NEW YORK — Baseball’s Home Run Derby is eliminating the clock.
Each hitter will have 20 swings in the first round of this year’s contest at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park on July 13, Major League Baseball said Thursday. The change coincides with a switch in broadcaster to Netflix from ESPN, which had televised the event since 1994.
A player who homers on swing 20 will keep on swinging until he doesn’t connect for a long ball. The top four hitters advance, with distance of the longest homer used as a tiebreaker.
Hitters will be seeded for the second round, where No. 1 faces 4 and 2 meets 3.
Each player takes 15 swings in the second round, with batters again homering on their final swing continuing until not homering. A best-of-three swingoff would break ties.
The format for the second round will be used for the final.
Since assistant general manager Brent Flahr took over, starting with the 2019 draft, the Flyers have drafted nine middle men, eight of them in the last three years with Danny Brière as general manager.
Don’t stop the Flyers now; they’re having a good time picking centers with Jack Berglund, Heikki Ruohonen, Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, Nathan Quinn, and Matthew Gard starting to make some noise.
And several pivots could be around when the Flyers pick at No. 21 in the first round, although Ilia Morozov may be the most interesting. He also may be the most interesting prospect in the entire draft.
‘Blazing down my trail to education’
According to his Instagram post in August 2024, Morozov committed to Miami (Ohio) University and coach Anthony Noreen, who was hired that April. In July 2025, it was official that the kid from Moscow would head to Oxford, Ohio.
There was only one thing that would make someone pause when reading the news: Morozov, who played one year for the Windy City Storm based out of Illinois as a 15-year-old, and had just wrapped up his lone year for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League, was still 25 days away from his 17th birthday.
“We felt like his game was mature enough, but we really knew that, just who he is as a person, we felt he would thrive in our environment,” Noreen said.
Spoiler: he did.
When Morozov squared up to take the opening faceoff on the season against Ferris State — he centered the top line, to boot — the now 17-year-old began 2025-26 as the youngest player in men’s Division I hockey. Noreen says that the school’s athletic director, David Sayler, likes to remind him it was against a 25-year-old, and Morozov finished the game with 20 minutes of ice time and an assist on the RedHawks’ second goal in a 6-4 win.
“Morozov is intriguing in that he went to college early and was one of the youngest players,” FloHockey draft and prospect analyst Chris Peters told The Inquirer via text.
“He didn’t look out of place and has the size and skill combination that suggests he could be a middle-six center with some scoring ability. His production slowed as the season progressed, but there were flashes of a player that could have some higher-end production capabilities if everything goes right.”
Miami University forward Ilia Morozov (18) scores against RPI during the 2025-26 season. Hans Pennink
A self-proclaimed two-way center who has good details in the defensive zone — the Flyers always like that — and can produce offensively, he went on a heater to start his collegiate career. In his first six games, he notched four goals and nine points.
But then, as the RedHawks played their National Collegiate Hockey Conference schedule against teams like defending 2025 NCAA champion Western Michigan and eventual 2026 winner Denver, his scoring went a little cold. Morozov finished with eight goals — three on the power play and one shorthanded — and 20 points in 36 games, helping Miami go from a three-win season to 18 wins this past year.
According to Elite Prospects, Morozov is a chaos creator in the offensive zone and a transition puck carrier who plays a middle-driven style. The lack of production did not impact him on or off the ice.
“All the struggles and adventures and challenges [in life], they taught me that consistency just works, you should never give up and keep going,” Morozov said after finishing in the top 25 of eight fitness tests at the scouting combine, including atop the leaderboard for left-handed grip strength, tied for second on the right side, and tied for fifth all-time with 17 pull-ups. (The Flyers notably tend to draft players who do well in grip strength).
“I believe that life’s fair, and if you put honest work, if you do 100% every time you have a chance, you will get the result.”
What gives him such optimism?
“Because that’s my experience,” he replied. “If I wasn’t doing something right, it was going one way. If I’m doing it right, it’s going the right way. So that’s personally just my experience, and I believe I did lots of work to be here.”
Ilia Morozov recorded an average grip strength of 182.5 at the 2026 #NHLScoutingCombine, which ranks in the top five in NHL Combine history.
Like Peters, Noreen believes the offense will come for Morozov. And the coach was quick to note that while he may not have made the score sheet, the young center was involved in countless scoring chances each night, leading the team wire-to-wire in scoring chance differential.
