Joshua Baez, a highly touted prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals, entered Major League Baseball on Saturday with a bang.
Power-hitting MLB outfielder, who became the first ever player to accomplish the feat.
Frank Murtaugh, of the Memphis Flyer reported that Baez is only the third MLB player to have homered in both of his major league at bats. He joins Keith McDonald, of the Cardinals, in 2000, and Bob Nieman, of the St. Louis Browns, in 1951.
Baez spoke about his promise to his deceased father to play in the major leagues. This is something that his father was never able to achieve (starting around the 2:44 point of the video).
Baez, 23, stepped up to the plate in the Cardinals’ 1-0 lead at the start of the 1st inning. He smashed a 2-run bomb into left-center on his first pitch.
Chicago tied the score at 3-3 with a Michael Conforto home run that scored three runs in the second innings. Baez, however, put St. Louis on top again in the fourth inning by hitting another long homer to the left.
Baez continued the trend in his third at-bat, where he hit another home run, this time in right-field, extending the St. Louis advantage to 6-3.
Baez’s MLB debut was not what anyone expected. However, the Cardinals did call him from Triple-A after he had been promoted on Friday.
MLB.com ranked Baez as the No. Baez, the 59th-ranked prospect overall in baseball at Triple-A Memphis was having a stellar season before he got called up.
Baez had a.256/.328/.573 batting line in 103 games. He also scored 79 runs and stole 21 bases.
The Cardinals entered play Saturday with a record of 61-61, 3.5 points behind Arizona Diamondbacks in NL’s final wild card spot.
Baez was the perfect choice for the Cards, who needed a boost to help them close the gap to reach the postseasons again after 2022.
Baez gave the Cardinals a new lease of life on Saturday. They will have to continue to be a great team for the next two months and a quarter to make it back into the playoffs.

USS Abraham Lincoln has been on a record breaking deployment for over six months. The crew of the aircraft carrier is experiencing morale issues and concerns about their mental health. It is possible that the ship will break the record of the longest US carrier trip from home since the Vietnam War.
This record was achieved by the USS Gerald R. Ford just a few months back after it completed its 326-day mission, which included missions against Iran and Venezuela.
According to CNN’s analysis of announcements of deployments, and to the USNI News Fleet Tracker, it’s becoming a trend. The US Navy is increasingly requesting that its aircraft carrier group extend their deployment beyond the seven-month period recommended by the service.
Former officials and experts have warned of the dangers that this trend may cause more strain on ships, leading to increased burnout and even the departure of some sailors.
The Lincoln’s crew member described the morale as being very low, and that they heard about the suicidal thoughts of other crew members repeatedly. The crew member also said that there was a constant strain on the essential amenities, including toilets and drinking fountains all over the ship. Hot water is often not available.
The crewmember told CNN that “everyday, when we listen to the Captain talk we hope and wait for any updates regarding our return.”
CNN spoke to other sailors on the Lincoln, who described different conditions than their previous deployments. This is largely because the carrier has not been able to stop at friendly ports due in part to combat. During port visits, ships can replenish their supplies while allowing sailors to relax and rest.
CNN reported that the ship had intermittent shortages of food, low hygiene supplies, and issues with its water system.
CNN reported that “you used to be free to buy as much as you wanted at the ship’s store, and every product was always available.” One sailor who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution told CNN, “You could go to the shop, get whatever items you needed, and all hygiene products were consistently readily available.” There are now limits to purchases, and there is a lack of hygiene products.
Kate Kuzminski is a Defense Expert who supervises the research of the Center for a New American Security. She said that the Navy must realign their deployment model to reality in order to set realistic expectations for sailors, and for the families they come from.
Kuzminski asked, “What is the impact on a new family assigned to the Ford?” He argued it could “drive people or their families to leave the Navy.”
CNN reported in the past that two sailors from the Lincoln Strike group jumped into sea during recent months. US officials confirmed that both sailors were saved alive. According to Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reports, other people were stopped from jumping.
A father who was speaking to CNN under the condition of anonymity said that he understood why sailors, like his son, join the Navy in order to perform their duties and performing them in battle is difficult. However he questioned whether relief had not been provided sooner.
In a CNN statement, the Navy stated that “we have not noticed an increase in suicide attempts or ideas aboard ship.” The Navy takes the well-being of every servicemember seriously. We have medical, religious and mental health specialists available to address any concerns that may arise.
An official from the US Navy said that there was no correlation between self-harm thoughts and deployment length, and that incidents of men overboard are not exclusive to their fleet.
On Friday, President Donald Trump appeared to answer a reporter’s question regarding the duration of the Lincoln deployment. He told them that the time was “not near enough”.
She urged him and Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense at the time to show “some compassion.”
Take responsibility for your own military, ships and war. It’s your war. She said, “It’s infuriating.”
Stress on the Fleet
CNN has reviewed data that shows the median duration of US aircraft carrier deployments have steadily increased from 2020.
According to Admiral Daryl Caudle, the Navy plan aims to give sailors predictable cycles of three years that includes a deployment lasting seven months/210 days. Most deployments between 2018 and 2022 were under the targeted length or within just a few short days.
The sea service, however, has consistently missed this mark ever since the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel in October 2023 sparked an extended wave of deployments.
Both the USS Gerald R. Ford (260 days) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (274 days) saw their deployments extend after the Israel/Hamas conflict began. The Ford came home to the US in January 2024, while the Ike returned after 274 months.
The deployment of three different carriers that started in 2024 lasted more than 250 days.
In 2025 the force was even stretched with the Ford embarking on a 326 day trip that broke the record for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment.
The supercarrier was deployed from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia to Europe, then the Caribbean where the planes were used to strike Venezuela in the raid which captured the former powerful leader Nicolas Maduro. It continued to the Middle East, participating in Operation Epic Fury, despite an extensive fire.
CNN reported that experts said that during long-term missions like those undertaken by Ford and Lincoln, parts wear out, and temporary repairs are made at sea. Minor issues can also start to accumulate: landing cables fraying, saltwater seeping into shipboard system, etc.
Sources said that these issues could add up to increase the risk of accidents.
Experts and former officials have told CNN that burnout can affect crew members as well as their families.
The resilience of sailors and Marines was a “critical factor” in the extended deployments that were made during Covid-19, when ships could not make port visits.
Gillingham stated that this was not an unprecedented situation. When you examine the Navy’s history, it is clear that world events have required that deployments are lengthened. Sailors responded to the call. The Navy has a great track record of playing the away game. The Navy is very good at playing the away game, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not stressful for the sailors and ships.
Sources familiar with Navy internal discussions say that retention of maintenance and aviator personnel is a major concern.
Hegseth, in a memo dated March that CNN obtained, ordered an investigation into the retention issues for Navy Strike Fighter Squadrons. The Navy offers bonuses of up to tens thousands of dollars per year for naval aviators and flight officers in order to retain the best talent.
A third deployment for 2025 — the USS Abraham Lincoln – is still underway, nearly nine months since the ship left San Diego in November. The majority of the crew landed in Guam on December 11, for a port visit. The USS George Washington is on the way to replace the Lincoln in its blockade duty duties. However, on the way back to California, it may surpass the Ford’s record for the longest deployment.
Lincoln Struggles
CNN reported that the continued deployment of Lincoln is causing strain on family members of servicemen and women.
Ashley T. said that care packages from sailors’ families sometimes arrived months late, or went missing completely. Ashley T. asked CNN to withhold her name in order to protect the identity of the sailor.
She said, “I know they’re in a war zone but the Navy could at least make sure that they get their packages on time if there are no port visits allowed.”
A family member who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect the sailor shared pictures of toilets overflowing and sewage-soaked restrooms — a problem that also affected Ford’s deployment.
A spouse of an American serviceman aboard the Lincoln told CNN’s Tapper that “he is saying it is the most difficult deployment he has ever experienced.”
She said, “My husband leaves everything at work.” He gets the job done. “He comes home and lets loose at work.” He gives his all. Even though he has said that his attitude towards the United States Military is changing, he still works hard. It’s very unusual for him to be angrier or more frustrated. It’s hard for me to listen as his spouse when I’m powerless to do anything. I can’t help him.”
Conditions have led to concerns over sailor’s mental health, as well as scrutiny by lawmakers like Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut who sent a letter demanding information on the status of crew.
CNN reported that the leaders of the ships in which this strike group is based are trying to improve conditions on board for sailors.
Capt. Casey Mahon who is the commander of the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. admitted to CNN’s Pamela Brown last month aboard the destroyer that combat conditions are a very stressful situation for sailors. The ship has group therapy sessions and venting sessions, where sailors are encouraged to provide feedback. Leaders also encourage more lighthearted ways of reducing stress such as ice-cream socials or bulletin boards on which sailors post their memes.
According to US Central Command, despite all the difficulties, sailors from the Lincoln Strike Group have flown approximately 10,000 flights in support of strikes against Iran, and enforced the US Blockade on the country.
In light of recent military operations, Navy officials are questioning their current model.
John Perryman, the Navy’s highest ranking enlisted man, has recently criticised the current cycle, calling it a conveyor belt with a very prescribed approach, a result of a peacetime mentality.
Perryman, speaking at a Military Officers Association of America conference on the USS Gerald R. Ford’s 11-month mission, said: “We are going to need to develop a new force generation model.”
The US only has 11 aircraft carriers, and some are old. They are being replaced by new Ford class supercarriers. The maintenance schedule and the fueling of reactors also prevent all ships from being available at once.
There have also been delays with the new Ford-class carrier. USS John F. Kennedy is due to be delivered to the Navy on March 20, 2027, nearly two years after its original delivery date.
Experts told CNN that the recently announced modifications to the USS Doris Miller, the next Ford-class supercarrier scheduled for construction, could cause it to be delayed even more.
Trump ordered the Navy to scrap plans for using an electromagnetic system in future Ford-class vessels. Miller, and any future Ford-class ships that use this system will be using steam-powered catapults similar to those used on Nimitz class aircraft carriers.
Bryan Clark, a Hudson Institute expert in shipbuilding told CNN that the Miller will need to be completely redesigned. Costs “will likely be billions of dollars” and could cause the carrier to not be ready for service until the “end of next decade,” according to Bryan Clark, a Hudson Institute shipbuilding expert.
A delay in deployment could cause the Navy to operate Nimitz class carriers of last generation beyond their service life limit or extend its own.
Davis Winkie’s work for CNN is funded by Outrider Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. CNN maintains editorial control over the reporting.
This report was contributed by CNN’s Kaanita Adkin, Sean Lyngaas and Zachary Cohen. Brian Todd, Ross Adkin, Kaanita Adkin, Zachary Cohen.

Samsung has largely defined the foldable phone category, but it’s no longer alone in releasing flexible devices. Google, Motorola, and a raft of Chinese OEMs have their own take on this form factor. Is the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra really “ultra” enough to remain on top?
This phone doesn’t have the wide frame of the new Z Fold 8, instead matching the approximate size and shape of the company’s last few tablet-style foldables. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is not a big leap, but it continues Samsung’s pattern of iterative foldable improvements. At this point, there’s very little left to improve. The compromises of going with a foldable over a regular flat phone have largely been erased with the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Well, except for the price.
Flatter and a little better
Foldables used to be real pocket-busters, almost like carrying two phones glued together. Samsung has successively shaved a few millimeters off every year, taking a leap last year with the Z Fold 7. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is even a bit slimmer than that phone, but the difference is basically imperceptible. It still has the same buttons in the same places, including a fingerprint sensor in the power button.
