Max Holloway can see himself moving all the way up to middleweight when he’s older

UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway can see himself moving all the way up to 185 pounds when he’s older.

LOS ANGELES – [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] is willing to compete at just about any weight class.

The UFC featherweight champion has a tough time making the 145-pound limit, and certainly sees himself moving up in weight in the future – possibly all the way up to 185 pounds.

“I don’t know about holding belts all at one time, this and that, but nobody really got three yet,” Holloway said at a Thursday media event. “So 170,  I could see myself … I just turned 28, I can see myself maybe going to (1)85, being healthy, and getting strong there. I’ve got five, six more years in this sport. Who knows? I might pull a ‘DC’ (Daniel Cormier) on you guys and fight to 40.

“I’m a Polynesian/Hawaiian/Samoan, and I’m probably the smallest Samoan/Hawaiian you guys see. So I think the weight issue is not a problem. This is about getting in the gym, getting the weights, and actually packing on the muscle.”

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Holloway has racked up quite a resume at featherweight. He hasn’t lost at 145 pounds since a unanimous decision setback to Conor McGregor in 2013 and has run through the division since then.

Holloway’s idea of being the best fighter in the world entails competing at whichever weight class includes the top talent. He may have failed in his first attempt to capture the interim lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 236, but the goal remains the same.

“I want to be the best mixed martial artist in the world, and being the best mixed martial artist is not a guy who stays in his weight and dominates his weight,” Holloway said. “It is someone who’s willing to go at whatever weight. So whatever’s the best guys, whoever’s the best guy in the world … you guys tell me. I’ve got a couple of belts I want to fight for.”

For now, Holloway (21-4 MMA, 17-4 UFC) will look to continue his dominance in the featherweight division, when takes on Alexander Volkanovski (20-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) at UFC 245 on Dec. 14, looking to notch his fourth title defense.

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Despite recent price increase, SECCG tickets still at three-year low

Georgia football SEC Championship tickets for the UGA vs LSU game are at a three-year low.

With Georgia and LSU ready to tee it up from the SEC Championship on Saturday, TicketIQ provided us with some insight into ticket prices for the big game.

Tickets saw a slight increase in price this week after what was a downward trend for the two previous weeks.

Despite the increase in price this week, this still remains the cheapest SEC Championship of the last three years.

The current average price is now $710, which is up 3% this week, and the get-in price is currently sitting at $246, a 9% increase this week).

Find SEC Championship Game tickets here.

And even with this being the cheapest SEC Championship in the last three seasons, it is still by far college football’s most expensive ticket of championship weekend.

Behind Georgia and LSU, the second most expensive average ticket this weekend is in the BIG10, where Ohio State will play Wisconsin.

 

Broncos injuries: Von Miller questionable for Week 14

The Broncos and Texans have released their final injury reports for Week 14.

After being limited in practice all week, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (knee) will be listed as questionable on this week’s injury report, coach Vic Fangio said Friday. Miller sat out last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a 23-20 win at home.

Denver will take on the Houston Texans on the road in Week 14.

Elsewhere on Denver’s injury report, guard Ron Leary is still in the league’s concussion protocol and has been ruled out. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) and outside linebacker Malik Reed (ankle/shoulder) are listed as questionable.

For the Texans, running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring) has been ruled out. Cornerback Gareon Conley (hip), wide receiver Will Fuller (hamstring), cornerback Bradley Roby (hamstring/toe), linebacker Brennan Scarlett (shoulder) and defensive end Carlos Watkins (hamstring) are listed as questionable.

Sunday’s game will air on CBS at 11:00 a.m. MT (view the TV broadcast map here). The Broncos are considered 7.5-point underdogs.

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Wizards’ Davis Bertans is shooting the lights out from three-point range

When the Washington Wizards acquired Davis Bertans from the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason, they knew they were getting a sharpshooter.

