Maxx Crosby: I'm the best pass rusher in the world, Patrick Mahomes is the best QB
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby says that when he's going up against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, it's the best against the best.
Crosby said on ESPN that he and the Raiders know that if they're going to get to where they want to go, it starts with beating the Chiefs, who have won the AFC West nine years in a row.
'It's ultimate respect when it comes to them,' Crosby said of the Chiefs. 'They've earned it. They've won three Super Bowls, they've got the best quarterback in football. But for us, as a pass rusher, I'm going against the best quarterback. For me, I believe I'm the best pass rusher in the world, so every time we match up it's match made in heaven.'
Crosby has sacked Mahomes six times, but the Raiders' record in those games has not been good: The Raiders are just 2-10 against the Chiefs in Crosby's six seasons. Crosby knows that has to change.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
UFC Fight Card Schedule For July 2025: Including A BMF Title Fight
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 11: Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face-off for the media during the UFC 236 ... More Ultimate Media Day at Hyatt Regency Atlanta on April 11, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The UFC takes a week off to begin July 2025, but the promotion returns on July 12 to start a run of nine consecutive weekends of fight cards. The July UFC schedule features a mix of offerings with a UFC Fight Night, a pay-per-view card, and a UFC on ABC event. Below, we look at the full UFC schedule for July 2025. UFC Schedule July 2025: UFC Nashville EDMONTON, ALBERTA - NOVEMBER 01: Derrick Lewis poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ... More official weigh-in at The Westin Edmonton on November 01, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) On July 12 the UFC returns to Nashville, Tennessee for the first time since August 2023. The fast approaching UFC Nashville fight card is headlined by a heavyweight matchup between former UFC heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis and the undefeated Tallison Teixeira. UFC Nashville takes place at Bridgestone Arena. UFC Nashville airs on ESPN and ESPN+. The main card begins at 9:00 p.m. ET following prelims on the same networks at 6:00 p.m. ET UFC Nashville Fight Card UFC Nashville Main Card Derrick Lewis vs. Tallison Teixeira - Heavyweight Stephen Thompson vs. Gabriel Bonfim - Welterweight Calvin Kattar vs. Steve Garcia - Featherweight Nate Landwehr vs. Morgan Charriere - Featherweight Vitor Petrino vs. Austen Lane - Heavyweight Junior Tafa vs. Tuco Tokkos - Light Heavyweight UFC Nashville Preliminary Card Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis - Welterweight Jake Matthews vs. Chidi Njokuani - Welterweight Lauren Murphy vs. Eduarda Moura - Women's Flyweight Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Valter Walker - Heavyweight Mitch Ramirez vs. Mike Davis - Lightweight Max Griffin vs. Chris Curtis - Welterweight Fatima Kline vs. Melissa Martinez - Strawweight UFC Schedule July 2025: UFC 318 Pay-Per-View ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: (L-R) Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier face off during the UFC 236 weigh-in ... More at State Farm Arena on April 12, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The next UFC pay-per-view card, UFC 318, takes place on July 19 at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. At the top of the card is the trilogy fight between two of the most respected and entertaining fighters in UFC history, Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. Holloway's BMF title will be on the line that night. The matchup is also Poirier's retirement fight. The UFC 318 main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10:00 p.m. ET. The ESPN Prelims air at 8:00 p.m. ET, and the event kicks off at 6:15 p.m. ET with the ESPN+ streaming early prelims. UFC 318 Main Card: Holloway Vs. Poirier 3 Max Holloway vs. Dustin Poirier - Lightweight - For Holloway's BMF title Dan Ige vs. Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire - Featherweight Ateba Gautier vs. Robert Valentin - Middleweight Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov - Middleweight Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber - Lightweight Other Official Fights For UFC 318 Marvin Vettori vs. Brendan Allen - Middleweight Kyler Phillips vs. Vinicius Oliveira - Bantamweight Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira - Middleweight Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson - Welterweight Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio - Light Heavyweight Adam Fugitt vs. Islam Dulatov - Welterweight Carli Judice vs. Nicolle Caliari - Women's Flyweight UFC Schedule July 2025: UFC Abu Dhabi ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 26: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand prepares to face ... More Khamzat Chimaev of Russia in a middleweight fight during the UFC 308 event at Etihad Arena on October 26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi on July 26 for a UFC Fight Night card at Etihad Arena. UFC CEO Dana White recently announced the first six matchups for that fight card, including the main event, which pits former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker against the rising Reinier de Ridder. In the evening's co-main event, Aaron Pico makes his UFC debut opposite Movsar Evloev in a five-round featherweight matchup. The main card for UFC Abu Dhabi airs on ABC at 3:00 p.m. ET. The prelims start at noon ET on ESPN and ESPN+. UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Official Fights Robert Whittaker vs. Renier de Ridder - Middleweight Movsar Evloev vs. Aaron Pico - Featherweight Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee - Bantamweight Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight Shara Magomedov vs. Marc-Andre Barriault - Middleweight Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov - Light Heavyweight Asu Almabayev vs. Ramazan Temirov - Flyweight İbo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana - Light Heavyweight UFC 318 Fight Card: Holloway Vs. Poirier 3 Main Event ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Dustin Poirier punches Max Holloway in their interim lightweight ... More championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Dustin Poirier (30-9-0-1) has been a UFC fighter since 2011. At the time he had a 7-1 record. Between 2011 and 2018, Poirier went 16-4-0-1, picking up notable wins over Max Holloway, Bobby Green, Jim Miller, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, and Eddie Alvarez. His losses during that stretch came to The Korean Zombie, Cub Swanson, Conor McGregor, and Michael Johnson. Poirier's wins over Miller, Pettis, Gaethje, and Alvarez set him up to fight for the interim UFC lightweight title against then-UFC featherweight titleholder Max Holloway. Poirier was the No. 3 ranked fighter in the UFC 155-pound division at the time, April 2019. Poirier claimed the interim crown with a decision win. In September 2019, Poirier faced Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title unification bout. Nurmagomedov won that contest by third-round submission. Three wins after that, including two TKO victories over Conor McGregor, put Poirier in another lightweight title fight. He lost that battle to Charles Oliveira, falling to a rear-naked choke in the third round of their December 2021 matchup. The 36-year-old Poirier is 2-2 since that setback with wins over Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis. Poirier's losses during that run came against Justin Gaethje for the BMF title and, most recently, opposite Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 302 in June 2024. Poirier has 15 fight-night bonus awards, which ties him for fourth all-time in that category. Poirier is the No. 5 ranked UFC lightweight. ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (R-L) Max Holloway punches Dustin Poirier in their interim lightweight ... More championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Max Holloway (26-8) has been with the UFC since 2012. If there's a stat that the UFC tracks, chances are Holloway is among the leaders. He holds the UFC featherweight record for wins (20), finishes (11), knockouts (nine), win streak (13 straight), total fight time (6:58:57), significant strikes landed (2,971), and total strikes landed (3,180). Holloway's overall UFC records include significant strikes landed (3,457) and total strikes landed (3,706). Holloway's run as UFC featherweight champ began in June 2017 when he knocked out Jose Aldo. Holloway entered that contest as the interim champ, a belt he won by knocking out Anthony Pettis in December 2016. He defended his title against Aldo (TKO), Brian Ortega (TKO), and Frankie Edgar (decision). He also attempted to win the interim UFC lightweight belt during that run, but he fell short, dropping a decision to Dustin Poirier. Holloway's championship run ended in December 2019 when Alexander Volkanovski beat him by decision. Volkanovski retained the title in an immediate rematch. Wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez earned Holloway another shot at Volkanovski and his title in July 2022, but the champ retained his belt with a decision win. Holloway followed that setback with wins over Arnold Allen, the Korean Zombie, and Justin Gaethje. The Gaethje victory, a fight that many voted 'Fight of the Year' and 'Knockout of the Year,' earned Holloway the BMF title. That fight took place at 155 pounds. Holloway followed his BMF title win with the first knockout loss of his career, falling to Ilia Topuria in a UFC featherweight title fight in October 2024. Holloway is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC featherweight rankings. He is also ranked at No. 12 at 155 pounds and sits at No. 12 in the pound-for-pound rankings. UFC 318: Holloway Vs. Poirier Previous Meetings LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 04: Dustin Poirier (blue shorts) attempts to submit Max Holloway during ... More the UFC 143 event at Mandalay Bay Events Center on February 4, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Poirier is 2-0 against Holloway. They first met in a featherweight scrap at UFC 143 in February 2012. The bout was Holloway's fifth pro fight and first as a member of the UFC. He was 4-0 heading into the contest. Meanwhile, Poirier had been with the WEC/UFC for two years by then with a 11-1 pro record. Poirier won that fight, and earned Submission of the Night, for his first-round triangle armbar stoppage. ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: (L-R) UFC President Dana White places the interim lightweight championship ... More belt on Dustin Poirier after defeating Max Holloway in their interim lightweight championship bout during the UFC 236 event at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) The two faced off for the second time in April 2019 at UFC 236. That matchup was for the interim UFC lightweight title. Poirier won that 'Fight of the Night' bonus-winning scrap. Poirier failed to unify the title, losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov by submission at UFC 242 in September 2019. We will have more on the UFC schedule for July 2025 as each event nears, as well as results on fight night.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
The NBA's salary cap for 2026 is an unmitigated disaster we'll quickly feel
