Daniel Cormier is set to return for a second consecutive season as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter.
The show will return in 2026, marking its debut on Paramount+ following the UFC’s new broadcasting agreement with the platform.
After confirming bantamweight and women’s strawweight as the two featured divisions for TUF 34, the promotion has also announced that UFC legends Cormier and Michael Bisping will serve as coaches.
With Cormier and Bisping confirmed as coaches, it means that three of the last four TUF seasons won’t have ended with a fight between the two opposing sides. Conor McGregor’s matchup with Michael Chandler was cancelled a year after TUF 31.
The following season featured rivals Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso, who met in a rematch soon after. Then came TUF 33, when the then-podcast co-hosts Cormier and Chael Sonnen faced off as coaches.
“But just because the recent trend has been to not go down that path doesn’t mean the coaching gig is meaningless. In fact, for some personalities, it serves a purpose beyond setting up an Octagon collision.”
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC Fans unimpressed by coaching choices for TUF 34
The UFC’s latest announcement hasn’t exactly thrilled the fanbase. On social media, plenty of fans have been looking back fondly on earlier seasons of TUF, when real rivalries would build over the course of the show and finish with a fight between the coaches.
A lot of fans didn’t hold back their disappointment, with comments including: “Boring.”
“I think we’ve had enough of DC.”
“The show already does awful numbers, at least bring back the coaches having to fight each other.”
TUF 34 will debut on Paramount+ in June, but it remains to be seen whether Cormier and Bisping can win over viewers once episodes start airing.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 09: Johnny Walker of Brazil is seen on stage during the UFC 327 press conference at Kaseya Center on April 09, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Cold-blooded… from one of the sport’s most unpredictable (and silly) characters.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight contender Johnny Walker faces former two-time Light Heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes on the UFC 327 main card this weekend (Sat., April 11, 2026) inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida — and all signs point to chaos.
These two are the definition of kill-or-be-killed.
And according to Walker, don’t expect this one to go to the judges.
“I have everything to show that this is my time,” Walker said during the UFC 327 press conference. “I live in Las Vegas now. I spar with Francis Ngannou, Sean Strickland, and other high-level guys. I’m prepared for anything.”
“I don’t like leaving it in the judges’ hands,” he continued. “They don’t get to decide three months of hard work — I decide. I’m going to finish the fight. Choke him out or knock him out, whatever. I’m not going to let the judge decide for me.”
Then came the serious line.
“[Reyes] has no weaknesses — he’s a warrior,” Walker said. “If I die, I don’t care, as long as my son and wife are good. I’m going to put on a show.”
Reyes didn’t disagree with the mentality, “Go out on our shields, man. Go out on our shields.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ quarterback room is a big question mark this offseason, mostly because no one knows what Aaron Rodgers is going to do.
With Will Howard and Mason Rudolph, the other options, for some, the duo doesn’t inspire confidence under Mike McCarthy.
Still, it would present a change from the Steelers being good enough to win nine games, but not challenge, to maybe the franchise hitting a roster reset.
And for ESPN’s Matt Miller, he’s revealed that some people inside the building are big fans of Howard.
“The Steelers might not have a clear-cut quarterback of the future on the roster, but one internal source said that they won’t be forced to draft one this year,” Miller wrote. “That source noted Pittsburgh will play the board first and that Will Howard, last year’s sixth-round pick, has fans in the front office.”
Well, it appears the Steelers at least have some sort of faith that he could be.
We know what Rodgers is at this stage of his career, and we know what Rudolph can bring, but we don’t really know what Howard is capable of yet.
If there ever was a season for the Steelers to go with a young quarterback, it’s this one. Why? Because if it doesn’t work out and the Steelers have a poor season (4-13), they’ll have a top draft pick next offseason to take their next franchise quarterback.
So, it appears that if Rodgers doesn’t return, it very well could be the Howard show in Pittsburgh.
Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson led the NFL in scrimmage yards this past season with 2,298, leading to his first-ever first-team All-Pro nod and second-career Pro Bowl nod. Robinson proved himself one of the most elite and complete backs in the league, and now says he’s in even better shape going into 2026.
