Injuries news — SportsCatch

McGregor dismisses pre-fight injury claims after UFC 329 loss, targets Holloway rematch

Conor McGregor has rejected suggestions he entered UFC 329 already compromised, calling the theories 'nonsense' after suffering a knee injury seconds into his comeback fight against Max Holloway. The Irishman is now awaiting MRI results ahead of surgery, but has already named Holloway as his preferred final UFC opponent.

MMA Jul 17

Rees-Zammit admits slow return to rugby form as Wales face South Africa

Louis Rees-Zammit has acknowledged struggling to rediscover his best since returning from 18 months in the NFL, with the Wales winger recalled for Saturday's Nations Championship clash against world champions South Africa in Durban.

Rugby Jul 17

England U20 lock Elliot Williams targets Junior World Championship bronze after South Africa defeat

Harlequins second-row Elliot Williams, 19, opens up on his rapid rise through rugby, going viral after Austin Healey questioned his age on air, and England U20s' determination to finish third at the Junior World Championship.

Rugby Jul 17

Andrey Santos set for Man United debut as £50m signing joins Wrexham friendly squad

Manchester United have named a 25-man squad for Saturday's pre-season friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki, with summer signing Andrey Santos poised for his first appearance. Benjamin Sesko is absent as he continues to recover from a shin injury.

Football Jul 17

Sterling draws on his own career-threatening surgery to back McGregor's comeback

Aljamain Sterling, who returned from neck surgery to win and defend the UFC bantamweight title, says Conor McGregor can recover from the knee injury suffered against Max Holloway at UFC 329 — provided he stays disciplined during rehabilitation.

MMA Jul 17

Ainsworth-Cave leads England against New Zealand haka in Junior World Championship third-place play-off

England Under-20 skipper Aiden Ainsworth-Cave says facing the New Zealand haka is the first thing his squad thought of when the third-place play-off draw was made. The two sides meet at Tbilisi's Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Saturday, their first encounter since the 2017 Junior World Championship final.

Rugby Jul 17

Rashford set for August return to United as Barcelona permanent move collapses

Marcus Rashford is expected back at Manchester United's Carrington training ground around 10 August after a post-World Cup rest period. Barcelona declined to sign him permanently for £26m despite his 14 goals and 14 assists on loan, instead spending £69m on Anthony Gordon.

Football Jul 17

Alexander-Arnold relishes Mourinho reunion at Real Madrid after World Cup squad snub

Trent Alexander-Arnold has welcomed Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid, calling it 'a pleasure' to work with the Portuguese coach as he bids to nail down the right-back spot vacated by Dani Carvajal's departure.

Football Jul 17

Injuries force two PFL Austin card changes as Pettis and Marroquin withdraw

Sergio Pettis and Levy Saul Marroquin have both been pulled from PFL Austin on July 18 at Moody Center in Texas, reshaping the co-main event and main card. Rafael do Nascimento steps in to face Lewis McGrillene-Evans, while Joey Ruquet now meets Jesus Pinedo at featherweight.

MMA Jul 17

Chimaev accuses Strickland of ducking rematch after UFC 328 title loss

Khamzat Chimaev has publicly called out Sean Strickland on Instagram, accusing the UFC middleweight champion of avoiding a rematch following their bout at UFC 328, where Chimaev gassed out and suffered the first loss of his professional career.

MMA Jul 17

Injury and illness force New Zealand U20 into five changes for bronze final against England

New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury has made five changes to his starting XV for the Junior World Championship bronze match against England, with injuries and illness forcing key reshuffles in both the forward pack and backline.

Rugby Jul 17

Mount handed chance to earn new United role as Carrick eyes him for deeper midfield

Mason Mount faces a defining pre-season at Manchester United after three injury-hit years at Old Trafford. With United rebuffing AC Milan enquiries, the 27-year-old must prove his worth under Michael Carrick amid growing midfield competition.

Football Jul 17

Adesanya claims pre-fight footage shows McGregor entered UFC 329 injured

Israel Adesanya says video from Conor McGregor's pre-fight inspection reveals the Irishman avoided putting weight on his right leg before losing to Max Holloway in 69 seconds at UFC 329 — contradicting McGregor's own denial of a pre-existing injury.

MMA Jul 17

Saliba injury sharpens Arsenal's £25m Mavropanos pursuit as PSG teenager snubs Gunners

Arsenal's need for a centre-back has grown more urgent after William Saliba was ruled out for up to five months with back surgery, with former Gunner Dinos Mavropanos available for around £25m following West Ham's relegation. Meanwhile, teenage PSG defender Emmanuel Mbemba has ended Arsenal's interest by joining Paris FC.

Football Jul 17

Mbappé chases World Cup all-time scoring record against England in bronze final

Kylian Mbappé enters France's third-place match against England on Saturday needing just one goal to surpass Lionel Messi as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, while a Golden Boot win would make him the first player to claim the award twice.

Football Jul 16

Saliba played with back fracture for two months at World Cup

Arsenal's central defender competed throughout the 2026 World Cup under painkillers despite suffering a back fracture in the Premier League two months before the tournament. He was forced to leave the pitch at the 30-minute mark of the semi-final against Spain.

Football Jul 16

Yamal and Porro sidelined three days before Spain-Argentina World Cup final

Lamine Yamal, nursing a right thigh injury, and Pedro Porro, troubled by hamstring issues, missed Spain's collective training session Thursday in East Hanover, three days before the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina.

Football Jul 16

Castres lose marquee signing Papali'i to ruptured Achilles on second day of pre-season

All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali'i has undergone surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered during Castres pre-season training, ruling him out for a minimum of six months and costing the Top 14 club their headline summer signing for the first half of the season.

Rugby Jul 16

Extended World Cup final half-time break raises injury risk for players, physiology expert warns

A 25-to-30-minute half-time interval at Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be driven by an 11-minute FIFA entertainment show — and a leading physiology expert says the prolonged break could reduce muscle temperature, elevate injury risk, and hurt second-half performance.

Football Jul 16

Covington refuses to pile on injured McGregor while blasting Poirier as 'fake nice guy'

Colby Covington has offered a measured response to Conor McGregor's knee injury at UFC 329, declining to criticise the Irishman while taking aim at Dustin Poirier for calling McGregor a 'dirtbag' shortly after the loss.

MMA Jul 16