Islam Makhachev retained his UFC welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia last night, and, as is normal, there will be some fighters who are now fancying their chances and believe they should get a shot at taking the title from him and becoming the first person to beat him since 2015.

One such fighter has made his intentions clear via social media, and the tone and content of his call-out have caused him to be the recipient of a significant amount of backlash, especially given his recent showings in combat sports.

The Russian feels that fellow welterweight Carlos Prates should be next in line, and also mentioned Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov as potential opponents.

Understandably, one of the names who was not brought up was Dillon Danis. Two problems immediately emerge, as not only is Danis’ weight around 175-180lbs, which is in the light heavyweight region, but he also last competed in Misfits Boxing, which is not the most competitive promotion and isn’t great for a fighter’s reputation.

Dillon Danis’ UFC 330 Reaction Sparks Strong Reaction

Credit: Zuffa LLC

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old American has thrown his hat into the ring and hasn’t minced his words, posting on X: “For the love of f****** Dana Hunter White, give me Islam Makhachev. Let me be the one to end this inbred rat once and for all. Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

His post didn’t go down very well with those who saw it.

“You got to finish your fights with the security guy and janitor first, and then maybe in next life you’ll get fight,” one user responded.

“Bro loves getting his a** kicked by muslim brothers,” another said.

“Genuinely, who are you? The biggest highlight of your career was getting chocked out by a bouncer and losing to a YouTuber,” read another savage reply.

“Mate, you’ve lost every competitive fight in every discipline in the last 5 years. Just go back to Bjj, and get some credibility back,” and “Couldn’t even win against Logan Paul. You think you have a chance with Islam at welterweight?” read two further replies.

Dillon Danis is a Laughing Stock in Combat World

Clearly, if Danis thought people would’ve forgotten about what happened in 2023, he had another thing coming. On the undercard of KSI vs Tommy Fury, Danis put on a farcical performance against Logan Paul, where he threw himself to the ground at every opportunity, and it looked like he was trying to do MMA at times during a boxing match.

After behaving this way for a number of rounds, the referee had enough and disqualified Danis in the sixth and final round of their bout in Manchester.

What other MMA fans will remember Danis for is being in the corner of Conor McGregor for his mega showdown against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. After Khabib had submitted McGregor in the fourth round, he had tunnel vision on the opposing corner, hopped over the fence, and launched an attack on the Irishman’s team, especially targeting Danis.

As much as Danis himself seems up for the fight, it is a good bet that neither Makhachev nor UFC President Dana White will remotely entertain the idea, as the gap in reputation and skill level between the two fighters looks worlds apart.

Manchester United’s protracted pursuit of a left-back remains unresolved this summer, with the Premier League season now less than seven days away.

The Red Devils have been courting Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall throughout the summer, but the Magpies are seemingly unwilling to budge on the England international. Having already lost Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal, as well as their manager Eddie Howe, the Tynesiders aren’t prepared to further deplete themselves by selling yet another of their best players.

Evidently, the pursuit of Hall isn’t likely to pay off, and United should be fully aware of this by now. They cannot afford to sit around and not bolster this position, even if they still fancy their chances of landing Newcastle’s first-choice left-back in an upcoming window.

Luke Shaw may have played in all 38 league matches last season, but this unusual robustness isn’t likely to continue in the 2026/27 campaign, particularly with the addition of Champions League football. Meanwhile, Michael Carrick has made it clear that he views Patrick Dorgu as a winger.

With that said, United should quickly pivot to Fulham’s Antonee Robinson as a stop-gap solution.

Antonee Robinson is the Short-Term Answer For Man Utd at Left-Back

United are set to head into the new season with just one senior left-back at their disposal. While Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez can be used in this role if needed, there is currently a lot of pressure on injury-prone 31-year-old Shaw to remain fit.

For this reason, they must accelerate their pursuit of a left-sided defender in the coming days, and Robinson is quickly emerging as the most viable option.

United are reportedly considering a move for the American, and Fulham are understood to be willing to sanction his departure for around £25 million.

Clearly, Robinson isn’t a long-term solution in this position for United, having recently turned 29. However, he’s available for a minimal fee, has plenty of Premier League experience and would be able to slot into Carrick’s set-up immediately.

An exceptional possession passer from deep, the United States international would be a nice analogue for Shaw, who has developed into this type of player as he’s aged. That said, Robinson is arguably more athletic than his English counterpart at this stage of their respective careers, and might be able to offer more in the final third as a marauding full-back.

Robinson would likely be more than happy to make the switch to Old Trafford, meaning United might be able to secure him on a short-term contract on modest wages. This means there’s minimal downside, and they’ll still be able to move for Hall or another exciting young target next summer.

It’s a no-brainer for the Red Devils’ hierarchy, especially considering Luke Shaw’s poor performance in the last pre-season friendly against AC Milan on Saturday.

Robinson and Hall’s Stats Compared

Robinson has been one of the best left-backs in the Premier League for a few years now, and is arguably ready for the step up to being a squad player at a Champions League team.

Despite the player’s pedigree and the admiration for him from former boss Marco Silva, United supporters might be concerned that Robinson falls significantly below Hall’s level. However, as shown by the data below, the two players actually profile somewhat similarly statistically.

