Tomasz Ostrowski dukes it out with Hubert Drzyzga over the weekend
Welcome to this week’s edition of MMA News’ Top 10 Finishes of the week! Every week there’s highlight-reel finishes all across the MMA world, and we’ve found some of the absolute best ones to showcase, Drew Beaupré writes for MMA News.
A relatively quiet week on the MMA calendar was highlighted by offerings from LFA and ACA, and those organizations alone could have filled out this list with all of the highlights from their respective events. Those cards did provide the bulk of this week’s Top 10 Finishes, but there’s a few more promotions that snuck onto a list that is loaded with submissions and topped by a few fantastic body shot stoppages.
#10: Tomasz Ostrowski’s First Pro Victory
Tomasz Ostrowski kicked off Poland’s FEN 44 when he finished Hubert Drzyzga to earn the first win of his pro career.
#9: Marco Tulio Silva Topples Oliveira
Marco Tulio Silva prevailed against his countryman Well Oliveira when the pair both made their promotional debuts at LFA 151.
“Robocop” landed a right hand that sent Oliveira wobbling to the canvas before Silva landed follow-up punches to secure his fifth-straight win.
#8: Kendly St. Louis Wins On Short Notice
Kendly St. Louis may not have won a contract, but he did pull off the only finish on the first week of PFL’s 2023 Challenger Series.
“The Highlander” stepped in on extremely late notice but landed some hard ground and pound before securing a rear-naked choke when Nick Alley gave up his back.
#7: Yusuf Raisov Gets Back On Track
Yusuf Raisov extended Alain Ilunga’s losing streak to three fights when he stopped him in the co-main event of ACA 151.
“Wolf” earned his first submission win since 2018 when he grabbed ahold of Ilunga’s neck and pulled guard to finish the guillotine choke.
#6: Aleksandr Podlesniy Rains Strikes
Aleksandr Podlesniy ended last year on a loss but erased the memory of that fight with a violent finish to kick off ACA 151.
The Ukrainian got on top of Kirill Fomekov in the third round before unloading with some brutal punches and elbows to secure the win.
#5: Julia Polastri Wins The Vacant Title
Julia Polastri handed Brenda Gottig the first loss of her pro career and claimed LFA’s vacant strawweight title in the co-main event of LFA 151.
“The Dragon” set up a tight arm triangle late in the first round and left Gottig with no option other than to tap.
#4: Jonas Bilharinho’s Walk-Off Body Kick
The LFA 151 featherweight bout between Jonas Bilharinho and Caio Machado was profiled as this week’s Sleeper Scrap, and Bilharinho’s kicking game turned out be the fight’s deciding factor.
“Shiva” landed a front kick to Machado’s midsection early in the second round that brought “Lionheart” to his knees.
#3: Bekzhan Matysaev’s Creative Triangle
Bekzhan Matysaev pulled off a unique submission to win the WEF Lightweight Grand Prix at WEF Selection 44 in his native Kyrgyzstan.
The 26-year-old was taken down by Ali Mashrapov but threw up his legs during the ensuing scramble and used his hands to help finish the choke.
#2: Ibragim Magomedov Folds Souza
Ibragim Magomedov earned his third-straight stoppage victory when he finished Cleber Sousa in the third round at ACA 151.
The ACA veteran snapped Sousa’s own three-fight winning streak when he landed a knee to the body that immediately folded the Brazilian up.
#1: Gabriel Santos Upsets Delano
Gabriel Santos was a sizeable underdog heading into the main event of LFA 151, but the 26-year-old ended up walking away with the promotion’s featherweight title.
“Mosquitinho” backed José Delano to the fence early in the third round and landed a brutal pair of body punches that extended his perfect record to 10-0.
WWE’s Plan For Roman Reigns Vs. Sami Zayn Revealed
An update on what WWE has in mind for its two hottest stars after Royal Rumble 2023
WWE currently plans on having Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns go one-on-one at Elimination Chamber 2023, Andy H. Murray reports for WhatCulture.
Dave Meltzer reported as much in the latest Figure Four Online/Wrestling Observer Daily Update column. Reigns vs. Zayn is perhaps almost “as confirmed as it can be” for the main event slot.
