Adesanya wins virtuosic UFC decision over Tavares Graz won’t bid for 2026 Oly Games
VIENNA, July 7, (AP): The Austrian Olympic Committee has dropped its plan for a 2026 Winter Games hosting bid centered on the city of Graz, citing a lack of political support.
Friday’s decision came hours after the province of Styria announced a referendum to ask its citizens about the bid, though a public vote was not intended when the hosting plan was launched in January.
“A clear political commitment and corresponding support from the Styrian provincial government – which the AOC has seen as mandatory from the beginning – has been missing until today,” the committee said in a statement, adding it “bows out of the idea of an Olympic bid Graz 2026 with a heavy heart.”
Another Austrian bid campaign, with Innsbruck the host city, was dropped last year after more than 53 percent of the citizens in the Tyrol region voted against it.
“We regret we cannot offer our top athletes and winter sports fans the unique opportunity of having a home Olympics in the near future,” AOC President Karl Stoss said.
After Innsbruck hosted the Winter Games in 1964 and 1976, its residents voted against another bid three times. Since then, Austria has had several failed bids, most recently with Salzburg for the 2014 edition.
A feasibility study presented last week said the Olympics could be held in Graz “without much risk” as “cost explosions seen by Games in the past can be excluded from the start.”
Graz’s plans closely followed the guidelines of Agenda 2020, the IOC’s reform program that allows more flexibility in hosting the Games, including the possibility of using venues in other cities, and in neighboring countries.
Events were due to take place in a number of Austrian towns. Two venues in Germany were also part of the plan, with sliding events scheduled in Koenigssee and speed skating in Inzell. LAS VEGAS, July 7, (AP): Israel Adesanya announced his arrival as a UFC middleweight contender with a dominant unanimous-decision victory over veteran Brad Tavares on Saturday night.
In just his third UFC fight, Adesanya (14-0), a Nigerian-born New Zealander, showed off a wealth of technique and ability against a tough UFC veteran. Fighting confidently and creatively, he battered and bloodied Tavares (18-6), who had won four straight bouts since 2015.
Earlier, Canadian featherweight Brad Katona and New Jersey lightweight Michael Trizano earned UFC contracts by winning the final bouts in their respective brackets in the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
But the night was a showcase for Adesanya, who won 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 on the judges’ scorecards.
“I’m just getting warmed up,” Adesanya said.
The Hawaii-born Tavares was headlining a fight card for the first time in 16 UFC bouts
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
over the past eight years. Adesanya accomplished the feat in just his third fight, a sign of the UFC’s excitement about his ability to impact the 185-pound division.
Adesanya showed off his athletic ferociousness early on, trying unorthodox strikes and rolling submission moves to keep Tavares offbalance.
Adesanya also demonstrated flair, such as when he grinningly brushed his own hair right after throwing a spinning kick that barely missed Tavares’ head.
Adesanya had a strong third round, and he opened a gaping cut over Tavares’ right eye in the fourth round with a vicious short elbow. He finished with minimal damage, and only Tavares’ uncommon toughness kept him on his feet.
Adesanya’s victory was the highlight of the annual fight card showcasing the contestants on the UFC’s long-running competition reality show during International Fight Week.
The week culminates Saturday night with the pay-per-view UFC 226, headlined by heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic’s superfight against light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier.