Barcelona couldn’t have made a stronger first impression in its pursuit of a third consecutive La Liga title. Just four days after opening the season with a 5-0 win over Elche, the defending champions return to Camp Nou to host Athletic Club on Thursday afternoon. The match was originally scheduled for La Liga’s opening weekend, but both clubs received additional recovery time because they had players involved in the later stages of the World Cup. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

Barcelona wasted little time finding its rhythm against Elche. Raphinha and Fermín López scored twice apiece, while summer signing Karim Adeyemi marked his competitive debut with a goal. Barcelona’s other new addition up top also made an immediate impact. Anthony Gordon came off the bench and assisted twice in just 25 minutes, including the pass that set up Adeyemi’s first goal for the club.

The performance offered an early look at how Barcelona plans to replace the production it lost up front, but the club’s most notable summer addition is still waiting to make his debut. Rodri was included in the squad for Thursday’s home opener after training with the group throughout the week and is expected to receive his first minutes in a Barcelona shirt.

Alejandro Balde also returns to the squad after missing the trip to Elche. Gavi will not be available after injuring his knee during the opener, while Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji remain sidelined.

Barcelona’s return home carries additional significance after the club produced a historic record there last season. Flick’s team won all 19 of its home league matches, becoming the first La Liga club to complete a perfect home campaign since the competition expanded to 20 teams.

Athletic Club will be the first team asked to interrupt that run, and it arrives at Camp Nou following a difficult start to the Edin Terzić era. Athletic opened the new campaign with a 3-1 loss to Sevilla at San Mamés after Yuri Berchiche received a red card during the opening minutes.

Nico Williams and Aymeric Laporte both came off the bench against Sevilla after returning from the World Cup and could move into the starting lineup Thursday. Yuri remains suspended despite Athletic’s appeal, while Dani Vivian, Unai Egiluz and Beñat Prados are unavailable through injury.

Athletic has also struggled to find answers for Barcelona in recent years. Barça is unbeaten in the last 10 La Liga meetings between the clubs, earning eight wins and two draws. Barcelona swept both matchups last season without conceding, following a 4-0 victory at Camp Nou with a 1-0 win at San Mamés.

Barcelona vs. Athletic Club Odds Today

Barcelona is a heavy home favorite for Thursday’s match on the three-way moneyline at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:

• Barcelona (-475)
• Draw (+600)
• Athletic Club (+1200)

Best Bet for Barcelona vs. Athletic Club

Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub provides recent trends, player data and matchup insights for every game on the La Liga schedule. Barcelona’s remarkable form at home supports our featured play for Thursday:

Barcelona/Barcelona Halftime/Fulltime (-155): Barcelona has won 19 consecutive La Liga matches at home, while also carrying a nine-match streak of first-half wins in league games at Camp Nou.

This market requires Barcelona to lead at halftime and go on to win the match in regulation. With the hosts priced at -475 on the three-way moneyline, the halftime/fulltime market provides a more manageable price while still backing Barcelona to continue its home dominance.

The recent history between these clubs also favors Barça. Barcelona has eight wins and two draws across its last 10 league meetings against Athletic, with both draws coming away from Camp Nou. Flick’s side won 4-0 when Athletic visited last season before grinding out a narrower 1-0 victory in Bilbao.

Barcelona opened the new campaign by scoring five times at Elche, while Athletic spent nearly an entire match playing with 10 men against Sevilla. Returning to Camp Nou for the first time this season, Barça should be ready to take control much earlier than it did in some of its more difficult road meetings with Athletic.

Give us Barcelona/Barcelona Halftime/Fulltime (-155) as our best bet for Thursday’s match.

Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet

Barcelona is receiving nearly all of the early three-way moneyline action at Hard Rock Bet:

• Barcelona has pulled in 97.8% of all tickets and 99.2% of the money wagered.
• Athletic Club accounts for 1.4% of the bets and 0.6% of the handle.
• The draw represents the remaining 0.8% of tickets and 0.2% of the handle.

Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal make up four of Thursday’s five most popular player props at Hard Rock Bet:

1. Raphinha – Over 1.5 Shots on Target
2. Raphinha – Anytime Goalscorer
3. Lamine Yamal – Over 1.5 Shots on Target
4. Lamine Yamal – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
5. Fermín López – Over 0.5 Shots on Target

Barcelona vs. Athletic Club Match Info

• Location: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
• Date: Thursday, August 27
• Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

More Ways to Bet

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The Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins close their three-game series tonight at loanDepot park, with Sonny Gray and Ryan Gusto scheduled to take the mound. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET.

Boston enters the finale with an opportunity to complete the sweep after winning the first two games by scores of 4-2 and 7-3. The Red Sox needed 11 innings to secure Tuesday’s victory, with Jarren Duran breaking a 3-3 tie in extras by launching a grand slam and Mickey Gasper recording the first two-homer game of his career.

The win was Boston’s fifth in a row, ninth in its last 12 games and 14th in its last 20. The Red Sox have improved to 73-59 and sit five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East, while trailing the New York Yankees by 1.5 games for the top AL Wild Card spot.

Boston’s current position would have been difficult to imagine two months ago. The Red Sox were an American League-worst 32-46 on June 24 but have gone 41-13 since, a remarkable turnaround that included a franchise-record-tying 15-game winning streak.

Miami, meanwhile, has fallen to 67-66 after entering the series on a three-game winning streak. The Marlins remain four games behind the San Diego Padres for the National League’s final Wild Card spot and will look to avoid being swept before beginning a six-game road trip.

Gray enters tonight’s start at 16-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 138.2 innings. The Red Sox are 18-6 when the veteran right-hander takes the mound this season, including 9-1 across his last 10 road starts. Gray allowed four runs over six innings against the San Francisco Giants in his latest appearance, but he has still recorded a 2.16 ERA across four August starts.

Gusto counters with an 0-3 record, 4.37 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 57.2 innings. He has made 12 starts and five relief appearances for Miami, rarely working deep into games but producing a 2.41 ERA across four August outings.

The right-hander delivered four scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals in his latest appearance, allowing five hits and one walk in Miami’s 3-2 victory. Gusto has completed five innings only twice this season, however, which could place additional pressure on a Marlins bullpen that was needed for more than six innings during Tuesday’s extra-inning loss.

Red Sox vs. Marlins Odds Today

• Moneyline: Red Sox (-130), Marlins (+120)
• Run Line: Red Sox -1.5 (+130), Marlins +1.5 (-140)
• Total: Over 7.5 (-110), Under 7.5 (+100)

Hard Rock Bet’s 10¢ Summer Sale is still active through the rest of this week. For the entire month of August, players can take advantage of reduced-vig dime lines on pregame MLB Moneyline, Run Line and Total markets priced between -250 and +250.

Best Bet for Red Sox vs. Marlins

Before making your bets on Red Sox-Marlins, visit Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook‘s Stats Hub for streaks and trends that can help you shape your betting card. For tonight’s series finale, we’re backing Boston to complete the sweep:

Boston Red Sox Moneyline (-130): According to Stats Hub, the Red Sox have won each of their last 18 night games against teams that entered with a winning record. That streak remains applicable against a Marlins team that begins tonight’s matchup at 67-66.

But Boston’s recent form is the real reason to back them tonight. The Red Sox have won five straight games, including the first two matchups of this series, and have taken 14 of their last 20 overall.

They also have a clear advantage on the mound with Gray, who enters at 16-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Boston has won 18 of Gray’s 24 starts this season, including nine of his last 10 starts on the road.

Gray has also pitched well against Miami throughout his career, going 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 41 strikeouts across seven appearances. He has limited the Marlins to 28 hits and 13 earned runs over 41.2 innings.

With Boston rolling and one of the American League’s best arms on the bump, we’ll take the Red Sox Moneyline (-130) as our best bet for Wednesday night.

Red Sox vs. Marlins Betting Splits

Boston leads the action on both the moneyline and run line, while the betting on tonight’s total is more evenly divided:

• The Red Sox have received 84.5% of all moneyline tickets and 89.9% of the handle.
• Boston -1.5 has drawn 66.8% of all run line tickets and 88.1% of the handle.
• Over 7.5 accounts for 52.2% of all tickets and 61.8% of the handle.

Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props

Otto Lopez appears twice among tonight’s most popular player props:

1. Otto Lopez – Over 1.5 Total Bases
2. Ceddanne Rafaela – Over 1.5 Total Bases
3. Sonny Gray – Over 17.5 Outs
4. Otto Lopez – Over 0.5 Hits
5. Xavier Edwards – Over 0.5 Hits

Red Sox vs. Marlins Game Info

• Where: loanDepot park, Miami, Florida
• Date: Wednesday, August 26
• First Pitch: 6:40 PM ET
• TV/Streaming: NESN, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, MLB.TV
• Probable Pitchers:
  • Red Sox: Sonny Gray (16-3, 2.79 ERA)
  • Marlins: Ryan Gusto (0-3, 4.37 ERA)

More Ways to Bet

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The first home match of José Mourinho‘s return to Real Madrid takes place Wednesday afternoon, as Real Madrid host Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu in a rescheduled La Liga fixture. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

Mourinho managed Madrid from 2010 through 2013 before returning to the club this summer, making Wednesday his first match in the Bernabéu dugout in more than 13 years. He began his second tenure with a win over the weekend, although the three points did not come easily.

Jude Bellingham headed Madrid in front during the ninth minute of Saturday’s match at Espanyol, but the hosts equalized before halftime and kept the game tied deep into the second half. Madrid struck the post twice before 20-year-old summer addition Carlos Espí scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory.

Espí was one of six new Madrid players to make his competitive debut in the opener. Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva started, while Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande joined Espí in coming off the bench.

The extensive changes followed a season in which Madrid finished second in La Liga with 86 points, eight behind Barcelona. The club also exited the Champions League in the quarterfinals and the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16, prompting another managerial change and a significant overhaul of the squad.

Mourinho remains without several players for his home debut. Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Raúl Asencio, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Endrick were not included in Madrid’s squad for Wednesday’s match. Tchouaméni is still working his way back to full fitness after playing through an injury during the World Cup, while Endrick is dealing with tendinitis.

Real Sociedad also enters Wednesday looking for more than it received from its first match. La Real opened its season with a 1-0 loss at Real Betis despite generating several opportunities to equalize. Luka Sučić hit the post, while goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés denied Orri Óskarsson on a clear chance late in the second half.

That result extended Sociedad’s winless run in La Liga to nine matches dating back to last season. The club finished 10th with 46 points but secured a place in the Europa League by defeating Atlético Madrid on penalties in the Copa del Rey final.

Pellegrino Matarazzo remains in charge after taking over in December and guiding Sociedad away from the relegation battle before winning the cup. Mikel Oyarzabal returned as a substitute against Betis and could have a larger role Wednesday, while Gonçalo Guedes and Ander Barrenetxea are also available.

Real Madrid swept last season’s two league meetings, winning 2-1 in San Sebastián before cruising to a 4-1 victory at the Bernabéu in February. Madrid has now won six consecutive La Liga matches against Sociedad entering Mourinho’s homecoming.

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad Odds Today

Real Madrid is a substantial home favorite for Wednesday’s match on the 3-way moneyline at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:

• Real Madrid (-425)
• Draw (+550)
• Real Sociedad (+1100)

Best Bet for Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad

Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub offers recent team trends, player data and matchup info for every game on the La Liga schedule. One trend that stands out ahead of Wednesday’s match is Real Madrid’s six-game winning streak against Real Sociedad in league play:

Real Madrid Half Time/Full Time (-150): Real Madrid is 30-7-7 against Real Sociedad since 2004, including a 15-3-4 record at the Santiago Bernabéu during that span.

Backing Madrid to win outright comes with a steep -425 price, so we’ll turn to the half-time/full-time market instead. For this wager to cash, Real Madrid must lead at halftime and go on to win the match in regulation.

The Real Madrid/Real Madrid half-time/full-time result cashed in both league meetings last season, including Madrid’s 4-1 victory at the Bernabéu. After needing a stoppage-time goal to escape Espanyol in their opener, Los Blancos should be motivated to take control much earlier in Mourinho’s first home match since returning to the club.

Give us Real Madrid Half Time/Full Time (-150) as our best bet for Wednesday’s match.

Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet players are firmly behind Real Madrid this afternoon, with the hosts attracting nearly all of the early action:

• Real Madrid owns 97.2% of all tickets and 98.6% of the handle.
• Real Sociedad has attracted 1.7% of the tickets, accounting for just 1% of the money wagered.
• The draw represents the remaining 1.2% of tickets and 0.4% of the handle.

Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props

Real Madrid players occupy the first four spots among Wednesday’s most popular player props, with anytime goalscorer wagers on Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Junior leading the way:

1. Kylian Mbappé – Anytime Goalscorer
2. Vinícius Junior – Anytime Goalscorer
3. Jude Bellingham – Over 1.5 Shots
4. Jude Bellingham – Anytime Goalscorer
5. Mikel Oyarzabal – Anytime Goalscorer

Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad Match Info

• Location: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
• Date: Wednesday, August 26
• Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN Deportes and ESPN+

More Ways to Bet

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The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres continue their three-game series tonight at Petco Park, with Paul Skenes and Michael King scheduled to take the mound. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET.

Pittsburgh opened the series with a 3-2 victory in 12 innings on Monday. Nick Gonzales drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the 12th before Yohan Ramírez struck out the side to finish the game.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Pirates, who improved to 64-69 after closing it out. Pittsburgh remains 7.5 games behind San Diego for the National League’s final Wild Card spot.

San Diego enters the second game of the series at 71-61 and holds a two-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks for that final playoff position. Monday’s defeat ended a three-game winning streak and an eight-game home winning streak for the Padres, but it was still only their eighth loss in their last 29 games.

Skenes enters tonight’s meeting at 9-11 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 139 innings. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner has struggled to match the standard he established over his first two seasons, recording a 5.67 ERA with 21 walks in 46 innings since the beginning of July.

The right-hander lasted only 4.1 innings against Detroit in his latest start, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He has already faced the Padres once this season, however, and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before finishing with one run allowed on two hits, two walks and six strikeouts over 6.1 innings in a 7-1 Pittsburgh victory.

King counters with an 8-9 record, 3.38 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 149 innings. He has posted a 3.42 ERA across four starts in August and is coming off 6.2 innings of two-run baseball against the New York Mets. He also defeated Pittsburgh earlier this season, allowing two runs across six innings in San Diego’s 8-2 victory on April 8.

Pirates vs. Padres Odds Today

• Moneyline: Pirates (+110), Padres (-120)
• Run Line: Pirates +1.5 (-230), Padres -1.5 (+165)
• Total: Over 7.5 (+110), Under 7.5 (-120)

Reminder: Hard Rock Bet’s 10¢ Summer Sale is currently in its final week. Through the end of August, players can take advantage of reduced-vig dime lines on pregame MLB Moneyline, Run Line and Total markets priced between -250 and +250.

Best Bet for Pirates vs. Padres

Before locking any bets, visit Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook‘s Stats Hub for trends and additional data that can help you build your betting card. For tonight’s matchup, we’re backing another low-scoring game:

Under 7.5 Total Runs (-120): According to Stats Hub, nine of the Pirates’ last 10 road games following an extra-inning contest have gone Under the total. That trend applies after Monday’s opener needed 12 innings to produce just five combined runs.

Tonight’s pitching matchup also strongly supports the Under. King has consistently pitched well against Pittsburgh, going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 21 strikeouts across three career appearances. That includes the aforementioned six innings of two-run baseball when he faced the Pirates earlier this season.

Skenes is the bigger variable after an uneven stretch, but we’re buying into a bounce-back performance against a lineup he has already handled this year. He limited San Diego to one run on two hits over 6.1 innings in April, with the Padres managing only three hits as a team in Pittsburgh’s 7-1 victory.

All of that being said, give us Under 7.5 total runs in what should be a pitcher’s duel at Petco.

Pirates vs. Padres Betting Splits

San Diego leads the action on both the moneyline and run line ahead of tonight’s matchup:

• The Padres have received 66.5% of all moneyline tickets and 83.4% of the handle.
• San Diego -1.5 has drawn 78.3% of all run line tickets and 71.3% of the handle.
• The Under accounts for 52.2% of all tickets and 74.5% of the handle.

Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props

Skenes is at the center of tonight’s most popular player props, appearing three times among the top five – including both sides of his strikeout total:

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. – Over 0.5 Hits
2. Paul Skenes – Under 6.5 Strikeouts
3. Paul Skenes – Over 4.5 Strikeouts
4. Paul Skenes – Over 6.5 Strikeouts
5. Nick Gonzales – Over 0.5 Hits

Pirates vs. Padres Game Info

• Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
• Date: Tuesday, August 25
• First Pitch: 9:40 PM ET
• TV/Streaming: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Padres.TV, ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV
• Probable Pitchers:
  • Pirates: Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.95 ERA)
  • Padres: Michael King (8-9, 3.38 ERA)

More Ways to Bet

One swing can cash your ticket, but until then, Florida players can keep things interesting with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet. It’s another way to stay engaged between plate appearances.

