Conor McGregor is set to return to the octagon against Max Holloway on 11 July in Las Vegas, with UFC president Dana White predicting the bout will shatter the organisation’s all-time gate record.
The former dual-weight champion has not competed since suffering a broken leg during a first-round defeat to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
A previously scheduled return against Michael Chandler was scrapped due to a training injury, further delaying the Dubliner’s highly anticipated comeback.
Now, the 37-year-old is expected to face Holloway in a welterweight contest during International Fight Week.
Record-breaking expectations
UFC chief executive White believes the immense demand for the returning star will comfortably surpass existing financial milestones.
When he is involved, tickets, as soon as they went on sale, went flying.
It is great to have Conor back. This should break the gate record.
The current benchmark was set at The Sphere, which generated $21.8m during a bantamweight title clash between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley.
History of box office dominance
The ‘Notorious’ already features heavily in the promotion’s most lucrative events.
His 2016 victory over Eddie Alvarez to claim the lightweight title sits second on the all-time list with a gate of $17.7m.
The infamous submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov ranks third, underlining his historic drawing power.
Despite his last victory coming six years ago against Donald Cerrone, the veteran remains deeply entrenched in a rigorous training camp.
Recent social media posts show the former featherweight and lightweight titleholder expressing renewed motivation ahead of his Sin City appearance.
The NHL Players’ Association expects a full investigation into Mike Babcock’s past conduct before the Edmonton Oilers can appoint him as their new head coach.
The prospective appointment follows the 63-year-old’s controversial departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.
He resigned from the Ohio franchise without managing a single game following allegations he violated player privacy by demanding to view photographs on their mobile phones.
Because he stepped down immediately, the NHL never launched a formal inquiry into the incident.
Oilers leadership consults squad
Edmonton are actively seeking a permanent replacement for Kris Knoblauch and have held extensive talks with the veteran manager.
Senior leadership figures within the Canadian franchise have been consulted regarding the potential appointment.
The former Anaheim Ducks boss has reportedly already met with the playing squad and spoken directly to Oilers owner Daryl Katz.
However, concerned players have contacted the union regarding his status and any unresolved inquiries into his past behaviour.
A history of success and scrutiny
While his man-management techniques have drawn severe criticism, the prospective coach brings a formidable resume to the table.
He boasts 700 career NHL victories and guided the Detroit Red Wings to Stanley Cup glory in 2008.
The seasoned tactician also holds the rare distinction of belonging to the IIHF Triple Gold Club, having secured Olympic gold medals with Canada alongside World Championship success.
Despite these accolades, his psychological approach faced intense scrutiny following his dismissal from Toronto in 2019.
During his tenure with the Maple Leafs, he controversially forced rookie Mitch Marner to rank the work ethic of his team-mates before sharing the list with the entire dressing room.
Edmonton’s troubled coaching search
The Western Conference team turned their attention to the Stanley Cup winner after encountering administrative hurdles elsewhere.
The Vegas Golden Knights recently blocked the Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy, who remains under contract despite being dismissed late in the season.
The NHL upheld the decision, confirming Vegas hold the right to deny permission for their former staff to speak with divisional rivals.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has declared he would choose himself over any other player in the ongoing debate surrounding the greatest basketball player of all time.
The veteran star discussed his legacy and the inevitable comparisons with Michael Jordan during a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine published on Monday.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” he stated emphatically.
Drafting the ultimate player
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer acknowledged that other legendary figures would likely hold the exact same self-belief regarding their own status.
“Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing,” he said.
“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
Influence across different eras
When questioned about his cultural impact compared to the Chicago Bulls icon, the four-time league MVP offered a remarkably grounded perspective.
“You ask somebody that grew up in the Jordan era, they’re gonna say Jordan,” he explained.
“You ask somebody who grew up in the LeBron era … they’re still gonna say Jordan.”
Despite that candid admission, the four-time NBA champion remains completely confident in the unique, historic journey he has carved out over two decades.
