UFC 247

MMA's best fighter, Jon Jones, headlines huge card at Toyota Center on Saturday

MMA's best fighter, Jon Jones, headlines huge card at Toyota Center on Saturday
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MMA returns to Houston on the biggest scale Saturday night, as UFC 247 comes to Toyota Center with a unique card that features the greatest fighter in the world along with a lot of fighters with Houston connections.

If you have a chance to go in person, it is well worth it. If not, the pay per view is well worth your money.

The headliner is Jon Jones, the undisputed best fighter in the world. Jones is 25-1 with his only loss a controversial disqualification. He will face unbeaten Dominick Reyes (12-0). It is a rare chance to see one of the most dominant performers in a sport perform in Houston. Imagine Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods in his prime, and that is Jones to MMA.

But there are several other great fights on the card. Fan favorite Valentina Schevchenko takes on Katlyn Chookagian in the fight before Jones.

A couple of heavyweights who got their start in Houston are also on the main card. Juan Adams looks to get back on track against Justin Tafa, and Derrick Lewis returns with a match against Ilie Latifi.

The other fight on the main card features Mirsad Bektic against Dan Ige.

Jones, Adams, Bektic and Alex Morono, who fights on the ESPN part of the card, were all featured on The Blitz this week. Adams was on Tuesday's show, while the others all appeared on Wednesday. All of those interviews are available on podcastareana.com

On Thursday, Dana White will appear in studio.

The card starts at 5:30 with the fight pass bouts. The Pay Per View card starts at 9 p.m.

Tickets are available here and at Toyota Center . The PPV is available on ESPN Plus.

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Cam Smith continues to swing a hot bat! Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.

Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.

One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.

 

Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.

The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.

Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.

Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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