MILAN – It ended in bedlam.

Hockey sticks, helmets and gloves covered the ice.

The U.S. men’s hockey team celebrated like boys after they beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game in the 2026 Winter Olympics Sunday, Feb. 22. And it was time for everyone to celebrate something bigger.

The victory capped a memorable and electrifying Winter Olympics. Maybe the greatest ever?

OK, so there were a few broken medals. And occasionally it rained. And frankly, the pizza here, it’s overrated.

Sorry, Italy. And thank you, Italy. You were a great host as America won 33 medals, 12 of them gold, the most at any previous Winter Games. But what made it incredible went beyond the medals.

Such as the heartbreak of Lindsey Vonn and Ilia Malinin. Vonn, who at 41 and with a torn ACL, pointed her skis downhill and said to hell with caution.

Then she crashed 13 seconds into her run, shattering her leg and her dreams and maybe a little bit of us.

And Malinin, the self-proclaimed “Quad God,’’ unraveling during the men’s skating competition. Then openly discussing the vise-like pressure, something that had been building for months.

It wasn’t all about Americans. There was utter dominance of Norway’s cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. He won six golds, breaking the record for most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics.

It hurt a little, too, knowing that record had belonged to Eric Heiden, American speed skater, since the 1980 Games in Lake Placid.

Then there’s the reason NBC pays billions for the TV rights and why we watch.

Alysa Liu, the U.S. figure skater with the striped platinum hair and undeniable joy, ended a long drought. She became the first American to win a gold in the individual competition since 2002.  

Then there was the women’s hockey team.  Dominant until they ran into Canada. And clutch and gritty when they rallied regulation and won I overtime.

Then came the U.S. men’s hockey team. Jumping to a 1-0 lead and scrambling to protect before Canada simply refused to comply. Canada looked fast and skilled enough to finish off the Americans. Before the game went to overtime. And before…

Well, you probably know how it ended.

Jack Hughes scored at 1:41 of overtime and the bedlam began as helmets, gloves and hockey sticks covered the ice.

Amid the celebration, three players skated while holding a USA jersey with Gautreau and No. 13 on the back. It was a tribute to Johnny Gautreau, who waFs an NHL star in 2024 when he riding his bike, struck by a car and killed.

Gautreau would been on this hockey team had he survived.

“Johnny Hockey, Johnny Hockey.’’ Fans were chanting Gautreau’s nickname.

It was OK and it watched it without tears. Or if you got choked up. Or just took in the remarkable scene.

It was a reminder of why we gather with the world and do this year four years.

So was this the best Winter Olympics ever? Well, 46 years ago to the day, another men’s U.S. hockey team shocked the Soviet Union in Lake Placid. Fotunately, the Olympics provides time top debate.

See you again in 2030?

The big story of the week in college hockey? Gavin McKenna’s offensive explosion against Ohio State. The 2026 NHL Draft phenom from Penn State went off for eight points in one game against the Buckeyes, the most in an NCAA men’s game in decades. Then, as an encore, he scored the overtime game-winner the next night to cap off a 10-point weekend.

McKenna has gone through the ringer as a freshman, from the unceasing hype to the world juniors to his ongoing legal saga in Pennsylvania. And yet, he has now turned in a signature performance and still has time to keep that momentum going as the Nittany Lions shoot for another long run at the Frozen Four. He still has competition from the likes of North Dakota defenseman Keaton Verhoeff and others in the draft, but McKenna is certainly trending in the right direction to reclaim that No. 1 overall spot this summer when the NHL convenes in Buffalo.

NCAA hockey power rankings

1. Michigan State Spartans (24-6-0)

They thumped Notre Dame by an aggregate of 12-4 on the weekend, so the Spartans are the new No. 1, surpassing the rival Wolverines. Porter Martone (PHI) is on a seven-game heater, notching 14 points during that span. Elsewhere, defenseman Maxim Strbak (BUF) has points in three straight.

2. Michigan Wolverines (25-6-1)

Dropping a game against Wisconsin puts the Wolverines in second this week, though they did get revenge on the Badgers in the rematch. Michigan is still being paced by Michael Hage (MTL) and coveted free agent T.J. Hughes up front, so this is a team that is not to be trifled with come playoff time.

3. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (24-7-1)

The Hawks lost in a shootout to St. Cloud State before winning the rubber match with the Huskies, but this is still a top-tier outfit. Big free-agent center Ellis Rickwood has surged to the team lead in scoring thanks to a run that has seen him score six points in his past three games. Ben Strinden (NSH) is now second on the team.

4. Providence College Friars (21-8-2)

The Friars are taking care of business, sweeping Vermont this weekend. They’ve won nine of their past 10 and really seem to be peaking at the right time. Freshman goalie Jack Parsons has been good when the Friars needed him to step up, while Roger McQueen (ANA) continues to lead the team in points.

5. Boston College Eagles (19-10-1)

Sweeping UConn was huge for the Eagles, who may have just figured this season out in time. James Hagens (BOS) has been on an absolute tear with nine points in his past five games while Dean Letourneau (BOS) has six himself during that span. The Eagles get archrival Boston U. next and that will be a critical test.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (20-9-1)

Obviously the story of the weekend was McKenna, but this was just the latest in what has been a fascinating season for Penn State. Are the Nittany Lions contenders? Are they on a second tier? They’ve got doormat Notre Dame next, so we could see a couple more blowouts, but Wisconsin ends their regular-season schedule and that will be a test.

7. Western Michigan Broncos (23-8-1)

Unbeaten in five, the Broncos end their regular-season schedule with a battle of the titans against North Dakota. Truly, the top teams in the NCHC won’t be satisfied until the Frozen Four, but the defending champs from Western Michigan are putting themselves in a good spot. Goalie Hampton Slukynsky (LA) hasn’t given up more than two goals in a game his past five starts.

8. Quinnipiac Bobcats (25-6-3)

The Bobcats got blown out by Cornell, then rebounded by beating Colgate the next day. Quinnipiac should be one of the top teams in the national tournament, but it won’t be a walk in the park. Ethan Wyttenbach (CGY) is up to 54 points in 34 games, but he was shut out by the Big Red in that loss.

9. Cornell Big Red (18-8-1)

After beating Quinnipiac, Cornell dropped their second game of the weekend to Princeton. Talk about an emotional letdown. But the Big Red still look like the team you don’t want to face in a playoff bracket. Jonathan Castagna (UTA) continues to pace the offense with 31 points in 27 games.

10. Denver Pioneers (19-11-3)

Unbeaten in seven, Denver is getting hot right when it counts. And based on the experience of coach David Carle and many of his players, don’t count out Denver when it comes to the national championship picture. Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks has given the Pioneers excellent crease work of late.

MILAN – The gold medal meant more because of who ended up with silver. That’s how much it meant to the USA men’s hockey team to win the last game of the 2026 Winter Olympics, to join one of the most elite groups in hockey.

‘It’s the best feeling in the world,’ Dylan Larkin said. ‘To do it in this jersey and against that team with our history of not being able to beat those guys. It’s incredible.’

USA men had just made history, winning the gold medal 46 years on the nose after the ‘Miracle On Ice’ squad upset the Soviet Union at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Outplayed in regulation – Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves – all it took was 1:41 of 3-on-3 overtime for Jack Hughes to capitalize on a turnover and clinch a victory.

‘It feels amazing,’ Zach Werenski said. ‘I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s a very special group to be a part of, and any time you get to wear these colors and represent your country, it’s a huge honor.’

The day before the game, USA coach Mike Sullivan had told his players that ‘there’s 36 American-born hockey players that have gold medals,’ impressing upon them what was at stake Sunday. USA had faced Canada twice before for gold in Olympics with NHL players, in 2002 and 2010, and lost.

They exorcised that demon at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on a spring-like day, before an audience that appeared to have more Canadian fans but was loudest at the end when USA players shook off their gear and mobbed one another, smiling, huggling, embracing, celebrating.

‘It’s incredible,’ Jack Eichel said. ‘I think this just means so much to all of us and USA Hockey, just so much pride in wearing this jersey and being able to do something special and create our own story here. It’s been a long time since USA Hockey was on top of the hockey world. We’re really proud of this moment. I just can’t say enough about the group.’

