African MMA fighters are not just flourishing on the global stage, they’re igniting a wildfire of growth back home.

African MMA fighters are not just flourishing on the global stage, they’re igniting a wildfire of growth back home.

By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency The triumphs of African fighters in global mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments are not just fueling a new generation of competitors entering the rigorous sport; they are establishing a distinct presence for MMA on the continent. Dricus Du Plessis, the 30-year-old South African professional mixed martial artist who kicked and punched his way into carrying the UFC middleweight championship belt on Saturday, […]

January 25, 2024 3

Sport

England win toss, opt to bat against India in 1st Test

England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the opening Test of a five-match series on Thursday. The tourists named their XI on the eve of the match in Hyderabad and handed left-arm spinner Tom Hartley his first Test cap. England have brought in three specialist spinners as well as Joe Root, a veteran batsman who also bowls. Mark Wood remains […]

January 25, 2024

Sport

Starc puts Australia in control against West Indies

Mitchell Starc took three wickets to put Australia in control of the second Test against the West Indies as the visitors slumped to 64-5 at the dinner break on the first day in Brisbane on Thursday. Starc bowled with pace and aggression in the first session as he claimed his 350th Test wicket, but he was helped by some poor shots from the West Indies batsmen, most of whom […]

January 25, 2024 3

Sport

Liverpool survive Fulham scare to book League Cup final date with Chelsea

Liverpool will face Chelsea in the League Cup final after surviving a scare in their 1-1 draw against Fulham in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday. Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Liverpool took the lead through Luis Diaz early in the first half at Craven Cottage. That should have been the signal for a comfortable evening for Jurgen Klopp's side. But they missed several chances to […]

January 25, 2024 4

Sport

Breaking Ice Barriers − Nigeria’s curling team play starring role at Gangwon 2024

https://youtu.be/iMmQG_lq-zE Nigeria's curling team might not have managed a win in the round robin section of the Mixed Team event at the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 but they have won the hearts of fellow competitors and fans alike. The ‘Broomzillas’, as they are affectionately known, stepped onto the ice for only the second time ever when they arrived at the Gangneung Curling Centre. The first time was […]

January 25, 2024 42

Sport

England’s Stokes ‘devastated’ at Bashir visa row

England skipper Ben Stokes said Wednesday he was "devastated" visa issues had stopped teammate Shoaib Bashir from entering India for a five-Test series, as his counterpart said he hoped the matter would be "quickly" resolved. Britain-born Bashir, a 20-year-old of Pakistani heritage, was unable to join the rest of the squad flying to India from a training camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of the opener in Hyderabad following a delay […]

January 24, 2024 6

Sport

Clippers down Lakers in ‘Battle of LA’

The Los Angeles Clippers took full advantage of the injury absence of LeBron James on Tuesday to score a 127-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and James Harden added 23 as the Clippers' impressive recent form continued with a third straight victory. Former Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook was among six Clippers players to reach double figures in a balanced offensive performance by Tyronn […]

January 24, 2024 4

Sport

Jokic notches triple-double as Nuggets hold off Pacers

Nikola Jokic scored a 31-point triple-double as the Denver Nuggets held off a late rally to defeat the Indiana Pacers 114-109 on Tuesday. A wild game in Indianapolis saw the lead change hands 12 times before the Nuggets finally edged clear late in the fourth quarter. Both teams led by double digits at different stages of the game, with the Pacers opening up a 13-point advantage in the […]

January 24, 2024 3

Sport

Medvedev joins qualifier Yastremska in Australian Open semi-finals

Two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev battled past big-serving Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday to set up a potential Australian Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz as Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska's dream run continued. Former US Open champion Medvedev came through a gruelling five-setter in sweaty conditions on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and will face either second seed Alcaraz or sixth seed Alexander Zverev in the last four. The […]

January 24, 2024 2