Coming into 2019, the idea of seeing Khabib Nurmagomedov, the UFC's undefeated Muslim champion, headline a major event in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, would not have seemed far-fetched. Picturing Dustin Poirier as the man standing across from him, however, would have been much harder to envision.

It's not that Poirier (25-5) wasn't one of the top lightweights in the world coming into this year. Quite the contrary. In 2018, Poirier stopped Justin Gaethje and Eddie Alvarez, extending his unbeaten streak to five. His record at 155 pounds in the UFC, coming into 2019, was 7-1 with one no contest.

But Poirier wasn't really on many people's radar when it came to the Nurmagomedov sweepstakes. And if he was on someone's list, there were plenty of names ahead of him. Former interim champ Tony Ferguson, for one. Reigning featherweight champion Max Holloway, for another. And, of course, the 1,000-pound gorilla in any MMA conversation, Conor McGregor.

But in April, with McGregor missing in action and Ferguson dealing with personal issues, Poirier got his shot at a vacant interim title against Holloway, who agreed to move up in weight. Poirier defeated Holloway via unanimous decision in a masterful five-round performance to earn his shot at arguably the most coveted belt in MMA today: the UFC lightweight title.

Saturday's UFC 242 main event represents several things. It represents the beginning of the UFC's five-year commitment to Abu Dhabi. It represents a return to normalcy in the 155-pound division, where a champion will actually defend his belt against the No. 1 contender, something McGregor never did in his 511-day reign as champ.

And for Poirier, the bout represents something that he has put into words perfectly: "25 minutes to make life fair." It took Poirier 22 fights in the UFC to become an interim champion. In the history of the UFC, only Michael Bisping (26) had to make more appearances before earning his first title shot.

Honestly, when the year began, the sport probably didn't expect Poirier to be here this weekend. But he has erased any alternative, while earning his shot the hard way.

By the numbers

11: UFC wins for Nurmagomedov, the most without a loss by any fighter in UFC history. With a win on Saturday, Nurmagomedov would become the seventh fighter with a 12-fight UFC win streak, joining Anderson Silva (16), Jon Jones (13), Demetrious Johnson (13), Georges St-Pierre (13), Max Holloway (13) and Tony Ferguson (12).

+2.26: Strike differential per minute for Nurmagomedov, the highest in UFC lightweight history. Next on the list are TJ Grant (+2.19), Sage Northcutt (+2.08) and Saturday's opponent, Poirier (+2.06).

7.11: Strikes landed per minute by Poirier, second most in UFC lightweight history.

50: Takedowns for Nurmagomedov in his UFC lightweight career, third most in division history behind Gleison Tibau's 84 and Clay Guida's 51.

6: Knockouts at lightweight for Poirier, leaving him one behind Edson Barboza and Melvin Guillard for most in the history of that UFC weight class. Barboza also fights Saturday.

Source: ESPN Stats & Information

A look back ... and downward

Five vs. five

Khabib Nurmagomedov's most recent results
Win: Conor McGregor (SUB4, Oct. 6, 2018)
Win: Al Iaquinta (UD, April 7, 2018)
Win: Edson Barboza (UD, Dec. 30, 2017)
Win: Michael Johnson (SUB3, Nov. 12, 2016)
Win: Darrell Horcher (TKO2, April 16, 2016)

Dustin Poirier's most recent results
Win: Max Holloway (UD, April 13, 2019)
Win: Eddie Alvarez (TKO2, July 28, 2018)
Win: Justin Gaethje (TKO4, April 14, 2018)
Win: Anthony Pettis (TKO3, Nov. 11, 2017)
NC: Eddie Alvarez (illegal knees, May 13, 2017)

Abu Dhabi déjà vu?

Fighting words

"I have a chance to do something great. Not too many times in your life do certain events happen to set you up to do something like this on Saturday night. Champion vs. champion in an arena they're building in the desert in a foreign land [where] I've never been. It's a very special point in my career and a special point in combat sports. It's gonna be an historic night." -- Poirier, speaking to ESPN

"The difference between all of his opponents and me -- Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, Jim Miller, all of these guys -- nobody can wrestle like me. Nobody. And I'm going to put pressure [on him], very good pressure. And he has to wrestle with me all 25 minutes. With these guys, he can box with them. But with me, he have to wrestle. He have to be ready for this one. And I don't think he's ready for this." -- Nurmagomedov, speaking to ESPN

Gil & Joe's film study

Brett Okamoto's pick

Poirier's performance against Holloway, who is a bona fide pound-for-pound great, was eye-opening to say the least. Poirier is tough and resilient, but he's also much more than that. For him to not only match but outperform Holloway in areas such as cardio and striking accuracy was sublime to watch. This 30-year-old interim champ is brimming with confidence coming into this fight, and he's arguably one of the best-conditioned athletes Nurmagomedov has ever fought. But Nurmagomedov is just too hard to pick against. Nurmagomedov via decision.

