‘Buckeye. Landing’ posted a photo of Devin on November 29 along with the message, “Great news for the Buckeyes! #gobucks“. Great News?! It’s fantastic to hear that “5 Ohio State CB commit Devin Sanchez will be visiting Columbus for the TTUN game.” After this news breaking, it appears Buckeyes fans are going crazy over this news before the Michigan vs. Ohio State game. Furthermore, Devin’s Jim Thorpe Award, which recognizes the best defensive back in college football, was shown in the post’s image.

In case you didn’t know, Devin is ranked as the top CB in his class, the fifth-best player in the NATL, and the second-best player in Texas. Any program would be thrilled to acquire such a top prospect, and his attendance at Ohio State Stadium for the Michigan vs. Buckeyes game further cemented his dedication to Ohio State, which excites the supporters.

Please look at the gestures made by fans toward the outstanding quarterback, who has been committed to Ohio State since January, before you learn more about his abilities. Let’s discuss it in more detail.

Huge hype for Ohio State’s new CB!

Back on January 6, Sanchez made sure to inform everyone on social media that Michigan was not suitable for him after completing the new CFB video game. He not only closed out the squad up north in the CFP National Title Game, but he also hung 104 points on them. This star CB’s journey to Columbus will now exclusively be for Ohio State, no question about it. Following Devin’s decision, a fan welcomed him to Ohio Stadium with the words, “Welcome Young Man!!!!” “Go, Bucks!” There was another fan who said, “We got Aaron Scott and him possible.” In case you were unaware, Aaron Scott Jr. is a rookie CB for Ohio State. He recently lost his black stripe, which is an indication that he is officially a part of the team.

It’s safe to say that a player who believes in his abilities may use assertiveness to change the course of a game, and Devin Sanchez, the top player for North Shore, is one such guy. The teenage cornerback performed an incredible kickoff return at a speed of 21.3 MPH, which is beyond excellence, just like in their most recent matchup with the Deer Park group. Regarding OSU’s commitment, a fan wrote, “I love this dude and his fam, great people and I never even met them.” One more fan wrote, “.” It just shows how much the fan loves this five-star player.

Amidst all of this, a fan used the word “tags” to convey his excitement for Devin’s decision to go to Columbus. It just means that, with OSU’s present record of 10-1, the top athlete will never change his commitment to Ohio State because the tag is sufficient. Such tags may include “#ohiostate #ohiostatebuckeyes #ohiostateuniversity #ohio #osu #osufootball #buckeye #buckeyes #gobuckeyes #gobucks #gobucks”. We’re hoping to hear this outstanding CB’s thoughts on the Michigan vs. Ohio State game. Wait, a few hours to hear that.

The post Texas Football Prodigy Sends Buckeyes Nation Into Frenzy Ahead of Michigan vs. Ohio State Showdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Bo Nickal‘s performance at UFC 309 left a lot of fans disappointed, as despite winning, he failed to mount a clear offensive against his Scottish counterpart. The fight between both grapplers was primarily a kickboxing match, with far and few big moments in between. The Penn State wrestling alum stated that he wanted to ‘keep the fight on the feet’ as a reason for not taking ‘Bear Jew’ down. However, following criticism for his lackluster performance and not using his strengths to dominate his opponent, Nickal stated that he would ‘take his opponents down’ in subsequent fights, in a conversation with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast.

Some say that Bo Nickal was afraid to engage with Paul Craig because of the latter’s BJJ credentials. Chael Sonnen begged to differ on that opinion in a breakdown on his YouTube channel. He also expressed his confusion at Nickal’s bid to wrestle only after he received criticism for the Paul Craig fight. “Bo is not scared to lose. Most people can’t relate to that. Most people would not go into the match against Gordon Ryan with no belt, no jiu-jitsu no one – just because they were offering it because they know what the outcome is going to be, and that in itself will stop them from competing. Bo was not like that.”, said Sonnen on his ‘Bad Guy Inc’ YouTube show.

‘The American Gangster’ continued, “And Bo went to that position with Gordon and had tremendous success for a very large amount of time. I am just trying to figure this out. I had let this go, this was behind us. I am now re-confused by the statement of Bo promising to take everybody else down.”

