Latest news with #Caceres
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saidyokub Kakhramonov hopes UFC call comes after Alex Caceres win: 'I took his job'
Saidyokub Kakhramonov will continue to hope – but he refuses to beg. It's been nearly three years since Kakhramonov (12-3) departed the UFC roster with a 2-1 record, and a lot has happened since. He's 6-0 in combat sports, including 2-0 in MMA. But the biggest victory, Kakhramonov says, is the strides he's made as a human. "At this point, I think I'm just ready to be a company man and just work with people," Kakhramonov said. "Not that I wasn't before, but before, I was young. I didn't care. I came to this country in 2010. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I had to learn the culture over there. People out there are different. They don't care. Everyone is just like, 'F*ck you, f*ck that, f*ck off.' They're forward. It's a Brooklyn thing, so I always had that. But eventually, you get older, and you understand the other half of the world, that's not how it operates. You have to be smart and make the right choices." Kakhramonov's UFC release was surprising to most who paid attention, and the circumstances around it aren't totally clear. He put forth two fairly dominant performances against Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence before he lost to Said Nurmagomedov in a fight he was largely winning. "You have to be smart and make the right choices," Kakhramonov said. "A little moment of your life can change the next 20 or 30 years of your life. You don't want that for your future. I think that's what I learned. Now, it's just things that are smooth for me. I live a good life and everything is not bad. I have a good team around me and a good gym. I train out of Valle Flow. The people out there are amazing. I have good coaches and good management. Overall, everything is very good right now for me." Kakhramonov's improvements inside the cage have also been notable. He recently defeated longtime UFC alum Alex Caceres, and credits Valle Flow Systems Academy in Bensenville, lll., for the dominant performance. He trained alongside the likes of Belal Muhammad, Yair Rodriguez, and Ignacio Bahamondes in preparation. I'd say it's one of the top gyms in America if not in all of North America," Kakhramonov said. "We have an unbelievable team with great coaches. Mike Valle is a smart guy. He's always on top of his game. Even though he travels for fights, he makes sure we are training. Most of the gyms when coaches leave for fights, there's no one training. Here, it's an amazing team. People train hard, and everyone is pushing each other. It's like a little family out here. It's great to be out there." Caceres indicated prior to the fight that the promotion hadn't totally parted ways with him and was just allowing him to take the Dirty Boxing bout. So while Kakhramonov isn't sure what exactly will be next, he thinks beating a fighter like Caceres could put him back int the UFC's good graces if he isn't already. "I expected that definitely, but a lot of people didn't expect that," Kakhramonov said. "Look at it this way. I just took his job. It was a hand-to-hand fight. It was boxing, yeah. It was elbows, yeah. I just actually cut him pretty badly with one of the spinning elbows. I legit told him, 'Oh, man. Your face is f*cked up.' During the fight, I told him that. You can see it every time we clashed, I was throwing him around. Even if it was MMA, the outcome would be the same – besides his kicks. All you've got to do is go left to avoid his kicks. It's not a big headache. I took his job and I don't think they're going to re-sign him after this fight. I came up a weight class. I'm a bantamweight and I destroyed him 30-27. I was very close to finishing the fight. I mean, why would they want to re-sign him when they can re-sign me?" Kakhramonov, 29, plans to stay ready, should the UFC call him for a short notice bout. UFC 319 takes place in Chicago, not far from his training home. Kakhramonov would love it to work out, but he's not going to pelad. "Chicago has a lot of Uzbek community, a lot of Russians, and all of those people who came from those regions. Being on the UFC card in Chicago, it'd be legendary," Kakhramonov said. "... (But) I'm not one of those guys who wants to beg anyone. There are so many begging. You know how it is. I just let the work do the job and I've just got to keep winning and eventually they can't deny me."
