MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Fighters fined, suspended
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 and suspended for nine months for a brawl inside and outside the octagon after his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229. McGregor was fined $50,000 and suspended for six months. Nurmagomedov's suspension can be reduced by three months if he participates with Las Vegas police in an anti-bullying public service announcement, according to a settlement approved Tuesday by the Nevada Athletic Commission. The commission must approve the PSA and how it's distributed. Nurmagomedov's fine will be taken from his share of the purse for the Oct. 6 fight. The suspensions for both fighters are retroactive to Oct. 6. Nurmagomedov climbed over the cage and scuffled with a fighter in McGregor's corner after McGregor (21-4) tapped out during a chokehold by Nurmagomedov (27-0) in the fourth round of UFC 229. Video showed McGregor trying to climb the cage to apparently join fighting outside and attempting to strike another person doing the same. McGregor and Nurmagomedov had been suspended since shortly after the fight and remained so while the brawl was under investigation.
Jon Jones granted license
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was granted a one-fight license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, clearing the way for his title defense against Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on March 2. Jones had a hearing in front of the commission regarding the M3 metabolite, oral turinabol, for which he tested positive prior to his fight against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232 on Dec. 29, originally set for Las Vegas. The NSAC did not license Jones to fight in Nevada due to the unknown circumstances of why he tested positive for the same substance that got him suspended for 15 months in July 2017. The commission did not know of the test results until Dec. 21. That event was moved to California, and Jones defeated Gustafsson by knockout in the third round to reclaim the vacated title once held by Daniel Cormier.
BASEBALL
Lovullo gets extension
The Arizona Diamondbacks have given Manager Torey Lovullo a two-year contract extension through the 2021 season. Lovullo, 53, was a coach for manager John Farrell in Toronto and Boston, then was hired as Arizona's manager in October 2016. He was voted National League Manager of the Year in his first season after the Diamondbacks went 93-69. Arizona beat Colorado in the NL wild-card game, then was swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series.
Alderson back with A's
Sandy Alderson is returning to the Oakland Athletics as a senior adviser to baseball operations after previously working 17 seasons with the club in various capacities.Alderson led the A's when they won three consecutive AL pennants from 1988-90 and a sweep of the earthquake-interrupted 1989 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. He was general manager between stints as team president from 1993-95 and 1997-98. The 71-year-old announced Saturday at the Baseball Writers' Association of America awards dinner in New York that he has been cancer-free for four months. He took a leave of absence from duties as New York Mets general manager in late June after his cancer returned and said he did not deserve to return because of the team's poor record.
Walker, Marlins agree
Switch-hitting infielder Neil Walker has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins and is expected to compete for a starting job. Walker was among the unsigned free agents last winter who attended a free-agent training camp in Bradenton, Fla., and he agreed in mid-March to a $4 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees. He slumped badly, hitting .197 with 19 RBI in the first half, then improved to .247 with 27 RBI in the second half to finish at .219 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 113 games.
Rollins named special adviser
Jimmy Rollins does not seem to be waiting until May's retirement ceremony to find work. He latched on with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday as a special adviser. Rollins, the team's all-time hits leader, will work on both the baseball and business sides of the organization. The Phillies said his duties will include "spring training coaching, meeting with sponsors and suite holders, fan engagement and community outreach." The Phillies will honor Rollins on May 4 before holding retirement ceremonies later in the season for Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Rollins, 40, last played for the Phillies in 2014 and has been out of baseball since he was released by San Francisco in 2017.
TENNIS
Murray has hip surgery
Andy Murray said he has had hip resurfacing surgery and had a metal joint implanted. The three-time major champion posted a message Tuesday on Instagram saying he had the operation Monday in London. Murray said he is "feeling a bit battered and bruised." The post includes two pictures -- one shows Murray in a hospital bed, the other shows an X-ray. He has dealt with hip pain for years and already had an operation in January 2018. After losing in the first round of the Australian Open two weeks ago, Murray said he would decide quickly whether to have surgery again. He said at a news conference before the Australian Open that it might be the last tournament of his career.
Svitolina in Fed Cup dispute
Australian Open quarterfinalist Elina Svitolina is in a dispute with the Ukrainian Tennis Federation and has withdrawn from her country's Fed Cup team. Svitolina, who is ranked seventh in the world, said she can't play upcoming Fed Cup matches in Poland because she is injured. But the federation said she and Dayana Yastremska originally agreed to play but withdrew after their agent made unreasonable financial demands. The federation said "playing matches for your national team should be a matter of patriotism, dedication and respect for the sporting honor of Ukraine." Svitolina said on Facebool that financial "negotiations" did take place, but the deciding factor was the neck and shoulder problem that hampered her in her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Naomi Osaka. Without Svitolina and Yastremska, the Fed Cup team will instead include Lesia Tsurenko, Kateryna Kozlova, Marta Kostyuk and Nadiya Kichenok.
FOOTBALL
Chiefs set stadium upgrades
The Kansas City Chiefs are planning more than $10 million in upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs announced that the renovations will include a "modernization" of the Arrowvision scoreboard, along with waterproofing and new seats -- with cup holders -- in the stadium's upper deck. Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release that the last stadium renovation was completed a decade ago. The scoreboard will remain the same size but will have new LED panels to improve clarity. The work could begin next week. The Kansas City Star reported the Chiefs are paying for the work but can ask to be reimbursed by the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
Redskins promote O'Connell
The Washington Redskins have promoted Kevin O'Connell to offensive coordinator after he previously served as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The team announced O'Connell's promotion Tuesday along with other changes to Jay Gruden's coaching staff. Matt Cavanaugh, who had been offensive coordinator the past two seasons, is now the Redskins' senior offensive assistant. O'Connell, 33, previously was an assistant in San Francisco and Cleveland and was considered a strong candidate to land an offensive coordinator job elsewhere in the NFL before Washington gave him that title.
BASKETBALL
Davis fined $50,000 over public trade demand
NEW YORK -- Anthony Davis' agent let everyone know the superstar wants out of New Orleans, and now it will cost his client $50,000.
The NBA fined the Pelicans star because of his agent's comments that Davis won't sign an extension and wants to be traded.
The league office said in a written statement released Tuesday evening that Davis violated a collective bargain rule prohibiting players or their representatives from making public trade demands.
The NBA said the fine is for statements that were made by Davis' agent, Rich Paul, on Monday in an intentional effort to undermine the contractual relationship between Davis and the Pelicans.
Davis is under contract with New Orleans through the end of the 2019-20 season.
He was drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in 2012 after winning an NCAA national championship with Kentucky and has been named an All-Star the previous five seasons.
Davis has averaged 29.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game this season but has missed the past four games with a sprained left index finger. Had Davis been committed to remaining in New Orleans, he would be eligible this summer for a five-year, roughly $240 million extension with the Pelicans that would have kicked in beginning with the 2020-21 season.
Boston, which has a stockpile of draft picks and promising young players as trade bait, is not eligible to trade for Davis under NBA rules until July 1, unless the Celtics also trade away Kyrie Irving. Irving is a factor because of what's known as the Rose Rule, which says NBA teams cannot trade for more than one player who has signed an extension.
Sports on 01/30/2019