Za’Darius Smith played his last game with the Eagles on Oct. 9, 2025, before announcing his retirement four days later after 11 seasons in the NFL. The former edge rusher posted a message on Instagram just six games into the regular season.
Now, Smith has found his way back into the league, signing a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons last week. In his latest news conference, the three-time Pro Bowler revealed a deeply personal reason for his decision to retire from the Eagles.
“Got a phone call from my mom’s doctor telling me that she doesn’t have much longer to be on this Earth,” Smith said. “So, I let the team know. Obviously, they weren’t trying to let me leave but that was the only thing I had left, to retire. So, I retired. Dealt with that. After losing my mom, I lost my grandma. Then after my grandma, I just lost my dad. So, y’all obviously know what I’ve been through.”
“I was in a dark place”
🙏 Za'Darius Smith emotional Revealing the Heartbreaking Reason he abruptly Retired from the Eagles & NFL last October
Smith says he got a call saying his mom was dying and then his grandma and dad also passed awayhttps://t.co/Ddnpmau1tb
The three-time Pro Bowler signed with the Eagles on Sept. 5, one day after their season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Smith was brought in to help an Eagles pass rush that was missing Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, who previously announced his own retirement. The veteran was fitting in well “bringing that BG energy,” before announcing his departure.
Smith spent the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions. Following his retirement, and entering the 2026 season, Smith got a call from Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
“Shoutout to AB for just calling me and seeing where I was at mentally,” Smith said. “He was just asking me, ‘Do I want to play football again? Did I still love the game?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I love it, man. I need to come back because I’m at my lowest right now.’
“So, he told me to come in and do a workout and we’ll go from there. Got to Cleveland, went through the workout. Everything went well, but we couldn’t get the numbers right. So, I told them, ‘Just call me back when you figure it out.’ And I guess after working out, Coach [Kevin] Stefanski saw me in the end and they were like, ‘All right, yeah, we need another end.’ Because I guess our guys went down. So, they needed a veteran in the room. So, when he called me, I was like, man, this is perfect because it’s close to home for me. … So, I’m just happy to be back and happy to get back started.”
The Alabama native is reunited with his former Cleveland coach Stefanski, bringing a veteran presence to the locker room after the Falcons lost edge rushers Jalon Walker for the season with an ACL injury and James Pearce Jr., who is suspended for eight games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
After getting emotional and taking a few moments to compose himself, Smith expressed how happy he is to be back playing.
“This is my happy place, man,” Smith said. “Come back, play football. I was in a dark place. But you know, coming out, running out on the field, the fans, not only just the fans, but the joy that I get from winning and just getting sacks, you know.
“I started late in high school, my senior year in high school. I didn’t know how to play football. My coach always told me just to go get the quarterback. Ever since he told me that, I’ve been good at it. When I retired, I think I had 70 sacks. So, now I’m trying to reach 100. Anyway I can get to it would be good.”
Friendship bracelets have become a concert tradition for Taylor Swift fans. During concerts, Swifties arrive with stacks of beaded bracelets decorating their wrists to trade with other fans in attendance. The bracelets themselves feature colorful beads, different song titles, and other personal touches.
It’s a movement that has been going on since March 2023 when the Eras Tour began. And now, Caitlin Clark is bringing that tradition to the basketball court with her new Swift-inspired “Friendship Bracelet” colorway.
Clark debuted the sneakers during Indiana Fever practice, giving fans a closer look at the newest colorway for her Nike Caitlin 1 signature shoe.
The sneaker features colorful beads worked into the fuzzy rope laces that spell out “CC 22,” a beads graphic is printed in the insole, and there’s an off-white upper with pastel color undertones completing the look.
Earlier this month, the three-time WNBA All-Star already teased that she had a “couple of versions” that Swift may like. It should come as no surprise that Clark would pay homage to the music star, being the ultimate Swiftie herself and becoming close friends with the pop star. She’s even been spotted hanging out with the Berks Co. native, who married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce earlier this summer, at Kelce’s games.
Clark debuted her signature sneaker this season and has already revealed over 10 different colorways, including the “Racer Blue,” “Yellow Zest,” and “University of Iowa.”
Eagles center Cam Jurgens kept himself busy growing up in Pickrell, Neb., whether he was harvesting on the family farm or making deer jerky with his father’s homemade smoker.
That’s why it should come as no surprise that Jurgens would enter the beef jerky business.
“If I told myself as a little kid that, ‘Hey, not only are you going to have your own beef jerky brand, but you’re going to play in the NFL and be a Super Bowl champ,’ I would be like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have to go do chores,’” Jurgens said.
Jurgy is a farm-raised beef jerky line founded by Jurgens and his family. The brand features five flavors: original, hot honey, teriyaki, cracked pepper, and Jurgens’ favorite — mango habanero.
And now Jurgy is introducing a new flavor to the lineup in its first flavor and bag collaboration. Its partnering with Oceans Casino Resort to launch a limited-edition blueberry BBQ flavor. The flavor is a nod to the region’s roots, with Atlantic County being one of the largest blueberry-producing areas in the country.
“It’s been in the works for a while, and we’re happy that it’s finally at the point where we can talk about it and get this new stuff out there,” Jurgens said.
Ocean Casino Resort has partnered with Cam Jurgens’ beef jerky line, Jurgy, to release a blueberry BBQ flavor.Jurgy
Jurgy, a reference to Jurgens’ college nickname “Beef Jurgy,” was created when he was a senior at Nebraska.
