Despite the widespread shift away from fax machines, some industries continue to rely on them for sending and receiving documents. This choice is often made by professionals who value the security and familiarity of the fax process. eFax, short for electronic fax, is a method […]
The UFC pundit and podcaster discussed the prospects of the big-hitting Sergei Pavlovich Russian UFC heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich is a “scary dude” whose current form could propel him to title contention, according to Joe Rogan. Pavlovich is undefeated in his last five fights – all […]
The UFC pundit and podcaster discussed the prospects of the big-hitting Sergei Pavlovich
Russian UFC heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich is a “scary dude” whose current form could propel him to title contention, according to Joe Rogan. Pavlovich is undefeated in his last five fights – all of which have ended via first-round knockout.
“I’ll show you what I’m interested in,” Rogan said in a conversation with UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad on his podcast this week. “What I’m interested in at UFC heavyweight: Pavlovich is the boy. Sergei Pavlovich, that motherf**ker, that’s the Russian Francis [Ngannou]. He comes out guns-blazing on people, just like Francis used to.”
Pavlovich is ranked third in the UFC’s heavyweight standings – a division now without a ruler following the departure of former champion Francis Ngannou after his contract dispute with the promotion.
UFC president Dana White announced last weekend that former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones would return to contest the vacant heavyweight title against France’s Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in Las Vegas on March 4.
Rogan admitted that the match-up was an “interesting” one, not least considering that Jones hasn’t competed in the UFC for three years while Gane is a former title challenger who was beaten by Ngannou 12 months ago.
However, Rogan added that the recent exploits of Pavlovich – who continued his streak of destruction with a brutal finish against Tai Tuivasa in December – made him the one to watch in the division.
“That motherf**ker [Pavlovich] can bomb. He’s fast, very good, very good… The Tai Tuivasa fight was incredible. You think about Ciryl Gane going through that war with [Tuivasa], Sergei just put it on him,” said Rogan.
“His boxing is really tight, real power punches, excellent technique. A big guy too. This dude is scary, he can crack. He’s interesting, I want to see him fight more.
“To me, with Francis leaving, he’s one of the most interesting guys at heavyweight, if not the most interesting guy at heavyweight. I am very interested in him fighting a guy like Jon Jones, that’s crazy to me,” added Rogan.
Rogan suggested that if Jones could get past the formidable figure of Gane and then beat former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, a meeting would Pavlovich would be the next logical step for UFC matchmakers.
Jones, 35, is stepping up to heavyweight in a bid to join an elite group of two-division UFC champions. Despite his numerous controversies, Jones is widely considered among the greatest UFC fighters of all time. The only blemishes for Jones in a 28-fight professional career came in 2017 when his bout with Daniel Cormier was later ruled a ‘no contest’ for a doping violation, and in 2009 when he was disqualified against Matt Hamill for illegal elbows.
Pavlovich, 30, has lost just once in his 18-bout professional career. The Rostov fighter was stopped in the first round of his UFC debut by Dutch veteran Alistair Overeem, but has since bounced back with five first-round victories which showcased his formidable power.
Dani Alves was questioned by police Barcelona on Friday, according to reports Brazilian football star Dani Alves has been detained in Barcelona following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in a nightclub in the city last month, it has been reported. Alves, 39, was […]
Dani Alves was questioned by police Barcelona on Friday, according to reports
Brazilian football star Dani Alves has been detained in Barcelona following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in a nightclub in the city last month, it has been reported.
Alves, 39, was questioned at a police station in the Les Corts district of the Catalan capital, according to Spanish out AS.
The defender is now set to make a court appearance to answer claims that he groped a female patron at Barcelona nightspot ‘Sutton’ on December 31. Alves has firmly denied the allegations against him.
Alves is recognized as the most decorated footballer of all time, amassing a haul of 42 trophies to his name during a career spent at the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. He has also made 126 appearances for the Brazilian national team, with the most recent of those coming at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Alves currently plays at Mexican team Pumas. The footballer had reportedly traveled to Spain from Mexico following the death of the mother of his Tenerife-born wife.
It was claimed that Alves had arranged his police interview through lawyers, according to the Daily Mail, and that he was detained and fingerprinted as part of routine procedure. He faced questioning before being taken to court for further quizzing on the alleged sexual assault.
Alves spent the most successful part of his career at Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles and a hat-trick of Champions League crowns alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and fellow greats Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.
