MMA
UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor last night set social media alight with a twitter post seemingly announcing his retirement. Initially assumed a hoax, UFC chief Dana White then confirmed that the Irish fighter had been pulled from UFC 200 for failing to travel to Las Vegas to promote the show, but was unable to confirm if the sport's main attraction had actually decided to call it a day.
“Is Conor McGregor retiring? Only he can answer that question. I don’t know,” White said. “But Conor McGregor is not fighting at UFC 200...
“Conor didn’t want to come to Las Vegas and be part of any promotional training. He’s in Iceland training. He felt leaving right now would hurt his training. But every other fighter on the card is coming.”
Soccer
Manchester City last night gave hope to the chasing pack in pursuit of the fourth Champions League place - they were held to a 1-1 draw away to relegation scrappers Newcastle United. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring with his 100th Premier League goal, heading in from an offside position - before makeshift Newcastle right-back Vurnon Anita responded on the half hour mark.
Meanwhile Everton boss Roberto Martínez will be desperate for a positive result against Liverpool at Anfield tonight, as the Merseyside derby and the weekend's FA Cup semi-final are sure to define his team's season and perhaps his own tenure.
“I am not stupid,” says the Spanish manager. “If we win the games, everything will be fine. If we lose, everything will be my fault.”
GAA
Dublin football manager Jim Gavin says his team have no plans to use the GAA's new training centre at Abbotstown, the All-Ireland-winning manager says he expects Dublin GAA to develop their own training centre "in the short-term rather than the long-term."
Rugby
Meanwhile recently retired All Black legend Richie McCaw believes Irish rugby head coach Joe Schmidt has the pedigree to someday coach New Zealand - "It doesn't go unnoticed absolutely and I think down the track a guy like that could come back and coach in New Zealand, maybe the All Blacks. He's the type of guy who'd be great, the experience he has is pretty awesome."
What to watch out for
The World snooker Championship continues in Sheffield today with the first rounds still in progress - Judd Trump is in action at 2.30pm.
BBC 2, 10am-11.20am, 1pm-6pm
Eurosport, 10am-1.30pm, 3pm-11pm
La Liga is really hotting up with Barcelona's recent slump seeing them just a point ahead of rivals Real Madrid, while they edge Atletico Madrid only on goal difference. Tonight they travel to Deportivo La Coruna, before Real host Villarreal.
Sky Sports 3 from 6.45pm
On the Sky Sports 3 Red Button you can get Atletico's trip to Athletic Bilbao, that kicks off at 7.45pm.
The Merseyside derby heads a bill of three Premier League matches tonight. Kick-off is at 8pm.
Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm
