Ilia Topuria is recovering rapidly from severe facial injuries sustained against Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 and could return to the Octagon by December.
The 27-year-old suffered his first professional defeat during the landmark event on the grounds of the White House, losing his lightweight championship.
A relentless assault from the new champion resulted in broken orbital bones in both eyes for the defending titleholder.
The brutal contest was halted between the fourth and fifth rounds when heavy swelling completely shut the adopted Spaniard’s vision.
Trainer confirms rapid physical recovery
Speculation had immediately mounted regarding the long-term career impact of such a devastating physical toll.
However, physical trainer Jesus Gallo has dismissed fears of permanent damage and provided a highly optimistic medical update.
Speaking to SerEbro EnlosDeportes, Gallo revealed that his fighter is already unrecognisable from the night of the defeat.
“Day by day, he already looks like a completely different person.”
“He looks like he wasn’t even in a fight, honestly. All the swelling in his face has gone down, every type of bruising he had.”
Future title picture remains uncertain
Before facing Gaethje, the former undefeated star had established a terrifying reputation by delivering devastating finishes against established champions Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira.
A return to contact training is still several months away to allow the bilateral orbital fractures to fully solidify.
“I think we’re talking about at least two to three months, easily. If you saw us in a rematch or in a fight, it would be toward the end of the year, December.”
The former titleholder has already publicly demanded an immediate rematch to reclaim his lightweight crown.
The promotion must now weigh that request against the claims of top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan, who has been awaiting a championship opportunity since defeating Dan Hooker last November.
A highly anticipated European clash with rising star Paddy Pimblett could also serve as a potential comeback bout if the Liverpool native defeats Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329.
Welsh boxer Joe Cordina has been forced to withdraw from a world title fight in the United States after being charged with assault and denied a travel visa.
The 34-year-old is scheduled to appear before magistrates next month following an alleged incident outside a Cardiff petrol station on 27 February.
South Wales Police confirmed the former super-featherweight world champion faces charges of assault and threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.
Footage widely circulated on social media earlier this year appeared to show a confrontation involving the fighter and another man falling to the ground.
US visa denial forces fight withdrawal
The pending legal proceedings have directly impacted the Cardiff native’s career, leading to his removal from a scheduled WBO lightweight bout against Abdullah Mason in Cleveland on 4 July.
He was officially refused entry to the United States after visiting the US Embassy in London to secure his travel documentation.
“A couple of days back, I went to the US Embassy in London and they basically denied me a visa.”
“I tried to explain certain things and I had all the paperwork to back it up and they wasn’t having it.”
“It’s out of my hands and I’m absolutely gutted to become a three-time, two-weight world champion, plus fight for a world title in America was a goal of mine.”
Move to lightweight division derailed
The scheduled contest against Mason was meant to be a pivotal moment for the Welshman since moving up to the 135lb division.
He previously held the IBF super-featherweight title but lost the belt after suffering an eighth-round knockout defeat to Anthony Cacace two years ago.
Following that setback, the orthodox fighter had rebuilt his momentum by securing back-to-back victories over Jaret Gonzalez Quiroz and Gabriel Flores Jr.
Unbeaten American prospect Mason is now expected to face replacement opponent Albert Bell on the Cleveland card next weekend.
Meanwhile, a second man, 32-year-old Jamie O’Brien, has also been charged with assault in connection with the same Cardiff incident and will appear in court on 28 July.
British cyclist Oscar Onley has been ruled out of the upcoming Tour de France after sustaining a significant shoulder injury during the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
The 23-year-old dislocated his shoulder and suffered a knee issue when he plunged over a roadside barrier two weeks ago.
He managed to narrowly avoid a steep ravine after crashing into tree cover during stage six of the week-long race in France.
Despite initially hoping to recover in time for the Grand Tour start on 4 July, subsequent medical scans confirmed the severity of the damage.
A major blow for Netcompany-Ineos
The Scottish rider’s absence leaves a significant void in his team’s roster for the sport’s biggest race.
Netcompany-Ineos released a statement on Thursday confirming their homegrown star had already begun his rehabilitation process.
“Unfortunately, this means Oscar will be unable to compete in this year’s Tour de France.”
“He has already begun rehabilitation and is making encouraging progress. We wish Oscar a full and speedy recovery.”
The British outfit’s planned squad is further depleted by the likely absence of time-trial specialist Josh Tarling.
Tarling fractured his collarbone in the exact same stage six pile-up that ended his teammate’s Tour hopes.
Frustration after a breakout year
Missing the showcase event caps a frustrating maiden season with the rebranded squad for the Kelso-born climber.
