USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 8: Lerone Murphy enters top 10
In the main event, undefeated Lerone Murphy won a clear unanimous decision over former interim title challenger Josh Emmett.
Murphy entered the week at No. 12 in the 145-pound division, but after his second main event win, lands at No. 8 in this week's rankings update.
Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Sha'Carri Richardson arrested in alleged domestic violence incident, police say
Sha'Carri Richardson was arrested after an alleged incident at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports. According to the report, Richardson was arrested for domestic violence on Sunday. Richardson and a male companion were involved in a verbal altercation as they exited through airport security, the police report states. Richardson allegedly pushed the man and he fell into a nearby column, according to the Seattle Police Department. The report states police viewed airport security footage. On that video, the report says, the man attempted to walk away from Richardson, but she continued to allegedly bump into him, the report says. Police also say Richardson threw a pair of headphones at the man. Richardson was booked at the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, on Sunday and released on Monday, jail records show. 'We are aware of the report and we have no comment at this time,' USA Track and Field said to USA TODAY Sports. Richardson ran a 11.07 and finished second in her heat in the 100 meters to advance to Friday's semifinal at the U.S. track and field championships. She's withdrawn from the 100 semifinal and will also not run in the 200. The U.S. championships serves as a qualifing meet for the world championships. Richardson has a bye into the 100 at this year's world championships because she is the defending champion. Richardson earned a silver medal in the 100 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was also a part of Team USA's gold-medal winning 4x100-relay team. Richardson is one of the most recognizable American track and field athletes. She won the 100 meters at the 2020 Olympic trials but was later suspended for testing positive for marijuana and didn't compete at the Tokyo Olympics. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
13 hours ago
- USA Today
Tatsuro Taira vs. HyungSung Park prediction, pick: Will new star emerge at UFC on ESPN 71?
Can unbeaten Park pull off flyweight upset in short-notice headliner? MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 71 main event between former middleweight champion Tatsuro Taira and HyunSung Park. Tatsuro Taira UFC on ESPN 71 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: HyunSung Park UFC on ESPN 71 preview Staple info: Supplemental info: Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park point of interest: Flyweight fisticuffs The main event on ESPN features an impromptu flyweight fight between Tatsuro Taira and HungSung Park. Park was initially slated to face Steve Erceg in the same arena the following week, but with Amir Albazi being forced to withdraw from this weekend's main event just one week out, the UFC – as they often do to fill their relentless schedule – was forced to pivot with this last-minute schuffle. It's unfortunate that the first event headlined by Asians in the UFC happened accidentally, but this should be a solid matchup, all things considered. Taira, who was originally scheduled for this Saturday, has steadily been improving his striking game. Fighting to his frame and stylistic sensibilities, Taira will typically look to play all the way in or all the way out when it comes to his operating range. At distance, Taira looks to set up long straight shots off his in-and-out movement. When feeling in stride, Taira will attach solid kicks to his combinations (particularly off of his lead side). Taira has also demonstrated a solid ability to strike into collar ties, which provides him opportunities to land knees and elbows in close. That said, the Japanese fighter will need to respect the power of Park. A decent-sized flyweight who fights from a more compact boxing stance, Park displays a solid striking acumen when standing. Whether Park's utilizing his underrated low kicks or is launching a steady dose of jabs, the Korean fighter seems very comfortable in the pocket. And when feeling in stride, Park is good about catching shots with his parries and returning in combination. When Park can punch his way into collar tie situations, "Peace of Mind" is quick to feed knees and uppercuts into the equation, typically to the midsection. Park's propensity for bodywork should serve him well against Taira, but it's the wrestling that'll likely be the crux of this fight. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park point of interest: Winning the wrestling Considering both the stylistic dynamic and the fighting terrain, winning the wrestling will arguably be paramount for both parties this weekend. A talented back-taker who is steadily rounding out his surrounding skill set, Taira appears to have no illusions as to where his bread is buttered. Not only is Taira patient when it comes to setting up his shots, but the Japanese fighter does not seem easily discouraged when failing on his first attempt. Akin to great MMA grapplers like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Taira looks to be perfectly content with using his first shot to drive his opposition toward the octagon walls. From there, Taira will chain to and from single-legs to trip takedowns that allow him to drag the fight into his world. However, I'll be curious to see how Taira's takedowns stack up with Park's wrestling. Despite not coming from a traditional wrestling base and having a more limited sample size than his counterpart, I've been very impressed by what I've seen from Park, thus far. Defensively, Park's head appears to be in the right place regarding his responses. From underhooks and hand fighting to the awareness