Club legend accuses global governing body of not doing enough to help The director of football at Shakhtar Donetsk has accused FIFA of “doing nothing” to help the club after its appeal against a controversial transfer ruling was dismissed earlier this month. Darijo Srna claimed […]
Club legend accuses global governing body of not doing enough to help
The director of football at Shakhtar Donetsk has accused FIFA of “doing nothing” to help the club after its appeal against a controversial transfer ruling was dismissed earlier this month. Darijo Srna claimed FIFA “will destroy” his club through its current stance.
“The whole world is helping Ukraine but FIFA doesn’t help its football. It’s their duty and they do nothing,” Srna complained in an interview with The Guardian published on Thursday.
Shakhtar officials have been angered by a FIFA transfer policy which allowed foreign players and coaching staff at Russian and Ukrainian clubs to unilaterally suspend their contracts until the end of June 2023 due to the ongoing conflict. Initially announced in March, the policy was extended in June ahead of the new season.
Eight Russian clubs as well as Ukrainian Premier League team Shakhtar lodged an appeal against the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, but saw their complaints dismissed earlier in January. Russian teams argued that the FIFA policy was discriminatory and undermined the legitimacy of contracts, while Shakhtar claimed it meant the club would lose out on millions in potential transfer fees.
“What FIFA have done to us is not right,” added Srna, a Croat former defender who spent part of his playing career at Shakhtar. “They will destroy us. We’re not asking for money that isn’t ours. We want to protect a club that has played 17 times [sic] in the Champions League group stage.
“And it doesn’t matter whether it’s us or another club, it’s the entire country. We want them to protect the Ukrainian league and instead we feel as if we’re fighting not only against Russia, but against FIFA too.”
It emerged in July that Shakhtar was seeking €50 million ($54 million) as compensation for players who left on loan when they could otherwise have been sold. The club has, however, received a significant boost to its coffers in recent days following the sale of winger Mikhail Mudryk to English giants Chelsea in a deal said to be worth up to €100 million ($108 million).
After the sale, club president Rinat Akhmetov said that $25 million would be allocated to help the Ukrainian effort in the conflict against Russia, including to support the defenders of Mariupol and their families. The city was the scene of vicious fighting as the neo-Nazi Azov regiment attempted to stave off Russian attacks before surrendering in May.
Shakhtar formerly played at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk and the club retained its name despite relocating to western Ukraine following the violence prompted by the coup in Kiev in 2014. Donetsk was one of four regions which formally became part of Russia following referendums in September of last year.
Meanwhile, Russian clubs continue to be banned by UEFA and FIFA from all official international competitions due to the conflict with Ukraine. It was announced by the Russian Football Union (RFU) at the end of December that it would establish a working group alongside UEFA in an effort to find a potential route to competitions for Russian teams.
A scandal continues to rage in the NHL after Ivan Provorov declined to wear a Pride-themed jersey Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella has defended Ivan Provorov after the Russian star opted not to take part in an LBGT campaign earlier this week. The incident has continued […]
A scandal continues to rage in the NHL after Ivan Provorov declined to wear a Pride-themed jersey
Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella has defended Ivan Provorov after the Russian star opted not to take part in an LBGT campaign earlier this week. The incident has continued to provoke debate within the NHL after Provorov chose not to appear in a pre-game warmup.
“Just because you don’t agree with his decision, it doesn’t mean he did anything wrong,” Tortorella told journalists when asked about Provorov, who featured in his team’s 4-1 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks in Philadelphia on Thursday night.
“[Provorov] didn’t actively seek out and try to make a stand against it [Pride Night]. He just felt he didn’t want to [take part]… He’s not beating a drum, he didn’t say a word, he just wanted to go about his business,” added Tortorella.
The row was sparked when Provorov, 26, declined to take part in a warmup alongside teammates before their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Players took to the ice in rainbow-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow tape as part of a ‘Pride Night’ campaign. Provorov, who is Russian Orthodox, later explained that he “respects everybody’s choices” but that he wanted to “stay true to myself and my religion.”
Provorov’s stance has caused anger among some figures in NHL circles, with prominent pundit EJ Hradek even suggesting that the Russian should be removed from the country and sent home.
Elsewhere, however, reports have claimed that there is high demand for Provorov jerseys online following his decision.
Also commenting on Thursday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman defended the league’s position on LGBT rights, arguing that “a handful of players don’t define what we do as a whole.”
