In this segment, we take a look at the upcoming weekend’s biggest sporting contests.
This weekend holds NFL and tennis knockout action, an MMA superfight and two of the EPL’s biggest clubs facing off.
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UFC
The UFC makes its debut on ESPN this weekend with Fight Night 143 in Brooklyn.
The card is headlined by the superfight between TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo for the flyweight belt.
Dillashaw, the UFC’s bantamweight champion, is making the move down a weight class to take on current flyweight champ, Cejudo.
The latter took the belt off long-time champion Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson in the co-main event of UFC 227.
The headliner of that event was Dillashaw’s last fight, where he got a first round knockout against heated-rival Cody Garbrandt.
If Dillashaw were to win on the weekend, he’d join an elite and exclusive club of simultaneous double-division champions.
A feat only achieved by Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier and most-recently Amanda Nunes.
You can read more about UFC Fight Night 143 and ESPN’s coverage in our comprehensive preview here.
NFL
The NFL’s Conference Championship games this weekend will determine the two teams to face off at Super Bowl LIII.
The New England Patriots travel to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Last week, the Patriots overcame the Chargers, while the Chiefs downed the Colts.
In the NFC Championship game, the New Orlean Saints host the Los Angeles Rams.
Last weekend saw the Saints knock out last year’s Super Bowl champions, the Eagles, while the Rams defeated the Cowboys.
You can read more about the NFL action this weekend in our preview here.
Aus Open
Tennis action continues in the Australian Open this weekend.
Five Australians have made it into the third round of the competition.
Alex De Minaur has the daunting task of facing Rafael Nadal tonight.
While youngster Alexei Popyrin and fellow Aussie Alex Bolt have matches tomorrow.
In the women’s singles, Ashleigh Barty plays this morning, and Kimberly Birrell has tough competition in Angelique Kerber tonight.
Superstars Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and the Williams sisters are all in action today and tomorrow as the competition progresses.
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Arsenal will be hoping to bounce-back from their shock loss to West Ham last Saturday, when they host Chelsea this weekend.
Chelsea managed a 2-1 win in their last game against Newcastle, and currently sit in fourth place in the EPL.
While Arsenal are a position behind in fifth, both clubs are desperate for all three points for differing reasons.
Chelsea will be hoping to break into the top three with a win, while Arsenal will be aiming to close the gap on the top four while staying ahead of a surging Manchester United.
By Brandon Clark
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