Using the word “involved” is important here because, keep in mind, when once asked what he wanted to be remembered for, Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan responded, “That I was involved.”
“I think he’s played such a mature 200-foot game that even when he’s not scoring — like, there’s certain players where, if they don’t score, they’re hurting you — he’s the guy that you love his game, you want him on the ice as much as possible,” Noreen said of Morozov. “When he scores, that even takes his game to another level, and we’re confident he’s going to do that.”
But then Noreen said the part that should make every Flyers fan’s ears perk up:
“You don’t get many guys that are 6-foot-2[¾], [205] pounds, and can skate and have a brain, and have all those things. He’s a rare package and … the makeup and the intentionality in which he goes about his business and [how he] works, and everything in the person is even more special. We know whatever his ceiling is, he’s going to get there because just the way that he goes about things.”
On the flip side, Morozov said something that should also draw the Flyers’ attention. When asked how he looked at the opportunity to play against older players, he said: “I think that was an amazing opportunity, because I believe that if you play with somebody who’s better than you, it will make it better.”
Ilia Morozov has a consolidated ranking of 20 on Elite Prospects, right in the Flyers’ wheelhouse.Lexie Cunningham/Miami Athletics
This is all starting to fit the Flyers’ modus operandi since Brière took over:
a player over 6 feet — check
who is a center — check
playing hockey in North America — check
who is still 17 at the draft like seven players drafted since 2023 — check.
And he would be the fourth Russian taken under the GM, too.
And then there’s this: Although the question asked to Flahr on Tuesday was about the characteristics they look for in kids who are more of projects and not projected first-rounders, he gave more insight.
“There are certain traits, whether it’s hockey sense, competitiveness, skill level. You can overcome size if you’ve got the great motor, big heart, and you’re smart, and certainly when you’re small, you’ve got to have some speed, quickness. … So, there’s different types of players you want to take a chance on, but there’s certain traits you have to have.”
Well, let’s check these boxes, too.
Competitiveness? A 17-year-old playing college hockey, he says one of his strengths is his compete level, and, per Noreen, “he’s a winning hockey player” with intensity across the board.
Hockey sense? He’s a 200-foot, detailed center who can play at all strengths.
Smart? He’s a finance major at a major university in his second language.
Language was the biggest adjustment he said about coming to the U.S., but he was ready for the cultural aspects like how people don’t take their shoes off in their homes here. And he is learning French through Duolingo.
Oh, and he said he’s working on his skating — a common theme for the Flyers — like his explosiveness and first few strides. Called an intense guy by Noreen, Morozov is putting in the work on the ice and in the gym by doing sprints, plyometrics, and weightlifting. The focus? So he can produce way more offense.
And how about the intangibles like big heart or being a locker room guy? Well first, he stuck around after his media availability to translate for Maksim Sokolovskii.
“I certainly think the size, the strength, the heaviness, the skating, the being a 6-3, 200-pound-plus centerman in a game that, when it comes down to it at the end, that’s what you need, and that’s what it takes,” Noreen said.
“Also just the selflessness, the team first, the character, just all of those things added up, you want this kid on your team, you want him in your locker room, you want him as part of your organization. You can’t say that about every guy but this kid, without a doubt, you know he’s going to fit somewhere, and you know that you’re going to love.”
The 2000s pop-rock sensations the All-American Rejects are taking over the main stage at the FIFA Fan Festival next month.
Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organizers of FIFA Fan Festival, announced that Micah Palace, the East Coast Spanglish rapper; and All-American Rejects will be the next major concert series to take place at Lemon Hill this summer.
Micah Palace, who launched his career with the single “No Sabo” in 2024, is finding even more popularity among soccer fans as he promotes his song “Rodeo” as a World Cup anthem on Instagram and TikTok. Palace will perform at Lemon Hill on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m.
All-American Rejects, a band whose songs “Move Along” and “Dirty Little Secret” couldn’t be escaped in 2005, is bringing their catchy earworms to Lemon Hill on Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m.
Throughout the 39-day World Cup festival, music artists and performers will grace the stage. Already, global pop sensation Luis Fonsi headlined opening night on June 11, and Ecuadorian singer Johann Vera performed before the Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast match on June 14. More performances will continue to be announced as the festival progresses, organizers said.
