General Sports 3 Days

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

UFC & Combat Sports Shakeup

The UFC 328 card delivered seven finishes, though only one bout, the middleweight championship fight, garnered an A grade from reviewers. Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev via a razor-close split decision to claim the title in Newark, New Jersey, according to both ESPN and BBC Sport reports. Following the stunning result, Chimaev's team confirmed that the fighter is "obsessed" with an immediate title rematch and will accept no other fight right now, setting up a potential immediate trilogy or rematch. Elsewhere in combat sports, Gina Carano announced her return to MMA after a 17-year absence, planning to pioneer a new era in the sport against Ronda Rousey, while in boxing, Daniel Dubois shed the quitter tag by securing a brutal Round 11 knockout victory over Fabio Wardley to reclaim a heavyweight world title, a win that solidified his position in the latest ESPN divisional rankings.

Major Golf & Tennis Updates

As the PGA Championship approaches, speculation centers on whether Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy enters as the favorite, though McIlroy was forced to halt a practice round early Tuesday after ripping off a troublesome toenail. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm shifted his focus away from LIV Golf business concerns to concentrate on the major, while Matt Fitzpatrick’s recent form positions him as a genuine contender to end England’s 107-year drought at the Pennsylvania event with improved play. On the women’s tour, Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to avoid an upset defeat at the Italian Open, setting up a fourth-round clash with Naomi Osaka after Iga Swiatek cruised through her match by dropping only one game.

College Football & Basketball Off-Season

The college football sphere saw Texas coach Steve Sarkisian take a sharp jab at Ole Miss academics, calling their coursework "basket weaving," shortly after Lane Kiffin’s own controversial remarks, prompting Florida coach Jon Sumrall to weigh in. In recruiting news, Class of 2027 quarterback R.J. Day, son of Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day, committed to Northwestern following the conclusion of spring practices across the nation. On the professional basketball side, the Washington Wizards secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery during Sunday's event in Chicago. Furthermore, the UConn Huskies and South Carolina Gamecocks scheduled a neutral-site game for November 24, marking the first meeting since the sideline altercation between coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley last month.

NBA & WNBA Standings Shifts

The NBA playoffs saw the Oklahoma City Thunder sweep the Lakers to move to the brink of the Western Conference Finals, a result that prompted LeBron James to state publicly that he is unsure "what the future holds for me" following Los Angeles’ elimination. In the WNBA, the previously criticized Valkyries have reversed the narrative with a 2-0 start after overcoming a difficult draft day trade and cutting a fan-favorite player. In other NBA news, sources confirmed that Missouri star running back Ahmad Hardy, who was second in FBS in rushing yards, has been released from the hospital after being shot early Sunday morning and is aiming to play this season.

Cricket & International Tournaments

Preparations are intensifying for the T20 World Cup across several nations, with Australia captain Sophie Molineux declared fit to lead the squad. South Africa received a major boost as fast bowler Shabnim Ismail reversed her international retirement to be included in the Proteas roster, while England faces fitness concerns, sending bowler Issy Wong for a scan on a hamstring issue before making a final World Cup decision. Elsewhere in cricket, Rahul Dravid was announced as the co-owner of the new European T20 Premier League franchise based in Dublin as Dravid expands his portfolio, and Bangladesh secured their first-ever home Test victory over Pakistan, aided by Nahid Rana’s impressive 5-40 bowling figures.

Rugby Union & League Developments

The European club rugby landscape saw Saracens surge and Leicester Tigers claim major scalps tightening the top-four race in the Premiership, while Harlequins inflicted a 76-17 humiliation on Newcastle Red Bulls in a meeting between the bottom two sides scoring 12 tries in the process. In the United Rugby Championship, Glasgow Warriors are now faced with the possibility of hosting the final in Belfast at the Affidea Stadium if they progress, pending venue availability in Scotland. Meanwhile, former England hooker Brian Moore will end his 26-year broadcast career after covering the Women’s Six Nations decider.

Motorsport & Cycling Milestones

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is preparing to swap a short F1 race for the grueling 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, prompting analysis of the unique challenge he faces. In cycling, three-time Olympic medallist Katie Archibald announced her retirement from the sport, stating she has “fallen in love” with her new career as a nurse. In road cycling action, Jhonatan Narvaez claimed stage four of the Giro d'Italia just three days after being caught in a major crash that forced three of his teammates to abandon the race.

Other Sports Headlines

In golf, Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock secured his first European Tour title in nearly two years by defeating Kevin Doets 8-6 at the Austrian Darts Open. On the track, Ethiopian long-distance runner Yebrgual Melese tragically died at the age of 36 after falling ill during a routine training session. In equestrian sport, Britain's Ros Canter & Lordships Graffalo achieved a record third victory at the Badminton Horse Trials. Finally, a UK survey revealed a "concerning" exposure rate among young people to social media adverts promoting life-threatening performance-enhancing substances.