He was forced to abandon Paris-Nice earlier this year due to illness, disrupting his crucial early-season momentum.
“I’m gutted not to be able to line up for the Tour de France this year.”
“My focus is now on recovering and getting my shoulder in a good place, but I’m really motivated to try and make something out of this season.”
Trying to replicate past heroics
The talented youngster burst onto the global stage during last year’s Tour, battling valiantly against established superstars Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard.
Riding for his previous team, Picnic PostNL, he secured a remarkable fourth-place overall finish in the general classification.
He narrowly missed the final podium by just one minute and 12 seconds, while also claiming second place in the young riders’ standings behind Florian Lipowitz.
His current team will now have to navigate the gruelling mountain stages without their marquee contender.
UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been medically cleared to return to the octagon following severe eye injuries, but his newly appointed manager Eddie Hearn insists a revised contract must be agreed before a rematch with Ciryl Gane.
The 33-year-old has been out of action since last October when a clash with the Frenchman ended in a controversial no-contest due to a severe eye poke.
Following the incident, the British fighter underwent four separate surgeries and faced the very real threat of permanent vision loss.
However, he has now resumed full training and is targeting a competitive comeback before the end of 2026.
Hearn demands financial respect
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn recently sent shockwaves through the mixed martial arts community by adding the heavyweight titleholder to his talent management roster.
Speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, the renowned promoter confirmed that his client is fully prepared to face Gane once again.
“Honestly, this is a dangerous fight, and some people still refuse to acknowledge that he had four eye operations and was told quite clearly he could have lost his vision.”
Hearn emphasised the significant health risks involved in stepping back into the cage, noting that another severe foul could have devastating consequences.
“So, if you’re going to put yourself through that, if you’re going to risk not just your legacy but your health and beyond… you’ve got to be respected.”
Rematch hinges on contract talks
A second bout between the pair has become highly anticipated after Gane secured the interim title by knocking out Alex Pereira earlier this month.
Representatives for the heavyweight star have already informed UFC executive Hunter Campbell that their fighter is ready to negotiate dates and financial terms.
Hearn argued that the existing promotional agreement is outdated and fails to reflect the massive commercial appeal of the upcoming heavyweight unification clash.
“What we’re coming in to say is that there’s a huge amount of money in the fight between Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall.”
“The numbers are… just completely unfair in terms of the value that Tom brings into that fight.”
The management team insists they are not looking to cause unnecessary friction with the promotion, but simply want fair compensation for the physical risks undertaken.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to make his international cricket debut for India against Ireland in Belfast on Friday at the age of just 15 years and 91 days.
He will surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to become the youngest player to represent his country at the highest level.
Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days old when he played his first one-day international against Pakistan in 1989.
Due to strict safeguarding regulations, the teenage prodigy will be required to use a separate changing room from his senior team-mates.
Record-breaking domestic form
The left-handed opener earned this unprecedented call-up following an astonishing Indian Premier League campaign.
Representing the Rajasthan Royals, he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 776 runs across 16 innings.
His staggering strike-rate of 237.30 caught the attention of selectors and pundits worldwide.
Just days ago, the youngster shattered the record for the fastest half-century in List A cricket history by reaching the milestone off exactly 11 balls for India A against Sri Lanka A.
Praise from cricketing legends
Former Australia international Justin Langer admitted the emerging talent is one of the few players he has ever asked for a photograph.
“Watching him bat is mind-blowing.”
“What makes him so special? He’s got extraordinary hands. I always say the really great players, their hands are like a hose in a swimming pool.”
The Lucknow Super Giants coach praised the batter’s unique ability to hit powerful sixes over cover, rather than relying on the traditional leg-side slogs favoured by many left-handers.
“This kid not only has the game and the curiosity and hand-eye coordination, but also the hunger to score more and more runs. He is also so humble.”
Fearless approach under Dravid
Rahul Dravid handed the starlet his IPL debut at the age of 14 while coaching Rajasthan in 2025.
The former Indian captain believes his young protégé possesses an incredibly rare blend of athletic skills.
“You’re looking at a really unique talent. I think it’s an incredible combination of ability to pick up a bowler’s speed and then cricket smarts, fearlessness.”
Dravid noted that there is no set recipe for such extraordinary natural ability, highlighting his sheer volume of ball-striking as a key factor in his rapid development.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is targeting a return for the T20 World Cup semi-finals following a positive MRI scan on her recurring calf injury.
The 33-year-old has missed her country’s past two tournament fixtures after aggravating an issue that previously sidelined her for six weeks at the start of the summer.
