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It’s been 26 months since Brendan Loughnane fought in the UFC’s Contender Series in Las Vegas. But even two years later, that night continues to define his career.

Loughnane (21-3) faces Movlid Khaybulaev (17-0-1) in a PFL featherweight semifinal on Friday in Hollywood, Florida. The 31-year-old is riding a seven-fight win streak and enters the 2021 playoffs as the No. 1 seed in his division. He is in his 12th year as a pro.

But for so many on the outside looking in, those 12 years boil down to that one moment in 2019.

“I’m always gonna be that guy,” said Loughnane, who defeated Bill Algeo on the Contender Series but was denied a contract by Dana White for not being enough of a “killer” — the UFC president believed Loughnane wasn’t actively looking for a finish. “If I walk into a new gym, it’s, ‘Oh, wow. You’re the guy from Contender.’ It’s not, ‘Wow, you’re the guy who is 21-3 as a pro.'”

Loughnane, who hails from Manchester, England, is used to this reality now, and he says it doesn’t really bother him. He can’t allow it to bother him. It’s part of who he is. It’s never going away. Regardless of anything Loughnane does between now and the end of his career, that moment will always be part of his story.

That story, however, is still being written. To be clear, it’s not as if this has become Loughane’s motivation. He’s not fighting to simply be remembered as more than “the guy from Contender.” But at the same time, he was forced to reassess his career after what happened in Las Vegas, and it put him on a path that led him to these PFL semifinals.

“To solidify myself as a world champion, after all those years of hard work and being told I couldn’t do it, would just solidify my career.”

Brendan Loughnane

“I actually found an Instagram post from 2013 where I wrote down all of my goals,” Loughnane said. “And after the Contender fight, I’d accomplished all of them. So, at that time, there was a massive reassessment of my career, and ultimately it came down to becoming a world champion.

“That’s the one thing that’s eluded me in my career: a piece of gold. The PFL’s $1 million prize is $1 million, and I’m not brushing it off. But money comes and goes, and it will always come and go. To solidify myself as a world champion, after all those years of hard work and being told I couldn’t do it, would just solidify my career.”

A PFL championship in 2021 would not only solidify Loughnane’s career, it would solidify everything he’s been through since the start of last year.

Perhaps no one was more eager for the start of the PFL’s 2020 season than Loughnane. His career was in limbo in 2019. After he was denied a contract with the UFC, Loughnane signed with the PFL — but not early enough to compete in the promotion’s 2019 season.

In January 2020, Loughnane moved to Thailand with a plan to make that his home base for the entire year. Of course, all of that was disrupted by COVID-19 and the cancelation of the PFL’s 2020 season.

At that point, Loughnane committed to leveling up his training no matter where in the world it required him to be.

“I just kept my foot on the gas,” Loughnane said. “I was sparring [with UFC bantamweight] Petr Yan for his title fight against Jose Aldo. I was sparring [with UFC lightweight] Rafael Fiziev. I headed to the U.K. in July because borders were closing, and then when England started to close, I went to Dubai and trained there for six months.”

The United Kingdom continued to maintain strict lockdown rules that varied as different waves of the pandemic struck through 2020 and early 2021. Loughnane made a few stops back in England, but for the most part his journey and preparation for the 2021 PFL season has kept him far from home.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve trained for this fight in Las Vegas, so this is my third country in a space of less than a year. I’ve got no roots, really. I haven’t been home since last September. I’m in someone’s spare bedroom, training three times a day. I’ve just been flying around the world as this nomad martial artist.”

Thus far, the results have been good. Loughnane kicked off 2021 with a first-round knockout of UFC veteran Sheymon Moraes, less than three minutes into the fight. Then, in a bloody, physical battle with Ultimate Fighter alum Tyler Diamond, Loughnane emerged with a majority-decision win.

As he prepares for Khaybulaev, the truth is that Loughnane’s career has already become much more than one moment on the Contender Series. But these next two fights are an opportunity to showcase just how far he’s come.

