Latest news with #RiodeJaneiroGames
Canada Standard
5 days ago
- Sport
- Canada Standard
Kyle Lowry to play 20th NBA season with hometown 76ers
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images) Veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who spent parts of the last two seasons playing in his hometown of Philadelphia, signed a one-year deal on Monday to play his 20th NBA campaign with the 76ers. Terms were not disclosed in the deal for the six-time All-Star, who debuted with the Memphis Grizzlies after they made him their first-round pick (No. 24) in the 2006 draft. 'Kyle's championship experience and Hall of Fame resume speaks for itself. He is a proven floor general with tremendous knowledge of the game that is a resource to everyone in the organization,' 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. 'It's only fitting that his 20th NBA season will be right here in Philadelphia, the city he calls home.' Last season, the 39-year-old Lowry posted 3.9 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds over 35 games (12 starts). Over his career, the former Villanova star has averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 1,173 games (898 starts) with the Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and 76ers. Among active players, Lowry ranks in the top 10 in assists (fifth, 7,099), 3-pointers (seventh, 2,205), steals (ninth, 1,499) and triple-doubles (10th, 21). Along with winning an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019, Lowry captured an Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. --Field Level Media
Canada News.Net
5 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Kyle Lowry to play 20th NBA season with hometown 76ers
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images) Veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who spent parts of the last two seasons playing in his hometown of Philadelphia, signed a one-year deal on Monday to play his 20th NBA campaign with the 76ers. Terms were not disclosed in the deal for the six-time All-Star, who debuted with the Memphis Grizzlies after they made him their first-round pick (No. 24) in the 2006 draft. 'Kyle's championship experience and Hall of Fame resume speaks for itself. He is a proven floor general with tremendous knowledge of the game that is a resource to everyone in the organization,' 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. 'It's only fitting that his 20th NBA season will be right here in Philadelphia, the city he calls home.' Last season, the 39-year-old Lowry posted 3.9 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds over 35 games (12 starts). Over his career, the former Villanova star has averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 1,173 games (898 starts) with the Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and 76ers. Among active players, Lowry ranks in the top 10 in assists (fifth, 7,099), 3-pointers (seventh, 2,205), steals (ninth, 1,499) and triple-doubles (10th, 21). Along with winning an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019, Lowry captured an Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Fox Sports
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Kayla Harrison survived sex abuse to win Olympic gold. She's now a UFC champ with a mega fight ahead
Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Around her neck or around her waist, Kayla Harrison has a knack for winning gold. One key distinction, of course, between the Olympics and professional mixed martial arts is what happens in the immediate aftermath of a monumental victory — there is no four-year wait for the next fight. The next challenger is ready for a confrontation inside the MMA cage. Harrison barely had minutes to cool down after a dominant submission win earned her the 135-pound championship — in front of a packed house that included President Donald Trump and former boxer Mike Tyson — when she called out the seemingly retired, former champion and 2025 UFC Hall of Fame inductee Amanda Nunes. 'I see you Amanda! Come on up, Amanda,' Harrison bellowed from the cage. Nunes stepped out of retirement and into the fray, the two former training partners shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries before the fighters struck a fierce, staredown pose. Just a little something for the poster. 'It felt big,' UFC President Dana White said. The moment indeed felt like the kickoff for something special, one more super fight for Harrison in a career sprinkled with them over different fight disciplines, fight promotions — almost always with the same result. Harrison's hand raised in victory. 'Everything I ever wanted is happening,' she said. Her biggest reward, in an adulthood full of professional triumphs, came Saturday night at UFC 316 at the Prudential Center when she made 135-pound champion Julianna Pena quit late in the second round to win a championship in only her third UFC fight. She's used to proving she's a champion at the highest level, from the Olympics to the cage, leaving only destruction in her wake. No U.S. judoka — man or woman — had ever won an Olympic gold medal before Harrison beat Britain's Gemma Gibbons to win the women's 78-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold again four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games and made her MMA debut in 2018. The 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize champion in the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship division before she moved on to UFC last year. She won her first two UFC bouts and her record — now a sparkling 19-1 in MMA overall — coupled with her fame made her a contender for an instant title shot. Through it all, Harrison has been open about the years of physical and mental abuse inflicted by a former coach leading into the Olympics. She was victimized as a teen, revealing she even thought of quitting judo and of suicide. Harrison turned to her deep faith — 'I trust God' — that has steadied her along the way and she wrote a book about recognizing and overcoming trauma. She's turned into an advocate of sorts for abuse, and as the best active female MMA fighter continues to elbow her way into the public eye, Harrison speaks out candidly and without shame about her experience. 'I'm well removed from it,' she said. 'I'm no longer that 10-year-old girl, that 16-year-old little girl. I'm an adult now. I feel like God gave me this story for a reason. It's my job to use it to try and make the world a better place. I want to talk about it.' Harrison reeled off grim child abuse statistics and noted, 'that's just the kids who say something.' 'How do we stop that? We stop it by having a conversation,' Harrison said. 'We stop it by looking at it in the eye and putting a face to it.' That face is now one of an elite MMA champion. 'I don't ever want another little girl or little boy to feel alone, to feel dirty, to feel ashamed,' Harrison said. 'There is hope. There is a shiny gold medal at the end of the tunnel. There is a UFC belt at the end of the tunnel.' Harrison made quick work of Peña — who authored one of the great upsets in UFC history when she stunned Nunes for the belt in 2021 — to add another championship to her fight collection. Harrison took a page from her judo career before the bout and bowed to Trump as a sign of respect. White, the long-time Trump ally, fastened the belt around Harrison's waist inside the cage and encouraged her to say hello to the president. She hopped down from the cage and draped her belt over Trump's shoulder as he stood from his cageside seat. They hugged and she posed for photos with the president and his entourage. 'The president of the United States is giving me a kiss on my cheek and I'm like, holy (cow),' Harrison said. 'And then Mike Tyson is right there! I'm like, am I in a movie right now? What is happening?' She later pitched a trip to the White House as is customary for other sports champions. Harrison seemed like she'd rather grind through another grueling weight cut than answer which path was tougher, winning Olympic gold or an MMA title. She conceded picking a winner was like picking a favorite child, before noting 'I don't have any favorite children.' Harrison, of course, is proud to have lived her MMA dream as a single mom and playfully threatened to scold her daughter and son if they were up past midnight to watch her go to work. Tragedy struck in late 2019 when Harrison's mother had a stroke and her stepfather died months later, leaving Harrison's young niece and nephew without a guardian (her sister was out of the picture). Harrison became an instant caretaker — and, a mother as she eventually adopted both children. How about it, Harrison vs. Nunes in the main event of a UFC pay-per-view? 'I'm a mom,' Harrison said, laughing. 'The earlier you put me on the card, the better.' Nunes, who vacated the 135-pound title when she retired in 2023, is not currently in the UFC's drug testing pool. She needs at least six months of random drug testing before she can compete. It's a minor hiccup and only builds the hype and anticipation for the bout. 'We're definitely going to see each other in the future,' Nunes told Harrison inside the cage. Harrison tapped the UFC championship belt that rested on a news conference table and realized it meant much more than some polished gold that was just wrapped around her waist. What's ahead for Harrison — a super fight, greater riches, maybe even a trip to the White House — pales to what she endured on her journey toward staking her claim as the best in the world. 'I feel like my spirit is unbreakable and my faith is unshakable,' she said. 'Who I am as a person is someone that I'm proud of. Yes, this belt is amazing. But the journey to get here is what matters most to me.' ___ AP sports: in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
08-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Merab Dvalishvili retains his 135-pound championship at UFC 316 with President Trump looking on
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Merab Dvalishvili retained his 135-pound championship when he tapped out Sean O'Malley in the third round in the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday night at the Prudential Center. Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from the country of Georgia, won the belt in a convincing — though not aesthetically pleasing — unanimous decision last year over O'Malley. Dvalishvili had his number in the rematch in front of a packed crowd that included President Donald Trump and retired heavyweight great Mike Tyson. Dvalishvili (19-4) sat on top of the cage and bellowed toward the fans in the start of an exuberant celebration of his 13th straight MMA victory. 'I'm on top of the world!,' he said inside the cage. He was the only 135-pound champion on the card who won his bout. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison is now a UFC champion. Harrison tapped out 135-pound champion Julianna Peña with five seconds left in the second round to add another major championship in her fight career. No U.S. judoka — man or woman — had ever won an Olympic gold medal before Harrison beat Britain's Gemma Gibbons to win the women's 78-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold again four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games and made her MMA debut in 2018. The 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize champion in the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship division before she moved on to UFC last year. She won her first two UFC bouts and her record — now a sparkling 19-1 in MMA overall — coupled with her fame made her an instant contender for a title shot. She needed just three fights to become a champion. Harrison dropped to her knees in a teary celebration. She then called out Amanda Nunes, who retired in 2023 but said ahead of the fight she would return to the cage to fight the winner. It appears a title fight with Harrison looms in UFC. Harrison called out Nunes to enter the ring and after some encouragement from announcer Joe Rogan for security to open the cage door, she walked and the two went face-to-face. Nunes said she would indeed fight Harrison at some point for the 135-pound belt. The crowd went wild as the two engaged in a brief staredown. They had roared in delight hours earlier when Trump walked out to a thunderous standing ovation just ahead of the start of the UFC pay-per-view card. Trump was accompanied by UFC President Dana White and the pair headed to their cageside seats for UFC 316 to Kid Rock's 'American Bad Ass.' Harrison left the cage after the win and hugged Trump and posed for photos with the President and his entourage. It wasn't the only nod to Trump's latest appearance at a UFC fight. UFC fighter Kevin Holland choked out Vicente Luque to win the first fight with Trump in the building. He scaled the cage and shook hands with Trump. He briefly chatted with Trump and White before he returned for his post-fight interview. 'We've got the President of the United States! We've got Mike Tyson,' Pyfer bellowed inside the cage. ___
Hamilton Spectator
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Merab Dvalishvili retains his 135-pound championship at UFC 316 with President Trump looking on
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Merab Dvalishvili retained his 135-pound championship when he tapped out Sean O'Malley in the third round in the main event of UFC 316 on Saturday night at the Prudential Center. Dvalishvili, a 34-year-old from the country of Georgia, won the belt in a convincing — though not aesthetically pleasing — unanimous decision last year over O'Malley. Dvalishvili had his number in the rematch in front of a packed crowd that included President Donald Trump and retired heavyweight great Mike Tyson. Dvalishvili (19-4) sat on top of the cage and bellowed toward the fans in the start of an exuberant celebration of his 13th straight MMA victory. 'I'm on top of the world!,' he said inside the cage. He was the only 135-pound champion on the card who won his bout. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison is now a UFC champion. Harrison tapped out 135-pound champion Julianna Peña with five seconds left in the second round to add another major championship in her fight career. No U.S. judoka — man or woman — had ever won an Olympic gold medal before Harrison beat Britain's Gemma Gibbons to win the women's 78-kilogram division at the 2012 London Olympics. She won gold again four years later at the Rio de Janeiro Games and made her MMA debut in 2018. The 34-year-old Harrison was a two-time $1 million prize champion in the Professional Fighters League lightweight championship division before she moved on to UFC last year. She won her first two UFC bouts and her record — now a sparkling 19-1 in MMA overall — coupled with her fame made her an instant contender for a title shot. She needed just three fights to become a champion. Harrison dropped to her knees in a teary celebration. She then called out Amanda Nunes, who retired in 2023 but said ahead of the fight she would return to the cage to fight the winner. It appears a title fight with Harrison looms in UFC. Harrison called out Nunes to enter the ring and after some encouragement from announcer Joe Rogan for security to open the cage door, she walked and the two went face-to-face. Nunes said she would indeed fight Harrison at some point for the 135-pound belt. The crowd went wild as the two engaged in a brief staredown. They had roared in delight hours earlier when Trump walked out to a thunderous standing ovation just ahead of the start of the UFC pay-per-view card. Trump was accompanied by UFC President Dana White and the pair headed to their cageside seats for UFC 316 to Kid Rock's 'American Bad Ass.' Harrison left the cage after the win and hugged Trump and posed for photos with the President and his entourage. It wasn't the only nod to Trump's latest appearance at a UFC fight. UFC fighter Kevin Holland choked out Vicente Luque to win the first fight with Trump in the building. He scaled the cage and shook hands with Trump. He briefly chatted with Trump and White before he returned for his post-fight interview. Joe Pyfer draped himself in the American flag after he defeated Kelvin Gastelum in a middleweight bout by unanimous decision. 'We've got the President of the United States! We've got Mike Tyson,' Pyfer bellowed inside the cage. ___ AP sports:
