UFC 207 spells the end of the Ronda Rousey era

Ronda Rousey was never invincible, no matter what the UFC said.

On Friday night, though, the woman who reigned over mixed martial arts only 14 short months ago hit rock-bottom.

In only 48 seconds, Amanda Nunes answered any lingering questions about Rousey’s immortality with a devastating series of brutal punches.

When referee Herb Dean stepped in to mercifully stop the damage, it marked the end of an era.

One of the most important fighters in UFC history had been humbled, beaten and knocked off her perch, and it’s entirely possible that the biggest crossover star that mixed martial arts has ever produced was finished as a fighter.

Here’s five takeaways from Friday’s action at UFC 207:

No revisionist history

In the aftermath of Rousey’s loss last year to Holly Holm, there was a rush to undermine the accomplishments of the former women’s bantamweight champion.

That’s unfair.

Rousey may not be the dominant force she appeared to be for the two and a half years after she made her UFC debut in 2013, but she was undeniably one of the most thrilling fighters in the world during that period.

Without Rousey, UFC president Dana White might still be refusing to allow women to fight in his organization.

Even if he’d come around to the idea, it’s unlikely that the female divisions would be as universally accepted and adored on the same level as the male weight classes.

Rousey’s contributions to MMA are unparalleled and the entire fight game owes her a debt of gratitude.

It’s over

Despite her importance to the sport and years of dominance, there’s no getting around the fact that Rousey was in over her head on Friday night and it sure looks as if women’s MMA has caught up to her.

There’s a comparison to be made between Rousey and Royce Gracie, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend who dominated the early years of the UFC.

Eventually, though, a new generation of fighters rose up through the ranks and by the time Gracie was losing to Matt Hughes in 2006, it was clear that he had been surpassed.

It’s possible that’s exactly what happened with Rousey and that her fall from the top of the MMA mountain is simply the result of better athletes and better strikers like Holm and Nunes rising.

That makes the future of the women’s bantamweight division really exciting, but Rousey will need to make major changes if she wants to keep up.

Time for change

If Rousey is going to have any chance of continuing with fighting at an elite level — and it’s unclear whether that’s something she’s at all interested in doing — she needs to leave the Glendale Fighting Club.

Audio of her much-maligned trainer Edmond Tarverdyan’s instructions during the fight leaked on Friday night and it painted an ugly picture. Tarverdyan essentially repeated “head movement” over and over again, even as Nunes was tagging Rousey with shot after shot.

Nunes criticized Tarverdyan after the fight, saying he had made Rousey think she was a boxer when judo is her strength and it’s hard to disagree.

It made no sense for Rousey to try to box with Holm last year and it made even less for her to try and stand with one of the most feared strikers in MMA on Friday night. And yet, that’s exactly what she did.

If she’s going to keep fighting, she needs to make a change.

Who’s next?

With Miesha Tate retiring last month and Rousey’s future unclear, the women’s divisions may have lost their two biggest draws.

Now, the question is how many of the fans who started following MMA because of Rousey and Tate will stick around to watch a female fighting landscape that’s dominated by the likes of Nunes, Julianna Pena and Valentina Shevchenko.

There are dozens of thrilling female fighters on the MMA landscape right now, but it’s always hard to predict who will capture the public’s imagination.

Pena and Shevchenko are fighting in January, with the winner likely getting a shot at Nunes. It will be interesting to see how the UFC promotes that fight.

Nunes has loads of personality and headlined UFC 200 and UFC 207 this year so she’s had a lot of exposure. Now, it’s up to her bosses to turn her into a star.

A star is born

A quick note on the men’s side of things.

Cody Garbrandt beat Dominick Cruz for the men’s bantamweight belt in the UFC 207 co-main event and the kid has superstar written all over him.

Cruz is the greatest 135-pound fighter of all time, but he was thoroughly out-classed by Garbrandt.

Former teammate T.J. Dillashaw absolutely must be next for Garbandt and a rematch with Cruz is basically guaranteed.

Either way, expect to be seeing a lot of Garbrandt in the year ahead.

At least 35 killed and 40 injured in 'terrorist attack' in Istanbul

At least 35 people have been killed and 40 wounded in an attack at a nightclub in Istanbul.

Istanbul's governor said a single attacker was responsible and described the incident as a terrorist-related.

It is believed at least one police officer was among those who died in the shooting.

Last updated Sun 1 Jan 2017

Late goals earn Manchester United win over Middlesbrough

Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba struck in the closing minutes to hand Manchester a deserved three points against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

United dominated the 90 minutes, raining 32 efforts down on the Boro goal but were denied twice by the post, once by a contentious refereeing decision and on multiple occasions by their former outcast goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

When Grant Leadbitter lashed home his first Premier League goal in almost eight years it looked as though a scarcely believable upset was on the cards but Martial and Pogba found the net in quick succession during a frantic last five minutes to seal a 2-1 triumph.

It has not been an easy season for the French forward and a January loan move had even been mooted. But on his recall to the side he seemed to rediscover the vim and verve that sparked such enthusiasm on his arrival at Old Trafford. Created chances for others and provided a genuine goal threat himself, not least when clattering the woodwork from 30 yards. It was fitting that his goal brought United back into it.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ends 2016 with 50 goals in all competitions, placing him second behind Lionel Messi among players from Europe’s top five leagues. While many of those were scored in Paris St Germain’s romp to the Ligue 1 title, few can argue he has been a galvanising force for United. He did not add to his tally against Boro but played his full part in the United comeback

At the start of the season most pundits expected United’s defence to be anchored by the pairing of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly. But injuries and the recent form of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have made the duo peripheral figures of late. This was just their sixth Premier League outing together and, while they coasted through the game for long spells, there will doubtless be an inquest into how easily Boro carved open a goalscoring chance for Leadbitter on one of their rare forays forward.

Georginio Wijnaldum dents Man City title bid

Jurgen Klopp won the battle of managerial masterminds at Anfield as Liverpool’s 1-0 victory put a dent in Manchester City’s title aspirations

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 Georginio Wijnaldum’s eighth-minute goal proved enough to beat Pep Guardiola’s side and ensure the Reds’ maintained the six-point deficit on leaders Chelsea, whom City now trail by 10 points

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 A fourth defeat of the season ended the visitors’ mini-revival which had seen them win the last three after a wobble earlier in the month.

For two teams who like to dominate possession there were a lot of loose balls flying around midfield and while the predicted goal-fest between the Premier League’s leading two scorers did not materialise it was a fascinating encounter stage-managed by two of the world’s top coaches.

Klopp was first to show his hand and comfortably won the opening 45 minutes. Guardiola gained a reaction from his side after the break but failed to conjure a goal – or even a decent scoring opportunity – out of his expensively-assembled side.

City’s top scorer Sergio Aguero, back after a four-match suspension, barely had a kick until he registered their first shot on target in the 54th minute.

The visitors were stifled by Liverpool’s incessant pressing and harrying with makeshift left-back James Milner epitomising the team ethic with a complete shut-out job on former Reds winger Raheem Sterling, eight years his junior.

Liverpool’s goal, in the eighth minute, typified their approach. Aleksandar Kolarov lost possession in opposition territory with Wijnaldum moving the ball to Roberto Firmino whose outside-of-the-foot pass to Adam Lallana was matched by an equally tasty cross from the midfielder.

Wijnaldum, who had raced 60 yards, comfortably out-jumped Kolarov to power a header past Claudio Bravo.

Lallana, a player reborn under Klopp, continues to be the man around whom this team revolves and no midfielder in Europe has been as involved with seven goals and seven assists.

Liverpool’s control in midfield, something which would have alarmed but not surprised Guardiola, allowed Emre Can to curl a shot wide before Firmino, for once, was fractionally off with his timing after Yaya Toure was robbed of possession and Lallana had just strayed into an offside position as he threatened to run through one-on-one with Bravo.

Momentum swung City’s way after the break as they began to dominate the centre ground but even with David Silva, who whipped a shot past the post, seeing more of the ball they could still not either free up Aguero or create much in the way of chances.

Nevertheless anxiety spread around Anfield but City – watched by captain Vincent Kompany in with the away fans – could not capitalise with another unconvincing performance on the road which poses yet more questions for which Guardiola has yet to find answers for.

Amanda Nunes Crushes Ronda Rousey With Ease

The return of Ronda Rousey to the UFC octagon was as hyped as it was brief, as she was flattened by Amanda Nunes in 48 seconds.

Rousey was hoping to take back the bantamweight title she lost when a brutal Holly Holm kick left her unconscious on the canvas at Docklands Stadium in November 2015.

The knockout was so brutal it took Rousey over a year to return to the sport, prompting huge advertising campaign and an equally gargantuan huge payday.

But Nunes was in no mood to bow down to the one-time queen of the UFC, rocking Rousey with the first punches of the fight.

Rousey staggered and stumbled backward while Nunes relentlessly pursued her and landed multiple shots.

Referee Herb Dean stopped the bout with Rousey still on her feet, and Rousey briefly protested the stoppage before leaving the cage in her mother's arms.

Meanwhile, Nunes was landing some blows with her words.

"Now she's going to retire and go do movies," she said.

Rousey could not compete in her first fight since losing her belt to Holm 13 months ago in her first career defeat.

Rousey became one of the world's most famous female athletes and a combat sports trailblazer while she rocketed to the top of the UFC, but a year away from the sport apparently did little to heal the holes in her game.

Nunes claimed her belt with a violent stoppage of Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July, completing an unlikely ascent for a Brazilian veteran whose skills have improved in recent years.

Mariners and Melbourne City draw 2-2

Bruno Fornaroli has scored a dramatic late penalty to deny struggling Central Coast a famous New Year's Eve victory over A-League giants Melbourne City.

Youngster Trent Buhagiar and Roy O'Donovan brought the ninth-placed Mariners back from a goal down after Tim Cahill's first-half opener and had the hosts on track for their third win of the season in Gosford on Saturday night.

But it wasn't to be when Scott Galloway conceded an 90th-minute penalty, allowing Fornaroli to secure a 2-2 draw that keeps John van 't Schip's side firmly ensconced in the top four at the season's halfway mark.

City claimed first blood in the 40th minute when former Mariner Nick Fitzgerald teed up Bruce Kamau, who whipped in a spot-on first-time cross for Cahill to head home his third opening goal in three games.

Not that the Socceroos veteran got the chance to complete his trademark celebration - when a ball boy saw him coming to box the corner flag he promptly removed it.

It was a busy night for medics, with Luke Brattan suffering a bad knock soon after halftime during a contest with Mickey Neill and needing to be treated on the ground for several minutes before he was able to walk.

The midfielder eventually argued his way back onto the field despite concussion concerns.

The Mariners will be worried for defender Jacques Faty, who appeared to do his hamstring on his very first touch.

Both sides came at each other but Buhagiar was the standout, latching onto Fabio Ferreira's ball in the 77th minute and swinging in a left-foot strike that snuck into the top corner for his second A-League goal in two games.

The Mariners tipped the game on its head with eight minutes left when Connor Pain sent a cross into the box for an onrushing O'Donovan to tap in and take the lead.

But just as all looked lost for City, there was a late reprieve.

And unlike the two he missed against Perth, the Uruguayan made no mistake.

A goal in each half was just reward for the home side’s dominance, while the Sky Blues were able to see out the result despite being reduced to ten men for the final half-hour.

It was a mixed evening for Sky Blues skipper Alex Brosque, who netted the opener and had multiple chances to bag a double, before he saw red for an unnecessary challenge.

Serbian midfielder Milos Ninkovic had doubled the advantage for Graham Arnold’s men just prior to the incident, finishing with aplomb after being played through on goal by teammate Bobo.

Brisbane created plenty of chances of their own whilst trailing by a solitary goal with Dimitri Petratos hitting the side netting with a second effort and Manuel Arana volleying against the crossbar.

However Sydney FC were deserving of the three points, extending their unbeaten start to the campaign, while Brisbane suffered just their second defeat of the season 

GOALS 

1-0 Sydney FC: Alex Brosque, 36’ An incisive run from Bobo attracted a couple of Brisbane defenders before he laid the ball off for his skipper who slotted it inside the far post to register his eighth goal of the campaign.

 2-0 Sydney FC: Milos Ninkovic, 62’ A deft ball in behind Roar’s defence from Bobo gave Ninkovic a one-on-one chance with Theo. The Serbian buried the ball in the back of the net to put his side two goals to the good. t.99

Body found in burnt-out car in Rio 'believed to be missing Greek ambassador'

A body discovered in a burnt-out car in Rio de Janeiro is believed to be that of Greece's ambassador to Brazil who went missing four days ago, it has been reported.