International soccer supporters, be warned — clothe the Rocky statue at your own risk.
The fans of the Ecuadorian national team learned Sunday what many NFL fans already know about draping their colors over the statue of Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Ecuadorian supporters fitted Rocky with a yellow La Tri kit, then saw their team concede a 90th-minute winner in its FIFA World Cup group-stage opener against Ivory Coast on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (aka Philadelphia Stadium).
The effects of the “Rocky curse” are well-documented when it comes to football, but it was relatively untested on the beautiful game. Ecuador lost, 1-0, to the Ivorian side, which entered the tournament ranked 10 spots behind La Tri in the FIFA World Ranking.
With Brazil coming to Philly for a Group C match against Haiti on Friday (8:30 p.m., Fox29), Movimento Verde Amarelo, Brazil’s main supporters’ group, went to great lengths to ensure the yellow and green of the Canarinho stayed off the Rocky statue.
The Rocky statue was roped off with a four-post retractable nylon stanchion, with four members of MVA, sunglasses on and earpiece in, standing at attention at each corner as Brazilian fans gathered for a rally in front of the Art Museum.
The bodyguards discouraged fans from draping any Brazilian garb on the statue, holding signs that read:
“Operation Rocky Protectors — Attention: it is forbidden to put Brazilian colors on the statue.”
Matheus Henrique, 30, was one of the MVA members protecting the statue. Henrique, a native of Belém, Brazil, moved to Los Angeles a decade ago for college.
On the eve of Friday’s FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Haiti, Brazil fans rally for their team on the Art Museum steps in Philadelphia on Thursday, June 18, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Henrique is friends with the person who helped organize Brazil’s takeover of the steps and responded when a call went out for volunteers to guard the statue.
“It’s a superstition, we heard,” Henrique said. “We’re enjoying the event as well.”
There was plenty of enjoyment to go around for Brazilian supporters as they scaled the steps in front of the Rocky statue on Thursday evening. Fans danced, sang, set off smoke flares and drummed for hours, making The Oval feel more like Rio de Janeiro than Fairmount.
And, thanks to the statue guards and forewarnings from MVA and Visit PA, Rocky remained shirtless throughout the evening.
The MVA Instagram account posted a warning to its members to abstain from clothing the Rocky statue before Brazilian fans gathered at the steps on Thursday.
“Attention Brazil Fans,” a translated version of the group’s post reads. “It is totally forbidden to put a Brazilian shirt on the Rocky Statue in Philly!!!!!”
Meanwhile, Visit PA warned international fans about the Rocky curse.
“Countless football teams (as in American Football, not Fútbol — same curse, different sport) have all dressed the Rocky Statue in their colors and gone on to lose,” its Instagram post read. “Ecuador dressed Rocky last weekend. Coincidence? Sadly, history says no.”
Henrique was confident about Brazil’s match with Haiti, but he said the team needs all the luck it can get after starting the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Morocco. Henrique said he had to chide a few people getting too close to the statue.
“Some people don’t know,” Henrique said. “I didn’t know about the superstition until today. Let’s not play with luck. We need luck.”
Henrique plans to watch Friday night’s match from the FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill, but he feels as if he’s already done his part to help the Brazilians avoid an upset.
Gonna Fly Now
After successfully avoiding Rocky’s wrath, Brazil will enter Friday night’s match as favorites over Haiti, which dropped to No. 85 in the FIFA World Ranking after losing its opener to Scotland.
Brazil, ranked No. 5 in the FIFA World Ranking, will be without national legend Neymar for the match. The 34-year-old winger, nursing a calf injury, was not among the group of players that arrived at the Sofitel in Center City on Thursday afternoon.
On the eve of Friday’s World Cup match between Brazil and Haiti, Brazil fans rally for their team on the Art Museum steps in Philadelphia.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Brazilian supporters welcomed players to the team’s hotel, creating a festive but crowded scene at 17th and Sansom around 4 p.m.
Brazil’s team bus arrived to the hotel at 5:10 p.m., and a few Brazilian players, including Gabriel and Raphinha, greeted fans as they walked from the bus to the hotel.
The Seleção will look to secure all three points against the Haitians at Philadelphia Stadium on Friday night. The team and its supporters can rest easy knowing it will not be the next victim of the Rocky curse.
The South Jersey wrestling community is mourning 16-year-old Chase Sudano, who died in an electric bike crash involving a UPS truck in Burlington County on Tuesday morning.
