Nov. 1 | T20 series | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan:
In a thrilling series decider, Pakistan defeated South Africa by four wickets to claim the T20 series 2-1. The victory was engineered by a commanding bowling performance, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 3-26, and anchored by a masterful 68 from Babar Azam.
After being put into bat, South Africa was immediately put on the back foot by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took two wickets in a spectacular first over. The tourists never fully recovered and were restricted to a total of 139 for 9, with Corbin Bosch’s late 30 not out providing some respectability.
In reply, Babar Azam returned to the side with a flawless display, scoring his 68 from 47 deliveries and sharing a decisive 70-run partnership with captain Salman Agha, who contributed 33. Despite a minor stumble that saw four wickets fall quickly as the finish line approached, Pakistan successfully chased down the target with just six balls to spare, sparking celebrations in Lahore.
Nov. 22 | UFC Qatar | ABHA Arena, Doha, Qatar:
Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry continued his march towards a welterweight title shot by defeating former champion Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision.
Machado Garry, 28, outstruck the Palestinian American 72 to 56 and successfully defended against all seven of Muhammad’s takedown attempts, leaving the 37-year-old frustrated throughout the fight. Muhammad initially tried to impose his striking but struggled to reach Machado Garry’s longer range, and when he attempted to shift to his grappling, he was repeatedly thwarted.
Despite his experience and former championship pedigree, Muhammad was unable to control the fight, leaving Machado Garry in full command from the opening bell. After the victory, Machado Garry declared himself the number one contender and called out welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. “Belal couldn’t take me down, so Islam, you try take me down. I am the best in the world,” he said.
Nov. 16 | UFC 322 Welterweight Main event | Madison Square Garden, New York, USA:
Russia’s Islam Makhachev made history in New York, becoming a two-weight UFC champion after dismantling Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena in a commanding main-event performance. The Russian star, now only the 11th fighter to hold titles in two divisions, extended his decade-long unbeaten run and relieved Della Maddalena of the welterweight crown.
Nov. 9 | UFC Vegas 111 | UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA:
Serbia’s Uroš Medić delivered one of the standout performances of the year with a devastating 63-second knockout of Russia’s Muslim Salikhov. The Serbian lightweight, already regarded as one of the UFC’s most lethal finishers, produced a carbon-copy result of his previous fight, where he also stopped Gilbert Urbina in exactly 63 seconds. Medić wasted no time asserting control, flooring Salikhov with a blistering combination before sealing the victory with a clinical ground-and-pound. The win further cements his reputation as one of the promotion’s most destructive knockout artists.
Oct. 24-30 | 2025 World Taekwondo Championships | Wuxi, China:
The World Taekwondo Championships concluded with a historic upset, as Turkey dethroned the sport’s traditional superpowers to claim its first-ever top-of-the-table finish. This victory marks a significant shift from the longtime dominance of South Korea and China.
The Turkish team’s triumph was powered by a trio of new world champions: Emine Göğebakan (women’s -46 kg), Merve Dinçel (-53 kg), and heavyweight Nafia Kuş (+73 kg).
The upheaval extended beyond Turkey. Tunisia delivered a stunning performance to finish fourth overall, a rare achievement, fueled by gold-medal victories from Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi (-63 kg) and Wafa Masghouni (-62 kg). In a tie for fifth, Iran and Uzbekistan showcased their rising talent, with Abolfazl Zandi (Iran, -58 kg) and Najmiddin Kosimkhojiev (Uzbekistan, -74 kg) capturing gold.
Further underscoring the event’s changing landscape, Egypt’s Seif Eissa was crowned champion in the men’s -87 kg category, leading his nation to an eighth-place finish. The podium was filled with athletes from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, signaling a more diverse and competitive future for the sport.
Nov 4. | WTA Tour:
Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has confirmed her indefinite hiatus from the sport is not a retirement. The former world No. 2 announced the break in an emotional July statement, explaining she needed to “take a step back” from the game.
The popular 31-year-old has endured significant heartbreak on court, losing three Grand Slam finals—including two at Wimbledon. Despite having barely picked up a racket since July, Jabeur is adamant this is a pause and that she will eventually return to professional tennis.
Oct. 20-27 | 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships | Novi Sad, Serbia:
The future of global wrestling has a clear focal point, as athletes from Muslim-majority nations delivered a commanding performance at the U23 World Championships, capturing a dominant share of the medals.
Iran set the standard, clinching the Greco-Roman team title behind gold-medal performances from stars like Iman Mohammadi (72kg) and heavyweight Fardin Hedayati (130kg). Their prowess extended to freestyle, where Mohammad Mobin Azimi (92kg) also topped the podium.
The success story was a global one. Azerbaijan’s Elmir Aliyev and Ziya Babashov won Greco-Roman golds, while Kanan Heybatov triumphed in freestyle. Turkey’s Nesrin Baş stood out with a gold in women’s freestyle, and Central Asian powerhouses Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan saw champions in Shugyla Omirbek and Nurzat Nurtaeva, respectively.
From Egypt’s Hassan Abdelrehim winning Greco-Roman gold to Bahrain’s Magomed Sharipov earning a freestyle bronze, the results confirm the deep and diverse talent pool emerging from the Muslim world, signaling a shifting landscape in international wrestling.
Feature photo: Russia’s Islam Makhachev becomes a two-weight UFC champion in New York after defeating Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena. (Credit: Noligate/Flickr CC)