The Advertiser
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Caceres weighs up ALM future as World Cup looms
Knowing a World Cup spot is up for grabs, Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres is still weighing up his playing future at Sydney FC. Caceres, 32, went from believing his national team dream was dead to being a genuine option for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic within six months. The classy midfielder helped Australia seal direct qualification to the 2026 tournament in their crunch clashes against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Viewing the upcoming club season as "the most important year of my career", Caceres said he hasn't made a call on whether he'll stay at the Sky Blues. Caceres has played at the ALM heavyweights since 2019, having arrived on loan from Manchester City. He has been linked with a move to Macarthur FC, after Sydney failed to make finals last season under coach Ufuk Talay. Highly rated Sky Blues forward Adrian Segecic has already sealed his move after earning a three-year contract at English Championship side Portsmouth. "I'm still weighing it up, that's the thing," Caceres said on Thursday at the Commbank sponsorship announcement. "I've had a few sniffs in Asia and actually some countries in Europe. "Ultimately, the league needs to be competitive enough to keep me in the frame for national team football. "It's tempting to stay in Australia because our league gets recognised by the national team coach. "I understand the league well, and I think it's a great option." Should he make the cross-town switch to the Bulls, he'll be reunited with former Sky Blues teammate Luke Brattan. It was Bulls captain Brattan's long-awaited Socceroos debut, at 34, last year that reignited Caceres's national team hopes. "When I saw my good mate Luke Brattan get a call, that told me that age isn't the deciding factor," Caceres said. "Not that I'm old, but there's certain perceptions that come with it. "Before then, it's safe to say that I had almost given up on it. "At my age, at 32, you never stop learning and improving. That fuels my energy to kick on in my career." While his eyes are set firmly on retaining his spot for the 2026 finals, Caceres admits he's still pinching himself after their deciding 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia. "I know other boys have been there and done it before, so maybe they feel a bit differently," Caceres said. "For me, disbelief is the word. It takes a while to actually understand what is happening. "You've gone from not being involved in the national team and watching them over decades, to one day being there in a crucial moment like that." Knowing a World Cup spot is up for grabs, Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres is still weighing up his playing future at Sydney FC. Caceres, 32, went from believing his national team dream was dead to being a genuine option for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic within six months. The classy midfielder helped Australia seal direct qualification to the 2026 tournament in their crunch clashes against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Viewing the upcoming club season as "the most important year of my career", Caceres said he hasn't made a call on whether he'll stay at the Sky Blues. Caceres has played at the ALM heavyweights since 2019, having arrived on loan from Manchester City. He has been linked with a move to Macarthur FC, after Sydney failed to make finals last season under coach Ufuk Talay. Highly rated Sky Blues forward Adrian Segecic has already sealed his move after earning a three-year contract at English Championship side Portsmouth. "I'm still weighing it up, that's the thing," Caceres said on Thursday at the Commbank sponsorship announcement. "I've had a few sniffs in Asia and actually some countries in Europe. "Ultimately, the league needs to be competitive enough to keep me in the frame for national team football. "It's tempting to stay in Australia because our league gets recognised by the national team coach. "I understand the league well, and I think it's a great option." Should he make the cross-town switch to the Bulls, he'll be reunited with former Sky Blues teammate Luke Brattan. It was Bulls captain Brattan's long-awaited Socceroos debut, at 34, last year that reignited Caceres's national team hopes. "When I saw my good mate Luke Brattan get a call, that told me that age isn't the deciding factor," Caceres said. "Not that I'm old, but there's certain perceptions that come with it. "Before then, it's safe to say that I had almost given up on it. "At my age, at 32, you never stop learning and improving. That fuels my energy to kick on in my career." While his eyes are set firmly on retaining his spot for the 2026 finals, Caceres admits he's still pinching himself after their deciding 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia. "I know other boys have been there and done it before, so maybe they feel a bit differently," Caceres said. "For me, disbelief is the word. It takes a while to actually understand what is happening. "You've gone from not being involved in the national team and watching them over decades, to one day being there in a crucial moment like that." Knowing a World Cup spot is up for grabs, Socceroos midfielder Anthony Caceres is still weighing up his playing future at Sydney FC. Caceres, 32, went from believing his national team dream was dead to being a genuine option for Socceroos coach Tony Popovic within six months. The classy midfielder helped Australia seal direct qualification to the 2026 tournament in their crunch clashes against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Viewing the upcoming club season as "the most important year of my career", Caceres said he hasn't made a call on whether he'll stay at the Sky Blues. Caceres has played at the ALM heavyweights since 2019, having arrived on loan from Manchester City. He has been linked with a move to Macarthur FC, after Sydney failed to make finals last season under coach Ufuk Talay. Highly rated Sky Blues forward Adrian Segecic has already sealed his move after earning a three-year contract at English Championship side Portsmouth. "I'm still weighing it up, that's the thing," Caceres said on Thursday at the Commbank sponsorship announcement. "I've had a few sniffs in Asia and actually some countries in Europe. "Ultimately, the league needs to be competitive enough to keep me in the frame for national team football. "It's tempting to stay in Australia because our league gets recognised by the national team coach. "I understand the league well, and I think it's a great option." Should he make the cross-town switch to the Bulls, he'll be reunited with former Sky Blues teammate Luke Brattan. It was Bulls captain Brattan's long-awaited Socceroos debut, at 34, last year that reignited Caceres's national team hopes. "When I saw my good mate Luke Brattan get a call, that told me that age isn't the deciding factor," Caceres said. "Not that I'm old, but there's certain perceptions that come with it. "Before then, it's safe to say that I had almost given up on it. "At my age, at 32, you never stop learning and improving. That fuels my energy to kick on in my career." While his eyes are set firmly on retaining his spot for the 2026 finals, Caceres admits he's still pinching himself after their deciding 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia. "I know other boys have been there and done it before, so maybe they feel a bit differently," Caceres said. "For me, disbelief is the word. It takes a while to actually understand what is happening. "You've gone from not being involved in the national team and watching them over decades, to one day being there in a crucial moment like that."
