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It's that time again where former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski must defy all odds by coming out ontop in another title fight.
While fight fans are scrambling to make their predictions for Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes, shining light on Lopes' past performances and fundamental flaws, they overlook one crucial detail; A UFC 'curse' that remains undefeated in the Octagon.
Does Volkanovski have what it takes to upset the odds?
Alex Volkanovski must overcome 'age curse' at UFC 314
UFC fighters in men's divisions, below welterweight, are winless in title fights if they are aged 35 or above. The record for fighters who fit this criteria (including welterweight) is an alarming 3-24.
Volkanovski is 36 entering his fight with Lopes, and has already fallen victim to the statistic twice, in his rematch with Makhachev, and knockout loss to Ilia Topuria.
'The Great' was notably self-aware of the 'curse' ahead of his fight with Topuria, where he embraced the old-man persona in the buildup.
Historically, UFC fighters of Volkanovski's age in the featherweight division are 0-5 in title fights. A win at UFC 314 for Volkanovski would be a first-ever for any fighter below welterweight.
Does 'The Great' make UFC history?
More must-reads:
- Steve Kerr 'very concerned' about worrisome trend plaguing NBA
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Angels, Orioles fill needs with this surprising trade
The Baltimore Orioles were looking to add a right-handed hitting outfielder during the offseason. The Los Angeles Angels, meanwhile, needed to add talent to a thin pitching staff. A trade between the two teams has begun the process of filling those holes on the roster. The Orioles traded pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels on Tuesday night. In exchange, the Angels sent outfielder Taylor Ward to Baltimore. This trade may provide a window into the expectations of both teams. Ward is slated to become a free agent after the upcoming season, a win-now move for a team looking to prove that a dismal 2025 showing was an aberration. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is under team control through the 2029 season. Angels, Orioles trade a possible win for both teams In addition to balancing out a lefty-hitting outfield, the 31-year-old Ward gives the Orioles a power element that they were lacking in the lineup. He produced a .228/.317/.475 batting line over 663 plate appearances, hitting 36 homers and 31 doubles. Although Ward is strictly a left fielder at this stage of his career, his powerful bat mitigates his lack of defensive versatility. Rodriguez missed the entire 2025 season due to a myriad of injuries. A consensus top-100 prospect from 2020-23, Rodriguez had begun to live up to expectations in 2024 before a strained right lat ended his season. He posted a solid 3.86 ERA and a 1.243 WHiP over 116.2 innings, striking out 130 batters with 36 walks. Rodriguez underwent elbow surgery in August and is expected to return to the mound in either March or April. This trade may end up as a victory for both sides. Rodriguez gives the Angels a needed starter to slot behind Yusei Kikuchi in the rotation and could establish himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm if he is fully healthy. Ward adds a dangerous power hitter to a solid lineup. Should the Orioles return to the postseason with Ward as a factor, he would be well worth the cost.
Steve Kerr 'very concerned' about worrisome trend plaguing NBA
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is sounding the alarm on a troubling trend affecting the league that could potentially worsen down the line. The NBA has faced some huge crises over the past few months. The Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration issue in the offseason raised concerns about the Los Angeles Clippers potentially circumventing the salary cap. The arrests of Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier highlighted the growing threat of sports gambling on the integrity of the game. Steve Kerr highlights an under-the-radar concern While those fiascos have understandably grabbed headlines, Kerr recently expressed unease about a different issue that’s flying under the radar. The Warriors coach admitted to ESPN’s Anthony Slater that he is “very concerned” that the heightened pace of play in the modern game over an 82-game schedule may finally be taking its toll on the Association, with a growing number of soft tissue injuries impacting players of late. Eight different players have suffered soft tissue injuries over the past couple of weeks, headlined by stars like Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama and, most recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kerr stated that the Warriors’ medical staff believes “wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage” are increasing the risk of today’s players suffering such injuries. “Across the league, everyone understands that it’s easier to score if you beat the opponent down the floor, get out in transition,” Kerr said. “But when everybody’s doing that, the games are much higher-paced. Everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everybody can shoot 3s. We have all the data. Players are running faster and further [than] before. We’re trying to do the best we can, but we basically have a game every other night. It’s not an easy thing to do.” Kerr, who has been an advocate for shortening the regular season, also lamented the struggles teams face with the league schedule, which makes it difficult for teams to get adequate recovery and practice time. With the Steph Curry-era Warriors being a huge part of the NBA’s pace and space movement, Kerr knows just how physically demanding the modern game has become. But with the financial implications that come with potentially shortening the season, Kerr understands that such a drastic change to the NBA schedule is “not happening” anytime soon.
