Rangers and Mourinho’s Fenerbahce knocked out of Champions League

HAIL: Saudi rally driver Abdullah Bakhashab and French co-driver Sebastien Delaunay stormed to a commanding victory in the second and final stage of the Legends Rally in Hail on Saturday.

Bakhashab set the pace in the Toyota Hilux from the start with an impressive time of 04:40:10. The duo set the fastest time in each stage in a dominant performance.

Despite the dramatic victory, it was Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal who captured the headlines after an accident shortly before the end of the second stage in which his vehicle rolled over.

He was able to continue, with he and co-driver Pablo Morena of Spain finishing in fourth with a time of 05:48:24.

Second overall position went to Essa Al-Dosari with a time of 05:30:53, while veteran Saudi driver Ahmed Al-Sabban secured third with 05:45:05.

Speaking after the race, Bakhashab said he was delighted to win the Legends category, part of this year’s Hail Toyota International Rally, but that the victory was unexpected given his 15-year absence from rallying.

“I was following a strategy of taking my time so that I could pass Prince Khaled and the rest of my colleagues, and thank God I succeeded and was able to arrive first and win the title,” he said.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan congratulated Bakhashab, saying: “Abdullah was able to win the challenge with his experience, and this is not strange for him as a champion with titles and achievements.”

On his accident, he added: “Thank God we came out of this race safely, and I promise you that we will be crowned in the next rally. The challenge is still on with Bakhashab and the other competitors.”

RIYADH: The UFC’s return to Riyadh delivered high-octane action, headlined by a stunning upset as Nassourdine Imavov knocked out former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the second round.

In the co-main event, Michael “Venom” Page showcased his striking brilliance, outclassing Shara Magomedov in his highly anticipated UFC debut.

A new force emerged in the middleweight division. Imavov made a resounding statement, knocking out Adesanya just 30 seconds into the second round.

After an evenly contested opening round, Imavov masterfully set up his attack, using a feinting jab to distract Adesanya before delivering a thunderous right hand that sent the former champion crashing to the canvas. Sensing the finish, Imavov wasted no time, overwhelming Adesanya with ground strikes until the referee stepped in.

The victory — his fourth consecutive win — solidifies Imavov as a legitimate title contender in the 185-pound division. Meanwhile, Adesanya now faces serious questions about his future, suffering his third consecutive loss and second knockout defeat in a row.

Meanwhile, UFC newcomer Michael “Venom” Page lived up to his reputation, dismantling previously unbeaten Shara Magomedov with a flawless display of movement and precision striking, securing a unanimous decision victory.

Page’s trademark elusive style kept Magomedov off balance throughout the fight. Darting in and out of range with surgical counters, the 37-year-old Brit controlled the pace, frustrating his opponent, while avoiding significant damage.

With this dominant win in a higher weight class, Page has already proven he belongs among the elite. He is expected to return to welterweight for his next fight, while Magomedov must now regroup after his first professional defeat.

The rest of the main card saw Sergei Pavlovich defeat Jairzinho Rozenstruik by unanimous decision, using relentless pressure to control the fight. Vinicius Oliveira secured a technical and well-executed unanimous decision win over Said Nurmagomedov, while Fares Ziam outpointed Mike Davis in a closely contested match-up.

The prelims featured several standout performances. Muhammad Naimov earned a hard-fought unanimous decision over Kaan Ofli, while Shamil Gaziev stopped Thomas Petersen with a first-round TKO.

Terrance McKinney wasted no time securing a first-round TKO over Damir Hadzovic, and Jasmine Jasudavicius outworked Mayra Bueno Silva for a unanimous decision win. Bogdan Grad showcased his power with a second-round TKO against Lucas Alexander, while Hamdy Abdelwahab edged out Jamal Pogues in a split decision victory.