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Americans are moving to Blue Zone paradise for a healthy retirement
When Ricardo Caceres first set foot on Conchal Beach as a child, it was little more than a quiet stretch of white sand where locals camped and played in the crystal-clear waters. 'That's been my favorite beach for a very long time,' he told The Post, recalling his family's move to Costa Rica in the 1970s. 'That's what drew me to eventually come full circle and spend a good chunk of the year there.' Now 54, Caceres is part of a growing wave of Americans trading red, white and blue for Nicoya's Zona Azul — where locals enjoy some of the longest, healthiest lives on Earth. 13 Reserva Conchal is a luxury resort founded in 1996. It is based in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal The 80-mile peninsula, located just south of the Nicaraguan border, is one of the world's five original Blue Zones. Its residents are more than twice as likely as Americans to reach their 90s in good health. Expats chasing the Blue Zone lifestyle have flocked to Costa Rica in recent years, fueling a boom in luxury tourism and hotel-branded private residences across the region. Among them: The W Residences Costa Rica, a high-end enclave tucked inside the gated Reserva Conchal community in the Guanacaste Province — where Caceres snapped up a plot of land in March 2020. 'At Reserva Conchal, we are a community that embraces wellness, a connection with nature and a slower and more intentional pace of life,' Fabián Fernandez, the property's business manager, told The Post. 'Being in a Blue Zone is a part of our DNA, and most of the people that come and invest in Reserva Conchal are definitely taking that into consideration.' 'Your exercise routine is a lot different. You eat healthier. I usually lose weight when I'm there.' Ricardo Caceres 13 Ricardo Caceres purchased a lot in Reserva Conchal in 2020. From fast food to slow living Before building his tropical retreat, Caceres spent decades working in the restaurant industry. At 21, he left Costa Rica for Los Angeles, working as a McDonald's crew member while putting himself through college. Over the next two decades, Caceres rose through the ranks to become the director of operations for a major franchisee, eventually opening several McDonald's of his own before relocating to the Phoenix area. When he grew tired of the grind, Caceres circled back to the beach of his childhood — now home to a sleek, sustainable community. He broke ground on a five-bedroom home just as the pandemic began. By late 2021, it was ready. Now, he and his wife Melissa bounce between Arizona and Costa Rica while their daughter finishes high school in the States. 13 A growing number of native Costa Ricans are moving to Reserva Conchal. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal 'Being on-site changes your routine completely,' he said. 'You really feel like you're on vacation, even though you're at your own house.' And this is no sleepy surf shack. Private owners of homes in The W Residences enjoy access to all of the amenities offered at the W Hotel on-site, including a fitness center, golf course, tennis courts, a spa, two pools and miles of private trails winding through lush rainforest. Caceres starts each day with a workout, then hits the beach for a walk or paddleboard session in the calm Pacific waters. 'Your exercise routine is a lot different,' he said. 'You eat healthier. I usually lose weight when I'm there.' 13 Conchal Beach is considered one of the best in Costa Rica. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal The cost of moving to paradise Reserva Conchal is now developing its 17th residential community. Buyers can choose undeveloped lots to build their dream home or opt for move-in ready private residences. Options include single-family homes, condominiums, and branded rentals that owners can lease out when away. 'Most of the Blue Zone is inside yourself, it's the way you act, the way you behave and the way you live. When you're there, you become a part of it.' Ricardo Caceres Private forest-view lots in the new Laurel community start at $645,000, while pre-built properties currently available at The W Residences range from $4.35 million to $5.45 million. Most buyers hail from North America and Europe, though Fernandez said more native Costa Ricans are moving in, too. 13 Caceres' home is part of the community's rental program. 'Everyone that comes to Reserva Conchal — especially people that are from the States but also Costa Ricans that are currently living in the central valley or San Jose — are looking for a more balanced and healthier way of life,' he said. Not waiting for retirement While Caceres has mostly stepped back from the restaurant world, he still consults on large projects and juggles a few ventures — often from his breezy Costa Rican home office instead of Arizona. 'It's really no different, except the view is better. The whole vibe is a lot more relaxed and you're less stressed,' Caceres said. 'I never wear shoes there — that tells you everything.' And the longer he stays, the more he embraces the local mindset. 'Most of the Blue Zone is inside yourself, it's the way you act, the way you behave and the way you live,' Caceres said. 