Riyadh to Host Professional Fighters League Finals Friday for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
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Riyadh to Host Professional Fighters League Finals Friday for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA

Riyadh is scheduled to host the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Finals on Friday, featuring elite global athletes in mixed martial arts.

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this prestigious event, organized by the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation in collaboration with the PFL and under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport. The event will take place at King Saud University's indoor arena, according to SPA.
The finals, part of a series of global events hosted by the Kingdom, will feature six main bouts across various official weight classes. Competitors will vie for titles and a total prize pool of $6 million, with $1 million awarded to each winner of the official matches.
Saudi Arabia's hosting of this event reflects its growing global status in recent years, establishing it as a preferred destination for regional and international sports events across all games, which underscores the Ministry of Sport's commitment to sustainable efforts aimed at achieving the sports objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 to reach sports excellence at all levels.



‘Unbelievable’ Odegaard Transforms Arsenal and Gets Saka Smiling Again

 Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
TT

‘Unbelievable’ Odegaard Transforms Arsenal and Gets Saka Smiling Again

 Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Champions League - Sporting CP v Arsenal - Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal - November 26, 2024 Arsenal's Martin Odegaard Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

The goals are flying in again for Arsenal — and it just happens to coincide with the return from injury of Martin Odegaard.

Make that eight goals in two games since the international break for Arsenal after its 5-1 hammering of Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, tying the English team’s heaviest ever away win in the competition.

Odegaard is back in Arsenal’s team after missing two months with an ankle injury. In that time, Mikel Arteta’s attack stuttered, with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth and a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle dropping the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League. There was also a 0-0 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League as well as a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan last month, when Odegaard made his comeback from injury as an 89th-minute substitute.

Since then, Arsenal hasn’t lost and the goals have returned. After a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday came the cruise in Lisbon — and Odegaard was at the heart of everything as Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka said of Odegaard. “The day he returned, there was a big smile on my face. You can see the chemistry we have. I hope he stays fit for the rest of the season.”

Odegaard was involved in the build-up to Arsenal’s first two goals against Sporting — scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz — and was fouled to win the penalty converted by Saka in the 65th to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead at 4-1.

Odegaard was seen flexing his leg after that but continued untroubled and was substituted in the 78th minute.

The last thing Arteta would want now is another injury to Odegaard as Arsenal attempts to reel in first-place Liverpool in the Premier League. Liverpool is already nine points ahead of fourth-place Arsenal after 12 games.