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On the main card of UFC 314, we saw the promotional debut of a former world champion. Patricio Pitbull (36-8) made his highly anticipated octagon debut as he took on former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez (20-5).
There was a lot of hype surrounding the debut of Patricio Pitbull, but Yair Rodriguez was looking to play the ultimate spoiler. When the first round started, both men were very tentative just feeling things out. That said, Rodriguez’s speed was really bothering Pitbull and the kicks were coming fast and furious.
In the second round, they started opening up a bit more but Rodriguez was just a step ahead of Pitbull. Rodriguez was doing an excellent job of fighting from distance and using his speed to keep Pitbull off-balanced. In the third round, Pitbull fought with more urgency but he was dropped by Rodriguez. When the decision was read, it was a sweep at UFC 314 for Yair Rodriguez.
What’s next after UFC 314?
This was a huge win for Rodriguez on a huge stage. Patricio Pitbull had all the hype behind him and Yair Rodriguez just shut him down completely making it seem that Pitbull wasn’t even on his level. After the win, Rodriguez said that he wanted a UFC title shot.
That said, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense. Don’t get me wrong, this was a very big win for Rodriguez. However, entering Saturday night, he had been finished twice in a row including by the current champion Alexander Volkanovski. I think he needs one more win before getting a title shot.
In terms of his next opponent, I love the idea of him facing Diego Lopes. There is some beef there between the two men and Lopes fought Volkanovski tough on Saturday night in the title fight. Lopes also dominated Brian Ortega who just submitted Yair Rodriguez. If Rodriguez wants a title shot, I think he should face Lopes to get it.
More must-reads:
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- The 'NFL passer rating leaders' quiz
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Packers’ Micah Parsons reveals why he’s not that interested in Aaron Rodgers’ offer
Green Bay Packers superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons has been among the players Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had offered to sell his house in Green Bay to. During last Sunday’s game between the Packers and the Steelers, Rodgers tried to pitch his property to Parsons, but the newly minted NFC Defensive Player of the Month doesn’t see the need for him to have such a big house yet, particularly since he’s just on his own (h/t Rob Demovsky of ESPN). On the season, Parsons has 6.5 sacks, including one against Rodgers in Green Bay’s 35-25 win in Week 8. Micah Parsons thinks another Packers player would be interested in Rodgers’ crib While Parsons is unlikely to acquire Rodgers’ place in Green Bay, he thinks that another player would be interested in it. “Tuck said he might try and look at it,” Parsons said, referring to Green Bay star tight end Tucker Kraft. ”...It’s a nice house, but it’s just me right now. That’s why I’m not in an urge to buy anything.” With the way Kraft is playing this season, he could be closing in on a massive extension, so buying Rodgers’ house could be within his budget as well. Kraft’s current contract will expire after the 2026 NFL season. But if Parsons changes his tune, he also should have the money to purchase the house. After getting traded by the Dallas Cowboys to the NFC North franchise, Parsons inked a four-year, $186M contract extension with Green Bay.
Warriors castoff has a career night against his old team
The Golden State Warriors traded away Ryan Rollins in 2023 after one season and 12 games with the team. Thursday night, Rollins showed the Warriors what they missed out on. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out with an injury, Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and dished out eight assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Warriors, 120-110. Rollins went 5-for-7 from three-point range, tying his career best, and went 13-for-21 overall. In the last four minutes after the Warriors got within points, Rollins had eight points and an assists. Oh, and he outscored Stephen Curry, 32-27. Warriors gave up on Ryan Rollins after one season Golden State traded up to draft Rollins with the No. 44 pick in the 2022 draft, believing that the then-19-year-old guard from Toledo could help it reload their championship roster, which was getting up in age. But Rollins missed Summer League due to a foot injury, then suffered a season-ending Jones fracture. After the season, the Warriors sent Rollins and fellow 2022 draftee Patrick Baldwin, Jr. to the Washington Wizards along with Jordan Poole. In exchange, they got 38-year-old Chris Paul, a serious reversal in the team's earlier youth movement. Rollins was included in the deal to help the Warriors dump Poole's contract, which spanned four more seasons, and to ditch his own guaranteed deal. After a troubled partial season in Washington, the Wizards waived Rollins and he caught on with the Bucks in February 2024. Ryan Rollins' huge night showed the 23-year-old's improvement One game after Rollins had a career-high 25 points against the New York Knicks, he set another career high, this time without Antetokounmpo there to score 37 points and take up the defense's attention. Even with a great defensive player like Jimmy Butler on him, Rollins delivered in the clutch. Rollins has gone 9-for-11 from three-point range in his last two games, but it doesn't feel like a fluke. Last year he shot 40.8% on threes and hit 80% of his free throws, a strong indicator Rollins can truly shoot the ball. He also had 12 steals in his first four games, and while he didn't have a takeaway Thursday night, Rollins has more steals than turnovers (10) on the season and an excellent assist-to-turnover ratio of 5-to-2. Last season, Rollins was a solid reserve, averaging 6.2 points and 1.9 assists while starting 19 games. But with Damian Lillard suffering an Achilles tear and then being waived by the Bucks, Rollins got an opportunity, and got an even bigger one when Kevin Porter, Jr. sprained his ankle in the season opener. Rollins looks like he's going to have a serious future in the NBA. Unfortunately for the Warriors, that future won't be with them.