“At the end of the day, I think everybody knows what the league stands for in terms of our values, what the Flyers stand for in terms of their values, but in the final analysis, individual players are going to make their decisions and follow their beliefs,” Bettman said.
Defensemen Provorov made his debut with the Flyers in 2016 and has spent his entire NHL career with the franchise.
The two icons met for potentially the last time in an exhibition game in Riyadh Cristiano Ronaldo took a blow to the face from former teammate Keylor Navas but recovered to score twice as the Portuguese striker appeared for a Saudi All-Star XI against Lionel […]
The two icons met for potentially the last time in an exhibition game in Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo took a blow to the face from former teammate Keylor Navas but recovered to score twice as the Portuguese striker appeared for a Saudi All-Star XI against Lionel Messi and Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday.
Making his first appearance in Saudi Arabia since joining Al Nassr in a record-breaking deal earlier this month, Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot and added a second goal with a finish in first-half injury time at the King Fahd Stadium.
Messi had put PSG in front after just three minutes of the match, and the French visitors ended up winning an entertaining game 5-4 thanks to further goals from Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, a Kylian Mbappe penalty, and a strike from Hugo Ekitike.
PSG also saw Neymar miss a first-half penalty and had defender Juan Bernat sent off in the 39th minute.
Ronaldo’s brace came after he recovered from a bruising encounter with PSG goalie Navas – his former teammate at Real Madrid. Navas came out to deal with a cross but ended up missing the ball and elbowing Ronaldo in the face, leaving the striker in a heap on the floor.
The incident saw the Saudi All-Stars awarded a penalty, which Ronaldo tucked away to level the game at 1-1. The 37-year-old was left with red marks and bruising, which were inspected more closely by PSG forward Mbappe.
Mbappe took a closer look at the marks on Ronaldo’s face following the incident with Navas.
After delighting Saudi fans with his goal-scoring double and some flashes of brilliance – including a cheeky nutmeg on midfield rival Carlos Soler – Ronaldo was substituted in the 61st minute and was later handed the Man-of-the-Match award, while PSG’s megastar trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe were withdrawn soon after the Portuguese forward.
The match was a brief mid-season jaunt to the Middle East for the Qatari-owned PSG, who will return to the business of domestic football when they play Pays de Cassel in the French Cup on Monday.
Ronaldo and Messi may have shared the pitch for the last time.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is finally set to make his official bow for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League meeting against Al Ettifaq on Sunday. The Portuguese star, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal reportedly worth up to €200 million ($217 million) a season, has thus far been prevented from appearing for his new team after serving a two-match ban imposed by the English FA from his days at Manchester United, where he slapped a cell phone out of the hands of a young fan in a fit of frustration last season.
Thursday’s game in Riyadh was billed as potentially the last time fans will get to see Ronaldo and World Cup winner Messi – who boast 12 Ballon d’Ors between them – on the same pitch.
Ian Nepomniachtchi will face Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren in April The Kazakh capital of Astana will host Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi’s bid for World Championship glory, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced. Nepomniachtchi, who ranks third in the world, will play the second-ranked Chinese […]
Ian Nepomniachtchi will face Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren in April
The Kazakh capital of Astana will host Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi’s bid for World Championship glory, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced.
Nepomniachtchi, who ranks third in the world, will play the second-ranked Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren over 14 games from April 7 to May 1. A new world champion will be crowned following the withdrawal of the reigning five-time champion, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, who announced on October 31 last year that he would not be competing.
While no specific location has yet been announced for the series of games, Astana will be familiar to chess fans after it hosted the 2012 World Rapid and Blitz Championships and the 2019 World Team Championship, while last September it was the location for the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix.
A total of €2 million ($2.16 million) has been allocated as the prize fund, with the winner taking home 60% of the winnings.
The FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April 7 to May 1.
A new World Champion will be crowned, as Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren will battle to seize the throne left vacant by Magnus Carlsen’s withdrawal.https://t.co/7Y5cwzrNdbpic.twitter.com/bY74yon1Am
Kazakhstan will be an appropriate host for the event, given that the country shares a land border with both Russia and China.
The Russian player, nicknamed ‘Nepo’ by his supporters, currently holds a narrow head-to-head advantage over Ding Liren, having won three times in classical chess games, while the Chinese player has taken victory in two. There have been eight draws between the pair.
“It is the first time in history that a Chinese Grandmaster reaches the final and fights for the World Championship title,” said FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.
