Sports
UFC Fight Night 250: Adesanya-Imavov vie for title shot in Saudi Arabia
Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Israel Adesanya reacts during his fight with Sean Strickland (not pictured) in UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images The UFC returns to Saudi Arabia with Fight Night 250 on Saturday night, with the main event at ANB Arena in Riyadh pitting former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya against rising contender Nassourdine Imavov.
Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) is a two-time title holder in the 185-pound weight class and enters as the No. 3 middleweight fighter, but he has also dropped three of his past five fights. Imavov (15-4, 7-2) is ranked No. 8, having won three consecutive fights.
This is the first time Adesanya has fought in a non-title bout since UFC 234 nearly six years ago, but that’s the position the 35-year-old finds himself as he attempts to rebound from losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. He opened as the -185 favorite at BetMGM, where Adesanya has been backed by 62 percent of the total bets while seeing his odds shift to -170.
“Just because there’s not a belt on the line, I don’t want to diminish this fight like it’s not important,” Adesanya said this week, per MMAJunkie.com. “This is still an important fight for me. Again, I’m saying I’m doing this for myself. I’m kind of being selfish.
“Like, I fight for myself, I fight for my team, my family, and my real fans, but this one I’m putting myself first. I’m trying to do this one for myself, so it’s really important to me.”
Imavov is unbeaten in his past four trips inside the Octagon, and his lone loss in his past eight fights was in a short-notice light heavyweight bout against Strickland.
This is a critical bout for both fighters in their effort to position themselves for a crack at the title, with Du Plessis putting his title on the line against Strickland in Sydney next week.
Imavov has drawn 59 percent of the money as the +140 underdog Saturday night. He’s looking for his fourth win in a calendar year, which he hopes would push him past Khamzat Chimaev as the No. 1 contender.
“I think (Adesanya is) going to come very focused, very hungry,” Imavov said through an interpreter. “Even though I don’t focus too much on him, I focus more on myself, what I’m going to do, the shape I’m going to be in the fight, and I hope he’s going to be in the best shape so I can beat the best Israel Adesanya.”
OTHER MAIN CARD FIGHTS
SHARA MAGOMEDOV (15-0, 4-0) vs. MICHAEL PAGE (22-3, 1-1)
The 30-year-old Magomedov knocked out Armen Petrosyan in his most recent fight to run his promotion record to 4-0 following wins over Bruno Silva, Antonio Trocoli and Michal Oleksiejczuk. Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Page scored a unanimous decision win over Kevin Holland before losing to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303.
Magomedov is the -185 favorite, having drawn 70 percent of the money while the total bets have been nearly split with Rozenstruik (+260)
SERGEI PAVLOVICH (18-3, 6-3) vs. JAIRZINHO ROZENSTRUIK (15-5, 9-5)
The battle of top-10 heavyweights sees Pavlovich attempting to snap a two-fight skid while Rozenstruik enters Saturday riding a two-fight winning streak.
Pavlovich is the heavy -325 favorite despite losses to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov, and has been backed by 62 percent of the money at -325. Meanwhile, Rozenstruik has drawn 78 percent of the total bets at +260 as he looks to build on wins over Shamil Gazievto and Tai Tuivasa.
SAID NURMAGOMEDOV (18-3, 7-2) vs. VINICIUS OLIVEIRA (21-3, 2-0)
This is one of the most anticipated fights on the card as a pair of bantamweights seek an impressive victory.
When Nurmagomedov returns to the Octagon for the first time since beating Muin Gufurov 15 months ago, he’ll do so against the rising Oliveira. A graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series, Oliveira has defeated Benardo Sopaj and Ricky Simpon to kick off his UFC career.
The 32-year-old Nurmagomedov is the -160 favorite, but it’s Oliveira at +135 who has been backed by 65 percent of the total bets while the money wagered on the fight has been nearly split.
FARES ZIAM (16-4, 6-2) vs. MIKE DAVIS (11-2, 4-1)
Ziam, 27, is riding a four-fight win streak, most recently knocking out Frevola in the third round. Davis has also won four consecutive fights, including a second round submission of Natan Levy last March.
Davis opened as the -275 favorite but has seen those odds shrink to -140 while Ziam has been backed by 51 percent of the bets and 52 percent of the money.
MUHAMMAD NAIMOV (11-3, 3-1 ) vs. KAAN OFLI (11-3-1, 4-1)
The main card kicks off with a featherweight fight. Naimov is coming off a short-notice stoppage defeat to Felipe Lima after three wins to begin his UFC career, while the former Ultimate Fighter 32 contestant Ofli was stopped by Mairon Santos in August.
It’s an important fight for both as they attempt to rise the contender rankings. Naimov has drawn a whopping 91 percent of the money as the -350 favorite to hand Ofli (+275) a second consecutive defeat.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins OF Kyle Stowers activated, to make season debut
Aug 8, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers (28) walks and tosses his bat against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Miami Marlins All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers was activated from the 10-day injured list to make his season debut against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
The Marlins optioned infielder Deyvison De Los Santos to Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move.
Stowers, who had been sidelined with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, finished a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville.
“Everything from the rehab checked out,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He continued to check the necessary boxes. Certainly, there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was. He got back-to-back nine-inning games. I think he came out of that feeling like he’s in a really good spot physically, and also, I think mentally, now he feels like, ‘OK, I’m over this.'”
Stowers, 28, made a massive leap in production in 2025. He entered the season with a .208 average, six home runs and 35 RBIs in 117 games spread across three major league campaigns, including 67 games with the Baltimore Orioles.
In his first full season with the Marlins, after a 2024 trade, Stowers batted .288 with 25 homers and 73 RBIs in 117 games while earning a spot on the National League All-Star team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers put 1B Freddie Freeman on paternity list, call up OF Ryan Ward
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers placed first baseman Freddie Freeman on the paternity list Sunday and called up outfielder Ryan Ward to the major leagues for the first time after seven minor league seasons.
Freeman, 36, is batting .296 with three home runs and 14 RBIs over 20 games this season. He had two hits in each of the last three games and four times in the past five games to raise his early batting average nearly 40 points.
Ward, 28, was drafted in the eighth round by the Dodgers in 2019 and is in his fourth season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He won the Pacific Coast League MVP last season when he hit 36 home runs with 122 RBIs in 143 games.
Ward finally gets his first call to the major leagues after 154 home runs, 530 RBIs and a .266 batting average over 696 games in the Dodgers’ system, including 420 games at Triple-A.
“You talk about performance and he’s performed as well as, if not better than, anyone,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about Ward in spring training, according to the Orange County Register. “So for him to not get a shot, I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so. But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him sometime this year.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Transfer portal roundup: Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard Alex Wilkins has transferred to Kentucky.
His move was one of the biggest on a busy transfer portal weekend.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Ex-Belmont forward Drew Scharnowski announced his transfer to Duke.
In his recently completed sophomore season at Belmont, the 6-9 Scharnowski averaged 10.7 points. 6.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 21.9 minutes per game. He shot 68.1% in 30 games (24 starts).
He takes the roster spot of forward Nikolas Khamenia, who transferred to UConn on Saturday.
–Florida State gained the commitment of 6-11 forward Sebastian Rancik, who heads to Tallahassee after two seasons at Colorado.
A native of Slovakia, he attended high school in Southern California, where he was ranked as a four-star prospect in the 2024 class.
In 29 games (26 starts) with the Buffaloes as a sophomore, he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
–Field Level Media
Marlins OF Kyle Stowers activated, to make season debut
Dodgers put 1B Freddie Freeman on paternity list, call up OF Ryan Ward
