Category News

Paddy Pimblett claims he would love to fight Ilia Topuria in Abu Dhabi in October, but Justin Gaethje is most likely to face him.

Before calling his next fight against a player ranked among the top five, Liverpool’s Pimblett won a statement victory over Michael Chandler last month.

After Islam Makhachev dropped his belt and moved up to welterweight, Topuria will face Brazil’s Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 on June 28.

American Gaethje is third in the lightweight UFC rankings, five places ahead of Pimblett, despite not having a fight scheduled.

A potential date for this year’s UFC show has not yet been determined, despite the fact that the UFC typically holds a numbered event there in October.

I’m hoping to fight in Abu Dhabi in October. When will I likely be back in the cage, Pimblett said to BBC Sport.

If he wins [against Oliveira], I was concerned that Ilia might criticize me. If he wins the belt, I’d love to beat him.

I’d love to fight him anyway, but he’s already booked, so I’d guess it’s more likely Justin Gaethje.

After the two met at a hotel before UFC London in 2022, Pimblett and former featherweight champion Topuria had a history.

Topuria, 28, switched to lightweight earlier this year, allowing for a potential fight with Pimblett.

Gaethje, by contrast, won his last fight in March against Rafael Fiziev, and he still commands respect as one of the roster’s most well-known fighters, with 20 knockouts in 26 appearances.

The only other fighter in the top five who hasn’t been ranked in the top five is Armenia’s Arman Tsarukyan, who Pimblett has no interest in fighting against in fourth-ranked Max Holloway and fifth-ranked Dustin Poirier on July 19.

People actually want to watch Gaethje fight, and nobody seems to care about Arman Tsarukyan. Me versus Gaethje is a fight that people are aware of, said Pimblett.

Tsarukyan, he’s just a complete tool, before Gaethje and I.

Pimblett has won all seven of his UFC fights and gained popularity as a promotion fighter since making his UFC debut in 2021.

Pimblett has long desired to headline a show in his hometown of Liverpool, but since 2018, the UFC has decided to stage shows in London and Manchester.

Premier League champions Liverpool’s stadium Anfield has been suggested as a potential location because M&amp S Bank Arena, Liverpool’s largest arena, can only hold 11,000.

However, UFC President Dana White has frequently chosen not to host events in stadiums due to the lack of atmosphere and potential rain.

To change his mind, Pimblett has suggested that White should go to Anfield to watch a Liverpool game.

“It must be Anfield,” he said. Only that location is a good one to do it in. And while Dana has done it in Australia, Anfield is unique, according to Pimblett.

He needs to attend Anfield on a Champions League night or when Manchester United or something similar plays, or even when Eddie Vedder wears the blue shirt.

The Spanish club’s players appear to be willing to go to any lengths to keep the Brazilian winger because of how much Antony’s impact on his loan at Real Betis from Manchester United has been.

The sinister-sounding message, “Antonio of Triana,” was posted by Betis captain Isco on his Instagram account. This is your first warning, “We’re going to kidnap you,” the statement read.

The second came shortly after former Betis winger Joaquin made the joke known by saying, “I will if I have to give the car to kidnap him. He has to remain whatever happens.

Betis wants to keep hold of the 25-year-old, so it’s no wonder.

The Brazil international has transformed the club’s season since joining Old Trafford on loan at the end of January.

Betis has won 13 of his 25 matches since he joined, drawing eight, and losing just four. Antony has scored nine goals and five assists in 14 of their goals, including scoring in both legs of the dramatic semi-final victory over Fiorentina, at a rate of better than two per game.

After extra time, Betis won 4-3 on aggregate as Antony scored the winning goal with a wonderful free-kick in Florence and then scored the winning goal for Abde Ezzalzouli, putting them in the immediate position to win club history and their first European trophy.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish football expert and BBC Sport columnist, said, “Antony is already a hero in Betis.” They fall in love with a player who is “a little different” or who has overcome difficulties and finds happiness in Seville.

“Bull fighters can fight in Seville.” They adore Antony because he plays the bull fighter who plays his own way and does things against the script, which is exactly how they adore him. He has improved the team and made it stronger.

Betis has played the man consistently, in the right way, and with love and confidence. He has been both emotionally and brilliantly.