Why is Robinson so confident in himself now? He credits his offseason workouts with San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey in California. In a conversation with Falcons’ team reporter Tori McElhaney, Robinson said McCaffrey’s approach to training and recovery has helped him realize his full potential.
“That’s a cool deal, man,” Robinson said of working out with McCaffrey. “We put in work, but we really do take care of our bodies. His regimen has been really good for me, especially last year and what I did throughout the season. It was a blessing that I stayed healthy throughout the whole season, but even when the season was over I felt great to play even more.”
McCaffrey proved in 2025 that he knows how to stay on the field even with a history of injuries. He didn’t miss a game in 2025 despite not being able to play in most of the 2024 season with Achilles tendinitis and a late-season knee injury.
McCaffrey, who led the NFL in touches this past season with 413, wasn’t far behind Robinson’s yardage total. The 49ers star finished with 2,126 scrimmage yards, which was second behind Robinson. He and Robinson were also the only players with at least 2,000 total yards this past season.
It makes sense for Robinson to connect with McCaffrey about training his body, too. McCaffrey, who turns 30 in June, will be six years older than Robinson when the 2026 season kicks off in September. Robinson has been a machine on the field, but he’ll eventually need to contend with injury scares as he gets older and puts more tread on his tires.
For now, though, he’s trying to learn from the best. And McCaffrey is trying to maintain his own status as one of the best playmakers in the league.
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.
Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA, with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.
To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
And for today’s article, we will continue with the second of two people to wear the No. 53 jersey, big man alum Darryl Dawkins. After ending his high school career, Dawkins was picked up with the fifth overall selection of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Orlando, Florida native played the first seven seasons of his pro career with Philly, coming to an end when he was dealt to the Nets in 1982. His stay with the team lasted until he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987.
During his time suiting up for the Nets, Dawkins wore only jersey No. 53 and put up 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Jordan Spieth predicts what score will definitely win The Masters this year
The three-time major champion spoke to reporters after his opening round at Augusta National on Thursday.
And Spieth predicted the score that will definitely win The Masters this year, when asked what he has learned over the past 10 years at Augusta National.
“Where to be aggressive, where not to,“ Spieth said.
“A lot has to do with like you got to — what am I, 19th or something I think I saw in there? You got to stay close and then you just never know. So that was important at the end there. I wanted to — didn’t want to lose to the golf course today.
“Felt like I beat it the way I played. It was a really nice putt to hole. What I’ve learned the last ten years is a lot — anything can happen.
Photo by Simon Bruty/Augusta National/Getty Images
“You just have to be staying within reach. Tomorrow will be an important day to get into the red numbers, but the way this course is going and with this east wind, this dry wind, I mean, the ninth green I could name six or so putts where it was like, man, this is going to be get a little dicey on Sunday, by Saturday, Sunday.
“So having said that, if someone shoots 16-under, they’re going to win. But I think you hang in there and just shoot three red numbers and make a little charge you got a chance still, even if you shot even today.“
In truth, the winning score will most likely be around the eight or nine-under mark this week, given the difficulty of the golf course.
Jordan Spieth frustrated at The Masters
Spieth believes he isn’t getting the results he deserves right now.
He was asked by reporters whether it was the same old story on day one at Augusta National.
“Yeah — no, it was pretty similar but, again, doesn’t mean do anything differently. Just I don’t take four to get in from a greenside bunker on 15 very often.
“You know, just had a lie that I thought it was going to come out super fast and didn’t. And then I was — I wasn’t tentative on the greens. I just thought they were quicker and I left a number of putts short. You can’t leave the five-footers downhill for your par putts if you can get it below the hole.
“So I made kind of a couple mistakes in that regard. Got away with one or two and didn’t on 15. That’s the kind of stuff that’s been happening.
“I’m in position to make birdie and walk off with a six on a random hole. Give me a dozen balls in there I probably make birdie on 10 and make bogey on one and par on the other. You know what I mean?
“I feel good about it. It’s like close to clicking and it just didn’t quite click today.“
ONE Championship is gearing up for its first weekend tripleheader, and it all begins in Asia primetime.
The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast The Inner Circle and ONE Friday Fights 150 live from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, April 10.
In the main event of The Inner Circle, reigning ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel will face Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong for the vacant ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title.