Elimination Chamber 2023 takes place in Zayn’s Montreal, Quebec, Canada, hometown on 18 February. This alone would guarantee a monstrous reception for the now-former ‘Honorary Uce,’ though investment levels in the ongoing Bloodline storyline should take this to a completely different story. Zayn turned on Reigns at Royal Rumble 2023, doing so in an attempt at saving Kevin Owens, scoring one of the biggest pops in recent memory in the process.
Zayn currently stands as one of the most over acts in wrestling. This has led to many questioning the WrestleMania 39 main event, which looks like Reigns defending the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Rumble winner Cody Rhodes at the time of writing. For now, Sami isn’t slotted in against Roman at ‘Mania.
Owens and Zayn challenging for The Usos’ Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships has also been speculated for ‘Mania. This was complicated at the Rumble, where Jey Uso walked out on the Bloodline during their beatdown of Zayn.
Uncle Howdy’s WWE Identity is REVEALED!
Why this ex-WWE star was backstage at last night’s episode of Raw, reveals Andy H. Murray for WhatCulture
Bo Dallas was backstage at last night’s episode of Raw, reports Fightful Select and PWInsider.
Fightful’s report noted recent speculation that Dallas is currently performing the Uncle Howdy gimmick on SmackDown. As stated, however, whoever has been working that gimmick hasn’t been revealing their identity backstage, going as far as not getting in or out of their costume in front of other people.
PWInsider notes, however, that Dallas’ presence at Raw “100% confirms” him as Uncle Howdy.
Howdy has been at the center of Bray Wyatt’s WWE return storyline. Where once it appeared this new character haunted the former ‘Fiend,’ Howdy made it to the physical realm a few weeks ago, confronting Wyatt and rival LA Knight from the ramp. On a later show, Howdy hit the ring, attacking Wyatt with Sister Abigail.
Uncle Howdy was present on last night’s Raw, appearing on the ramp while Alexa Bliss explained her beatdown of Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair on the previous week’s show.
Dallas, Wyatt’s real-life brother, has been speculated for the Uncle Howdy role since the character’s first appearance. The 32-year-old has been out of WWE since his April 2021 release.
Focuses on repositioning State’s sports Associations
Patrick Estate Onyedum (Right) and Tony Nezianya during the familiarization visit.
By Edwin Emeanua (Editor}
Patrick Estate Onyedum, Chairman of Anambra Sports Commission, says his Commission will prioritize the State’s grassroots sports development by focusing on repositioning its sports associations.
“We have identified that the way to begin our quest for winning sports laurels is by developing from the grassroots,” Onyedum says during a familiarisation visit to his office by Tony Nezianya, the newly elected Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in Awka, the Anambra capital.
Onyedum adds that his Commission has taken inventory of the performance and contributions of the previous boards.
Onyedum notes, “There is no doubt that a few made sterling contributions for which we are indeed happy, but a number of them are dying.
“We shall seek the approval of the state government to reactivate the associations by formally dissolving the previous boards.
“We shall certainly have some goals in mind in reconstituting the boards. We hope to use the association to discover the many talents that abound in the State, which must be made clear to the chairpersons of their executive committee members.
“They must seek to hold regular meetings and competitions by raising funds from the private sector to support their sport which will invariably support the government. Government cannot develop sports on its own.
“We shall allow new associations and sports to grow in our state.”
Onyedum, who served the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, hopes to allow relatively new federations to flourish in Anambra.
“We shall allow them so long as these facilitate the state’s human development index and our quest for medals and honors for our state from local and international sports competitions,” Onyedum insists.
“We do not have all the resources to develop our sports and infrastructure. We shall encourage those that will attract infrastructure development to support the growth and development of sports in Anambra.”
Earlier in the visit, Nezianya requested Onyedum to allow federations like the Nigeria Triathlon Federation to establish an affiliate Association in Anambra state.
Triathlon, an Olympic sport, is a three-in-one sport-Cycling, distance running, and swimming-where an athlete can win Olympic gold by amassing points.
Onyedum agrees and adds: “There are others who may wish to make similar requests. Let’s welcome them. They may be the ones that can secure the State the honors we have been looking for.”
Nezianya has served twice in two previous Olympiads, from 2001 to 2005 and 2005 to 2009.
Jake Paul is not taking any chances ahead of his boxing match with Tommy Fury next month.
