Sports
UFC 328: Khamzat Chimaev heavy favorite vs. Sean Strickland
Aug 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES; Dricus Du Plessis Murphy (red gloves) fights Khamzat Chimaev (blue gloves) during UFC 319 at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images UFC 328 will be headlined by Khamzat Chimaev making his first defense as the middleweight champion against former champion Sean Strickland at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Saturday night.
Chimaev will enter as the heavy favorite, with his odds shifting from -525 to -550 at BetMGM by Friday. However, the money was largely split, with Chimaev backed by 51%, while Strickland had drawn 89% of the total bets at +400.
The UFC allowed both men to do the traditional ceremonial faceoff Thursday evening before security pulled both off the stage after Chimaev (15-0 MMA) kicked Strickland (30-7 MMA) in the leg, marking a dark climax to a chaotic week of separation before the fight.
UFC CEO Dana White said the rivalry has bad blood, which has made it a top-three rivalry in the promotion’s history.
Hostility aside, Chimaev enters the fight with four submission wins in nine UFC matches. Strickland earned the title shot off a third-round TKO defeat of Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston in February.
The fight is set as a five-rounder, marking Chimaev’s first title defense while Strickland attempts to regain the title after relinquishing it to Dricus du Plessis in January of 2024 at UFC 297.
The co-main event sees a re-booked flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira. The pair were supposed to meet at UFC 327 last month in Miami, Fla., but Van sustained an undisclosed minor injury that shifted the fight to this event.
Van (16-2 MMA) became the new UFC flyweight champion in December at UFC 323, as an arm injury to then-champion Alexandre Pantoja ended the fight after just 26 seconds. He is the first fighter born this century to become a UFC champion, while Taira (18-1 MMA) aims to be the first UFC champion from Japan with a win over Van, who is from Myanmar.
Taira opened as the -175 favorite but has seen those odds shift a bit to -160. He has been backed by 52% of the fight money, while Van has drawn 61% of the bets at +135.
The main card gets underway on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET.
OTHER MAIN CARD FIGHTS
–Alexander Volkov (39-11) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (17-2), heavyweight
Volkov opened as the -190 favorite but has been lightly backed with 33% of the total bets and 44% of the money. Meanwhile, Cortes-Acosta has seen his odds shift from +155 to +125, setting this up as one of the most tightly-contested fights on the card.
–Sean Brady (18-2) vs. Joaquin Buckley (21-7), welterweight
This is a battle of highly-ranked contenders who are both coming off losses — Brady to Michael Morales and Buckley to 38-year-old Kamaru Usman.
Buckley has been a very popular underdog, garnering 73% of the total bets and 70% of the money while shifting from +155 to +140. Brady is now -170 after opening as the -185 favorite.
–King Green (34-17-1) vs. Jeremy Stephens (29-22), lightweight
Stephens failed to make weight, coming in at 160 points. It’s the second miss at 145 pounds for Stephens, who hasn’t won a UFC fight in eight years. He returned from a 1-2 stint in the PFL to lose to Mason Jones last year, and will now be fighting for a 30% reduction in pay Saturday night.
Both fighters are 39, but Green is coming off wins over Lance Gibson Jr. and an upset of Daniel Zellhuber.
Green is one of the heaviest favorites on the card, sitting at -400 on Friday while backed by 62% of the money. Stephens’ +310 underdog odds has drawn 72% of the total bets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Golf Glance: Canada hosts final U.S. Open prep; Nelly Korda returns to LPGA's team event
Tommy Fleetwood during the final round of the Memorial Tournament on June 7, 2026. The Canadian Open provides a final U.S. Open tune-up for the PGA Tour, while Nelly Korda teams with a good friend as she seeks to follow up her win at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: RBC Canadian Open, Toronto, June 11-14
Course: TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, North Course (Par 70, 7,389 Yards)
Purse: $9.8M (Winner: $1.764M)
Defending Champion: Ryan Fox
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday: 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 7:45-6 p.m.