'When you're there, you become a part of it.' Park City meets pura vida Nils Thorjussen is also on a mission to find a new rhythm of life in Costa Rica. 13 Nils Thorjussen and his family are originally from Park City, Utah. Nils Thorjussen A self-described 'serial entrepreneur,' the 59-year-old most recently spent a decade at the helm of Verge Aero, a startup that creates choreographed light shows using drones. 'It's been a really cool, fun ride, but I'm ready to work less,' said Thorjussen, who admitted he'd been grappling with feelings of burnout before handing over the reins and stepping into a part-time role earlier this year. 13 Private residences on-site are designed to foster a deep connection with nature by seamlessly bringing the outdoors in. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal When Thorjussen began searching for a second home, Costa Rica's accessibility quickly became a major draw. 'It's easier to embrace it as opposed to being in an environment where there's a Kentucky Fried Chicken on every corner.' Nils Thorjussen 'It's within reasonable striking range of the US — it's like a three-hour flight from Houston — so it's easy to access as opposed to some of the other Blue Zones, like in the Mediterranean,' he said. 'That was really important to me.' Thorjussen and his wife, Rebecca, now travel back and forth between their home in Park City, Utah, and a five-bedroom, fully-staffed eco villa perched high above the coastline inside Reserva Conchal. 13 Many private residences feature solar panels and cutting-edge sustainable technologies. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal 'When I'm here, I'm happy as a clam,' the father-of-two said. 'It's definitely good for my mental health, because you can really check out and chill out and enjoy life. It's very easy to transition to a different speed.' The Nicoya Peninsula's reputation as a Blue Zone also intrigued Thorjussen, who was curious how the region's lifestyle might influence his own well-being. 'For the most part, people here live more simply and closer to nature,' he said. 'When you're surrounded by that, it's easier to embrace it as opposed to being in an environment where there's a Kentucky Fried Chicken on every corner.' 13 Reserva Conchal is home to a wildlife refuge. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal That connection to nature is now woven into his daily routine. Thorjussen starts each morning with a stroll around the property, taking in the lush greenery, flitting parakeets and the calls of howler monkeys echoing through the guanacaste trees. He's already planning to relocate his sailboat once he and Rebecca make the move full-time. Thorjussen's habits have shifted in other ways, too — particularly when it comes to food. 'Being a little bit older, I am trying to be more health-conscious,' he said. 'If you want to avoid processed foods, it's much easier to get fresh ingredients here than it is in most of the US.' 13 Reserva Conchal has a fully operating apiary that produces all-natural honey. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal 13 The property has several greenhouses and gardens. The traditional Nicoyan diet is primarily plant-based and centers around beans, corn and squash, along with rice, fresh vegetables and antioxidant-rich tropical fruits. They eat a considerable amount of dairy and enjoy lean proteins like fish, chicken and eggs in moderation. The water in the Nicoya Peninsula is also packed with calcium and magnesium, which wards off heart disease and promotes strong bones. Couple that with the vitamin D Costa Ricans soak up by spending a lot of time outdoors, and it promotes a longer, healthier lifestyle. 'Although I'm sure I would be able to be reasonably healthy in Park City, it's certainly easier to execute here,' Thorjussen said. 13 Thorjussen is looking forward to moving to Costa Rica full time. Nils Thorjussen Living longer, together Community and social responsibility are also at the heart of the Blue Zone lifestyle, according to Fernandez. The Nicoyan motto 'plan de vida,' meaning a reason to live, fuels elders' positive outlook, active routines and strong sense of purpose in their community. Locals credit this mindset for their extraordinary longevity — and Reserva Conchal is bringing that spirit to life on-site. 13 Reserva Conchal is a luxury eco-resort that was founded in 1996. Courtesy of Reserva Conchal 'Having a sense of community has been very, very important for residents,' Fernandez said. 'They want a deeper connection with the community around where they live.' At Reserva Conchal, both residents and staff roll up their sleeves for local volunteer projects, including painting schools, planting trees, cleaning beaches and even scuba diving to remove debris from coral reefs. Sustainability is also at the forefront. More than 85% of on-site waste is recycled, composted or reused. The community runs two wastewater treatment plants plus Costa Rica's first sea-water desalination plant. Impressively, it offsets 20% more carbon emissions than it produces. 'Residents want to be more connected with nature, to have a purpose in their lives, to be a part of a more supportive community, so I do hope that in the end it will help them live a longer life,' Fernandez said. 'I know that it will be a more fulfilling one.'
