Sports Express | September 27, 2026 — Russell Holds Off Verstappen to Win Azerbaijan Grand Prix

1. Russell Holds Off Verstappen to Win Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Source: TSN

George Russell held off a charging Max Verstappen in the closing stages to take a dominant victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, his third win of the season. The Mercedes driver made no mistakes around the Baku street circuit, crossing the line just 0.196 seconds ahead of the Dutchman, who was hunting him down in an upgraded Red Bull. Verstappen's teammate, Isack Hadjar, took the final podium spot.

Russell started from pole and navigated two safety-car restarts and Verstappen's late pressure over the final 13 laps. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Mercedes title leader Kimi Antonelli recovered from 16th on the grid to gain 11 places and finish fifth.

It was Russell's first win since the Austrian Grand Prix 90 days ago. He trimmed Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points, with 208 points still available over the eight scheduled remaining rounds.

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2. UFC Vegas 121: Barcelos Stretchered Out and Hospitalized

Source: Yahoo Sports

UFC Vegas 121's main event ended in frightening fashion. Rising 21-year-old star Raul Rosas Jr. defeated 39-year-old Raoni Barcelos in his first career main event, scoring a fifth-round knockout, though exactly how he got the stoppage remains unclear — Barcelos appeared to lose consciousness either as he was taken down or afterward.

Barcelos had to be carried out of the Octagon on a stretcher and did not appear to be moving, a surreal ending to what had been shaping up as a Fight of the Year contender. Rosas asked the crowd to pray for Barcelos in his post-fight interview. The UFC said both fighters were taken to hospital for head and neck scans.

In a follow-up statement, the UFC said Barcelos was transported to a Level 1 trauma center for evaluation, where the medical team conducted a CT scan and comprehensive assessment. He is stable, alert and responsive, with full movement, and will remain under medical supervision. According to reporter Ariel Helwani, Barcelos regained consciousness and is able to speak and move his fingers and toes.

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3. Presidents Cup: Internationals Lead by Three Into Sunday Singles

Source: PGA Tour

The Presidents Cup moves into the final day's Singles at the venerable Medinah Country Club in Chicago. After eight matches on Saturday — four morning Four-ball and four afternoon Foursomes — the International Team takes a three-point lead (10.5-7.5) into Sunday Singles.

In Saturday afternoon's Foursomes, the all-Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Nick Taylor, along with Ryan Fox and Min Woo Lee, staged late rallies to secure a 2-2 split for the Internationals, after the U.S. Team won the morning Four-ball 2.5-1.5.

This marks the first time in event history that the International Team carries a lead into Sunday while playing on foreign soil. This is the 16th playing of the Presidents Cup; Medinah has hosted the 2012 Ryder Cup, two PGA Championships and three U.S. Opens.

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4. College Football: Florida Thrashes Ole Miss 52-28

Source: CBS Sports

In Week 4 of college football, No. 21 Florida rolled to a 52-28 win over previously unbeaten No. 4 Ole Miss, surging into the College Football Playoff conversation with running back Jadan Baugh emerging as a Heisman candidate.

The win snapped Florida's four-game losing skid against ranked opponents and was the program's first victory over a top-five team since beating Georgia in 2020; the Gators had lost their previous 12 matchups against the nation's elite. Coach Jon Sumrall is trying to become the fifth first-year coach ever to reach the CFP in his debut season, and would be the first from the SEC.

Florida broke open a 24-21 game in the second half. Ole Miss entered Week 4 with the SEC's worst rush defense, allowing 159 yards per game; Baugh and Duke Clark combined for 268 rushing yards, both topping 100, the first time two Gators have done so in the same game since 2022.

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5. Final Day of the MLB Regular Season: Phillies on the Brink

Source: Yahoo Sports

MLB enters the final day of the regular season with a single National League playoff spot up for grabs. In one corner are the 87-74 Phillies; in the other, the 86-75 Arizona Diamondbacks. The Phillies lead by a single game, but Arizona holds the tiebreaker.

Philadelphia clinches with either a win over the Tampa Bay Rays or a Diamondbacks loss to the San Diego Padres. It is a narrow path for Arizona, but an astonishing turn of events that the club is alive at all — it had trailed by four games and could have been eliminated as early as Wednesday.

The divisions are all but decided. The Phillies had been tied with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres in the wild-card race at 87-70 with five games to play, while the Diamondbacks trailed by four. Over the past four days, Philadelphia has been exactly one good day from clinching a playoff spot each time, but has been outscored 23-3 in that span.

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6. Verlander's Final Start Ends With Daughter on the Mound

Source: Sportsnet

Detroit Tigers veteran Justin Verlander, 43, made the final start of his major league career. After he retired the leadoff batter in the sixth inning, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walked from the dugout toward home plate, and the pitcher's 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, suddenly sprinted to the mound.

