General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: August 5, 2026, 11:32 PM ET

UFC and Boxing

A flyweight title rematch between Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja will headline UFC 331 in September, officials announced Thursday. William Zepeda climbed the lightweight rankings after dominating Lamont Roach to capture the WBC title.

Basketball News

San Antonio center Luke Kornet stopped in the rain to help a stranded motorist whose car broke down. Longtime college announcer Dick Vitale is making positive strides after announcing in April that he had been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time. The planned launch of a bespoke European NBA league has the potential to take basketball in the United Kingdom to the "next level," says the New York Knicks' OG Anunoby. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stated Wednesday that she wants the focus to return to basketball after her comments on transgender athletes sparked heated national debate, three rallies, and social media discussion. A'ja Wilson is the clear WNBA MVP front-runner, but four other players, including a rookie, should receive votes. After meeting in an offensive showcase, Minnesota and Indiana rank 1-2 in the latest Power Rankings, with Las Vegas rounding out the top three.

College Football and Sports Traditions

Stephen Daley Indiana defensive end, practiced in a limited role for the Hoosiers on Wednesday as he ramps up from a season-ending knee injury suffered in December. See Power 4 games with the highest combined SP+ ratings and a projected scoring margin under eight points. Texas moves into the top five and North Carolina falls out for UCLA in the Way-Too-Early Top, but the focus is on the games circled on the calendar. These schools have the players and the schedules to reach the College Football Playoff in 2026. What players will have an outsized influence on the 2026 season? We start with CFP-hopeful quarterbacks and go from there. ESPN's 75-hour showcases obscure competitions, from T. rex races and pumpkin tossing to death diving and sign spinning. The new variation on chess, called "the strangest sport in the world," will be broadcast on The Ocho at 8 a.m. ET Aug. 8.

Golf and Cricket

LIV Golf secured funding from an outside investor that will keep the circuit alive beyond this season, according to league CEO Scott O'Neil. LIV Golf secured a deal with an unnamed lead investor to continue next season after the withdrawal of Saudi Arabian financial backing earlier this year. Robert Mac Intyre Patrick Reed, Francesco Molinari, and Sepp Straka will play the Irish Open at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, County Clare from September 9-13. Welsh Fire captain Phil Salt says ideally he would like The Hundred to be a week longer after his side played three matches in five days. Jos Buttler stars as Manchester Super Giants beat Welsh Fire by nine wickets in The Hundred. BBC Sport explores how Jos Buttler became the highest run-getter in men's T20 cricket. Sophia Dunkley helps Trent Rockets beat Birmingham Phoenix after Orla Prendergast takes four wickets in Welsh Fire's victory over Manchester Super Giants.

Other Sports News

Cameron Norrie progressed to the Canadian Open last 32 with a straight-set win over Ignacio Buse. The Preakness Stakes is moving to three weeks and a day after the Kentucky Derby and is set to be run on a Sunday for the first time. Brock Lesnar a 10-time WWE world champion and former UFC heavyweight champion, said his match at WWE Summer Slam was his last and that he is retiring from combat sports. WWE superstar Bianca Belair and Montez Ford have welcomed their first child together. The former rugby star will be known as Mauler when the fourth series of Gladiators airs in 2027, the BBC confirmed. Television presenter Nick Knowles has become a shareholder in Champ Rugby side Cornish Pirates. Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels also wants greater transparency from the Welsh Rugby Union as their future hangs in the balance. Derry City chairman Philip O'Doherty told BBC Sport NI he thought "it was time to make a change" following news of the departure of manager Tiernan Lynch. Jemima Lines hailed a "pivotal moment" in her sport after she became the first woman to be selected for the British America's Cup team in 90 years. Bouldering helped Mary Falconer deal with the loss of her mother and could also set her on the path to becoming an Olympian in 2028. Since their contracts were stripped back to part-time last summer, Great Britain Sevens players have had to find alternative employment and teams to keep their passion alive. A powerlifter who was disqualified following an alleged racially motivated act has said she "does not feel safe" when competing, and claims black athletes are frequently booed in competitions. Gloucester sprinter James Arminio is racing at the Under-20 World Championships, only two years after first stepping on to an athletics track. Jackson Koivun to Brooks Koepka, the players on the cusp of qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs need to perform at the Wyndham Championship. Vollering won stage five of the Tour de France Femmes following a sprint victory over yellow jersey holder Marlen Reusser. Officials at the Tour de France Femmes Avec Zwift will check the clothing worn by riders to prevent attempts to make "aerodynamic gains". Surrey maintained their push for a home semi-final in the One-Day Cup with a 95-run win over Kent. Throwback Weekend is on tap and the playoffs are quickly approaching, with the Waterdogs taking the top spot in the latest PLL Power Rankings ahead of Week. We break down which teams face the biggest challenges and which have the easiest roads ahead in the preseason schedule evaluation. How good—win the national title!—and bad—miss the tourney!—it could get for all 18 Big Ten teams is explored.