With the fee of £81.33 million (95 million euros, rising to a potential 100 million euros), Antony moved up to the second-most expensive player in United history, trailing only Paul Pogba.

It had a good beginning. Anthony started in United’s Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle in a 44-game span of 2022-23, scoring eight goals and adding three assists.

In the FA Cup final win over Manchester City, he was an unused substitute in 17 of his 38 starts in the following campaign. Before his move to Spain, he did not start a Premier League game until 2024-25, which continued that slump.

In a heartfelt interview with TNT Sports Brazil earlier this week, Antony said, “I couldn’t take it any more.

Ten Hag, then manager of United, claimed in January last year that Antony’s form had been impacted by off-field issues.

After three women made allegations of domestic abuse against him, the Brazilian was the subject of a police investigation. He waived his right to speak with Greater Manchester Police, but he was not detained or charged in Brazil or the UK. He refuted the allegations.

Antony described the time as “very difficult days for me” because of how his unhappiness affected his family life.

He continued, “I was at home, lacking the strength to even play with my son, going to meetings without food, and staying locked in my room.”

“It was very difficult, but God bless me that I managed to advance and that I am now very happy here thanks to the help of my family and primarily God.”

However, Balague doesn’t think Betis will be able to keep Antony because of the transfer fee that United would demand.

I believe Antony belongs in the Champions League, Balague told BBC Sport, “Manchester United won’t sell for less than 50 million euros and Betis will be in Europe.”

They “start off the competition with the notion that they have nothing to lose.” They are in their first final, possess a lot of quality, excel in battles, and adhere to coach Manuel Pellegrini’s advice, and their best players are at their best.

In one way, Antony’s loan arrangement has worked out, he impressed, and Real Betis would undoubtedly like to have him back.

However, he still earns a lot for a club like Betis, so whether he stays there depends on a deal being struck, either with United to offer some kind of subsidy or with the Brazilian to negotiate a wage reduction.

The real issue is whether a permanent sale will be made.

The club has a pretty good chance of recovering the £81,3 million that they paid for him, it is abundantly obvious. United still need to sell him for £32.52 million for amortization purposes because he still has two more years left on his first five-year contract.

Apart from his inconsistent playing time since joining Ajax, Antony is not a good fit for Ruben Amorim’s system. It is impossible to assume that Antony will still play for Old Trafford after the transfer window closes on September 1, despite the fact that we are aware of the significant changes that are expected to occur this season.

Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, is tasked with a former adversary and with an old friend.

The Italian is genuinely delighted that his “football dad” Manuel Pellegrini, who first encouraged him to become a coach while playing for Malaga in 2011, gave him a break among his coaching staff at West Ham seven years later, will face off in the Conference League final against Real Betis.

After Chelsea had comfortably defeated Swedish side Djurgarden, Pellegrini took charge of Betis and Maresca watched the final 30 minutes of the Spanish side’s semi-final victory over Fiorentina.

Maresca anticipates booing him after excelling at city rivals Sevilla, even though he has a friend and father figure in the opposing dugout.

In addition, there will be a different level of conflict between the Polish Chelsea supporters.

After the 2025-26 season is over, Maresca’s ownership and sporting directors intend to evaluate him, effectively giving him another year. However, winning a first trophy will help to persuade Blues fans of his worth.

According to Maresca, the opposition boss, “If I know how he thinks, he probably also knows how I think.” Therefore, I don’t believe it gives us a lead in this final.

This game is essentially master-versus-analyst.

When Manuel was in charge of Manchester City’s Under-21s in 2020, Maresca stated in an interview that “Manuel was both the coach and the person who persuaded me to try to be a coach myself once I finished playing.”

Maresca revealed that the Chilean, who was playing midfield for Malaga, had planted the idea that he might one day become a good coach.

In a team that had his current assistant Willy Caballero in goal, Pellgrini led Malaga out of the relegation zone to fourth place in La Liga during the 2015 campaign.

Maresca keeps in touch with Pellegrini on a regular basis to this day.

Before the league phase even began, the Italian and his mentor exchanged a “short message” saying, “See you in the final,” and they have since spoken, eventually rekindling their friendship in Wroclaw as both teams have open training sessions.