“We anticipate an enormous interest from China in this event, and that’s an opportunity we must capitalize on to promote chess in Asia.”
Anton Walkes came up through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Anton Walkes has died at the age of 25 in a boating accident in Florida, his current club MLS team Charlotte FC has announced. According to a report by the […]
Anton Walkes came up through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Anton Walkes has died at the age of 25 in a boating accident in Florida, his current club MLS team Charlotte FC has announced.
According to a report by the Miami Herald, Walkes was found unconscious following a collision between two boats close to the Miami Marine Stadium on Wednesday, while in the area to participate in a preseason training camp.
He received CPR at the scene and was transported to hospital but passed away soon after.
The Londoner was on the books at Tottenham between 2013 and 2018 but made just one appearance for the club in 2016 before loan spells with Atlanta United and Portsmouth, whom he joined permanently in 2018.
He then returned to the United States with Atlanta after two seasons on the English south coast before signing with Charlotte FC in late 2021 where he appeared for the Major League Soccer side 23 times last season.
“Everyone at Tepper Sports & Entertainment is devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes,” said David Tepper, owner of Charlotte FC.
“He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met.
“Anton made those around him better people in all areas of life and represented Charlotte FC to the highest standard both on and off the pitch. He will be greatly missed by many and our thoughts and prayers are with Anton’s family during this heart-breaking time.
“The club offers its full support to all those impacted during this period of mourning.”
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player, Anton Walkes.
As a mark of respect, our first team will wear black armbands at this evening’s Premier League match against Manchester City, with all our Academy sides to wear black armbands this weekend.
There are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today after learning of the tragic passing of Anton Walkes of Charlotte FC. Anton was a talented and dedicated player who was loved by his teammates and fans. pic.twitter.com/9S7hT3fMiM
In a statement of its own, Major League Soccer paid tribute to Walkes, who was described as a “talented and dedicated” player.
“There are no words to describe the sorrow of everyone in Major League Soccer today after learning of the tragic passing of Anton Walkes of Charlotte FC. Anton was a talented and dedicated player who was loved by his teammates and fans,” the league wrote.
Tottenham, meanwhile, announced that the club will wear black armbands in their Thursday fixture with Manchester City as a mark of respect to their former player.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Anton Walkes. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time,” the club added in a statement.
Usain Bolt is widely considered to have been the greatest sprinter in history Some $12.7 million has gone missing from an investment account linked to Jamaican Olympic star Usain Bolt, according to his legal team. Reports emerging from his home country last week say an […]
Usain Bolt is widely considered to have been the greatest sprinter in history
Some $12.7 million has gone missing from an investment account linked to Jamaican Olympic star Usain Bolt, according to his legal team.
Reports emerging from his home country last week say an employee of the Jamaican investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) has been linked to “massive fraud… including the missing sums from Bolt’s accounts.”
Bolt’s manager Nugent Walker told The Gleaner that the retired athlete had been made aware of irregularities related to one of his accounts, and that police and financial regulators are investigating the matter.
“[Bolt] has been with this entity over 10 years… His entire portfolio is being reviewed,” Walker stated.
And per Linton P Gordon, a lawyer representing the ex-sprinter, his account once held a sum of $12.8 million but now shows a total of just $12,000.
“If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud larceny or a combination of both have been committed against our client,” Bolts lawyers said in a legal letter to Stocks and Securities Limited, in which they also demanded that the sum be returned to his account.
They added that they intend to launch civil and criminal proceedings unless the action is taken within a period of ten days.
Stocks and Securities Limited, meanwhile, say that they discovered the potential fraud earlier in January and that several other clients could be missing vast sums of money.
A message appearing on its website directs enquiries to Jamaica’s Financial Services Commission, which is overseeing an investigation into the firm.
“We understand that clients are anxious to receive more information and assure you that we are closely monitoring the matter throughout all the required steps and will alert our clients of the resolution as soon as that information is available,” the company said in a brief statement.
On Tuesday of this week, Jamaica’s financial authorities took temporary control of the investment firm, a move which will require Stocks and Securities Limited to seek government approval for any financial transactions it makes.