Taylor Swift's Emotional Letter to Late Liam Payne Set to Fetch $13,000 at Auction
Taylor Swift's emotional handwritten letter to Liam Payne is expected to draw significant attention when it goes up for auction next month. The note, sent in December 2017, is projected to sell for as much as $13,000 due to its deeply personal and historic nature. Swift wrote the message shortly before Payne took the stage at the Jingle Bell Ball in London, at a time when he was gaining traction as a solo artist after One Direction began its hiatus. According to the auctioneers, interest has already grown ahead of bidding. Taylor wrote: "Liam, long time no see! I'm so excited for you. You're crushing it out there. I'm obsessed with Bedroom Floor. It's so cool to see you from afar, I'm always cheering you on. Good luck tonight!" The Mirror reports that the letter showed up in an envelope labeled only "Liam," covered in stars. The envelope was wax-sealed with a "T," and on the back appeared "Nashville, Tennessee." Payne reportedly gave the letter to a friend shortly after receiving it. The sale of the note comes just over a year after Payne's death in October 2024. The singer died at age 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. According to the People, an autopsy later revealed polytrauma along with traces of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system. His sister, Ruth Gibbins, described ongoing grief in the months since his death. She said: "My brain is locked on your last minutes on this earth, the unaccounted minutes, the minutes I will never have the answers to, the minutes that changed everything." She also posted on Instagram : "I underestimated grief, woah, did I underestimate it. I am paralysed by it daily. I thought I had felt it before but I know the losses before you were just intense sadness, you are the loss of my life, the one person who l will miss at every single occasion in my life." Omega Auctions is expected to see much interest from collectors once it begins accepting bids for the item, since the letter is a rare personal exchange between two major pop figures. According to the source, the timing has added an emotional weight to the sale, aligning as it does with the anniversary of Payne's death.
Youth movement: Five new players who should be part of Team USA basketball's future
A veteran-heavy USA Basketball squad took home a gold medal last summer in Paris. But their two biggest stars won't be returning. LeBron James and Steph Curry made it clear on the newest episode of "Mind The Game," James' podcast, that they wouldn't be part of Team USA in 2028. That leaves two big pairs of shoes to fill. In addition, the oft-injured Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis are unlikely to be back, Kevin Durant will be 39 in the summer of 2028, Jrue Holiday will be 38 and the national team will get younger. Here are five new players who should be part of Team USA going forward. 1. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets There's always a spot on Team USA for a hard-nosed perimeter defender, and Amen Thompson is one of the toughest defenders in the NBA. He finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and has upped his assists to 5.2 per game, making him the ideal player to slide into Holiday's stopper/ball handler role. Plus, Thompson is still only 22, which means he has plenty of international basketball ahead of him. And if Team USA needs another elite defender, he's got a connection with one on the Detroit Pistons — his brother Ausar Thompson. The only danger is if the Thompson twins decide to play for Jamaica instead. 2. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham, 24, has experience with USA Basketball, winning a gold medal in 2019 at the FIBA U19 championships and leading the USA Select team to scrimmage upsets against the 2023 FIBA Cup team. He only turned down joining the main team because he was recovering from shin surgery. Now he's firmly established as an NBA star, averaging 27.5 points and 9.9 assists for the first-place Detroit Pistons. Not only is he scoring an distributing the ball at an elite level, Cunningham has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds for the more physical international game. 3. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder Team USA needs a rim protector, and they'd love to have one who can stretch the floor like Chet Holmgren. The 23-year-old is shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range this season and 59.1 percent overall while anchoring the NBA's No. 1 defense. Holmgren may not be best suited to banging with some of the huge big men he'd face in the Olympics, like Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun, but the threat of his shooting can draw these big men out of the paint and create driving lanes. Plus, he has three years to bulk up before the Los Angeles Olympics. 4. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has turned into a legitimate three-point threat this season, sinking 1.7 threes per game, while remaining one of the NBA's best defenders. While Holmgren is more of a shot-blocker and rim protector, Evan Mobley, 24, has the speed and mobility to guard smaller players out on the perimeter, and the height and wingspan to bother big men. In addition, Mobley attended college at USC and high school in famed fight capital Temecula, so he'll be an excellent local choice. 5. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Williams, 24, is a bulldog defender who showed he can also be an elite big-game scorer during the Thunder's run to the title. Team USA plays best when they can pressure opposing teams defensively, and Williams has been great with that approach for OKC. Honorable mentions Cooper Flagg (18), Dallas Mavericks Stephon Castle (21) and Dylan Harper (19), San Antonio Spurs Kon Knueppel (20), Charlotte Hornets Darryn Peterson (18), Kansas Jayhawks
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