Waiting in the wings

Tony Ferguson. Or maybe the next title shot could go to ... Tony Ferguson. Here are a few more options: Tony Ferguson, Tony Ferguson, Tony Ferguson. Don't even try cutting the line and stepping in front of "El Cucuy."

What else to look for ... beyond the main event

A striking rematch in the co-main

"I think this fight takes Felder to another level."

That was UFC president Dana White singing the praises of Paul Felder in the aftermath of his 2015 fight against Edson Barboza. Felder had clearly impressed the boss, but he wasn't so impressed himself. Felder had just dropped a unanimous decision, the first loss of his career.

"I got that first L," Felder said afterward, sounding despondent but determined. "Now I'm just gonna have to get a whole lot more W's."

That did not turn out to be his immediate path -- Felder lost again barely a month later -- but now he is on a good run, having won four of his past five. And in Saturday's co-main event he gets another shot at Barboza, whose recent career has gone the other way -- three losses in his past four fights.

A few co-main appetizers, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

• Barboza (20-7) has 14 UFC wins, fourth most in lightweight history, behind Jim Miller (19), Donald Cerrone (17) and Gleison Tibau (16).

• Seven of Barboza's UFC wins have come by KO/TKO, tying him with Melvin Guillard for most in lightweight history. Five of those finishes were with kicks or knees, tied for second most in UFC history.

• Barboza has 10 knockdowns in his UFC career, placing him third in lightweight history behind Guillard (13) and Cerrone (11).

• Felder (16-4) has finished 11 of his wins (10 KO/TKOs, 1 submission).

• Three of Felder's UFC finishes have come by elbows, most in promotion history.

Can she rise to the occasion at a higher level?

Andrea Lee has won seven fights in a row, but she has never faced anyone like Joanne Calderwood, whom she meets in Saturday's feature prelim. Calderwood has lost three of her past five -- but against fighters at a higher level than those Lee has been in with during her three-bout UFC stint.

Calderwood (13-4) is No. 4 in ESPN's rankings at women's flyweight, while Lee (11-2) checks in at No. 8.

Lee is coming off a June win over Montana De La Rosa in which she outlanded her opponent 73-14, according to UFC Stats research. But Calderwood connected with 112 significant strikes in her fight that same month, a loss to No. 2-ranked Katlyn Chookagian, and lands the second-most significant strikes per minute among active women's fighters, at 6.1.

Expect a whole lot of swinging.

Bits and pieces

• Zubaira Tukhugov, who faces UFC newcomer Lerone Murphy in a featherweight prelim, will be fighting for the first time since a 2016 loss to Renato Moicano, which ended a nine-fight winning streak. Tukhugov is one of the Nurmagomedov teammates who were suspended for their actions during the brawl with Conor McGregor's team at UFC 229 last October.

• Murphy is 8-0 with five wins by KO/TKO, all in the first round.

• Also making an Octagon debut is bantamweight Liana Jojua (7-2), who has won her past five fights, four by first-round submission. She faces Sarah Moras, a loser in her past three. Another loss would put Moras in a tie for fourth for most consecutive losses among UFC women.

• Ottman Azaitar (11-0) looks to extend his perfect record in his first UFC fight, a lightweight prelim. But he has a formidable obstacle in front of him: Teemu Packalen (8-2), who has finished all eight of his wins.

• Packalen has not fought since 2017, and his past two bouts have lasted a combined 54 seconds -- a 30-second KO loss to Marc Diakiese in March of that year and a 24-second submission win over Thibault Gouti in February 2016.

• Belal Muhammad (15-3), who fights Takashi Sato (15-2) in a welterweight prelim, is 5-1 in the UFC when he gets multiple takedowns, according to UFC Stats.

• Nordine Taleb (15-6) is one of two UFC welterweights all time who is in the top 10 in both significant strike accuracy (50.8%) and significant strike defense (66.3%), along with former champion Georges St-Pierre, according to UFC Stats. He faces Muslim Salikhov (14-2).

• Thirteen of Salikhov's wins have come by stoppage, including 11 by KO/TKO.

• The early prelims begin with a meeting of two lightweights on five-fight winning streaks. Don Madge (8-3-1) and Fares Ziam (10-2) also have finished 17 of their combined 18 MMA wins.

(Thanks to ESPN Stats & Information for the intel.)