I hate to divert any attention from all the 2025 NBA free agency fun, but I have some bad news, dearest readers. Remember the NBA's still relatively new second-apron tax rules? You know, the ones that threaten to break apart your favorite teams and force contenders to make shrewd, difficult decisions? Yes, those very same rules! You got it! Advertisement Well, according to the league's projected salary cap increase for the 2026-2027 season (so, starting next summer), the second apron is likely about to wreak even more havoc on NBA squads who are already tight up against the cap. It's just an unfortunate reality. As ESPN's Bobby Marks reported on Monday, the NBA's salary cap will only go up seven percent in 2026-2027. For posterity, players receiving extensions and new contracts are entitled to an eight percent raise on their contracts. All power to players for being in one of the only professions where wages actually rise with inflation, but that's obviously quite problematic for team building, especially for squads who already have a bunch of big-money player contracts on their books. This is also an issue because the assumption around the league was that it would generally go up 10 percent every summer. This meant that many teams, like, say, the Minnesota Timberwolves, were already operating with that level of increase in mind and structuring contracts around the idea they would soon have more breathing room. Instead, they will not, and the second apron is likened to create even more of a cap squeeze: Suffice it to say, with a lower-than-expected salary cap a summer from now, we may now only be scratching the surface of problems the second apron may create for NBA teams. Advertisement Given the extremely stringent penalties inherent in possible trades and the (lack of) available offseason resources, the second apron is something that most franchises around the league do everything in their power to avoid. And if they're already in the second apron or in danger of broaching it, they may consider a shocking trade to break up their roster that otherwise wouldn't have come to mind to get some cap relief. That or they approach internal extensions for players differently — either by lowballing them or not offering an extension in the first place. This is nothing to say of free agency, which figures to be more of a barren wasteland. There are many competent NBA veterans who are certainly worth than minimums. But with teams trying to avoid the second apron, these sorts of veterans may find it increasingly harder to find any higher offers than minimums. And if you think it won't affect this year's open market period, boy, do I have the worst news for you. The mere hint that there will be less flexibility down the road means NBA squads will likely be even more cautious about committing to anything that isn't firmly bolted down. Following this disastrous news about the salary cap, either the NBA takes action to provide some relief for teams (such as a grandfather clause or a lessening of penalties), or this problem is almost certainly about to get worse. This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA's projected salary cap for 2026 will hurt free agency, make second apron worse
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warriors Linked to Pursuit of $133 Million Center Now Unexpectedly Available
Warriors Linked to Pursuit of $133 Million Center Now Unexpectedly Available originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors were weighing their options at the center position heading into NBA free agency on Monday, June 30, when an opportunity unexpectedly fell into their collective lap. Advertisement Center DeAndre Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick of the Phoenix Suns, agreed to a buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night. The ultimate result once he clears waivers on Tuesday is going to be a hard run at the seven-footer by any and all teams that could use a featured big man, which includes Golden State. Bobby Marks and Ramona Shelburne, both of ESPN, explained the situation via separate X posts on Sunday. Former Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images "Deandre Ayton is free to sign with any team despite earning greater than $14.1M+," Marks wrote. "The waiver restriction for second apron teams only applies during the regular season. He had $35.6M left on an expiring contract." "Ayton has to clear waivers in 48 hours," Shelburne added. "Portland had a glut of centers after the draft and it's very hard to trade a player making as much as he does. Expect teams that need a center to be very active with him." Advertisement The Warriors can offer Ayton a solid situation based on what he says he wants, which is a shot to play for a title Golden State went to the playoffs last season, won a round and may have done more damage if Stephen Curry hadn't strained his hamstring in Game 1 of the conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Curry and Draymond Green each have four championship rings, while new addition Jimmy Butler led the Miami Heat to three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals over a five-year span. Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Kluckhohn-Imagn Images However, the Warriors will have to compete with other teams for Ayton's services. Chief among them is likely to the be the Los Angeles Lakers, who also made the playoffs this year and also lost to the Timberwolves, at least in part due to a lack of interior strength and size. Advertisement Los Angeles has the advantage of Luka Doncic, who can sign up to a four-year contract extension in August. At this point in his career, and when healthy, Doncic is probably the best player on either the Lakers' or Warriors' rosters -- including all-time greats Curry and LeBron James. Furthermore, Doncic is the youngest of both teams' collections of superstars at just 26 years old, with five first-team All-NBA selections already to his credit. Doncic is also an expert at making easier the lives of big men who play alongside him, while simultaneously helping them stuff the stat sheet -- always a good thing when considering future contract negotiations. Ayton has averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over the course of his seven-year career and inked a four-year deal worth $133 million in July 2022 after helping the Suns reach the NBA Finals the summer before. Related: Warriors Trade Idea Flips Moses Moody for Rangy $48 Million Center This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.