Looming retirement decision
The 22-time All-Star could be approaching the final months of his unparalleled professional career as he prepares to enter unrestricted free agency this summer.
He remains undecided on whether to retire or return for an unprecedented 24th season, potentially remaining in California or seeking a new franchise.
“When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation… then I know I’ll be done,” he revealed.
Should he finally decide to walk away, the basketball icon will leave having played more games, secured more victories, and taken more shots than anyone else in league history.
Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a new director has suffered a major blow after prime candidate Sebastian Kehl rejected a move to the North London club following concrete discussions.
The Premier League side had identified the German executive as their leading option to help reshape the backroom staff.
He was expected to work closely with current technical director Johan Lange to overhaul the sporting department.
Rebuilding after relegation struggles
This rejection forces the English club back to the drawing board ahead of a crucial transitional period.
The North London outfit are desperate to rebuild after enduring back-to-back relegation battles.
They finished 17th in the top flight for two consecutive seasons before finding stability.
Recent managerial appointment Roberto De Zerbi successfully guided the team away from the drop zone following an impressive turnaround.
Kehl evaluates his options
The highly-rated executive has been a free agent since departing Borussia Dortmund in March.
It was hoped his arrival at Spurs would coincide with further behind-the-scenes restructuring.
The current head coach is also looking to reshape the playing squad.
Reports suggest a new France international goalkeeper is being targeted to replace Guglielmo Vicario as the club’s number one.
Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora is preparing to make his mark on the 2026 World Cup following a record-breaking rise in domestic and international football.
The Club Tijuana prospect recently faced the media ahead of the global tournament, where he is set to be the youngest participant.
When jokingly asked if he would celebrate a potential final victory with an ice cream, the teenager laughed and confirmed he would prefer vanilla.
Despite the lighthearted moment, the young playmaker is already accustomed to the intense scrutiny that accompanies his precocious talent.
Rapid rise to the international stage
At just 15 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history.
His development accelerated further when he debuted for the senior national team a year later.
The Mexican prodigy even surpassed football icons Lamine Yamal and Pelé to become the youngest player to secure an international trophy during last summer’s Gold Cup triumph.
Now 17, the dynamic midfielder hopes to elevate his promising career on the sport’s most prestigious platform.
“It’s a dream for me, being able to play soccer, which is what I love doing most, and now, representing your country in a World Cup is something beautiful.” – Gilberto Mora
Maturity beyond his years
International teammate Santiago Gimenez recently highlighted the youngster’s unique focus during the team’s Gold Cup campaign.
The experienced striker noted that while other players were distracted by their phones, the teenage phenomenon was quietly reading a book on the team bus.
This exceptional thirst for knowledge extends far beyond the football pitch.
Linguistic skills and tactical awareness
During a recent press conference, the agile playmaker surprised the media by answering questions in fluent English.
Club manager Sebastián Abreu proudly interrupted the briefing to applaud his player’s impressive linguistic skills.
“He strikes with his left, with the right, he scores goals, and he speaks to you in English.” – Sebastián Abreu
On the pitch, his tactical awareness and constant scanning of the game demonstrate a remarkable intelligence that belies his young age.
Fifa has introduced a sweeping series of 11 rule changes for the 2026 World Cup aimed at eliminating timewasting and expanding video assistant referee powers.
The global governing body implemented these measures under the guidance of head of referees Pierluigi Collina.
Fans will soon see these regulations applied domestically across the Premier League, English Football League and Scottish Premiership next season.
Instead of adding unprecedented amounts of stoppage time, officials will now focus on deterring players from delaying restarts.
During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, strict timekeeping resulted in matches regularly exceeding 100 minutes.
England’s opening 6-2 victory over Iran famously featured a remarkable 24 minutes of added time across both halves.
Strict countdowns for restarts
Referees will now visibly enforce a five-second countdown for goal-kicks and throw-ins.
