In a month of sporting drama, Rehan Ahmed’s all-round brilliance helped Trent Rockets defeat Manchester Originals, Mohamed Salah became the first player to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year three times, Galal Yafai’s boxing defeat was overturned after opponent Francisco Rodriguez Jr failed a second drug test, and Khamzat Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight championship with a dominant win over Dricus du Plessis.
BOXING
July 29 – Galal Yafai vs. Francisco Rodriguez Jr – Birmingham, UK.
Mexican boxer Francisco Rodriguez Jr failed a drug test in the US six months prior to his controversial victory over Britain’s Galal Yafai. Rodriguez, 31, defeated Olympic gold medallist Yafai on points in Birmingham in June, handing the British fighter his first professional loss. However, post-fight testing revealed that Rodriguez had used the banned substance heptaminol.
The test was conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) under the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program, and investigations are now under way by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and UK Anti-Doping (Ukad).
This was Rodriguez’s second failed drug test within six months. Following his bout against Josue Jesus Morales in San Antonio on December 15, 2024, the Texas Commission ruled the fight a no-contest after he tested positive, imposing a 90-day suspension and a $500 fine. The suspension was recorded on Boxrec.com as a “rules violation,” a designation accessible to the BBBofC.
The WBC, who sanctioned the interim flyweight title fight against Yafai, stated that Rodriguez had not intentionally doped, attributing the positive result to an over-the-counter energy supplement. They have now declared the Yafai fight a no-contest and ordered an immediate rematch. The BBBofC will await Ukad’s ruling before deciding if Rodriguez should face a ban applicable to UK bouts.
CRICKET
August 19 – Rehan Ahmed Stars as Trent Rockets Beat Manchester Originals.
All-rounder Rehan Ahmed delivered a standout performance as Trent Rockets defeated Manchester Originals by seven wickets at Trent Bridge in The Hundred. Ahmed took 2-14, backing up skipper David Willey’s 3-11, to restrict the Originals to 98-8 on a slow pitch. With the bat, Ahmed remained unbeaten on 45 from 35 balls, guiding the Rockets to their target with 26 balls to spare. He also formed a crucial 40-run fifth-wicket partnership with Tom Moores to seal the win, showcasing his ability to influence the game both with bat and ball. Ahmed’s performance keeps Rockets firmly in second place on the table, maintaining pressure on leaders Oval Invincibles.
FOOTBALL
August 19 – Mohamed Salah becomes first player to win PFA Players’ Player of The Year three times.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has made history by winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for a record third time following a stellar 2024–25 season. Salah scored 29 goals and registered a career-best 18 assists, helping Liverpool secure the Premier League title and earning his fourth Golden Boot. The 33-year-old Egyptian became the first player ever to win the award three times and was also named in the Premier League Team of the Year, alongside teammates Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister. Salah collected the accolade from Liverpool legend Ian Rush, beating nominees including Mac Allister, Bruno Fernandes, Alexander Isak, Cole Palmer, and Declan Rice.Reflecting on his achievement, Salah said: “It’s an incredible feeling. I want to thank everyone who voted for me… A guy coming from Egypt, making it to the top level and making history.” Salah’s record-breaking win cements his status among Premier League royalty and highlights his continued impact at the peak of his career.
July 26 – Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Final – Stade Olympique, Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria came from two goals down to defeat hosts Morocco 3–2 in Rabat, claiming their record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title. In a dramatic final, substitute Jennifer Echegini scored the 88th-minute winner, completing what the Super Falcons called ‘Mission X’ — winning their 10th title in 13 editions of the tournament.
Morocco, buoyed by a passionate crowd of 21,000, had taken a 2–0 lead within the first 24 minutes through Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy. Nigeria responded strongly after halftime, with Esther Okoronkwo converting a penalty following a VAR handball check, assisting Folashade Ijamilusi for the equaliser, and delivering the free kick that led to Echegini’s decisive goal. It was Morocco’s second successive final defeat, having lost to South Africa in 2022.
MMA – UFC
August 17 – UFC 319, United Center – Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Khamzat Chimaev captured the UFC middleweight championship with a dominant performance over South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis. From the opening bell, Chimaev controlled the fight, repeatedly taking du Plessis to the ground and maintaining relentless pressure. Despite du Plessis’ attempts at a comeback, Chimaev’s superior wrestling and ground striking left the defending champion unable to mount significant offence. All three judges scored the bout 50–44 in Chimaev’s favour.
Chimaev, now 15–0, celebrated the victory by emphasising the belt’s importance to his country, describing du Plessis as “a real lion” for his toughness. He completed 12 successful takedowns out of 17 attempts and landed 529 strikes compared to du Plessis’ 45, establishing himself as a major figure in the UFC middleweight division.
July 26 – UFC Fight Night, UAE.
Shara “Bullet” Magomedov returned to winning form by defeating Marc-Andre Barriault in a gruelling bout. Despite a suspected broken nose and an early scare with a missed fence grab, Magomedov weathered Barriault’s initial aggression and dominated rounds two and three, earning a unanimous 30–27 decision. The one-eyed Russian fighter, known for his Muay Thai and lethwei striking, reasserted himself as a serious contender in the UFC middleweight division.
SWIMMING
July 11–August 3 – 2025 World Aquatics Championships – Singapore.
Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi confirmed his dominance in distance swimming by completing the 800m–1500m double at the World Championships. The 20-year-old surged past Germany’s Sven Schwarz and Olympic champion Bobby Finke in the final laps to claim gold in the 1500m with a time of 14:34.41. Jaouadi, who had also won the 800m earlier in the week, became the sixth swimmer to sweep both distance events since the 800m was added in 2001. Despite trailing much of the race, he relied on explosive finishing speed to secure victory, finishing 1.28 seconds ahead of Schwarz. Finke took bronze in 14:36.60, battling illness that affected the US team.
Jaouadi becomes Tunisia’s third male 1500m world champion, joining Ous Mellouli and Ahmed Hafnaoui. His time ranks sixth-fastest in history, narrowly ahead of Grant Hackett’s 14:34.56, which stood as a world record for 11 years.
