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Former champion Petr Yan has been defeated in his past two UFC bouts

Former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan will look to re-establish his title credentials at 135lbs when he faces Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili in a five-round fight which will headline the organization’s Las Vegas card on March 11.

Yan, previously a titleholder in Russia’s ACB promotion (now known as ACA), made significant waves upon entering the UFC in 2018, winning seven straight fights – the last of which was a TKO victory over mixed martial arts legend Jose Aldo to claim the then-vacant bantamweight crown.

His first title defense, though, did not go to plan when he was disqualified in the fourth round of a fight with Aljamain Sterling when the American fighter was unable to continue after Yan landed an illegal knee strike to Sterling’s head.

Yan rebounded with a victory against the technically outstanding Cory Sandhagen, only to lose a close decision to Sterling in their rematch in April of last year.

Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili had a little exchange with Petr Yan backstage last night following the ceremonial weigh-ins.😳

The wave from Yan at the end.🤣🤣🤣#UFC273 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/zSfbYbV0GB

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) April 9, 2022

Yan’s most recent outing in the octagon saw him drop another razor-thin judges’ decision to the up-and-coming Sean O’Malley, despite many analysts suggesting that Yan was the rightful victor.

If Yan is to rebound back towards the summit of the UFC bantamweight division, his path has been set through Dvalishvili – the Georgian powerhouse who is in the midst of an eight-fight win streak in the cage.

The Tblisi native, who also recently defeated Octagon icon Jose Aldo, has soared up the rankings ladder in recent months owing to a series of dominant performances to stand him on the verge of title contention.

However, Dvalishvili has said that he won’t chase the championship belt while it is around the waist of Sterling, a close friend and training partner of his.

But should Yan overcome Dvalishvili, it may provide the impetus for a third fight with the champion – this time with a measure of revenge potentially on the line.

Sixth-seed Maria Sakkari avoided an embarrassing defeat to Russian teenager Diana Shnaider

Greek tennis player Maria Sakkari made clear her objections to the nature of teenage Russian opponent Diana Shnaider’s celebrations during a tense clash on Wednesday at the Australian Open.

Sakkari, ranked sixth in the world, surprisingly lost the first set against the 18-year-old qualifier Shnaider and was close to defeat in the second when she announced her objection to her opponent’s boisterous style of celebration throughout the match.

After levelling the second at 5-5, meaning that she was just two games away from winning the match, Shnaider roared and pumped her fist into the air – all while glaring at her opponent across the court.

Shnaider screams; Sakkari seethes.#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/wGO95IBgya

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 18, 2023

“If she screams one more time in my face,” a fuming Sakkari could be heard on the broadcast saying.

“No, no, no, no, one more time… she’s coming towards me. One more time and I’m going to speak to the referee.”

Chair umpire Christian Rask, though, appeared to dismiss Sakkari’s complaints and allowed the match to progress without any warning to Shnaider for her behavior.

Aggro from Sakkari…

"If she screams one more time in my face, I'm going to call the referee."#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/FIwUhHHphi

— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 18, 2023

Sakkari would regain her composure to claim the second set by a score of 7-5, and saw home the win with a more confident showing in the deciding third set, taking it 6-3.

Afterwards, and when cooler heads seemed to have prevailed, Sakkari paid tribute to her rival’s skills on the court – but described Shnaider’s celebrations as being “inappropriate.”

“It’s not easy to play someone that you’ve never played before or seen before on the tour,” said Sakkari.

“I was a little bit hesitant. She was swinging very hard, she was playing very aggressive.

“I think that, you know, during a match you can be very pumped or, you know, the way that some players celebrate their points, it’s not appropriate,” she added.

“I wasn’t happy with that. But, you know, she never did it again. That was very nice of her.”

Shnaider, who was playing in her first-ever Grand Slam event and who is a member of the North Carolina State Women’s tennis team, previously won the girls’ doubles at the 2021 Wimbledon event alongside her Belarusian partner Kristina Dmitruk, while also winning the Australian Open and US Open in 2022.

She is also a two-time semifinalist in junior Grand Slam singles competitions.

The International Skating Union says Russia cannot host Grand Prix events in 2023

The International Skating Union (ISU) has determined following a meeting of its council that Grand Prix of Figure Skating events cannot be held on Russian or Belarusian territory in the upcoming 2023-24 season.