Maresca responded, “I’ve learned a lot from Manuel,” when asked what he had learned from Pellegrini. He taught me to treat my players like my sons, though, if I choose one. In the dressing room, there are 25 sons, with four of them in my family.

One of the many things I’ve learned from him is “it.” We are both well-known.

When asked if parents no longer have any authority over their children, Pellegrini continued, “When children grow up, parents no longer have any authority.” He participated in Pep Guardiola’s education alongside many others. He will have a successful career and is already doing so.

It reflects his ability and his desire to learn from what he has always been.

Guardiola’s mentions demonstrate Pellegrini’s intimate relationship with Maresca.

He will be aware that one of Maresca’s biggest inspirations was facing Guardiola’s Barcelona team in 2008 while he was a player at Sevilla despite having previously worked under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi at Juventus.

The box-to-box midfielder knew exactly what kind of coach he wanted to be from the day that he first saw it. In 2020, he joined Guardiola’s coaching staff because of this.

Maresca claims that he received a lot of education. He served as Guardiola’s assistant under the Under-23 team, briefly leaving for Parma for a hapless spell before making a comeback.

He had a significant impact in introducing a tactical evolution, making it more difficult for central defenders like John Stones to play an inverted full-back position and to play midfield, helping teams outnumber those with middle-of-the-field, to outnumber opponents in the middle of the pitch.

Maresca is most likely to be booed at the Wroclaw Stadium because of her admiration for Sevilla, Betis’ fierce rival.

He was a key midfield force as they won two Europa League titles, a Uefa Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey before being kicked out by former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos, who was known as “The Boss.”

Maresca continued, “I spent four years with Sevilla, and that was a big derby against Betis.” “I scored a goal (an early penalty), and we also won the derby 1-0.” They don’t like or love me, I’m aware of that.

She is from Seville, and I met her in Seville. Seville is where my first son was born. I played for Seville, but I have no doubts about winning the championship match.

Chelsea’s fitness coach, Marcos Alvarez, is also a native of Seville and supports Betis, but he spent the majority of his time with Maresca’s rivals at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, where he was still a player, with Sevilla.

However, Maresca insists that Chelsea should prevail in the final rather than Sevilla.

Whatever the outcome of the final, Chelsea intends to keep Maresca.

Following a spell of hiring and firing managers since the 2022 takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, they have offered him a five-year deal in a bid for stability.

A central defender signing a potential additional option and a striker and right-footed left winger being their top priorities have already been drawn up by the Blues, with Maresca remaining in mind.

The academy and even Strasbourg, which are both owned by BlueCo, have been given permission to play in a similar manner to Maresca.

That will serve as the club’s identity as they aim for players to seamlessly transition between their first teams and their academy, as well as when they switch between England and France.

Chelsea are admiring the respective reconstructions carried out by Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta, but they also recognize the importance of following a similar model to Arsenal and Liverpool to succeed.

The only continental prize Chelsea haven’t claimed is the third-tier competition in which to win, and it is regarded as a worthwhile next step in that direction.

Maresca stated, “We did something important in the last 48 hours.” However, we must demonstrate our desire to win both the title and the game if we want to confirm that we are turning out to be a significant club.

It’s a final, I say. And we will always win this game. Even though it was already a good year, it can turn out to be even better if we finish in the top four or top five and advance to the final.

Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, is tasked with a former adversary and with an old friend.

The Italian is genuinely delighted that his “football dad” Manuel Pellegrini, who first encouraged him to become a coach while playing for Malaga in 2011, gave him a break among his coaching staff at West Ham seven years later, will face off in the Conference League final against Real Betis.

After Chelsea had comfortably defeated Swedish side Djurgarden, Pellegrini took charge of Betis and Maresca watched the final 30 minutes of the Spanish side’s semi-final victory over Fiorentina.

Maresca anticipates booing him after excelling at city rivals Sevilla, even though he has a friend and father figure in the opposing dugout.

In addition, there will be a different level of conflict between the Polish Chelsea supporters.

After the 2025-26 season is over, Maresca’s ownership and sporting directors intend to evaluate him, effectively giving him another year. However, winning a first trophy will help to persuade Blues fans of his worth.

