“She crushed it, helped TNA be in the place where it is right now, won everything she could possibly win, did even more so, and now it’s time for her to cross the line the other way. What an amazing moment,” Nemeth said. “And here’s a little piece that makes it extra cool for me. Nick Khan said something. I rarely hear him say anything that’s like, not business behind the scenes or like, ‘Hey, we’re killing it. Hey, we made another 20 billion.’ You’re like, yeah, we totally understand. But when he says something like that, it really stands out to me.
“In a world where he didn’t have to say anything, it could have been some intern sending out a tweet. It could have been anything, but it’s like, hey, this guy that we now know that is associated with a lot of success with WWE is saying something great about her and they’re excited that she’s there, how awesome is that?”
Last year, Grace made her WWE in-ring debut by entering the Women’s Royal Rumble match as the Knockouts Champion. Through WWE’s partnership with TNA, she later reappeared as a challenger to NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez as well as a defending champion on “WWE NXT.” From July until October 2024, Grace and Nemeth simultaneously served as the TNA Knockouts and World Champion, respectively.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit“Busted Open Radio”with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Former TNA Champ Nic Nemeth Reacts To Jordynne Grace Signing With WWE
In a surprising turn of events, former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth has taken to social media to share his thoughts on Jordynne Grace signing with WWE. The news of Grace’s signing has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, with fans and fellow wrestlers alike buzzing about what this could mean for the talented grappler.
Nemeth, who is no stranger to the world of professional wrestling, was quick to offer his congratulations to Grace on her big move. In a tweet, he said, “Congrats to @JordynneGrace on signing with WWE! You deserve it, girl. Can’t wait to see what you do on the big stage. #WWE #JordynneGrace.”
The response to Nemeth’s tweet has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising him for showing support for his fellow wrestler. Many are excited to see what Grace will bring to the table in WWE, and Nemeth’s endorsement only adds to the anticipation.
As the wrestling world continues to evolve and change, it’s clear that both Nemeth and Grace are ready to embrace whatever challenges come their way. With Nemeth’s seal of approval, Grace’s future in WWE looks brighter than ever.
Chelsea Green is currently flying high as the first-ever WWE Women’s United States Champion, and she has already defended the title against the woman she beat to win the title, Michin. However, her current championship is far from the first piece of gold Green has held.
During a recent appearance on “Virgin Radio UK,” Green reminisced about the first championship she ever won, and the first title she won on TV.
“That was the Girls Gone Wrestling title, and it kind of was around the same that I won my first TV title, which was for the Knockouts Championship for TNA. So there’s two, hand in hand, it was Girls Gone Wrestling for independents, and then on TV I was the Knockouts Champion. It was so cool, just coming up and winning my first championship and feeling validated you know?” she said.
Green won the ASW Women’s Championship when she wrestled as Jaida on the Canadian independent scene, defeating future TNA star Gisele Shaw in a tournament final in 2015. She held on to her crown for almost a full year.
Green’s first reign as TNA Knockouts Champion came over a year-and-a-half after she lost her ASW Women’s Championship, winning the title in November 2017, while wrestling as Laurel Van Ness, from Rosemary. She defended the title against both Allie and Kiera Hogan, before losing to Allie in March 2018, which was her final match for the company until July 2021.
Please credit “Virgin Radio UK” when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
WWE US Champ Chelsea Green recently sat down for an exclusive interview where she reflected on the moment she won her first world title. Green, who has been making waves in the wrestling world, shared how much the victory meant to her and how it has shaped her career.
“I will never forget the feeling of winning my first world title,” Green said. “It was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I knew that I had finally reached the pinnacle of my career and it was a moment I will always cherish.”
Green went on to talk about the challenges she faced leading up to that moment and how she overcame them with determination and perseverance. She credits her success to her unwavering belief in herself and her ability to push through any obstacles that came her way.
As she continues to defend her US Championship title, Green looks back on that moment as a reminder of what she is capable of achieving. She hopes to inspire others to never give up on their dreams and to always strive for greatness.
Fans can catch Chelsea Green in action on WWE programming and witness firsthand the passion and dedication she brings to the ring. Her journey to becoming a world champion is a testament to her hard work and commitment to her craft, and she shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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WWE US Champ Chelsea Green, World Title, winning, wrestling, championship, professional wrestling, WWE, women’s wrestling, memorable moment, champion, career milestone
Ahead of Sean Strickland’s title rematch against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312, he has drafted in the assistance of current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.