Dana White’s Contender Series is back Tuesday night with five more fights from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas as Season 10 reaches its third week.

The first two episodes have already sent 10 fighters to the official UFC roster, including six who received contracts last Tuesday. Kaik Brito, Trent Miller, Cristian Perez, Alik Lorenz and Roman Puga were all rewarded following victories, while Taner Trembley became the first fighter this season to earn a contract despite losing his bout.

Another group gets its chance tonight, with Bella Mir drawing much of the attention entering Week 3. The undefeated 23-year-old is the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and will put her 4-0 professional record on the line against Alex Apodaca in the bantamweight main event.

The rest of the card includes undefeated welterweight Sean Clancy Jr., returning Contender Series heavyweight Mario Piazzon, and three other matchups featuring prospects looking to turn Tuesday night’s opportunity into a UFC contract.

Week 3 begins at 7:00 p.m. ET and streams exclusively on Paramount+.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 3 Odds

Week 3 features three substantial favorites at Hard Rock Bet, led by Mir in Tuesday night’s main event.

Mir enters at -3000 against Apodaca (+1500), making her the heaviest favorite on the card. Ronald Humphrey (-1300) and Clancy (-1100) are also listed as significant favorites in their respective welterweight matchups.

Below is the complete Week 3 card along with the latest betting odds available at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.

Favorite	Underdog
Nick Galanti (-260)	Carlos Petruzzella (+210)
Ronald Humphrey (-1300)	Alexis Miranda (+750)
Sean Clancy Jr. (-1100)	Gary Balletto Jr. (+700)
Guilherme Uriel (-165)	Mario Piazzon (+135)
Bella Mir (-3000)	Alex Apodaca (+1500)

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 3 Fight Card Preview

Here’s a closer look at all five Week 3 matchups:

Nick Galanti (-260) vs. Carlos Petruzzella (+210)

Week 3 begins at middleweight as Nick Galanti takes on Carlos Petruzzella in a matchup featuring a regional champion against one of the most experienced fighters on Tuesday’s card.

Galanti enters his DWCS debut with a 7-1 professional record and the CFFC middleweight championship already on his résumé. The 28-year-old New Jersey native initially built his skill set around Brazilian jiu-jitsu before developing the rest of his game as his MMA career progressed.

Petruzzella brings a much longer professional record to Las Vegas at 15-1. The Argentinian middleweight has also been remarkably consistent at finishing opponents, with each of his 15 victories ending before the final bell.

Eight have come by knockout or TKO and seven by submission, giving Petruzzella a nearly even split between striking and grappling finishes.

Despite that experience and finishing record, Petruzzella enters as a +210 underdog at Hard Rock Bet, with Galanti listed at -260.

Ronald Humphrey (-1300) vs. Alexis Miranda (+750)

Ronald Humphrey has needed only four professional fights to reach the Contender Series.

The undefeated welterweight enters Week 3 with a 4-0 record and is priced accordingly at Hard Rock Bet, where his -1300 line makes him the second-biggest favorite on Tuesday’s card.

Standing across from him will be a considerably more experienced opponent.

Alexis Miranda enters at 9-2 and has spent years working toward his opportunity on DWCS. The 27-year-old represents Tijuana, Mexico and trains at Entram Gym, a camp that has developed a growing presence at the UFC level.

Humphrey will look to keep his perfect professional record intact, while Miranda gets the chance to hand him his first defeat on the biggest stage either fighter has competed on.

Humphrey is -1300 at Hard Rock Bet, while Miranda is available at +750.

Sean Clancy Jr. (-1100) vs. Gary Balletto Jr. (+700)

Another undefeated fighter takes center stage in the second welterweight matchup of the evening as Sean Clancy Jr. faces Gary Balletto Jr.

Clancy carries a perfect 8-0 professional record into the biggest opportunity of his career and has quickly worked his way onto the UFC’s radar without suffering a defeat.

Balletto arrives with considerably more cage time. The 11-3 welterweight has already accumulated 14 professional fights and will attempt to use that experience to hand Clancy his first loss.

There is also a combat sports connection attached to the Balletto name. Gary is the son of former professional boxer Gary Balletto, who compiled a 31-3-2 record during a boxing career that included an appearance on the reality series The Contender.

The younger Balletto has pursued his own path in mixed martial arts and now gets his opportunity to reach the UFC against an unbeaten opponent.

Hard Rock Bet lists Clancy as a -1100 favorite, with Balletto at +700.

Guilherme Uriel (-165) vs. Mario Piazzon (+135)

Unlike everyone else competing Tuesday, Mario Piazzon already knows what it feels like to leave the Contender Series with a victory but without a UFC contract.

Piazzon made his first DWCS appearance in 2023 against Alexander Soldatkin. The heavyweight bout ended in the opening round after Soldatkin landed an illegal knee, resulting in a disqualification victory for Piazzon.

The result gave Piazzon a win on his professional record but little opportunity to show UFC decision-makers what he could do. No contract followed.

Three years later, Piazzon finally gets another chance.

The Brazilian returns with a 12-1 professional record to face countryman Guilherme Uriel, who enters Week 3 at 7-2.

That makes Piazzon’s return different from the typical second DWCS appearance. He technically won the first time around, but the circumstances prevented him from making the type of impression fighters generally need to earn a contract.

Hard Rock Bet makes Uriel the slight -165 favorite in the closest matchup on tonight’s card, with Piazzon listed at +135.

Bella Mir (-3000) vs. Alex Apodaca (+1500)

The main event features the most recognizable name on Tuesday’s card as Bella Mir faces Alex Apodaca at bantamweight.

Mir may be the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, but the 23-year-old has already put together an extensive combat sports background of her own.

She enters Week 3 with a perfect 4-0 professional MMA record. Mir won her professional debut by decision before submitting each of her next three opponents in the opening round.

Her experience extends well beyond MMA. Mir has competed in both wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, winning a collegiate national wrestling championship and continuing to compete in grappling while building her professional MMA career. She has also competed under the UFC banner in UFC BJJ.

Her relationship with the promotion actually began before any of that. In 2023, Mir became the UFC’s first NIL ambassador while she was still competing collegiately.

Now she gets an opportunity to earn her way onto the UFC roster through the Contender Series.

Apodaca enters Tuesday with a 3-1 professional record and the chance to hand Mir the first defeat of her MMA career.

The Winner odds reflect the expectations surrounding Mir entering the matchup. Hard Rock Bet lists her at -3000, with Apodaca at +1500.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 Schedule

Following tonight’s fights, seven episodes remain in Season 10.

Dana White’s Contender Series will air live every Tuesday through October 13, bringing a new group of UFC hopefuls to the Meta APEX each week.

The remaining Season 10 schedule is as follows:

• Week 3: Tuesday, August 25
• Week 4: Tuesday, September 1
• Week 5: Tuesday, September 8
• Week 6: Tuesday, September 15
• Week 7: Tuesday, September 22
• Week 8: Tuesday, September 29
• Week 9: Tuesday, October 6
• Week 10: Tuesday, October 13

Betting on Dana White’s Contender Series at Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet offers Fight Winner odds for all five matchups on Week 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10.

Head over to the MMA tab on the Hard Rock Bet website or mobile app as you would for any other UFC event and select Dana White’s Contender Series. From there, you’ll find the complete Week 3 card and available Winner odds for each matchup.

Check out Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook every Tuesday for the latest DWCS odds before each new episode airs.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 3 Event Info

• Date: Tuesday, August 25
• Start Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Location: Meta APEX – Las Vegas, Nevada
• Streaming: Paramount+

More Ways to Bet

Looking for more ways to stay in the action? Florida players can find Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, available exclusively on Hard Rock Bet, a lineup of fast, engaging real money games you can jump into anytime while you follow your bets.

Newcastle United welcomes Liverpool to St James’ Park on Sunday morning as the two clubs get their 2026-27 Premier League seasons underway. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET, with both sides hoping their busy summers can set the stage for a return toward the top of the table.

Newcastle entered last season back in the Champions League after finishing fifth in 2024-25, but couldn’t flip that momentum into another push toward the top of the Premier League. They ultimately slipped to 12th and missed out on Europe altogether, bringing an abrupt end to the progress they had made under Eddie Howe.

Liverpool’s drop wasn’t quite as far down the table, but the expectations were considerably higher. The Reds began 2025-26 as defending Premier League champions and never seriously threatened to repeat, eventually finishing fifth. That was still enough to secure a Champions League place, but the disappointing title defense ultimately cost Arne Slot his job after two seasons in Anfield.

The response has brought considerable change to both clubs. Howe stepped down in July after nearly five years at Newcastle, with former RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli manager Matthias Jaissle taking over. He inherits a roster that no longer includes Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimarães or Sandro Tonali, three of Newcastle’s most important players in recent years. The club has shifted younger in response, adding Bazoumana Touré, Amar Dedić, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba among a collection of summer arrivals.

Liverpool turned to former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who also begins his tenure with some major pieces missing from last year’s squad. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté all departed this summer, while Jérémy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz were purchased and Ronald Araújo joined on loan from Barcelona.

That leaves plenty to learn about both teams on opening weekend. Newcastle is beginning life after Howe and several cornerstone players, while Liverpool is trying to get back into the title race under a new manager without Salah leading the attack. One player who will be particularly familiar with his surroundings Sunday is Alexander Isak, who returns to St James’ Park for the first time since leaving Newcastle for Liverpool last summer.

Newcastle vs. Liverpool Odds Today

Liverpool is listed as a short road favorite on the 3-way moneyline at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:

• Newcastle United (+300)
• Draw (+275)
• Liverpool (-120)

Best Bet for Newcastle vs. Liverpool

Before placing any bets on the Premier League this season, don’t forget to check out Hard Rock Bet’s Stats Hub for countless trends, streaks and matchup insights for every game on the board.

For Sunday’s featured play, we’re backing a familiar face in a familiar place with Alexander Isak Anytime Goalscorer.

Isak established himself as one of the Premier League’s top strikers during his three seasons with Newcastle, and some of his best work came at St James’ Park. Across his final 26 Premier League appearances at the stadium, the Swedish striker piled up 22 goals and six assists before completing his £125 million move to Liverpool last summer.

His first year at Anfield didn’t go according to plan. Injuries limited Isak throughout the season and prevented him from facing Newcastle in either Premier League meeting, meaning Sunday’s trip will be his first match back at St James’ Park since leaving the club.

Now healthy entering Year 2 with Liverpool, Isak is expected to lead the line in Iraola’s first competitive match in charge. There’s certainly some added intrigue surrounding the setting, but the case ultimately comes back to his track record there: few players know how to score at St James’ Park better than Isak.

At these odds, we’ll back him to find the net in his return to his former home.

Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet

Liverpool has commanded nearly all of the early 3-way moneyline action for Sunday’s matchup:

• Liverpool has received 92.6% of all tickets and 92.1% of the total handle.
• Newcastle has taken in 4.3% of the bets and a 6.5% share of the money wagered.
• The draw rounds out the market with 3.1% of all tickets and 1.4% of the handle.

Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props

Liverpool players occupy all five spots on the list of most-bet player props, including three different markets involving Isak:

1. Alexander Isak – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
2. Cody Gakpo – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
3. Alexander Isak – Anytime Goalscorer
4. Dominik Szoboszlai – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
5. Alexander Isak – To Score or Assist

Newcastle vs. Liverpool Match Info

• Location: St James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
• Date: Sunday, August 23
• Start Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
• Where to Watch: NBC, Peacock

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The UFC returns to Sacramento on Saturday night as Anthony Hernandez faces Gregory Rodrigues in a middleweight main event at Golden 1 Center. Hernandez enters the weekend ranked No. 7 in the middleweight division, while Rodrigues sits at No. 10, putting a pair of ranked contenders in the spotlight as both look to make their case in the 185-pound title picture.

Hernandez returns to the Octagon looking to rebound from his first loss in nearly six years. Fluffy had won eight consecutive fights following his May 2020 defeat to Kevin Holland, steadily climbing the middleweight ranks with victories over Rodolfo Vieira, Marc-André Barriault, Roman Kopylov, Michel Pereira, Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze. That streak came to an end in February when Sean Strickland stopped Hernandez in the third round.