Also, in the main event of ONE Friday Fights 150, two-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kompet Sitsarawatsuer will collide with 23-year-old phenom Attachai Kelasport.
Plus, nearly two dozen Muay Thai practitioners, mixed martial artists, and kickboxers will look to win a life-changing US$100,000 contract and global roster spot.
For up-to-the-minute results and video highlights from every match at The Inner Circle and ONE Friday Fights 150, check below.
PFL veteran Josh Silveira has a new purpose in life after the birth of his first child Lua. With his heart full of joy and a few gray hairs, the 33-year-old battles undefeated Jordan Newman in the co-main event of PFL Chicago on April 11 with a different mindset and goal.
Silveira took some time off to properly enjoy the first months after his baby was born, living life at its fullest before shifting his focus back to his athletic career. Lua’s first birthday is a month after PFL Chicago and he plans to have more reasons to celebrate, but parenting has given him a new perspective of things.
“At the end of the day it’s good for my life, you know?” Silveira told MMA Fighting. “Life isn’t just fighting. I’m a father, I have a family, so it was good to be present in those moments. And she’s only going to be a baby once, right? When she grows up she’ll have friends, she’ll forget about me [laughs]. Right now she’s my best friend — I’m her only friend [laughs]. She likes being around people. I don’t want to miss that part not being here, because I was training.”
Silveira grew up in a martial arts environment. Son of American Top Team leader Conan Silveira, he always had “big dreams for myself like winning, becoming a champion.” At 33, Silveira realized there’s more than that in life.
“For my parents too, of course, I want to do well for them, but it was always my dream,” Silveira said. “Now with her in my life, it feels like it boosts my dream, you know? I want to do so much more. Now I have a much more serious reason. I want to do everything not just for her, but for my family, for the future, to change the level where my family is. I’m doing something I love — I really love MMA — and I’m doing good things for my family and I’m becoming a better human being. I’m growing in all the areas where I want to grow in life.”
Lua has yet to turn 1 year old but Silveira is already dreaming of having another “little human” around him at home. For now, though, the goal is being the best parent he can — and walking through Jordan Newman to get paid in full at PFL Chicago.
Newman is a 8-0 prospect patiently built under the Bellator banner, winning seven bouts in that promotion before stopping Eslam Abdul Baset in his first PFL appearance. They are about the same age, but Silveira looks at his MMA experience, having twice more fights, as a big advantage.
“I’ve asked for big fights, I’ve cried, I’ve been broken, I’ve gotten back up and kept moving forward,” Silveira said. “Fight life isn’t just happiness. There are parts that really suck, your mind working against you. I’m not saying anything about his life, but just in fighting, I don’t think he’s felt that yet. Sometimes you grow more when you lose. I’m happy to be facing him while he’s undefeated because I can give him something that will only make him better when it happens. I don’t want to fight him later, you know? People come back stronger after their first loss, they learn things, so I’m going to take advantage of the fact that he hasn’t felt that yet.”
Newman, nicknamed “Not Human,” scored finishes in five of his eight professional bouts with three knockouts and two submissions.
“I think he’ll try to use his wrestling when I put pressure on him,” Silveira said. “But he’ll get tired and he will face problems, and I’ll have a lot of answers. He’ll either give me the opening to finish the fight or he’ll just let me beat him and I win by decision. I’m not in a hurry.”
Silveira is not in a hurry for a finish Saturday, nor for a long-awaited shot at the PFL middleweight title. A former light heavyweight season finalist in 2023, he just walks one step at a time now.
Baby steps.
“I like the belt, I want the belt, that’s always the focus, but I’m a father, I have a family. I just want to work,” Silveira said. “If they want to give me two, three, four fights and then the title, no problem. I just want to win. I’m in a good place mentally. I just want to work. I’m not here for a long time. I’m 33, turning 34 this year, and I don’t have much time left to fight. I don’t want to work after fighting [laughs]. If I have to, I will, but I don’t want to, you know?
“I want to enjoy life, stay at home, take care of my plants, have chickens. I want to be a farmer, you know? So for me, if the belt comes [next], great. If they want to wait, no problem. When the time comes to fight for the belt, I’ll fight, but I’m not in a rush. I know I’ve got one shot in this run and I have to make it count. I don’t want to waste my shot when it’s not the right moment.”
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 04: Head coach of Bayern Munchen, Vincent Kompany react with Luis Diaz #14 (L) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Parc des Princes on November 04, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vincent Kompany must be thanking his lucky stars that Luis Díaz landed at Bayern Munich last summer. The ex-Liverpool winger has not missed a beat since swapping the English Premier League for Bavaria and the Bundesliga, and Kompany broke down why.
“Lucho brings a lot to the team. He can dribble, create chances, and finish,” Kompany shared in comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “But what makes him special is his mentality; he’s not afraid of chaos and becomes a threat in those situations. He brings a lot of energy to the team. You can only congratulate the club on signing such a player. He’s a great player for Bayern Munich.”
Kompany was not short of wing talent last year, either — Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané were both veterans with significant weapons in their arsenal. Díaz, though, has already brought a level of x-factor in his short time in Munich that at least matches the highs of the two Bayern alums. Bayern’s unleashed an otherworldly attack this season, and one needs look no further than the Colombian international for the secret ingredient.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
So much of the charm and success of The Masters is based around the consistency and familiarity of the tournament.
You turn on the television and you see those familiar vibrant green shades, the shimmering water on 12, the pinks and the creams of the blooming foliage. The course is the same every year, the traditions are the same every year, and you can throw tariffs, trade wars and the Strait of Hormuz at Augusta but sandwich prices will still be the same every year.
But as far as continuity goes, having last year’s winner, Rory McIlroy, tied for the lead after the first round of this year’s tournament at -5 might be a little bit much.
Perhaps time is simply a flat circle and we’re stuck in a seamless loop of Masters championships, unable to see where one ends and the next begins.
Or perhaps, just perhaps, he remains one of the best golfers on Earth, now experienced enough in tickling a ball around this verdant corner of northern Georgia to know the course well – and to be able to profit from those historic heartbreaks and failures.
At this stage it’s probably important to note that Sam Burns is right there too, the young American carding a strikingly consistent 67 in only his fifth participation here, with the best approach play of anyone at Augusta on Thursday.
McIlroy with caddie Harry Diamond on the 18th green (Getty)
But Burns is one of golf’s band of pre-superstars. He joins the likes of Ludvig Aberg, Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia as those tipped to eventually win a major and this could yet be Burns’s week, the biggest of his life in that case.
Just ask Rory, though. The Masters is about proving it. Any idea of McIlroy being zen and at peace with the world now that he’s completed the career slam is far from the truth. By his own admission, once he had climbed to the top of the mountain it showed him “how many more peaks there were to conquer”.
Still, as he stuck his tee into the ground on the first hole today, the sun beating down, he noticed the familiar tremble. As he struggled to keep the ball on top of it, he knew. Those nerves were still there. It’s likely they will never go.
“That’s a good thing. That’s why we want to be here,” he said afterwards of that momentary tremor. “We want to be able to try to play our best golf when we’re feeling like that.”
Sam Burns impressed to card his Masters best score of 67 (Reuters)
It wasn’t a vintage start from McIlroy and it did require him to grit his teeth and push through it. He thought he played a round that was good enough for a two-under and instead he co-leads the tournament at five-under. The data supports that he wasn’t at his best, barely in the top 100 for fairway accuracy,
“But again, I used my head… I got up-and-down when I needed to,” he explained. “I didn’t compound mistakes. Again, that’s just a learning curve that you have to go through around here, and I did it well today.”
In his own words, McIlroy simply “kept swinging”. Still level to par through seven holes, he picked up five shots on the last 11 holes to join Burns as clubhouse leader while Justin Rose, who he beat in last year’s playoff, looked set to join him until his scorecard was blemished by a pair of late bogeys – ultimately joining a group on -2, three strokes back, that also includes fellow major champions Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele.
All those players have put themselves in a good position to be where they want to be on Sunday night but you simply can’t look past the advantage of having done it all before.
McIlroy is convinced that winning a Masters makes it easier to win a second (AP)
“I do think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one. I do,” added McIlroy.
“It’s hard to say because there’s still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about really where it goes.
“But I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go back to the Champions Locker Room afterwards and put my green jacket on.”