Despite Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira being former opponents of each other, the two became good friends and now consistently train together.
‘Tarzan’ is scheduled to rematch the middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC 312 main event on February 8, in what is one of the biggest rivalries in recent years.
Ahead of their scheduled fight, both fighters have continuously traded blows with each other online, which started with Strickland offering a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ pact for their fight to only be striking.
Daniel Cormier questions Pereira’s decision to corner Strickland at UFC 312
With Strickland having controversially earned a rematch with ‘Stillknocks’ despite having only picked up a win over Paulo Costa since their last fight, he is hoping to re-write the wrongs of his last fight.
Despite the 37-year-old champion agreeing to help his teammate, his decision has been questioned by former UFC double champion turned commentator, Daniel Cormier.
‘DC’ has questioned whether it is sensible for the Brazilian to travel all the way across the world to sit in Strickland’s corner when he should be preparing for his own title fight.
At UFC 313 on March 8, Pereira will defend his 205lb title against his most difficult test to date in number one contender, Magomed Ankalaev.
With his fight against the soaring Russian so close to UFC 312, Cormier believes Pereira is making a ‘dangerous’ decision that he could come to regret.
“What we do know is that Alex Pereira is going to be fighting a guy that could be his most formidable opponent because of the style,” Cormier began to explain on his YouTube channel.
“But we also have to take into effect that his relationship with Strickland is so strong that he’s willing to travel across the world to corner him. To me, it seems dangerous.
“It seems risky for Alex to go all the way to Australia knowing everything that goes into a training camp and how hard that travel can be on your body when you’re preparing to continue to defend your world championship.
“So how strong is that bond? How much does Sean Strickland now mean to Alex Pereira for him to take that risk? Because trust me, it’s a risk,” he continued.
Alex Pereira continues to tease a move up to heavyweight
If Jones does stick around to fight Aspinall, despite having admitted that he isn’t keen on the idea and will likely retire instead, Pereira will be keeping a close eye on that as he will potentially face the winner.
Related Topics
Former double champ Alex Pereira’s decision to corner Sean Strickland at UFC 312 has raised eyebrows among fans and fellow fighters alike.
Pereira, known for his knockout power and striking prowess, has made a name for himself in the MMA world. However, his decision to corner Strickland, a potential future opponent, has left many questioning his motives.
While some believe Pereira’s move is a strategic one, others see it as a risky gamble that could backfire. With tensions already running high between the two fighters, Pereira’s presence in Strickland’s corner could potentially add fuel to the fire.
Only time will tell if Pereira’s decision will pay off or if it will end up being a costly mistake. One thing is for sure, though – in the world of MMA, trust is hard to come by, and sometimes, taking a risk is the only way to get ahead.
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UFC 312, Alex Pereira, Sean Strickland, corner decision, risk, former double champ, MMA, controversy, UFC analysis
It all came down to a single syllable on Jeopardy!‘s Tournament of Champions quarterfinal on Thursday (January 30).
The episode featured Tennessee political organizer Will Stewart, Ohio-based systems administrator Ryan Manton, and Washington software engineer Mehal Shah competing for a coveted spot in the semifinals, and they all came to play.
Things got off to a solid enough start for Shah, who nabbed the first Daily Double and correctly identified hummingbirds as the answer to the clue, “These avians can rotate their wings to generate lift while flapping both up & down, enabling them to hover in the air.” He had a couple of incorrect answers but still led the pack at the halfway mark with $4,200 to Manton’s $4,000 and Stewart’s $2,200.
Then, the second round saw Stewart and Manton soar past Shah to nearly double his score each. Manton nabbed both Daily Doubles and got both right. (In the category “Communication,” he correctly named Estonian as the answer to, “The Baltic-Finnic languages include Finnish & this national language spoken due south across the Viro Strait,” and doubled his $7,400. Then in the category “Authors,” he knew that Babbitt was the character described as, “Sinclair Lewis created this guy, a symbol of materials conformity; Matthew Broderick played him on stage in 2024.” For the latter, though, he only wagered $100.)
Heading into Final Jeopardy, Will Stewart and Ryan Manton were neck and neck with $14,900 and $14,400 respectively, with Mehal Shah trailing behind with $7,400. The latter was still very much in it, though, so Final Jeopardy was clutch, especially given the closeness of the two highest scores — a miscalculated wager could change the dynamics entirely.
In the category “Latin Phrases,” the Final Jeopardy clue was: “After Camillagate, a fire at Windsor Castle & marriage problems in her family, Queen Elizabeth II dubbed 1992 this.” The answer, of course, is annus horribilus, and only Shah seemed to know it… but there was a big problem. He misspelled his answer by writing, “What is an Annus Horriblis?” and because the typo also removed a syllable from the answer, it was counted as wrong.
Shah had wagered $7,001, which meant if he’d just gotten the other “i” in there, he would’ve won. Alas, Manton (who incorrectly guessed “What is annum no grata”) wagered small and lost just $501, leaving him with $13,899 and a ticket to the semifinals because Stewart’s incorrect answer (“What is anno terribilis”) was much more costly at a loss of $14,900 and a total score of $900.
After the episode, Stewart took to Reddit to lament his Final Jeopardy results, writing, “My high school Latin teacher liked my Facebook post about my appearance on this episode. I’ve already mentally composed a heartfelt apology for letting him down.”
Meanwhile, fans on the same thread pointed to the rule book to assure other viewers that the decision to mark Shah’s answer wrong — despite him clearly knowing the answer — was the right move on the producers’ part. Referencing the official rule that while incorrect spelling doesn’t invalidate an answer, it still needs to be “phonetically correct and not add or subtract any extraneous sounds or syllables,” one commenter wrote, “Leaving out the middle ‘i’ in ‘horribilis’ drops a syllable. The show was correct to rule against Mehal’s response.”
Another added, “Ugh, one of those ‘tough but ultimately fair’ rulings for the FJ response…. I think the debate over this clue is more if it should have been in this ToC or Masters instead.” The user went on to say, though, “Will definitely deserves kudos for leading before FJ, and Mehal was this close to a come from behind win. All three players definitely made it a close game!”
Jeopardy!, Weeknights, check local listings
The recent episode of Jeopardy! had fans on the edge of their seats as reigning champion, Sarah, narrowly missed the final Jeopardy question. After a close game throughout the entire episode, Sarah found herself in the lead going into the final round.
The final Jeopardy category was American History, a topic Sarah had studied extensively. With only a few seconds left on the clock, she confidently wrote down her answer. However, when the results were revealed, it was clear that Sarah’s response was incorrect, costing her the game.
Fans took to social media to express their shock and disappointment at Sarah’s narrow miss. Some praised her for her impressive performance throughout the episode, while others couldn’t believe she had missed such a crucial question.
Despite the loss, Sarah remained gracious and thanked her competitors for a tough match. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete on such a prestigious game show and vowed to continue studying and improving for future appearances.
Jeopardy! fans will surely be eagerly awaiting Sarah’s next appearance on the show, hoping to see her redeem herself and continue her winning streak.
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Jeopardy! Champ, Final Jeopardy, Missed Answer, Fans React, Jeopardy Contestant, Game Show, Trivia, Entertainment, Television, Alex Trebek, Game Show Host
Ilia Malinin laid in the middle of the ice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday as everyone else stood in ovation.
He has that effect on people.
In another stunning display of athleticism, the reigning world champion landed six of his seven planned quad jumps — including the quad axel, the jump that only Malinin has ever landed in competition — and finished with 333.31 points after his free skate to win his third consecutive national championship at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.
Andrew Torgashev landed a pair of quads during his free skate and finished second with 286.49 points, while Camden Pulkinen took advantage of a sloppy free skate from Jimmy Ma to secure the bronze medal with 252.92 points.
Malinin was trying to become the first skater ever to land seven clean quads in competition, and he came close. He opened with the quad flip, easily landed his quad axel and hit his quad lutz — the second-hardest of the quads. But then came his only miscue, when Malinin fell on his quad loop, and he punched the air in mid-routine as if he was miffed at himself.
He landed three more quads, all of them leading into other jumps, and finished it all off with a crowd-pleasing backflip.
“It wasn’t the perfect program that I exactly wanted, but I think I gave a good, solid start for what is working in this program,” said Malinin, who was using nationals as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming world championships in Boston.
If it had been international competition, Malinin’s score would have nearly matched Nathan Chen’s record of 335.30 points.
“I’m still not at my full potential yet and there’s a lot bigger limit, I guess, that I can go for,” Malinin said.
Malinin went into the free skate with a record margin for nationals — 19.14 points over anyone else in the field — after a sublime short program Saturday that was even a bit tame by his standards. The self-proclaimed “Quad God” landed a quad flip and a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination but chose to skip over his quad axel for a triple axel instead.
Malinin was philosophical about it afterward, saying, “There’s the pressure of trying to do (the quad axel) at every competition. People might want to see something bigger and better, but I want to make sure I am consistent.”
That hasn’t been a problem.
The 20-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, has won eight consecutive competitions since a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France last year. That stretch of podium perfection included his second national title, two victories at the prestigious Grand Prix Final, and a world championship that Malinin will attempt to defend on home soil in March.
It’s a run that prompted Ma to vault Malinin into the same category of greatness as Chen, the retired Olympic champion.
“I don’t even think of Ilia as competition anymore because it’s not something I think I can achieve,” Ma said. “It’s just an honor to be friends and compete with two people who can be considered GOATs in their own way.”
The 23-year-old Torgashev, who was third at the Grand Prix de France, was so pumped about his performance to the symphonic suite “Scheherazade” that earned him a silver medal that he said stepping off the ice Sunday, “I … crushed it.”
Pulkinen rounded out the podium with a second consecutive bronze medal at nationals.
Ilia Malinin continues to dominate the ice as he skates his way to another US Figure Skating title. The world champion made history by landing an impressive 6 quad jumps in his routine, showcasing his incredible skill and precision on the ice.
Malinin’s flawless performance left the crowd in awe as he effortlessly executed each jump with grace and power. His technical prowess combined with his artistic flair earned him top scores from the judges, solidifying his status as one of the best figure skaters in the world.
This victory marks Malinin’s third straight US Figure Skating title, further cementing his legacy in the sport. Fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented skater as he continues to push the boundaries and redefine what is possible on the ice. Congratulations to Ilia Malinin on another incredible performance and well-deserved victory!
Harvard graduate Nicklette Izuegbu wrote and starred in a web series called “Nneka the Uber Driver,” loosely based on her life as a first generation Nigerian-American. The series revolves around her trying to get her family to embrace her titular career and explores the idea of expectations across cultures.
Newly crowned NXT Champion Oba Femi, an award-winning track and field athlete throughout college, had a similar conversation with his Nigerian parents when he chose to switch singlets and focus on professional wrestling as his trade. But where Nneka was met with disbelief, Femi’s career move made a lot more sense to his folks than his old one. “[Wrestling was] easy to explain,” he tells Uncrowned, “because imagine having to explain to your parents that you are going to go throw a metal ball [shot put] as far as you can for a living.” Throwing that metal ball has served as great preparation for throwing grown adults, and now that “The Ruler” has found his groove, he’s looking to see just how far he can go.
Wrestling’s fascination with former college athletes isn’t new. From Ron Simmons to Roman Reigns, Bob Backlund to Bianca Belair, collegiate stars are some of wrestling’s most well-known names. Between the men and women, former college wrestlers, basketball players, football players and track athletes have been featured in main events in the majority of WrestleManias. But Femi is the first real star produced under WWE’s NIL program, designed to be a direct pipeline from college to the WWE. A former shot putter for Middle Tennessee State University and later Alabama, Femi signed on with the program going into his final year of college eligibility. Despite being a two-time SEC champion in his chosen event, he put all professional aspirations on hold for the chance to succeed in a brand new field.
“I’m a man of commitment. If I decided tomorrow that I wanted to be a librarian, I will become the best librarian I could possibly be,” he says. “From the second I did sign, it was a commitment, and I really committed myself and threw myself into this. Being a fan [of wrestling] helped.”
Oba Femi has found new ways to use his shot put skill set. (Photo via WWE)
There’s an energy, a feeling when Femi comes through the proverbial curtain. He feels important in a way you can’t teach, and lets the people decide if they want to love or hate his words and actions. It feels like he’s running with blinders on, locked into the task at hand. The crowd even honors his verbal inflection with a deep “Uh!” chant that mirrors Steve Austin’s infamous “What?” In just over two years, he’s become NXT’s longest-reigning North American Champion to date and now holds its top title after defeating Trick Williams at New Year’s Evil. And while he jokes with the crowd about it, he’s even a bit surprised at how fast he’s picked up the game and how much success he’s found in it so early on.