SHENZHEN, China -- Kemba Walker scored 15 points, Donovan Mitchell scored 10 on his 23rd birthday and Team USA contained NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, defeating Greece 69-53 in a second-round game at the FIBA World Cup on Saturday.

Harrison Barnes and Derrick White each scored nine for the U.S. (4-0), which can clinch a quarterfinal berth Monday in multiple ways. It needs either a win over Brazil or a Greece win over the Czech Republic or through a three-way tiebreaker, if necessary.

Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks star, scored 15 points for Greece (2-2).

France and Australia reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Saturday. They join Serbia, Spain, Poland and Argentina, who have already reached the final eight.

The U.S. national team has won 57 consecutive games in international tournaments with NBA players, starting with the 2006 world championships bronze-medal game and continuing through every FIBA Americas, world championships, World Cup and Olympic event since.

The streak started after a 101-95 loss to Greece in 2006 -- a defeat that prompted the U.S. to change its program.

The Americans haven't lost in the biggest tournaments since.

"I thought we played well," Walker said. "Stuck to the game plan."

Antetokounmpo's eyes were closed as he mouthed along with the words of Greece's national anthem. After the U.S. anthem played and the rosters from both sides met at midcourt for the customary pregame exchange of gifts, the NBA MVP shook hands with Bucks teammate Brook Lopez and gave him a quick hug.

Other than that, there was no pregame interaction between Antetokounmpo and the Americans.

He was aggressive from the jump, spinning his way to a layup on the first possession, making a 3-pointer on Greece's second possession and getting fouled on a baseline drive on the next trip down the floor.

That was five points in the first 43 seconds for Antetokounmpo. He scored four in his next 18 minutes of playing time.

The Americans kept a steady stream of different looks coming at the MVP -- who was guarded in the first half alone by Barnes, Khris Middleton, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Myles Turner. Brown and Smart, perhaps mindful of what Antetokounmpo did against their Celtics in last season's playoffs, held him scoreless in the half and the U.S. went into the break with a 38-25 lead.

Antetokounmpo had a steal and dunk late in the third, which got plenty of fans out of their seats and Greek fans waving flags. But the outcome was never in doubt, and the MVP was on the bench for the entire fourth quarter in a somewhat puzzling move.

TIP-INS

U.S.: Mitchell's birthday came a day after Joe Harris turned 28. ... Smart, who has twice missed time with leg injuries this summer, slipped and fell as he chased a loose ball out of bounds with 1:11 left in the first. He stayed in the game. ... The U.S. shot only 36%.

Greece: The outcome came five years to the day after the Greeks were ousted by Serbia in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup. ... Nick Calathes became the third Florida player to be part of a loss to the U.S. this summer; Andrew Nembhard played for Canada in the Americans' pre-World Cup win in Australia; and Scottie Wilbekin played for Turkey in its overtime loss to the U.S. in the group stage.

HOLDING LEADS

Through four games, the U.S. has trailed for all of 7 minutes, 48 seconds -- out of a possible 165 minutes. The Americans have led for 147:02, and games have been tied for 10:10.

CLAMPING DOWN

The U.S. has held Japan and Greece to a combined 98 points in the last two games. That represents the fewest points the U.S. has allowed in consecutive games of a major international tournament since the 1988 Olympics, when the Americans gave up 92 in a two-game stretch against Egypt and Puerto Rico.

UP NEXT

U.S.: Plays Brazil (3-1) in a second-round finale Monday in Shenzhen.

Greece: Plays Czech Republic (3-1) in a second-round finale Monday in Shenzhen.

FRANCE 78, LITHUANIA 75

At Nanjing, Evan Fournier led France with 24 points and Nando De Colo scored 21. France led 65-54 after three quarters and withstood a closing charge by Lithuania.

Jonas Valanciunas led Lithuania with 18 points and eight rebounds. Mantas Kalnietis scored 12.

CZECH REPUBLIC 93, BRAZIL 71

At Shenzhen, the Czech Republic kept itself in the hunt for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals with an easy win over the previously unbeaten South Americans.

Tomas Satoransky scored 20 points, added nine assists and had seven rebounds for the Czechs (3-1), who will play Greece on Monday. Ondrej Balvin scored 15.

"It was another great victory for us,'' Satoransky said, with the team playing to its identity by "playing fast, running, sharing the ball and fighting on defense.''

Added coach Ronen Ginzburg: "It's an amazing time for us, for Czech Republic basketball. It's a great win.''

Vitor Benite scored 12 for Brazil (3-1), which will face the U.S. on Monday in the second-round finale for both teams. Leandro Barbosa and Marcelinho Huertas each scored 11 for Brazil.