According to Maresca, the opposition boss, “If I know how he thinks, he probably also knows how I think.” Therefore, I don’t believe it gives us a lead in this final.

This game is essentially master-versus-analyst.

When Manuel was in charge of Manchester City’s Under-21s in 2020, Maresca stated in an interview that “Manuel was both the coach and the person who persuaded me to try to be a coach myself once I finished playing.”

Maresca revealed that the Chilean, who was playing midfield for Malaga, had planted the idea that he might one day become a good coach.

In a team that had his current assistant Willy Caballero in goal, Pellgrini led Malaga out of the relegation zone to fourth place in La Liga during the 2015 campaign.

Maresca keeps in touch with Pellegrini on a regular basis to this day.

Before the league phase even began, the Italian and his mentor exchanged a “short message” saying, “See you in the final,” and they have since spoken, eventually rekindling their friendship in Wroclaw as both teams have open training sessions.

Maresca responded, “I’ve learned a lot from Manuel,” when asked what he had learned from Pellegrini. He taught me to treat my players like my sons, though, if I choose one. In the dressing room, there are 25 sons, with four of them in my family.

One of the many things I’ve learned from him is “it.” We are both well-known.

When asked if parents no longer have any authority over their children, Pellegrini continued, “When children grow up, parents no longer have any authority.” He participated in Pep Guardiola’s education alongside many others. He will have a successful career and is already doing so.

It reflects his ability and his desire to learn from what he has always been.

Guardiola’s mentions demonstrate Pellegrini’s intimate relationship with Maresca.

He will be aware that one of Maresca’s biggest inspirations was facing Guardiola’s Barcelona team in 2008 while he was a player at Sevilla despite having previously worked under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi at Juventus.

The box-to-box midfielder knew exactly what kind of coach he wanted to be from the day that he first saw it. In 2020, he joined Guardiola’s coaching staff because of this.

Maresca claims that he received a lot of education. He served as Guardiola’s assistant under the Under-23 team, briefly leaving for Parma for a hapless spell before making a comeback.

He had a significant impact in introducing a tactical evolution, making it more difficult for central defenders like John Stones to play an inverted full-back position and to play midfield, helping teams outnumber those with middle-of-the-field, to outnumber opponents in the middle of the pitch.

Maresca is most likely to be booed at the Wroclaw Stadium because of her admiration for Sevilla, Betis’ fierce rival.

He was a key midfield force as they won two Europa League titles, a Uefa Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey before being kicked out by former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos, who was known as “The Boss.”

Maresca continued, “I spent four years with Sevilla, and that was a big derby against Betis.” “I scored a goal (an early penalty), and we also won the derby 1-0.” They don’t like or love me, I’m aware of that.

She is from Seville, and I met her in Seville. Seville is where my first son was born. I played for Seville, but I have no doubts about winning the championship match.

Chelsea’s fitness coach, Marcos Alvarez, is also a native of Seville and supports Betis, but he spent the majority of his time with Maresca’s rivals at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, where he was still a player, with Sevilla.

However, Maresca insists that Chelsea should prevail in the final rather than Sevilla.

Whatever the outcome of the final, Chelsea intends to keep Maresca.

Following a spell of hiring and firing managers since the 2022 takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, they have offered him a five-year deal in a bid for stability.

A central defender signing a potential additional option and a striker and right-footed left winger being their top priorities have already been drawn up by the Blues, with Maresca remaining in mind.

The academy and even Strasbourg, which are both owned by BlueCo, have been given permission to play in a similar manner to Maresca.

That will serve as the club’s identity as they aim for players to seamlessly transition between their first teams and their academy, as well as when they switch between England and France.

Chelsea are admiring the respective reconstructions carried out by Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta, but they also recognize the importance of following a similar model to Arsenal and Liverpool to succeed.

The only continental prize Chelsea haven’t claimed was the third-tier victory in Europe, which was regarded as a worthwhile next step in that direction.

Maresca stated, “We did something important in the last 48 hours.” However, we must demonstrate our desire to win both the title and the game if we want to confirm that we are turning out to be a significant club.

It’s a final, I say. And we will always win this game. Even though it was already a good year, it can turn out to be even better if we finish in the top four or top five and advance to the final.