The pair, who have been booked opposite each other twice previously, are expected to finally face off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 26, 2023. Just in case the fight falls through for a third time, Paul has tapped UFC alum Mike Perry as a backup.
“A part of me still doubts. And it’s scary, and it isn’t very pleasant. Him not showing up to the face-to-face we were just supposed to do right now, it sucks, and the kid’s not necessarily reliable,” Paul said in regards to Tommy Fury repeatedly pulling out, not to mention no-showing a face-off at Saturday’s press conference promoting the event. “But the money’s good for him, so it would just be so dumb [for him to pull out of the fight].”
“We have Mike Perry on standby,” Paul later added. “Let’s go, Mike Perry! He’s ready to jump in in case Tommy pulls out.”
In his combat sports endeavor, Paul has made a career out of boxing retired mixed martial artists and fellow Youtube creators thus far. Fury, the younger brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, represents his first match-up with an actual boxer, an undefeated one.
Fury’s resume, mind you, sports several opponents with questionable records. The boxer’s first five opponents had a combined record of 12-174-5 when he competed against them. Genadij Krajevskij, who Fury fought in his fourth professional bout in 2020, went on amass an 0-46 record, averaging 184 rounds in that span. He already has three fights booked for 2023.
In other words, Paul likely fought better competition in the form of Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva than Fury has faced thus far in his professional career.
As for Mike Perry, since exiting the UFC, he’s picked up a pair of wins in bare-knuckle boxing under the BKFC banner while scoring a win in Triad Combat. Notably, he got the better of Michael “Venom” Page in BKFC later year, with Page on loan from Bellator MMA.
The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble was always full of surprises. In the women’s match, the WWE Universe saw the returns of Chelsea Green, Nia Jax, and Piper Niven. But in the men’s match, one surprise came when an entrant didn’t make his way to the ring after his music hit, writes Ben F. Silverio for Wrestling Inc.
Rey Mysterio was supposed to enter the 30-man Battle Royale as the 17th entrant. However, the “Greatest Mask of All Time” was nowhere to be seen, and the commentary team didn’t explain his absence. Then, when it was number 18’s turn to reveal himself, Dominik Mysterio emerged with his father’s mask, presumably because he and the Judgement Day attacked the former World Champion and prevented him from participating in the match.
In reality, the elder Mysterio was kept out of the Royal Rumble due to an injury. According to Dave Meltzer of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” it happened during his match with Karrion Kross on the January 27, 2023 edition of “WWE Smackdown.” After building up a rivalry over the past few weeks where Kross and Scarlett declared that it was almost time to put Rey out to pasture, the “Master of the 619” showed that he still had some tricks up his sleeve and scored the victory over the “Herald of Doomsday” after less than eight minutes with a roll-up.
While details about the injury have not been disclosed, Meltzer described it by saying it “isn’t anything serious, but I guess it was serious enough that he couldn’t do what was planned in the match.” He also reports that the Mysterios were meant to have a confrontation in the Rumble to tease a Wrestlemania match, but we’ll see if the current situation forces those plans to change.
The end of the 2023 Royal Rumble was chaotic. The highlights of the main event were more of what happened after than before Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns retained his title against Kevin Owens, Kellie Haulotte writes for Wrestling Inc.
Jey Uso Looking Serious Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images
After the match, Reigns, Jey and Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa ganged up on Owens. The Honorary Uce Sami Zayn stepped in to try and stop the total beatdown after Reigns grabbed a chair and was going to hit Owens, who was handcuffed to the ring.
Reigns wanted Zayn to hit his former friend with the chair, but he couldn’t, and instead, he hit Reigns in the back. That’s when things took another turn; Jey walked out on the other Bloodline members after they started to assault Zayn.
Jey was visibly upset, though he didn’t try to stop the brutal assault. At the show’s end, The Bloodline minus Jey stood tall while Owens and Zayn were laid out in the ring.
Earlier today, Jey took to social media to comment on what happened last night. On his Instagram, The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champion wrote, “I’m out,” with a drop of blood emoji.
On his Instagram stories, Jey shared a photo of himself going in the back and a photo of Reigns in the ring side by side with the caption, “Run It Back.”
Just a week ago, on the “Raw Is XXX” special, Jey stood up for Zayn during the “Tribal Court” segment. The two weren’t always friends; for a while, Jey was the only Bloodline member who didn’t warm up to Zayn.
They became friends and “brothers” at the WWE Survivor Series WarGames event last November.
Real Madrid slips further back from La Liga summit
Giovanni Simeone (L) scored the winner that now moves Napoli 13 points clear
Giovanni Simeone scored a late winner as Napoli continued their march at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win over Roma, RTE News reports.
Napoli, who last won the league in 1990, took a 17th-minute lead through Victor Osimhen.
Stephan El Shaarawy leveled for Roma with a quarter of an hour to go, but Simeone’s 86th-minute strike secured all three points for the home side.
AC Milan slumped to a fourth defeat in five matches in all competitions as they were beaten 5-2 by Sassuolo in the San Siro.
Former Premier League forwards Olivier Giroud and Divock Origi found the net for Milan. Still, the visitors were 3-1 up at the break through Gregoire Defrel, Davide Frattesi, and Domenico Berardi, with Armand Lauriente and Matheus Henrique on target in the second half.
Last season’s champions have now slipped to fifth in the league.
Juventus also fell to a surprise defeat – 2-0 at home to Monza – while Lazio and Fiorentina drew 1-1.
In Spain, Real Madrid is five points behind league leaders Barcelona after playing out a goalless draw at home to third-placed Real Sociedad.
Substitute Saul Niguez scored a late goal to earn Atletico Madrid a 1-0 victory at Osasuna. Valladolidleft it even later, scoring in the 90th minute through Cyle Larin to see off Valencia 1-0.
Elsewhere, Iago Aspas scored the game’s only goal as Celta Vigo beat Athletic Bilbao.
In Germany, Jude Bellingham captained Borussia Dortmund to a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, taking his side to fourth place and within three points of leaders Bayern Munich.
Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring in the first half before Edmond Tapsoba’s own goal sealed the victory.
Schalke brought a three-match losing streak to an end but was held to a goalless draw against Cologne and remained at the foot of the table.
Folarin Balogun struck an equalizer deep in stoppage time to secure a point for Reims in a 1-1 draw at Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who finished the match with ten men.
Neymar put the home side ahead in the 51st minute, but they were reduced to 10 men just before the hour when Marco Verratti was sent off.
A first-half goal from Gaetan Laborde was enough for Nice to secure all three points in a 1-0 win over Lille.
Stephy Mavididi helped himself to a brace in the second half for Montpellier as they won 2-0 at Auxerre, while Clermont and Nantes played out a goalless draw.
Brest beat Angers 4-0, Toulouse won 2-1 at Strasbourg, and Lyon was a 2-0 winner at Ajaccio.
Former Super Falcons forward lists recipe for a successful FIFA World Cup outing this summer
Nigeria can aim higher at the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup Finals
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Former Super Falcons forward Lami Rachel Adamu called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to meet all the demands of the female national team before and during the world cup slated for Australia and New Zealand between July 20 and August 20, 2023.
Adamu, in an interview with Sports Joust, advised the NFF to organize grade A friendly matches for the Falcons and make sure their match bonuses and allowances are paid when due towards motivating the players.
Adamu, a member of the female national team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, said: “It is very important for the Falcons to play friendly matches before they travel to New Zealand and Australia for the competition. This will allow cohesion and understanding in the team. We need to work harder because we will play against the best in the world.
The former Oladimeji Tigress FC player was optimistic that Suoer Falcons would qualify from their group if the NFF, the technical crew, and the players played their roles effectively.
“What else do we need other than adequate preparation? she asked.
“We understand what it takes to play at that level. We must unite and make it happen in Australia and New Zealand.”
The Nigeria women’s national football team has represented Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in all eight events of the tournament, one of seven teams to do so.
Despite this remarkable history, Nigeria’s successes have been modest, only progressing to the knockout phase on two occasions.
Banned for doping, Junior high jumper calls out for help to fellow Nigerians
A Lengthy track void now awaits banned young David Aya unless help comes quickly
By Rasheed Adewuyi
He has been slapped with a career-ending ban, the scholarship he won to study at an American University has been suspended, and now he is pleading with Nigerians to come to his aid to pay for legal services in a bid to reduce or quash the ban so that he can resume his career and continue with his studies.