AUSTRALIA 82, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 76

At Nanjing, Australia -- which had already clinched a place in next year's Olympics by being the top team in the World Cup out of Oceania -- took away the Dominican Republic's chances of reaching the quarterfinals.

Australia (4-0) was led by Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs with 19 points and nine assists. Chris Goulding added 15 with 13 from Jock Landale. Eloy Vargas led the Dominicans with 16 points and Victor Liz added 14.

TOKYO OLYMPICS

Australia joins Japan as the two qualified teams for Tokyo. Japan is in as the host nation. Six more teams for the 12-team Olympic field will be decided from the World Cup.

3-POINT RECORD

Canada set a FIBA World Cup (and world championship, its predecessor) single-game record for 3-pointers made, hitting 24 of them in a 55-point win over Jordan.

The previous record was 19, accomplished twice, both times by the U.S. in 1994 -- first against Puerto Rico, then again against Russia. The second-highest total at this World Cup was 18, done Saturday by New Zealand against Japan.

CLASSIFICATION ROUND

New Zealand (2-2) 111, Japan (0-4) 81

Canada (2-2) 126, Jordan (0-4) 71

Turkey (2-2) 79, Montenegro (0-4) 74

Germany (2-2) 89 vs. Senegal (0-4) 78

SHENZHEN, China -- Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo had to be separated from members of Team USA after a controversial foul triggered emotions at the FIBA World Cup on Saturday night.

With 1:43 left and the U.S. on the way to a 69-53 victory, Harrison Barnes had a free dunk when Thanasis Antetokounmpo hit him from behind and sent Barnes sprawling onto his stomach behind the basket. A common foul was called on the play.

Moments later, when the game ended, Team USA forward Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo exchanged words and referees and coaches came to break up the confrontation. Brown later pointed at Thanasis Antetokounmpo, angrily making his point.

The teams didn't have the traditional postgame handshake. USA coach Gregg Popovich gathered his team on the floor to allow the Greeks to leave so the two teams wouldn't meet in the tunnel.

"Yeah, I said something to Giannis. Well, Giannis said something to me," Brown said. "But we've got bigger fish to fry. So we move on."

Giannis Antetokounmpo declined to talk to the media after the game.

The Americans were angered not just by the foul but also because Thanasis Antetokounmpo didn't initially apologize for the perceived cheap shot, which happened right in front of the U.S. bench.

"The [no apology] escalated it," Marcus Smart said. "At that moment, you've got to take it for what it is. Regardless of whether you feel like it was wrong or right, it was wrong."

Barnes, who finished with nine points and seven rebounds, was uninjured.

"The game was over; probably a frustration play," Barnes said. "Apologies only go so far. If I don't get up and something would've happened, apologies aren't going to help us in the next game. Luckily everything is all good."

SHENZHEN, China - Before each game at the FIBA World Cup the entire teams are announced to the crowd, culminating with the head coach. Without fail as Team USA has progressed from Shanghai and now to Southern China, Gregg Popovich has gotten the loudest ovation.

Popovich, for better or worse, is maybe the biggest American star here, even if he rejects the concept out of hand. But frankly, the U.S. needs him to be a star on occasion, every bit as much as they need those turns from Kemba Walker or Donovan Mitchell.

Popovich and his coaching staff put in a star performance Saturday night in Team USA's 69-53 win over Greece. This was not an attractive game but now more than a month into watching this group, it's clear that a world title is going to come ugly if it comes at all. Popovich is going to have to earn it as much as anyone.

The defensive game plan the Americans had ready for Giannis Antetokounmpo was multifaceted and complete, getting them over a dangerous hurdle. It was a team effort, from the scouting staff led by Jeff Van Gundy to assistant coach Steve Kerr working with players to explain their roles to Popovich pouring in hours between games in meetings and watching film.

Antetokounmpo had 15 points and 13 rebounds and made 7-of-11 shots, but the truth was he was defanged to the point where the Greeks waved the white flag and pulled their star in the fourth quarter to save energy. As expected, he exploded out of the gate with intensity as he scored on a spin move and nailed a 3-pointer on the game's first two possessions. But methodically he was taken out of the game and so was his team.

"Everything is always a compilation of experiences. Obviously we've seen him play and he's a great player," Popovich said. "It's a little bit of everything. Overall we did a good job of being active."

Popovich's long-term plans for dealing with the current Most Valuable Player were derailed a bit when Jayson Tatum went down with an ankle injury earlier this week. After consulting with the coaches, when it came time for a team meeting Friday afternoon Popovich told Joe Harris that he was going to open the game defending Antetokounmpo.

Then Friday night, Harris' phone rang.