The Americans had a good start, but in the second and third periods, they looked gassed. Each team had played five games to arrive in the final, the only difference being USA playing at 9:10 p.m. local time in all of their games. They were the first to score, with Matt Boldy flipping the puck to himself as he split Canada’s top defense pair of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, forging a path to score on Jordan Binnington.

‘I was just trying to find a way to get up the middle and make it hard on him,’ Boldy said. ‘Sometimes it goes like that. You get a good bounce, and the puck follows you and you’re able to kind of sneak through.’

That was six minutes into the first period. USA protected that lead until midway through the second period, when Makar fired a shot from the right circle that eluded Hellebuyck.

He wasn’t giving up a second one, frustrating the Canadians. Captain Sidney Crosby was unavailable after injuring his right leg in the quarterfinals, but they lacked neither talent nor speed against the Americans.

‘I thought it was a flawless performance by a group of players that gave nothing but red and white for three periods plus of hockey,’ Canada coach Jon Cooper said. ‘I couldn’t be more proud of the group. They did everything we asked of them and more. Executed our plan. Just some days it’s just not meant to be. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be today but but wasn’t because this team stood on their toes. They were exceptional.”

But in the end, exceptional earned silver when Hughes scored the golden goal 1:41 into overtime. Zach Werenski stripped Nathan MacKinnon of the puck in the right face-off circle and passed to Hughes, who fired a wrist shot that will go down in hockey history. Hughes erupted in a smile, showing the damage to his teeth from Sam Bennett’s high-sticking work.

Red, white, blue and then, gold.

‘Representing the USA, it’s been an honor of a lifetime doing this on this stage,’ Werenski said. ‘We felt the support from back home. We felt it in the village, we felt it from all the other athletes, around the city, tonight in the building. I feel like we maybe united the country, and that says something.’

As close as family

The sense of history tied the team together. They arrived in Milan on Feb. 8, embraced life in the athletes village, two to a room so small Jake Oettinger described it as ‘sleeping six inches apart,’ from his roommate, Jeremy Swayman. Matthew Tkachuk rarely went a day without noting how loudly his brother, Brady, snores.

‘We were so close, it felt like a family,’ Quinn Hughes said. ‘I was able to room with Jack for two weeks and it was very special for me. Right across the hall were the Tkachuks and they left their door open the entire two weeks, they never closed it. Just to have all the guys there on the same floor was special. We’d always hang out in the cafeteria together and meet different athletes and whatnot . To me, spending time in the village with these guys, it was one of favorite experiences of this whole thing. I really enjoyed the village.’

Goggles and whiskey

Auston Matthews and the Hughes brother joined Sullivan in the press conference, their hair slick from champagne, goggles still on thier heads. They hydrated with beer. Sullivan smiled.

This was the moment he and general manager Bill Guerin had in mind when they built the roster.

‘One of the things that Billy Guerin and I talked about from the very beginning was trying to build a team in the true sense of the world,’ Sullivan said. ‘We looked at a deep group of American talent, and these decisions were very difficult. If you look at how this group was constructed, there was a thought process that we had players that could play in all situations.

‘And maybe the most important aspect of it is just the character of the group, the personality of the team. The team was built with personality in mind. We were loaded with personality. There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we all have whiskey drinkers on the team.’

This is for a lot of people

The victory extended far beyond the arena, far beyond the locker room, the people directly involved. It was for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by a suspected drunk driver while they were bicycling on Aug. 29, 2024.

‘This is something John would have been at,’ Werenski said. ‘And to see his family here supporting us and seeing his kids, bringing them on the ice, we talked about playing for him, making him proud and I think we did that. Super special to see them and to have kids on the ice, he was a huge part of USA Hockey.’

It was for Jim Johannson, the former USA hockey executive who passed away in 2018. It was the best feeling in the world because of everyone it involved.

‘Just to get it done, to score that big goal that USA Hockey, guys that wore this jersey before, have been missing,’ Larkin said. ‘It’s just an incredible feeling. This is for a lot of people. This is for the guys who wore this jersey before us. Johnny Gaudreau especially. Jim Johansson. All those people should be here. Johnny especially. Matty his brother. To get it done today, it’s just an unbelievable feeling.’’

