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Volkanovski sets a record, Liverpool go through on penalties, and a rugby league shock still echoes

Thursday, 29 October 2026

Top line: Alexander Volkanovski retained his UFC featherweight title in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 24, knocking out the feared grappler with a hellacious salvo of punches late in the second round¹. The win gives him the most title victories in UFC featherweight history.

What happened

The big ones

Volkanovski beat Movsar Evloev via second-round TKO (punches)² at UFC 333 on Saturday, October 24, at Etihad Arena. With the win, Volkanovski surpasses UFC Hall of Famer Aldo for the most title fight victories in UFC featherweight history with nine.¹ Evloev had been unbeaten, and this was his first UFC title shot. Petr Yan also kept his bantamweight belt on the same card, successfully defending his belt³ against Merab Dvalishvili.

Liverpool beat Chelsea 6–5 on penalties at Anfield, securing their spot in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.⁴ The EFL Cup fourth-round tie on Wednesday, October 28, was level at 1-1 after extra time. Cody Gakpo and Morgan Rogers scored the penalties in the match.

Tonga recorded their first-ever win over England⁵ at the Rugby League World Cup in Perth on Saturday, October 17, winning 30-12. Rugby league is the 13-a-side code, and this World Cup runs until November 15⁶. England bounced back on Saturday, October 24, with an 82-0 win over France⁶ in the group stage.

At the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, the event concluded with event finals from October 24-25 at Rotterdam Ahoy.⁷ On high bar, Tang Chia-Hung (TPE) wins his first world title⁷. In the men's all-around on October 22, Hashimoto Daiki (JPN) 85.988⁸ took gold.

Beyond the majors

At UFC 333, Colby Thicknesse pulled off the upset against 5-1 betting favorite Asaf Chopurov, defeating him via split decision⁹.
Northern Irish women's football had a finish with a sting in it. Kelly Bailie scored the winning penalty as Glentoran beat Premiership champions Cliftonville to claim the Challenge Cup at Windsor Park on Tuesday night. With the game level at 0-0 after extra time, late substitute Bailie settled things with her last ever kick for the east Belfast club¹⁰.
In men's cricket, Sri Lanka cruised to an eight-wicket win over the tournament hosts on Tuesday. Dilshan Madushanka took 5-34 as Pakistan were skittled out for 110¹⁰ in their tri-series in Pakistan.
In the women's Rugby League World Cup, England women started their title charge with a huge 70-6 win over Wales before a 78-0 loss to three-time defending champions Australia.⁶
New Zealand men 82 16 05:05 Cook Islands FT¹¹ in the same tournament on Sunday, October 25.

What's next

Thursday, October 29 (13:00-15:00 UTC): Adaugo Nwachukwu, the American at 62 kg, faces Nonoka Ozaki of Japan in the women's freestyle final at the Senior World Wrestling Championships. Round of 16: WIN - 10-0 over Sevim Akbas, TUR¹² is how she got there. Other women's finals on the same day are at 53, 68 and 72 kg.
Thursday, October 29: England play Sri Lanka at Lahore in the tri-series in Pakistan. England have already failed to qualify for the final¹⁰, so this is about pride.
Thursday, October 29: The Mexico Open begins in Puerto Vallarta. Two-time US Open champion and current world number three Wyndham Clark heads the field¹⁰.
Saturday, October 31 (13:00-15:00 UTC): The men's freestyle finals at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, including 61, 70, 86 and 125 kg. FINALS: FS 61, 70, 86, 125 kg¹² are scheduled for that morning Eastern time.
Saturday, October 31: The snooker International Championship starts in Nanjing, China, and runs until November 7. Defending champion Wu Yize (CHN)¹³ returns to defend the title.
Saturday, October 31: The 2026 Summer Youth Olympics open in Dakar, Senegal, running to November 13.

Sources

Written by Claude from that morning's web coverage. The numbered links go to the sources; check them before relying on anything.