"Pop called me and told me I just want you sleep a little easier," Harris said, "and he told me we're going to have Harrison (Barnes) guard him."
The coach was tinkering into the night. He's working it, holding rounds of meetings with a collection of basketball intelligence he's brought with him to China. In addition to Kerr and Van Gundy, his official staff includes Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce and Villanova head coach Jay Wright. His unofficial staff includes Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Ime Udoka, San Antonio Spurs coaches Chip Engelland and Will Hardy, longtime college and NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo and others.

What it produced was a strategy that hemmed in Antetokounmpo. Barnes started on him as planned but Khris Middleton, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart soon followed in quick succession. Smart was especially effective denying Antetokoumpo position in the post, fighting to deny entry passes. There were even possessions when big man Mason Plumlee got the assignment, trying to keep the Greeks off balance.

"Pop wanted to throw a bunch of different looks at him," Brown said, "Keep him thinking."

Popovich played small at times, not playing Brook Lopez at all, so that he could switch pick-and-rolls no matter who Antetokounmpo wanted to run a two-man game with. He rotated players in from the weak side to bring double and sometimes even triple teams. And when Antetokounmpo played on the perimeter, the defense shaded toward him with three players shadowing him.
"We showed a crowd every time he touched it," Smart said. "We want to make it hard for him and we did."

The Americans picked which Greek players to give space, their scouting identifying some weak spots on Greece's roster. Certainly it was possible that one or two of Greece's players could've had unexpected hot shooting nights but Popovich and his staff had worked the percentages and they told the players exactly who they wanted to funnel the ball toward.

"Everyone knows Giannis obviously, you play against him in the NBA," Harris said. "But you have to be real familiar with everyone else too. That's why the scout (from the coaches) was so thorough."

Other than Antetokounmpo, the rest of the Greece team shot just 25 percent. The double teams allowed some open 3-pointers but the Greeks didn't make them, going just 7-of-27.

Indeed it was the players who executed the plan and while Antetokounmpo was motivated, the Americans wanted to make a statement too. Especially Boston Celtics Smart and Brown, who'd been dominated by Antetokounmpo while wearing a Milwaukee Bucks jersey in the playoffs in May.

But it's been Popovich who has steadily sold the need for defensive intensity to the group over the last several weeks, building that habit up and arming them with a game plan that puts them in a position to be successful.

It's only halfway toward the journey, the U.S. is 4-0 in the World Cup but has four more left. If Popovich and his staff keep up this batting average, he'll have done this often thankless job.

"It was a good test of us, it helped us get better," Popovich said. "That's what we're looking for."

ST. LOUIS -- Chris Duncan, a former outfielder who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2006 World Series, died Friday. He was 38.

Duncan, the son of former St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan and brother of former major leaguer Shelley Duncan, died of brain cancer in his hometown of Tucson, Arizona.

"The Cardinals are deeply saddened by the passing of Chris Duncan and extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Amy, the entire Duncan family, and his many friends," Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. "Chris was an integral part of our 2006 championship team and a great teammate and friend to many in the organization."

Duncan hit .257 with 55 home runs and 175 RBIs in 381 games in five seasons with the Cardinals. After his playing career, he worked as a sports radio host at 101ESPN (WXOS-FM) in St. Louis.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Michael Pineda has been suspended 60 games without pay after testing positive for Hydrochlorothiazid, in violation of MLB's joint drug prevention and treatment program.

Pineda originally was suspended for 80 games, but the ban was reduced to 60 on appeal, as a compelling case was made that the banned diuretic he used was not a masking agent for performance-enhancing drugs, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Pineda made 26 starts this season, going 11-5 with a 4.01 ERA.

MILWAUKEE -- It's the key unit of the Cubs' roster that is supposed to lead them to the postseason, but Chicago's high-priced starting rotation is as big a crapshoot as any part of its game right now. On Friday night, against the Brewers, left-hander Cole Hamels continued a disturbing trend for this rotation when he took his team out of the game way too early for anyone's liking -- especially his.

"Sometimes, it's a battle and you'd rather it be a battle against the other team as opposed to internally, against yourself," Hamels said after a 7-1 defeat.

In the first inning, Hamels walked the leadoff batter before getting in and out of a bases-loaded jam. He settled down but not for long. Things fell apart in the third, as he gave up nine hits overall in 3⅓ innings, including a three-run home run to Christian Yelich. The Brewers never looked back, as the Cubs saw a short-lived 1-0 lead evaporate.

At his best, Hamels can place his fastball where he wants it and then put hitters away with his changeup. But he is far from that pitcher right now. The Brewers went 7-for-8 against his fastball and chased almost nothing out of the zone -- only 17% of his pitches to that area Friday, Hamels' lowest number of the season. Even at less than ideal, the veteran usually keeps his team in the game. That's not happening.