Dexter Lawrence blasts Giants legend Carl Banks after harsh criticisms
Shortly after the New York Giants fell to 2-6 on the season via a 38-20 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday, Giants legend and current radio color commentator Carl Banks offered some harsh criticisms of Big Blue star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Lawrence fired back at Banks. Dexter Lawrence rips "delusional" Carl Banks "He’s delusional," Lawrence said about Banks, per Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "Yeah, those were strong words, but if that’s how he feels, f--- it. “I don’t really know what he’s watching, but he can say what he wants,” Lawrence said. “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, trying to help us get a win. That’s it.” Specifically, Banks claimed that the game film shows that "nobody respects" Lawrence anymore. Banks also ripped Lawrence for "not making a difference" as the Eagles accumulated a whopping 276 rushing yards at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. Earlier this summer, one unnamed NFL personnel director said that Lawrence should have won Defensive Player of the Year Award honors for the 2024 campaign even though the 27-year-old only played in 12 games before he went down with a season-ending elbow injury. Lawrence currently isn't even the best defensive player on the Giants, as pass-rusher Brian Burns is tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks. According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, Lawrence has tallied 20 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, 10 initial pressures and four quarterback hits this season. "I think I’m doing what I can when I get the opportunities," Lawrence explained. "Numbers are not everything. I’ve been an advocate of that last year and the year before that and the year before that. I don’t think numbers indicate anything — for real. They’re just something that’s on your stat sheet. I think the way I play is disruptive. You ask people I play against, and they’ll tell you the same thing. Not people who are talking." Dexter Lawrence shares wish after Carl Banks comments Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke suggested that Banks was possibly "trying to light a fire under" Lawrence with comments that generated discussions on New York sports talk radio programs. If that truly was Banks' goal, his plan seems to have produced the desired result. "Let’s say this: I hope people start trying to disrespect me," Lawrence added. "I hope they start not respecting me, because that’s not what’s showing on the field. They’re showing a lot of respect on the field." Lawrence will next have an opportunity to offer an on-the-field response to Banks when the Giants host a 5-3 San Francisco 49ers side that features dynamic running back Christian McCaffrey. As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had New York as a 2.5-point underdog for this coming Sunday's matchup.
Blue Jays think Dodgers were relaying signs during World Series
The Toronto Blue Jays think the Los Angeles Dodgers were relaying signs during Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday night. The Blue Jays won Game 4, 6-2, to tie the series at two. Toronto then won Game 5 a day later, 6-1, to go up 3-2 in the series. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters on Thursday that he thought the Dodgers were relaying signs in Game 4 on Tuesday. “I mean it’s fair game. And we highly suspected that there was relaying, you know, which is fine. But just didn’t want to have the hitter know what was coming,” Schneider said. Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland kept stepping off the rubber during his appearance and even intentionally balked to move Max Muncy from second to third base. That change kept Muncy from being able to see Varland’s grip on the ball, making it much tougher for the Dodgers player to signal to his teammate at the plate what pitch was coming. That strategy is not exactly uncommon. Angels reliever Kenley Jansen did the same thing while facing the Dodgers during a game in May.
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