The Future is Bright

Morning - welcome back to The Sports Road! Like Real Madrid in the Champions League, not only are we inevitable, but the best in the game. Enjoy!

Here's what we got for ya today:

• A HUGE Week For The UFC

• Golf in The Metaverse📈📈📈

• Esports: The Comeback

• Erling Haaland.

Most valuable public market sports teams

Let's get into it!

The UFC Are Doing Big Things

It has been a VERY big week for the UFC…

Look, here at The Sports Road, we don’t shy away from calling out the UFC and Dana White when we feel they – how do we put this – make an interesting call.

For example, earlier this week – during one of the biggest fight weeks of the year – this was the company’s Instagram page 🤦‍♂️🤣

Good ol’ Power Slap 😮‍💨But with that, the company have announced a BIG partnership in the social media scene. With who, you ask? Tiktok.

Aiming to increase fan engagement with their content, the UFC announced an extension in their global livestream content deal with the app this week. With a fight being able to change in only a matter of seconds, the format in which Tiktok is set up seems tailor made for the MMA organisation.

Hey, just look at Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman 2. With the Nigerian Nightmare ahead on the scorecards, Edwards pulled the fight out of the fire with an unbelievable head kick KO with only one minute left! Perfect content 😉

But really, announcing such a deal only three days before the trilogy match between the two is genius marketing by the MMA giant. Already being the third most followed Sport organisation on the app with 23 million followers, the company will surely be looking to build up tomorrow’s card on a global scale.

The Future of Golf

A couple weeks ago, we wrote about Golf’s place in the Metaverse. Cheeky self-plug 😉

But really, being at an interesting point between innovation and having space to do more, we were left wondering. Technologically, where can the Sport go from here?

Well, it seems like those questions have been answered.

Ahead of the NSW Open - a Golf tournament in New South Wales – Web3 Golf company Play Today have announced the launch of its new metaverse platform.

Let’s be honest, I’m sure if you asked someone what the most exciting Sport is, not many would say Golf. And that’s fair enough, the difference between watching on TV and experiencing the intensity and action in real life are two different animals.

As a result, in addition to being able to livestream the tournament in the metaverse, players will have access to over 40,000 digital recreations of global Golf courses. Mental! In these, players will be able to interact with others and the company can work to create global engagement with the Sport.

Moreover, earlier this week the company announced deals with companies such as Adidas and Callaway. While allowing for further aspects of realism, the Metaverse can act as a hub for future innovation in Golf.

Specifically, this can be seen in the ‘Golf Innovation Centre’ - a system wherein players can use Augmented Reality to see leading Golf products in the ‘real’ world.

Esports’ Resurgence?

Recently, a couple conversations have been being had about Esports. You know, the gruelling Sport of … playing video games 😅

Becoming more stagnant in its growth, many are asking questions over whether it really can be considered a Sport.

Well, ‘real’ or not, the industry is developing in a similar fashion to that of other Sports. How, you ask?

Come on, do we really have to remind you now? AI!

Yep, Guild Esports PLC have partnered with Gerford AI on a major research and development project.

Heavily revolving around the gathering and analysis of data to improve performance, the steps being taken in this partnership aren’t too dissimilar from what is being seen in other pro Sport.

Here’s what to expect:

• A focus will be placed on tracking athlete performance, as well as optimising in game mechanisms such as providing accurate and time-saving data analysis

• The partnership will also place an eye on addressing online interaction, with the goal of eliminating harmful language and behaviour

• By introducing the technology into the world of Esports, both companies are aiming to achieve higher degrees of popularity

With AI seemingly taking over – and the industry already having its base in the digital world – it feels as though the possibilities are endless for Esports.

We Need to Talk About: Erling Haaland

Alright, this guy is a joke.

We know he scores goals, but why are we talking about him today?

36 games, 39 goals, and already breaking the record for the most goals scored in a single season at Man City. Bear in mind players like Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, and of course, Mario Balotelli 😜have all been at the club recently… Erling Haaland is an absolute BEAST.

Scoring five goals during Manchester City’s huge 7-0 win against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, the Norwegian striker entered a VERY exclusive club… Lionel Messi, Luiz Adriano, and now Erling Haaland.

And to think, we could have lost him to a music career!

Is this the year that Manchester City can finally achieve Champions League glory?

Last week, we spoke about PSG and their inability to win the competition and it feels like City may have the same curse…

No, really… Read more about Manchester City’s alleged Champions League curse here

Quick bites

• A Big Night: UFC 286 Preview

• It's the FA Cup this weekend: Here are some of the most shocking cup wins!

• Interesting: The F1 put pen to paper on a new deal!

Meme of the day

Quote of the day

Seems fitting after this week he was recalled to the Sweden team at 41...

Photo of the day

Ousmane Dembele attending the Sunderland vs Sheffield United game... Make it make sense 😂 😂 😂 😂

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Chat to ya on Monday! ☮️