“No one ever [expects immediate success]. If they said they did, they lied,” Femi says. “It was never a question of my capabilities as a performer. I’ve always known eventually I would get this thing down.”
You can teach technique, you can practice promos, but you can’t teach timing. In a wrestling ecosystem where more and more people are capable of huge athletic feats, Femi is a willful throwback to the Ice Trains and Scott Nortons of the world. Femi says he finds inspiration in talents like Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker, both oh whom are former college athletes he praises for their fluidity. Like so many of the big men of yesteryear, he’s saving his big feats for the big moments, and in the meantime, he’s looking to bulldoze the competition. “It’s not the moves, it’s the understanding of what professional wrestling is in the first place,” he says.
“I’ve come around at a very opportune time when big-man wrestling is not the main thing. It’s become like a niche, almost a lost art because everyone’s doing Canadian Destroyers and everyone’s high flying and everyone’s spring-boarding, trying to pop the crowd. … It’s refreshing that the fans get to see an Oba Femi who comes in and stays on the ground and is physical and fires up and is riled up. I think people miss that.” NXT vice president Shawn Michaels makes it a point to bring up Femi when talking about the talents he sees as being centerpieces of WWE’s future. The Rock, who made a quick stop by NXT the same week as the “WWE Raw” Netflix debut, even found Femi backstage and shared a few words of encouragement with him. “He said, ‘Good job, great match. Can’t wait to see you on the main roster,’” Femi recalls.
A large part of Femi’s fast maturation was the talent put across from him from the start. While NXT is WWE’s developmental brand, it houses a lot of wrestling industry veterans, both as coaches and competitors. “It’s really a team sport,” he says. “It’s rivalries and competition, but at the same time it’s healthy competition and we all want to see each other win.” At Stand and Deliver 2024, Femi successfully defended the North American Championship against both Dijak and Josh Briggs, longtime veterans. He’s quick to express how much both of them helped him early on understanding pacing and making sure you aren’t just following one formula from match to match. “Josh Briggs and Dijak told me, ‘When they think you’re going here, that’s the time where you give them the swerve.’”
Isaac Odugbesan hard at work before his WWE career. (Kirby Lee, USA Today)
On his way to becoming the division’s longest reigning champion, Femi faced former record-holder Wes Lee multiple times and ended their rivalry after defeating Lee at NXT Heatwave. “It’s just the little things he would tell me while we were working together,” Femi says. “There’ll be moments where it’ll be time to go and he would say, ‘No, hold, wait. Not yet. Let them get the sympathy. Let’s milk this moment.’ It’s just those little nuggets that Wes was able to pass down to me. Wes, as smaller of a frame he has, he brought it. It takes a special competitor, performer to bring things out of you.”
Femi also has a group of contemporaries that he feels not only pushes one another, but has the chance to be NXT’s next special crop of talent. “Me, Tony DiAngelo, Lexis King, Trick Williams,” he says. “We all have that mindset of, ‘Oh, we’re out there. Bring it. Bring it to me. Let’s make this good. Let’s give these fans what they came to see. Let’s make their money’s worth. Let’s give them their money’s worth.’ I’m so glad we have that healthy relationship.”
With the size, power and ability to bring out the best of his opponents, Femi is on the fast track to wrestling superstardom. He’s already setting records, he’s surrounded by his industry’s best and brightest, and has the attention of the people who are always looking for the next big thing. But for the time being, his entire focus is on getting better at his new craft, day by day. “I don’t focus on things like [winning a title] as the big wins,” he says. “This is great for me and the company as well because I plan to represent this brand the best I can.
“But it’s little things like putting someone else over, making someone a new star, passing on the title, passing on the mantle, having a good match with someone they didn’t think you were going to have a good match with — those are the wins for me. It’s never about the accolades in and of itself. If you chase the small victories and fall in love with the craft, you always achieve the big things.”
Introducing the new NXT champion, Oba Femi! After an impressive victory in the NXT championship match, Oba Femi is ready to rule the NXT roster with his undeniable talent and fierce determination.
With his unique blend of athleticism, strength, and charisma, Oba Femi has quickly become a fan favorite and a force to be reckoned with in the ring. His journey to the NXT championship was not easy, but his hard work and dedication have paid off in a big way.
Now that he holds the coveted NXT championship title, Oba Femi is prepared to take on all challengers and prove why he is the rightful ruler of the NXT division. His reign as champion promises to be exciting, electrifying, and full of unforgettable moments.
Get ready, NXT fans, because Oba Femi is here to stay and ready to make his mark as the new NXT champion!
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NXT champion, Oba Femi, wrestling, pro wrestling, WWE, NXT takeover, championship, wrestling news, Oba Femi champion, wrestling champion, NXT ruling, NXT champion ready, wrestling superstar, Oba Femi reigns, professional wrestling, sports entertainment
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select had the news confirmed by WWE sources that Grace had signed with the company, while also reporting the self-evident fact that WWE had long been interested in bringing Grace in on a full-time basis. Grace was reportedly made the offer by WWE a few weeks before her final match in TNA, which was against Tessa Blanchard at the Genesis pay-per-view on January 19, and that TNA (who recently signed on to a working partnership with WWE) were fine with this and were fully aware Grace would be leaving. WWE sources also noted that Grace was signed to the company almost immediately after her TNA contract expired, as the company did not want her hitting the free agent market.
PWInsider would later confirm the news, adding that Grace is believed to have finalized the contract at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday, and that WWE sources confirmed she will be in Indianapolis, site of the 2025 Royal Rumble event.
Grace leaves TNA Wrestling having achieved almost everything there was to achieve in the company. She signed there in 2018 after working on the independent scene for six years, including being the only woman in the “Over Budget” battle royal at the original All In event. In 2020, she won her first of three TNA (then known as Impact Wrestling) Knockouts World Championships, with her second and third reigns coming in 2022 and 2024 respectively — her combined 677 days as champion are second only to Gail Kim. Grace also won the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship with Rachael Ellering in 2021, as well as becoming the first-ever TNA Digital Media Champion that same year, making her the only female Triple Crown winner in TNA history.
Breaking News: Former TNA Knockouts World Champ Jordynne Grace Officially Signs With WWE
In a shocking turn of events, former TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace has officially signed with WWE. The powerhouse wrestler has been making waves in the wrestling world for years, and fans are eager to see what she brings to the table in WWE.
Grace, known for her incredible strength and technical prowess in the ring, is sure to make a big impact in WWE. With her impressive resume and undeniable talent, it’s clear that she is destined for greatness in the world of professional wrestling.
Fans of Jordynne Grace are ecstatic about this news, and are eagerly anticipating her debut in WWE. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new chapter in Grace’s wrestling career.
We’re less than one month away from 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend. The All-Star game rosters will be set later this week, and there are more invites to go around as the league’s best convene in San Francisco from Feb. 14-16. The Slam Dunk Contest is set to headline NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 15, and we now know what the field will look like.
Two-time defending NBA Dunk Contest winner Mac McClung committed to the 2025 event, per ESPN. His inclusion rounds out a four-dunker field that also reportedly features Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis and Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr.
No player has ever won the Dunk Contest three years in a row, so McClung has a chance to make history at the Chase Center in February.
Castle, meanwhile, was the first reported player to enter the 2025 Dunk Contest field, and he will be the first Spurs player to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest since Greg “Cadillac” Anderson in 1988. Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has already thrown down a number of highlight-reel slams. Perhaps most notably, he put two-time All-Defensive center Brook Lopez on a poster during the Spurs’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 8. In addition, Castle has soared for some impressive alley-oops, thrown down a windmill and converted some thrilling dunks in traffic.
His ability to elevate quickly off one or two feet and add power to his dunks has already made him one of the more exciting in-game dunkers. All of those traits should serve him well at All-Star Weekend. Castle’s 25 dunks this season are the most by any point guard, per Basketball-Reference.
Castle is off to a solid start in his rookie season. Through 42 games, he’s averaging 11.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Among all rookies he is fourth in scoring and third in assists as his play has helped the Spurs stay in the mix for the playoffs. The Spurs have not made the postseason since 2019.
