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After pushing for months to get a shot at Colby Covington, Ireland's Ian Machado Garry is getting to headline the UFC's final card in 2024.
But it won't be against Covington.
The promotion announced Friday that Machado Garry, the No. 7-ranked welterweight, would face ninth-ranked Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Tampa on Dec. 14.
Machado Garry, 26, is undefeated through 15 matches, the most recent coming on June 29 when he beat Michael Page via unanimous decision.
Last month, Machado Garry claimed in an Instagram post that in September he was offered a fight with Covington -- the No. 6-ranked welterweight -- and agreed to the fight. But, he maintained in the video, Covington had not responded whether he accepted the fight.
"He's avoiding me like the plague, and there's one reason and one reason only this fight isn't happening, and his name is Colby Covington," Machado Garry said in the post.
Covington last fought in December 2023, when he lost a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards in a welterweight title bout.
Buckley (20-6-0) is no slouch, however, having won each of his past five fights since dropping down in weight class in May 2023.
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Veteran Center Rejected Knicks Offer
The New York Knicks imagine themselves as a championship contender, and those dreams looked like they may be rapidly approaching reality in last season's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. They've spent much of this offseason patching holes in their roster, requiring significantly more firepower from their bench to scare their opponents with a well-rounded rotation that they lacked in 2024-25. They're not looking to burst at the seams with reserve bucket-getters, but have done plenty to consolidate their backup guards and bigs with a summer of moves that's still continuing. Though their most recent on-court developments have provided the Knicks' hopes with real wind behind their sails, those wishes to bolster the frontcourt aren't new. New York reportedly tried to woo a veteran center in Daniel Theis over to last season's situation, but failed to seal the deal. Theis, now playing for AS Monaco, could have joined the Knicks mid-season last year before opting for a European return, according to BasketNews.com. He spent the first leg of the 2024-25 campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans, the sixth team that the 33-year-old's suited up for in the last five seasons. New York's offer gave Theis yet another chance to fill in as a role-playing big on another contender, but he chose to bet on himself. "I could have gone to the Knicks, for example, but it was more for insurance that Mitchell Robinson came back from a long injury," Theis said on a recent Euro Insiders podcast. "And then I talked to Tom Thibodeau and he said, 'Yeah, you will be like insurance in case he can't play and this and that.' It's like what I did with P.J. Tucker. "For me, it was like, 'Okay, if I sit for the rest of the year, what are my chances in the summer?' So if I’m like, 'Okay, I go overseas to Europe and play great, I might have a better chance.' That was my whole intention and thought behind it — just consider Europe and see what it is." Robinson did indeed manage to remain healthy when it counted, seeing the floor in all 18 Knicks playoff games after playing in just 17 during the regular season. His reliability as a defender and rebounder up front would have negated Theis' presence, as he would have spent all but a few garbage time minutes occupying the same seat on the bench that Tucker took in the postseason. Though he would've likely been constrained to a minimum contract that would've expired at season's end alongside other role playing veterans like Landry Shamet, Cameron Payne and Precious Achiuwa, he'd have been a little more playable than some other deep-cut Knicks as a rim-rolling center, and that's the sort of job that New York's looked to fill in the months since. Theis chose his path, and the Knicks stayed young in building a roster that's expected to blow every other 21st century Knicks team out of the water.
Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore, who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of, but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.
Browns HC sends message to Myles Garrett after latest speeding incident
Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett became the subject of headlines when it was learned that he was cited for driving 100 mph in a 60 mph zone on an interstate in a Cleveland suburb several hours after the Browns opened the preseason with a 30-10 win at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night. While speaking with reporters ahead of the club's joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday morning, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski sent a clear message regarding his feelings about Garrett's latest speeding incident. "Coming from a team leader, extremely disappointing," Stefanski said about Garrett, per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. "It's been addressed with Myles -- with the football team. He needs to slow down for his safety and the safety of others." Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer mentioned that Garrett has had at least eight speeding citations in Northeast Ohio since Cleveland made him the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. Back in the fall of 2022, Garrett missed a game after he was involved in a single-car accident following a team practice. The Ohio State Highway Patrol ultimately issued Garrett a citation following that crash after it was determined he was using an "unsafe speed for the type of roadway being traveled." Cabot added that Stefanski declined to say if Garrett will be disciplined this summer. Earlier in the week, Cabot wrote that Garrett could "be fined for conduct detrimental to the team." Back in early February, Garrett requested a trade from the Browns coming off the club's 3-14 season. However, he later accepted a four-year, $160M contract extension that included $123.5M guaranteed to stay with the organization. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam revealed during the NFL owners meetings in the spring that he had "challenged" Garrett "to become a real leader of the team." Haslam made that comment after a March report shared that it's "well known within the Browns that Garrett is frequently late to the facility" and "has skipped mandatory team activities on multiple occasions." It remains to be seen how the 29-year-old will respond to Stefanski's comments about an incident that occurred after Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was cited for speeding twice in June.
Why Oilers Trading O’Reilly for Isaac Howard Finally Makes Sense
The Edmonton Oilers did not want to give up Sam O’Reilly to acquire Isaac Howard in a trade this off-season. But, to get a potential difference-maker who could contribute right away, the organization had to find a player who piqued the interest of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Few, if any other prospects on the Oilers fit the bill. The Oilers’ prospect pipeline took a major hit over the past year, leaving management with limited options to replenish the organization’s top talent. According to a recent analysis by David Staples, nearly all of the Oilers’ top 20 prospects either declined in value or were moved out of the system during 2024-25, with only Matt Savoie, Noah Philp, and Maxim Berezkin trending upward. In that context, the trade of forward Sam O’Reilly for fellow prospect Isaac Howard now makes sense. While O’Reilly had been trending up in major junior hockey, Edmonton’s other prospects — including Max Wanner, Raphael Lavoie, Olivier Rodrigue, Phil Kemp, and Luca Munzenberger — either left the organization or declined, leaving few tradeable assets with value. Staples argues that successful NHL development isn’t about producing a large quantity of prospects each year, but about cultivating one or two elite young players who can become part of the team’s Core 12. The Oilers have some prospects with potentially bright futures, but he notes the organization is behind when it comes to the ideal average. With the 2024-25 class largely underperforming, the Oilers had few options that the Tampa Bay Lightning might have found attractive. Even though the Lightning knew Howard wasn’t staying, other teams could have put together competing offers. The Oilers’ move to acquire Howard gave the team a top-tier young forward who can contribute at the NHL level and potentially become a cornerstone player in the coming years. Oilers Are Hoping Two Prospects Take a Big Step This Season If Savoie and Howard can establish themselves in the Oilers’ top nine and post 30-plus even-strength points — or ideally 40 to 50 — Staples says the farm system will have accomplished its mission: producing quality over quantity. The O’Reilly-for-Howard trade may have been a necessary move, even if it meant giving up on one of the few prospects that was trending in the right direction. Don’t be shocked if the Oilers move another prospect later in the season. The trade deadline will be a key opportunity for the team to acquire a player for its playoff push. Again, other teams aren’t going to want prospects trending in the wrong direction. They’ll want players with upside and a bright future.
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