You can’t fault Chael Sonnen for experiencing confusion with regards to Bo Nickal, as the latter seems to be jumping back and forth with his words. On one hand, he called the fans in attendance ‘drunk’ for chanting “overrated” at him during the fight, and stated that he was satisfied with his performance. On the other hand, he said that he’d stick to his strengths of wrestling his opponents from his next fight onwards.

Bo Nickal promised to change up his game in his next fight

A three-time NCAA Division-1 champion and former Dan Hodge Trophy winner, Bo Nickal’s transition to MMA was met with high expectations. While he is undefeated with six finishes in seven wins, fans keep finding new ways of dunking on the All-American wrestler. So, it’s not surprising that they didn’t miss an opportunity to bash the Penn State alum after his decision win against Paul Craig at UFC 309.

However, Nickal seemed content with his performance against Paul Craig despite the criticism. “I dominated a veteran, a guy who has 26 fights, for three straight rounds with just using striking. I didn’t even use my biggest asset. I think people now are saying, ‘Oh, Bo, he can’t wrestle’ this or that. Bro, trust me, I can wrestle.” Nickal said to Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast. However, Nickal made it clear that he will use his wrestling in his upcoming matches – “So, you can guarantee that every single guy I’m going to be taking them down. There’s a very low chance — I’m not going to say zero because crazy things happen — I could slip on a banana peel or something. Very low chance that they’re taking me down, and if they do I’m getting up guaranteed.”

Bo Nickal acknowledges that he’s still growing in the sport, and his confidence can sometimes be perceived as arrogance. Regardless, some see his confidence in beating a top contender like Khamzat Chimaev as misplaced, especially after his performance against Paul Craig. Regardless, Nickal in undefeated in seven fights with six finishes; five of those coming in the first round.

What do you think of Bo Nickal’s future in the UFC? Do you think he’ll break into the top 10 by the end of 2025? Let us know in the comments down below.

The post Bo Nickal Leaves Chael Sonnen Confused With Huge ‘Guarantee’ After UFC 309 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Irish Saunders’ journey with Hoosier began part-time in the summer of 1976. After his stint turned full-time in 1981, Saunders dedicated himself to the rivalry with Goodyear that kicked off with a bang in 1988. After working for four decades at the iconic tire brand, Saunders is finally ready to call it quits.

NASCAR’s tire veteran leaves emotional message

During the 1988 season, teams learned that Hoosier tires were softer and faster, while Goodyears were more durable and safer. So the latter company started trying for faster tires – this battle for better tires resulted in crashes during the Coca-Cola 600 race. However, only one tire brand prevailed – that season, Hoosier won 9 out of 29 races. Amidst this resounding success was a pioneer of the brand – Irish Saunders. Although Hoosier left NASCAR for good after 1994, the relationships forged with drivers and teams were immortal. From three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart gifting Saunders’ son a 600 Mini Sprint race car to Saunders mentoring a crippled former NASCAR driver, his ties to the sport are strong.

So when Irish Saunders announced his retirement recently, he sent emotional ripples across the NASCAR world. He penned a heartfelt message on Facebook, declaring his departure from Hoosier. “After four decades with Hoosier Racing Tire, the time has come for me to step away and embrace retirement.” He offered a tribute to the racing legends he has worked with. “First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the racers, tracks, and promoters who bring this sport to life…One of the greatest honors of my career has been the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most talented racers in the history of motorsports. While there are far too many to name, know that each of you has left an indelible mark on me.” 

Then Saunders went on to hail his tenure at Hoosier. Having worked for a fierce tire brand that competed with NASCAR’s currently exclusive tire supplier is an honor indeed. “I am incredibly proud to have been part of the remarkable growth of Hoosier Racing Tire. This company is more than a workplace; it is a family built on passion, innovation, and resilience. The relationships I have built with employees over the years have been some of the most meaningful in my life. I have learned so much from all of you, and I am eternally grateful for the camaraderie and support that made every challenge worthwhile.”

In response, his former colleagues and fans poured forth wishes for Saunders’ upcoming journey.