According to mainland News, Aya was handed a four-year ban, a long time for a high jumper to be out of action. Because it is possible to add weight, it becomes a battle to continue being fit again.
“As a first offender and a junior athlete, I believe four years is a long time,” said Aya.
“I am not yet an elite athlete, and I have not been to the Olympics yet. It is harsh, and I want Nigerians to help so that I can pay for legal counsel.”
He submitted that he volunteered to do the dope test on his own because when the Nigeria junior team was going to the World Athletics Junior Championships in Colombia, they were ordered to undergo dope tests before they could be on the team.
“I did three dope tests, and the middle gave me this problem. Before we went to Colombia, nobody told me I had issues with my test. I did not know anything. When I got to the US, they sent me a letter that I had failed a test, and my world turned upside down,” Aya recalled.
“I was like banging my head on the wall trying to know exactly where things had gone wrong because I know very well the implications of using drug-enhancing performance. It was then a doctor asked me if I had eaten pork. I told him yes. He told me that pork could cause a spark of steroids in the system if mixed with another health supplement I might be taking.
“A nutritionist friend of mine also asked me the same thing. All the vitamins I have been taking are not on the WADA list, so it shocked me. I didn’t have all this information.
“They say ignorance is no excuse in law; I hope I can get a good lawyer to help get out of this mess. Right now, I’m so concerned about my auntie, who gave me money to travel.
“She has some health issues; I had hoped that when I get to the USA, I would study and do some small jobs to support her, but now I’m caught in a web.”
Speaking on Aya’s case, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) medical and doping director Professor Ken Anugweje lamented that what happened to Aya was regrettable.
“But rules are rules made by the World Athletics Federation, adapted from WADA. It is based more on the substance in the system than any other consideration.
“Some substances warrant only public warnings, but Aya insisted that what was found in his body does not warrant a lengthy ban; these are prescribed sanctions by the WA.
“The claim that he ate pork is a long shot because it is no longer valid. It is a claim made before by athletes who tried to hold on to something that has to do with clenbuterol.
“Some countries in the past used steroids to fatten their cows and pigs; those are no longer an excuse. Where did he eat the pork, and who sold the pork to him?
“We know Aya very well. He used to come to the high performance to train. It is very unfortunate”.
NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and Diane Chan, Chairman/Chief Executive of GIC Motors
By Rasheed Adewuyi
President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has once more assured that his NFF administration is working assiduously to redirect the Nigeria game on a path to greater glory.
“The various development efforts that we’ve embarked upon will also help us to build structures that will ensure the improvement and sustainability of Nigeria football,” Gusau said.
The NFF boss made this remark in Lagos on Friday while visiting the Chairman/Chief Executive of GIC Motor (distributors of GAC Motors in Nigeria), Chief Diane Chan. GAC is the automobile partner of the NFF.
Gusau added: “The present NFF administration will continue to fashion and implement policies targeted at re-engineering Nigeria football to pull it back to the top. The process requires a lot of hard work and focus, and we are determined to do the needful.
“As we have enunciated now and again, the vision of this new team is to build our football from the grassroots with vigor and a sense of purpose. We are putting the nuts and bolts together, and very soon, the drive will commence powerfully.
“Our National Teams have been up there before and will be back at the top sooner than later. This year, the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, Olympic Eagles, Flying Eagles, and Golden Eaglets have major tournaments at hand. We are focused on preparing the teams adequately to get good results from their various engagements and tournaments.”
The Flying Eagles will participate in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt from February 18 to March 12, while the Super Eagles have two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Guinea Bissau (home and away) in March. A place in the top four in Egypt will land the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Indonesia.
Also in March, the U23 Boys (Olympic Eagles) have a final qualifying fixture against Guinea for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Morocco later in the year. Africa’s flag bearers for next year’s Olympic Men’s Football Tournament will emerge in Morocco.
In April, the Golden Eaglets will participate in the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria, with a place in the top four ensuring that the five-time champions will be part of the FIFA U17 World Cup finals in Peru later in the year.
The Super Falcons, heading to the Four-Nation Revelation Cup Tournament in Mexico next month, will be part of the largest showpiece of the FIFA Women’s World Cup ever, with 32 teams primed to converge in a mammoth football festival in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, 2023.