Kyriakos Amiridis was last seen on Monday evening leaving the home of friends who live in Nova Iguaçu, a poor and violent suburb of the city, police said on Thursday.

A Rio state police official said the 59-year-old's wife reported him as missing on Wednesday.

Brazilian media showed images of a burnt-out white car in the area the ambassador went missing from and reported the licence plates on the car matched those of Mr Amiridis' rental vehicle.

Rio police inspector Evaristo Pontes had earlier told Brazilian media that he did not believe the ambassador was kidnapped.

"We're following some leads, but not that one. If it had been (a kidnapping), those who took him would have made contact by now," he said.

Both Brazil and Greece's foreign ministry's did not comment, nor did Rio police.

Western Sydney Wanderers set to announce the signing Terry Antonis

Western Sydney Wanderers are set to announce the signing of another former Sydney FC player with Terry Antonis reportedly closing in on a return to the A-League.

The fringe Australian international is understood to be in his way back to Sydney, ending a disappointing spell in Greece where he played just two minutes this season with Veria on loan from PAOK.

The Wanderers were linked with an approach for Antonis during the off season, but are said to be close to sealing a loan deal in the January transfer window for the remainder of the season.

Should Antonis arrive at the club's training base in Blacktown, he could be reunited with his former Sydney FC teammate Vedran Janjetovic, who joined the Wanderers last week.

Serena Williams to marry Reddit co-founder boyfriend

Tennis great Serena Williams is preparing for the love match of her life after announcing her engagement to boyfriend Alexis Ohanian - in a poem.

Williams, 35, who has been dating Mr Ohanian for over a year, posted a poem on Reddit saying she accepted the social news website co-founder's proposal. Ohanian then wrote on his Facebook page: "She said yes."

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Her poem read:

"I came home/A little late/Someone had a bag packed for me/And a carriage awaited/Destination: Rome/To escort me to my very own "charming"/Back to where our stars first collided/And now it was full circle/At the same table we first met by chance/This time he made it not by chance/But by choice/Down on one knee/He said 4 words/And I said yes."

Williams won Wimbledon for the seventh time in July to equal Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam titles and in September she eclipsed Roger Federer for the most all-time Grand Slam match victories, winning her 308th in the US Open.

No wedding date has been announced.

Olympiacos first shuts down, then holds off Fenerbahce

Olympiacos Piraeus welcomed back a couple of familiar faces and went on to hold off visiting Fenerbahce  71-62 on Thursday night at Peace and Friendship Stadium. The win improved Olympiacos to 10-5 and a share of the second place at the halfway point of the regular season, while Fenerbahce dropped to 9-6. Former Olympiacos players who helped the team to back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2012 and 2013, Kostas Sloukas and Pero Antic, were honored at center court before the game. Olympiacos pulled away early behind Khem Birch, before a series of three-pointers had the hosts up 40-21 at halftime. Olympiacos built a 23-point lead in the third quarter, but Fenerbahce rallied behind Luigi Datome and Bobby Dixon, however the Reds held on. Birch finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, 7 of which were on offense. Matt Lojeski netted 14 points, Ioannis Papapetrou had 12 and Erick Green nailed 3 of 4 shots from downtown and finished with 11 points. Jan Vesely amassed double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds for the visitors, but did not get much help until the final quarter when Datome and Dixon stepped up. Datome scored 10 points, Sloukas had 10 points and 6 assists, and Dixon finished with 9 points in defeat.

Olympiacos started strong defensively and did not allow Fenerbahce to score in the opening three minutes. Sloukas from downtown and Antic inside gave Fenerbahce a 4-5 edge, but Birch was everywhere for Olympiacos. He grabbed 3 offensive rebounds and scored 8 points. With help from a Kostas Papanikolaou three-pointer, the hosts opened an 18-9 advantage after 10 minutes. Lojeski and Green hit three-pointers from each corner to extend the margin to 26-13 in the second stanza. Aside from one free throw each from Sloukas and Ekpe Udoh, it was Vesely as the only player who managed to score for Fenerbahce in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Vesely tallied 14 points in the first two quarters, but the hosts kept pulling away. Green hit 2 more threes, Papapetrou added one, and Vangelis Mantzaris banked in another one, extending the margin to 40-19 entering the final minute. Olympiacos led 40-21 at halftime, and the hosts continued where they left off after the break. Papapetrou and Mantzaris made triples, and Birch fought on the offensive glass, opening a 48-25 margin. Fenerbahce got it started offensively with a triple from Datome. Udoh and Sloukas scored inside, and Antic hit from the outside, but Olympiacos did not allow the lead to slip away. The Reds were up 58-40 after three quarters and in complete control. Dixon cut the margin early in the fourth. Lojeski hit a corner three to make it 63-49, but Datome answered from downtown, and Dixon’s three closed the gap to to 65-61. Dixon had a shot to cut it to 1 point, but missed an open three, before Spanoulis banked in a tough runner with 63 seconds left and Olympiacos held on.