Rodrigues arrives in Sacramento on a three-fight winning streak of his own. He rebounded from a fourth-round TKO loss to Jared Cannonier in February 2025 by knocking out Jack Hermansson in the opening round, defeating Kopylov by unanimous decision and stopping Brunno Ferreira in the first round at UFC 326 in March. The recent surge has helped Rodrigues climb to No. 10 at middleweight, and he has now won six of his last seven fights overall. Saturday will be Rodrigues’ second UFC main event after his loss to Cannonier in his first headlining opportunity.

Saturday also marks the UFC’s fifth trip to Sacramento and its second event at the Golden 1 Center. The promotion first visited the city for UFC 65 in November 2006 and returned for UFC 73 the following summer. Sacramento hosted another major card in December 2012 when Benson Henderson defended the lightweight championship against local favorite Nate Diaz.

The UFC most recently returned in July 2019, when Germaine de Randamie stopped Aspen Ladd in the main event and Sacramento legend Urijah Faber came out of retirement to score a first-round knockout of Ricky Simon. More than seven years later, another Northern California standout gets the spotlight as Hernandez headlines the promotion’s return to the Golden 1 Center.

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues – Full Card & Odds

Hernandez enters Saturday night’s main event as a considerable favorite. Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists him at -185, with Rodrigues at +150 as the underdog.

Here’s a look at the full UFC Sacramento card and the latest betting odds available at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:

Favorite	Underdog
Anthony Hernandez (-185)	Gregory Rodrigues (+150)
Anthony Wint (-1100)	Terrance Chatman (+650)
Shanelle Dyer (-850)	Elise Reed (+525)
Marcio Barbosa (-1000)	Ryan Kuse (+600)
Jackson McVey (-180)	Wes Schultz (+145)
Lerryan Douglas (-400)	Jamall Emmers (+300)
Gauge Young (-160)	Stan Dorsainvil (+130)
Nasrat Haqparast (-125)	Chris Padilla (+100)
Shamil Gaziev (-140)	Kennedy Nzechukwu (+110)
Carli Judice (-525)	Jeisla Chaves (+350)
Mason Jones (-325)	Marquel Mederos (+260)
Reinier de Ridder (-400)	Roman Dolidze (+300)
Vitor Petrino (-145)	Serghei Spivac (+120)

Referenced odds are subject to change.

Best Bet for UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues

MarQuel Mederos vs. Mason Jones to Go the Distance (-155): Mederos has gone the distance in all four of his UFC appearances since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2023. He opened his UFC career with three straight decision victories over Landon Quinones, Austin Hubbard and Mark Choinski before fighting Chris Padilla to a majority draw in April. Despite owning six knockout victories in his career overall, Mederos has yet to record a finish inside the UFC.

Jones’ UFC history supports the angle as well. Across seven UFC appearances spanning his two stints with the promotion, five have reached the judges’ scorecards. The two exceptions were a no contest against Alan Patrick and his second-round TKO victory over Bolaji Oki last September. Jones most recently went the full three rounds in a unanimous decision over Axel Sola in March.

With Mederos going the distance in each of his first four UFC fights and five of Jones’ seven Octagon appearances reaching the scorecards, there is too much supporting history to ignore. Even at -155, Mederos vs. Jones to go the distance is our best bet for Saturday’s card.

Betting Markets at Hard Rock Bet

UFC Sacramento gives bettors options well beyond simply choosing who wins each fight. Hard Rock Bet offers markets covering how and when bouts end, whether fights reach the judges and individual round outcomes, along with eligible selections that can be combined into a Same Game Parlay.

• Fight Winner
• Same Game Parlay (SGP)
• Winning Method (KO/TKO/DQ, Submission or Decision)
• Fight Goes the Distance/Doesn’t Go the Distance
• Finish Only Winner or Decision Only Winner
• Fighter to Win by Finish
• Round Betting
• Fight to Reach Round 2, 3, 4 or 5
• Winning Round & Method
• Alternate Winning Round (Individual & Grouped)

UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues Event Info

• Date: Saturday, August 22
• Start Time: 5:00 p.m. ET (Prelims), 8:00 p.m. ET (Main Card)
• Location: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, California
• Streaming: Paramount+

More Ways to Bet

Looking for more ways to stay in the action? Florida players can find Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, available exclusively on Hard Rock Bet, a lineup of fast, engaging real money games you can jump into anytime while you follow your bets.