When the Washington Wizards acquired Davis Bertans from the San Antonio Spurs in the offseason, they knew they were getting a sharpshooter.

Bertans, 27, shot over 40.0 percent from three-point range during his first three NBA seasons in San Antonio. This year, however, he has gotten off to such a hot start that he has become one of the more fascinating stories of the year.

He is averaging a career-high 3.7 three-pointers per game, nearly double his previous best. The forward is also shooting 45.3 percent from downtown, the best mark of his career as well.

The Wizards have scored 121.2 points per 100 possession when Bertans has played alongside star guard Bradley Beal, the best offensive rating among all two-man lineups (minimum: 250 minutes) in the Eastern Conference.

During the first half of a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night, the forward went a perfect six-for-six from three-point range. After the game, Washington rookie Rui Hachimura said Bertans is “the best shooter” he has ever seen.

Bertans, overall, is averaging an impressive 1.26 points per possession. That ranks in the 98th percentile this season, according to Synergy Sports. Among the 141 players who have finished at least 200 possessions so far, no one has been more efficient.

Most of his field-goal attempts have been three-pointers, which especially makes sense considering that he was the most accurate corner shooter in the league last season.

This year, he has been fantastic when shooting from long-range above the arc. James Harden (4.5) and Kemba Walker (3.5) are the only players who have connected on more non-corner three-pointers per game than Bertans has (3.3) in 2019-20.

Earlier this season, Fred Katz wrote about how the Wizards planned to use him in a different way than he had been implemented on the Spurs (via The Athletic):

“San Antonio kept him stationary more often and used his gravitational pull to yank defenders to the perimeter. Washington has implemented him as someone who can both set screens and run off them. He has an uncanny ability to make sure he’s always squared to the hoop. It doesn’t matter if he’s running in the opposite direction of the basket or not. When he turns and elevates, his shoulders are lined up; he lands in the same place he takes off.”

He has shot well coming off screens, which will only continue if he gets more playing time with teammate Thomas Bryant. Only five NBA players have averaged more screen assists than Bryant (5.3) thus far.

When shooting off a pick set by the Washington big man during a game vs. the Pacers on November 28, he also showed how efficient he has been on his contested shots.

Among all players in the Eastern Conference, he is tied for the most three-pointers made (18) when the defender has been within four feet.

Bertans, who leads the league in catch-and-shoot three-pointers (63) this season, is averaging 1.25 PPP on guarded catch-and-shoot opportunities. That ranks in the 82nd percentile among all players, per Synergy.

This offseason, the 6-foot-10 forward will be a free agent and if he is able to continue shooting the lights out, expect a massive offer sheet headed his way.

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Colts’ Parris Campbell, Marlon Mack expected to play Week 14

Colts get a pair of big-play threats back from injury.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-6) have been dealing with significant injuries throughout the entire 2019 season, but it seems they will be seeing the return of two big-play threats to the offensive side of the ball in Week 14 when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7).

Even though three starters were ruled out on Friday head coach Frank Reich told the media that they are expecting to see the return of running back Marlon Mack and rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell, both of which have been recovering from a fractured hand.

“For tomorrow I will give you the fact that Parris (Campbell) and Marlon (Mack) barring any setbacks, they will play,” Reich said.

This is big for an offense that is already without wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. With the season likely on the line in this one, the Colts need all the help they can get on the offensive side of the ball.

Mack was enjoying a Pro-Bowl caliber season before injuring his hand on a run in the Week 9 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has taken 192 carries for 862 yards and four touchdowns.

The Colts aren’t expected to give Mack a pitch count against the second-rank Bucs run defense. The big-play threat will need to carry the offense despite the tough matchup, especially with so many weapons being injured.

Campbell should get a big opportunity to show he can thrive in a bigger role. With Hilton out, the Colts will rely on Campbell, Zach Pascal and Marcus Johnson to lead the way in the wide receiver room.