It started with his mom, Beth, making T-shirts and hats on a Cricut machine and shipping them out from their family farm. Eventually, Jurgens’ best friend, Matt Sichterman, set up an online store to expand their reach.
“I saw Cam and his mom building this T-shirt and hat brand, and Cam’s mom was staying up all night shipping orders from the farm, taking orders, like pen-and-paper type of deal,” Sichterman said. “I was like, ‘I think I can add some technology in the loop.’ So, that’s always what I’ve done. I’ve always worked at technology companies and built websites. So it helped us get digital, and then we’ve continued to expand the brand.”
They entered the jerky game by finding a meat locker in Nebraska that was willing to work with them. Jurgy fully launched in 2024. Since then, Jurgens and Sichterman have been working to build the brand.
But with Jurgens preparing for the Eagles’ season and Sichterman running Flamel.ai, Jurgy will have to take a backseat.
“This is like our side job that we’re trying to build up and grow and have fun with it,” Jurgens said. “When we started Jurgy, the main thing was to stay connected with Matt, he’s one of my best friends. … And then also the No. 1 thing is just to make my mom a little bit of money through the business. It’s us three that own the LLC together.
“I try not to worry about balancing it because my No. 1 job is playing for the Eagles and taking care of that side of things. And then this is the fun side of the job. … So it’s really helpful when we get a partner like Ocean and meet all these new people and grow along the way.”
Though Cam Jurgens has been working to grow Jurgy, his “No. 1 job is playing for the Eagles.”David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The Ocean Casino Resort flavor is available at Bottled in Ocean Casino Resort, on the resort’s website, and at Jurgy.co.
“I’ve been down to Ocean and see how passionate they are in Atlantic City and just how many Eagles fans flock down there,” Jurgens said. “So I’m excited. I mean, I saw their partnership with Hanks and how that grew and just how neat it looked. I’m really excited about our product and this packaging and how it benefits both of us.”
The release comes less than three weeks before the Eagles’ season opener against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Jurgens says he’s ready to compete. That confidence comes from the “harvesting” the team has done leading into game day.
“The harvest is the fun part of the season,” Jurgens said. “You do your planting and taking care of the weeds throughout the year and making sure the crops grow. And then when you get a harvest, the whole family comes together, and you’re spending all the time together. It’s kind of similar to football.
“You work so hard in the offseason, and then you finally get to the season, you get to play a game, and it’s like you’re harvesting your own crop every Sunday, and then you get to the postseason. It’s like even more of the whole family coming together.”
In less than a month, the South Philadelphia sports complex will be decorated in Eagles green, smoke from the tailgate grills will cover the parking lots, and the sun will beat down on the asphalt canvas as fans prepare for the home opener against the Washington Commanders.
That means it’s time to break out your favorite game day outfits, whether that’s your lucky Jalen Hurts jersey, your favorite vintage top, a reworked masterpiece — or maybe even a new piece from Addison Bay?
The Philly-based lifestyle brand is collaborating with the Eagles on an exclusive clothing line curated for women and designed to blend fashion and comfort.
“It’s really, honestly, such a pinch-me moment,” said Marguerite Adzick, the founder and CEO of Addison Bay. “It definitely feels like a full-circle moment, starting the company eight years ago and then almost eight years to the day, getting to launch this collaboration.”
The Eagles reached out to Adzick, 37, in September about a potential collaboration. When she received the call, she recalled “nearly falling out of her chair.” The collaboration felt like a dream come true for the Philly native, who grew up a die-hard Eagles fan and was named the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles Fan of the Year at 15 years old.
“They sent me to the Super Bowl for free with one of my best friends in high school,” said Adzick, who attended Penn Charter and played lacrosse at the University of Virginia. “I’ve been a die-hard Eagles fan my entire life, and now my company gets to create clothing with the Eagles — like, truly, pinch me. This is so incredibly cool. This has been such a long time coming.”
The collection features some of Addison Bay’s best-selling styles — including varsity quarter-zips, tanks, leggings, seamed flounce skorts, cardigan sweatshirts, and Panama dresses. Half the items are in kelly green and the other half are in midnight green.
The collaboration between Addison Bay and the Eagles features designs in midnight green and kelly green.Addison Bay
“A lot of the time, some of the styles that they dress female fans in, it’s pink or rhinestones, and that’s the way they make it more feminine,” Adzick said. “That’s really where Addison Bay entered the chat. We can make these styles more feminine for the consumer without adding pink and rhinestones. We can make it more feminine with the styles we choose, using the colors in the right way, adding out signature stripes and, of course, having logo detail.”
The line follows Addison Bay’s mission to show that style and performance can coexist, with everyday pieces that move with women from morning to night.
“We designed for the girl on the go,” Adzick said. “We truly are dressing her from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. That doesn’t just go for Monday to Friday. It also goes for Sunday. She wants to support her team, but she also has to go to her kid’s lacrosse practice, get ready for the week, get her house clean, make dinner, watch the game. Like, talk about a multitasking woman. That’s exactly what our consumer is doing. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Addison Bay’s apparel is designed for a range of activities.Addison Bay
The collection will be available on AddisonBay.com, Fanatics.com, and in Eagles Pro Shops on Monday. For a limited time, shoppers will receive a pair of embroidered socks with each Addison Bay purchase at Eagles Pro Shops.
“We’re super excited,” Adzick said. “I cannot wait for it to launch. I’m truly just so excited to see what the consumer thinks about everything, and I hope she loves it.”
Fans can attend an Addison Bay event Thursday at the Lincoln Financial Field Pro Shop to celebrate the launch of the collection. There will be photo booths, light refreshments, giveaways, and more.
Sixers fans have just gotten their first look at LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown on the court together — and now they’re already counting down the days to the regular season.
On Wednesday, after Sixers guard Maxey posted a photo of the trio in the gym on his Instagram story, basketball trainer Chris Johnson posted a video of the three practicing together at his L.A. facility, working on the pick-and-roll, showing off some no-look passes, and finishing strong at the rim.
Both athletes are represented by Rich Paul, a longtime friend of James and CEO of Klutch Sports agency. The two have been working out together for years, starting when Maxey was drafted into the league in 2020.
But now, they’re adding five-time NBA All-Star Brown into the mix.
The former Boston Celtics guard was traded to the Sixers in July before the team signed James, the league’s biggest free agent, an all-time great, and a future Hall of Famer.
Since the footage of the trio was released, giving the world a small glimpse of what they could see in a few months, Sixers fans have already responded on social media with high hopes for the upcoming season.
All they need is that chemistry between themselves…. Once they can play together as a team …and everyone knows their roles and plays it well without ego problems … Philadelphia will be a problem next season
The Sixers will provide a real opportunity to see James, Maxey, and Brown in action when they open the season on the road, traveling to Madison Square Garden to take on the defending champion New York Knicks on Oct. 20. The team’s home opener in Philly will be Oct. 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Inside the Xfinity Mobile Arena, the impact of punches and kicks could be heard all the way into the upper deck. Coaches yelled instructions from their corners. Blood, sweat — and teeth — covered the mats of the octagon. And fans stood cheering for more action.
“They say Philly crowds, they are the craziest,” said 25-year-old Xashem Alhab, who made the trip from Canada. “It’s been seven years since the UFC came back here. So, you know what, I’m looking forward to that. I haven’t seen a crazier fan than Montreal fans. So, let’s see if they can match that.”
The Ultimate Fighting Championship had finally made its return to Philly with UFC 330, its first major championship event in the city in 15 years — dating back to UFC 133, which featured a main event between Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz.
With the promotion’s return, in front of a crowd of thousands of fans, there was action both inside and outside the octagon — including a hometown win, a legend’s retirement, and a number of stoppages.
Here’s everything you missed from UFC 330 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena …
Jeremiah Wells (right) gets hit by Myktybek Orolbai in the first round during UFC 330 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday. Wells defeated Orolbai by submission (guillotine choke).Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
‘Philly stand up’
Coming out to the sounds of Maino’s “Remember My Name,” Jeremiah Wells made his walk down to the octagon. The Philly native was welcomed by a number of scattered cheers, but none would equal the cheers for his opponent, Kyrgyzstan native Orolbai.
The Philly crowd was speckled with Kyrgyzstan flags decorating the arena as Wells’ opponent was entering the fight as a massive -1050 favorite. Throughout the match the crowd went back and forth between Kyrgyzstan and USA chants. With Orolbai taking an early two-round lead, Wells practiced patience and proved he had leveled up from his last two fights.
In the third round, Wells caught Orolbai in a guillotine choke, which ultimately secured his victory in his hometown. Media members looked around at one another in shock, Philly natives cheered, the arms carrying the Kyrgyzstan flags slowly fell, and Wells climbed the cage and celebrated a second consecutive win.
JEREMIAH WELLS WITH THE UPSET 🤯
Philadelphia's own gets it done with a guillotine choke in the third round !!
“I do that move with my eyes closed in the gym. … That’s my signature move man,” Wells said in his post-fight interview. “This is my hometown. … I said I’m going to fight here one day and look at me now. Look at me now.
“I had four tries to get into the top 14. I fumbled the ball twice, and then I won my last fight and nothing happened. And now, here. So, I win this. If they want me, then I’ll go. But if I’m not going to be 15, then I think I’m going to be done. And this would be a dream come true in my city because I always wanted to do this for my city. Philly stand up.”
Although it sounded like the welterweight was debating retirement after a shocking win in front of his hometown crowd, he later confirmed that he just wants more fights within the top 15.
“[I want to be remembered as] that gritty fighter, explosive and always excited to see,” Wells said. “To just put it on for the fans.”
With his victory on Saturday, he proved just that.
Knockouts, retirements, and fly teeth, fly
The early prelims set the tone for an exciting night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. None of the three bouts went the distance, starting with a third-round guillotine finish by Philly native Wells, a second-round TKO by Neil Magny, and a third-round TKO by Lucas Fernando in his UFC debut.
The action continued right into the prelims with TreSean Gore winning by unanimous decision but losing some teeth in the process — which resulted in a shocked response from the Philly crowd.
Gore’s toothless win was followed by a quick first-round knockout by Donte Johnson, and a third-round Scottish twister submission by Charles Johnson, who fittingly came out to the Rocky theme song. After the wink, Johnson declared himself “Philly’s adopted son,” revealing his Eagles fandom before leading the crowd in a botched version of “Fly Eagles, Fly.”
Charles Johnson is not an Eagles fan. Guy botched the song
And that was all before the main card had even started.
The main card kicked off with a lightweight bout between Edson Barboza and Esteban Ribovics that ended in a second-round TKO win for Ribovics.
Barboza (24-15) ended his career after the fight, laying his gloves in the ring. In response, the Philly crowd gave the 40-year-old fighter a standing ovation. Barboza has given UFC fans a number of memorable moments throughout his 16-year career, including a spinning wheel kick knockout against Terry Etim at UFC 142 in 2012.
Edson Barboza gets a standing ovation from the Philly crowd after laying down his gloves pic.twitter.com/cDeEV0ueS0
Out of the five fights on the main card, three ended in TKO, KO, or submission; however, there were no title changes. After the memorable night of action, Saturday’s UFC card left Philly fans wanting more visits from the MMA promotion.
“Philly has heart and passion, we got to see them here more often,” Wilson said.
‘We could have seen more Philly fighters’
The last time UFC was in the city was in 2019 for a Fight Night card at the then-Wells Fargo Center, featuring a main event between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza. Since then, fans have been anticipating a return.
“I think they need to come here more often,” said New Jersey native Andrew Ferchen. “I don’t know why they go to Newark as opposed to coming here. I like all the sports teams here, and the fans always show out for their team way more than most of these [other cities] I would say. I’m just glad they’re here and I hope they continue to come here and make it a yearly thing.”
Fans prepare to watch the Rafael Tobias and Lucas Fernando fight during UFC 330 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Ferchen was accompanied by Nick Sorce, Kai Wilson, and Kevin Haley, who was celebrating his birthday a day early with tickets to his first UFC event. Although the New Jersey natives were still anticipating an exciting fight card, they were hoping for more name value.
“The main event is good,” Haley said. “But everything on the undercard could be way better. We don’t get the respect we deserve. What’s up with that?”
A lot of fans were also looking for more Philly representation on the card. Wells was the only Philly fighter featured. And the last time UFC was in Philly, there were no Philly fighters featured on the card, although former Philly fighter-turned-broadcaster Paul Felder was in the booth.
“I think we could have seen more Philly fighters too,” Sorce said. “Sean Brady, he’s literally here right now. Joe Pyfer was here earlier. I think we could have seen a lot more guys.”
UFC fan experience
About three hours before gates opened, fans were already preparing for the event in the parking lot of the Xfinity Mobile Arena with UFC’s Makchachev vs. Machado Garry fan experience.
Rian Ibraimi, age 11, shows off his replica UFC Championship belt during UFC 330 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The event, located in parking lot D, invited fans to participate in an immersive experience — whether that meant taking selfies with the UFC Legacy Championship Belt, testing their knockout power on the UFC Striking Challenge, picking up merch, or meeting some UFC athletes at the meet and greets.
“I think it’s really cool,” said 27-year-old Bill Bender. “I haven’t waited in any of these lines but I’ve been walking up and getting close to the fighters. Out of the nine that I’ve been to, this is the first time that I’ve come to the meet and greet. It’s pretty cool.”
Jeremiah Wells didn’t want any distractions leading up to his upcoming fight.
The 39-year-old Philadelphia native knew he would have to be hyper-focused for fight camp as he prepared to compete against an opponent over a decade younger, 28-year-old Myktybek Orolbai. And what made matters even more pressing, the fight on Saturday night is in his own backyard at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in front of his friends and family.
So if that meant he would have to take his 4-year-old French bulldog, Stardust, to live with his family in Hazleton, Pa., during camp, then he would do just that.
“He’s a handful,” Wells said. “He’s a small little Frenchie. He’s like 4. He wants so much attention. He wants walks every day. I just can’t handle it, dragging him everywhere. … I had to wake up in the morning, take him for a walk, and then drag him to the gym, and then take him for a walk when we got back, all while he wanted me to pet him.”
Wells has been fighting for nearly 15 years. He was introduced to the sport at 24 years old, watching a fight card with friends. At one point, he looked over and said, “I could do that.” Seconds later, his friends laughed at the thought.
“They were just arrogant kids, that’s all it was,” Wells said. “I said I could do it, but they didn’t believe me. But now, they do.”
Since then, Wells has competed in different promotions like PA Cage Fight and Cage Fury Fighting Championships. He made his UFC debut in 2021, defeating Warlley Alves by second-round knockout after replacing Ramazan Emeev on short notice at UFC Fight Night 190. But before making the transition to the UFC, Wells said there was one part of his game he really had to work on.
“Be patient,” Wells said. “I always wanted it now, and wanted it now, and wanted it now. I thought it was, when you were young, this is going to happen, and then this is going to happen. Like, I always said I was going to be in the UFC in like three years. And it took me like, probably 10.”
Jeremiah Wells (right) trains at Marquez MMA in Philadelphia for Saturday’s UFC fight.TYGER WILLIAMS / Staff Photographer
Wells won four of his first six UFC fights, suffering consecutive losses to Carlston Harris and Max Griffin before returning to the win column against Themba Gorimbo in November 2025.
But between the Griffin and Gorimbo fights, Wells faced one of his toughest challenges — a 21-month hiatus from fighting. Wells broke his hand in the Griffin fight. After recovering, he was supposed to fight Niko Price in June 2024, but he was forced to pull out after tearing his Achilles.