"Time is ticking and this is why I'm here," a frustrated Hamels said. "It's to get the job done and to continue to put good games out there for this team to give them an opportunity to win, and I'm not doing so."

Since a months-long stay on the injured list for an oblique injury, Hamels has been throwing batting practice. That was understandable for his first few starts back off the IL, but the time to shake off the rust should be well behind him. Over his past seven starts, he has given up a whopping 47 hits in 30⅓ innings while compiling a 7.12 ERA. His manager says Hamels is healthy, so this is about execution.

"I thought he was throwing the ball well, then it all went south," Joe Maddon said. "I didn't see it coming. I thought he was in for a pretty good night."

Hamels hasn't had a good night in a long time, but the even bigger problem for the Cubs is that Hamels' rotation mates are seemingly just as inconsistent. Kyle Hendricks can't seem to pitch on the road. Jose Quintana has come back down to earth after a great stretch. Jon Lester is performing frequent escape-artist tricks; eventually, the traffic on the bases might catch up with him.

Which is why, on Saturday night, all eyes will be on Yu Darvish when he returns after skipping a start because of forearm stiffness. He has been excellent, but no one thought the Cubs would have to rely on him to lead the way at the most important time of the year. In March, a good season from Darvish was thought of as gravy. Now? He is as big a key as anyone on the team.

"We've always gathered our strength from our rotation," Maddon said. "That's been a bedrock for us."

In the past, Chicago could count on big-game pitchers such as Lester, Hamels and Hendricks -- and maybe the Cubs still can -- but time is running out and there's little margin for error. Clinching a wild-card spot is far from a done deal for them, and winning the National League Central is still an arm's length away, with September days disappearing from the calendar. Is it over? No. But it's getting late.

"I have four more starts to make a dent and help this team win," Hamels said.

Giving his team a better chance would be a start. It's not what the Cubs should be worrying about right now, not Hamels and Lester. Father Time catches up with everyone. The only question is, when is it their time? Maddon says it's not now.

"Moving forward, the starting rotation is going to be a big part of our success," he said.

Is that a prediction or hopeful thinking? The final weeks of the Cubs' season will tell us.

British veterans enjoy 100m success at European Masters Championships in Venice with three golds in 15 minutes and five overall

After the extremely hot weather of the opening day, Friday was mostly cool, wet and windy and not conducive to fast sprint times.

Nevertheless, Britain’s sprinters had a highly successful time and there were 100m gold medals for Steve Peters, John Wright, Don Brown, Jonathan Browne and Caroline Powell.

The first three golds came back to back in the space of just 15 minutes. Elsewhere, walker Ian Richards also won gold.

Doctor Stephen Peters, surely one of the greatest ever British masters with well over 20 years of domination in his age group, started it rolling with a M65 gold medal.

The well-known sports psychologist had remarkably not raced since winning a world masters sprint triple last September in Malaga.

After holding back in the heats he blasted to yet another gold in the final, winning easily in 12.95 (-2.2). Germany’s Rudolf Koenig (13.18) followed with John Browne winning bronze in 13.20.

Next on the track was the M60 race and John Wright won easily in 12.57 (-1.9), two metres up on US guest Val Barnwell (12.77) though Guner Gumgor took European silver in 12.78.

Britain’s hat-trick of titles was completed by Don Brown, who was a clear winner of the M55 race. He fought a strong 3.6m/sec headwind to win in 12.13, two metres ahead of Paolo Mazzocconi’s 12.34 as Pat Logan took bronze (12.61).

Jonathan Browne won the M35 100m in 10.94 into a strong 2.5m/sec headwind as he just edged Giovanni Tomasicchio of Italy (10.95).

Ciaran Harvey won a M45 bronze in 11.83 behind winner Ricardo Lemos of Portugal’s 11.79 and M75 Victor Novell (14.34) and M80 Anthony Treacher (16.19) won further bronzes.

Controversially, while the men ran their 100m races in the main stadium in Jesolo, where nearly all athletes are based, the women were competing 20km away in Caorle, where there were far fewer supporters and they did not get the usual support from the male sprinters.

Caroline Powell continued her long run of successes. In her first Europeans in the W65s age group she won in 15.09 (-0.4) with fellow Brit Joylyn Saunders-Mullins second in 15.30.

Malgorzata Gasowska of Poland won the W40 100m in 12.60 (2.2) but was followed home by three Brits – Susie McLoughlin (12.72), Joanne Frost (12.90) and Karen Burles (13.00).