Officials will signal the countdown by moving their arm up and down if they feel a player is unnecessarily delaying the game.
Goalkeepers who take too long over their kicks will now concede a corner instead of merely risking a yellow card.
Similarly, players who deliberately waste time taking a throw-in will see possession handed straight to the opposition.
The Italian refereeing chief hopes that the threat of conceding a dangerous set-piece will prove a much more effective deterrent than bookings.
Temporary dismissals for slow substitutions
Substituted players are now strictly required to leave the pitch at the nearest boundary point within 10 seconds.
Failing to meet this deadline will prevent the replacement player from entering the field for at least one minute.
The offending team will then be forced to play with 10 players until the next natural stoppage in play.
Exemptions to this strict departure rule will only be granted for genuine injuries or severe security concerns.
This specific penalty has already been tested in international football.
Iceland were recently left a man down for over two minutes during a friendly against Japan after a player failed to leave the pitch promptly.
Expanded video technology powers
The comprehensive 2026 regulations also include new unspecified powers for the video assistant referee.
Additional adjustments have been formulated to address general player behaviour towards match officials.
Tournament organisers ultimately aim to protect the natural tempo of the game while reducing the potential for match-changing mistakes.
Former four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr believes Anthony Joshua’s psychological edge will be the deciding factor when he faces domestic rival Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated heavyweight clash later this year.
The British duo are expected to finally meet in the ring before Christmas, ending more than a decade of bitter exchanges and failed negotiations.
Both heavyweights signed agreements for the historic double-header shortly after the Gypsy King secured a comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
Before the undisputed showdown can happen, the Watford-born fighter will first return to action against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 25 July.
Psychological warfare the key to victory
As the long-awaited encounter draws closer, 57-year-old boxing icon Jones Jr has weighed in on what the former Olympian must do to overcome his undefeated opponent.
The American legend believes the mental state of the two-time unified champion will entirely dictate the outcome of the blockbuster bout.
“You’re looking to see how his mental dominance works,” Jones Jr said in a recent interview.
“If he’s mentally dominant, then you know he’s ready to go into a big fight, but if he’s not mentally dominant, then he’s not ready for Tyson Fury.”
“Mental dominance is the look you see on his face from round one until whatever round it takes to end it.”
Rematch clauses and broadcast battles
The mammoth all-British rivalry is expected to feature a two-fight deal, with the inaugural contest set to be broadcast live on Netflix.
A planned rematch would then be shown on DAZN, ensuring both fighters’ respective broadcast partners are accommodated.
Jones Jr has urged both men to embrace the possibility of a trilogy if the opening bouts deliver the spectacle boxing fans are hoping for.
“If it’s a very good fight, a very competitive fight, and it’s close, we all want to see it again,” he explained.
“We’re going to want to see two out of three, but if somebody completely dominates somebody, we’re just going to say he was better than him.”
Everton have been ordered to pay Burnley £40m after losing an unprecedented legal battle regarding historical Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) breaches.
The landmark ruling comes three years after the Merseyside club were initially handed a 10-point deduction by the Premier League.
That initial sporting punishment related to financial regulations broken during the 2021-22 campaign.
The points sanction was later successfully reduced to six on appeal at the beginning of 2024.
The cost of top-flight survival
The Clarets successfully argued that an immediate sporting sanction in 2022 would have fundamentally altered the relegation picture.
During that fiercely contested campaign, the Goodison Park outfit finished 16th with a total of 39 points.
Their Lancashire rivals ended up in 18th place and dropped down into the Championship as a result.
Burnley claimed they missed out on tens of millions of pounds in vital broadcasting revenue by falling out of the top division.
Unprecedented financial penalty
This verdict represents a landmark moment in English football governance.
It establishes a major precedent for clubs seeking financial restitution from rivals who violate strictly monitored spending limits.
The substantial compensation fee adds massive strain to an already fragile financial situation at the nine-time league champions.