While Hall might be a slightly higher-volume passer, Robinson boasts superior creative numbers and is more active defensively. The former Everton man is the perfect short-term stand-in for Hall, assuming the England man does eventually make the switch to the north-west.

All Statistics via FotMob – correct as of 15/08/2026

A football club’s stadium is sacred ground for its supporters, who turn up week after week to back their team. Some homes are magnificent, packed with history and character, with barely a poor seat in the house, while others leave plenty to be desired.

Fans will always have a soft spot for the place where they watch their beloved club, but from an aesthetic point of view, some stadiums across world football are hard on the eyes.

With that in mind, 20 of the ugliest stadiums in the beautiful game have been named and ranked, according to AI. West Ham’s London Stadium and Oxford’s Kassam Stadium both make the cut, alongside plenty of other English grounds – including ones in the Premier League – that are a blot on the landscape.

20

Broadwood Stadium (Scotland)

What AI said: “A three-sided (or incomplete) modern ground with a blank wall or missing stand element, producing a sterile, incomplete aesthetic common to several lower-league Scottish venues.”

An incomplete mess, Hamilton Academical’s old ground disguises the fact it only has three stands by putting a big grey wall on one side of the pitch. To make matters worse, the fact that it has hosted several different clubs over the years means it lacks a true identity – whereas at least the other stadiums higher up these rankings can be easily recognised as belonging to a specific club.

19

Vitality Stadium (England)

What AI said: “The Premier League’s smallest ground feels cramped and unfinished in places despite upgrades, often criticised as visually underwhelming for top-flight football.”

There isn’t an awful lot wrong with Bournemouth’s home stadium, other than the fact it is generic and small, but that is in large part due to the club’s meteoric rise under Eddie Howe, which saw them rise to the Premier League quicker than they could upgrade their facilities, paving the way for the team to outgrow it.

18

Coliseum Alfonso Perez (Spain)

What AI said: “A basic, boxy ground with little architectural merit, regularly appearing on European ‘ugliest’ lists for its plain, uninspiring design.”

The big shame about Getafe’s stadium is that the fans inside deserve so much more. Supporters are known for being fiercely loyal to a smaller, community-focused club that operates in the massive shadow of Real Madrid, though any sound they make is ruined by a stadium that looks comparable to a sun-soaked Gillingham counterpart.

17

King Baudouin Stadium (Belgium)

What AI said: “An aging national venue with a tired, utilitarian appearance that lacks modern elegance or distinctive character.”

Grey, dull, and mostly lifeless – much like Brussels itself, the King Baudouin Stadium is completely lacking the charm you’d expect it to have considering it’s been the home of the national team’s most recent golden generation, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and Romelu Lukaku giving Belgium genuine belief they could win a Euros.

16

Bloomfield Road (England)

What AI said: “Awkwardly sited next to a spa and Travelodge in a residential/seaside area, it feels more like an add-on attraction than a proper football stadium.”

There was a time when Blackpool was a thriving touristic city, while there was also a time its football club was in the Premier League. Those days are long gone, and you can really get that feeling around Bloomfield Road, with it rotting away like many of the nearby casinos and arcades. A recent poor ownership hadn’t helped, with many supporters boycotting home games, accelerating the rot.

15

Selhurst Park (England)

What AI said: “A cramped, dated ground in a poor location with limited character, frequently criticised for feeling like a functional but unattractive Premier League outlier.”

Unlike many other stadiums on this list, Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park does have a charm to it. A great, local fanbase, with the stands very close to the pitch, makes it an intimidating proposition for away teams and supporters – the facilities are outdated though, and that’s why there are plans for a new stadium to be built.

14

Bosuilstadion (Belgium)

What Ai said: “Three ordinary stands are overshadowed by a jarringly modern grandstand that feels completely out of place, highlighting mismatched priorities in design.”

Royal Antwerp’s home stadium is a classic example of an owner or architect building something in stages. Without a collective plan to build a footballing venue, the result is something that looks awkwardly put together at the very last minute just to get it over and done with.

13

Stadio Euganeo (Italy)

What AI said: “A large, uninspired multi-purpose venue so disliked that the club’s ultras have boycotted it, reflecting its functional but aesthetically barren design.”

Stands that are far from the pitch thanks to a running track never attract many rave reviews from supporters. But when you couple outdated bleacher seating with it, and you end up with Padova’s Stadio Euganeo, you get a venue nobody wants to step foot in, even if Italian football is loved around the globe.

12

Fritz-Walter-Stadion (Germany)

What AI said: “A grey, brutalist exterior often compared to a prison, with a bland interior that lacks charm or visual interest.”

Built up incrementally over decades on the Betzenberg hill, resulting in mismatched stands and a bulky silhouette, Kaiserslautern’s fortress can look ugly to a lot of fans – but nothing can take way from its imposing stands, which almsot certainly strike fear into guests.

11

John Smith’s Stadium (England)

What AI said: “Four arched stands with large empty corners create an awkward, dated silhouette that has aged poorly since its 1990s opening.”

Opened in 1994, the ground was ahead of its time, but it now appears dated and rather ugly. Often, taking a risk and opting to go against the grain can be a good thing when it comes to designing a new stadium, but in this case, the John Smith’s Stadium is simply unusual. If the corners were to be filled in, it may appear better, but with the club currently in League One, it is unlikely the stadium will be expanded any time soon.