Bolt is generally considered to be the most dominant sprinter in history, and holds world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
Ivan Provorov declined to wear a Pride-themed jersey in a pre-game warmup A prominent NHL analyst has called upon Philadelphia Flyers star Ivan Provorov to return to Russia if he cannot accept American ideals, after he snubbed the team’s Pride-themed celebrations this week. Provorov, 26, […]
Ivan Provorov declined to wear a Pride-themed jersey in a pre-game warmup
A prominent NHL analyst has called upon Philadelphia Flyers star Ivan Provorov to return to Russia if he cannot accept American ideals, after he snubbed the team’s Pride-themed celebrations this week.
Provorov, 26, declined to take part in a pre-game warmup this week in which his teammates wore rainbow colors on their jerseys, telling the media afterwards that while he “respect[s] everybody and respect[s] everybody’s choices” he chose not to do so because it clashed with his religious beliefs.
“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say,” he added after his side’s 5-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks, in which he played around 23 minutes.
Provorov’s stance was respected by his coach, John Tortorella, who said that if would be “unfair” to penalize the player due to his beliefs and added that he admired the Russian for “always [being] true to himself.”
The Flyers did not reference the player during a statement following the game, saying only that they “will continue to be strong advocates for inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community.”
But one figure who didn’t back Provorov’s freedom of expression was NHL senior analyst E.J. Hradek, who said on a broadcast on Wednesday that he should return to Russia if he is unprepared to support Western ideologies.
NHL analyst says on the NHL Network! that if Philly Flyers Provorov doesn’t want to wear a pro-LBGTQ uniform he should leave America, go back to Russia, and fight in the war against Ukraine. The tolerant left! Holy shit: pic.twitter.com/wWLFBy2stC
“Ivan Provorov can get on a plane any day he wants and go back to a place where he feels more comfortable, take less money and get on with his life that way if it’s that problematic for him,” Hradek said.
“If this is that much of a problem for him, to maybe assimilate into his group of teammates, and in the community and here in this country, that’s OK. Listen, you can feel any way you want.
“But the beauty is, if it bothers you that much, there’s always a chance to leave, go back to where you feel more comfortable – I understand there’s a conflict of sorts going on over there, maybe get involved.”
However, in their own statement on the matter the NHL disavowed any criticism towards Provorov for staying true to his own beliefs.
In their own statement, the NHL said that players have the ultimate authority when it comes to which causes they choose to support.
“Clubs decide whom to celebrate, when and how – with League counsel and support. Players are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues,” it said.
The Serb is aiming to win his tenth title down under Novak Djokovic demanded that a rowdy supporter be removed from the arena during his Australian Open victory against Enzo Couacaud on Thursday. The Serb, who has now won two matches at the Grand Slam […]
The Serb is aiming to win his tenth title down under
Novak Djokovic demanded that a rowdy supporter be removed from the arena during his Australian Open victory against Enzo Couacaud on Thursday.
The Serb, who has now won two matches at the Grand Slam event a year on from his contentious deportation from the country, has been warmly received by the majority of fans in Melbourne, as well as throughout the warmup event at the Adelaide International.
However, Djokovic didn’t quite take so kindly to the interruptions of one supporter in particular, who he told the chair umpire was repeatedly attempting to provoke him throughout the match.
“The guy’s drunk out of his mind. From the first point he’s been provoking. He just wants to get in my head,” a clearly angry Djokovic said to umpire Fergus Murphy.
“So I’m asking you, what are you going to do about it?
“You heard him at least ten times, I heard him 50 times. What are you going to do?
“Why don’t you get security to get him out of the stadium?”
"The guy's 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝… he's not here to watch tennis!"
Djokovic’s complaint quickly received the backing of the partisan crowd, many of whom began to chant his name in support of his request – and it didn’t take long for security to identify the individuals involved, as a group of four men wearing ‘Where’s Waldo’ costumes were ushered out of the stadium.
The interruption only served to delay Djokovic’s four-set win (6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0).
“Yeah, some really interesting circumstances that you have to deal with but I guess that’s a Grand Slam, night sessions can be electric in both a positive and negative way for a player on the court,” Djokovic said after the match.
“You just have to accept it and get the most out of it.”
The manner of his win was overshadowed somewhat by what appeared at one point to be the worsening of a hamstring injury Djokovic has carried into the tournament.
“To be honest, it’s not good at all,” he said of the injury.
“But look, I’ll take it day to day. It was better last match than tonight, that’s all I can say.
“It’s up to God to help me and the physio and everyone. Let’s take it day by day.”
Djokovic will next play Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in his third round match on Saturday.
#AusOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/IiASc4pyEj
