Dudley rushed at Embiid with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter and Brooklyn leading 67-61 after the Sixers center fouled Jarrett Allen near the basket, bringing the 6-foot-11 Allen to the floor. In the ensuing fracas, Dudley and Ben Simmons spilled into the courtside seats along the baseline at Barclays Center.
After play was stopped for several minutes to sort out the penalties, Embiid was assessed a flagrant foul 1, and both Dudley and Butler -- who swung his left forearm at Dudley -- were called for technical fouls and ejected from the game.
Embiid elbowed Allen in the face in Game 2, drawing a flagrant foul 1 after an officials' review. Afterward, Embiid chuckled during his postgame news conference while apologizing for the play. After later seeing the replay, Embiid admitted he should have been ejected.
The UFC's second visit to Russia was headlined by a heavyweight fight between Alistair Overeem and Aleksei Oleinik on Saturday in St. Petersburg, with the heavily favored Overeem taking care of business with a first round TKO.
There were surprises elsewhere on the main card, however, as Roxanne Modafferi upset Antonina Shevchenko and Islam Makhachev had his hands full with a game Arman Tsarukyan in the co-main event.
Alistair Overeem defeats Aleksei Oleinik via first-round TKO
Alistair Overeem calmly weathered an early storm from Alexey Oleynik, before putting him away with knees in the opening round of Saturday's UFC Fight Night main event.
Overeem (45-17) finished Oleynik (57-12-1) via TKO at the 4:45 mark of the heavyweight bout, which headlined UFC Fight Night in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He hurt Oleynik badly with standing knees, before stopping him with additional strikes on the ground.
Overeem, 38, was originally scheduled to face Alexander Volkov (30-7), but Volkov withdrew due to injury. Overeem expressed interest in re-booking the matchup.
"He's a very strong opponent, veteran," said Overeem, regarding Oleynik. "We've trained together. He's a friend and I didn't like to fight him. I was originally scheduled to fight Alexander Volkov. The fight did not happen tonight, but I'm very open to that fight in the future."
Despite the conclusive result, it was not an easy win for Overeem by any stretch. Oleynik, 41, has been calling for a big name opponent for some time, and came out of the gates fast.
He tagged Overeem with a looping, overhand right early on, and did well pressuring Overeem along the fence. He landed several long sequences of punches to Overeem's body, after repeatedly walking him back. Although Overeem remained calm and clear-eyed throughout, it was clear the pressure had some effect on him.
Oleynik's 6-foot-1 stature, however, ultimately played perfectly into the 6-foot-4 Overeem's Thai clinch. He landed several hard knees to Oleynik's midsection, before elevating those attacks to the head for the finish. It is the 24th knockout win of Overeem's storied career.
Makhachev out-grapples game Tsarukyan
Lightweight contender Islam Makhachev (17-1) earned his sixth win in a row, as he out-wrestled Arman Tsarukyan (13-2) in a high-level grappling affair. All three judges awarded Makhachev the decision victory: 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
Makhachev, a teammate of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, defended the majority of Tsarukyan's attempts to drag him down and consistently won the key positional battles. He dropped for a tight guillotine in the opening round, but did not appear close to a finish otherwise.
It was a significant win for Makhachev, though, and his first since July. Tsarukyan, of Armenia, drops his UFC debut but is nevertheless a name to keep an eye on moving forward.
Pavlovich picks up quick KO
Russian heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich (13-1) made very quick work of Marcelo Golm (6-3) in a 66-second knockout victory.
The finish came courtesy of a right cross. Pavlovich rocked Golm with a stiff jab in the center of the cage, and followed it with a hard right hand. Wounded, Golm retreated to the fence and put his guard up, which allowed Pavlovich to pick his shot and wrap the right cross around Golm's defense.
It is the 11th win by knockout in Pavlovich's career. He is 1-1 in the UFC, having lost to Alistair Overeem in his promotional debut last November.
Modafferi upsets Shevchenko sister
Veteran flyweight Roxanne Modafferi (23-15) upset Antonina Shevchenko (7-1) via split decision in a hard-contested bout. Two judges saw it 29-28 for Modafferi, while a third had it 29-28 for Shevchenko. ESPN scored the bout 30-27 for Modafferi.
Modafferi, who fights out of Las Vegas, was a sizable underdog going in, but surprised Shevchenko with a very efficient ground game. She converted five of six takedown attempts, according to UFC Stats, and out-landed Shevchenko in total strikes 105-to-87.
Shevchenko, who is the older sister of defending flyweight champion Valentina, had some moments late and outlanded Modafferi 64-33 in significant strikes, but simply could not stay on her feet enough to build momentum. She falls to 1-1 in the UFC, while Modafferi improves to 2-3.
Jotko snaps three-fight skid
Polish middleweight Krzysztof Jotko (20-4) earned his first win in more than two years, as he outworked Alen Amedovski (8-1) in a dominant decision victory. Judges scored it 30-25, 30-26 and 30-26.
Jotko, 29, proved to be in another class than Amedovski on the floor. He took the UFC newcomer down in each of the three rounds, and scored with punches and elbows. He trapped Amedovski in a crucifix position in the second round, and probably would have earned a finish had the clock not run out.
The win is Jotko's first in four appearances. He began his UFC career with a promising record of 6-1, before dropping three straight.
Movsar Evloev, a former M-1 bantamweight champion fighting at featherweight in his UFC debut, remained undefeated in his professional MMA career with a smothering grappling display that produced a decision win that was as decisive as they come.
Evloev (11-0) had a point deducted in the second round for an illegal knee to the head of a grounded Seungwoo Choi. But the fight went on, and the 25-year-old Russian never let up, controlling South Korea's Choi (7-2) the whole way to earn 29-27, 29-27 and 29-26 scores from the judges.
Sultan Aliev, who generally relies on his brawny wrestling game, gained the respect of Keita Nakamura early with some crisp boxing. Even as Nakamura weathered the early story, when the fight turned in to a grappling contest, Aliev maintained control there as well, earning a clear decision win along the way.
Aliev (15-3) used a fast jab to keep Nakamura (34-10-2, 1 NC) out of striking rhythm and led the dance the whole way in the his strongest UFC showing yet. All three judges scored the bout 30-27 in the Russian's favor.
In his first fight since 2016. Alexander Yakovlev fended off several early offensive pushes from Alex Da Silva and then, as Round 2 was heating up, Yakovlev dodged a takedown attempt. When Da Silva persisted, the Russian dropped some elbows to Da Silva's head before sinking in a choke to get the tapout at 3:10 of Round 2
Yakovlev (24-8-1) started the final sequence by slamming Da Silva (20-2) to the mat, but the Brazilian, who was making his Octagon debut, scrambled in an attempt to reverse position. The 6-foot-3 Yakovlev had the length to maintain his position, however, and eventually he secured a variation of a guillotine and anaconda choke.
Shamil Abdurakhimov caught Marcin Tybura with a left hook to the temple that wobbled him, then followed Tybura across the Octagon and launched a flurry of punches as his opponent sagged against the cage, until the referee jumped in at 3:15 of Round 2.
The heavyweights engaged in a stand-up battle all the way, with Russia's Abdurakhimov (20-4) landing more consistently until Tybura (17-5) starting timing his counter punches. The finish came when that sweeping hook caught Tybura flush on the right temple, and his equilibrium left him. This was Abdurakhimov's third straight victory.
Michal Oleksiejczuk made a quick turnaround because his last fight, in February, lasted barely a minute and a half. This time he needed even less time to get the KO, catching the aggressive Gadzhimurad Antigulov early and dropping him three times in a fight that lasted just 44 seconds.
Oleksiejczuk (14-2), a 24-year-old out of Poland, is unbeaten in his last 12 fights, while Antigulov (20-6) lost his second in a row after a 14-fight winning streak.
Magomed Mustafaev, who had not fought since 2016 because of an arm injury, didn't have much of an opportunity to test that arm because he made quick work of Rafael Fiziev with a spinning back kick -- flooring the Kazakhstan fighter and finishing him just 1:26 into the fight.
It was the first MMA loss for Muay Thai specialist Fiziev (6-1), who was grazed by the first kick Mustafaev launched, then knocked down and dazed by the second. Mustafaev (15-2), who is from Dagestan, finished the job with a flurry of punches on the canvas.
Conor McGregor got back into the ring on Friday but not for his return to mixed martial arts.
Instead the Irish superstar participated in an exhibition boxing match at his old stomping ground in the Crumlin Boxing Club near Dublin in his native Ireland.
The match took place as part of the boxing club’s annual ‘Good Friday Show’, which featured 14 bouts during the Easter weekend card. McGregor was not advertised for the card but instead the name ‘A. Another’ was listed on the bout sheet ahead of the show.
McGregor ultimately fought Michael McGraine to a draw after they exchanged punches in front of the raucous crowd inside the famed boxing club in Ireland.
McGregor had just recently stopped by the gym to do some work, which is where his combat sports career began before he transitioned to mixed martial arts and became the biggest draw in the history of the sport.
McGregor’s fighting future had been in question after he abruptly announced his retirement from the sport several weeks ago but then recanted that statement as he continued talks with the UFC over his next bout.
UFC president Dana White said just recently that he plans on meeting with McGregor in Miami to discuss his return to action after his last fight this past October ended with a fourth round rear naked choke loss to current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
As of now there’s still no word when McGregor may return to the Octagon but he at least brushed up on his boxing skills in his special exhibition bout on Friday.
UFC on ESPN+ 7 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET (7:15 a.m. PT).
The event takes place at Yubileyniy Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.
In the main event, Alistair Overeem (44-17 MMA, 9-6 UFC) takes on Aleksei Oleinik (57-11-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. In the co-feature, Islam Makhachev (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Arman Tsarukyan (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at lightweight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 10:15 a.m. ET for the ESPN2 prelims and 1 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.
Round 1 – The taller Yakovlev sets up on the outside, but da Silva able to score with a kick from range. Quick movement early from da Silva, and more kicks coming as he dances about. Yakovlev able to press forward and drive the action to the cage, but da Silva defends well and circles out to the center. Yakovlev now lets his hands go, but da Silva answer immediately. Yakovlev nets the takedown, but it’s a perfect counter for da Silva, who crawls immediately back to the feet and nets his own takedown, moving immediately to side control. Scramble ensues, and da Silva threatens to take the back, but Yakovlev turns again and eventually moves back to the feet. Yakovlev trying to control the body, but da Silva able to break that and push his opponent to the cage, changing levels and looking for a single. Yakovlev defends well and is able to turn off the fence, but the clinch is a bit of a stalemate. Both men grinding well in the spot. Round ends there, and MMA Junkie gives it to da Silva, 10-9.
Round 2 – Yakovlev with an early kick but slips to the floor, and da Silva rushes ti take top position. Yakovlev kicks the legs inside, but da Silva adjusts with relative ease and controls the head. He’s trying to advance to mount, but Yakovlev feels it and turns to his knees. Some control from the front for da Silva, but stands and turns, grabbing his opponent and lifting him in the air before slamming him to the floor. No panic for da Silva, who is immediately back up and looking for the takedown. Yakovlev sprawls well against the fence, and he drives in a few big elbows. Yakovlev presses his opponent to the floor and wraps the neck. Tough to see if the anaconda is completely in, but he’s squeezing, and da Silva taps. Bit of a modified choke there, but it works, and an emotional Yakovlev kneels in the center and celebrates the win.
Result: Alexander Yakovlev def. Alex da Silva via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:10 Records: Alex Da Silva (20-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Alexander Yakovlev (25-9-1 MMA, 3-4 UFC) Division: Lightweight Broadcast: ESPN2 Referee: Marc Goddard
Results
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Rafael Fiziev
Round 1 – Mustafaev with a few kicks to feel the range in the opening seconds. Spinning kick goes high and pushes Fiziev off-balance briefly. Mustafaev switches stances and lands hard to the leg. Fiziev answers low. Mustafaev with another spinning back kick, and it lands firm, even with his opponent’s right hand high. Fiziev crashes to the floor. Mustafaev seizes the moment, jumping on top with punches on the floor, and this fight is over in rapid fashion.
Round 1 – Quick start for Antigulov, chasing with punches and a takedown. Oleksiejczuk retreats well, and as Antigulov rushes again, a big left hand drops him. Antigulov back to his feet, but a huge uppercut lands clean. Antigulov crawls back to his feet again, but he’s being punished for his aggression. Oleksiejczuk lands another uppercut, and this one is clean, as well. Antigulov crumbles to the floor, and this fight is over. Wild action while it lasted.
Round 1 – Both big men fire right hands to open. Abdurakhimov briefly controls the center, but both men keeping their hands high and looking to fire with straight punches. Abdurakhimov strings a few punches together and throws with a left to the body. He sneaks in an uppercut, as well. Abdurakhimov with a nice counter right as Tybura tires to push inside. Abdurakhimov moving well, changing levels and showing some head movement as he creates angles. Tybura not backing away, but a little more down the middle in his approach. Tybura switches stances, but Abdurakhimov tags him with a right hand. Abdurakhimov seemingly getting the best of the exchanges in a moderately paced round. Bell sounds, and MMA Junkie gives it to Abdurakhimov, 10-9.
Round 2 – Quick engagement to start, and Abdurakhimov fires off a spinning back kick to the body. Tybura thinks takedown, but it’s not there. Tybura with a low kick that Abdurakhimov catches and takes to the floor, but he can’t keep the fight there. Tybura starting to move a little better in terms of creating angles. Abdurakhimov shoots inside, but Tybura shoves him aside. Tybura’s nose is starting to bleed a bit. Abdurakhimov with a quick spinning backfist that partially lands. Abdurakhimov again tries to dip down for a leg, but it’s not there. Abdurakhimov right hand to the body. Big left hand lands up top. Tybura is hurt. He wobbles back slowly to the fence. Abdurakhimov sees it and pounces. Big punches on the feet. Tybura isn’t falling, but he’s out on his feet. Referee Herb Dean sees it and has to rush in to call the fight.
