Kamaru Usman to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa withdraws
Kamaru Usman will face Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 294, after replacing Paulo Costa on 10 days’ notice. Usman, who reigned as welterweight champion from 2018 until 2022, will make his middleweight debut in the bout, which pits him against one of the most dominant prospects in mixed martial arts. Swedish-born Russian Chimaev is 12-0 as a professional with 11 stoppage wins. The match-up was confirmed on Wednesday (11 October), when Costa revealed that he would need two elbow surgeries this week, having already undergone one two weeks ago. As such, the Brazilian is out of UFC 294, which takes place in Abu Dhabi on 21 October. The 32-year-old’s withdrawal was the second by a Brazilian in the space of two days; on Tuesday (10 October), Charles Oliveira withdrew from the main event of UFC 294 due to a severe cut over his right eye. Oliveira was due to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in a rematch – 12 months after the Russian submitted him in the same venue in Abu Dhabi. Alexander Volkanovski, who holds the featherweight title, is stepping in to replace Oliveira and contest his own rematch with Makhachev, who narrowly outpointed him to retain the lightweight belt in February. Usman, 36, last fought in March, suffering a decision loss to Leon Edwards while challenging for the welterweight title, which Edwards took from the Nigerian-American with a brutal head kick last August. Chimaev, 29, last fought in September 2022, submitting Kevin Holland in Round 1. Chimaev was originally set to face Nate Diaz on that occasion but missed weight, leading the card to be altered on short notice. Diaz instead fought and submitted Tony Ferguson in the main event. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Usada ends UFC partnership over ‘untenable’ Conor McGregor situation Charles Oliveira replaced by Alexander Volkanovski in Islam Makhachev fight UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year
2023-10-12 17:27
Stark, Meechai take 1st-round lead at LPGA Shanghai in tour's return to China after pandemic
Maja Stark and Wichanee Meechai have each shot 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke first-round lead at the LPGA Shanghai event in the tour’s return to China after the COVID-19 pandemic
2023-10-12 16:15
MLB roundup: D-backs complete sweep of Dodgers
The Arizona Diamondbacks made postseason history by becoming the first team ever to hit four home runs in one inning
2023-10-12 14:50
Mikko Rantanen has a 4-point night to lead Avalanche to a 5-2 victory over Kings in opener
Mikko Rantanen had two goals and a pair of assists, Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists and the Colorado Avalanche opened their season with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings
2023-10-12 13:58
Another 100-win season leads to another October flop for Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ third straight 100-win season led to a third consecutive postseason flop
2023-10-12 12:51
Twins whiff their way to ALDS loss to Astros with 14 more strikeouts by MLB record holders
Carlos Correa waited on deck with two outs in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins trailing by one run, eager for another at-bat against his former team
2023-10-12 12:49
D-backs slug 4 homers in record-setting barrage, sweep Dodgers with 4-2 win in Game 3 of NLDS
The hard-hitting Arizona Diamondbacks rode a record-setting barrage of solo homers in the third inning to a 4-2 win in Game 3 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday night, sweeping the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers out of the playoffs
2023-10-12 12:28
Abreu powers Astros into 7th straight ALCS with 3-2 victory over Twins
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — José Abreu homered for the third time in two games, a two-run rocket in the fourth inning that launched the Houston Astros to their seventh straight AL Championship Series appearance with a 3-2 win that eliminated the Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of their Division Series on Wednesday night.
2023-10-12 11:50
Aces rout Liberty 104-76, take 2-0 series lead in WNBA Finals
A’ja Wilson scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty 104-76 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead in the WNBA Finals
2023-10-12 11:47
Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno bruises right hand on foul tip, leaves NLDS Game 3
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno left Game 3 of the NL Division Series in the fifth inning because of a bruised right hand
2023-10-12 11:27
Matthews scores 2 late goals for hat trick, Maple Leafs beat Canadiens 6-5 in shootout
TORONTO (AP) — Auston Matthews scored two late goals to complete a hat trick and Mitch Marner had the lone shootout goal in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in their season opener.
2023-10-12 11:15
Nets coach Vaughn says team from Israel wants to play exhibition game Thursday despite war at home
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn says their opponent from Israel still wants to play an exhibition game Thursday night in Brooklyn, days after the country was attacked by Hamas militants
2023-10-12 10:50