Chinese club bid 300m euros for Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has claimed Real Madrid have been offered 300 million euros  for the star forward by an unnamed Chinese Super League club, but said his client has no interest in the deal

Jorge Mendes told Sky Sports Italia that Madrid had been offered that sum as a transfer fee for the player, who would in turn receive over 100 m euros - a year in salary.

"From China, they've offered 300m euros to Real Madrid and more than 100m per year to the player," Mendes said.

The transfer offer, if genuine, would be almost triple the world record 105 million euros  Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba in August."But money is not everything. Real Madrid is his life. Cristiano is happy at Real Madrid and it is impossible to go to China."

Ronaldo, who won his fourth Ballon d'Or earlier this month, signed a new contract at Madrid in November, extending his commitment to the club until 2021.

But the cash-rich Chinese league has emerged as a major contender in the world transfer market with mega-money deals.

Last week, Shanghai SIPG signed Brazil midfielder Oscar from Chelsea for around 60 m euro, while on Thursday former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez joined Shanghai Greenland Shenhua when it was claimed he will become the highest paid player in the world on the equivalent of 615,000 pounds .

"The Chinese market is a new market," Mendes added. "They can buy a lot of players, but then again it is impossible to go for Ronaldo. Cristiano is the best player in the world and best ever. It is normal to have some offers.

"He won the European Championship with Portugal, it's like winning the Italian league with Genoa: they were not the favourite."

Carlos Tevez joins Shanghai Shenhua on huge deal

Carlos Tevez is poised to become the world's sixth most expensive player, with the Argentine joining the raft of high-profile players to join the Chinese Super League.

Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua confirmed the signing of the the 32-year-old striker from his boyhood club Boca Juniors, on a deal reported to be worth 84 million euros (NZ$126 million).

"Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC reached a transfer agreement with Argentina Club Atletico Boca Juniors. Carlos Alberto Tevez is officially joined Shanghai Shenhua," the club said in a statement on its website.

The hefty price tag will make Tevez the world's sixth most expensive player, behind Paul Pogba, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Neymar.

Tottenham set new club record following 4-1 win over Southampton

Tottenham Hotspur‘s victory over Southampton tonight means that the North London club have gained 71 Premier League points in 2016 – a new club record over a calendar year.

Despite falling behind to a goal from Virgil Van Dijk, Tottenham prevailed with a 4-1 win away to Southampton, with Dele Alli hitting a brace, while Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were also on the scoresheet.

Tottenham’s previous record points tally for a calendar year in the Premier League was 70, which they set in 2013.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team have produced some excellent performances this year and it appeared for much of last season that they had a good chance to win the Premier League title only for them to fall away in the closing stages, enabling Leicester City to pounce.

This campaign Tottenham are aiming to challenge for the title again and, at the very least, will be determined to secure a top four finish. Competition for places at the top of the table is set to be fierce, however, meaning that Pochettino’s side can ill afford to have many slip ups if they are to enjoy a successful campaign.

Liverpool keep pressure on Chelsea with win over Stoke

LIVERPOOL warmed up for their mouthwatering clash against top-four rivals Manchester City later this week with a confident 4-1 win over Stoke.

Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino turned things around in the first half after Jon Walters' opener before a Giannelli Imbula own goal and Daniel Sturridge's first in the Premier League this season, 56 seconds after coming off the bench, wrapped things up.

They moved back into second ahead of City, who visit on Saturday, to maintain the six-point gap with leaders Chelsea. Pep Guardiola's side will not relish their New Year's Eve trip to Anfield to face a team who have now scored 100 league goals during Jurgen Klopp's 48 matches, equalling the record set by Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool have scored 86 league goals in 2016, their most in a calendar year since 1989, and have 40 points from their opening 18 matches for only the second time in the Premier League era.