It was decided by the ISU last year that, “until further notice no International Competitions shall be held in Russia and Belarus” – a decree which can only be overturned by an executive meeting of its council.

But following this week’s council meeting it was agreed that the suspension should be extended to account for the following season, due to begin this summer.

Skaters from the Russian Skating Union, the Figure Skating Federation of Russia and the Skating Union of Belarus were suspended from international competition last March following the breakout of conflict in Ukraine and following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“The decision of the ISU Council on the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes, which was approved by Congress, will be valid until a special decision of the Council or Congress,” ISU general director Fredi Schmid announced last year.

ISU Grand Prix events are considered to be among the most prestigious tournaments to take place in the sport annually, with only the Olympics and the World and European championships generally held in higher regard.

The Rostelecom Cup, formerly known as the Cup of Russia has predominantly been held in Saint Petersburg and Moscow since 1996, though it took place in Sochi for the first time in 2021.

In April of last year the event, which was due to begin in November, was canceled by the ISU following IOC recommendations.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Cup of China was also suspended last year due to the country’s Covid-19 situation.

Daniil Medvedev has been a losing finalist at the tournament in the past two years

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev appears well on his way to what would be a third successive Australian Open final after he eased by local hero John Millman in straight sets (7-5, 6-2, 6-2) to qualify for the third round of this year’s first Grand Slam on Wednesday.

Medvedev, 26, overcame an unusually sluggish start in an opening set which saw his serve broken three times to eventually claim the opening frame, despite failing to convert his first set point.

However, it became business as usual in the second and third set for the Moscow native – securing a double-break in the second to open a sizable lead.

And any sign of a Millman fightback in the third was dismissed by Medvedev’s impressive selection of baseline shots as he looked to extend a run which has seen him lose just twice in the previous two Australian Opens.

Another run to the final would see him become just the fourth man in the Open era to reach three consecutive finals in Melbourne, and he might be boosted by the news that the man who beat him last year, Rafael Nadal, was surprisingly eliminated by the unheralded Mackenzie McDonald.

Smooth sailing for @DaniilMedwed, who accounts for local hope John Millman 7-5 6-2 6-2 to book a place in the third round.

He's looking very, very good.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/YhFgTrM3wN

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023

“I think it was a great match. The score in the second and third sets doesn’t reflect what happened on the court,” Medvedev said afterwards, before paying tribute to his opponent.

“First set, he managed to break me three times, which is not that often that it happens. I’m a tad disappointed in myself, but he played amazingly. Big credit to John.

“Physically, it was tough for both of us. At one point in the first set, I was asking myself how I was going to handle it.

“I was already pretty tired; but I had to continue and on a break point for me, I made one cross-court shot which he didn’t even run for. I realized then that it was also tough for him. It wasn’t easy in the first set.

“I think I was going for it a bit too much at times, so in the second and third I started a bit slower, and I was thinking, ‘OK John, if you want to beat me, let’s play 40-shot rallies!’ I managed to be a little bit more consistent.”

Always entertaining, @DaniilMedwed 💪 😂#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/d8zrhQv70E

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023

Medvedev will be in third-round action on Friday, when he will face either Sebastian Korda of the United States or Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, the 18th seed Karen Khachanov needed four sets to beat another Australian player, Jason Kubler, while another Russian, Anastasia Potapova, bypassed American Sloane Stephens in straight sets.

There was one notable surprise Down Under, though, as Russia’s eighth-seeded Daria Kasatkina was easily defeated by her unseeded compatriot Varvara Gracheva in two sets (6-1, 6-1).

Football host Gary Lineker stated that the BBC studio had been ‘sabotaged’

UK broadcaster the BBC says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding a mobile phone taped to the back of a chair in a studio, which began emitting sex noises during a live football broadcast on Tuesday.

Before kickoff in a match featuring Wolves and Liverpool, host Gary Lineker was interrupted by pornographic sounds while he and his broadcasting colleagues Paul Ince and Danny Murphy were previewing the FA Cup fixture live on the air.

Lineker struggled to maintain his composure and quickly introduced another pundit and former professional player, Alan Shearer, who was stationed in the commentary gantry.

Absolute comedy gold on bbc for wolves vs liverpool game 😭😭😭 #WOLLIV #BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/df73h2u3Ow

— charlie lavender (@charlieBL) January 17, 2023

Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ikUhBJ38Je

— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) January 17, 2023

“Somebody’s sending something on someone’s phone, I think. I don’t know whether you heard it at home,” a red-faced Lineker said to Shearer.