of his hips, Park appears to be very well-trained. Offensively, Park – akin to a lot of Korean fighters – prefers to fish for his takedowns from the clinch. The 29-year-old looks incredibly strong in closed quarters and shucks by to the back like it's second nature. Usually utilizing energy-efficient takedowns, Park is good about immediately transitioning to mount positions by executing incredibly tight chair sits. And once Park has the back on his opponent, he shows little fat in his finishing process as far as his submission game goes. Park also seems to be very conservative when it comes to giving back exposure, but those sensibilities will be tested to another level this Saturday. Taira may still be developing large parts of his game, but the 25-year-old's back-taking abilities are potent beyond his years. Whether Taira is looking for rear-naked chokes or baiting escapes that lead to armlocks, the native of Japan will be extremely dangerous anytime he attaches himself to Park. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park odds The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Japanese fighter, listing Taira -355 and Park +270 via FanDuel. Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park prediction, pick Between the hype on Taira and the fact that Park is stepping in on short notice, I can totally understand the betting spread listed above. That said, I suspect that this fight will be more competitive than the odds indicate. Even though Park wasn't training for a 25-minute fight, he was already in town and prepped to face a top flyweight on the August 9th card the following week. And when I strip out the intangible noise and just look at the fight from a style's perspective, I see Park potentially presenting some real problems for everyone's favorite Japanese prospect. Don't get me wrong: Taira is the deserved favorite, and him handing Park his first pro defeat should surprise no one. However, if Park's wrestling and submission defense is as good as I suspect, then I believe he can make this a close and competitive fight. When two back-takers meet (a la Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa), I typically side with the better wrestler, not the better back-taker, to win. It's an unpopular pick that has a high chance of making me look more foolish than usual, but I can't go against what my eyes are seeing in this spot. I'll take a flier on Park to survive the early storm and pull away down the stretch via superior striking and bodywork. Prediction: Park by decision Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park start time, how to watch As the main event, Taira and Park are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Forbes
14 hours ago
- Forbes
UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Odds, Predictions, Prop Bets And Picks
The UFC is back at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for the first time since May for Saturday's UFC Vegas 108 fight card. The main event of this week's UFC offering came together on short notice. In that matchup, Hyun Sung Park steps in for the injured Amir Albazi against top-10-ranked UFC contender Tatsuro Taira. Below, we look at the betting odds, betting line movement, potential prop bets, predictions, and picks for the UFC Vegas 108 main card. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Tatsuro Taira Vs. Hyun Sung Park Tatsuro Taira (16-1) rose through the UFC flyweight ranks fairly quickly. He joined the UFC in May 2022 with a record of 10-0, and after winning the Shooto flyweight title. Taira opened his UFC career with a unanimous decision win over Carlos Candelario in May 2022. He followed that with back-to-back submission wins in contests where he earned 'Performance of the Night' bonuses, defeating C.J. Vergara and Jesús Santos Aguilar. Wins over Edgar Chairez and Carlos Hernandez in 2023 followed. In June, Taira got the first true test of his UFC career when he faced Alex Perez in a main event on a UFC Fight Night card at the Apex. At the time, Taira was the No. 13 ranked fighter in the UFC's flyweight division, and Perez, who had fought Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC 125-pound title in 2020, was ranked No. 5. The fight ended when Taira took the back of his opponent in the center of the Octagon and forced him to the mat, putting enormous pressure on Perez's knee and causing an injury that brought the fight to a halt in the second stanza. From all appearances, and judging from his comments after the victory, the move that finished the contest was a designed technique. That win put Taira at No. 5 in the UFC rankings, earning him a shot at former UFC flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval, who entered the October 2024 contest as the No. 1 ranked in the UFC's 125-pound division. Royval and Taira put on a 'Fight of the Night' bonus-winning scrap, but the more experienced Royval took home the split-decision win, handing Taira the first loss of his professional career. The 25-year-old Taira is currently the No. 6 ranked UFC flyweight. Hyun Sung Park (10-0) won Road to UFC in early 2023 with a knockout of Seung Guk Choi. He followed that with a knockout of Shannon Ross in late 2023. Park did not compete in 2024 having had fights against Andre Lima and Nyamjargal Tumendemberel cancelled. He returned to the Octagon in March, scoring a first-round submission win over Carlos Hernandez at UFC Vegas 106. I wrote of the 29-year-old at the time, 'HyunSung Park looked excellent at UFC Vegas 106, moving to 3-0 in the UFC's flyweight division. Park used effective striking to hurt Carlos Hernandez against the fence. That striking made Hernandez move to the clinch, but Park showed his overall MMA ability in scoring a takedown, which led to a back take and a rear naked choke sub at 2:26 of Round 1. The 29-year-old Park looks ready for a test in his next outing as he has picked up three finishes in three UFC outings.' He gets that test in a big way and on short notice on Saturday night. Park has only gone the distance once in his MMA career. When the betting odds opened for this matchup, Taira was a -350 betting favorite over Park, who came in as the +275 betting underdog. Bettors are taking the underdog in the hopes of an upset. Park has earned 74 percent of the bets, while picking up 75 percent of the handle. The good news heading into this fight is that Park is not coming into UFC Vegas 108 fully unprepared. He was booked opposite Steve Erceg for next week's UFC Vegas 109 card, so he will at least face Taira with most of a fight camp behind him. However, that fight was scheduled for three rounds, while this contest is a five-round affair. Taira is a good striker, he is better on the mat. However, he is aware how fights are scored, so he'll engage in striking before moving to his grappling. Park, on the other hand looks to grapple first. Taira is the more well-rounded fighter in this contest and that will allow him to carry the day. The pick is for Taira to win via stoppage. I see him scoring a knockdown against Park, but I'm unsure if the finish will be more strikes or if Taira follows things to the ground to get the sub. Considering Taira's grappling skills, go with the submission. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card Co-Main Event: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Mateusz Rebecki Vs. Chris Duncan The UFC Vegas 108 co-main event is a lightweight matchup between Mateusz Rebecki (20-2) and Chris Duncan (13-2). When the odds opened for this scrap, Rebecki was a -200 favorite over Duncan, who was +165. The line has shifted slightly for this contest. Today, Rebecki is the -210 favorite over the +170 Duncan. Unlike the main event, the favorite in this matchup has the bulk of the bets (71 percent) and handle (90 percent.) The betting pick is Rebecki to score a dominant decision win. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Elves Brener Vs. Esteban Ribovics A lightweight matchup between Elves Brener (16-5) and Esteban Ribovics (14-2). Ribovics opened as the -300 favorite over the +240 Brener. The line has gotten a little closer on this one, but not by much. Today, Ribovics is listed at -250, while Brener checks in at +200. The bets are split 50-50 on this one, but most of the money is coming in on Brener at 82 percent. The pick is Ribovics to win via decision. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Karol Rosa Vs. Nora Cornolle In this contest, we have a matchup of ranked women's bantamweight competitors. The fight features No. 10 Karol Rosa (18-7) against No. 12 Nora Cornolle (9-2). Rosa opened as the -160 favorite over the +135 Cornolle. Today, Rosa is listed at -180, while Cornolle comes in at +145. Rosa has picked up more bets (54 percent) and more money has come in on her (59 percent). The pick is for Cornolle to pull of the upset in a decision win. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Neil Magny Vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos In this contest, we have two veteran welterweight competitors in Neil Magny (29-13) and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-9-1). When the odds opened for this scrap, Magny was the +200 betting underdog to the -250 Dos Santos. The line has tightened for this one. Today, Magny is +150 and Dos Santos -185. While Magny is the betting underdog, the bettors are invested in him with 74 percent of the bets and 75 percent of the handle on Magny. The pick is Zaleski to defeat Magny via decision, but there's a chance of a knockout as well. UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Betting Odds, Line Movement And Predictions - Danny Silva Vs. Kevin Vallejos Opening the UFC Vegas 108 main card is a featherweight scrap between Danny Silva (10-1) and Kevin Vallejos (15-1). Vallejos opened as one of the biggest favorites on the card at -425. Today, he is -450. Silva was a +310 underdog, and is now listed at +340. As is often the case in fights with lopsided odds, bettors are looking for a upset. Silva has 81 percent of the bets and 69 percent of the handle. The pick is for Vallejos to pick up a knockout victory. *Information via BetMGM UFC Vegas 108 Prop Bets To Consider Tatsuro Taira vs. Hyun Sung Park does not go the distance: -200 Tatsuro Taira to beat Hyun Sung Park via submission: +135 Tatsuro Taira to beat Hyun Sung Park via KO/TKO or DQ: +500 Matuesz Rebecki vs. Chris Duncan does not go the distance: -210 Esteban Ribovics to beat Elves Brener inside the distance: +140 Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle to go the distance: -450 Neil Magny to beat Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by decision: +230 Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos to beat Neil Magny via KO/TKO or DQ: +315 *Odds via BetOnline UFC Vegas 108 Main Card Tatsuro Taira vs. Hyun Sung Park - Flyweight Chris Duncan vs. Mateusz Rebecki - Lightweight Elves Brener vs. Esteban Ribovics - Lightweight Nora Cornolle vs. Karol Rosa - Women's bantamweight Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski - Welterweight Danny Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos - Featherweight UFC Vegas 108 Preliminary Card Nathan Fletcher vs. Rinya Nakamura - Bantamweight Tresean Gore vs. Rodolfo Vieira - Middleweight Nick Klein vs. Andrey Pulayev - Middleweight Felipe Bunes vs. Rafael Estevam - Flyweight Piera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen Souza - Strawweight UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Date Saturday, August 2, 2025 UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Location UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: How to Watch Or Stream ESPN and ESPN+ UFC Vegas 108 Fight Card: Fight Card Time Prelims: 6:00 p.m. ET Main Card: 9:00 p.m. ET We will have more on the UFC Vegas 108 fight card and the main event as fight night nears, including betting odds, picks, predictions and more. As well as full fight card results, reactions and highlights on fight night.
