Sports
Mason Jones vs. Axel Sola Saved UFC London With Fight of the Night Performance
Let’s be honest with ourselves: There wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate coming out of UFC London. Movsar Evloev won in a very controversial decision and may not have done enough to earn a title shot. Michael Page and Sam Patterson put on legitimately one of the worst fights the Octagon has ever seen.
There just wasn’t a lot of inspiring performances that took place; even the crowd wasn’t the normal kind of energy for a UK MMA show.
But for 15 minutes of Octagon action, Mason Jones and Axel Sola made things different that night.
Taking place as the featured attraction for the preliminary card, UFC London was off to a rough start, with the only true highlights being Shanelle Dyer’s finish of Ravena Oliveira in the opening bout and a first-round finish by Brando Pericic. Jones and Sola had a lot of pressure on them to bring some excitement into the O2 Arena – and both of them did that, and then some.
Jones is a strong up-and-comer from a region with a great comeback story behind him. Jones was a Cage Warriors champion when he was first signed to the UFC, debuting in January 2021. Unfortunately, his first tenure did not go as he hoped, going 1-2 (1 NC) in the Octagon before being released after his last fight in July 2022.
One year later, Jones was back in Cage Warriors, winning four straight before returning to the UFC in 2025. His two fights in 2025 saw him have an entertaining war with Jeremy Stephens and score a highlight finish of Bolaji Oki. And since that loss in July 2022, Jones has continued to win and win.
Sola was going to be an interesting test for him, however. Sola was a champion in ARES FC and made his UFC debut with a finish of Rhys McKee. He entered the fight unbeaten at 11-0-1, and he was looking to use Jones to make a massive statement for his own rise.
Jones looked to bring his offensive display right off the bat, looking to take control and score an impactful win. That also became a detriment, however, when Sola landed a spinning elbow that knocked Jones down. Sola, a grappling specialist, added in a pair of takedowns during the first round and controlled the action to trouble Jones in the fight’s first five minutes. Jones, however, was able to use his strikes to open up a cut on Sola.
Jones’ further response to being down on the cards? Initiate a greater volume of striking, and that helped him overwhelm Sola while stopping any of his attempts to control the pace. Sola held his own, but Jones seemed to have the upper hand in round two. In fact, Jones notably did damage with knees.
Jones and Sola then went bold in the third round, swinging with everything they had for a fun ride in the final five minutes. Jones took over, however, and whalopped Sola with flurries near the fence as the seconds ticked down. Jones wasn’t able to get the finish, but he did get the win.
The UFC London card had quite a few low points to it, including low in entertainment value. And some fans have admitted on social media that they haven’t been as entertained by the UFC product in the past year or so, let alone what they’ve seen in 2026. While that will be debated, it can’t be debated that UFC London made PFL Madrid – which was already a solid event – look like UFC 100 compared to most of what was seen in London this past Saturday night.
But Mason Jones and Axel Sola proved to be the exception. Praises could be sung for Jones, for having the heart and determination to keep going after being in trouble and putting on another gritty display in a seventh straight victory. But it takes two to tango, so Sola deserves his flowers, too.
They really were a rain of sunshine on a cloudy day of fights.
Sports
Saint Joseph's makes 19-point comeback to overcome Cal
Dec 11, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Saint Joseph’s Hawks guard Jaiden Glover-Toscano (11) shoots against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images Jaiden Glover-Toscano had 24 points and a game-ending blocked shot to cap a 19-point comeback as visiting Saint Joseph’s nipped Cal 76-75 on Sunday night in the second round of the NIT in Berkeley, Calif.
The Hawks (24-11) advance to play New Mexico in the NIT quarterfinals.
Cal (22-12) was in complete control of the game, ahead 61-42 with 13:34 left after a 3-pointer by Chris Bell, but the Hawks chipped away.
A rim-rattling dunk by Dasear Haskins cut the lead to nine with 6:54 to play for Saint Joseph’s. A basket by Glover-Toscano made it a four-point game with 4:11 to play.
Justin Pippen made a free throw for Cal to give them a 75-73 lead with 2:10 left, but the Bears would not score again. Hawks guard Derek Simpson shook loose outside the arc and drained a three with 1:50 to go to give St. Joseph the lead.
After both teams had empty possessions, Cal called a timeout with 44.2 seconds left with the ball and worked it inside to Lee Dort, but Dort had the ball stripped and the Hawks went back the other way. Cal elected not to use a timeout as Simpson dribbled the ball near half court. His runner in the lane missed with six seconds to go.
Dort sent an outlet pass over to Dai Dai Ames, who drove into the front court and attacked the basket, but Glover-Toscano was able to get a few fingers on his shot to knock it away just before the final buzzer.