“I went through hell just getting back mentally and physically,” Wells said. “It turned me into a different person, also. Just being grateful for so many things. I had to make a new person of myself. And I leveled up. I slowed everything down. Listened to my body, not overtraining, actually recovering and eating healthy. And also not partying. Just changing up my mindset, my mental clarity.”
Training at Marquez MMA, located on Worth Street, Wells is surrounded by several Philly UFC fighters who have motivated him in his fight journey, including Pat Sabatini, Sean Brady, Joe Pyfer, and Andre Petroski.
“All my teammates that started with me, they really love this,” Wells said. “They stuck to it. Everyone like Sean Brady, Pat Sabatini, that’s the ones I started with like day one at Gracie’s and they’re still here today. I’m happy that they’re still here and I’m proud. Definitely, the new guys too, like Pyfer and Andre Petroski. It means a lot to me to just share the mats with these guys.”
UFC 330 will be the first numbered event and first title fight held in Philadelphia in a decade and a half, dating back to UFC 133 in 2011, which featured Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz as the main event. UFC returned to the city in 2019 for a Fight Night card at the then-Wells Fargo Center, featuring a main event between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza.
Jeremiah Wells, a West Philadelphia native, watches Pat Sabatini, of Bristol, and Philly’s Sean Brady sparring. Sabatini and Brady have been big Wells supporters.TYGER WILLIAMS / Staff Photographer
The last time UFC was in town, there wasn’t a single fighter from the area on the card, although former Philly fighter-turned-broadcaster Paul Felder was in the booth. This time, Wells will be the only Philly fighter featured, appearing as the first fight in the early prelims.
“It means a lot, man,” Wells said. “It’s been a long time coming, just to fight in front of my family and my fans. I do [wish more Philly fighters were on the card], we just got that dog in us. That grit. This town is just, sometimes we get a little dirty. We get our hands dirty.”
Wells has finished three of his seven UFC opponents through submission and knockouts. Once he decides to hang it up, the Philly native hopes to be remembered as a fighter whom the fans were looking forward to watching. And he’s hoping Saturday will be another example of that.
”I feel confident and ready,” Wells said. “[I want to be remembered as] that gritty fighter, explosive and always excited to see. To just put it on for the fans.”
It’s fight week in Philadelphia, with UFC 330 taking place on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. This will be the first numbered event and first title fight held in Philadelphia in a decade and a half.
The card features 12 fights, including two championship bouts in the men’s welterweight division and the women’s strawweight division. With 24 fighters competing this weekend, here are five you should know before UFC 330 takes over South Philly …
Ian Machado Garry, welterweight
Twenty-eight year old Ian Machado Garry will fight No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 330.
Machado Garry is entering Saturday’s fight as a +270 underdog on DraftKings. Despite the odds, he showed complete confidence in himself before the fight by hanging up an empty frame for the championship belt in his home.
“The empty frame, it’s a manifestation and a visualization that I’ve put in the back of my mind for a long time,” Machado Garry said. “When I signed to UFC, I told everybody now that I’m here, I’m going to be a world champion. It’s a matter of time. It’s inevitable.
“When we bought our home and I framed my Cage Warriors World Title, I knew that there was going to be space. I knew that there was going to be a frame for my UFC world title. And I wanted to see it empty because every time I see it, it’s going to push me to fill it. This weekend, I’m going to win that belt, I’m going to go straight home and I’m going to put that UFC title in that frame.”
Machado Garry (17-1) is coming off a big decision win over Belal Muhammad. His only loss in his UFC career was to Shavkat Rahkmandov by decision in Dec. 2024. He is on a two-fight winning streak as he prepares to face his toughest challenge yet.
“Right now he has absolutely earned and deserved the title as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the planet. It’s inarguable,” Garry said. “His record stands for itself. His achievements, his accolades. He’s done everything he’s needed to do to earn that. That is the exact person that I want to beat to prove that I’m the champion in the world. Because then there’s no doubt. There’s no excuses. It is undeniable that when I beat Islam [Mackhachev] on Saturday night, Ian Machado Garry is great.”
Machado Garry is hoping his love for the Birds can get the crowd on his side.
“I love the Eagles,” Garry said. “I’ve always liked the Eagles. I thought they were a phenomenal team. Saquon [Barkley] is absolutely one of my favorite players. I loved watching him when he signed — when he came out of the draft with the Giants, he was unbelievable. And then I thought he needed to go to a better team. And obviously, the second he did, he gets the 2,000 yards, he goes out and he wins the Super Bowl. It’s perfect.”
Saturday’s main event will be Makhachev’s second fight in the welterweight division.
In his division debut, he defeated Jack Della Maddelana by decision to become the new welterweight champion last November. After completing his second fight camp at welterweight, Makhachev said he feels more comfortable this time around.
”[My] opponent is good,” Mackhachev said. “Good skills, good fighter. Has all the skills. And that’s why I think it’s going to be a good fight for all MMA fans. But I will be looking for a finish. Any chance I have, I will finish my opponent. And this Saturday I will show best performance.”
Islam Makhachev is on a 16 match winning streak and will defend his welterweight title Saturday night in Xfinity Mobile Arena.Yuki Iwamura
Makhachev (28-1) is cementing his legacy as an all-time great. The former lightweight champion successfully defended his title four times before moving to welterweight. And now, there’s more than just the title on the line. There’s a spot in the history books waiting for him to sign his name.
Makhachev is currently tied with Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history with 16 consecutive wins. With a win on Saturday, Makhachev will surpass that number.
“I want to be in the history of this sport,” Islam said. “I want to be the best fighter in the world. I want to be in the Hall of Fame. My legacy is still growing and I will fight many years more.”
After winning the vacant women’s strawweight title in October 2025 with a five-round decision win over Virna Jandiroba, Mackenzie Dern, 33, will defend her title for the first time against Gillian Robertson (17-8).
“I was telling my coaches right in the beginning of camp, man this feels so different than when I was trying to accomplish the belt,” Dern said. “But my level in striking, in grappling. I think taking that pressure out of my head and wondering the whole time if I would be able to become champion, gave a lot of space for me to get better on little things that we have been trying to get better at. So, my level has gone up so much just from this last camp.”
UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern will defend her strawweight title for the first time on Saturday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Both Dern (16-5) and Robertson are submission artists. Dern has eight submission victories while Robertson currently has nine — holding the women’s UFC record. Heading into Saturday, Dern is excited to face an opponent with a similar fighting style.
“I’m super excited to fight another submission artist,” Dern said. “So, for me, being a jiujitsu girl, I’m usually trying to chase the person or they don’t really want to engage in the fight with me. I know that this is going to be very different and then also this being my first title defense, now the belt is mine. Before this, I was just trying to accomplish something.
“Now, I’m like ‘OK, I got to defend it I don’t want anyone to come in and take what’s mine.’ So, there’s definitely this big motivation behind it but the pressure is off my shoulders and I’m super excited to be able to go and have fun and see who can submit who because I think we’re going to have a big exchange with jiujitsu.”
Thirty-nine year old Jeremiah Wells is the only Philly native featured on the card. He is set to to fight 28-year-old Myktybek Orolbai (16-2) in the early prelims.
“It means a lot, man,” Wells said. “It’s been a long time coming, just to fight in front of my family and my fans. I do [wish more Philly fighters were on the card], we just got that dog in us. That grit. This town — sometimes we get a little dirty. We get our hands dirty.”
Wells (13-4-1) trains out of Marquez MMA, located on Worth Street, alongside other Philly UFC fighters, including Pat Sabatini, Sean Brady, Joe Pyfer, and Andre Petroski. He’s currently coming off a decision win to Themba Gorimbo (November 2025) after a 21-month break from competing due to a broken hand and torn Achilles.
Edson Barboza will fight in his 33rd UFC fight on Saturday night.Jacqueline Larma
Edson Barboza, lightweight
Edson Barboza made his UFC debut in 2010, defeating Mike Lullo by TKO. Sixteen years later and the 40-year-old still gets the same “scary” feeling walking out to the octagon.
“One-hundred percent,” Barboza said. “Always the same feeling. I think if I stopped feeling like that, I would stop fighting. It wouldn’t make sense any more. The same feeling, the same scary [feeling]. The part I really love is all the crazy feelings.”
Barboza (24-14) is now entering his 33rd fight with the UFC as he prepares to compete against 30-year-old Esteban Ribovics at UFC 330.
Barboza has given fans plenty of memorable moments throughout his 16-year UFC career. But perhaps his most memorable moment was when he delivered a historic UFC knockout, landing a spinning wheel kick knockout over Terry Etim at UFC 142 in 2012.
Despite earning 10 Fight of the Night bonuses, there’s only one way he wants to be remembered.
“I want to be remembered as the guy that really loved my job,” Barboza said. “I really love fighting, guys. I really love it. Every time I step into the octagon, it’s not about the money, it’s about the love. I really love this.”
Two years after a Learn to Row program at Boathouse Row, Maurice Scott was reintroduced to the sport when his father took him to his first race. As a spectator, Scott carefully observed each competitor as they walked toward the water.
And as they competed, it wasn’t the technique or the speed of the athletes that stood out to him most. Instead, Scott, who was 14 at the time, was focused on the fact that nobody looked like him and nobody shared his background as a Black kid from Northwest Philadelphia. When he voiced his concerns to his father, Maurice Scott Sr., he responded, “You know, that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it.”
Those words have lived with the younger Scott for the past 18 years.
Since then, he’s become a Philadelphia city champion and a four-time national champion, has notched multiple Head of the Charles wins, made history as the first Black governor of the Potomac Boat Club, and was honored in the “Philadelphia Rowing: Breaking Barriers” display at the Independence Seaport Museum.
Now Scott, 32, is making a push to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. And as he embarks on his journey to chase his Olympic dream, he’s inspiring other inner-city kids who have a desire to compete in a sport lacking representation.
“It was just silencing the noise on both ends,” Scott said. “And continuing to believe in what I knew and believing that I belong there. That this is where I needed to be. And so just really staying focused on that and keeping the main thing the main thing; Jalen Hurts always said that. That’s legit. And knowing that later down the road, my story will be a story for others to see and to follow and know that it’s no longer a joke. We’re actually legit in the sport, too.”
Maurice Scott’s father, Maurice Scott Sr., reintroduced him to the sport at a young age.Maurice Scott
‘I was the black sheep’
Scott acknowledged the challenges when you don’t see yourself represented.
“It’s just like, ‘Why is that? Is it because the sport wasn’t made for me?’” Scott said. “And when I did step into the realm, people were looking at me sideways because I’m an anomaly. People [didn’t] see athletes of color within the sport of rowing back then. It wasn’t a thing.”