The Colts have their backs against the wall in this Week 14 matchup, but they will be seeing the return of two big-play threats to the offense.

Bengals claim Dolphins rookie Isaiah Prince on waivers

The Bengals added rookie Isaiah Prince on waivers Friday.

The quest to improve as the offseason approaches continues for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Friday afternoon the Bengals claimed Miami Dolphins rookie guard Isaiah Prince off waivers. The team will announce the corresponding move at 4p.m. ET.

Prince, 22, was a sixth-round pick by the Dolphins this year out of Ohio State who appeared in four games, starting two. The team needed roster space after claiming Zach Sieler on waivers and appeared to hope it could slip Prince back onto the practice squad.

The Bengals had other plans clearly and inherit another young Buckeyes product alongside Billy Price and Michael Jordan.

Given the rotating door at guard and the lack of depth at tackle, the move certainly makes sense. If Prince doesn’t get playing time this year he’ll be in the mix over the offseason at what could classify as Cincinnati’s worst unit.

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Buckeyes Wire’s Phil Harrison on Wisconsin-Ohio State rematch

Phil Harrison of Buckeyes Wire comments on the Big Ten Championship Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers.

Phil Harrison is the editor of our sister site, Buckeyes Wire. Follow Phil and the rest of his terrific team at Buckeyes Wire for sports coverage through an OSU lens. Get an Ohio State-centric understanding of the Big Ten Championship Game at Buckeyes Wire.

Phil answered four questions I posed to him about Saturday night’s big game in Indianapolis:

1 – How is the rematch most likely to be different from the first game in Columbus?

PHIL HARRISON: I think it’ll be a little closer than the first contest. With it being on a neutral field and with a game under Wisconsin’s belt, it’ll help neutralize things a bit I think. In some ways, it’s difficult to game plan against Ohio State this year because Ryan Day is a new head coach with no tendencies to go off of. Now the Badger coaching staff will get a second crack at it, and I think it’ll help. I’m not ready to say the Badgers pull off the upset against such a dynamic team, but I don’t think the offense will have as hard of a time moving the ball on the ground like game one in Columbus. We’ve seen Wisconsin open it up a bit to loosen things up for the rushing attack and you’ll likely see the same Saturday.

2 – What development since the first game should make OSU most confident about Saturday?

HARRISON: There was a little adversity against Penn State that Ohio State didn’t have up until then. Things were a little tight against Wisconsin in the first game, but then OSU kept plugging away and leaned on the Badger offensive line. The depth of the Buckeyes really wore down Wisconsin. In the Penn State game, things didn’t go so well in the turnover department and the Buckeyes had to battle through it, play a four quarter game and find a way to come out the other side somewhat battle tested. That could not only come in handy this Saturday if things remain close, but going forward with a potential College Football Playoff appearance.

3 – What development since the first game should make OSU most concerned about Saturday?
HARRISON: Probably the most concerning thing is what we saw from the defense against Penn State and Michigan. The D was a very stingy unit up until those two games, but both the Nittany Lions and Wolverines had some success in different ways. Penn State found some room between the tackles with the Q-run, and the Michigan QB Shea Patterson lit up OSU’s secondary in the first half. Now, it’s not a trend yet, but you can expect Wisconsin to look at the film and try to implement what worked in those two contests. There’s now game film of teams moving the ball against this defense, and I expect Wisconsin to benefit from that to some extent.
4 – Are there any post-Michigan letdown concerns for Ohio State? Should there be? 
HARRISON: Ohio State has remained focused throughout this season despite many opportunities for a letdown or lack of proper mindset to creep in. Because of that, this is less of a concern than maybe some of the teams of the past. There hasn’t been a Purdue or Iowa flop to point to. That being said, this game offers an interesting dynamic because the Buckeyes already laid it on the Badgers in game one. Does that lead to a mindset of inferiority or a tendency to not prepare as hard? With what we’ve seen from this team, I don’t think so, but it is a danger that bears watching.