Early into the match, former England international forward Lineker tweeted an image of a mobile phone which he said had been taped to the back of a chair in the studio, which he claimed was the source of the x-rated audio.

“Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing,” Lineker wrote on social media.

Yes, it was me that pranked the BBC Match of the Day with the sex Phone 🙂 The video coming soon!!!! @BMWJARVO best prankster ever!!!! pic.twitter.com/0kVE1jlvAI

— Jarvo69 (Daniel Jarvis) (@BMWjarvo) January 17, 2023

The incident almost immediately went viral on social media. A YouTube prankster, Daniel Jarvis, later took responsibility for the incident and tweeted footage which appeared to show him inside the TV studio at Wolves’ Molineux stadium in advance of the match.

“We apologize to any viewers offended during the live coverage of the football this evening. We are investigating how this happened,” the BBC said in a brief statement.

Liverpool won the match 1-0 thanks to a goal from youngster Harvey Elliott, which Lineker described as “a screamer … which was not the only one we’ve had tonight.”

NHL player Ivan Provorov was absent from his team’s support of the Pride movement

Ivan Provorov, the 26-year-old Russian defender for the NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers, has said that he opted out of a pre-game warmup which paid tribute to the Pride movement because it clashed with his religious beliefs.

Provorov, who has played for the NHL franchise since the 2016-17 season, was absent from his team’s pre-game skate ahead of a game with the Anaheim Ducks as the Flyers celebrated Pride night by wearing rainbow-colored regalia in support of the LGBT community.

He subsequently played 23 minutes in the Flyers’ 5-2 win.

The uniforms and sticks used in pregame warmup were later made available for online auction, with the proceeds set to be given to charity. Provorov was the only player on the Flyers roster who did not have any items available for sale.

“I respect everybody and I respect everybody’s choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”

Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov on refusing to wear a rainbow jersey for warm ups during “Pride Night” due to his Russian Orthodox faith.
pic.twitter.com/wCUl8slmRB

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 18, 2023

Hockey Is For Everyone. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜#ANAvsPHI | #FueledByPhilly pic.twitter.com/oIyJ6dV1Ae

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 17, 2023

“I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov said after the conclusion of the game.

“My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Provorov’s teammates James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton have been noted supporters of LGBT issues and have helped launch local programs in support of the movement.

Despite Provorov’s absence, Laughton said afterwards that the demonstration was a “great, great night that brings a lot of awareness.”

“I don’t hold anything against anyone,” Laughton said when asked about his Russian teammate. “It’s nothing like that. It was an awesome night and I’m very happy we got a win on a night like this.”

Speaking about the matter afterwards, Flyers coach John Tortorella said that he respected Provorov’s stance and noted that it was an example of him displaying his individuality.

“With Provy, he’s being true to himself and to his religion,” Tortorella said.

“This has to do with his belief and his religion. It’s one thing I respect about Provy: He’s always true to himself. That’s where we’re at with that.”

The Flyers also appeared to reference Provorov’s absence in a post-game statement.

“The Philadelphia Flyers organization is committed to inclusivity and is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community,” they wrote.

“Many of our players are active in their support of local LGBTQ+ organizations, and we were proud to host our annual Pride Night again this year. The Flyers will continue to be strong advocates for inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community.”

The defending champion suffered a shock defeat to unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald

Top seed Rafael Nadal has exited the Australian Open after a stunning second-round defeat to American outsider Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets on Wednesday. Nadal required medical treatment during the match as he contended with a hip injury, but his rival took full advantage to claim one of the biggest wins of his career.

McDonald won the contest 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in just over two hours and 30 minutes, ending Nadal’s hopes of retaining the title he won last season by beating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final.

Already in trouble after dropping the first set, Nadal pulled up while trailing in the second set and was forced to take a medical timeout for treatment on his hip. The Spaniard, 36, opted to play on but was unable to turn the tide as the 27-year-old McDonald booked his place in the third round.

Nadal’s wife was seen watching on tearfully from the stands at Rod Laver Arena as her husband was again impeded by injury woes. Nadal’s departure removes one of the main contenders for the title in Melbourne, where record nine-time winner Novak Djokovic is back this year following his deportation drama in 2022.

