George Flood

Khabib Nurmagomedov is certain that the UFC will strip Conor McGregor of his title and that his UFC 223 bout with Tony Ferguson is for the "real" lightweight belt.

Jorge Linares says he does not want politics to interfere with his proposed fight against Vasyl Lomachenko as conflict over the proposed 12 May date rumbles on.

Watford summer signing Richarlison has refused to rule out a potential future move to Chelsea, though claims to remain completely focused on events at Vicarage Road.

Anthony Joshua has weighed in at around 17st 7lbs a little over six weeks before his heavyweight title bout against Joseph Parker in March

West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini says he "expects to go back with the team next week" ahead of the Premier League meeting with Liverpool at Anfield on 24 February.

Everton and Tottenham are among the Premier League clubs tracking PSV Eindhoven winger Steven Bergwijn ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports.

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mesut Ozil will make his first Europa League appearance for eight years when Arsenal meet Ostersunds in the first leg of their last-32 tie.

Arsene Wenger has ruled Aaron Ramsey out of both of Arsenal's Europa League last-32 ties against Ostersunds, revealing that his recovery is not progressing as quickly as expected.

Joseph Parker says he is "introducing new things" in training that will help him stand out in his heavyweight unification showdown with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff on 31 March.

Fernando Alonso claims that McLaren will be "much more competitive" in 2018 having switched to Renault-powered engines after three years of frustration with Honda.

Arsenal will be without the ineligible Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the injured Alexandre Lacazette when they travel to face Ostersunds FK in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Centre-back Ivan Marcano has returned to training ahead of the first leg of Porto's Champions League last-16 tie with Liverpool, but top scorer Vincent Aboubakar is a major doubt.

Ryan Burnett and Joe Cordina have joined Alexander Povetkin and David Price on the undercard of the heavyweight unification showdown between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker.

Everton Under-23 head coach David Unsworth was full of praise for Ramiro Funes Mori after his 74-minute Premier League Cup outing against Barnsley at Oakwell on Monday.

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is expected to be sidelined for between four to six weeks after undergoing a minor knee operation on Tuesday.

A look at five other footballers that have been forced into premature retirement after the news that Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason will call it quits on medical advice.

Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has announced his retirement from professional football aged 26 after receiving specialist medical advice.

Manchester United will remain without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Sunday's [11 February] Premier League trip to Newcastle, but he is back in first-team training.

David Moyes could hand Patrice Evra an immediate West Ham debut against Watford on Saturday and says he has no concerns over the left-back's controversial exit from Marseille.

Jose Mourinho claims that previously maligned left-back Luke Shaw will receive a new contract at Manchester United after his recent resurgence.

The opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics took place in Pyeongchang, South Korea on Friday 9 February.

Swedish defender Pontus Jansson is set to be available for Paul Heckingbottom's first match in charge of Leeds - a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Sam Allardyce claims that Everton Under-23s coach David Unsworth will have to "take the plunge" at some stage if he wants to be a manager after reports that he turned down Oxford.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson realistically expects to be without winger Wilfried Zaha for up to four weeks, but insists new signing Alexander Sorloth is ready to play.

Chris Eubank Jr "100%" believes that he will stop George Groves before the 12th round of their all-British super-middleweight unification showdown in Manchester next weekend.

UFC president Dana White says he "wouldn't be shocked" if WWE legend Brock Lesnar made one final return to the Octagon.

UFC president Dana White claims the only way that a rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Conor McGregor makes sense is if it takes place inside the Octagon.

Deontay Wilder claims fellow heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will never be a "global icon" unless the two lock horns in the ring and that Americans do not even know his name.

Former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has sealed a surprise return to the Premier League with West Ham - but which other unattached players remain on the market?