MILAN — It seemed only fitting that the player who gave his two front teeth to Team USA’s quest for Olympic hockey gold would score the game-winning goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.

Jack Hughes took a high stick to the mouth from Canada’s Sam Bennett in the third period, which drew blood and kept Hughes down on the ice for a few moments.

‘My first thought was, I looked down on the ice and saw my teeth,’ Hughes said, giving media members a big toothless grin on Sunday. ‘Like, here we go again. … I know the last time that happened, wasn’t really fun.’

Hughes’ second thought was he just landed his team an ‘elite first power play,’ four-minutes to be exact, after Bennett was called for a double minor penalty at 53:26. ‘I thought they were going on the ice to score. It was going to be a gold medal. And then obviously I come on the ice and I take a penalty,’ Hughes said.

Hughes, too, was called for high sticking at 56:37, effectively cutting Team USA’s advantage to 2 minutes and 49 seconds and putting the Americans at a disadvantage in the closing minutes of regulation.

As for Hughes’ third thought? ‘I pictured myself on Barstool (Sports) being the guy that America hates because Canada scores in the power play and I was like, ‘Oh my God, here it is.’ And (Dylan Larkin) and (Brock Nelson) did an unbelievable job in that penalty kill. So just glad we got out of that pickle I put us in.’

Shop Team USA hockey gold medal gear

Neither side could capitalize on their respective power plays and the gold-medal game went to the sudden-death, 3-on-3 overtime format. That’s when Hughes got the Americans out of a bind.

In the extra period, Hughes showed his grit, even without his missing teeth, by hustling down the ice on a U.S. rush, and taking a perfect pass from Zach Werenski to beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington 1:40 into overtime. When the puck hit the back of the net, U.S. men’s hockey claimed its first Olympic gold since 1980.

‘Jack ‘the Superstar’ Hughes. I don’t know how many (teeth) he lost, but it’s only fitting,’ Matthew Tkachuk said following the overtime win, which coincidently happened on the 46th anniversary of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ victory in 1980. ‘That’s a guy who is willing to give it all and what a huge goal.’

Hughes was all smiles, except for parts of those two missing teeth, coming off the ice.

Quinn Hughes said he’s ‘proud’ and ‘happy’ for his younger brother, who he dubbed ‘a fricking gamer. He’s always been a gamer. Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. An American hero.’ Quinn Hughes said it was ‘extra special for me to watch him do that,’ considering Hughes’ long journey back from injury.

‘There’s a bunch of idiots out there and they don’t know … what it’s like to get surgery for six months, not really feel good for 10 months and do that back to back,’ Quinn Hughes said. ‘And for him to just persevere and keep believing and just keep going no matter what happens. He’s a special guy and a special player.’

Quinn Hughes recalled the specific moment he realized his brother’s deep passion for the game and the lessons it teaches. He said all the highs and lows helped keep his brother even-keeled ahead of overtime. Hughes didn’t even appear to be nervous during the intermission before the extra period, Quinn Hughes added.

‘I remember when he got injured … he was just crushed. And a couple days after that he sent me a text message of what he wanted to say to the media in a post on Instagram. It was basically a long message about how much he loves the game and … just wants to play,’ Quinn Hughes said. ‘It was so raw and I told him to take some stuff out. But I remember thinking this guy just loves the game. He just wants to play it. And for him to make that impact, I’m not surprised because when I look around the room before overtime, there’s probably three or four guys that look at him, that guy’s not nervous. He wants to be that guy. And I felt that way about Jack.’

Head coach Mike Sullivan said Hughes is ‘a high stakes player’ for the team.

‘Jack had a terrific tournament from the first game on. The goals he scored were big-time goals,’ Sullivan said. ‘It’s an emotional rollercoaster when you go through these experiences and I just think Jack was at the center of a lot of the good things that happened for our team. … He brought his very best when these stakes were the highest. Tonight was a perfect example of it.’

Although Hughes is being hailed as a hero, he quickly shifted the focus away from himself and turned it to his teammates: ‘It doesn’t matter about the goal. It’s an unbelievable team. Unbelievable team win … (Connor Hellebuyck) stood on his head. … We’re so proud to win for our country. We’re gold medalists.’

