General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 11:51 PM ET

MMA & Boxing

The fight world is buzzing as Conor McGregor books a July welterweight bout against Max Holloway in Las Vegas, marking his UFC return against another decorated veteran. The matchup adds fuel to an already stacked card that will also feature Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano making their MMA comebacks on the same stage, while Rousey looks to rewrite the ending to her MMA career in an event she masterminded. The sheer star power converging on one night could reshape pay-per-view expectations heading into the summer.

Golf

The PGA Championship delivered the kind of dramatic Saturday that golf rarely sees, with surprise leader Alex Smalley still atop the leaderboard and 21 players within four shots. By Sunday's close, that field had tightened further as 30 players sat within five shots of Smalley, while Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm made aggressive charges into contention. The third round produced a flurry of highlight-reel shots and lead changes that had commentators calling Sunday "chaotic and unpredictable". Separately, the championship is now guaranteeing a $20 million purse, joining the Masters and U.S. Open in the elite purse club, signaling the event's continued commercial growth. On the disability circuit, Simon Seungmin Lee claimed victory at the G4D Open at Celtic Manor, finishing three under par.

Horse Racing

At Pimlico, Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor down the stretch to claim the Preakness Stakes, rebounding from two fifth-place showings to notch his first win of the year. The 151st running drew attention from bettors looking for value across all 14 starters in a race the betting guide called "the ultimate guide". The Preakness victory also cements the colt's campaign as one of the more compelling stories in the spring classic cycle.

Tennis

Elina Svitolina claimed her third Italian Open title on Saturday, defeating Coco Gauff in three sets, extending the American's run of consecutive Rome final losses. Meanwhile, Ronnie O'Sullivan advanced to the Snooker 900 Global Championship final with a 6-3 win over Kyren Wilson, setting up a showdown against Luca Brecel that will decide the season's marquee individual title.

Rugby Union

Cardiff produced what coach Corniel van Zyl called a night Welsh rugby desperately needed with a 22-16 upset over the Stormers, sending them into a URC play-off against the same side in Cape Town. The result lifted the Scarlets above the Dragons on goal difference after a dramatic nine-try draw in Llanelli, while Leinster hammered the Ospreys 10-try to warm up for next week's Champions Cup final. In the Premiership, Saracens surged into the top four with a 30-14 win over Gloucester and Harlequins staged a blistering 41-24 comeback that dented Exeter Chiefs' play-off hopes. South African clubs meanwhile face potential withdrawal from European competitions amid a major scheduling review.

Six Nations & International Rugby

Sunday's Super Sunday in the Six Nations shapes up as a referendum on England's dominance, with England chasing a 38th straight Test win and an eighth successive title against a resurgent France in Bordeaux. Wales travel to Cardiff Arms Park under pressure to end their worst losing run in 39 years against Italy, while Ireland's Scott Bemand says his side are "desperate to show people what they can do" in the final match against Scotland. On the club stage, Ulster aim to "salvage" their season in the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier, and Monaghan's Conor McManus says his side must control the stretch against free-scoring Armagh in Sunday's Ulster final.

WNBA & NBA Playoffs

A'ja Wilson torched the Sun for 45 points on 15-of-18 shooting, setting a WNBA record with her fifth career 40-point game as the Aces won their third straight behind her dominance. In the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs sealed their Western Conference berth with Stephon Castle leading the charge, while the series between Spurs and Timberwolves produced key playoff takeaways as San Antonio closed out Minnesota.

Baseball

The injury front remains fluid across MLB. Tarik Skubal is tossing just two weeks after elbow surgery, sparking hope in Detroit for a quicker-than-expected return of the team's ace. Meanwhile, fantasy players lost key arms as Mets reliever Clay Holmes and Yankees starter Max Fried both miss extended time.

Other Sports

In track, Mark English delivered a strong late kick to win the 800m at Diamond League Shanghai. The 2026 Preakness fields interest as betting guides recommend the full card given the competitive nature of this year's race. Matt Bush won European Para-taekwondo gold two months after the birth of his second child, and Beth Potter finished second in Yokohama for the second year running in triathlon. Great Britain's 2026 Ice Hockey World Championship campaign began with a 5-2 loss to Austria. In the NFL, the league signaled openness to more nontraditional game days after Wednesday play drove ratings higher, while Jaguars receiver DaVon Hamilton faced a rare post-surgery infection that doctors had never encountered in an NFL player. On the cultural front, Drake referenced LeBron James multiple times on his new album, keeping the simmering tension between the two public figures alive, and Caitlin Clark hit a game-tying triple with 3.1 seconds left to force overtime in a Fever loss. Finally, Steve Kerr's decision to stay with the Warriors was rooted in facing down the pains of his past and realizing he had everything left to play for.