Robert Whittaker: 'I do think I'm better than Dricus Du Plessis'
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USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Reinier de Ridder after UFC on ABC 9 win?
Reinier de Ridder is in a strong position in the middleweight division after beating a former UFC champion for the first time in Robert Whittaker on Saturday at UFC on ABC 9. De Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) got the split decision nod over Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, to continue his whirlwind run since joining the organization in September. The former two-division ONE Championship titleholder has met every challenge matchmakers have put in front of him, and with the 185-pound title on the line between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 headliner on Aug. 16 in Chicago, he's among the frontrunners to face the winner. Should de Ridder get a title shot off the back of beating Whittaker in a decision that some felt was unjust? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC on ABC 9.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Can't believe it': Fans in awe of triple Aussie stunner on global stage
Oscar Piastri and the country's men's and women's 4x100m swimming relay teams have produced a stunning night for Australia on the global stage. And it could get even better, with Alex de Minaur in the final of the Citi Open in Washington. Piastri was triumphant in a rain-soaked Belgian Grand Prix, while Australia won gold in both relays at the swimming world championships. Piastri extended his lead in the F1 world championship to 16 points after overtaking pole-sitter and teammate Lando Norris to win. The race eventually started after four laps behind the safety car following a delay of nearly an hour and a half due to rain and poor visibility at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. After an initial formation lap behind the safety car, a red flag was shown, and the cars were brought back into the pit lane and the starting procedure halted. Once the race began, the decisive moment came just seconds after the start. Piastri charged through the spray and straight past his teammate Norris, using his slip-stream through the daunting Eau Rouge. Piastri was then largely untroubled for the rest of the race as he powered on to finish 3.415 seconds clear of his arch-rival. "I knew Lap 1 (after the safety car) would probably be my best chance of winning the race," the Aussie said after his sixth win of the season and eighth of his career. "I got a good exit out of Turn 1, lifted as little as I dared and yeah, we had it mostly under control." It was McLaren's sixth 1-2 finish of the season, and third in a row. Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen was fourth in his first full race under a new Red Bull chief following the departure of Christian Horner. Aussies win double relay gold at swimming world championships While Piastri's win wasn't a total shock, the performance of Australia's two 4x100m relay teams were. The Aussies ended the opening night of the swimming world championships with double gold after the country's men and women both prevailed in the 4x100m freestyle events. Olivia Wunsch produced a stunning late comeback to fire Australia to an upset victory over the vaunted US in the women's event. And then it was Kyle Chalmers who reeled in a sizeable lead from the Americans in the men's event. Chalmers produced a stunning anchor swim as the Aussie quartet including Flynn Southam, Kai Taylor and Maximillian Giuliani posting a world championship-record time of 3:08.97 to defeat Italy (3:09.58) and the fading US (3:09.64). "I've kind of lost my voice already from cheering so hard," Southam said. "I'm just so happy to be here, and we all swam out of our skin, and we did it for the country, and we're so proud of ourselves." Ian Thorpe blown away by Aussie women's victory The Aussies were complete underdogs in the women's race with a new-look team of Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Wunsch. The US were the hot favourites to win, but even without the retired Emma McKeon, the Australians produced something special. Torri Huske had the lead for the US with 50m remaining, before Wunsch came storming home to snatch victory. Australia finished in a time of 3:30.60, with the US (3:31.04) in second. "I definitely can't believe it," Jansen told Channel 9. "This is something that I wanted growing up. I was feeling very nervous coming into this, but it's just a dream come true." Ian Thorpe said in commentary: "It is really difficult to be able to find someone to match our most successful Olympian we've ever seen - Emma McKeon. She's not there. Cate Campbell's not there. Bronte Campbell's not there. "But what we do have in Australia is the consistency in this race, that it's tough to make this team. And what I'm most impressed with is ... how they could lift for the entire team in this race. Amazing stuff." HOW DID AUSTRALIA WIN BOTH RELAYS!? I was in the room watching it and I couldn't believe insane night of swimming — Slaylee Goatkeown (@SwimFanAus) July 27, 2025 KYLE CHALMERS IS THE GREATEST ANCHOR SWIMMER IN you can't change my mind.#AQUASingapore2025 — John Dean (@JohnDean_) July 27, 2025 ANCHOR KING KYLE 👑Kyle Chalmers closes the Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay with an insane 46.53 split, sealing the record-breaking victory for Australia! 🔥 #Swimming #AQUASingapore25 — World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 27, 2025 And the lads! 🥇 Just as good if not better. Aussies with a one-two punch on the USA. Kyle Chalmers. Superstar. — Tom Decent (@tomdecent) July 27, 2025 Kyle Chalmers 👑 Just insane, another anchor leg for the ages. #AQUASingapore25 — Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 27, 2025 with AAP
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Robert Whittaker after UFC on ABC 9 loss?
Robert Whittaker suffered a critical loss at an important time in his career Saturday against Reinier de Ridder in the UFC on ABC 9 headliner. Just as he voiced his intention to make a final title push before retirement, the former middleweight champion Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) dropped a split decision to de Ridder (20-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and he's now dropped consecutive fights for the first time in more than a decade. Whittaker was hoping to rebound strong from a 2024 Submission of the Year loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October, but instead he's in uncharted territory after falling on the wrong side of the scorecards against an opponent who was ranked No. 12. What does the future hold for Whittaker? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis after the UFC on ABC 9 main event.