Their ability to score at home - half of their eight Anfield league matches have produced four goals or more - is why this weekend's visit of City is so highly anticipated. However, Klopp had warned the Stoke fixture - sandwiched between the Merseyside derby and City - was not to be under-estimated and boyhood Everton fan Walters' sixth league goal in 12 appearances against the Reds proved that.

Stoke's record at Anfield is the worst in the Premier League, having not won in 1959 and scored only two goals since 1983, but Walters set about changing that as he nipped in front of Dejan Lovren to catch Simon Mignolet unawares with a near-post header which the goalkeeper got a hand to but could not keep out.

Mignolet did much better when former Reds midfielder Joe Allen created space for himself inside the penalty area, the Belgium international parrying the shot far enough away from the waiting Peter Crouch.

That was the signal for Liverpool to come out of their post-Christmas slumber with Crouch clearing Firmino's shot off the line but there was no-one to fall back on when Lallana, via a deflection from another ex-Red Glen Johnson, swept home from the narrowest of angles.

Firmino, who was charged with drink-driving on Christmas Eve, added the second a minute before the break via both posts having blazed over a good chance while Mane, who had tormented Bruno Martins Indi for the first goal, scuffed a shot wide of the upright.

Mane played a part in Liverpool's third on the hour, if only to put Imbula under pressure, but it was Jordan Henderson's pass inside Johnson to feed Origi which created the chance.

Sturridge's arrival with 20 minutes ago produced the fourth when Ryan Shawcross sent a blind backpass straight to the England striker, who confidently rounded goalkeeper Lee Grant before netting.

Swansea City fire manager Bob Bradley

Swansea City have sacked manager Bob Bradley less than three months after the American took charge.

Swansea were thrashed 4-1 at home by West Ham United on Monday and stand level on 12 points with basement side Hull City after 18 games, four points adrift of the safety zone.

"We are sorry to lose Bob after such a short period of time," said Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins. "Unfortunately things haven't worked out as planned and we felt we had to make the change with half the Premier League season remaining.

"With the club going through such a tough time, we have to try and find the answers to get ourselves out of trouble."

Bradley, 58, saw his Swansea side pick up just two wins and two draws in his 11 games in charge, during which they conceded 29 goals, after he replaced Francesco Guidolin on Oct. 3.

"I knew exactly what I was getting into when I came to Swansea and realised the hardest part was always going to be getting points in the short run," Bradley was quoted as saying on the Twitter feed of Sky Sports presenter Jim White.

"But I believe in myself and I believe in going for it.

"That's what I've always told my players. Football can be cruel and to have a chance, you have to be strong.

"I wish Swansea the best and look forward to my next challenge."

Former Manchester United and Wales winger Ryan Giggs is the early favourite for the job among the bookmakers, followed by Wales manager Chris Coleman, who used to play for Swansea.

Swansea's first team coaches Paul Williams and Alan Curtis will take charge while the club start looking for a replacement just days before the opening of the January transfer window.

American businessmen Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan brought a controlling stake in the Welsh club in June and Bradley was appointed after the sacking of Italian Guidolin, who had joined in January to replace ex-Swansea player Garry Monk.

Former U.S. national team coach Bradley became the first American to manage a Premier League club when he left French club Le Havre to take over at Swansea.

Having worked in American club football as well as in Norway and France, Bradley arrived with a wealth of experience but he was unable to turn the Welsh club's fortunes around.

2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s And Women’s Basketball Teams Share 2016 USA Basketball Team Of The Year Honor

On the heels of impressive performances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Basketball Teams will share the 2016 USA Basketball Team of the Year award.

The USA women captured a sixth-straight Olympic gold medal, while the USA men brought home a third-straight gold.

"The U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Basketball Teams achieved incredible milestones in Rio. It was the third consecutive Olympic gold for the men and a record-setting sixth in a row for the women," said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO/Executive Director. "Both teams are very deserving of this recognition, and we are grateful for the commitments of everyone involved with these teams."

2016 marks the 21st time USA Basketball has presented its Team of the Year award, which was established in 1986.

Featuring six players who averaged more than nine points per game, the USA women won eight games by an average of 37.2 points per contest from Aug. 6-20.