But his teammates turned the spotlight back to Hughes because he’s deserving of it. When asked about his favorite moment from the 2026 Winter Olympics, the first to allow NHL players since 2014, Auston Matthews immediately said, ‘When Jack scored. That moment’s going to stick with me for a very, very long time.’

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March is right around the corner. Buckle up.

On Saturday, the NCAA Tournament selection committee unveiled its first crack at the top 16 seeds for the men’s tournament. A week earlier, the women’s first top 16 was revealed. It’s all to whet the appetite for Selection Sunday.

When is Selection Sunday?

Date: Sunday, March 15

Selection Sunday will take place on Sunday, March 15 for both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

What channel is Selection Sunday show?

TV channels: CBS | ESPN
Streaming options: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The men’s NCAA tournament Selection Sunday show air nationally on CBS. The women’s NCAA tournament Selection Sunday show will air nationally on ESPN.

You can stream both bracket reveal shows on Fubo, which not only carries CBS and the ESPN family of networks, but also offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Watch bracket reveal live with Fubo (free trial)

What time is March Madness bracket released?

Men’s Tournament selection show time: 6 p.m. ET
Women’s Tournament selection show time: 8 p.m. ET

Full men’s March Madness 2026 schedule 

Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament:

First Four: March 17-18
First round: March 19-20
Second round: March 21-22
Sweet 16: March 26-27
Elite Eight: March 28-29
Final Four: April 4 at Indianapolis
National championship game: April 6 at Indianapolis

Full women’s March Madness 2026 schedule 

Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA women’s tournament:

First Four: March 18-19
First round: March 20-21
Second round: March 22-23
Sweet 16: March 27-28
Elite Eight: March 29-30
Final Four: April 3 at Phoenix
National championship game: April 5 at Phoenix

FBI Director Kash Patel was on site in Milan for the USA men’s hockey team’s gold-medal win over Canada on Sunday, Feb. 22, and also celebrated with the team in the locker room after the overtime victory.

Patel posted photos of himself with members of the team to his account on X on Feb. 22. One photo features a group of players, including overtime hero Jack Hughes and the Tkachuk brothers, sporting their medals around their necks. Another shows the players celebrating in the background as Patel took a photo with USA coach Mike Sullivan.

‘Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world,’ Patel wrote in the post. ‘These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.’

Patel was also shown drinking what appeared to be alcohol with the team in a video posted to social media before a player put a gold medal around his neck. Patel, who was jumping up and down while celebrating with the team, shared another message on social media directed at the ‘concerned media’ regarding his appearance.

Kash Patel at Olympics

Patel was spotted celebrating the win not long after he announced on social media that the FBI was helping investigate a fatal shooting at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

During the third period of the hockey game, Patel’s official government account on X posted this statement regarding the Mar-A-Lago incident: ‘FBI is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident at President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago – where an armed individual was shot and killed after unlawfully entering the perimeter. We will continue working closely with (the Secret Service) as well our state and federal partners and will provide updates as we are able.’

This latest incident comes after Patel faced criticism for his handling of, and communications surrounding, sensitive cases like the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Patel came under fire for keeping his dinner reservation at a hard-to-get-into New York restaurant on the night of Kirk’s killing and making improper public statements about the case.

Patel has also drawn scrutiny for his reported use of government jets for personal travel.

Patel’s trip to Italy is not personal and reports have ‘purposefully misled people to think Kash was flying to Italy to hang out at the Olympics,’ according to Ben Williamson, assistant director for public affairs at the FBI. Williamson said on X on Feb. 19 the trip would include a meeting with Italian law enforcement and security officials as well as a U.S. consulate briefing on Olympic security.

The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

Patel, an avid hockey fan, has appeared at NHL games in the past since taking over as FBI Director.

Joseph George and Atif Oberlton were slotted as the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn card. Oberlton won the opening round of the fight, but things would take on a different tone before the second round.

George collapsed off his stool between the first and second rounds and was down on the mat. He was in his corner drinking water before falling out of his stool.

George was quickly attended to by doctors at the ringside and the fight was waved off. Oberlton looked very surprised and confused about what happened.

It appeared that George and Oberlton may have accidentally bumped heads late in the first round.

