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Why can’t all nights of fighting be like this? Why do we get swept up in trashy melodramas when we instead could stimulate our minds and endorphins with a night of fighting such as what we just witnessed at UFC 266?

Saturday night had everything.

Alexander Volkanovski stood up to another challenge in the main event, as he quietly has been doing for years, waiting for someone to notice. The Aussie’s 20th straight victory, a bloody battering of featherweight challenger Brian Ortega, was a five-round battle in which the champ twice had to escape tight submission attempts by a fighter best known for his jiu-jitsu game. Even with two recorded victories over Max Holloway, this win ought to finally draw a little more deserved attention to “Alexander The Great.”

Another great put on a show in the co-main event. Valentina Shevchenko showed off why she is perhaps the sport’s most dominant champion, thoroughly outclassing flyweight challenger Lauren Murphy in a fourth-round TKO. No fighter is above being defeated on a given night, but there simply is no 125-pounder who appears capable of hanging with Shevchenko. And even as a -1,500 betting favorite, she was thrilling to watch — right down to when she addressed the fans in four languages. What can’t she do?

The night’s starriest attraction, though, was Nick Diaz. During his six-year absence from fighting, we might have forgotten that he is a wizard at drawing from all of us every emotion we’re capable of experiencing. He reminded us by engaging in a battle with Robbie Lawler that turned back the clock a little. Not to their first meeting 17 years ago, but surely to a time when Lawler wasn’t mired in a four-fight losing streak and Diaz’s desire to fight wasn’t being questioned.

Neither Diaz nor Lawler looked to be in his prime, but neither was this sad spectacle some might have feared. Lawler got the TKO in the third round after a relentless back-and-forth that had T-Mobile Arena reach deafening heights. Here’s hoping both men took in the fan adulation gushing from every corner of the building. They’ve always kept it real, and Saturday night was no different.

Those three bouts were just the culmination of a night that was essential for combat sports. In a time when the YouTuber-as-boxer trend is inching its way from the distant fringe to at least a tributary of the sports mainstream, a night of real fighters doing real fights is no longer a luxury. It is a necessary ingredient for MMA to sustain its place in the landscape — and boxing, too. Earlier in the day, Oleksandr Usyk dethroned heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua in front of 66,000 fans in London.

But UFC 266 was a sustained feast of fighting. Prior to the two title bouts and the Diaz return, there were clashes between ranked fighters at both heavyweight (Curtis Blaydes dominated Jairzinho Rozenstruik) and women’s flyweight (Jessica Andrade knocked out Cynthia Calvillo). We also saw Merab Dvalishvili pull off an astounding comeback, surging from the brink of being knocked out by Marlon Moraes to turn things around for a TKO win of his own — on the strength of a triple-digits barrage of unanswered strikes.

And there was even more. This was one of those nights that would have made late-night TV infomercial huckster Ron Popeil proud. That’s an old-time reference, to be sure, but maybe it’s appropriate on a night that was something of a throwback to the days when fight cards were packed with the right kind of drama. And real fights.

Diaz showed signs of his old self, but it’s time to step away

Raimondi: I was one of the first people in the world to watch Nick Diaz’s raw interview with Brett Okamoto earlier this week. And I’ve maintained for the last several days that I wasn’t overly concerned with what Diaz was saying. We’ve known about Diaz’s mixed feelings about the sport of MMA for a decade now. Diaz has never been shy about telling us he never liked to fight, it was just something he did out of necessity. He was born to do it, even though it was something he ultimately loathed. Even after Diaz bowed out of his UFC 266 fight with Robbie Lawler in the third round, I don’t feel too much differently than I did before the fight.

Let’s be clear here. Diaz didn’t look slower than normal and in worse shape than normal because of anything he said in that interview. Those were because he’s 38 years old and had not fought in almost seven years. Diaz brought the fight to Lawler. He landed more significant strikes — 150 to 131, according to ESPN Stats & Information — and landed the most significant strikes in a loss in a bout that ended as early as this one did in UFC history. Diaz’s punches were slow, but he landed a bunch of combinations and won at least one round against Lawler.

Diaz told Okamoto this week that he would regret not taking this chance to return now before it was too late. He said he wasn’t sure how he’d feel about himself if he didn’t at least take the opportunity. Well, now he has done so. And, despite having some decent moments against Lawler, it’s time for him to hang up the gloves for good. Outside of a few aging legends like himself, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be with watching Diaz against someone else the UFC might line up for him next. Lawler was an excellent matchup, another aging warrior whose best days are in the rear-view mirror.

In the end, this wasn’t a complete disaster, nor was it a rousing success. It was somewhere in the middle. I’m glad Diaz knew when to say he was done. He had that presence of mind before things started to go downhill quickly. Hopefully, he can now be at peace with retirement with no potential regrets about his MMA career. He’s given us all enough and now it’s time for him to take a step toward the rest of his life.

Diaz has given us nearly two decades of fighting entertainment. He’s not one of the greatest fighters of all time. But he’s one of the most popular fighters of all time, because you always knew what you were going to get — an absolute war. That’s what it was against Lawler on Saturday night and Diaz knew when to wave the white flag. It’s time to do the same with regards to his storied career.

Appreciate Valentina Shevchenko, even if she’s erased the drama in a sport that relies on it

Okamoto: For the record, I think we do appreciate Shevchenko. I do believe this sport is aware of just how uniquely special she is. This sport gives Shevchenko her due.

But it’s not always easy, right? It’s easy to overlook her, because we, as viewers, want the unknown. Of course we admire greatness, but there’s only so much dominance we’re willing to take before our interest wanes. And right now, Shevchenko could be headed into that territory. She’s demolished every flyweight she’s faced, and she’s already taken out the best challengers available to her.

If we squinted real hard, and used our imagination, maybe we thought those challengers had a chance. The Joanna Jedrzejczyks and Jessica Andrades of the world. Shevchenko ate them up. Now, just to get new matchups, we’re going to keep heading down the 125-pound rankings. And the betting odds are going to stay very, very high in Shevchenko’s favor. And as viewers, sometimes that’s going to be hard to get up for.

But the way Shevchenko has honed her craft, and continues to dedicate herself and improve in a sport that demands so much — that is worth paying attention to. So, keep watching Shevchenko. And keep admiring her for what she is. Even if it’s like seeing a movie you’ve already seen 100 times over.

Dan Hooker should get big name next

Legaspi: The fight happened, which was a big enough deal in and of itself. Both fighters’ visas arrived at the last moment, and we got a dominant display from Dan Hooker over Nasrat Haqparast. Neither requested a catchweight — it was important for Hooker to stay at lightweight in order to prove that he belongs close to the top 5 in the division again.

Michael Chandler‘s early knockout over the New Zealander made a lot of people forget that Hooker was part of some of the best fights of 2020. Two 25-minute wars, against Paul Felder and Dustin Poirier, got Hooker into title contention talks, and he should stay there after what we saw on Saturday. He had less than 72 hours to fly from Auckland to Las Vegas, make weight and beat Haqparast. He was great on the feet, and put together a decent performance on the ground with his much-improved wrestling.

It might be a good time for him and some of his City Kickboxing teammates, like middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, to make a short-term decision to spend more time in the U.S., because quarantine protocols and embassy shutdowns will continue to complicate efforts to lock down big fights in a stacked division. Rafael dos Anjos, Tony Ferguson and Beniel Dariush would each be great matchups. Hooker can also be a great test for the up and coming Arman Tsarukyan.

After all the trouble he had getting to Las Vegas this fight, Hooker was one of the biggest winners of UFC 266. And he deserves a reward for his performance in the form of another big fight.

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

Perhaps the only detail more emphatic than the goals in the Colorado Avalanche‘s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars Saturday night, was the impact provided by their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog, who returned in Game 3 of this Western Conference first-round series after missing nearly three seasons while recovering from a knee injury, scored his first goal since June 20, 2022, in a multi-point performance that saw the Avalanche tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Ball Arena. Game 5 is Monday in Dallas.

“It means a lot,” Landeskog told reporters after the win. “Obviously, I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time. There obviously days when I didn’t know if I was ever going to score again. It obviously feels good. It’s a tight playoff series in a big game here at home. To get to do it here at home in front of our fans obviously means a means a lot. Super exciting. Hopefully more to come.”

A short-handed goal from Logan O’Connor midway through the first period followed by a late power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon staked the Avalanche to a 2-0 lead entering the second period.

That set the stage for Landeskog, who was in the slot when Brock Nelson fed a pass that the 32-year-old winger launched for a one-timer that beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for a 3-0 lead.

Landeskog, who was playing on the second line, was instantly mobbed by his teammates on the nice such as Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nelson, who joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline.

As Landeskog returned to the bench, he was congratulated by the entire team which also included a hug from a smiling MacKinnon, who along with Landeskog, have been with the franchise for more than a decade.

“I was just proud of him again,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game. “I was proud of him regardless of if he scores or not because I know what he’s gone through, and I know how difficult that was. I think that takes it to another level. You know he wants to come back and contribute like he did in the past and he’s off to a great start.”

Landeskog’s goal was the latest milestone in what’s been a lengthy recovery from a chronically injured right knee. He missed what amounted to 1,032 days since his last NHL game.

In that time, the Avalanche have remained in a championship window but have dramatically altered their roster. The Avs have nine players from that championship team who have remained with the franchise and have since reshuffled a roster that led to them re-acquiring defenseman Erik Johnson, one of Landeskog’s closest friends, in their bid for the fourth title in franchise history.

Even with all the changes, there were still questions about when they could see Landeskog return to the lineup. And if Landeskog did return, what he could look like?

His first professional game in three years came April 11 with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate where he logged 15 minutes. Landeskog would then score a goal and get an assist in his second and final game.

And much like his AHL stint, all it took was two games for Landeskog to score and have another two-point performance.

While Landeskog’s goal became the most celebrated moment of the evening, what he did to help create the Avalanche’s fourth goal was an example of why he’s so crucial to their title aspirations.

Landeskog played a pass to Nelson who then found a Girard for a shot from the point that gave the Avs a 4-0 lead in the fourth. In the time Landeskog passed the puck, he anchored himself at the net front to gain position on 6-foot-7 Stars defensemen Lian Bichsel to screen goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger for the third period.