"What was special was just how incredibly deep and unselfish we were," said Geno Auriemma, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Team and USA Women's National Team and at University of Connecticut, as well as a 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. "Obviously, we were the most talented team I have ever been around, but everyone was so willing to play their role and to not get caught up in any of the things that can get in the way when lots of good players are on the same team. It's the most fun I've ever had coaching at any level. It's an experience that I don't know if I'll ever be able to recreate and that I will never forget."

Led by four players who averaged double-digit scoring, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team won its eight games by an average of 22.5 points per contest from Aug. 6-21.

"The 2016 USA Basketball Men's National Team stuck together throughout the Olympics, overcoming significant inexperience in international competition," said Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Team and the USA Men's National Team and at Duke University, as well as a 2016 USA Basketball Co-National Coach of the Year. "Yet, they found a way to win every game. I was most proud that they saved their best for last in the gold medal game versus Serbia. That game showcased their full ability, and to perform that well under the brightest lights in international basketball said a ton about their character, togetherness and passion to represent their country in the best possible manner."

Led by Auriemma with assistant coaches Doug Bruno, Cheryl Reeve and Dawn Staley, the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team featured Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen.
"2016 was the best team I have ever been on," said four-time Olympic gold medalist Taurasi, who was the 2016 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. "Everyone had one goal and that was to make each other better every day."

Among the 12-team tournament, the USA women led in points scored (817), field goal percentage (.577), 3-point percentage (.453), rebounds averaged (45.2), assists (224), field goal percentage defense (.371) and rebound defense (27.3).

The USA women recorded tournament bests for points (121 versus Senegal on Aug. 7); field goals made (47 against Japan on Aug. 16); field goal percentage (65.3 versus Japan on Aug. 16); free throw percentage (26-26 against Serbia on Aug. 10); and assists (40 versus China on Aug. 14).

The squad set U.S. Olympic women's team single-game records for points (121 against Senegal on Aug. 16), 3-pointers made (11 against Japan on Aug. 16), free throw percentage (26-of-26 against Serbia on Aug. 10) and assists (40 against China on Aug. 14).

In the U.S. women's Olympic single-competition record book, the team set records for field goals made (324), field goal percentage (.577), 3-pointers made (58), 3-pointers attempted (128), free throw percentage (.776) and assists (224).

The USA Women's National Team also tallied four exhibition victories, including an 88-84 win over the USA Select Team on July 25 in Los Angeles; an 84-62 victory against France on July 27 in Delaware; an 83-43 defeat of Canada on July 29 in Connecticut; and a 104-89 win over Australia on July 31 in New York City.

Led by Krzyzewski with assistants Jim Boeheim, Tom Thibodeau and Monty Williams and managing director Jerry Colangelo, the U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team featured Carmelo Anthony, Harrison Barnes, Jimmy Butler, DeMarcus Cousins, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Kyle Lowry and Klay Thompson.

"I think the special part about it was our comradery," said Durant, one of the USA's two captains and a co-recipient of the 2016 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award. "All of us still stay in contact to this day, and we were such a tight group. We were brothers from day one. We all wanted the same thing, which was to get a gold medal, and we fought for that. I'll be forever linked with those guys, and we are always going to be family."

Among the 12-team tournament, the USA led in points scored (807), 3-point percentage (.369), rebounds averaged (45.5), steals (70), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.286) and blocked shots (28).

The USA recorded tournament bests for points scored (119 vs. China on Aug. 6), field goal attempts (89), free throws made (33, twice), free throws attempted (45 vs. China on Aug. 6), rebounds (54, twice) and steals (15 vs. China on Aug. 6); and tied for first in field goals made (41) and 3-point field goals made (17).

The 2016 squad set a U.S. Olympic men's team single-game record with 33 made free throws against Serbia on Aug. 12.

In the U.S. Olympic men's single-competition record book, the team set a record for free throws made (168), rebounds (364) and rebounds averaged (45.5).

Additionally, the USA Men's National Team tallied five exhibition victories, including a 111-74 win over Argentina on July 22 in Las Vegas; a 106-57 victory over China on July 24 in Los Angeles; a 107-57 defeat of China on July 26 in Oakland, California; an 80-45 win over Venezuela on July 29 in Chicago; and a 110-66 victory against Nigeria on Aug. 1 in Houston.