Two-time Australian Open finalist Medvedev had been placed in the same quarter of the draw as Nadal and could have faced him in the last eight, although that match-up definitely won’t happen.

Nadal’s departure means it is the first time the men’s top seed at the Australian Open has exited in the second round since Gustavo Kuerten in 2001. Some may wonder if it is the last time fans see the 22-time Grand Slam winner in action in Melbourne, such are the consistent injury problems which Nadal has faced in recent years.

Former Russian national team coach Leonid Slutsky says Chelsea overpaid for Mikhail Mudryk

Leonid Slutsky, the former CSKA Moscow, Rubin Kazan and Russian national team boss, says that Chelsea’s big money move for Ukraine winger Mikhail Mudryk is a risky one given his relative lack of experience.

Chelsea completed a £62 million (€70 million) deal for the 22-year-old former Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday, though the fee could rise as high as £89 million (€101 million) based upon performance-related bonuses across the course of an eight-and-a-half year contract.

In doing so, the Blues skipped ahead of Mudryk’s longtime suitors in London rivals Arsenal, with Chelsea swiftly agreeing to the financial demands laid out by his now former club to ensure a transfer happened as swiftly as possible.

But the exceptionally large transfer fee for a player who has appeared in just 65 club games in his career represents a massive risk for Chelsea, according to Slutsky.

“100 million euros for a player who has played several matches in the Champions League – how [did that happen]?” said Slutsky to the Comment show YouTube channel, via translation.

“I don’t understand these transfers. Chelsea are not a team for the future, they are a team for the present. They cannot buy players for the future. And a player for the future cannot cost 100 million. It is simply impossible.”

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, along with financial group Clearlake Capital, have invested heavily in the Premier League club since completing a takeover from former owner Roman Abramovich in May, but results have suffered under new head coach Graham Potter – with the former multiple-time champions of England languishing in tenth position in the league table.

It is hoped by the club that Mudryk, a pacy and creative wide player, will help to provide a platform for the team to succeed in the second half of the Premier League season.

But nonetheless, Slutsky says that the inflated price paid for Mudryk shows the new Chelsea regime’s inexperience in controlling a top European football club.

“Mudryk has amazing speed, there’s nothing to even talk about. But for me, for now, this is a player who runs very well. They paid 100 million because Arsenal were interested in him, but they took it because he is a prominent figure.”

It is expected that Mudryk will make his Premier League debut for Chelsea away to rivals Liverpool on Saturday.

Manchester United recently revealed it is seeking financial investment

Manchester United have denied speculation that a luxury lounge, which comes complete with a high-end shop front, set up ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is intended to attract the attention of billionaire investors.

The Premier League club revealed in November that it was seeking investment or even an outright sale, some 17 years after it was purchased by the US-based Glazer family.

Since then, it is understood that no formal offers have been received but it has been reported that there is interest in the club from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States, as well as from the United Kingdom’s wealthiest man, Jim Ratcliffe.

And while formal bids are expected to be submitted in the coming weeks, a Manchester United spokesperson has denied that the temporary lounge in Davos is set to be a hub for talks to take place throughout the World Economic Forum, which began on Monday and runs until January 20.

Manchester United is seeking a buyer and has set up a storefront on the Promenade at Davos. Wonder if any billionaires will wander in and place a bid.
Worth noting that the Saudis have some prime real estate nearby… pic.twitter.com/y4BcpUSdR1

— Dave Lawler (@DavidLawler10) January 16, 2023

Speaking on behalf of the football club, Ellie Norman said that the lounge was “definitely not” opened to attract bidders but it will instead be used to hold meetings between club figures and existing partners.

The strategic review into the club, announced as part of plans to seek investment last year, remains ongoing, Norman said, adding that “we don’t know the outcome.”

The main high street in Davos has been temporarily turned into a financial hub by various large tech firms and banks (among others) throughout the week of the forum, which is intended to bring together high-level influencers from various industries to discuss potential partnerships.

Manchester United’s lounge, though, stoked significant speculation given that the club is effectively available on the open market.

Co-chairman Avram Glazer is expected to attend the forum this week, while there will also be events featuring former player Peter Schmeichel and chief executive Richard Arnold.

“Manchester United is proud to be the first sports team to partner with the World Economic Forum,” it said in a statement.

“Our global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers provide us with powerful opportunities to engage across cultural and geographical boundaries. We are in Davos to explore ways to maximise the impact of the extraordinary reach.”