Jockeying with Bichsel, who is six inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, allowed Landeskog to test both his strength and that right knee to gain leverage.

The result? Girard’s shot found space in traffic with Landeskog making it hard for DeSmith to see the puck.

“He’s a big boy,” Landeskog said with a smile. “He’s a big strong guy, a physical player and hard to play against. I was trying to get in front of their goal, and he was trying to get me out of there. It was a good battle.”

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Former Cardinals, Reds GM Jocketty dies at 74

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Former Cardinals, Reds GM Jocketty dies at 74

ST. LOUIS — Walt Jocketty, a three-time baseball executive of the year and former general manager for both the Cardinals and Reds, has died. He was 74.

Jocketty died Friday in the Phoenix area, former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the team after speaking with Jocketty’s wife, Sue.

The Cardinals announced the death Saturday. Jocketty had been battling health issues for the several years.

St. Louis won the National League Central seven times under Jocketty’s leadership. The Cardinals also won National League championships in 2004 and 2006 and their 10th World Series title in 2006.

“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer condolences to Walt’s family and his many friends,” Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ballclub and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchises most successful and memorable years.

“He will be sorely missed but long remembered for his distinguished career in baseball.”

Jocketty became the general manager in St. Louis on Oct. 14, 1994. After the team was sold in 1995, the new ownership kept Jocketty in his job. His biggest move was hiring La Russa in 1996. The two men had worked together in Oakland.

La Russa would go on to be the winningest manager in the Cardinals history and a Hall of Famer.

Jocketty revamped the roster, and in 1996, the Cardinals returned to postseason play for the first time in nine seasons.

In his tenure with St. Louis, Jocketty either drafted or acquired such stars as Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainright, Chris Carpenter, David Eckstein, Jason Isringhausen, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen.

With Jocketty at the helm, St. Louis put together seven consecutive winning seasons. In 2004 and 2005, the Cardinals won more than 100 games.

He was named the MLB Executive of the Year in 2000, 2004 and 2010.

Leading up to the 2000 season, Jocketty became the first general manager in baseball history to trade for a 20-game winner (Darryl Kile from Colorado) and a 40-home run hitter (Edmonds from Anaheim) in the same offseason.

After he was fired by the Cardinals in 2007 because of differences with ownership, Jocketty was hired by the Reds as a special adviser on Jan. 11, 2008. He was named general manager after Wayne Krivsky was fired on April 23, 2008. He served in that role until Dick Williams replaced him on Dec. 27, 2016.

Jocketty was replaced by John Mozeliak in St. Louis.

“He was a great man,” Mozeliak said after Saturday’s game. “In terms of baseball, he loved it. His influence on myself and this organization was huge. Trying to sum it up in a sentence or two is difficult but his impact is something that I think will always be remembered. His legacy will age well.”

Despite replacing him when he was fired, Mozeliak said the two remained close.

“That was a different time, of course,” Mozeliak said. “In the end, we ended up being friends again. We both understood this is part of the business. I think he was proud of the success I ended up having.”

The Reds made the playoffs three times when Jocketty served as general manager, in 2010, 2012 and 2013. They have made the playoffs only once since.

Jocketty is survived by his wife and two children, Ashley and Joey.

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

CLEVELAND — Jarren Duran barely had time to catch his breath after tripling in the third inning. It didn’t matter, he had already made up his mind to run again.

Duran pulled off Boston’s first straight steal of home plate in exactly 16 years, scoring on the next pitch from Doug Nikhazy as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

“(Third base coach Kyle Hudson) heard him tell the umpire that he was working from the stretch, so I decided I was going to go on the first pitch,” Duran said. “It was just to keep the offense going and cause a little chaos. I knew I had it.”

As Nikhazy went from the windup, Duran broke for home. He slid headfirst and slapped his right hand on the plate ahead of Bo Naylor‘s tag. Umpire Brock Ballou’s safe call was upheld in a video review.

“Under the new rules, he’s kind of the perfect player,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Duran. “We saw a window there and he took advantage of the situation.”

It marked the first straight steal of home plate by the Red Sox since Jacoby Ellsbury against the Yankees on April 26, 2009. Duran’s two previous thefts of home were part of double steals last season at Tampa Bay on May 21 and at the White Sox on June 7.

“It was really a cool play and a cool sequence of events there,” Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler said. “He’s one of the most exciting players in baseball. After watching him from afar, it’s been fun to see him up close this season.”

Nikhazy, a 25-year-old left-hander, was making his major league debut and had already allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. With Rafael Devers in the batter’s box, he said he took “a peek” at Duran before delivering the ball.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised Duran for making “a head’s up baseball play” because third baseman José Ramírez was off the line, but his starting pitcher blamed himself.

“He had taken a big jump and he took off immediately,” Nikhazy said. “In the moment, I chose to make the pitch as opposed to stepping off. Ultimately, when I saw him, I should have stepped off.”

Duran went 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBI in the nightcap. He was hitless in four at-bats in the first game, which Cleveland won 5-4.

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