Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the bench against Everton

Ronaldo should have started against Everton - Ferguson

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo should have started last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Everton instead of being brought on as a second-half substitute by current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Soccer • 05 Oct 21

The 32-year-old retired from MMA in October

Ex-UFC champion Nurmagomedov makes switch to soccer

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired from MMA in October last year, has been signed by third-tier Russian soccer club FC Legion Dynamo.

MMA • 14 Aug 21

McGregor's return to the octagon didn't last long

McGregor stunned as Poirier claims win in UFC rematch

Conor McGregor's hopes of luring Khabib Nurmagomedov into a rematch are in tatters after he was stopped by Dustin Poirier in a seismic upset at UFC 257 at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

MMA • 24 Jan 21

Conor McGregor weighed in at 155 pounds for his match-up with Dustin Poirier

McGregor weighs in as Khabib questions linger

Conor McGregor weighed in alongside three of the other top lightweight contenders on Friday ahead of UFC 257 but the name on everyone's lips this week has been Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired champion in that weight class whose successor has yet to be crowned.

MMA • 22 Jan 21

Khabib Nurmagomedov during his last fight in October 2020

Khabib could be tempted into UFC comeback - Dana White

UFC president Dana White has revealed Khabib Nurmagomedov could be tempted back into the octagon.

MMA • 16 Jan 21

Khabib Nurmagomedov has his arm raised in victory, possibly for the final time, as he calls time on his UFC career

Nurmagomedov bows out of UFC with unblemished record

Khabib Nurmagomedov extended his perfect professional record to 29-0 with a second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, then announced his retirement from the sport.

MMA • 25 Oct 20

Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor by submission at UFC 229 in 2018

Nurmagomedov bids to cement legacy in Abu Dhabi

Khabib Nurmagomedov would take another step towards proving he is the greatest fighter in the history of the UFC if he beats lightweight rival Justin Gaethje on Saturday night, according to company president Dana White.

MMA • 23 Oct 20

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov grapples with his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov backstage during the UFC Fight Night event in Moscow last November

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov dies aged 57

The father and former trainer of Russian Mixed Martial Arts star Khabib Nurmagomedov has died at 57 after contracting coronavirus.

MMA • 03 Jul 20

Khabib Nurmagomedov has appealed for Dagestan residents to keep their distance

Khabib reveals 'over 20 relatives' hit by Covid-19

Russian Mixed Martial Arts fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has appealed to residents of his native Dagestan to follow containment rules as his father was put on a ventilator after catching Covid-19.

MMA • 19 May 20

Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje face off

Ferguson takes aim at Khabib and McGregor

Tony Ferguson hit out at lightweight rivals Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of headlining UFC 249 against Justin Gaethje at Jacksonville, Florida, this weekend.

MMA • 08 May 20

Conor McGregor nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov was originally scheduled to fight on UFC 249

UFC 249 cancelled as broadcasters pull the plug

UFC 249 has been cancelled after broadcaster ESPN and parent company Disney overruled on the sport's defiant push to keep fighting during the coronavirus pandemic.

MMA • 10 Apr 20

Justin Gaethje has a 23-2 record as a professional

UFC 249 to go ahead on 'an island' as Khabib replaced

UFC boss Dana White has confirmed a major title fight will take place on an island "somewhere on earth" this month after selecting Justin Gaethje as Khabib Nurmagomedov's stand-in.

MMA • 07 Apr 20

Nurmagomedov revealed in an Instagram post that he is currently in his native Dagestan

Nurmagomedov will not break quarantine for UFC 249

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has announced that he will not break coronavirus quarantine to fight in UFC 249 in two weeks' time.

MMA • 02 Apr 20

'Biggest in UFC history' - Dana ponders Conor v Khabib

UFC president Dana White believes a rematch between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov would be "the biggest fight in the sport's history" after the Dubliner's explosive return to the octagon.

MMA • 19 Jan 20

McGregor star burns bright on return to octagon

Despite a two-year absence from the fight game, Conor McGregor remains the UFC's biggest name, writes Brian O'Donovan.

MMA • 19 Jan 20

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed a comprehensive victory

Khabib makes Poirier tap to unify UFC lightweight title

Khabib Nurmagomedov unified the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title with a third-round submission win over interim champion Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi.

MMA • 08 Sep 19

'Vanished' Diaz set to return to spotlight at UFC 241

The heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic has top billing at UFC 241 in California on Saturday, but all eyes will be on the comeback of Nate Diaz, conqueror of Conor McGregor, after over a thousand days in the wilderness.

MMA • 16 Aug 19

Khabib Nurmagomedov is preparing for September's title unification bout with interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier

Khabib rules out McGregor rematch

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says he has no intention of offering a rematch to Conor McGregor following his victory over the Dubliner last October.

MMA • 13 Jun 19

Conor McGregor was banned for six months and fined $50,000 (€38,000) following an investigation into the unsavoury incidents last October

McGregor acknowledges 'fair' ban and fine over brawl

Conor McGregor paid tribute to the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their fair handling of the brawl which overshadowed his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov.

MMA • 30 Jan 19

Conor McGregor is eyeing a money spinning fight with Tenshin Nasukawa

McGregor fancies exhibition bout with Nasukawa

Conor McGregor wants to arrange a mixed martial arts exhibition against Tenshin Nasukawa, who was beaten inside a round in a boxing bout by Floyd Mayweather.

MMA • 07 Jan 19

Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight title against former champion McGregor in Las Vegas last October

White confident of McGregor and Khabib rematch in 2019

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov will have a rematch in 2019 pending the outcome of their suspensions, according to UFC boss Dana White.

MMA • 01 Jan 19

Khabib Nurmagomedov was escorted from the octagon by police in October

Disciplinary hearings postponed for McGregor and Khabib

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov will both have to wait until the New Year to learn their disciplinary fate, following the fallout from their UFC 229 fight.

MMA • 10 Dec 18

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov remain suspended from MMA

McGregor and Khabib have bans extended - report

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have had their suspensions extended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission until an investigation into a brawl following their bout is over, according to reports.

MMA • 24 Oct 18

Mayweather challenges Nurmagomedov to a fight

Floyd Mayweather has told UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov to "come to my world" in challenging the Russian to step into the boxing ring for a fight which the American estimates could earn him $200million.

Boxing • 18 Oct 18

Conor McGregor (L) and Khabib Nurmagomedov

McGregor & Khabib both given temporary suspensions

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have been handed temporary suspensions after the ugly scenes which marred Sunday's UFC lightweight fight in Las Vegas.

MMA • 12 Oct 18