Result: Shamil Abdurakhimov def. Marcin Tybura via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:15 Records: Shamil Abdurakhimov (20-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Marcin Tybura (17-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) Division: Heavyweight Broadcast: ESPN2 Referee: Herb Dean
In the bottom of the eighth against the Mariners on Friday, Angels first baseman Justin Bour popped a ball up over the infield on the same pitch that his teammate, Brian Goodwin, had tried to steal second. Bour assumed that the pop-up would result in an easy out and started walking to the dugout straight from the batter’s box before the ball had even fallen into the glove of an opposing player. Because Goodwin had also assumed the play would result in a routine fly-out, he returned to first base. Mariners’ infielder Dee Gordon noticed this and shouted at Ryon Healy to let the ball drop so that they could turn the double-play. The nonchalance with which they pulled it off was both hilarious and humiliating, and, worst of all, it ended the inning.
Bour took full responsibility for his mistake after the game—not that he really had much of a choice—and told reporters, “Honestly there’s really no excuse for it. It’s embarrassing. That’s something you’re taught from the day you start playing baseball. There’s no excuse for it. That can never happen again.”
Manager Brad Ausmus was even pretty understanding of what had happened. Sure, he wasn’t happy, but he expressed confidence in Bour to know that what he did was stupid, according to the OC Register.
Manager Brad Ausmus said he hadn’t spoken to Bour about the play, and didn’t think he needed to.
“That’s the type of thing you don’t even have to explain,” Ausmus said. “It’ll never happen again in his career. It was just an extreme mental error that once it happens, it never occurs (again).”
Ausmus added: “You learn that one early on in Little League.”
There’s obviously not much a manager is usually willing to say to the media when it comes to a player going braindead in these situations, but Ausmus’s response still felt a little subdued given that this was Bour’s second notably boneheaded move in a week. Just last Saturday, the Angel made his way into a Cubs highlight reel when, after being called safe at second, he started walking to the dugout because he felt he got tagged before sliding in. He was officially declared out when he was tagged on his walk back. Replays would later show that Bour probably would have probably been called out after a second look, but from a competitive standpoint it’s never great to just give an opponent a free out.
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But Bour’s head-scratching decision looked worse on Friday than it did against the Cubs. The pop-up came late against a division rival in a game his team would eventually lose—the Angels beat the Cubs 6-5—and it happened shortly after Mike Trout had absolutely crushed one into center field and flipped his bat to celebrate tying the game up at 3-3.
If this season ends up as disappointing as the last few have been for the Angels, then this play will serve as an excellent metaphor of the recent history of this franchise—with Trout doing everything he can to help his team win, and his teammates doing everything they can to screw it up.
UFC on ESPN+ 7 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET (7:15 a.m. PT).
The event takes place at Yubileyniy Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia. The main card streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.
In the main event, Alistair Overeem (44-17 MMA, 9-6 UFC) takes on Aleksei Oleinik (57-11-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in a heavyweight bout. In the co-feature, Islam Makhachev (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) meets Arman Tsarukyan (13-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at lightweight.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 10:15 a.m. ET for the ESPN2 prelims and 1 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.
Round 1 – Quick start for Antigulov, chasing with punches and a takedown. Oleksiejczuk retreats well, and as Antigulov rushes again, a big left hand drops him. Antigulov back to his feet, but a huge uppercut lands clean. Antigulov crawls back to his feet again, but he’s being punished for his aggression. Oleksiejczuk lands another uppercut, and this one is clean. Antigulov crumbles to the floor, and this fight is over. Wild fight.
Result: Records: Gadzhimurad Antigulov (20-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Michal Oleksiejczuk (13-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) Division: Light heavyweight Broadcast: ESPN2 Referee: Leon Roberts Judging:
Results
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Rafael Fiziev
Round 1 – Mustafaev with a few kicks to feel the range in the opening seconds. Spinning kick goes high and pushes Fiziev off-balance briefly. Mustafaev switches stances and lands hard to the leg. Fiziev answers low. Mustafaev with another spinning back kick, and it lands firm, even with his opponent’s right hand high. Fiziev crashes to the floor. Mustafaev seizes the moment, jumping on top with punches on the floor, and this fight is over in rapid fashion.
Result: Magomed Mustafaev def. Rafael Fiziev via TKO (spinning back kick, punches) – Round 1, 1:26 Records: Rafael Fiziev (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Magomed Mustafaev (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) Division: Lightweight Broadcast: ESPN2 Referee: Vjacheslav Kiselev