New Jersey state troopers responded to a crash at 10:45 a.m. near the intersection of Tranquility Court and North Firelane Road near Route 70 in Southampton Township, N.J.
Sudano was driving a Talaria electric dirt bike east on North Firelane Road and collided with the right rear of the truck, which was traveling south on Tranquility Court and approaching the intersection of North Firelane Road, according to police.
Sudano was ejected from the bike and sustained fatal injuries from the impact. No other injuries were reported. The case remains under investigation, police say.
A UPS spokesperson wrote in a statement: “We are heartbroken by the tragic accident in Southampton Township, N.J. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones. We are fully cooperating with authorities to understand what happened. Since this is an active investigation, we must refer any additional questions to the authorities.”
Sudano, who attended St. Augustine Prep in Atlantic County, was approaching his 17th birthday and lived in Southampton, according to 6abc.
He was a rising wrestling star and had “exceptional character, integrity, and humility — not only on the wrestling mat, but in every aspect of his life,” St. Augustine Prep Athletics wrote.
As a sophomore, Sudano was a district champion and third-place finisher at regionals in the 126-pound weight class. He qualified for the NJSIAA state wrestling championship in Atlantic City, where he competed in the preliminary round, and finished his season with a 32-12 record.
South Jersey schools and wrestling programs, including Rutgers University, shared their condolences to the Sudano family.
“The St. Augustine Prep community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our Hermit Brother,” the school’s athletic department wrote. “… He embodied the values of our brotherhood and left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. As we mourn this tremendous loss, we stand together in support of one another.”
Chase Sudano was a rising wrestling star. He qualified for states this past season.St. Augustine Preparatory School
Sudano wrestled in elementary school with the Rancocas Valley youth program and showed promise for a bright future, Rancocas Valley Wrestling said. The program also shared on social media that he’ll be remembered for “his strong work ethic, witty humor, and fierce competitive spirt.”
A GoFundMe page organized by John Chirico noted that Sudano “was laid back, funny, and genuinely well liked by everyone who knew him. He had a way of making people laugh and bringing a smile to those around him.”
His club team, River Club, which is based in Fort Washington in Montgomery County, posted on Instagram that Sudano was at more “wrestling practices than anyone in the last 13 years.”
Pride Wrestling Club in Newfield, Gloucester County, wrote on Facebook that he was “an [integral] part of the South Jersey wrestling community. … We will all miss you dearly as a friend, competitor, opponent and family.”
Jeffrey Lurie has owned the Philadelphia Eagles, which he purchased in 1994, longer than his son, Julian, has been alive. But in recent years, the younger Lurie, heir to the franchise and now 31, has assumed a more pervasive and influential role in the organization. While the Eagles have made no secret about Julian’s increased involvement with the team, specifics about his role have been scant.
In recent months, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane spoke to nearly two dozen sources on and off the record to gain a better understanding of not just who Julian Lurie is and what he does, but – most important of all – whether he’ll be ready to assume the reins as Eagles Chairman and CEO, whenever the time comes.
Jeff shares the biggest takeaways from his reporting with Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski in this companion episode to Jeff’s feature article about the Eagles’ succession plan, linked here: https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/a/julian-lurie-influence-eagles-ownership-succession-plan-20260617.html
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Following this episode, the podcast will be on hiatus until the start of training camp.
Thousands of Ecuadorian fans came face-to-face with the Rocky statue curse over the weekend. As the Ecuadorian team fell to the Ivory Coast, 1-0, many blamed fans who draped the iconic statue of the Italian Stallion in their signature yellow jersey.
Their actions even triggered the Pennsylvania Tourism Office to officially alert teams worldwide:
“Philadelphia can’t wait to host you! (but Rocky does not need your kit),” the statement read.
The warning came too late for Ecuadorian native Gigio Benavides, who had spent a week hand-making a version of his team’s jersey with loved ones just to place it on Rocky on June 13, the day before the Ecuadorian loss.
But the 38-year-old didn’t know about the other teams that have suffered the same fate after gussying up Rocky in their own team’s unis.
“Rocky is an example of discipline and consistency. He was always facing people who had so much more, but he never gave up. We needed that spirit,” Benavides said in Spanish.
Ecuadorian soccer fans attend a flag-waving event at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, ahead of their first round World Cup match against the Ivory Coast last weekend.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A week before the World Cup began, he measured the statue through online pictures to ensure the shirt would fit.
Five friends, who make school uniforms for a living, helped him bring the yellow shirt to life using a 2XL shirt template.
They left the sides open to ensure the statue’s lifted arms would fit, and his aunt sewed clips on the sides in case more room was needed.
“That was good because Rocky was really, really muscular,” Benavides said.
To top it off, they added Rocky’s name on the back with the inscription: “Dream, transcend, and make history.”
Benavides traveled 26 hours and 3,000 miles from his small town in Loja, Ecuador, to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. But, not before telling his friends that if they saw the shirt, to know that he made it.
He arrived before sunset on Saturday, hours before Ecuadorians flooded the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps.
“My only concerns at the time were not offending the people of Philadelphia or getting in legal trouble for putting the shirt on him,” Benavides said.
Gigio Benavides puts a custom Ecuador shirt on Rocky during last Saturday’s gathering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.Gigio Benavides
When Benavides made it to the steps, the statue already had flags on, so he figured his shirt would only add to Rocky’s glory.
It wasn’t until hours later, when hate messages began pouring in, that he realized his mistake.
“Now everyone is saying I am bad luck,” Benavides said.
Amid the death threats and cruel messages, falling asleep proved a challenge. But he chose to look at the bright side: “Maybe Ecuador could break Rocky’s curse and set the city free,” he recalled thinking.
By Sunday morning, that hopefulness had turned into a need for survival. Yet, the full weight of the curse didn’t fall on his shoulders until he arrived inside the stadium.
Lincoln Financial Field, renamed Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup, was an ocean of yellow, and many Ecuadorian influencers had already put a target on him by posting his name online.
By grace, his seat happened to be in a section where most of the spectators were not Ecuadorian. He sat between two men, one from Boston, the other from Brazil.
As Ivory Coast faced Ecuador, Benavides felt himself sweating, seeing the score fixed at zero. The continuous tie by halftime made him feel a dose of relief.
“I thought, if the curse is true, but we tied 0-0, then maybe we avoid it,” he said. “Either way, we must break it, because my life is on the line.”
One minute before the 90th-minute mark, Ivory Coast scored, leaving Benavides sobbing on his seat.
Ecuador forward Enner Valencia (center) and Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou (right) collide when the head the ball in the first half of the World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The hate worried Benavides, but nothing hurt more than feeling his good intentions had cursed his beloved team.
“I was crying so much that the guys from Brazil and Boston hugged me,” Benavides said. “They keep saying, ‘It’s OK man, it’s OK.’”
Feeling like a truck hit him, Benavides stayed seated as fans left the stadium wondering what would happen next. But the storm and the drops falling on his face didn’t allow for too much time for reflection.
By Monday morning, videos of Ecuadorians offering beer and Encebollado — a traditional Ecuadorian fish soup said to cure hangovers — to Rocky for him to lift the curse went viral.
Other Ecuadorian fans tried turning the curse to their favor and putting Germany’s shirt on Rocky, ahead of their match in New York on June 25. It’s a move the Pennsylvania Tourism Office said on their Instagram post that won’t work, because “the statue will know.”
Benavides himself did not attend, returning to plead with Rocky, but he did walk around the city before traveling to New Jersey, witnessing some of the fans himself.
“Seeing everyone so caught up in the game made me realize how much soccer helps us free ourselves from the heavy thing happening,” Benavides said. “So it’s OK if I have to take the fall, but let’s not forget to still have hope, and send good vibes to our team.”
Ecuadorian fans wait for their team to play Ivory Coast during the World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The period following mandatory minicamps generally is a quiet time in the NFL. But the Eagles have not been closed for business on the personnel front.
Ezukanma, 26, is a former Texas Tech standout who was the Dolphins’ fourth-round pick in 2022. He spent time on the Jaguars practice squad in 2025, but spent this past season with the DC Defenders of the UFL. DC lost to the Louisville Kings in the league championship — the United Bowl — last Saturday.
Ezukanma was one of the top kickoff returners in the UFL, returning 18 kicks for 443 yards (24.6 yards per return) while catching 15 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown. He already has chemistry with Eagles passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was a quality control coach in Miami during his stint there.