Boxing Day Rewind: Chelsea wins, Swans fall again

The Premier League leaders cruised through the Boxing Day festivities while Bob Bradley’s misery extended through the first game of the holiday period.

Chelsea furthered their lead atop the league on Monday via a 3-0 beating of Bournemouth. The win sees Chelsea move seven points ahead of Manchester City and nine points ahead of Liverpool with the latter returning to action on Tuesday.

Swansea remains on the other end of the spectrum, and matters were made even worse due to a resounding defeat to West Ham. Bradley’s Swans were throttled, 4-1, falling for the 10th time in 14 matches since Braldey’s appointment.

Here’s a closer look at Monday’s results:

CHELSEA CRUISES PAST BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth provided little resistance for a Chelsea team that looks bound for a Premier League title.

Chelsea cruised past the Cherries, 3-0, on Monday at Stamford Bridge, furthering their lead atop the league. The win sees Chelsea claim the club’s 12th straight win, a club record.

Pedro opened the scoring in the 24th minute, giving the Blues an early advantage. Eden Hazard’s penalty kick four minutes into the second half all but finalized the result before a late own goal from Steve Cook solidified a lopsided Chelsea win.

SWANS CRUSHED BY WEST HAM

Boxing Day was not a kind one for Bob Bradley.

Swansea City lost for the third straight time on Monday, falling 4-1 to West Ham. Over that stretch, Swansea has been outscored, 10-2, while falling all the way to 19th in the Premier League table heading towards the new year.

Former Swan Andre Ayew started the scoring just 13 minutes in, giving the Hammers the lead heading into halftime. Winston Reid doubled the advantage five minutes into the second half before Michail Antonio added another in the 78th minute. A Fernando Llorente goal in the 89th minute gave the Swans a small consolation, but even that was spoiled by a 90th minute Andy Carroll finish to end yet another Swansea defeat.

MKHITARYAN STUNNER LEADS MAN UNITED PAST SUNDERLAND

Manchester United’s win over Sunderland wasn’t the most memorable, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s stunning finish will be remembered for years to come.

The Man United winger scored a stunning scorpion kick, helping the Red Devils topple Sunderland, 3-1, on Monday. The match was Sunderland manager’s David Moyes’ return to Old Trafford following an ill-fated stint as Man United manager following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Daley Blind began the scoring in the 39th minute, and the match remained tight until Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 82nd minute insurance finish. Moments later, Mkhitaryan scored his wondergoal, making Fabio Borini’s late goal little more than a consolation.

MAN CITY TOPPLES HULL CITY

Manchester City needed a win to keep up with Chelsea, and they got it over lowly Hull City.

The relegation contenders provided a test for the Citizens, who cruised, 3-0, on Monday thanks to three late goals. The win temporarily pushes City into second place ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Stoke City on Tuesday.

Man City left things for late, but piled on the pressure once the goal eventually came. A penalty kick from Yaya Toure pushed City into the lead in the 72nd minute, easing fears for the title contenders. Kelechi Iheanacho doubled the lead moments later, and a late Curtis Davies own goal flattered City en route to another victory.

Here’s a closer look at the rest of the Premier League scorelines:

Arsenal 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace

Burnley 1-0 Middlesbrough

Leicester City 0-2 Everton

West Ham destroy Swansea

Swansea's woes deepened under American coach Bob Bradley with a 4-1 loss at home to West Ham in the English Premier League

Andre Ayew - sold by Swansea in the offseason - got West Ham's first goal against his former club, tapping home in the 13th minute after Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski flapped at the ball following Andy Carroll's header.

Winston Reid, Michail Antonio - with his eighth of the season - and Carroll added further goals for the visitors in the second half, plunging Swansea further into relegation trouble.

Substitute Fernando Llorente scored Swansea's goal in the 89th, making it 3-1 at the time

While West Ham have now won their last three games to move clear of the bottom three, Swansea have lost their last three and conceded 10 goals in the process.

Since Bradley joined in early October as the first American coach in England's top flight, Swansea have lost seven of its 11 games.

Nearly halfway into the campaign, the Welsh club is four points off safety and a chant of "We want Bradley out" reverberated around the Liberty Stadium.

Bradley acknowledged before the game that the fixture against West Ham, and Saturday's match at home to Bournemouth, could determine his future.

"We are our own worst enemy," Bradley said.

"We are in such a rut."