Could Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey return to UFC?
UFC boss Dana White talked to The Sporting Tribune about the rumored returns of superstars Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
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1. Could Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey return to UFC?
UFC boss Dana White talked to The Sporting Tribune about the rumored returns of superstars Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
Box office stars Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey have this week been linked with returns to the UFC.
Speaking to The Sporting Tribune and other reporters Tuesday at the Apex in Las Vegas, UFC boss Dana White clarified that neither will likely happen any time soon — if at all.
“I have no clue,” White said, regarding whether or not McGregor could fight in the UFC this year. “We’ll see how this plays out.”
The former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor posted a screenshot on X, formerly known as Twitter, depicting an alleged UFC Fight Pass image that suggested the Irishman would headline the company’s December 16 show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Though the post has since been removed from X, it sparked speculation that McGregor’s return could be imminent.
That speculation has merit as McGregor this summer starred in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) opposite Michael Chandler as rival coaches who led teams of fighters to compete against one another.
2. EXCLUSIVE: Alex Curry to host FOX Sports Radio Show
Manhattan Beach native Alex Curry will team with Cal State Fullerton grad Monse Bolaños to host the only women-led show on FOX Sports Radio.
Alex Curry’s career rise continues, as she will become the host of a new FOX Sports Radio show, The Sporting Tribune has learned.
Curry will be the host of the new women-led weekend program, FOX Sports Saturday with Alex Curry and Monse Bolaños. The show, which Curry will co-host with FOX Sports Radio’s Monse Bolaños, will debut this Saturday and occupy the 4 – 6 p.m. ET/1 – 3 p.m. PT timeslot on Saturdays on the network.
The show will be the only one on Fox Sports Radio’s lineup hosted by women.
“From the moment I started in this industry, I’ve been saying, I want my own show, and I’ve been working towards that over the last decade,” Curry told The Sporting Tribune. “To have an opportunity like this hosting a woman-led weekend show on FOX Sports Radio is just a dream come true.
3. Aces end skid, top Washington, 84-75
A'ja Wilson scored 26 points and 11 rebounds to help the Aces end a two-game slide in an 84-75 win over Washington on Thursday, writes The Sporting Tribune’s W.G. Ramirez.
The Las Vegas Aces ended their only two-game losing skid of the season with an 84-75 win over the Washington Mystics.
The win exacted revenge from a 78-62 loss in Washington D.C. on Aug. 26, and also improved the Aces to 31-6. The 31 wins are a WNBA record for wins in a season.
Reigning Western Conference Player of the Week A’ja Wilson finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, her 20th double-double of the season.
Las Vegas returns to the court Saturday night at home against the Seattle Storm.
4. Sparks stumble against Storm, lose third straight game
The Sparks are now outside of the playoff picture due to losing the tiebreaker against the Sky, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Rey Moralde.
Well, that didn’t go well.
The Sparks lost another huge game as the Seattle Storm suffocated them on the defensive end. The final score was 72-61 and it was just one of those grinds. L.A. was usually pretty good at that but the Storm beat them in their own game for the second straight match-up.
The first quarter was not great for the Sparks. Sami Whitcomb was able to get off to a fast start while Jewell Loyd was a classic playmaker with five early dimes. Karlie Samuelson did make a lay-up before the buzzer but the Storm held a 22-12 lead after 10 minutes.
The Sparks scored 8 straight, which went back to the end of the first. But Seattle countered with 7 straight of their own. With the Sparks missing shots and quite frankly, Seattle just being a tougher team, the Storm went into halftime with a 38-29 lead.
5. It’s the end of an (atrocious) era for the Pac-12 Network
After eleven seasons, Saturday will mark USC's final ever football game to air on the colossal failure known as the Pac-12 Network, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Adam Bradford.
On the surface, USC’s matchup against Nevada at the Coliseum this Saturday may not seem all that noteworthy.
The Trojans are currently 38-point favorites over the visiting Wolfpack. ESPN Analytics gives USC a 96.8 percent chance of winning the game. Anything less than a decisive victory would be considered a massive disappointment.
However, USC’s matchup against Nevada on Saturday is far from your typical ho-hum, run-of-the-mill nonconference game. After eleven seasons, this will mark USC’s final ever football game to air on the colossal failure known as the Pac-12 Network.
6. ‘Bows looking to ‘bring back Aloha Stadium’ feeling for home-opener
Timmy Chang's Hawai'i squad has a prime opportunity to hit .500 for the first time in two years, but they can't look past a rebuilding Stanford program with an FCS winner at head coach, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Paul Brecht.
The Run-N-Shoot is back, baby.
Week 0 for the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors showed many things as year two of the Timmy Chang era got underway, but none were more prevalent than the effectiveness of the famous University of Hawai’i football offensive scheme.
The best example of that?
‘Bows junior QB Brayden Schager enjoyed a dynamic 2023 debut against Vanderbilt, throwing for career-best 351 yards to go along with three touchdowns (matching his performance against someone in ’22). Entering his first season without a quarterback competition at the start of it, the signal-caller looked in command of the offense as he tore up a Vanderbilt secondary that continues to look for answers after a tough showing last season.
The emergence of redshirt freshman Pofele Ashlock — who earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors for going for 7-127-1 on Saturday against the Commodores — coupled with new senior WR Steven McBride, who came to the program this offseason after being underused in the Kansas offense, gave a pair of go-to targets for the Hawai’i gunslinger to almost lead the ‘Bows to an SEC Week 0 road upset.
7. Odds and Ends presented by Circa Sports
Here are some odds at Circa Sports if you’re thinking about placing a wager today:
8. Ticket Time presented by Golden Gate
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today.
5:00 p.m. – Stanford at Hawaii – $34
6:40 p.m. – Giants at Padres – $24
7:10 p.m. – Braves at Dodgers – $100
9. On the Air presented by The D Las Vegas
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today.
5:00 p.m. – Stanford at Hawaii – CBSSN
5:00 p.m. – Angel City at Kansas City Current – Paramount+
6:40 p.m. – Angels at A’s – Bally Sports West
6:40 p.m. – Giants at Padres – Bally Sports San Diego
7:10 p.m. – Braves at Dodgers – SportsNet LA
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher.
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That’s it for today. Talk to you on Monday!