Buzelis hasn’t had as a big of a role with the Bulls as Castle in San Antonio, but he has shown his explosive finishing ability while averaging just under 13 minutes per game. There is always potential for a highlight reel play whenever the 6-foot-10 Buzelis is on the court. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 Draft is averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game and will be the first Bulls player to take part in the Dunk Contest since Tyrus Thomas in 2007.
Jackson Jr. is a second-year player from UConn. He’s averaged 3.6 points per game for the Bucks in 17.1 minutes per game, and there’s no questioning his hops.
The 2025 NBA Dunk Contest is shaping up to be an epic showdown, with reigning champion Mac McClung set to defend his title against three fierce competitors. According to reports, the four-player field for the highly anticipated event will also include rising stars Zion Williamson, Anthony Edwards, and RJ Barrett.
McClung, who wowed fans with his high-flying acrobatics and jaw-dropping dunks in last year’s contest, will be looking to once again steal the show and solidify his status as one of the league’s top dunkers. But he’ll face stiff competition from Williamson, the electrifying forward known for his powerful slams and highlight-reel plays.
Edwards, the explosive guard with a penchant for throwing down thunderous dunks, and Barrett, the versatile forward with a smooth shooting stroke and a knack for finishing above the rim, round out the star-studded field.
Fans can expect nothing but excitement and awe-inspiring athleticism from these four incredible talents as they battle it out for dunking supremacy in the 2025 NBA Dunk Contest. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to tune in to witness these high-flying stars in action.
Ben Rothwell believes BKFC Heavyweight Champion Mick Terrill is in for a rude awakening at Knuckle Mania 5.
A 17-fight veteran of the UFC, Rothwell is now 3-0 as a bareknuckle boxer and one win away from his first world title in the BKFC this weekend. Rothwell challenges the champ Terrill in the co-main event of Knuckle Mania from Philadelphia after stopping Todd Duffee in April.
Unlike many other fighters on the roster, Terrill never picked up the MMA gloves, bareknuckle boxing before BKFC ever came into existence. Terill’s resume includes wins over champs Lorenzo Hunt and Arnold Adams, still missing a UFC name.
“The most experienced bareknuckle fighter I have fought,” Rothwell said of Terrill, 9-1 as a bareknuckle boxer. “On the flip side, I have been fighting for a long time and I’m the most experienced fighter he’s ever faced. I know he’s never faced anything quite like me. This is a huge step for him. It’s gonna be a big wake up call for him.”
“I believe he’s just tough enough that he’s not gonna flop on the ground in 45 seconds like Todd Duffee.”
Rothwell fought the who’s-who of the UFC Heavyweight division for years, the list of names not limited to Alistair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Andrei Arlovski (twice). Inside the Octagon, ‘Big’ Ben once finished four opponents in a row.
Former UFC fighter Ben Rothwell. / Adam Hagy-Imagn Images
Rothwell was asked if he thinks his opponent Terrill is intimidated by him given his strength of schedule in the UFC, where he fought from 2009 to 2021.
“I try to imagine if I was him and if I was him, I don’t think about it because if you do, it’s gonna be kind of daunting,” Rothwell said. “He’s never faced anything. I fought many of these guys the best, I have faced some of the best fighters in the world, there’s no doubt about it. He hasn’t fought one in the MMA realm.”
“He wanted to fight Mark Hunt… Well, I have fought Mark Hunt, I’ve lost and I’ve beat some of the best fighters in the world. I’ve been in there for five five-minute rounds. So, it’s very important for me to give him a proper introduction to what the elite fighting class of the world are all about.”
Watch Mick Terrill vs. Ben Rothwell at BKFC Knuckle Mania 5 on Saturday – live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia and available to watch on DAZN.
In a recent interview, UFC veteran Ben Rothwell had some strong words for BKFC champion Mick Terrill, claiming that Terrill hasn’t faced anything in comparison to the competition he’s seen in the UFC.
Rothwell, who has competed at the highest level of MMA for years, believes that Terrill’s success in the bare-knuckle fighting world doesn’t hold the same weight as victories in the UFC.
“Mick Terrill may be the BKFC champion, but let’s be real – he hasn’t faced anything like the competition I’ve seen in the UFC,” Rothwell said. “I’ve fought some of the best heavyweights in the world, and I can tell you, Terrill hasn’t faced anything close to that level of competition.”
