Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the US under 7-year deal with TKO GroupNew Foto - Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the US under 7-year deal with TKO Group

NEW YORK (AP) —Paramountwill become the new home to Ultimate Fighting Championship events across the U.S. next year, through a seven-year agreement announced with TKO Group on Monday. The news comes just days afterSkydanceandParamountofficially closedtheir $8 billion merger— kicking off the reign of a new entertainment giant after a contentious endeavor to get the transaction over the finish line. Under the deal with UFC, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC's full lineup of its 13 marquee numbered events and 30 "Fight Nights" on its streaming platform Paramount+ — with select numbered events also set to simulcast on CBS — starting in 2026. It's a shift away from the UFC's existing pay-per-view model, which Paramount and TKO say will allow the mixed martial arts programming to reach more consumers nationwide. "Paramount's advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms," David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, said in a statement. "Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC's year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win." Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO, added that the deal will mean "deeper engagement for UFC's passionate fan base" and that its athletes "will love this new stage." UFC events currently air on ESPN — which has offered tiered pricing for fans to view content across the sports network's TV offerings and streaming platform ESPN+since 2019. UFC's partnership with Disney-owned ESPNruns throughthe end of 2025. The seven-year deal between Paramount and TKO has an average annual value of $1.1 billion, the companies said Monday — marking a notable jump from the roughly $550 million that ESPNreportedlypays each year for UFC coverage today. But UFC's new home on Paramount will simplify offerings for fans — with all content set to be available on Paramount+ (which currently costs between $7.99 and $12.99 a month), rather than various pay-per-view fees. Paramount also said it intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S. "as they become available in the future." While now a done deal, the path towards approval for the Paramount and Skydance merger was far from smooth sailing. Months of scrutiny and turmoil surrounded the transaction — particularly amidPresident Donald Trump's legal battle with "60 Minutes," the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS. With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount agreed to paya $16 million settlementto the president in early July. The deal later receivedregulatory approval from the Trump administration. Trumphas long been friends with UFC CEODana Whiteand routinely attends UFC events. Last month Trump said that he's thinking of staging a UFC match on the White House grounds with upwards of 20,000 spectators to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Trumpannounced his plan in Iowaduring the kickoff for a year's worth of festivities to celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. White said in a post on social media platform X that the deal with Paramount will make it more affordable and accessible for U.S. consumers to watch UFC events. "This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world," he wrote. "The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport." Aside from the UFC,TKOalso houses the WWE and has been actively working out deals for the sports entertainment company. Last weekDisneyannounced anagreementwith WWE that will see its premium live events, likeWrestleMania ,streamed by ESPN. Disney subsidiary ESPN struck a rights agreement withTKO Group'sWWE to become the exclusive U.S. domestic streamer of the sports entertainment company's premium live events starting next year. Aside from gaining access to WrestleMania, ESPN will also air marquee events such as the Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and Survivor Series. The wrestling events will be available on ESPN'snew streaming service, which is set to launch next month, with select ESPN cable channels also airing them. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but The Wall Street Journal said that it's a five-year deal worth more than $1.6 billion. Shares of TKO jumped over 7% in midday trading on Monday.

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the US under 7-year deal with TKO Group

Paramount will become the new home to all UFC events in the US under 7-year deal with TKO Group NEW YORK (AP) —Paramountwill become the new ...
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Ski jumping's suit-cheating saga rolls on as 5 Norwegians are charged over 'manipulation'New Foto - Ski jumping's suit-cheating saga rolls on as 5 Norwegians are charged over 'manipulation'

OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) — Two Olympic gold medalist ski jumpers and three staffers on the powerful Norway men's team were charged with ethics violations Monday after an investigation into allegedtampering with ski suitsat the world championships. TheInternational Ski and Snowboard Federation saidstar ski jumpersMarius Lindvikand Johann André Forfang, two coaches and a member of the service staff were formally charged as part of an investigation into "equipment manipulation" at the Nordic worlds Norway hosted in March. Illegally modified suits can help athletes fly further with more aerodynamic resistance. The allegations — backed by video footage and quick confessions by team officials —shook the tight-knit communitiesof ski jumping and Norwegian sports when they emerged on the final weekend in Trondheim. No timetable was given for hearings or verdicts in a case that intensifies less than six months before the next Winter Olympics open in northern Italy. Bans, fines and disqualification of results are on the slate of punishments open to the FIS Ethics Committee, the governing body said in a statement. Lindvik's gold medal in the men's normal hill event at the worlds held in Trondheim, plus Norway's bronze in the men's team event on the large hill are clearly at risk. FIS said the investigation conducted 38 witness interviews and examined 88 pieces of evidence, and that no one else will be charged in the case. Lindvik and Forfang, who both were in the team that took bronze, denied involvement in March though were disqualified from the individual large hill event and suspended by FIS for the rest of the season. Their charges were signed off by the FIS ruling council, the governing body said. The 27-year-old Lindvik has been expected to defend his Olympic title next year in the men's large hill event at the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Games. Forfang, now 30, took team gold on the large hill and individual silver on the normal hill at the 2018 Olympics held in South Korea. Admissions of guilt were made in March by head coach Magnus Brevik and equipment manager Adrian Livelten, who said suits were altered only before the men's large hill event. "We regret it like dogs, and I'm terribly sorry that this happened," Brevik said at the time. A third team staffer, Thomas Lobben, also is now charged. The manipulation was to increase the size of suits pre-approved and microchipped by FIS, and was captured on secretly filmed footage. It led to formal protests from the Austria, Slovenia and Poland teams. The alterations could be confirmed only by tearing apart the seams of the crotch area on the Norwegian ski suits. The case will be judged by three members of the ethics panel which must reach verdicts "no later than 30 days after the hearing process is concluded," FIS said. FIS has already tightened up its rules on ski jump suits, something which caused aspate of disqualificationswhen athletes gathered for the first competition of the new season Saturday. FIS said that was down to technical issues and it didn't suspect "ill intent." ___ AP sports:https://apnews.com/sports

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Ski jumping's suit-cheating saga rolls on as 5 Norwegians are charged over 'manipulation'

Ski jumping's suit-cheating saga rolls on as 5 Norwegians are charged over 'manipulation' OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) — Two Olym...
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Landmark trial kicks off over Trump's use of US military in policing roleNew Foto - Landmark trial kicks off over Trump's use of US military in policing role

By Dietrich Knauth and Jack Queen (Reuters) -A landmark trial kicks off on Monday over the use by Donald Trump's administration of National Guard forces to support its deportation efforts and quell protests in Los Angeles, in a legal challenge to the U.S. president's break from long-standing norms against deploying troops on American streets. The three-day non-jury trial before San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer will determine if the government violated a 19th century law that bars the military from civil law enforcement when Trump deployed the troops in June, as the state of California claims in its legal challenge. Los Angeles experienced days of unrest and protests sparked by mass immigration raids at places where people gather to find work, like Home Depot stores, a garment factory and a warehouse. The administration denies that troops were used in civil law enforcement and plans to show that they were protecting federal property and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Many of the troops have been withdrawn, but California's Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Monday that 300 National Guard members are still going on immigration raids and restricting civilian movements in the state. "The federal government deployed military troops to the streets of Los Angeles for the purposes of political theater and public intimidation," Bonta said in a statement. "This dangerous move has no precedent in American history." California and Gavin Newsom, the state's Democratic governor, have asked Breyer to prohibit the troops from directly participating in domestic law enforcement activities. California and Newsom say the National Guard is accompanying ICE agents on raids and assisting in arrests, in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and other laws that forbid the U.S. military from taking part in civilian law enforcement. The Republican president ordered 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June against Newsom's wishes. California's lawsuit ultimately seeks a ruling that would return its National Guard troops to state control and a declaration that Trump's action was illegal. The trial before Breyer will have limited impact, however, on Trump's plan to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington as part of a crackdown on violent crime in the U.S. capital city despite statistics showing that violent crime there hit a 30-year low in 2024. "I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C.," Trump said on Monday. "And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly." Unlike in California and other states, where the governor typically decides when to activate Guard troops, the president directly controls the National Guard in Washington. A ruling against the administration could restrict the actions of those troops and constrain Trump if he deploys such forces to police other American cities. Trump said his efforts to fight crime will go beyond Washington and he mentioned Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Baltimore. Trump's decision to send troops into Los Angeles prompted a national debate about the use of the military on U.S. soil and inflamed political tensions in the second-most-populous U.S. city. A U.S. appeals court has allowed Trump to retain control of California's National Guard during the legal challenge. (Reporting by Dietrich Knauth and Jack Queen in New York and by Jan Wolfe in DC; Editing by Tom Hals, Tom Hogue, Will Dunham and Andrea Ricci)