Respect earned where it was due

Irish Saunders’ work in Hoosier has been pioneering. For instance, he expertly handled a tire supply shortage that hit the short-track industry in 2021 as the asphalt business manager. Back then many teams asked for 16-24 tires per weekend as against the usual 4-8. Saunders got down to the bottom of the problem, which was the teams’ excess money following COVID-19. So after four decades of such expert work, fans were sad to see Saunders leave his post. “Irish, To many of us, including myself, you are and always will be Hoosier Tire. Thank you for your loyalty and friendship which I know will continue. You deserve a big thanks from all of us in racing. Thank You!” Another fan congratulated Saunders for earning his time off from a memorable career. “Congrats n so well deserved…. enjoy ur time off!!”

NASCAR celebrities also flocked to congratulate Saunders on starting his new journey. Kenny Wallace, a 9-time Xfinity winner, clinched the  2012 DirtCar championship and the 2021 Wild Card 25 race. He credited these dirt racing laurels to Saunders: “I sure am happy that I started my second phase of life in DIRT racing That is why I met you. You have another journey coming up ” Also NASCAR legend Geoff Bodine owns four wins with Hoosier in 1994, hailed Saunders’ new journey: “It’s about time . You’ll be missed at the tracks with Hoosier but you’re going to be loved everywhere else. Have a great and Happy Thanksgiving ”

This year, Hoosier became the official tire provider for the highly anticipated, second annual Open Wheel Showdown, with Saunders at the forefront. The veteran’s pioneering work in dirt racing was hailed by people, and one fan was eager to see him enjoying a race instead of working on it from now on. “The passion and desire you dedicate to this sport is much appreciated by all- especially myself! Cheers to you sir. Can’t wait for you to enjoy some racing at Eldora as a fan!”

Evidently, Irish Saunders will be dearly missed by the NASCAR community. His work with Hoosier has been unforgettable, as he proceeds to look back on his legacy.

The post NASCAR’s Infamous ‘Tire War’ Witness & Pioneer Overwhelms Fans With Emotional Goodbye to 4-Decade-Long Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The trade was unprecedented, but as the dust settled, fans and analysts couldn’t stop asking – who ultimately won in the exchange? During an appearance together on the ‘Mighty’ podcast, Johnson and Askren agreed that the trade was beneficial for both promotions. But what does Daniel Cormier think? The former champ-champ believes there was one clear winner, and in his opinion, it wasn’t UFC boss Dana White!

Dana White proclaimed to be the ‘loser’ in ONE Championship trade by Daniel Cormier  

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier didn’t hold back with his thoughts about the 2018 exchange between the UFC and ONE Championship. He stated, “Demetrious Johnson and Ben Askren, yesterday, were discussing who won the trade when ONE FC got DJ and when the UFC got Ben. Guys, y’all know that Ben is my podcast partner and my friend, but come on man. One FC won, they won.”

Johnson didn’t waste time making his mark in ONE Championship. He conquered their flyweight division, winning the Grand Prix and securing the title after a thrilling rivalry with Adriano Moraes. What about Ben Askren? Cormier referenced the conversation between the pair as he stated, “So if it wasn’t for you, they might not even have the rise of Jorge Masvidal because of the flying knee, ‘Street Jesus’, [without whom] you wouldn’t have had Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards’ – so Ben Askren played a big part, but ONE won.”

Askren, a notorious trash talker, brought his brand of getting under his opponent’s skin to his UFC fights as well. His debut was explosive, earning a controversial victory over Robbie Lawler. But then came ‘that’ flying knee from Jorge Masvidal—five seconds that redefined his career. By the end of his UFC stint, Askren had become more of a catalyst than a contender.

But despite the UFC and Dana White benefiting from Askren’s presence, Cormier emphasized ONE’s long-term gain. “ONE Championship won [with Demetrious Johnson].” Askren’s UFC journey may have been short, but it wasn’t without impact. Yet, as ‘DC’ indicated, for ONE Championship, Johnson became a beacon of credibility. By winning (and losing) in a new promotion, he validated ONE’s level of competition. Even his lone loss – being knocked out by Adriano Moraes the first time they met- elevated the organization.

But even though the former ‘champ-champ’ believes the UFC and Dana White were the losers in this equation, Demetrious Johnson had previously provided a more nuanced take on the situation by highlighting why ONE Championship seemingly came out on top in the trade!

Johnson believes ONE Championship got the “better fighter” in trade with the UFC  

What’s the price of greatness? Is it money or legacy? In 2018, after losing his title to Henry Cejudo, Demetrious Johnson made the leap to ONE Championship, thanks to an unprecedented trade with Ben Askren. While the UFC seemed to get the financial edge in this deal, Johnson believes his move to ONE Championship added a whole new dimension to the promotion. In a conversation with Ariel Helwani, Johnson confessed, “Money wise, I think the UFC won because of how much more money they were able to generate… I wasn’t making [Dana White and the UFC] any money.”

However, he didn’t see this as a loss. Instead, Johnson pointed out that ONE Championship struck gold with him. ‘Mighty Mouse’ stated, “You look at the fights I was able to produce; the knockouts, the buzz that I was able to produce for ONE Championship. If I wanted to, today, I could still fight. I don’t think Ben Askren could still fight. I mean, it’s easy clear that [One Championship] got the better athlete, the better fighter.”

Johnson recently hung up his gloves by announcing his retirement at ONE 168. What did UFC boss Dana White think about it? The UFC head honcho, while speaking to Grind City Media, stated, “Good for him. Incredible career he had. I never had a problem with Demetrious Johnson. Absolutely [he’s a UFC Hall of Famer].”, despite previously stating that ‘DJ’ wasn’t a big draw in the UFC.

As Johnson enjoys his well-earned retirement, he’s not just leaving behind a legacy of records and titles. He’s ensured that ONE Championship is seen as a legitimate force in the MMA world, one that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the UFC. In the end, as Daniel Cormier wisely observed, it was ONE Championship that ultimately won the trade—both in talent and in the lasting value Johnson brought to their brand.

The post Dana White Dealt a Blow to the Face Over 6 Year Old UFC Deal appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Swiatek was provisionally suspended from 12 September and she appealed the provisional suspension on 22 September. Her provisional suspension was lifted on 4 October and her period of ineligibility will end on 4 December. Thankfully for the Polish tennis fans, Iga Swiatek’s level of fault was considered to be at the lowest end of the range for “No significant fault or negligence.” As a result, her suspension will not affect the start of the new season. After finishing the year on the second spot in the WTA Rankings, Iga Swiatek will be keen to pull things back on track right from the 2025 AO!

Speaking on this doping controversy, the Minister of Sport and Tourism for Poland, Sławomir Nitras tweeted, “Even the greatest perfectionists sometimes fall victim to other people’s mistakes. It’s good that this story is over. Now all that matters is AO2025 [Australian Open 2025]. Ride.” However, he isn’t the only one who has portrayed a fair bit of support towards Poland’s biggest star!

Iga Swiatek recently uploaded a video clip on her IG account where she was heard saying that the presence of the banned substance had put everything she achieved in her life into question. She also revealed that her “biggest hope” now is to have the support of all the fans throughout this dark phase in her career. Talking about support, we saw her close friend, Naomi Osaka dropping a “” in the comment section of that post. Even her compatriot, Magdalena Frech, commented, “” on that post.

 

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Even the renowned American ski racer, Lindsey Vonn reacted to Iga Swiatek’s video. She wrote, “We know your character and your fans know it too. We have your back!” However, some of them didn’t look too pleased with the way things have gone in this doping controversy. Let’s take a look at some more reactions from the tennis world surrounding Iga Swiatek’s doping saga.

“HOW WAS SHE ALLOWED TO PLAY” – WTA pro expresses her disbelief with the ruling on Iga Swiatek’s doping case

Recently, Simona Halep penned down a lengthy note showcasing her disagreement with the ruling in Iga Swiatek‘s case. She opined that players are treated and judged differently. For those, who are unaware, Halep tested positive for Roxadustat, a prohibited substance at the 2022 US Open. The ITIA had issued a four-year ban on the Romanian star, which would have expired in 2026! However, she had to fight tooth and nail to get her suspension reduced. So, she was perhaps not very pleased to see Iga Swiatek getting away so easily.

Even the Canadian tennis star, Denis Shapovalov looked quite surprised with just a one-year ban. He even drew a comparison with Halep’s case in his recent tweet. German tennis player, Eva Lys highlighted the case of Tara Moore, who faced a lengthy suspension after consuming contaminated meat during a tournament in South America. She wrote, “There are a lot of lower-ranked players that are not getting the same treatment as ‘higher-ranked’ players.” What did Moore say, though?

Tara Moore expressed her disbelief on social media by saying, “Wait… so she was supposed to be suspended until Dec 4th yet played BJK Cup… which was (correct me if I’m wrong) LAST WEEK. HOW WAS SHE ALLOWED TO PLAY WHILST BEING SUSPENDED??? Someone plz explain cause I’m spiralling. @jon_wertheim @Tennis @TennisChannel.” However, American tennis star, Taylor Fritz offered a different perspective.

He highlighted how social media often acts as a tool for unfair criticism and biased narrative in these types of doping controversies. Fritz brutally slammed fans and tennis players for targeting Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek to push their personal agendas. What are your thoughts on Iga Swiatek’s doping controversy, though?

The post ‘Perfectionists Sometimes Fall Victim’- Amidst Doping Saga, Iga Swiatek Finds Solace as Polish Politician Massively Backs Her appeared first on EssentiallySports.

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According to the Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report highlighted by ESPN, the only player on the list is Joe Ingles. Acquired by the franchise during the recent offseason, the player has been present for only 7 games. As of now, he has missed four consecutive games. The reason behind it was the left soleus strain that Ingles sustained sometime in the aftermath of the Timberwolves-Suns matchup.

Being the tertiary power forward for the Timberwolves, Joe Ingles didn’t get much chance to play. Even when he was available for the games. In his 7 appearances, the player only averaged 0.0 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists through an average playtime of 3.7 minutes. Therefore, his absence may not have too much of an impact on the Timberwolves when they go up against James Harden and Co.

Speaking of James Harden and Co., their position is more precarious than their rivals. After all, while the Timberwolves only have one player listed as ‘OUT’, the LA Clippers have FOUR! The absence of Kawhi Leonard and PJ Tucker had already been affecting the franchise for a long time. Despite this, they still managed to play on. Now, however, even Norman Powell and Kobe Brown have been declared ‘OUT’.

The Timberwolves matchup will mark the 2^nd consecutive game that Brown will miss. After all, he continues to recover from his back soreness. For Norman Powell, it will be his 6^th, with the shooting guard/small forward recovering from a left hamstring strain. On a positive note, Powell’s status is ‘Questionable’. Therefore, while he may not be present to take on Anthony Edwards and Co., the player is on a path to recovery and may make himself available after a gap of a few more games.

With these injury updates, adjustments will have to be made by just one team, to their starting lineup, for the matchup.

What will the starting lineup and depth chart for the Timberwolves-Clippers game look like?

As mentioned earlier, the sole absence of Joe Ingles will not have a major effect on the Minnesota Timberwolves. After all, Julius Randle and Naz Reid are enough to handle the responsibility of a power forward. Taking this into consideration, we expect the starting lineup for the Lakers to look something like this:

Meanwhile, Norman Powell is the starting small forward for the LA Clippers. According to RotoWire, in order to cover for him, players like Amir Coffey, Jordan Miller, and Kevin Porter can continue seeing an increase in their minutes.

The Minnesota Timberwolves or the LA Clippers? Who will you be rooting for during the upcoming matchup? Let us know in the comments down below.

The post Timberwolves vs Clippers: Injury Report, Depth Chart, and More After Anthony Edwards’ Public Callout of Teammates appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The͏ former ͏i͏nterim ͏w͏el͏ter͏wei͏ght ͏cha͏mpi͏on has been one of the most controversial figures in the fighting world owing to his unhinged rants toward his opponents, and fighters across several divisions. ‘Chaos’ finds himself being called out repeatedly for his words by the MMA community, and this was especially true in the lead-up to his fight against former champion Leon Edwards. At the UFC 296 pre-fight press conference, ‘Chaos’ took his thrash talk a bit far when he stated, “I’m bringing you to the seventh layer of hell. We’ll say ‘what’s up’ to your dad while we’re there.” Edwards’ father was unalived in gang-related violence when ‘Rocky’ was just 13.

We all know that Covington plays a character, but this seemed a tad bit too much even for the most rabid of ‘Chaos’ fans. While he took the opportunity to apologize to Edwards at the ceremonial weigh-ins of their fight, claiming that he was ‘in character’, his reputation took a massive hit when he failed to beat Leon Edwards at UFC 296. That was in December 2023, and it’s been almost exactly a year since Covington last fought. Between then and now, ‘Chaos’ has been the subject of much ridicule for issuing scathing remarks towards Ian Garry, but not signing the contract to fight him.

