The NBA is considering teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, and the UFC is preparing historic fights in Seattle where Adesanya could break Silva’s record.
Dream return: NBA moves toward expansion in Seattle and Las Vegas
Amid growing popularity of basketball in the U.S. and worldwide, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking a long-awaited step toward its first expansion in two decades. The league’s Board of Governors, which includes the owners of all 30 teams, unanimously voted to begin an official exploration of potential expansion bids for Seattle and Las Vegas. That decision, reported by Al Jazeera, opens a new chapter in the league’s history, although it does not guarantee new franchises will be awarded.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the vote reflects the board’s interest in two markets with long histories of supporting basketball. “We look forward to this next step and engaging with the interested parties,” he said. For Seattle, it’s a chance to regain a top-level team: the city lost the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 when the owners moved the franchise to Oklahoma City after talks over a new arena broke down. Since then, local fans and the business community have not given up hope for an NBA return. Las Vegas, for its part, has never had an NBA team but has rapidly become a major sports capital. The presence of NFL and NHL franchises there, and the planned relocation of the Oakland Athletics, signal the market’s maturity and appeal.
If the league ultimately approves expansion, the new teams are expected to begin play in the 2028–29 season. This would be the most significant expansion since the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets) joined in 2004. The financial side is staggering: estimates put the expansion fee for each new franchise at between $7 billion and $10 billion. For context, Charlotte paid $300 million to enter the league in 2004. That enormous growth reflects both general inflation and the unprecedented commercial power of the modern NBA, whose media rights and global brand continue to strengthen.
Such a major expansion will also require rebalancing competition within the league. Since both Seattle and Las Vegas are geographically in the western U.S., both new teams are expected to join the Western Conference. To maintain balance (16 teams per conference), league officials will likely shift one of the current Western teams to the East. The Minnesota Timberwolves or the Memphis Grizzlies are considered the most likely candidates. It’s a technical but important change that could affect competitive dynamics and travel logistics for teams.
Thus, the unanimous owners’ vote is more than a bureaucratic step — it’s a powerful signal. It shows the league is ready to capitalize on its popularity, restore top-level basketball to a city that has longed for it, and cement a presence in one of the world’s brightest sports capitals. Although the path from vote to first tip-off at a new arena is long and will require work on arenas, ownership groups, and conditions of entry, the NBA has made a clear and confident move toward the future. For Seattle fans, it’s a ray of hope for correcting a historical injustice; for Las Vegas, it’s a chance to definitively establish itself not only as a gaming capital but as a full-fledged sports mecca of America.
Preview of upcoming UFC fights in Seattle: from newcomers to rising stars
Ahead of the UFC event in Seattle, attention is focused on a series of intriguing matchups that promise to be dynamic and career-defining for the fighters involved. The organization is presenting a mix of battle-tested newcomers and highly touted prospects ready to make a name for themselves on one of the largest mixed martial arts stages.
One of the most anticipated bouts is the lightweight clash between Jamie “The Liquidator” Erosa and Gaspar “Gunslinger” Douglas. As noted in the UFC.com preview, this fight is bound to be incredibly entertaining from the opening bell. Erosa is known for never producing boring fights, and Douglas, analysts say, has only one gear — full speed ahead. Douglas, a 30-year-old Brazilian, earned a UFC contract after a highlight-reel knockout of Kam Tig on Dana White’s Contender Series, extending his winning streak to five. He’s faced tough opponents on his way up and trains with a strong camp under the guidance of Qube Swanson, making him the kind of polished newcomer who can make an immediate impact. Viewers are advised to prepare drinks and snacks and not to look away when this fight starts.
Another key bout of the evening is a middleweight matchup between Mansur Abdul-Malik and Yusri Belgaroui. This pits one of the roster’s most highly regarded prospects against a solid midcarder who impressed in his debut. Abdul-Malik is undefeated across his first four UFC fights, with three stoppage wins and one no-contest. He shows remarkable composure for an early-stage fighter and possesses enormous upside. A product of the Xtreme Couture gym, he’s viewed as a future regular in the top-15 — it’s a matter of when, not if. Another impressive win this weekend could propel him into tougher tests next time out. His opponent, Yusri Belgaroui, made the most of his first UFC opportunity in October in Vancouver, using his long jab to wear down and ultimately stop Azamat Bekoev. A former opponent and now teammate of Alex Pereira, this Dutch kickboxer has unusually long reach for the division and knows how to use it, making him a difficult puzzle for any fighter.
These fights underscore the UFC’s strategy of integrating new talent. Fighters like Douglas, who come through the Contender Series, already have experience facing strong competition and can slot into the competitive landscape immediately. At the same time, fighters such as Abdul-Malik represent the organization’s long-term investment in young athletes with high ceilings. For Belgaroui, this bout is a chance to pull off a significant upset and rewrite narratives, while for Abdul-Malik it’s an opportunity to cement his status as a rising star. Together, these matchups form a card where each outcome could meaningfully shape the future of the divisions, offering fans both instant entertainment value and reasons to follow the emergence of a new generation of contenders.
Israel Adesanya could break Anderson Silva’s long-standing record in his 15th UFC main event
A landmark moment in mixed martial arts history may be imminent, potentially changing the historical statistics of the UFC middleweight division. This weekend in Seattle, former champion Israel Adesanya returns to the Octagon after more than a year away, and his fight against Joe Pyfer is not just an attempt to halt a losing streak. On the line is a legendary knockout-related record held by the great Anderson Silva.
Israel Adesanya, known as “The Last Stylebender,” comes back to the UFC at a difficult point in his career. He is currently on a three-fight losing streak — an unprecedented downturn for him. However, as Bloody Elbow notes, this Seattle fight — the fifteenth main event of his career — gives him a chance not only to rehabilitate his trajectory but to etch his name in the history books. Adesanya and Silva currently share the lead for most knockdowns in UFC middleweight history — 13 each. That means a single knockdown of Pyfer would allow Adesanya to take sole possession of this prestigious statistical accomplishment. For reference, a knockdown in MMA is when a fighter, after a clean strike by the opponent, touches the Octagon canvas with any part of the body other than the feet while remaining conscious and able to continue. It’s a key indicator of stand-up dominance.
Interestingly, more than half of Adesanya’s knockdowns (53%) were earned in just two fights: the epic showdown with Kelvin Gastelum in 2019, already recognized as Fight of the Year and destined for the Hall of Fame, and his stoppage win over Derek Brunson. However, in his last three bouts he failed to drop opponents, and in fact he himself was knocked down twice. Therefore, his return to form is tied directly to the resurgence of his trademark, focused striking power. A win over the heavy-hitting Pyfer, nicknamed “Corpse Bag,” would be a major statement. Moreover, if the fight lasts long enough, Adesanya could also overtake Sean Strickland for another record — the longest average fight time in the middleweight division — he is currently only 42 seconds behind.
If Adesanya sets a new knockdown record, it will likely stand for a long time. The only other active top-10 middleweight, Gregory Rodrigues, has just seven knockdowns, meaning he would need an almost impossible surge to catch the leader. Adesanya, approaching the mark of 15 main events (a milestone reached previously only by giants such as Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Randy Couture, and Tito Ortiz), has hinted that his career may be entering its final stages. That adds drama to the upcoming bout: every Octagon appearance is now an opportunity to strengthen his legacy. Thus, the Seattle fight is not just the main event of the evening. It’s potentially a historic moment where personal motivation to return to winning ways intersects with a chance to surpass one of the greatest fighters of all time in a very showy statistical category.