Away from the sprints, Ian Richards continued his good form with a clear win in the M70 5000m walk in 27:08.70 to take gold by almost 25 seconds.

Peter Boszko won a further British medal in third (27:33.14) just three hundredths of a second behind Ettorino Formentin.

Also in the walks, Catherine Duhig picked up a W60 silver in 30:26.63 behind Marie Astrid Monmessin of France (27:20.00).

Iris Holder, the W75 triple jump winner on day one, showed her versatility with a 18.93 for bronze as Hannalore Venn of Germany won in 18.25.

Dorothy Fraser won W80 bronze in 22.14 in a race won by Rietje Dijkman in a European record 17.56.

In the field, David Valentine won a M60 hammer bronze with a 48.23m throw as Gottfried Gassenbauer won an Austrian gold with 54.51m.

Louise Wood won a W50 triple jump bronze in 9.86m as Kirsi Spoof-Tuomi of Finland won with 10.38m.

Marianne Berndt won W40 bronze in 10.82m behind Spanish winner Cristin Teixera Garcia’s 12.52m while Lynsey Whyke won W35 triple jump bronze (10.37m).

In the weight, M35 George Perkins (13.48m) and M40 Stuart Thurgood (15.51m) both won silver medals.

Other performances of note included W65 Romanian Mihaela Loghin’s 12.28m shot win.

At the end of day two Germany were top of the medal tables (17 gold, 15 silver, 12 bronze) from Italy (13, 12, 9), Finland (9, 4, 6) and Great Britain (8, 7, 13) and so far remarkably 24 different countries have won a gold medal with just under a 100 having already been decided with eight days of competition still to go.

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake beats Richard Kilty at Great North CityGames but local star Kilty is still smiling after brilliant day at Stockton-on-Tees

Richard Kilty promised everyone that Stockton-on-Tees would stage a memorable Great North CityGames – and he was right. Large crowds turned out on a bright and breezy day at the Tees Valley venue to watch the local star sprinter plus athletes like the legendary Allyson Felix in a meeting that will live long in the memory.

“Everyone was shocked when it was coming to Stockton as Newcastle and Manchester are really big cities,” Kilty said. “But I told them we have an amazing high street and the fans are incredible.

“The athletes got an amazing reception and the crowd was electric. It was an amazing emotional day for me and one I’ll never forget.”

Kilty’s day began with a crowd-pleasing 100m win in 10.57 (0.2) over Sam Osewa and Sam Miller, who both clocked 10.80.

The 30-year-old later faced a tougher test in the 150m and finished a close third behind Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and winner Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, the latter clocking 15.43 to win by seven hundredths of a second after a strong finish.

Kilty was returning from a hamstring tear sustained when winning the 200m at the European Team Championships last month. “But I was never going to miss this!” he smiled.

Richard Kilty talks proudly about today’s Great North CityGames in his home town of Stockton-on-Tees. #GNCG2019 @RKilty1 pic.twitter.com/qsWU3mRo6f

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 7, 2019

Rarely has Teesside been graced by an athlete of Allyson Felix’s class and the multiple global sprints champion delivered with a 150m victory in 17.37 over Brits Ashley Nelson (17.42) and Beth Dobbin (17.49).

The 33-year-old is a six-time Olympic gold medallist and has won a record 16 medals at the IAAF World Championships and in Stockton she showed her improving form during a comeback season following a baby break.

When it came to popularity with the spectators, Jonnie Peacock almost gave Kilty a run for his money. The 26-year-old, who is preparing for the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai in November, was also too fast for the rivals in his race as he took the IPC 100m in 11.53 (-1.9) from Felix Streng of Germany.

Similarly, Sophie Hahn showed fellow competitors in the women’s IOC 100m a clean pair of heels by building up a big lead with a lightning start which she never relinquished as she clocked a CityGames record of 13.07 (-1.8).

Abigail Irozuru was all smiles after winning the long jump with a CityGames record of 6.66m (0.4). The Briton beat Quanesha Burks of the United States by four centimetres with Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta third.

The thumping atmosphere in Stockton was on display in the men’s pole vault as Cole Walsh of the United States beat Charlie Myers of Britain on countback after both vaulters cleared 5.45m in blustery conditions.

Earlier in the day elite mile races took place on the Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside which were won by Jordan Williamsz and Eilish McColgan.

After winning the CityGames mile in 2017 and 2018, Williamsz made it a hat-trick of victories as he pipped fellow Australian Ryan Gregson to the post in 4:10.95, while McColgan (pictured below) clocked 4:32.04 to beat Melissa Courtney by 1.7sec despite admitting she wasn’t sure exactly where the finish line was.