Rothwell’s comments are sure to stir up some controversy in the combat sports world, as fans of both BKFC and the UFC debate the validity of Rothwell’s claims.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s clear that Rothwell believes in the level of competition in the UFC, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind about it. Only time will tell if Terrill will rise to the challenge and prove Rothwell wrong.
Tags:
UFC, Ben Rothwell, BKFC, Mick Terrill, MMA, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, fighter, match, opponent, competition, experience, challenge, interview
In the Australian Open semifinals, American Madison Keys defeated Poland’s Iga Swiatek to make her first AO final. (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)
At the 2015 Australian Open, 19-year-old American Madison Keys made her first Grand Slam semifinal. She’d beaten Venus Williams to get there, and would be denied an appearance in the final by eventual champion Serena Williams.
On Thursday, a decade later, 29-year-old Keys smashed her way into her first Aussie Open final, beating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek with a combination of power and relentlessness that Swiatek was unable to defeat. Keys, seeded 19th and playing the best tennis of her life, overcame every challenge Swiatek threw at her, emerging with a thrilling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
Swiatek had been cruising through the tournament before meeting Keys, dropping zero sets and losing a grand total of 14 games through five matches. But Keys challenged Swiatek with her power, smashing seven aces and a stunning 36 winners, never letting Swiatek get into rhythm. Keys took Swiatek to the limit in the first set, giving Swiatek her first real challenge of the entire tournament. Once Swiatek won the set, it felt like she had finally gained control of the match.
Keys then absolutely dominated Swiatek in the second set. It’s rare to see Swiatek be nearly non-competitive in any set against any player, but this was one of those times. Keys was relentless, shutting Swiatek down at every opportunity, overwhelming her with the sheer speed of her returns. She built a 5-0 lead over Swiatek in just 18 minutes and won the set in just 26 minutes.
After two stunning sets, the third ending in a winner-take-all tiebreak was perfection. Keys and Swiatek battled for every point, but with an early 5-3 lead it seemed like Swiatek would win with ease. Keys, however, wouldn’t go away. She chased Swiatek, never letting her get too far ahead, until she finally tied at 7-7. She smashed her seventh ace of the match to tie Swiatek at 8-8, then won her 10th and final point on a Swiatek unforced error.
After meeting Swiatek at the net, Keys crumbled to the ground and cried, then sobbed into her towel. Saturday’s final match is just the second Grand Slam final of her career and her first in eight years.
Keys has never won a major, and she’ll have a difficult time getting past No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, who dispatched Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in 86 minutes to make the final. Sabalenka, who is seeking her third consecutive Australian Open trophy, also deals in power, and like Swiatek has had a relatively easy path to the final. She’s dropped just one set in the six matches she’s played leading into the final, and has beaten the 27, 14, and 11 seeds on her way. But if Keys can use her power smartly and play the kind of tennis she played Thursday, she has a genuine shot at beating the reigning queen of Melbourne Park.
The tennis landscape has changed a lot in the 10 years since Keys lost her maiden Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne. But in some ways it hasn’t changed at all. There is always a powerful foe to defeat, whether it’s Serena Williams or Sabalenka. But now, with a decade of tennis under her belt, we’ve seen that Keys has the ability to marshal all her tools — both physical and mental — to challenge her opponent. In Saturday’s final, she controls her own destiny.
In a thrilling semi-final match at the Australian Open, American tennis star Madison Keys pulled off a stunning upset against the reigning French Open champion, Iga Swiatek. Keys displayed incredible skill and determination as she defeated Swiatek in a hard-fought battle to secure her spot in the final.
With this victory, Keys has advanced to the final of the Australian Open for the first time in her career. She will now face off against the defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka, in what is sure to be an intense and exciting showdown.
Keys has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, showcasing her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive playing style. She will be looking to continue her winning streak and claim her first Grand Slam title.
On the other hand, Sabalenka will be aiming to defend her title and secure back-to-back Australian Open victories. The Belarusian player has been in top form and will provide a tough challenge for Keys in the final.
Tennis fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the final match between Keys and Sabalenka, as both players have shown they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. It promises to be a thrilling and unforgettable encounter as they battle it out for the Australian Open title. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an epic final showdown.