Bell had 23 points to lead Cal, including five threes. Haskins had 17 for Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks outscored Cal 42-24 in the paint.
Saint Joseph, playing the second time on the road in the NIT, jumped out to a 16-8 lead seven minutes into the game, but Cal took over midway through the first half. The Bears led at halftime 41-33 and opened the second half on an 11-2 run to build the lead to double digits.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UConn turns to veteran Alex Karaban, downs UCLA to reach Sweet 16
Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — Alex Karaban has seen his role evolve across 147 games at UConn, from a supporting role as a freshman to a key shooter and connector on offense and, now, the senior leader.
On Sunday, the Huskies asked him for something different. With others struggling and their season on the line, they needed Karaban to carry their offense.
Karaban responded with a career-high 27 points, freshman Braylon Mullins added 17 and No. 2 seed UConn took down No. 7 seed UCLA 73-57 to return to the Sweet 16.
UConn (31-5) will face No. 3 Michigan State in the East Region semifinals. The program is shooting for a third national title to cap Karaban’s four-year career, after eventual champion Florida eliminated the Huskies in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
Two nights after racking up 31 points and 27 rebounds against Furman, Tarris Reed Jr. had 10 points and 13 boards but shot just 3 of 8 from the field. Jayden Ross had 11 points, but Solo Ball was scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting and Silas Demary Jr. scored two on a pair of free throws.
Xavier Booker had 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the first half to fuel UCLA (24-12), but he was held in check after that and finished with 13. Eric Dailey Jr. put up 12, Donovan Dent added 11 with nine assists and Skyy Clark also scored 11.
It was the second matchup of the blue bloods all-time after the Bruins defeated UConn in the 1995 NCAA Tournament on the way to their most recent national championship.
UCLA led by six early on until the Huskies hit seven shots in a row, anchored by a pair of 3-pointers from Ross that gave them their first lead at 23-21.
Eric Reibe threw down a two-handed dunk with 3:38 remaining, and Mullins knocked down two triples in the final 2:49 to give UConn a 38-33 halftime edge.
But it barely lasted. UCLA scored the first six points of the second half, and Clark’s triple put UCLA ahead 42-40.
Karaban dug in and converted two layups. His third-chance tip-in put UConn back up 46-44 with 13:49 to go.
He added one trey from the left wing and sidestepped a defender closing in to hit another, capping a 14-0 run for the first double-digit lead of the night at 56-44.
Dailey briefly brought UCLA within four on a 3-pointer and old-fashioned three-point play, but a 9-0 UConn run restored the double-figure advantage. The Bruins shot 33.3% in the second half and 38.8% overall to UConn’s 46.9%.
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
Sports
Suns rout Raptors to end 5-game skid
Mar 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images Devin Booker scored 25 points and Jalen Green added 20 as the Phoenix Suns snapped a season-worst five-game losing streak with a 120-98 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Collin Gillespie had 16 points for Phoenix (40-32), which led wire-to-wire and avenged a 122-115 road loss to the Raptors on March 13. Jordan Goodwin scored 14 points, Ryan Dunn added 12, and Rasheer Fleming chipped in 11.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto (39-31) with 17 points. RJ Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter added 13 apiece, Immanuel Quickley had 11, and Gradey Dick scored 10.
Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was held to six points on 3-of-10 shooting after averaging 25.8 points over his last five games. Toronto trailed by as many as 31 and lost its second straight following a three-game winning streak.
Phoenix sprinted to a 28-12 lead and held a 34-20 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
Green drilled a 3-pointer to extend the Suns’ lead to 43-25 with 9:52 left in the second quarter before the Raptors responded with a 12-0 run over the next 1:45.
Booker scored 12 points in the first half for Phoenix, which regained control to lead 66-48 at intermission. Barnes had 12 points for the Raptors.
The Suns maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half and took a commanding 87-62 lead on Booker’s 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the third quarter.
Phoenix outscored Toronto 31-21 in the third quarter to lead 97-69 at the end of the period.
Both teams rested their starters for much of the fourth quarter. Gillespie made one of his four 3-pointers to put the Suns ahead 114-87 with 5:46 remaining.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, Phoenix shot 51.7% from the field and 45% (18 of 40) from 3-point range.
Toronto committed 20 turnovers and shot 50% from the field, including 33.3% (9 of 27) from beyond the arc.
The Suns played without several regulars, including Grayson Allen (left knee injury management), Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain), and Royce O’Neale (left knee soreness).
–Field Level Media
Saint Joseph's makes 19-point comeback to overcome Cal
UConn turns to veteran Alex Karaban, downs UCLA to reach Sweet 16