Back in Stockton, Tony van Diepen of the Netherlands and Jaide Stepter of the United States won two competitive 400m races that began on the road and went up a tiny ramp before finishing on the temporary synthetic track.

Van Diepen, a 400/800m specialist, was boxed in as the field reached the closing stages but he extricated himself in time to burst clear and clockd 47.40 to beat Tyrell Richard of the United States and Britain’s Martyn Rooney and Dai Greene, whereas 400m specialist Stepter clocked 54.10 to out-pace Brits Amy Allcock and Jessie Knight.

In the sprint hurdles, Queen Claye put on a great show for the crowd – during the race and in her exuberant post-race interviews – as the American clocked 13.08 (0.7) ahead of Britain’s Cindy Ofili, whose fine comeback from Achilles injury continues as she ran 13.11 in second.

The men’s 110m hurdles saw Damian Czykier of Poland run 13.93 (-1.3) to beat British champion David King by one hundredth of a second.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Rookie center Jack Hughes need not be too disappointed over the dud he and the New Jersey Devils produced in the No. 1 draft pick's debut in an NHL competitive setting Friday night.

Overlooking the 6-4 loss to Buffalo at the Sabres' prospects tournament, Devils minor-league coach Mark Dennehy was more impressed by how Hughes' focus never wavered when the game was essentially out of reach.

"It's 6-3 and we're on the power play, and he asked me a question that tells me not only is he locked in, but that he's a student of the game," said Dennehy, declining to share the specific question Hughes asked.

"It was a situational thing, and as a coach, for a player at his young age to sort of change gears was pretty impressive to me," said the AHL Binghamton coach, who was behind the bench.

"As skilled as he is, he's a competitor, too," Dennehy said. "I know he's not happy with the result. But I think he showed everybody especially the Devils' fans that he's got a bright future."

The 18-year-old Hughes wasn't in much of a talkative mood following a game the Devils trailed 6-0 before scoring four times over the final 23 minutes.

"We could've played better," Hughes said. "I felt OK in my game. First game of the year, so just a building block."

Though he scored a goal, Hughes was more disappointed in the several chances he missed. Turnovers were an issue, too, for Hughes, who coughed up the puck several times in the opening period.

"It was more just getting my feet wet again," said Hughes, whose last game was representing the United States at the World Championships in May. "I'm sure it's only a start."

His night got off to a bad start when Hughes fell while losing a faceoff in the Devils end, which led to the Buffalo's Kyle Olson opening the scoring 30 seconds in. On Hughes' next shift, he coughed up the puck at his own blue line.

It wasn't until midway through the opening period, when Hughes began showing off the play-making skills which led him to set the two-year USA Hockey National Developmental Program scoring record with 228 points (74 goals, 154 assists) in 110 career games.

Driving into the right corner of the Sabres end, he eluded a defender and made a no-look pass to the left point to set up a scoring chance.

Hughes' highlight came with 3:43 left in the second period. After getting knocked down by Buffalo's Casey Fitzgerald in the Sabres end, Hughes got up, raced to coral a loose puck and scored the Devils' first goal.

"It was more beat the goalie to the spot, grab the puck, spin around and shoot," Hughes said, describing the goal. "Yeah, it was nice. Good to get on the board. But, I mean, I had five or six other chances and should've scored at least one or two more."

Hughes and the Devils' prospects will get two more games in Buffalo to knock the rust off before the team opens training camp next week. And that's when most eyes will be on Hughes, the 5-foot-10 play-making center from Orlando, Florida, who was the eighth American to be selected with the No. 1 pick.

Hughes was part of a Devils lineup that featured two other first-round picks: center Michael McLeod (selected 12th overall in 2016) and defenseman Ty Smith (17th in 2018). And then there's newly signed forward Jesper Boqvist, a 2017 second-round selection, whose 35 points tied him for second among players 21 and younger in the Swedish Hockey League last season.

The Devils are counting on Hughes to immediately contribute to a roster that's been restocked after New Jersey finished last in the Metropolitan Division. A day after drafting Hughes, New Jersey turned heads by acquiring defenseman P.K. Subban in a trade with Nashville, and also signed power forward Wayne Simmonds in free agency.

Though they've yet to meet in person, Subban is already looking forward to assisting in Hughes' development.

"I think the focus needs to be on his development as a player. He's got a lot of time, and there's going to be a learning curve," Subban told The Associated Press. "But he's a tremendous talent, and you're going to see when the puck drops. I'm just excited to be able to try to help someone like that in any way I can."

Devils head coach John Hynes watched from the stands and liked what he saw in Hughes' first game.

"I liked his speed. I liked his competitiveness. I think all in all for him, it's a pretty good first game," Hynes said.