts, and players divided.
Whether Hakimi’s teammates or the Royal Moroccan Football Federation will echo his stance remains uncertain, but his voice has already amplified discussions about accountability and transparency in the continent’s most prestigious football competition.
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