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Adesanya Back To His Best In UFC 263 Win Over Vettori

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Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya was back to his brilliant best Saturday, defeating challenger Marvin Vettori with a show of superior striking and defending his middleweight title at UFC 263 in Glendale, Arizona.

It was a masterful return to form for the New Zealander on a wild night at the Gila River Arena that also saw the UFC crown its first-ever Mexican-born champion.

“I didn’t feel any threat at all,” said Adesanya, 31, after getting a comfortable unanimous decision.

Adesanya suffered the first loss of his MMA career in March after moving up a division and finding himself outmuscled.

But Saturday saw him down to a weight class where he is noticeably more comfortable. The Nigerian-born fighter’s speed around the cage and his precision striking, with low kicks and jabs, was too much for Vettori from the first bell.

The Italian tried to use his bigger bulk to get Adesanya to the mat, but each time the New Zealander slipped out and got up to his feet again.

In the end, the judges’ cards read 50-45, 50-45, 50-45 –- and Adesanya was back in business, describing himself as “the king.”

There were questions before the fight about the mental toll on Adesanya of his career’s first defeat, and of the death last month of one of his close friends who was attacked on a night out in Auckland.

Adesanya dedicated the fight to his friend and laid his belt down in the middle of the cage in tribute.

Before Adesanya’s masterclass, the 18,000-odd fans in attendance raised the roof when flyweight challenger Brandon Moreno laid on a rear-naked choke in the third round that saw Brazil’s Deiveson Figueiredo first tap out and then hand over his belt to the Mexican.

Despite his nation’s storied history across all combat sports, there has never before been a Mexican UFC champion and the 27-year-old Moreno broke down in tears as he spoke in the cage afterwards.

“This moment is so amazing,” he said. “I’ve worked my whole life for this. Viva Mexico!”

The pair had thrown up one of the fights of the year when they met at UFC 256 last December, across five rounds of mayhem that was called a majority draw.

This time around, Moreno left nothing to chance, moving with speed and purpose at a high tempo.

Saturday night continued the UFC’s rollout of live events for American fans as the United States emerges from pandemic lockdowns that shut down most action for a year.

The UFC described the Arizona event as a sellout, much like the open-to-the-public events in Jacksonville, Florida, and Houston, Texas.

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Team Nigeria Shines With 9 Gold Medals at African Cycling Championship

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6 days ago

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May 13, 2026

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Team Nigeria delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Confederation of African Cycling Para-Track and Track African Championships, winning a total of 16 medals in Abuja.

The championship, held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, featured cyclists from across Africa, including Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and host nation Nigeria.

Nigeria finished top of the medals table with nine gold, five silver and two bronze medals after two days of competition.

Egypt came second with 14 medals, while Kenya finished third with nine medals. South Africa and Algeria completed the top five standings.

The Nigerian cyclists impressed home fans with strong performances in speed, endurance and technical events throughout the championship.

Organisers also received praise for the quality of facilities at the Abuja velodrome, which successfully hosted the continental competition.

More than 100 cyclists from eight African countries participated in the championship, competing for medals and continental ranking points.

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Tinubu Approves Nigeria’s Bid to Host 2026 CAF Awards

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7 days ago

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May 12, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Nigeria’s bid to host the 2026 edition of the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s position in African football administration and international sporting events.

The approval was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which also disclosed that the President endorsed Nigeria’s proposal to host the 48th CAF Ordinary General Assembly scheduled to hold later this year.

President Tinubu announced the approvals during the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, after a high-level meeting with Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Other prominent personalities present at the meeting included Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, acting CAF General Secretary Samson Adamu, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, and former NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

The CAF Ordinary General Assembly, expected to hold in October, is one of the continent’s most important football gatherings. The event traditionally brings together presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, officials from the six zonal unions, and top football administrators from across Africa to deliberate on key issues affecting the game on the continent.

Similarly, the CAF Awards remains one of Africa’s biggest football events, celebrating outstanding footballers, coaches, clubs, officials, and other stakeholders who have distinguished themselves during the year.

Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Awards ceremony on January 6, 2017, when Algerian star Riyad Mahrez won the Men’s African Player of the Year award, while Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala clinched the Women’s Player of the Year prize.

CAF is expected to announce the final host city for both the General Assembly and the 2026 CAF Awards ceremony in the coming months.

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IOC Introduces New Eligibility Rule for Women’s Olympic Events Ahead of 2028 Games

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2 months ago

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March 26, 2026

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a major policy shift regarding eligibility for women’s events at the Olympic Games, stating that only biological females will be permitted to compete in the category moving forward.

In a statement released Thursday, the IOC confirmed that all athletes seeking to participate in women’s competitions will be required to undergo a one-time Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test. The test is designed to identify the presence of the Y chromosome, typically associated with male biological development.

According to the IOC, the new regulation will not be applied retroactively but will come into full effect at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the decision was guided by scientific research and medical expertise.

“The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance,” Coventry stated. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can determine victory or defeat. It is therefore essential to maintain fairness and safety in competition.”

The IOC added that all international sports federations must adopt the policy for participation in IOC-sanctioned elite events, including both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The move aligns with a similar stance taken by Donald Trump, whose 2025 executive order in the United States restricted transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The decision is expected to spark continued global debate around inclusion, fairness, and the role of science in competitive athletics as preparations intensify for the next Olympic cycle.

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