American Kickboxing Academy founder Javier Mendez has admitted feeling sorry for Conor McGregor following his devastating knee injury at UFC 329, while simultaneously preparing Islam Makhachev for a looming title defence at UFC 330.

The legendary Irishman suffered a torn ACL and meniscus with the first kick he threw against Max Holloway earlier this month.

That bout was abruptly halted after just over a minute of the opening round, curtailing the 36-year-old’s return from a five-year hiatus.

McGregor has since undergone surgery and is targeting a comeback in the summer of 2027.

Overcoming new mental hurdles

By the time of his proposed return, the former two-weight simultaneous world champion will be approaching his 39th birthday.

Mendez believes the road back to the octagon will now be significantly more challenging for the Dublin-born superstar.

“There’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of his, but I’m a big fan of any fighter that trains hard and is able to go out there and showcase what they trained hard doing.”

The veteran coach stated he took no pleasure in watching the former featherweight and lightweight titleholder suffer such a severe physical breakdown.

“I felt bad for the guy because he deserved to go out on a win or die with his best effort out there, not like this.”

Mendez compared the fighter’s recent trajectory to the movie Rocky, suggesting that returning to rigorous, gruelling training after enjoying a wealthy lifestyle is an incredibly arduous task.

“It was the same scenario, but he wasn’t successful because his body failed him.”

Makhachev prepares for Garry challenge

Mendez is currently focused on his duties as head coach for reigning welterweight champion Makhachev.

The Dagestani titleholder is scheduled to defend his championship against Irish challenger Ian Machado Garry in the main event on 15 August.

Many MMA pundits have characterised the upcoming UFC 330 showcase as a classic clash between a grappler and a striker.

However, the esteemed trainer insists his camp is waiting to see how the contest unfolds before committing to a rigid tactical approach.

“Ian Garry’s biggest advantage is his range.”

He acknowledged the contender’s ability to effectively utilise kicks alongside robust scrambling and takedown defence.

“Islam is well-rounded, so he is able to adapt to anything.”

Olympic champion Noah Lyles has clocked a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds to secure victory in the 100m at the US athletics championships in New York.

The 29-year-old American delivered a flawless performance at Icahn Stadium to match the exact personal best he set when winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

His blistering run surpassed the previous global standard for the 2026 season, eclipsing the 9.82 seconds established by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in June.

Maintaining dominance in an off year

Lyles was quick to assert his authority on the track following his commanding performance against a stellar domestic field.

“I think I made that ‘I’m still the world’s fastest man’ statement,” said the reigning Olympic champion.

Ronnie Baker and Kenny Bednarek both crossed the line in 9.88 seconds to finish second and third respectively.

Former world champion Christian Coleman was forced to settle for fourth place after recording a time of 9.93 seconds.

“Just because it is an off year doesn’t mean that I plan to run slow,” Lyles added regarding the absence of major global championships this season.

“This is me being me and being me is dominant, being consistent.”

Richardson secures women’s title

In the women’s event, Sha’Carri Richardson demonstrated her enduring class by storming to victory in 10.77 seconds.

The 2023 world champion has faced significant challenges off the track but produced a composed run to secure the national crown.

“It just feels phenomenal to be back in a better place, just healthy mentally, physically and emotionally,” the American sprinter explained.

“Everything me and coach have been working on, it’s starting to show consistently.”

Scotland claimed four swimming medals, including two golds, during a spectacular opening night at the Tollcross pool to launch the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The host nation sent the home crowd into a frenzy by securing three podium finishes within a blistering 45-minute window.

A fourth medal followed shortly after to cap off an unforgettable evening in the city’s east end.

Scott makes history with record-breaking swim

Poster boy Duncan Scott triggered the initial gold rush by defending his 200m individual medley title.

The 29-year-old shattered his own Games record to claim his 14th Commonwealth medal.

He delivered a sensational performance by dominating the backstroke and breaststroke legs before powering home in the freestyle.

This same venue is where the decorated Olympian first announced himself on the global stage as a 17-year-old at the 2014 Games.

Clegg and Shanahan secure silver finishes

Inspired by his teammate, Para-swimmer Stephen Clegg battled back from an injury-ravaged year to win silver in the 100m freestyle S13.

The 30-year-old had feared his career was over but showed immense resilience to reach the podium again.

His brother James narrowly missed out on joining him in the medals after finishing fourth in the same race.

Katie Shanahan then upgraded her 2022 bronze to a brilliant silver in the 200m backstroke.

Rogers seals magnificent second gold

The frenzied atmosphere had barely settled before Faye Rogers sparked further celebrations.

The Para-athlete delivered a totally dominant swim to capture gold in the 200m individual medley SM10.

Her rampant victory ensured the home crowd was treated to a second rendition of Flower of Scotland.

Meanwhile, Scottish compatriot Holly McGill narrowly missed out on adding to the tally with a fourth-place finish in her final.

Michael Kim has fallen just one shot short of equalling the PGA Tour 18-hole scoring record after shooting a spectacular 12-under-par 59 at the 3M Open on Friday.

The American became only the 16th player in the history of the US circuit to record a sub-60 score.

His flawless second round catapulted him up the leaderboard during a remarkable day of scoring.

Red-hot putting secures historic milestone

A phenomenal streak of five consecutive birdies between the third and seventh holes laid the early foundation for his historic achievement.

The seasoned professional then produced a sensational finish, playing his final four holes in four under par.

His exceptional performance on the greens proved pivotal, as he successfully converted eight putts from beyond 10 feet.

The magical round was sealed in dramatic fashion when he drained an incredible 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.

Chasing Furyk’s elusive record

Prior to this tournament, five different players had shared the lowest score of the 2026 season by carding rounds of 60.

Blades Brown, Wyndham Clark, Si Woo Kim, Andrew Putnam and Scottie Scheffler had all narrowly missed out on breaking the 60-shot barrier earlier in the campaign.

This stunning 12-under-par effort places the California-raised golfer joint-second on the all-time list of lowest single-round scores.

Jim Furyk’s legendary fourth-round 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship remains the ultimate benchmark in PGA Tour history.

Luke Littler has progressed to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay in Blackpool following a dominant victory over Josh Rock to continue his breathtaking title defence.

The world number one averaged 109 and hit 17 maximums to comprehensively dismantle his opponent.

His latest triumph secures a final-four showdown against Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode this weekend.

Historic tournament averages

The reigning champion arrived on the Lancashire coast already holding almost every major televised title, including the World Darts Championship and Premier League.

His current tournament average stands at a staggering 111 across nearly 60 legs of darts.

The campaign has been highlighted by several remarkable statistical achievements on the Winter Gardens stage:

“I feel really good up on the stage. Preparations beforehand have gone really well, just relaxing, playing and relaxing again,” stated the teenager.

“As long as I can keep it up, I’m sure I will dominate.”

A daunting task for Van Duijvenbode

Littler’s victory over Rock marked his 27th consecutive win in matches extending beyond 20 legs.

He is now seeking to become the first player since Michael van Gerwen in 2016 to secure back-to-back Matchplay crowns.

Former world champion Mark Webster believes the English prodigy is operating on a completely unreachable level.

“He’s by far the best player in the world. It’s frightening form.” Mark Webster

Webster noted that Rock’s highly respectable 101 average was still punished by a bruising nine-leg margin of defeat.

“He looks comfortable in every scenario. Good luck to Dirk on Saturday,” Webster added.

Richard Carapaz has secured his second career Tour de France stage victory, launching a decisive late attack on the summit finish at Orcieres-Merlette on stage 18.

The 33-year-old Ecuadorian crossed the line 45 seconds clear of Mauro Schmid and Matteo Jorgenson following a gruelling 185km route from Voiron.

It was a deeply personal triumph for the 2021 Olympic champion, who lost his mother earlier this year and had publicly vowed to dedicate his race to her memory.

“This is a very beautiful stage that I dedicate to my family,” said Carapaz.

Pogacar retains commanding overall lead

While the day’s honours went to the breakaway, Tadej Pogacar navigated the mountainous terrain safely to keep his firm grip on the yellow jersey.

The race leader crossed the line four minutes and 35 seconds adrift of the stage winner alongside his main general classification rivals.

Pogacar maintains a comfortable four-minute and 32-second advantage over Remco Evenepoel as the peloton prepares for two demanding days culminating on the iconic Alpe d’Huez.

“It’s been a very, very hard day,” added the stage winner.

Illness threatens UAE Team Emirates dominance

Despite their leader’s supreme position in the standings, vulnerabilities are beginning to emerge within the Slovenian’s supporting cast.

Brandon McNulty became the first UAE Team Emirates rider to abandon the race midway through the stage after battling a severe sore throat.

