One of the best mixed-martial arts fighters in the world continued her domination while a NASCAR Playoff contender won in Atlanta. Also, a top soccer club blasted its rival out of a stadium. Check out what happened last week in sports!
Weekly Sports Recap & Update – June 8th Edition
Nunes dominates Spencer at UFC 250
Amanda Nunes highlighted a fantastic night of mixed-martial arts action on Saturday, June 6. Nunes dominated Felicia Spencer to retain her UFC Championship belt. Amanda beat Felicia via unanimous decision.
The fight wasn’t close. Nunes out struck Spencer 132-70. Of the champ’s 132 total strikes, 124 were significant. That’s an incredible 94% significant strike rate. Amanda was also good on 6-of-7 take down attempts. Spencer went 0-for-7 in take down attempts.
The win was Nunes’ eleventh in a row. She hasn’t lost since 2014. Since that loss, to Cat Ziango via TKO/KO at UFC 178, Amanda Nunes has won eight straight title fights including beating Meisha Tate, Rhonda Rousey, Valentina Schevchenko, Raquel Pennington, Cris Cyborg, and Holly Holm.
Right now, Nunes might be the best overall MMA fighter on the planet. That’s how dominant she’s been since her last loss.
In addition to Nunes winning, the following happened on UFC 250’s main card.
Cody Garbrandt won via TKO/KO over Raphael Assuncao
Aljamain Sterling won via submission against Cory Sandhagen
Neil Magny won via unanimous decision over Anthony Rocco Martin
Sean O’Malley won via KO/TKO against Eddie Wineland
Elliott takes pole, Harvick grabs checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Chase Elliott won the pole but race favorite Kevin Harvick won the trophy at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. Harvick didn’t just win the race. He dominated.
Of the 325 laps, Harvick led 151. Martin Truex Jr., who finished third, led the second most laps with 65.
Speaking of Truex Jr., his team, Joe Gibbs Racing, had a great day. In addition to Martin finishing third, Kyle Busch, the 2019 NASCAR Cup winner, finished second. Denny Hamlin finished fifth.
That puts 3 Joe Gibbs racers in the Top 5. Does that mean the former NFL coach again has the strongest hand of any team owner in NASCAR this season? You better believe it does.
Honor A.P. upsets Baffert runner Authentic to win Santa Anita Derby
It was a bad week for 5-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert. One of top three contenders for the September 5 Run for the Roses, Nadal, got injured and is off the Derby Trail.
Charlatan, Baffert’s blisteringly fast Arkansas Derby winner, failed a drug test after the race. Baffert said that Charlatan won’t run in the Kentucky Derby or Belmont Stakes.
And then on Saturday, another one of Baffert’s Derby runners finished second in the 2020 Santa Anita Derby. Authentic went off below even money. He failed to deliver the performance most expected.
The winner could be a beast, though. Trained by John Shirreff’s, Honor A.P. rolls alongside Authentic and then accelerated past. Shirreff’s saddled 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.
The trainer is best known for campaigning Zenyatta, one of the greatest racehorses of all time. The way that Honor A.P. runs, with his feet low to the ground and his neck stretched out, implies a massive shot in the Belmont Stakes on June 20, if Shirreff’s decides to run him.
If Honor A.P. doesn’t run in the Belmont, he will run in the Kentucky Derby on September 5.
For anybody looking to make a Kentucky Derby future bet, they may have found the horse to back.
Bayern rolls over Leverkusen, Dortmund skates by Hertha Berlin
Bayern fans must be asking what could have been if there was a Championship League this year!
Bayern Munich dominated Leverkusen 4-2 on Saturday. The best Bundesliga squad showed no signs that they’re taking a backward step. Bayern used goals from Coman, Goretzka, Gnabry, and the great Lewandowski to get the win.
While Bayern dominated, Dortmund scored just a single goal against Hertha Berlin. Sure, a win’s a win, but Dortmund should dominate teams like Hertha.
No doubt, Bayern showed again why they’re one of the top soccer clubs on the planet while Dortmund appears resigned to the fact that, at least in 2020, they’re the second best team in the Bundesliga.
More sports return this week
This week signals a real return to sports. On Thursday, golfers hit the links at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
This Saturday, there’s UFC Fight Night. La Liga returns on Thursday. Juventus versus AC Milan in Coppa Italia happens on Friday.
Saturday we get to check out another Coppa Italia match between Internatzionale (Inter Milan) and Napoli. German Bundesliga and La Liga are both in action this weekend.
ESPN broadcasts a couple of fight cards this week. On Tuesday, Shakur Stevenson takes on Felix Caraballo on the main event. Thursday’s main event has Jessie Magdaleno battling Yenifel Vicente.
Sports are returning. Make sure to check out as much sports as you can!
Have a great week!