The undefeated Khaybulaev is not a household name, but he’s a suffocating wrestler from Dagestan with no glaring weaknesses. If Loughnane beats him, he will face either UFC veteran Chris Wade (19-6) or former NCAA champion wrestler Bubba Jenkins (16-4) in the final.

If everything goes according to his plans, Loughnane will return home for the first time in more than 15 months as a millionaire and PFL champion. Yes, he will still be the guy who controversially wasn’t given a UFC contract in 2019. But perhaps that will be a footnote in his career, instead of the leading line.

“I’ve said to myself I can’t go home until I’ve done it,” Loughnane said. “I just want to walk through my mum’s door with the belt and the check. I want to see my friends, see my god kids, my girlfriend — I want to see everything, and I want to do it with the belt. That’s what will make it for me. That’s the only way I’ll be content going home.”

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Nats seek ‘fresh approach,’ fire Martinez, Rizzo

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Nats seek 'fresh approach,' fire Martinez, Rizzo

The last-place Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, the team announced Sunday.

Rizzo, 64, and Martinez, 60, won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, but the team has floundered in recent years. This season, the Nationals are 37-53 and stuck at the bottom of the National League East after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox this weekend at home. Washington hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the division since winning the World Series.

“On behalf of our family and the Washington Nationals organization, I first and foremost want to thank Mike and Davey for their contributions to our franchise and our city,” principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington, D.C.

“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”

Mike DeBartolo, the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, was named interim GM on Sunday night. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the MLB draft. An announcement will be made on the interim manager Monday, a day before the club begins a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rizzo has been the top decision-maker in Washington since 2013, and Martinez has been on board since 2018. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the team made the postseason four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. The latter season was Martinez’s lone playoff appearance.

“When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” Lerner said. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledging team in a new city to World Series champion. Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication — not just on the field and in the front office, but in the community as well.”

The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild that has moved slower than expected, though the team didn’t augment its young core much during the winter. Led by All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, Washington has the second-youngest group of hitters in MLB and the sixth-youngest pitching staff.

The team lost 11 straight games in a forgettable stretch last month. And during a 2-10 run in June, Washington averaged just 2.5 runs. Since June 1, the Nationals have scored one run or been shut out seven times. In Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Boston, they left 15 runners on base.

There was industry speculation over the winter that the Nationals would spend money on free agents for the first time in several years, but that never materialized. Instead, the team made minor moves, signing free agents Josh Bell and Michael Soroka, trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and re-signing closer Kyle Finnegan. Now, the hope is a new management team, both on and off the field, can help change the franchise’s fortunes.

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Kershaw gets special ASG invite; no Soto, Betts

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Kershaw gets special ASG invite; no Soto, Betts

The rosters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game will feature 19 first-timers — and one legend — as the pitchers and reserves were announced Sunday for the July 15 contest at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League roster as a special commissioner’s selection.

Kershaw, who became only the fourth left-hander to amass 3,000 career strikeouts, is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts after beginning the season on the injured list. He joins Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as a legend choice, after the pair of sluggers were selected in 2022.

Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection Sunday.

Among the first-time All-Stars announced Sunday: Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto; Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood and left-hander MacKenzie Gore; Houston Astros ace Hunter Brown and shortstop Jeremy Pena; and Chicago Cubs 34-year-old left-hander Matthew Boyd.

“It’ll just be cool being around some of the best players in the game,” Wood said.

First-time All-Stars previously elected to start by the fans include Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Overall, the 19 first-time All-Stars is a drop from the 32 first-time selections on the initial rosters in 2024.

Kershaw would be the sentimental choice to start for the National League, although Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who leads NL pitchers in ERA and WAR, might be in line to start his second straight contest. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA after Sunday’s complete-game victory and also would be a strong candidate to start.

“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said about the possibility of being asked to start by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”

Kershaw has made one All-Star start in his career, in 2022 at Dodger Stadium.

Among standout players not selected were New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a $765 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who had made eight consecutive All-Star rosters since 2016.

Soto got off to a slow start but was the National League Player of the Month in June and entered Sunday ranked sixth in the NL in WAR among position players while ranking second in OBP, eighth in OPS and third in runs scored.

The players vote for the reserves at each position and selected Wood, Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres as the backup outfielders. Kyle Stowers also made it as a backup outfielder as the representative for the Miami Marlins.

Unless Soto later is added as an injury replacement, he’ll miss his first All-Star Game since his first full season in 2019.

The Dodgers lead all teams with five representatives: Kershaw, Yamamoto and starters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. The AL-leading Detroit Tigers (57-34) and Mariners have four each.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will join AL starters Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Javier Baez, while Raleigh, the AL’s starting catcher, will be joined by Seattle teammates Bryan Woo, Andres Munoz and Julio Rodriguez.

Earning his fifth career selection but first since 2021 is Texas Rangers righty Jacob deGrom, who is finally healthy after making only nine starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers and is 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA. He has never started an All-Star Game, although Skubal or Brown would be the favorite to start for the AL.

The hometown Braves will have three All-Stars in Acuna, pitcher Chris Sale (his ninth selection, tied with Freeman for the second most behind Kershaw) and first baseman Matt Olson. The San Francisco Giants had three pitchers selected: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and reliever Randy Rodriguez.

The slumping New York Yankees ended up with three All-Stars: Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Max Fried. The Mets also earned three All-Star selections: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz.

“Red carpet, that’s my thing,” Chisholm said. “I do have a ‘fit in mind.”

Rosters are expanded from 26 to 32 for the All-Star Game. They include starters elected by fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers and a backup for each position) chosen in a player vote and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. Every club must be represented.

Acuna, Wood and Raleigh are the three All-Stars who have so far committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bellinger rescues Yankees to avoid Subway sweep

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Bellinger rescues Yankees to avoid Subway sweep

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees were seemingly in deep trouble Sunday when Juan Soto cracked a pitch to left field in the seventh inning.

The New York Mets, down two runs, were cooking up a rally with no outs. Francisco Lindor stood at first base, Pete Alonso loomed on deck, and Brandon Nimmo was in the hole. This was the heart of the Mets’ potent lineup. Given the Yankees’ recent woes, fumbling their two-run lead and suffering a Subway Series sweep at the hands of their neighbors — and a seventh straight loss — seemed almost fated.

Then Cody Bellinger charged Soto’s sinking 105 mph line drive, made a shoestring catch and fired a strike to first base for an improbable double play to secure a skid-snapping 6-4 win — and perhaps rescue the Yankees from another dreadful outcome.

“Considering the context of this week and everything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s probably our play of the year so far.”

Soto’s line drive off Mark Leiter Jr. had a 10% catch probability, according to Statcast, but Bellinger, a plus defender at multiple positions who started at first base Saturday, was just able to snatch it before it touched the grass. Certain that he caught it clean, he made an 89.9 mph toss that reached first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a line, over Lindor, who didn’t slide into the bag.

“I saw it in the air and had a really good beat on it,” said Bellinger, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk at the plate.

The Mets challenged the catch, but the call stood.

“That was incredible,” said Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, who swatted his 33rd home run of the season in the fifth inning. “I’ve never seen something like that on the field.”

For the past week, a stretch Boone described as “terrible” for his ballclub, poor defense has been an issue for the Yankees. Physical errors. Mental lapses. Near disasters. The sloppiness helped sink a depleted pitching staff, more than offsetting the offense’s strong production.

That combination produced the team’s second six-game losing streak in three weeks and a three-game deficit in the American League East standings behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.

The surging Blue Jays won again Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games and keep their division lead at three games, but Bellinger’s glove and arm ensured it didn’t grow to four.

“That was an unbelievable play,” Goldschmidt said. “Amazing catch and absolute cannon to me at first. To make that play was a game-changing play and potentially game-winning play for us today. And we needed it.”

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