Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 22 January 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start off with mixed martial arts: South Africa’s first Ultimate Fighter champion, Dricus du Plessis, says he is not ruling out a quick turnaround for a potential title fight with New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya, at the forthcoming UFC 300 centenary event. He defeated the defending champion, American Sean Strickland, in a brutal five-round fight in Toronto, Canada, yesterday to win the UFC middleweight title. Du Plessis says wanting to fight Adesanya is nothing personal:

Meanwhile, the UFC president Dana White has hinted at a potential Ultimate Fighting Championship Africa event in South Africa following Dricus du Plessis’ historic win, making him the first South African UFC champion. White says plans for such a tournament are in progress, with South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda as potential locations. Many fans have advocated for Cape Town Stadium as the ideal venue, citing the city’s infrastructure and track record in hosting world-class events. The move aims to establish the UFC’s presence on the continent.

# Soccer: Bafana Bafana thumped Namibia four-nil to keep their hopes alive of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 in the Ivory Coast. A Themba Zwane brace, Percy Tau’s converted penalty and Thapelo Maseko’s late goal moved South Africa to second spot in Group E, one point behind leaders Mali. Bafana Bafana will need to beat Tunisia on Wednesday to make the knockout stage. Coach Hugo Broos says his team now has a boost of confidence having earned their first points of the competition:

# Cricket: The Paarl Royals claimed their first-ever Cape derby victory over M-I Cape Town at Boland Park, with a 59-run bonus point win to entrench their position at the top of the SA20 log. A 116-run opening stand between Jason Roy and Jos Buttler laid the foundation for the Royal’s total of 162 for three. In reply, M-I Cape Town were bowled out for just 103, their third defeat in the competition. Royals spin bowler, Tabraiz Shamsi, says they had extra motivation to win:

# And finally, tennis: Qualifier Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine is through to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career, after knocking out two-time champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus at the Australian Open. The 23-year-old defeated the former world number one, 7-6, 6-4. Czech teenager Linda Noskova also advanced into her first major quarterfinal after Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina had to retire from their round of 16 match due to a back injury. Yastremska says it took everything out of her to win against Azarenka:

Stay tuned for more news………….