Sports
Why Dana Whits’ UFC White House Card Announcement Felt Disappointing
On Saturday night, the UFC announced the entire fight card for their event on the White House lawn in June.
It’ll feature two title fights. But UFC boss Dana White has been hyping up this card since Donald Trump reassumed office. He promised that this would be the greatest fight card of all-time. Expectations are a dangerous thing, and it felt like this announcement might’ve missed the mark.
For fight fans, Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje is a fun matchup. But for casuals? Topuria is already -450 on several sportsbooks. The odds are telling us that this fight might not be as competitive as White wants it to be.
Two-weight UFC champion Alex Pereira seeking a third belt against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event is an objectively fun fight. The odds are much closer on this one, and even casuals will love this storyline.
Alright, last time mentioning casual fans. As they’ll be treated to Sean O’Malley as he looks to bounce back in the bantamweight division against Aiemann Zahabi, a surging contender.
Undoubtedly, these are three wildly entertaining fights. Other UFC stars including Michael Chandler, Bo Nikal and Diego Lopes will also fight on the White House lawn.
The greatest ever? It might be.
It’ll be up to the fighters to decide that.
But the repeated hype surrounding this event from White had fans dreaming big.
Conor McGregor? On social media claiming that he doesn’t need the White House in order to sell a fight. The UFC – on the same night of their big White House announcement – reposted McGregor calling out Charles Olivera moments after he defeated Max Holloway.
Jon Jones? Conspiracy theorists on social media are wondering if he’s the fighter that fell off of this card at the last minute. Immediately after UFC 326, White told reporters that Jones wasn’t the fight that fell apart in the 11th hour. In fact, White went as far to say that Jones was never in consideration for the White House event, and it’s “very fair” to consider him retired.
But the speculation online will run rampant, regardless.
In weird corners of TikTok, some had even wondered if Jake Paul and White would put their differences aside for a mega event on America’s 250th birthday.
White chose to live in reality.
McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021. It’s been five years. There’s just no way that the UFC could realistically bet on him for a stage this big. Jones has been just as fickle – and his career is apparently over.
The White House will be quite the spectacle. Maybe not the spectacle some had hoped for or expected. But as long as the final three fights deliver, the event should hopefully get a passing grade.
Sports
Victor Wembanyama stars in return as Spurs hold off Hornets
Mar 14, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a shot in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images Victor Wembanyama racked up 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots in his return to lead the host San Antonio Spurs to a 115-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday as two of the hottest teams in the NBA clashed.
De’Aaron Fox added 17 points for the Spurs, with Stephon Castle adding 15 points with 10 assists. Keldon Johnson scored 13 points and Luke Kornet contributed 10 for San Antonio.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 22 points while Kon Knueppel scored 20, Coby White had 18 off the bench and LaMelo Ball added 17 for the Hornets, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.
The Spurs are 17-2 since the start of February, while the Hornets fell to 8-3 since Feb. 22.
The Spurs led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter and 13 at halftime before heading into the fourth quarter up 91-83. Bridges’ 3-pointer with 9:33 left brought Charlotte to within four before San Antonio reeled off the next 12 points to expand its advantage to 104-88 with 6:05 remaining.
The Hornets were unable to challenge down the stretch, with Wembanyama’s fifth 3-pointer of the game coming with 1:12 remaining to seal the victory and get San Antonio’s back on track after a loss on Thursday to Denver when Wembanyama was out with ankle soreness.
San Antonio used an 18-0 run, capped by two free throws by Barnes, in building an early 28-13 lead. The Hornets missed 13 consecutive shots during the Spurs’ surge before pulling within 31-24 after one quarter.
The Spurs were up 46-28 five minutes into the second quarter and finished the first half with an 8-0 run to take a 59-46 advantage into the break. Wembanyama had 18 points and eight rebounds before halftime for the Spurs while Fox added 10 points. Ball had 11 points for the Hornets in the first half.