While she will remain unavailable for Saturday’s final group match against New Zealand, the all-rounder is firmly optimistic about featuring in the knockout stages.
Positive scan results bring semi-final hope
Her wife, legendary former fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt, revealed the skipper’s improving physical mindset during an interview with BBC Test Match Special.
“She believes she can come into the semi and that she is OK, that is where her head is now and that is great.”
The former international, who claimed 335 wickets during her own storied career, added that the latest medical assessments have provided significant encouragement.
“She has had another MRI, she is happy with the result and positive that it is going in the direction we like.”
Rehabilitation continues as knockout dates loom
The injured star has not featured since retiring out during a commanding victory over Ireland in her team’s second match of the global campaign.
An official statement released after Wednesday’s win against the West Indies confirmed the experienced batter had already successfully returned to the practice nets.
However, the national squad’s medical staff stressed that the dynamic player still requires slightly more rehabilitation time before becoming fully available for match selection.
Risking the influential talisman this weekend was always considered highly unlikely once the upcoming fixture was confirmed as a tournament dead rubber.
Complex scheduling awaits qualified England
The exact date of their highly anticipated semi-final clash remains completely uncertain until the final group standings are officially resolved on Sunday evening.
Tournament organisers have notably scheduled the first semi-final for Tuesday at 14:30 BST to comfortably accommodate massive Indian television audiences.
If the unbeaten group leaders maintain their top spot, they will likely play on Thursday unless India manage to secure second place in Group One.
Should the Indian side finish as runners-up, rigid tournament scheduling rules dictate that the European heavyweights would be automatically switched to the earlier Tuesday fixture.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are contractually bound to fight in the UK, and any attempt to relocate the bout to the United States will require a complete renegotiation of terms, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Matchroom Boxing chairman, who represents the two-time unified champion, insists the heavyweight clash remains entirely on track for a British venue.
Despite growing speculation that Las Vegas could host the highly anticipated contest, no formal request has been made by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
“If he comes to me and says, I want to do the fight in America for this reason, we’ll all be very disappointed because I don’t think there’s a person on the planet that doesn’t think this fight should take place in the UK.”
Financial hurdles and contract renegotiations
Alalshikh is financing the event, giving the Saudi official significant leverage over its ultimate location.
“But he’s paying the bill and the bill is extortionate. So you’ve got to find a way to make it work.”
“So, if they want to change anything in the contract, we have to renegotiate the contract and start again.”
The veteran British heavyweights, aged 36 and 37 respectively, have circled each other for years in a rivalry that has defined an era of cross-over boxing appeal.
White and Zuffa Boxing rejected as promoters
Hearn firmly dismissed recent claims from UFC president Dana White regarding his involvement in the blockbuster event.
Zuffa Boxing currently holds no official promotional role unless the former Olympic gold medallist formally agrees to an altered contract.
“The contract clearly states that Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, or anyone associated, cannot be the promoters of this.”
Neither Matchroom nor Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions can act as the sole lead promoter to ensure complete neutrality for both fighters.
Interim bouts threaten 2026 super-fight
Warren indicated earlier this week that key stakeholders will meet shortly to finalise the highly anticipated date and venue.
Hearn expects these discussions to conclude next week, though immediate ring assignments pose the biggest threat to the 2026 mega-fight.
The Londoner faces Kristian Prenga on 25 July, while the ‘Gypsy King’ is scheduled for an interim bout mooted for 1 August.
“I’m 100% confident it happens in 2026 unless someone gets beat.”
The International Olympic Committee has committed more than $100m to establish a new fund that will provide direct $10,000 grants to competitors following future Summer and Winter Games.
The unprecedented financial initiative was announced on Wednesday from the governing body’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Former NBA star and current committee member Pau Gasol revealed the details of the extensive compensation project.
The payout scheme will officially launch by opening applications to nearly 3,000 participants at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
Growing pressure for prize money
This major policy shift arrives after years of increasing public pressure demanding that the sporting organisation directly compensate its competitors.
While the Swiss-based authority generates billions in global broadcasting revenues, individuals competing at the pinnacle of sport have traditionally relied on national federations or private sponsorships for income.
The debate over athletic compensation intensified recently when other international sports governing bodies began offering direct financial rewards for gold medal winners.
How the direct payment system works
Rather than offering performance-based bonuses exclusively to podium finishers, this new financial structure is designed as an accessible support mechanism.
Eligible sportspeople will be able to apply for the flat-rate $10,000 payment immediately after completing their respective events at the quadrennial tournaments.
The global sporting authority hopes this nine-figure commitment will significantly alleviate the financial burdens placed on elite competitors following their demanding training cycles.