Wade, 27, was a fifth-round pick by the Ravens in 2021. He played college ball at Ohio State and played in 20 games in three seasons with the Patriots. Wade was drafted by the UFL’s Dallas Renegades, where he logged three interceptions in eight games this season.
In other team moves this week, the Eagles waived defensive back Brandon Johnson and placed linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on the reserve/retired list.
The city is rolling back its geofence border around the FIFA Fan Festival to reduce the number of residential areas blocked from using rideshare.
The Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) announced Thursday that it would shrink the geofence to exclude large residential buildings on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The geofence, which blocks people within its borders from using rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, will now shrink to the south of Aspen Street, about half a block from its original border at 25th and Meredith Streets.
“We’re continuing to work with the community, elected officials, and operational partners to improve the experience for everyone, including residents impacted by Lemon Hill festivities,” an OTIS spokesperson said.
Additionally, four blocks in Fairmount had been designated for rideshare pickups and drop-offs, but OTIS is reducing rideshare zones to two, allowing for more parking for permitted residents.
The rideshare pickup/drop-off zones are now located only near Eastern State Penitentiary, at 23rd Street and Fairmount Avenue, and the 2200 block of Fairmount Avenue.
This was well-received news for residents who live in the area and have been concerned about the geofence’s restriction on residents with mobility issues.
Paul Stewart, an 86-year-old resident who lives in one of the large apartment buildings that initially had been geofenced, relies on Uber to visit his doctor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. But last week, when he planned to head to an appointment, he found he could not call a rideshare.
“The geofence that includes my building and all the businesses in the immediate area will continue for 39 days,” Stewart said before the geofence rollback. “Many people take Uber to and from the restaurants and bars in this neighborhood so that they can have a few drinks and not worry about driving drunk.”
Geofencing these large residential buildings and blocks was hindering everyday life, Stewart said. Now, he said, residents will be able to go about their business as they normally would.
The geofence reduction is just one of the adjustments the city has been making as it manages the traffic and fans around the FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill. Since at least May, residents have been requesting traffic-calming measures on residential blocks. The Philadelphia Parking Authority and OTIS installed additional barricades and signage last week.
At least two titles will be on the line as UFC returns to Philly for UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
UFC president Dana White joined The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday and announced that Islam Makhachev (28-1) will defend his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry (17-1). This will be Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense since he vacated his lightweight title and defeated Jack Della Maddalena by decision at UFC 322 in November for the welterweight title.
Additionally, Mackenzie Dern (16-5) will defend her women’s strawweight title for the first time against Gillian Robertson (17-8). After the belt was vacated by Zhang Weili, Dern earned the vacant title in October after a five-round decision win over Virna Jandiroba.
“This is the first time we’re back in Philly since 2019 … I love Philly, I love Philly cheesesteaks … and I can’t wait to get back there. The fans are the best,” White said, adding that he loves going to Celtics games and getting trash talked by Sixers fans.
In 2019, the UFC held a Fight Night in Philly, featuring a main event between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza. But 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, in which Rashad Evans defeated Tito Ortiz in the main event.
Will Philly native Sean Brady get a chance to fight in his hometown?courtesy of UFC
Will there be a Philly fighter?
The last time the UFC was in town, there wasn’t a local fighter on the card, despite the city’s deep roster of talent, although Philly fighter-turned-broadcaster Paul Felder was in the booth.
So as the UFC 330 card continues to develop, here are some Philly fighters who could be featured …
Sean Brady: Brady (19-2) wears his Philly roots as a “badge of honor.” After suffering a tough loss to Michael Morales in November, he bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley in May at UFC 328.
Joe Pyfer (right) punches Kelvin Gastelum during the first round of a middleweight bout at UFC 316 last June.Frank Franklin II
Pat Sabatini: Sabatini (22-5) is on a four-fight winning streak; his latest victory was via decision over William Gomis at May’s UFC 328. Sabatini has been training in Northeast Philly since he was 5 years old, and hung up his hockey pads for a gi.
Andre Petroski: Petroski (13-7) is on a three-fight losing skid. And when he’s not focused on his own training, he’s working as the Flyers’ fight coach alongside bare knuckle fighter Johnny Garbarino.
Jeremiah Wells: Wells (13-4-1) bounced back from consecutive losses with a decision win over Themba Gorimbo in November. The West Philly native attended Overbrook and was a standout wrestler before moving to the Poconos to train and work.