The Star
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Soccer-Spain's drumbeat falls silent as superfan Manolo 'el del Bombo' dies at 76
FILE PHOTO: Manuel Caceres Artesero, better known as Manolo 'El del Bombo' (The drum of Spain), one of Spain's national soccer team's supporters, plays his drum at a hotel in Puerto La Cruz June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo (Reuters) -Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish football superfan known worldwide as "Manolo el del Bombo", died on Thursday at the age of 76, silencing the rhythmic heartbeat that had accompanied Spanish football for overfour decades. With his trademark oversized Basque beret and red number 12 shirt, Caceres became as much a fixture at Spanish matches as the players themselves - a percussive national treasure whose relentless drumming provided La Roja's unofficial soundtrack. "My aim is to retire after 12 World Cups, which will make me 77, if Spain qualify for all of them. I'll be there even if I have to go with a walking stick," the Spanish fan told Reuters at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His love affair with the team began when he first travelled abroad to watch Spain play in Cyprus in 1979. The 1982 World Cup on home soil transformed him from a passionate supporter into a cultural phenomenon, with his drum becoming inextricably linked to the Spanish footballing identity. Caceres ultimately fell two tournaments short of his ambitious goal, attending a total of 10 World Cups but missing the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. His final appearance came at Valencia's Mestalla stadium during the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March. "I've given up everything for football - my businesses and everything - but I'm still alive. I'm happy, I can follow Spain wherever I go. What more could I ask for?" he told Reuters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Such was his fame that the Spanish federation covered his travel and accommodation during the showpiece in Russia, recognising a man whose celebrity often rivalled the players' themselves. "One of our most loyal fans has passed away, someone who was always with us through thick and thin. We know you'll keep rocking our hearts. Rest in peace, Manolo," the Spanish team wrote on X. Caceres, who ran a bar opposite the Mestalla stadium for more than 30 years, made big personal and financial sacrifices in service to what he called the great passion of his life: his national team. (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Straits Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Spain's drumbeat falls silent as superfan Manolo 'el del Bombo' dies at 76
FILE PHOTO: Manuel Caceres Artesero, better known as Manolo 'El del Bombo' (The drum of Spain), one of Spain's national soccer team's supporters, plays his drum at a hotel in Puerto La Cruz June 6, 2011. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Manuel Caceres, the drum-pounding Spanish football superfan known worldwide as "Manolo el del Bombo", died on Thursday at the age of 76, silencing the rhythmic heartbeat that had accompanied Spanish football for over four decades. With his trademark oversized Basque beret and red number 12 shirt, Caceres became as much a fixture at Spanish matches as the players themselves - a percussive national treasure whose relentless drumming provided La Roja's unofficial soundtrack. "My aim is to retire after 12 World Cups, which will make me 77, if Spain qualify for all of them. I'll be there even if I have to go with a walking stick," the Spanish fan told Reuters at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His love affair with the team began when he first travelled abroad to watch Spain play in Cyprus in 1979. The 1982 World Cup on home soil transformed him from a passionate supporter into a cultural phenomenon, with his drum becoming inextricably linked to the Spanish footballing identity. Caceres ultimately fell two tournaments short of his ambitious goal, attending a total of 10 World Cups but missing the 2022 showpiece in Qatar. His final appearance came at Valencia's Mestalla stadium during the Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands in March. "I've given up everything for football - my businesses and everything - but I'm still alive. I'm happy, I can follow Spain wherever I go. What more could I ask for?" he told Reuters at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Such was his fame that the Spanish federation covered his travel and accommodation during the showpiece in Russia, recognising a man whose celebrity often rivalled the players' themselves. "One of our most loyal fans has passed away, someone who was always with us through thick and thin. We know you'll keep rocking our hearts. Rest in peace, Manolo," the Spanish team wrote on X. Caceres, who ran a bar opposite the Mestalla stadium for more than 30 years, made big personal and financial sacrifices in service to what he called the great passion of his life: his national team. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