Knueppel tried to shoot Charlotte back into the game in the third period, making three 3-pointers as part of his 17 points in the quarter as the Hornets cut San Antonio’s lead to 82-73.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kirill Marchenko lifts Jackets to shootout win vs. Flyers
Mar 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Kirill Marchenko scored his 100th career goal and also tallied in the shootout to lift the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
After the first five shootout attempts were unsuccessful, Marchenko made a late move to his backhand and lifted the puck past Dan Vladar. Marchenko is 10 for 15 in his career on shootouts, among the best marks in NHL history.
Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves made 18 saves in regulation and overtime before denying Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny in the shootout. Columbus has recorded a point in nine straight games (5-0-4).
Vladar finished with 27 saves for Philadelphia, which had won six of its last eight contests. Alex Bump scored the lone goal for the Flyers.
Columbus nearly took the lead with about eight minutes left in regulation, as Zach Werenski’s shot was deflected in front by Mason Marchment and went just wide. Marchenko had a good chance with about five minutes left in the third, but Vladar held firm.
Overtime was uneventful with Philadelphia recording the only shot on goal. Marchment had a scoring chance midway through OT, but to no avail. Then in the final minute of overtime, Michkov got a semi-breakaway but lost the puck at the last moment.
Marchenko scored his milestone goal 4:21 into the contest. Following a scramble in front of the net, the puck squirted out to the high slot for Marchenko, whose blast sailed past Vladar for his 25th of the season.
About six minutes later, Bump deflected a shot by Emil Andrae past Greaves. The officials initially missed the goal, but replays confirmed that the puck went into the net and then quickly caromed back out.
The goal was the second for Bump in five games to begin his NHL career.
Shot totals were low overall. After a 13-shot attack by Columbus in the first period, the Blue Jackets managed only 15 shots the rest of the way. The Flyers, meanwhile, managed no more than seven shots in any period.
Sports
Paolo Banchero, Magic stay hot, cool off rival Heat
Mar 14, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball as he drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) defends during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero posted 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat for the fifth straight time 121-117 on Saturday night.
Orlando led by as many as 22 but needed two Wendell Carter Jr. free throws with 11 seconds left to help put Miami away. Banchero added two free throws with 7.8 seconds left.
Desmond Bane added 21 points for the Magic, who have won seven straight. Carter scored 15, Jalen Suggs added 14 and Jamal Cain chipped in 12 as the Magic swept the season series 5-0.
Miami, which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points, seven assists and three steals. Fellow reserve Norman Powell had 20 points and Pelle Larsson scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Miami got two of its top three scorers back as Tyler Herro (quadriceps) and Powell (groin) returned after missing a combined nine games, seven by Powell. Herro had just 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field.
The Heat remain without fourth-leading scorer Andrew Wiggins, who has missed five straight games due to a toe injury.
Orlando won without two of its top four scorers: Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (back).
The Magic jumped out to a 14-6 lead and continued to play well, taking a 41-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. Orlando shot 69.6% from the field in the quarter compared to 38.1% for Miami.
In the second quarter, Orlando shot 52.2% overall and 4 of 9 on 3-point attempts and went into halftime with a 71-55 lead. Miami made 44.0% in the second quarter, including 2 of 10 from deep.
The Magic survived a slump in third, shooting just 38.1% overall, including 1 of 6 on 3-pointers. Despite the struggles, Orlando entered the fourth leading 98-83.
In the fourth, Miami cut its deficit to 117-111 with 1:07 left on a Jaquez three-point play. After a Magic miss, Larsson made two free throws with 43.2 seconds left.
On Orlando’s next possession, Tristan da Silva dribbled the ball between his legs and out of bounds.
However, Larsson was called for a turnover failing to inbound the ball within five seconds.
Suggs missed two free throws, allowing Miami to cut the margin to 117-115 on a pair of Jaquez foul shots with 18.5 ticks remaining. But the Magic held on for the win.
–Field Level Media
Victor Wembanyama stars in return as Spurs hold off Hornets
Kirill Marchenko lifts Jackets to shootout win vs. Flyers