 

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The latest from Colby Covington isn’t his usual mouthing off on social media, but an acknowledgment of the American holiday, with an American icon. The former interim lightweight champion took to his Instagram handle to add a photo of him alongside Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone at Donald Trump’s premium estate Mar-A-Lago. He uploaded two photos with the Hollywood star and captioned it as, “Happy Thanksgiving from Mar-a-Lago  @officialslystallone.” As he uploaded this photo, the MMA community responded positively, seemingly forgetting that they had once denigrated the former interim welterweight champion.

Fans react to Colby Covington’s Thanksgiving post

A year off from fighting seemed to take Covington out of public scrutiny, as seen in his latest post. His appearance with Stallone at Trump’s Thanksgiving dinner seemed to have warmed fans’ hearts as they posted comments like “The duo we needed to see” and “Love this pic”.

Colby Covington has always touted himself as a ‘True American’, vocally rallying behind US President Donald Trump, and now fans are loving his association with one of the most legendary actors in Hollywood cinema. Acknowledging the two, fans left comments such as “Two of the great one” and “2 champs 1 pic” . The last comment, of course, alludes to what both personalities are known for, i.e., fighting. For Covington, fighting is real life, and for Stallone, it was ‘reel life’ owing to his portrayal of the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa.

Another fan even stated “Legends” status for both of them. More appreciation for the duo came in the form of acknowledgment for all they’d done in their respective domains, with comments like “Legends” and “Legendary”. Last but not least, a fan stated, “I’ll be there December 14th in Tampa Colby you better win!“, highlighting Covington’s upcoming fight on December 14th.

Colby Covington will appear in his 22nd MMA fight against Joaquin Buckley, this December at UFC on ESPN 63 or UFC Tampa, as it’s being popularly touted. The bout was initially supposed to be contested between Ian Garry and Joaquin Buckley, but the former got relegated to fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.

With these fights being in place, who do you think will win between Covington and Buckley? Will ‘Chaos’ be able to mount his signature pressure-heavy wrestling style, or will ‘New Mansa’ catch him with a big shot and put his lights out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

The post Hated by the Entire UFC Fanbase, Colby Covington’s Thanksgiving Message With Sylvester Stallone Receives Unexpected Love appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Today, let’s take a dive and see who stands in Pereira’s way to becoming a triple champion. After all, this might point to his upcoming title defense. 

Magomed Ankalaev is next for the Light Heavyweight title shot

Fighting Ankalaev seems like the only way forward for the man with the hands of stone. Being the #1 contender in the light heavyweight division, he is the logical opponent for the light heavyweight champion. However, the ‘Poatan’ hasn’t said yes to the fight yet. The Russian fighter has been asking for a fight with Pereira for a long time now. Frustrated with being sidelined, he kept on lashing out at the Brazilian on the internet. But Pereira had had enough. He said, “The organization doesn’t want to make the fight. But now because they keep saying that, keep disrespecting, maybe I’ll make it a little bit even harder for them to fight (me).”

Nevertheless, the fight is reportedly being planned to go down at UFC 315 in May 2025. Of course, Pereira stands as the greatest roadblock to the matchup, but Ankalaev hopes he’d eventually come around. The #1 LHW contender claimed, “Pereira has not yet agreed to the fight. But, sooner or later, it will happen. I think the fight can take place in May.” 

This timeframe was also confirmed by Alex Pereira. During his appearance on Ariel Helwani’s talk show right after UFC 307, Pereira, through a translator, revealed the ideal timeline for his return. He said, “Ideally, he would fight around June, it would be ideal, but he would maybe like to fight around March, even, but honestly, say, if it were up to him, he’ll fight in December right now.” 

 

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But Ankalaev wasn’t the only prospect waiting to take on Pereira. His former opponents, Jiri Prochazka and Jamahall Hill have also been eyeing for a rematch with the light heavyweight champ.

Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill could decide Pereira’s next opponent

Prochazka and Hill are all set to lock horns at UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome, Los Angeles. The battle between the former light heavyweight champions is scheduled for the 18th of January. But it’s not just a match that the LHW fighters are looking forward to. Being ranked #2 and #3, ‘Denisa’ and ‘Sweet Dreams’ would be fighting to decide who would go on for the next title shot. 

Pereira defended the LHW championship belt against Hill back at UFC 300 and won with a first-round KO. Needless to say, Hill has been itching for a chance to avenge himself ever since. On the other hand, the Czech fighter faced two defeats at the hands of the Brazilian champ. And both came with a KO in the second round. The winner of the UFC 311 bout going up against the champion would indeed be the natural order for the division, right?

But first, Pereira needs to prove himself against Ankalaev’s grappling skills. But in case he fails to secure a win over the Russian light heavyweight, would he still fight the winner of Prochazka vs. Hill? Well, that’s the food for thought we need to have right now. If Pereira keeps up the level of activity from the last calendar year, he could get in both of these fights while Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall figure thing out at heavyweight.

The Jones vs. Aspinall fight also seems to be on the right tracks as both stars have confirmed negotiations are happening with the UFC. The mood around this fight is optimistic, considering it was Dana White’s one condition for Jon Jones to get his hands on Alex Pereira. So it seems that both champions will have to beat at least one of their next rightful divisional contenders before they can get their hands on each other. 

What do you think of the matchup between Ankalaev and Pereira? Who are you supporting if the two happen to clash at UFC 315? What are your thoughts on Jones vs. Pereira? Let us know in the comments down below

The post Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones Could Well Depend on These 2 Fights for ‘Poatan’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Speaking to Brandi Harvey, the mother of four declared how social media has been both good and bad for her. One of the reasons for the latter is that many random people approached her to get through to her son. Many even kept asking her for money. “Because of the negative press and so many of the negative things and so many of the lies and people come on you don’t know who they are they beg for money,” she shared.

Podcast host and entrepreneur Brandi Harvey, who has a famous father, Steve Harvey, could also relate to Lucille. But the mother of four finally warned the people to stop asking her for money on social media as she doesn’t have a regular job. “Definitely don’t ask me for nothing I don’t have a regular job,” she asserted. 

But that doesn’t mean that the mother of four isn’t kind and helpful. Generosity and helping people in need are the two qualities that O’Neal learned from his parents. It’s their teaching that Shaquille O’Neal often helps random people. Just a few days ago, the basketball legend gave a $500 gift card to a couple at the JCPenney. This couple returned the favor by using the money for their charity work. But not all people have the same intention.

And probably that is why Ms. O’Neal issued the warning. And Lucille has herself been a known philanthropist. She has helped Boys & Girls Clubs of America with initiatives addressing hunger, literacy, and family strengthening. She has come to establish herself well. But it was a tough road. 

Lucille felt like she lost her identity after her son got famous. “I lost my identity when Shaquille got drafted to the NBA. People didn’t know who I was or only referred to me as being Shaq’s mom,” Lucille O’Neal once said. But this identity crisis would help convince Ms. O’Neal make the biggest decision of her life. This was also one of the rare times when she borrowed money from her son for that same reason.

Lucille O’Neal wanted to complete her education 

When she realized her identity crisis, Lucille O’Neal, was determined to kick-start her career again. “Being a mother of children who play basketball or get into the world of entertainment causes you to reflect a lot. Who am I without all of this attention that’s being brought on to the family? So, I just re-examined myself,” O’Neal said. And that began with her education.

Surprising her son for the first time, she asked for money for her college. This was around the 2000’s. “I got a call one night. She said, ‘Baby, I need to borrow some money’. I said, ‘Why?’. She said, ‘I wanna go to school,” the Los Angeles Lakers legend said.

She joined Bethune-Cookman University’s adult education program. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Ms. O’Neal decided to pursue her postgraduate studies at the University of Phoenix and acquired a Master of Arts in Organizational Management. She has written two books and the Bethune-Cookman University honored her with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in May 2016. 

Even though her son is a millionaire, the mother of four has preferred a lifestyle that she can afford with her own money. If Ms. O’Neal is striving to stand on her legs, it’s understandable why she isn’t interested in fulfilling these odd requests.

The post “Beg for Money”: Shaquille O’Neal’s Mama Lucille Gave Needy Fans a Reality Check Over Absurd Requests appeared first on EssentiallySports.