Isaac Barnett

Before championship belts were on the line, the world's greatest fighters were locked in their own battles. Isaac Barnett delves into the gritty and inspiring MMA origin stories that forged these warriors into the legends they are today.

Were you more miffed when McGregor versus Chandler was cancelled or when Paul versus Tyson was postponed? Your relative annoyance levels might decide whether your allegiances lie with entertainment or competition. When it comes to combat sports, boxing was the one that started it all. The sport's greats used their skill, intelligence, and overall aura to turn their fights into a worldwide phenomenon, captivating the minds of millions. However, boxing in the modern era is becoming dominated by a different kind of fighter: internet celebrities. Influencer boxing, led by personalities like KSI and the Paul brothers, has come as a knock to the establishment and asked the question about whether this spectacle is a negative element to MMA since some of the sport's former stars are lacing up the 10oz gloves.

Few stories are as electrifying as that of Themba Gorimbo, a man who has turned unimaginable hardships into a journey toward UFC greatness. Fighters Only’s Isaac Barnett caught up with him to learn about the unbelievable obstacles he’s had to surmount to become one of the most inspirational MMA stars.

The UFC elite might be world-famous for their knockout performances inside the UFC, but their fashion choices can be just as jaw-dropping when they step out of the Octagon. Khabib had his infamous wig. McGregor had his iconic Gucci jacket. Even Covington had his custom “greetings nerds and virgins” suit jacket. As the fight game has evolved, these outlandish fashion choices have helped build the fighter’s brands. They’re a way of standing out against the crowd to leave a mark on the fan’s mind. Without these unique styles, many would blend into the background, forgotten faster than a last-minute replacement on a fight card. But some fighters are now trading the walk to the Octagon for the walk down the runway. Isaac Barnett looks at some of the unique fashion styles fighters have adopted in the UFC and breaks down why the world of MMA is so much better for the extra flare.

Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis is known for his incredible punching power and his ability to captivate the MMA community with his one-of-a-kind post-fight interviews. After claiming another KO victory in UFC’s Fight Night on the 12th of May 2024, he’s bolstered his already record-breaking resume and cemented his legacy as the greatest knockout artist the UFC has ever had. Isaac Barnett looks back at five fights that have defined his decade-long career in the UFC.

Get the lowdown on all of Sunderland’s international stars during the upcoming break, with their countries calling them for back-to-back games against Columbia, two Euro 2024 qualifiers and a match which could feature no fewer than THREE Black Cats.

The midfielder will be hoping to get some international minutes under his belt during a trio of fixtures for England Under 18s — starting on October 11 against Belgium (2pm kick off). Three days later the youth side take on Morocco (1.30pm kick-off)

And despite Middlesbrough getting the better of the Black Cats more than once in recent history, the home side should be confident heading into Saturday’s 12.30pm derby with the Teessiders at the Stadium of Light.

Why? Because Mowbray is emerging as the king of Championship lunchtime kick-offs - having overseen just one defeat in a magnificent recent record in seven early starts while in charge of the Black Cats.

Sunderland’s most recent early start resulted in one of the best home performance

Nexus’s Tyne and Wear metro system has been a staple in the north-east since it’s opening, on November 6, 1981.

However, in recent years, the service has seen a fall in reliability in the service, with the percentage of trains arriving on time decreasing from 84% to 78% between March 2022, and March 2023.

Nexus conducted a survey with 2000 metro customers in February, and the overall satisfaction rate was a disappointing 7.4/10.

Nexus announced in 2019, that they had a 362million partnership

Following a drama filled final day in the Championship, Sunderland are set to compete in the play offs in back-to-back seasons, following a 3-0 victory over Preston.

Sunderland came into the game unbeaten in eight games, and with a sold out away end of 6,000 fans, and other games else where needing to go their way, the odds were stacked against the Black Cats.

Sunderland got off to a slow start, and Preston took full advantage with a bombardment of early crosses into the 18-yard-box, however t