British teammate Adam Yates is also fighting through a lingering illness, having visibly struggled with the pace since Wednesday.

However, Isaac del Toro successfully managed the high altitude to hold onto third place overall, sitting 19 seconds ahead of French teenager Paul Seixas.

For the victorious stage winner, the emotional result moves him into the top 10 of the general classification and marks his 25th professional victory.

Anthony Joshua has revealed that Oleksandr Usyk’s team urged him to “show greatness” during training sessions ahead of his heavyweight comeback against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.

The 36-year-old is preparing for his highly anticipated return to the ring this Saturday.

He spent time preparing alongside his former Ukrainian rival in an effort to sharpen his competitive edge.

Raising the standard

The two-time world champion explained how the elite setup demanded he elevate his daily standards.

A potential blockbuster clash with domestic rival Tyson Fury looms on the horizon later this year, adding significant weight to his upcoming performance.

“It’s an elite team. I got to see how he prepared for Rico Verhoeven,” Joshua said.
“I’m quite strong. I can take, I can give, so sometimes I can just get away with doing enough but still be good enough.”
“But these guys are like, ‘nah’. They want to see more, like bring it out.”

Delivering under pressure

The veteran fighter acknowledged the stark difference between comfortable gym form and the reality of a high-stakes bout.

“Sometimes in a fight, you don’t have that luxury to make improvements,” he explained.
“You’re fighting because you’re in such a moment that puts so much pressure on your shoulders.”

The visiting training camp instilled the belief that exceptional performances must become a daily habit rather than a sudden reaction.

“That’s what Usyk’s team were saying. Your greatness should just be something that you do every day in the gym.”
“You shouldn’t have to take yourself to that level where you’re under so much pressure. You should be able to do it from round one.”

Seeking a ruthless finish

The British heavyweight boasts a formidable professional record, having secured 29 victories across 33 career bouts.

Crucially, 26 of those wins have come by way of knockout, underlining the historical finishing power he hopes to unleash this weekend.

He remains determined to showcase his raw aggression and stop his opponent early if the opportunity arises.

“That’s the name of the game. There’s no overtime,” he stated.
“If I can end it, trust me, I will. But I know what my mind is telling me. I know what I have to do.”

Jasper Philipsen secured his first victory of this year’s Tour de France by winning a reduced sprint on stage 17 in Voiron as Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey.

The Belgian rider had repeatedly fallen short during bunch sprints over the opening two weeks of the race.

However, he made it look effortless on Wednesday after a 35-strong breakaway arrived first into town.

Guided by a lead-out from team-mate Mathieu van der Poel, the 26-year-old finished several bike lengths ahead of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij.

This triumph marks his 11th career Tour victory, maintaining an impressive record of winning at least one stage in every edition since 2022.

‘I was like an angry bird’

“Definitely it’s special after such a roller coaster of emotions in this Tour de France,” Philipsen said.

“I had to wait until stage 17. I was prepared very, very well, I was in the shape of my life and the first 12 days were just horrible.”

“I was like an angry bird at the table. I was disappointed in myself, I was angry, I couldn’t take a stage win, I didn’t find my feeling and the team had to deal with that.”

Points classification battle intensifies

The crucial victory moves the rapid sprinter to within seven points of Mads Pedersen in the points classification.

This sudden shift puts the Danish rider under serious pressure in a competition he previously looked to be dominating.

Meanwhile, the main general classification contenders allowed the breakaway to escape midway through the 175km route from Chambery.

Overall leader Pogacar and his closest challenger Remco Evenepoel crossed the line eight minutes and 46 seconds behind the leading group.

Consequently, there is no change at the top of the overall standings, where the Slovenian sensation maintains a commanding four-minute and 32-second advantage.

Illness and anti-doping fallout

Despite safely defending his overall lead, Pogacar suffered a setback as key mountain domestique Adam Yates battled illness just to finish the stage.

Off the road, controversy continues to surround overnight anti-doping tests conducted over the weekend.

Two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of the race on Sunday shortly after being woken for testing at 2am.

The defending champion has since undergone successful surgery on a fractured collarbone.

Rider union the Cyclistes Professionnels Associes heavily criticised the late-night testing, arguing it severely hinders athlete recovery during the demanding global event.

However, world governing body the UCI has since responded, publicly backing the targeted methods of the International Testing Agency.