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Landmark trial kicks off over Trump's use of US military in policing role

Landmark trial kicks off over Trump's use of US military in policing role By Dietrich Knauth and Jack Queen (Reuters) -A landmark trial ...
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Trump to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard in effort to fight crime in the nation's capitalNew Foto - Trump to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard in effort to fight crime in the nation's capital

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday announced he will deploy approximately 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and federalize the city's police in an effort to fight crime. The moves mark a significant escalation in the president's attacks on the nation's capital. Trump on Sunday claimed the district was "one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World," although the Justice Department said that the crime rate fell to a 30-year-low last year. The president also said that he would declare a public safety emergency in D.C. and that Attorney General Pam Bondi would "take command of the Metropolitan Police Department as of this moment." "When you walk down the street, you're going to see police or you're going to see FBI agents," Trump said during a press availability Monday morning. "We're going to have a lot of agents on the street. You're going to have a lot of, essentially military. And we will bring in the military if it's needed." NBC Newspreviously reportedthat Trump was considering ordering the National Guard into the district. He announced that around 800 National Guard troops would be deployed, but said he would send "much more if necessary." Bondi, who Trump said will helm D.C. police, declared that crime would end in D.C. "Let me be crystal clear: Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today," she said. Trump must notify certain members of Congress within 48 hours about the reason for taking over control of police and the estimated timeline for federal control, according to the D.C. Home Rule Act. Trump said he would make the "appropriate" notifications to Congress and the mayor's office. The act also indicates that Trump can take control of the D.C. police for 30 days, unless Congress authorizes an extension. Ahead of the announcement, Trump on Sunday railed against homelessness in the city. Trump on Monday said that the administration would remove homeless encampments. Trump's announcements come after the White House increased the federal law enforcement presence in D.C., which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had framed as a "first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC." About 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across D.C. on Saturday and Sunday evenings, according to a White House official. Last week, Trump renewed his criticism of D.C. following an alleged assault on Edward Coristine, an original Department of Government Efficiency aide known online as "Big Balls," in an attempted carjacking. "If D.C. doesn't get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they're not going to get away with it anymore," Trumpsaid in a post onTruth Social last week. D.C.police dataindicates that violent crime has decreased 26% compared to last year. The D.C. U.S. Attorney's Officealso announcedin January that violent crime in the district in 2024 was at a 30-year low, citing police data. Trump has the authority to temporarily take control of the local police. For the president to mount a full federal takeover of the city, however, Congress would first need to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which granted D.C. a level of self-governance. In an interview on MSNBC Sunday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on the assertion that D.C. is riddled with crime. "If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know [Trump] can do that here, but it won't be because there's a spike in crime," she said. On Monday morning, Trump also proclaimed "liberation day in D.C." in an all-capitalized post to Truth Social. "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!" he said in a separate post Monday morning. "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR." Trump signed an executive order in March to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," establishing a task force to work with local officials on safety issues, such as by increasing the federal law enforcement presence in the city.

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Trump to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard in effort to fight crime in the nation's capital

Trump to take over D.C. police and deploy the National Guard in effort to fight crime in the nation's capital WASHINGTON — President Don...
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Pete Carroll defends Geno Smith after Raiders QB flipped off Seahawks fan: 'Did you see what the sign said?'New Foto - Pete Carroll defends Geno Smith after Raiders QB flipped off Seahawks fan: 'Did you see what the sign said?'

Thursday's preseason game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks marked an early homecoming for Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. But Smith's return wasn't quite as welcoming, after the veteran was caught flipping off a Seahawks fan holding a sign while he was coming out of the tunnel. In anews conferenceSunday, Carroll was asked early on about the gesture. Carroll quickly jumped to the defense of his quarterback. "Did you see what the sign said?" Carroll asked. When the reporter confirmed that they had, Carroll kept things moving: "Next question." [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] The fan's provocative sign read, "Bigger Bust — Geno or JaMarcus Russell?" That prompted the reaction from Smith. Russell,a former No. 1 overall draft pick with a troubled NFL career, lasted only three seasons with the Raiders as quarterback before being released. (He recently made headlines last summer, afterbeing removed as a volunteer coach and sued by his high school.) On Thursday, Carroll was seen trying to take down the sign from the fan after the interaction, seemingly understanding the effect it had on Smith. Smith, who was selected in the second round of the 2013 draft out of West Virginia, was on his way to becoming a career backup before finding his resurgence with the Seahawks. With Russell Wilson sent to the Denver Broncos, Smith won Seattle's starting job in 2022, eventually earning his first Pro Bowl nod and the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year. Carroll, who had coached the Seahawks since 2010, was a mentor for Smith during that time, beforehe and the team parted waysat the end of the 2023 season. WhenCarroll took the Raiders' coaching job, it was only fitting to have Smith join him. Theveteran QB was traded to Las Vegasin March. Smith eventuallysigned a two-year extensionto keep him out of free agency next offseason. Thursday's preseason game ended with a 23-23 tie between Carroll's old team and his new one. In a game that primarily featured Aidan O'Connell at QB for Las Vegas, Smith played limited snaps, but went 1-for-3 for 15 yards in the draw.

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Pete Carroll defends Geno Smith after Raiders QB flipped off Seahawks fan: 'Did you see what the sign said?'

Pete Carroll defends Geno Smith after Raiders QB flipped off Seahawks fan: 'Did you see what the sign said?' Thursday's preseaso...
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A'ja Wilson makes WNBA history in Aces' win over SunNew Foto - A'ja Wilson makes WNBA history in Aces' win over Sun

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 32 points and tied a career-high with 20 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with30-plus points and at least 20 reboundsin a game as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Connecticut Sun 94-86 on Sunday night. Wilson grabbed almost as many boards as Connecticut had as a team (23) as Las Vegas (18-14) won its season-best fourth straight. Jackie Young scored 21 points and reserves Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans scored 12 and 10 respectively. Marina Mabrey scored 22 points, Saniya Rivers had 17 and Leila Lacan 13 for Connecticut. The Sun built a 31-27 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 45-33 with with 5:46 left before halftime on Tina Charles' jump shot. But the Aces outscored Connecticut 12-0 to close the half to tie it 45-all at the half. Chelsea Gray made two free throws to put Las Vegas ahead 51-50 with 7:18 to play and it led for the remainder of the game. LYNX 83, LIBERTY 71 Kayla McBride scored 18 points and DiJonai Carrington added 15 to help Minnesota beat New York. The teams will meetthree times over the next nine dayswith New York having back-to-back games on the west coast before heading to Minnesota to play Saturday. The Lynx are off until that game. Both sides were short-handed with New York missingBreanna Stewart(knee) and Minnesota playing withoutNapheesa Collier(ankle). This was the first game between the teams at Barclays Center since New York won the decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals last fall. New York (20-11) was up 47-40 early in the third quarter before Minnesota went on a 24-7 run over the next 6 minutes to go up 64-54 on Natisha Hiedeman's 3-pointer from the wing. The Lynx (27-5) hit five 3-pointers and had one three-point play during the game-changing burst. Minnesota led 66-57 heading into the fourth quarter and put the game away early in the final period behind Carrington, who the Lynx picked up last week in a deal with Dallas before the trade deadline. MYSTICS 91, WINGS 78 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kiki Iriafen scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Washington used a strong second half to beat Dallas. Sonia Citron scored 17 of her 18 points in the second half, Stefanie Dolson scored 14 and reserve Emily Engstler had 11 for the Mystics (14-17) who ended a four-game losing streak. Paige Bueckers scored 17 points to lead Dallas and move into a tie for fourth place in WNBA history with Ruthie Bolton with her 25th game scoring in double digits to start a career. Cynthia Cooper is the leader at 92 games, followed by A'ja Wilson with 37 and Candace Parker with 32. Arike Ogunbowale scored 12 points and Haley Jones 11 for Dallas, which has lost five straight. After scoring 30 points in the first half and allowing Dallas (8-24) to build a 41-30 lead, Washington outscored the Wings 33-17 in the third and 28-20 in the fourth. Up 63-58 at the end of the third, Citron buried a 27-foot, step back 3-pointer to make it 76-66 with 5:34 remaining. Dallas led 23-18 at the end of the first quarter. Iriafen's tip-in with 4:57 before halftime brought the Mystics within 28-27, but Washington failed to convert a field before the break and Dallas pushed its lead to 41-30 at intermission with a 13-0 run. DREAM 74, MERCURY 66 PHOENIX (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 17 points and Atlanta won its fifth straight, beating Phoenix. Brionna Jones scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Naz Hillmon had 13 points and 13 boards for the Dream (20-11) , while Jordin Canada had a team-leading 13 points when she left due to injury. Before the end of the third quarter, the left-handed Canada drove the left side of the lane, missed the sweeping underhanded layup attempt and appeared to land awkwardly before hobbling off the court. Unable to stand on her own, she was carried to the locker room by two team staff members. Alyssa Thomas scored 21 points for Phoenix (19-12) and reserve DeWanna Bonner had 16. Jones' layup with 5:25 before halftime gave Atlanta a 36-19 lead before Phoenix rallied. The Mercury outscored Atlanta 15-3 and reduced their deficit to 39-34 at halftime. Bonner made two free throws with 3:35 left in the third to give Phoenix a 48-46 lead. Jones made two foul shots to tie it, Canada followed with a 3-pointer and Phoenix never trailed again. The loss ended Phoenix's three-game winning streak. SPARKS 94, STOMR 91 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dearica Hamby scored seven of Los Angeles' final nine points including the winning three-point play with 5.6 seconds left, Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, and the Sparks beat Seattle. Hamby, who scored 19 points, knotted it at 87-all with two free throws with 1:25 left. Plum sank a pair of free throws with 56.5 seconds to go for a two-point lead. Seattle's Brittney Sykes hit a pair of late layups including one with 12.7 seconds left to tie it at 91-all, setting up Hamby's layup to win it. Sykes scored 27 points, reserve Dominique Malonga scored 20, Skylar Diggins 17 and Nneka Ogwumike 15 for Seattle. The Storm (16-16) built a 26-14 lead after the first quarter before Los Angeles won the second, 32-14, and led 46-40 at halftime. The second half was back-and-forth and neither team led by more than eight. Seattle led 87-80 with 2:52 left on a basket by Diggins. Azura Stevens scored 15 points and Cameron Brink came off the bench to score 14 for the Sparks.