Even his peers questioned why he wasn’t playing basketball or football.
“It became a joke, honestly,” Scott said. “Like, people would laugh at me actually doing this sport. When people like a sport that isn’t a part of the ‘culture,’ people kind of look at them like, ‘Yeah, whatever.’ I can guarantee you folks laughed at Venus and Serena. I can guarantee you folks laughed at Tiger Woods.
“I was like the black sheep. I didn’t fit the mold. So for me personally, being around the water and doing something around the water gave me strength and provided me something that I could be proud of because I knew that I could be good at it.”
‘A safe haven’
At just 7 years old, Scott witnessed his first drive-by shooting. He’s been robbed, had people close to him killed by gun violence, and stepped over bullet casings as he walked through neighborhoods.
He felt safe in only two places: in church and on the water.
Maurice Scott was one of the first students to join Philadelphia City Rowing, the nonprofit designed to create access to the sport for inner-city youth.Maurice Scott
”Being in church, it was like a safe haven, a safe place that I can be myself, and I’ve also created a community there,” Scott said. “I was surrounded by a lot of wrongdoing, but it allowed me to really have that confidence to make sure that I did the right thing as I carried myself through my younger childhood years.
“And rowing was one of those outlets where I can really just get away from all of that. I was scared to go off to school or walk to the bus. I mean, it was that bad. Finding that outlet is important because it just takes your mental state out of the negativity and the picture that’s being painted of the city that you constantly see on a daily basis.”
As Scott struggled to find his place among his community, he always felt a connection to the water.
“The water has always been part of me,” Scott said. “Anytime I’m around it, I just feel strength and happiness. So that’s what kind of drew me to the sport itself.”
Scott grew up sailing, swimming, kayaking, and rafting. So in fifth grade when he heard about the Learn to Row program at Bachelors Barge Club on Boathouse Row, he thought he would give it a shot. But after the two-week program ended, he didn’t know where to go next with the sport.
“[My father] knew that I just loved the water and he knew how much fun I had when I initially did it,” Scott said. “But it was pretty closed off back then. Boathouse Row in general was very pretentious; there weren’t really wide-open doors. But I think he may have felt something was coming later down the line, and he just wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget it.”
‘Building that one heartbeat’
Philadelphia City Rowing was founded during Scott’s junior year of high school. The nonprofit was designed to provide access to the sport for inner-city youth. He was one of the organization’s first athletes, and it inspired his commitment to diversity in rowing.
“We try to eliminate a lot of the barriers and obstacles that a lot of kids may face in trying a new sport,” said George Rowley, the director of programs and community inclusion at PCR. “I think it’s important to really highlight [alumni] pathways to provide some inspiration for the kids that are just starting out.”
Maurice Scott joined the Naval Academy before accepting a scholarship to Arcadia.Maurice Scott
PCR quickly became part of Scott’s family.
“It was all about rowing together and having that unit and having that rhythm and building that one heartbeat within the boat,” Scott said. “And that was something that I really loved and enjoyed because there was no other sport that is really like that, at least that I’ve done. And trauma bonding. Rowing is a painful sport. Rowing started off as a form of torture, and we’re doing it for fun.
”We didn’t look like any other boat on the water. We literally had kids from all over the city. And it was really cool because I got to meet people that weren’t just from my neighborhood, but were from all over and all walks of life.”
After his first year with PCR, Scott was recruited to the Naval Academy. But a few weeks before graduating from the Naval Academy Preparatory School, he was told he had a sleep disorder. They said he could graduate but wouldn’t be able to move on. So he decided to accept a scholarship from Arcadia and graduated from there in 2017.
While there, he studied abroad in Australia (2015-16) and competed with the University of South Wales.
As people left the nightclubs at 4 a.m. in Australia, Scott would be heading to the gym. That discipline, which sustained him throughout college, is powering his dream of competing at the LA Olympics in 2028.
Scott moved to Long Beach, Calif., in March 2024 to train at Belmont Shore for beach sprints, a fast, head-to-head race that combines sand runs with a 250-meter slalom boat course. The race will make its Olympic debut in 2028.
Maurice Scott, 32, is acting as inspiration to other inner-city kids who have a dream to compete in a sport lacking representation.Maurice Scott
“There’s no better way than training on the actual course and really understanding what goes into beach sprints,” Scott said. “One day, I’ll be doing a total of 16 to 30,000 meters depending on what’s going on. One day I could be doing an 8×500, which is full sprints, just back-to-back sprints.”
Growing the sport
Through his talent and telling his story on social media, Scott received a number of sponsorships and partnerships. Now, he’s trying to help other athletes do the same through his name, image, and likeness agency, Rowfluencers.
And he is bringing even more eyes to the sport with his four-part docuseries, FORGED: The Kid from Philly,onNBC Sports Philadelphia.
“Representation is so important,” Scott said. “So, I’m hoping they see this and are like, ‘Hey, it doesn’t have to be wrong. But this challenges me to really find what I like to do and not care about what other people think about because I’m going to do this and be a trailblazer for it and bring in others with me to allow them to not only just live, but thrive within whatever space that may be.’”
Tyrese Maxey is from Texas, but he has made Philadelphia his new home. Each year, the point guard hopes to give back to the community that has watched him “become a man.”
“I grew up here,” said Maxey, who’s entering his seventh season with the 76ers. “My daughter [3-month-old Marvel] is going to grow up here. … And I appreciate all the love and support that the Philly people, the Philly fans, the Philly community has [given] to me — and not just for myself, but my foundation as well, my family. They’ve really gotten behind what we’re trying to do here, and I’m nothing but grateful for it.”
One way he’s fulfilling his mission of giving back and leading by example is through the Tyrese Maxey Friends & Family Weekend. The three-day event features a Night of Giving dinner, a celebrity golf tournament, and a 1% Skills basketball camp, with proceeds benefiting the Tyrese Maxey Foundation and its mission to strengthen families and communities.
Here’s a look behind the scenes at the third annual weekend:
Night of Giving
At the Vie by Cescaphe venue on Broad Street, basketball-themed centerpieces lined the tables, a mural of Maxey with the words “1% Better Every Day” decorated the left wall, and the two-time All-Star stood with new Sixer Jaylen Brown.
#Breaking Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown seen together in Philadelphia tonight. Brown stopped by Maxey’s foundation fundraiser. Brown was officially introduced today as a Sixer. Brown shared several group chats are underway among players – and says LeBron is active in the chat. pic.twitter.com/FdTxiKuR7a
“JB did say a lot of things in his presser that meant a lot to our team already,” Maxey said. “We talk a lot already, that’s like unheard of, you know what I’m saying, for a group of guys who haven’t really met together at one time. Talking, joking around in the group chat, talking about him skydiving. That’s all fun and games and I think the camaraderie is there. … And like I said, we have a lot of guys who like to do this community stuff as well. That’s a big thing. It’s going to be a big thing for our community in Philadelphia.”
Tyrese Maxey defends one of the many kids who attended his 1% Skills Camp last weekend.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
The Night of Giving dinner featured a silent auction that included items like a signed Joel Embiid jersey, a custom Tyrese Maxey rug, signed Mike Tyson boxing gloves, and a signed Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum jersey. Maxey said the dinner was the perfect way to kick-start a weekend devoted to giving back to the community.
“I think [the Night of Giving] is extremely special because you can do a lot of fellowship here, do a lot of talking, do a lot of networking,” Maxey said. “And then it’s like all of us coming together. Everybody in this room is a piece of making the foundation special. And a piece of making this community special. And that’s something that we really do appreciate.”
Fans drove past the first hole of The Union League Golf Club at Torresdale and yelled out to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul as Maxey and LeBron James’ agent practiced his swing before teeing off at the celebrity tournament.
“Only in Philly,” Paul responded as he proceeded to take his first swing of the day.
Rich Paul with Tyrese Maxey at the Tyrese Maxey Foundation’s third annual golf tournament pic.twitter.com/tS0Gyn8Ux9
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, another new Sixer represented by Klutch Sports, followed with a swing of his own, slicing the ball to the left of the fairway.
Also among the more than 70 participants at the third annual tournament were Brandon Graham, Justin Edwards, Labaron Philon Jr., Dominick Barlow, and Jabari Walker. Brown was also in attendance after making an appearance at Eagles training camp earlier in the day.
“He showed up to the Night of Giving, he showed up to the golf tournament,” Maxey said. “I said, ‘Look man, anything you want to do, let me know. I’ve been here for the last seven years so whatever you want to do, I’m pretty sure I have some type of connection with my team, the foundation. And we’re going to get it done.’
“That makes me even more happy that somebody wants to come right in and he’s done the whole city tour, I feel like. He’s been everywhere. … That’s just love, man. I think the city is going to be glad to have him.”
Since Maxey was drafted by the Sixers in 2020, he has remained a pillar in the community — giving back to the community through the Maxey Friends & Family Weekend, his annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, awarding scholarships and hosting school supply drives through his foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2021 with a mission to give the youth skills to become the next generation of leaders in the community.
Tyrese Maxey interacts with the kids attending his 1% Skills Camp at Penn Charter on Saturday.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
1% Skills Camp
As Maxey prepared for 1% Skills Camp, a free youth basketball camp for kids ages 7-12, one of the kids asked him, “How much younger are you than LeBron?”
Maxey responded, “probably like 30 years.”
“One of the kids asked me how much younger am I than LeBron. And I said probably like 30 years.”
The William A. Graham Athletics & Wellness Center at Penn Charter had more than 200 kids participating in drills and competitions led by Maxey and local coaches.
“Honestly, the biggest thing is just the love and the support,” Maxey said. “ … I always talk about getting 1 percent better not just in basketball but with life in general.”
Since becoming a father, Maxey has a new perspective on the 1% Skills Camp.
“It just makes me want to be more involved,” Maxey said. “Especially going through the experiences of a three-month-old. I’m just grateful. Grateful to be a father. Grateful to be someone who can protect her, watch her grow up, and try to be a loving person in her life.”
After the camp, Maxey said he planned on competing in a pickup game with some of the camp directors — a task that was going to be a little difficult after a full day of golfing.
“I took like three, four holes off to go check on Marvel, it was getting too hot for me,” Maxey said. “I’m more of a front-nine, back-nine guy. But 18 — I’m feeling it today, honestly. I’m old now. I’m 25, got to get to stretching a little bit and do a little foam rolling, maybe. Can’t just roll out of bed and go dunk anymore. No, I’m just playing.”
