Saudi Vice Minister of Sport Crowns Winners in the Battle of the Giants Event

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
TT

Saudi Vice Minister of Sport Crowns Winners in the Battle of the Giants Event

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

The PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants, a prestigious mixed martial arts event hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, concluded on Sunday.
The event was organized by the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation in collaboration with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, SPA reported.
Vice Minister of Sport Bader Alkadi crowned Cameroonian Francis Ngannou as the heavyweight champion of the Battle of the Giants. Brazilian Cris Cyborg was awarded the women's featherweight title, and American Johnny Eblen claimed the middleweight championship.
Ngannou, the reigning world heavyweight champion, expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the event, adding that he felt at home in the Kingdom and deeply appreciated the warm welcome he received.



Van Nistelrooy Disappointed by Man United Exit

Football - Europa League - Manchester United v PAOK - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2024 Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Manchester United v PAOK - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2024 Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
TT

Van Nistelrooy Disappointed by Man United Exit

Football - Europa League - Manchester United v PAOK - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2024 Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Manchester United v PAOK - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - November 7, 2024 Manchester United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds fans after the match. (Reuters)

Ruud van Nistelrooy was disappointed to leave Manchester United after his successful spell as interim coach came to an end, but the Dutchman said he understands why new manager Ruben Amorim wanted to bring his own assistants into the club.

Van Nistelrooy, who was appointed Leicester City manager at the end of last month, went unbeaten in his four games in charge at United following Erik ten Hag's dismissal, having previously served as his compatriot's assistant.

"I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt that I had to leave," he told reporters on Monday.

"The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. But in the end, I got my head round it because I also understand the new manager.

"I spoke to Ruben Amorim about it, the conversation was grateful, man to man, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which lifted my spirits."

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in a highly successful five-year stint at United before moving to Real Madrid, but the former striker said he has the battling qualities to help 16th-placed Leicester avoid relegation.

"People see Real Madrid, Manchester United, but my first three seasons as a professional were in Dutch football with FC Den Bosch, so I know what it's like to fight," he added.

Leicester host West Ham United in the Premier League later on Tuesday.