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

A'ja Wilson makes WNBA history in Aces' win over Sun

A'ja Wilson makes WNBA history in Aces' win over Sun LAS VEGAS (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 32 points and tied a career-high with 2...
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Will JD Vance run for president in 2028? VP pressed on potential White House bidNew Foto - Will JD Vance run for president in 2028? VP pressed on potential White House bid

WASHINGTON –Vice President JD Vancesaid it's "way too early" to consider the 2028 election as political observers speculate about whether he'll launch a White House bid. Questions have swirled afterPresident Donald Trumpsuggested to reporters Aug. 5 that Vance was "most likely" the heir to the MAGA movement. Though Trump hasn't formally endorsed a GOP successor, heacknowledged that Vancewould "probably be favored at this point." Trump also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is "somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form." Vance said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that he saw Rubio a month ago and both of them just "laughed at the whole thing." "Neither one of us are focused on politics. We're focused on actually doing a good job for the American people," Vance said. "If we do a good job, number one, that's the reward in and of itself," Vance added. "That all have made a big difference in the lives of our country for the last six months and the next three and a half years. But if we do a good job, the politics will take care of itself." Vance said it's premature to speak of the political future. "It's frankly way too early to be thinking about 2026," he said, referencing next year's midterm elections. "It's certainly way too early to be thinking about 2028." Rubio, who ran for president in 2016, told Fox News host Lara Trumpin a July interviewhe thinks Vance would make a strong nominee for Republicans in 2028. "I think he's doing a great job as vice president. He's a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it," Rubio said. As for his own future political aspirations, Rubio said, "I feel honestly – you never know what the future holds; you never rule things out or anything, because you just don't know. Things change very quickly." Contributing: Zac Anderson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Will JD Vance run in 2028? VP weighs in after Trump comments

byMario Satorik
in
August 11, 2025

Will JD Vance run for president in 2028? VP pressed on potential White House bid

Will JD Vance run for president in 2028? VP pressed on potential White House bid WASHINGTON –Vice President JD Vancesaid it's "way ...
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