George was still in need of assistance as he made his way out of the ring. He was sat down on a stretcher to be wheeled out. Oberlton was declared the winner by TKO.

‘I know I was being defensively responsible, if he fell in and a head butt happened, I just know I avoided the shot,’ Oberlton told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. ‘I’m glad he got on his feet and he’s OK.’

Claressa Shields successfully defended her championships with a victory over Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Shields won by unanimous decision in a fight that attracted 18,000 to Little Caesar’s Arena.

Crews-Dezurn put together a strong start in the opening round of the fight, but it was Shields who managed to pull away with the fight in the rounds that followed. Both fighters were aggressive early on, but Shields found her stride later in the fight by landing multiple combinations against an exhausted Crews-Dezurn. Crews-Dezurn tried to fight back in the later rounds but there wasn’t much more she could do to get back into the fight.

It’s Shields’ second victory over Crews-Dezurn. The first came back in the champions’ debut in 2016.

Shields is now 18-0 in her professional career. Crews-Dezurn falls to 10-3.

USA TODAY Sports had you covered with updates, analysis and highlights from the Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn card here:

Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn highlights

Claressa Shields def. Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Round-by-round analysis

Round 10: Both fighters go the distance and this will come down to the judges’ scores. It should be Shields who wins the fight with ease.

Round 9: Crews-Dezurn and Shields are slowing down a bit but it’s still Shields who has the advantage.

Round 8: Shields continues to show her dominance. The round was closer than some of the more recent rounds. The challenger showed some life, landing a pair of power punches in the round against Shields.

Round 7: Shields picks up where she left off from the previous round with more combinations. Crews-Dezurn might be running out of gas here.

Round 6: Shields continues to be aggressive and lands several combinations throughout the round. Shields is in full control.

Round 5: Crews-Dezurn was trying to work the body of Shields, but Shields caught her with a shot to the jaw.

Round 4: Shields is trying to pull away with the lead here in the fourth. Shields is clearly delivering punishment to the face of Crews-Dezurn.

Round 3: Both fighters are being aggressive and not pulling punches early in the fight. Their conditioning will be tested. This fight is fairly even so far.

Round 2: Shields has been able to display her speed early in the field. Crews-Dezurn continues to work Shields back against the corner or the ropes. Crews-Dezurn finished out the round with a jab and overhand shot.

Round 1: Crews-Dezurn took the first round of the fight after spending time backing Shields into the corner. Crews-Dezurn managed to delievered mutlipe shots.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

Claressa Shields will face Franchon Crews-Dezurn on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

Date: Sunday, Feb. 22
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main event ringwalks: 11 p.m. ET (estimate)
Stream: DAZN

Watch Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn fight with DAZN

Atif Oberlton def. Joseph George

Joseph George and Atif Oberlton were slotted as the co-main event on the Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn card.

Oberlton won the opening round of the fight, but things would take on a different tone before the second round.

George collapsed off his stool between the first and second rounds and was down on the mat. He was in his corner drinking water before falling out of his stool.

George was quickly attended to by doctors at the ringside and the fight was waved off. Oberlton looked very surprised and confused about what happened.

It appeared that George and Oberlton may have accidentally bumped heads late in the first round.

George was still in need of assistance as he made his way out of the ring. He was sat down on a stretcher to be wheeled out. Oberlton was declared the winner by TKO.

‘I know I was being defensively responsible, if he fell in and a head butt happened, I just know I avoided the shot,’ Oberlton told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. ‘I’m glad he got on his feet and he’s OK.’

Che Kenneally def. Danielle Perkins

Kenneally managed to take the first round using a flurry of punches and counter-punches. Perkins bounced back in the second round and has taken control of the fight.

Perkins delivers a strong right hook in the final seconds of the sixth round to knock down the champion. Kenneally tried to make it back up, but the referee stopped the fight. Perkins wins the WBA women’s light heavyweight title.

Pryce Taylor def. James Evans

Taylor was in control of the fight early through the first two rounds. The first round featured a slow pace and not much activity. While the fighters did exchange body shots, both are still getting a feel for one another early.

Evans would show some fight in the third round, but Taylor would knock him down in the fourth round. The referee also ended up on the floor in the round. Taylor would pop Evans again in the fifth round. Evans took several shots from Taylor before taking a knee. The referee calls an end to the heavyweight fight.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn: Full fight card

Fight card via DAZN.