"That completely blindsided me, and it hit me like a ton of bricks," Verlander said. His daughter hugged him on the mound, and he bent down to embrace her as he shook, the hug lasting about 15 seconds as the crowd rose. About 25 seconds later Hinch joined them, and then Verlander was surrounded by teammates.

The right-hander's 21st big league season ended with a 4-3, come-from-behind win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "That was amazing. I was sobbing and had to make sure that she understood I was happy," Verlander said. "She's never seen me cry like that." Genevieve wore a Tigers jersey with her father's name and No. 35. The mound trip was planned by Hinch and Verlander's wife.

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7. Blue Jays Lose 5-1 to Reds, Guaranteed Last in AL East

Source: The Globe and Mail

The Toronto Blue Jays lost 5-1 at home to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, guaranteeing a last-place finish in the American League East. Hector Rodriguez hit a two-run triple in the fifth inning and JJ Bleday added a solo home run in the second for Cincinnati (75-86).

Reds starter Rhett Lowder (7-12) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out two. Toronto's (78-83) only run came on Andres Gimenez's RBI groundout in the seventh.

Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage (5-6), in his second start back from the injured list, allowed a run on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts over two innings. Left fielder Josh Smith knocked himself to the ground after backing hard into the outfield wall, turning Rodriguez's hit into a triple. When Klein entered in the fifth, he became the 64th person to play for the Blue Jays this season, a franchise record. Max Scherzer (3-9) will start on short rest in the season finale, possibly the final appearance of his 19-year career.

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8. CFL: Elks Eliminate Tiger-Cats in Overtime

Source: TSN

The Edmonton Elks made the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' playoff elimination sting a little more with a dramatic 37-35 overtime victory on Saturday. Joshua Cephus caught a three-yard pass in the end zone during the two-point shootout to seal it.

Elks kicker Vincent Blanchard broke a CFL record with nine field goals. Quarterback Cody Fajardo went 32-of-47 for 298 yards with one rushing touchdown and one interception, as the West Division-leading Elks (11-4) won for the fifth time in their last six. Justin Rankin had 74 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Zach Mathis added five catches for 75 yards.

Tiger-Cats quarterback Harrison Frost completed 17 of 34 passes for 214 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions; Hamilton (4-11) lost its fifth straight and fell out of playoff contention. "We fought hard all game. There were mistakes in all phases, but we kept giving ourselves a chance. To lose like that really hurts," said Hamilton defensive back Reggie Stubblefield.

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9. Canada Beats Chile 1-0 in Friendly to Open New Cycle

Source: Sportsnet

The Canadian men's soccer team kicked off a new four-year cycle with a 1-0 victory over Chile in an international friendly at BMO Field on Saturday night. It was the host side's first game since falling to Morocco in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup. Jonathan David scored the lone goal and Dayne St. Clair earned the clean sheet.

Billed as "The Homecoming," the match began with a ceremony honouring the World Cup squad, which reached the knockout stage for the first time and beat South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32. David wore the captain's armband for 30th-ranked Canada and was joined up top by Cyle Larin. Chile, the world No. 49, did not qualify for the World Cup; its last appearance came in 2014.

David struck in the 12th minute: Ralph Priso sent a long ball to winger Jacob Shaffelburg, whose cross found Larin; goalkeeper Christian Bravo stopped Larin's initial shot, and the rebound floated across the goalmouth for David to tap in with his left foot. David raised a No. 13 Cornelius jersey, and Cornelius was hurt during a training session earlier in the week. Chile's Lucas Cepeda was sent off in the 35th minute after getting tangled up with Canadian defender Richie Laryea, whose eyebrow was cut by Cepeda's boot; Laryea stayed in after treatment. Four minutes into the second half, Chile's Gabriel Suazo was sent off for a second yellow, leaving Chile with nine men.

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10. Fury vs. Joshua Fight Reportedly Could Be Called Off

Source: Bleacher Report

The heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua may be called off, according to Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported that Dana White's involvement in the fight's promotion is the "issue" putting the fight at risk. White addressed the fight's status at a press conference on Saturday.

Fury and Joshua are officially scheduled to fight on Friday, December 11 at Cardiff, Wales' Principality Stadium, with Netflix slated to broadcast the card. Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and owner of The Ring Magazine, announced the event on Thursday.

Fury, 38, from Manchester, England, is 36-2-1 lifetime with 25 knockouts and has held multiple world heavyweight championships, including the WBC title for four years (2020-2024); he was a unified champion from 2015 to 2016. Joshua, 36, was a unified heavyweight champion on two occasions and is 30-4 lifetime with 27 knockouts; he lost to Andy Ruiz Jr. and twice to Oleksandr Usyk, fell to Daniel Dubois for the IBF title, and has since beaten Jake Paul and Kristian Penga. As of now, the fight is still on.

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