X: @RBCCanadianOpen
NOTES: Dating back to 1904, the RBC Canadian Open is the second-oldest non-major on the PGA Tour behind only the BMW Championship (1899). … The top three players who make the cut and are not otherwise exempt will earn spots into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale as part of The Open Qualifying Series. … The top 60 players this week who are not otherwise exempt will earn spots into next week’s U.S. Open. … The field includes 21 Canadian players, with Nick Taylor the most recent player to win his country’s national event in 2023. He became the first Canadian to win the event since Pat Fletcher in 1954. … This is the final event for players to earn spots into the Travelers Championship signature event via the Aon Swing 5. The top five are currently Eric Cole, Brandt Snedeker, Mac Meissner, Mark Hubbard and Jackson Suber. All but Snedeker are in this week’s field. … Brooks Koepka, who has six top-20 finishes so far in his return to the PGA Tour, is in the event for the first time since 2019. … Viktor Hovland is making his event debut as he attempts to kick-start a season that has seen him record just one top-10 finish so far. … Sponsor exemptions include former Masters champion Mike Weir, fellow Canadians Adam Hadwin, Ben Silverman and Roger Sloan, past champion Sean O’Hair and Padraig Harrington along with Joey Savoie and Ashton McCulloch.
BEST BETS: Tommy Fleetwood (+1150 at DraftKings) has four top-10s in his past eight starts and briefly held the lead last Sunday before settling for a T4. … Matt Fitzpatrick (+1200) is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 4. With two wins already this year, Fitzpatrick is seeking to rebound from a T36 at the Memorial. … Sam Burns (+1275) lost to Fox on the fourth playoff hole last year and is coming off a T4 at the Memorial. … Wyndham Clark (+2350) has regained his form, following up his win at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a solo third last week. … Collin Morikawa (+2400) had five consecutive finishes of T7 or better before going T62 and T55 in his past two starts. … Kristoffer Reitan (+2500) is a career-high 24th in the world rankings with his T6 last week coming two weeks off his maiden tour win at the Truist Championship.
Last Tournament: the Memorial Tournament (J.T. Poston)
Next Tournament: U.S. Open, Southampton, N.Y., June 18-21
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Dow Championship, Midland, Mich., June 11-14
Course: Midland Country Club (Par 70, 6,287 Yards)
Purse: $3.3M (Winner’s share: $402,691)
Defending Champions: Jin Hee Im, Somi Lee
Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 2-3 p.m. (Golf Channel Digital), 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday: 12-1 p.m. (GC Live), 1-3 p.m. (CBS)
X: @dowchampionship
NOTES: This is the only official team event on the LPGA Tour calendar. While it does not award Rolex Rankings points to the competitors, the winners are credited with an official victory on tour and the standard two-year winner’s exemption on the LPGA Priority List. … Teams will compete in foursomes in the first and third rounds and a best ball format for the second and fourth rounds. … The field will be cut to the low 33 teams and ties after 36 holes. … Im and Lee defeated Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang on the first playoff hole last year. … Korda is in the field for the first time since 2022 as she teams with friend Olivia Cowan. Korda has four wins and three runner-ups through her first eight starts in 2026.
Last Tournament: 81st U.S. Women’s Open (Nelly Korda)
Next Tournament: Meijer LPGA Classic, Belmont, Mich., June 18-21
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
THIS WEEK: Principal Charity Classic, Des Moines, Iowa, June 12-14
Course: Wakonda Club (Par 72, 6,865 Yards)
Purse: $2M (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Stewart Cink
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Friday: 10 p.m.-Midnight ET (Golf Channel – Tape Delay); Saturday: 5-7 p.m. (GC); Sunday: 3-6 p.m. (GC)
X: @ChampionsTour
NOTES: Iowa native Zach Johnson is No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings as the Champions Tour rookie makes his event debut. … Ernie Els holds the tournament scoring record of 21-under 195 set in 2024.
Last Tournament: American Family Insurance Championship (Darren Clarke, Ben Crane)
Next Tournament: Dick’s Open, Endicott, N.Y., June 26-28
LIV GOLF
THIS WEEK: OFF.
2026 Season Leaders: Individual: Jon Rahm; Team: 4Aces GC
Last Event: LIV Golf Andalucia (Individual: Tyrrell Hatton; Team: Legion XIII)
Next Event: LIV Golf United Kingdom, July 23-26
DP WORLD TOUR
THIS WEEK: OFF.
Race to Dubai Leader: Patrick Reed
Last Tournament: KLM Open (Eugenio Chacarra)
Next Tournament: Open d’Italia, Torino, Italy, June 25-28
–Field Level Media
Sports
Serena Williams, 44, wins doubles comeback in London
Aug 29, 2022; Flushing, NY, USA; Serena Williams of the United States serves to Danka Kovinic of Montenegro on day one of the 2022 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-Imagn Images Serena Williams successfully launched her comeback Tuesday with a doubles upset during the HSBC Championships at the Queen’s Club in West Kensington, London.
Ending a nearly four-year retirement, the 44-year-old Williams partnered with 19-year-old Victoria Mboko of Canada for a 7-6 (2), 6-2 win against No. 3 seed Nicole Melihar-Martinez and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe.
Routliffe is a two-time U.S. Open doubles champion (2023, 2025) and Melihar-Martinez was a doubles finalist at Wimbledon in 2018 and the U.S. Open in 2020.
“I was having so much fun playing with Vicky,” Williams said in a post-match on-court interview. “She was really able to hold up the team and play big on the big points. I could really rely on her. We never played together but it just felt so natural playing with her.”
Williams’ first-round victory at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament was the 23-time Grand Slam winner’s first professional match since a tearful farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open.
Williams, who received a wild-card entry into the tournament, and Mboko advanced to the quarterfinals. They will face the winner between Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Germany’s Laura Siegemund vs. Russia’s Alexandra Panova and the Netherlands’ Demi Schuurs.
Williams was asked what her tennis schedule might look like down the road and why she picked the HSBC Championship for a doubles return.
“I don’t know … I had nothing better to do,” Williams said, drawing laughs from fans. “I got tired sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer so why not.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andrew Putnam wins 9-hole playoff for final U.S. Open spot from Oregon
May 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images PGA Tour veteran Andrew Putnam took the concept of “Golf’s Longest Day” to a new extreme.
After playing 36 holes at Emerald Valley Golf Club for U.S. Open final qualifying Monday in Creswell, Ore., Putnam and Spencer Tibbits were tied for second on the leaderboard. The problem was that only two spots were available from Oregon, requiring a 2-for-1 playoff.
Putnam and Tibbits played six more holes late Monday and couldn’t break their deadlock. They returned to the course Tuesday morning, and Putnam finally claimed victory on the ninth hole.
Putnam, a 37-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., will play his second major championship this year after appearing in none of the majors in 2025. He tied for 55th last month at the PGA Championship. Putnam last appeared in the U.S. Open in 2023, when he tied for 43rd.
His only victory on tour came in 2018 at the Barracuda Championship.
Greyson Leach shot 4-under-par 140 over 36 holes for medalist honors at Emerald Valley. Putnam and Tibbits tied at 3-under 141, with Tibbits squandering an advantage by following an opening 66 with a second-round 75.
Emerald Valley was one of 10 final qualifying sites across the U.S. and Canada on Monday. They were also contested in Toronto (near this week’s RBC Canadian Open), at two locations in Ohio, one in California and several courses around the East Coast.
The U.S. Open will be contested June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.
Here is the final list of players to qualify Monday (three other qualifiers were previously held):
–Ball Ground, Ga.: Chris Kirk, Jake Peacock, Keith Mitchell, Robbie Higgins, Chase Kyes (a)
–Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: Giuseppe Puebla (a), Ben Silverman, Ryder Cowan (a), Miles Russell (a)
–Purchase, N.Y.: Kevin Roy, Max Greyserman, Benjamin James (a), James Nicholas
–Gastonia, N.C.: Jackson Ormond (a), Carl Yuan, Jackson Van Paris, Brandon Wu, Cole Hammer
–Rockville, Md.: Jackson Suber, Ben Kohles, Logan Reilly (a), Jake Sollon
–Springfield, Ohio: Neal Shipley, Zac Blair, Dylan Wu, Billy Horschel, Nick Hardy
–Westerville, Ohio: Davis Thompson, J.B. Holmes, Vaughn Harber (a), Arni Sveinsson (a)
–Toronto: Emiliano Grillo, Alejandro Tosti, Marcelo Rozo, William Mouw, John Parry, Max McGreevy
–Sacramento, Calif.: Taylor Montgomery, Eric Lee (a), Matthew Robles (a), Marek Fleming (a)
–Creswell, Ore.: Greyson Leach, Andrew Putnam
–Field Level Media
Golf Glance: Canada hosts final U.S. Open prep; Nelly Korda returns to LPGA's team event
CISA gives US federal agencies three days to fix a VPN bug under attack by a ransomware gang