Claressa Shields vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn; For Shields’ IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO women’s heavyweight titles
Atif Oberlton vs. Joseph George; Light heavyweight
Che Kenneally vs. Danielle Perkins; For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
Pryce Taylor vs. James Evans; Heavyweight

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM

Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000)

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn full fight card odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM

Claressa Shields (-3000) vs. Franchon Crews-Dezurn (+1000); For Shields’ women’s heavyweight titles
Atif Oberlton (-1400) vs. Joseph George (+600); Light heavyweight
Che Kenneally (-225) vs. Danielle Perkins (+160); For Kenneally’s WBA women’s light heavyweight title
Pryce Taylor (-1600) vs. James Evans (+700); Heavyweight 

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn predictions

Josh Peter, USA TODAY: ‘A decade ago, in her professional debut, Claressa Shields defeated Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision. Since then, Shields has won 16 fights in a row, world titles in four weight classes and the right to… fight Crews-Dezurn again? The pairing is a headscratcher. While Shields, 30, looks to be in her prime, Crews-Dezurn, 38, looks to be headed for retirement. Crews-Dezurn owns the WBA and WBC women’s super middleweight titles. But she looked vulnerable in her last fight — a disputed majority-decision victory over Citlalli Ortiz, who had only five previous pro fights. Unless Crews-Dezurn knows something we don’t, the only thing in question is whether the fight will end by decision or stoppage. Prediction: Shields by KO, 10th round.’

Claressa Shields’s career record

Claressa Shields comes into Sunday’s fight with a perfect 17-0-0 record, having recently beaten Lani Daniels in a unanimous decision on July 26, 2025.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn’s career record

Franchon Crews-Dezurn comes into his fight with Shields holding a 10-2-0 record. Her most recent win took place back in June, 2025 in a majority decision over Citlalli Ortiz. She previously faced Shields in her debut bout back in 2016, a unanimous decision loss.

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn main card, ring walk start times

Main card start time: 8 p.m. ET
Main event ring walks: 11 p.m. ET (approximate)

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn live stream, price

Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn will stream exclusively on DAZN. The boxing match can be viewed on DAZN subscription ($19.99 a month, monthly installments or $29.99 monthly flex plan).

This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore died yesterday at 25 years old. The NFL world continues to react to his death as the investigation continues in Floyd County, Indiana.

Current and former NFL players have paid tribute to the former Purdue Boilermakers and Arizona Cardinals wideout. Maxx Crosby, Hollywood Brown, J.J. Watt and Raheem Mostert were among the many to post to social media in Moore’s honor.

One former player shared his insight criticizing the league for its handling of mental health issues in players.

‘Imma keep it a stack.. I don’t care, I’m retired I’ll say what I want,’ former defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko wrote on X. ‘These NFL teams come out here and post these mental health awareness posts talking about they care about players ‘don’t be afraid to reach out’ etc. All they care about is what you bring to the table when it’s game day. Most players don’t wanna get help inside the building of an NFL organization because they know you’ll get looked at differently. You go to a staff member tell em you struggling watch how different they start treating and looking at you. I seen it first hand.’

Fehoko went undrafted in 2020 out of LSU but played for five years in the NFL. He spent the 2020 through 2022 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before a two-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

‘I’ll start believing they care about player health when the Owner, GM, & head coach treat everyone on that roster the same from the franchise QB to the janitor,’ he wrote. ‘Until then don’t tell me they care cause they posted some hotline number when (expletive) like this happens.’

Fehoko finished his statement by encouraging players to reach out to him if they’re struggling.

‘I’m here for any of my brothers that just wanna talk and shoot the (expletive). I love y’all. I care about y’all. I’m here for y’all.’

Fehoko similarly spoke out after the death of Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland.

Kneeland, 24, died by suicide in Frisco, Texas last November.

‘Sometimes as a man especially in the football world we’re afraid of being judged or looked at weak,’ Fehoko wrote in response on X. ‘Make it mandatory to have a sit down with guys cause most of em won’t take the initiative.’

Moore’s cause of death remains under investigation at time of publishing.