Latest news with #TheMachine
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Luke Humphries has say on ‘fartgate' in message to rival James Wade after Players Championship darts win
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JAMES WADE has proved that flatulent glee gets you everywhere - after the jubilant 'Fartgate' flinger won the support of Luke Humphries. The Machine shrugged off controversy over his loud and less than proud intervention against Peter Wright by winning Players Championship 19. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 James Wade roared back to win PC19 after a pong row at PC17 Credit: Getty 2 Luke Humphries was quick off the mark with a cheeky repl. Credit: Getty Wade trumped Scott Williams in the final to move back up to World No. 8. The English oche ace was so overjoyed to be on-song after his pong that he posted a message on X. And he got a surprise reply from Cool Hand, offering him congratulations - albeit with a mischievous twist... Wade, 42, wrote: "Good Morning everyone. Wow!! I'm over the moon you can't believe. READ MORE ON JAMES WADE STAR'S BATTLE Darts star, 42, feared he'd never play again after serious health scare "I played well in all games this week and last night was the high I've been aiming for!! Celebrations all round. "As always, thank you to all my supporters and the kind comments. "Thank you to my sponsors and management team!" World No.1 Humphries quickly pinged the pong-row flinger a cheeky response. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK The 2024 Ally Pally king said: "Great farts mate!! I mean 'Darts'." However, fans managed to be even less subtle than Humphries with their rip-ostes. James Wade names two darts stars who should NOT have been invited into Premier League darts One wrote: "You have blown all your opponents away, the smell of success is strong when your on stage." Another mused: "Must be great to let off a bit if steam, although Peter Wright might not agree." The farting furore exploded live on TV during Players Championship 17 when Wade let rip during a 6-5 victory over Wright. Snakebite might be better suited to dealing with stings than stinks - but he initially laughed it off. Referee Owen Binks reminded them "this is a streamed match, guys". Wade then suggested his Scottish opponent 'Give it a second' before he returned to the oche. But Snakebite appeared to believe that time period was a clear under-estimate. Wade went on to not just nick that match but get better as the week wore on - at darts, that is - peaking with the PC19 crown. Yet incredibly it's the second time the Surrey star has been caught in a storm of his own brewing. That blast from the past was at the Players Championship last September when he blamed the noise on velcro from his new trainers.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘People didn't realise I was really ill' – Darts star, 42, feared he'd never play again after health scare
JAMES WADE feared he'd never play darts again after suffering a string of illnesses. The Aldershot hotshot claimed the Players Championship 19 title after defeating Scott Williams 8-3 in yesterday's final in Leicester. It was Wade's first ranking title since 2022 and the 19th Players Championship Event in his stellar career. 'The Machine' took out a brilliant 110 checkout to take a 4-2 lead against 'Shaggy'. The World No.10 followed this up with a cracking 120 finish to gain a 5-2 advantage over Williams at the Mattioli Arena. Wade, a ten-time major winner, pearled in a ten-darter to go 6-3 up. Wade sealed the deal with another cracking 110 outshout as he averaged 101.52 and pinged in eight out of nine doubles for the victory. Former World Matchplay champ Wade opened up about struggles with his health and how it impacted his career and rankings before making a terrific comeback to the winner's circle. He said: 'It's been a bloody long time that is for sure. 'I'm really pleased and happy. I felt I have just been lucky the last two games. 'Everyone forgets I had pancreatitis. It's a serious health condition and I went from world number three to plummeting down and out of the rankings. 'I just think everyone takes their health for granted. Peter Wright stunned after James Wade farts during game 'The public and probably the organisation didn't realise I was really ill. 'I went from world No3 to 27. It wasn't because my darting ability disappeared, it was because my health disappeared. 'So give me a little bit of a break. 'Today I felt really proud of myself because I've never been a press favourite or an organisation favourite. 'But you know when I've gone against what I've gone against, not knowing if I'm going to play darts again, today is a milestone. 'I've put myself under quite a bit of pressure over the last 12 months so today it has been really nice.' The 42-year-old smashed in two ton plus checkouts to overcome Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final. Wade hit seven out of 13 doubles to record a routine 7-3 triumph against Andrew Gilding in the last four.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
James Wade opens up on health battles after ending three year darts title drought
The Machine opens up on struggles following first triumph since 2022 as he beat Scott Williams 8-3 to return to PDC winners circle Proud James Wade blew his rivals away with a milestone return to the PDC winners circle. The Machine made all the right noises to win his first darts ranking title since 2022 at the 19th Players Championship event of the campaign. Wade had been all over social media in build-up to Thursday's tournament after an incident of breaking wind earlier in the week during a match against Peter Wrigh t was caught on TV camera. But the headlines around the 42-year-old are all about the arrows after his brilliant win which was sealed by a 8-3 success over Scott Williams in the Final. Wade has battled against health struggles during his victory drought and revealed how it has impacted his career. He said: "Everyone forgets I had pancreatitis. It's a serious health condition and I went from World No.3 to plummeting down and out of the rankings. "I just think everyone takes it for granted their health. The public and probably the organisation didn't realise I was really ill. 'I went from world number three to 27. It wasn't because my darting ability disappeared it was because my health disappeared. So give me a little bit of a break! "Today I felt really proud of myself because I've never been a press favourite or an organisation favourite, but you now, when I've gone against what I've gone against, not knowing if I I'm going to play darts again, today is a milestone. 'I've put myself under quite a bit of pressure over the last 12 months so today it has been really nice. I'm really pleased and happy. It's been a bloody long time, that is for sure.' The 42-year-old smashed in two ton-plus checkouts to overcome Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final, hammered Andrew Gilding in the last four before seeing-off Williams. Wade's success made him the third different winner of the lengthy week in Leicester after Stephen Bunting produced a string of outstanding performances to clinch his fourth title of 2025. The Bullet backed-up World Series titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen this year and a maiden European Tour crown in April's International Darts Open with a win on Wednesday. Bunting said: 'I'm so happy that my consistency is there. I'm playing with a smile on my face and, when I've got a smile on my face, I'm dangerous.' The previous day, it was Bunting's Premier League colleague Chris Dobey who took the spoils when he claimed Event 17 in dramatic fashion at the Mattioli Arena. The Geordie was able to ride a wave of momentum during his day with crucial victories over Wade and van Veen which earned him a spot in the final against Dirk van Duijvenbode. Dobey kept cool to beat the Dutchman in a deciding leg and said: 'This is my second win of the year, but just to win one tournament is an achievement. "I want to be competing with the top boys to give myself more chances of getting to the top.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC Atlanta: Malcolm Wellmaker is the bantamweight boogeyman and the division should be terrified!
The post UFC Atlanta: Malcolm Wellmaker is the bantamweight boogeyman and the division should be terrified! appeared first on ClutchPoints. Malcolm 'The Machine' Wellmaker has done it again. In front of a roaring crowd at UFC Atlanta, the Augusta native delivered what's becoming his trademark: an electrifying, first-round knockout, this time at the expense of the notoriously durable Kris Moutinho. With this latest finish, Wellmaker not only preserved his perfect record but sent a thunderous warning to the UFC bantamweight division—he is not here to play, and he might just be the most dangerous new force at 135 pounds. Advertisement The UFC went to extraordinary lengths to find Wellmaker an opponent for this homecoming showcase, ultimately landing on Moutinho, a fighter whose reputation for absorbing punishment borders on mythical. Moutinho, remembered by fans for his 'walking chin' performance against Sean O'Malley, was brought in as a late replacement, just 11 days' notice, after others reportedly balked at the assignment. Wellmaker, for his part, showed respect for Moutinho's grit and willingness to step up, but made no secret of his intentions: 'To be completely candid, I'm quite confident that I will knock him out,' he said in the lead-up. He was true to his word. The fight barely had time to develop before Wellmaker uncorked a devastating right hand that sent Moutinho crashing to the canvas, lights out, and forced the referee's intervention. It was Wellmaker's third straight first-round knockout, a streak that now includes his Contender Series contract-winning KO, his UFC debut destruction of Cameron Saaiman, and this latest demolition of Moutinho. A Star Is Born! What makes Wellmaker's rise so compelling isn't just the violence of his finishes, but the context surrounding them. Just over a year ago, Wellmaker was still working as a pipe-fitter, grinding away at a day job while training part-time. His UFC debut in Kansas City was a revelation: a counter right hook that left Saaiman face-first on the canvas, earning Wellmaker a $50,000 bonus and a wave of new fans. That performance, coupled with his Contender Series highlight, made it clear that 'The Machine' was not simply another prospect—he was a problem. Since then, Wellmaker has quit his day job, dedicated himself fully to the sport, and watched his social media following explode by over 70,000 in just two months. The UFC, recognizing his star potential, rewarded him with a homecoming bout in Atlanta, just two hours from his hometown of Augusta. For Wellmaker, fighting in front of friends, family, and a supportive Georgia crowd was a dream realized: 'Everything about this card feels like a dream come true,' he said before the fight. Advertisement But dreams alone don't put opponents to sleep, Wellmaker's fists do. With each successive knockout, he's proving that his power, timing, and composure are not flukes. His record now stands at a pristine 10-0, with six of those wins coming by knockout and the majority inside the opening round. His striking accuracy is a sterling 61%, and his average fight time is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it 2:14. Moutinho, for all his toughness, never stood a chance. The numbers bear it out: Moutinho absorbs a staggering 15.48 significant strikes per minute, by far the most in the division, and his defense sits at a perilous 28%. Against a finisher like Wellmaker, those are fatal flaws. The result was inevitable, and Wellmaker delivered. Wellmaker Is the Division's Boogeyman It's time to say it—Malcolm Wellmaker is the bantamweight boogeyman. In a division loaded with talent and depth, no one is making statements as violently and consistently as 'The Machine.' Three consecutive first-round knockouts, all against increasingly tough opposition, is no accident. Wellmaker brings a rare blend of athleticism, power, and self-belief that makes him a nightmare matchup for anyone outside the very top of the division. Advertisement The UFC has a potential superstar on its hands. Wellmaker's story, a blue-collar fighter who rose from regional obscurity to UFC stardom in less than a year, resonates. His fighting style, all aggression and highlight-reel finishes, is tailor-made for the modern fan, and his confidence is infectious. The question now isn't whether Wellmaker belongs. It's how quickly he can climb the ranks, and whether anyone can survive his opening-round onslaught. With each fight, the answer seems less likely. The bantamweight division has been put on notice: the boogeyman is real, and his name is Malcolm Wellmaker. If you're a contender at 135 pounds, you might want to sleep with one eye open. The Machine is coming, and he's coming for heads. Related: UFC Atlanta: Give Rodolfo Bellato an Oscar after the bizarre ending to his fight with Paul Craig Related: UFC Atlanta: Jose Ochoa silences the hometown crowd knocking out Cody Durden
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 316 live updates: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley 2 results, round-by-round analysis, highlights
Uncrowned has UFC 316 live results, round-by-round updates, start time and highlights for the Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley 2 and Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison fight card on Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. UFC bantamweight champion Dvalishvili defends his title in a rematch against O'Malley in the night's five-round main event, while Peña begins her second reign as bantamweight champion with a five-round grudge match against Harrison in the co-headliner. Dvalishvili (19-4) is Uncrowned's No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He enters Saturday riding the longest win streak in UFC bantamweight division history, having secured 11 straight victories en route to his O'Malley title rematch. A native of Georgia who's aptly nicknamed "The Machine" for his seemingly endless cardio, Dvalishvili, 34, captured the belt this past September with a decision win over O'Malley, then successfully defended it with a thrilling performance over Umar Nurmagomedov in January. Dvalishvili also holds notable wins over former UFC champions Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. Advertisement O'Malley (18-2, 1 NC) has not competed since dropping his belt to Dvalishvili in the UFC's lone visit to the Las Vegas Sphere. Perhaps the biggest name in the UFC bantamweight division, O'Malley, 30, earned his first title shot in 2022 with a thrilling victory over Yan, then memorably knocked out Aljamain Sterling to secure the belt in 2023. O'Malley's lone defense of his strap came in a March 2024 rout of Marlon "Chito" Vera, after which his seven-fight win streak came to a screeching end against Dvalishvili. The evening's co-main event is a battle of pound-for-pound stars as No. 5-ranked Peña (12-5) defends her UFC women's bantamweight belt against No. 4-ranked Harrison (18-1). Peña won the title to kick off her second reign with a split decision over Raquel Pennington this past October, while Harrison — a two-time Olympic champion and two-time PFL champion — is a perfect 2-0 thus far under the UFC umbrella. Advertisement The UFC 316 start time for the preliminary card is at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+. The main card begins live at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Follow along with Uncrowned's live UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 results, highlights and live blog below, including round-by-round play-by-play for the final seven bouts of the night. Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET) Bantamweight championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley Women's bantamweight championship: Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Bantamweight: Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Kevin Holland Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+, 8 p.m. ET) Flyweight: Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van Advertisement Light heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Brendson Ribeiro Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta Welterweight: Khaos Williams vs. Andreas Gustafsson Early prelims (ESPN+/Disney+, 6 p.m. ET) 132-pound catchweight: Ariane da Silva vs. Wang Cong Featherweight: Jeka Saragih vs. Joo Sang Yoo Lightweight: Quillan Salkilld vs. Yanal Ashmouz Lightweight: MarQuel Mederos vs. Mark Choinski