Specs at a glance: Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra ($2,100) SoC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy Memory 12GB, 16GB Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Display Main: 8.0″ QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2504 x 2256) 422ppi, 120Hz; Cover: 6.5″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1080 x 2520) 422ppi, 120Hz Cameras Rear: 200MP Wide (F1.7, OIS), 50MP Ultra Wide (F1.9), 10MP Tele (3x Optical, F2.4, OIS); Main/Cover Selfie: 10MP (F2.2) Software Android 17 / One UI 9 Battery 5,000 mAh, up to 63% charge in ~30 min with 45W Adapter, 20W Wireless Charging Connectivity 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v6.0, SIM+eSIM Measurements Unfolded: 158.4 × 143.2 × 4.1 mm
Folded: 158.4 × 72.8 × 8.9 mm, 215g Colors Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow (online)
The 2026 Samsung flagship foldable is barely thicker than the average flat phone when folded, which is impressive considering the powerful hardware inside. The two halves come together with no gap, and the hinge feels smooth and springy. The phone almost seems to “leap” into the unfolded configuration when you pry it open, and it ends up flatter than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which didn’t quite reach 180 degrees. It’s structurally solid in this state, even though it’s barely 4 mm thick. It feels like a small tablet, not a phone that folds in half, but somehow, it is. You can fold it back up, and it fits in your pocket like any regular phone. It’s a very cool piece of hardware.
The 6.5-inch 1080p cover OLED is about the same size and shape as any non-foldable smartphone on the market today. It has the latest Gorilla Glass Ceramic coating, and it’s plenty bright for outdoor use. The real star of the show is the 8-inch internal foldable screen. Its resolution is 2256 x 2504, a bit higher than last year’s phone, and its peak brightness has increased to 3000 nits.
Even very bright foldable screens can be hard to read in bright light because the plastic top layer is so reflective. Samsung has addressed that somewhat with the Z Fold 8 Ultra with its new anti-reflective layer. Reflections aren’t gone, but like the treated glass on Samsung’s flat Ultra phones, the intensity of reflections is much reduced. This makes the big internal screen more legible outdoors.
The other screen update tackles the classic foldable crease. Early on, foldable screens had a veritable chasm running down the middle. That has been minimized to varying degrees, with some phones showing almost no crease at all. Samsung is now in that group with the Z Fold 8 Ultra thanks to its “Titanium Flex” technology. This metallic layer apparently supports the OLED better, eliminating the crease. If you look from the right angle in the right lighting, you may be able to see a bit of distortion, but you can’t really feel it while using the screen.
The only truly clunky aspect of the phone’s design is the camera module. Because the internals are so tightly packed, the camera hardware pokes way out past the rear glass. It stands out in the wrong way and can get snagged on your pocket when you try to put the phone away. The three modules are lined up in the corner in usual Samsung fashion, which makes the phone a wobbly mess when you set it down.
Just call it One AI
Samsung’s One UI is a known quantity at this point. It comes loaded with some duplicative apps and junk you may not want, like Facebook and LinkedIn. The interface can be a little cluttered, and there are features buried in the settings that you’ll probably never touch. But Samsung doesn’t change much year-to-year, so if you’ve used a Samsung phone in the past few years, the learning curve will be minimal.
Samsung makes a big deal out of multitasking on its foldables, offering robust window management that goes beyond what you get from Google or Motorola. It’s a snap to move apps around, break them out into floating windows, and save configurations. You can also have three apps running live in split-screen on the Fold, whereas most other foldables limit you to two.
Android itself has more foldable optimizations than it once did, and Samsung has taken full advantage of that. For example, the taskbar on the Z Fold 8 Ultra is easy to bring up while using the phone, and you can pin it to the screen. It also shows more recent apps than the standard Google version of this feature.
And then there’s the AI. Samsung has been all-in on Galaxy AI for the last couple of years, and it’s expanded that feature set even further with the 2026 foldables. Samsung does at least still offer the option to run its AI features solely through on-device processing. This keeps your data from going to the cloud but limits the AI features that are available.
Samsung is again pushing its Now Brief feature, and it’s one of the most perplexing AI features I’ve seen on a phone. It’s all over the device—the home screen comes with a widget, it appears on the lock screen, and it sends you notifications. But it still does almost nothing. The pitch is that Samsung uses on-device AI to ingest your data and produce actionable suggestions. More often than not, all you get are links to anxiety-inducing news stories, your calendar, the weather, and maybe some videos. I feel like I’m living in the “c’mon do something” meme every time I open Now Brief.
Samsung’s Now Nudge feature offers proactive suggestions powered by on-device AI. For example, you may see a suggestion to add an event to your calendar based on a text conversation. In general, this feature seems better at completing tasks correctly, but it still doesn’t show up very often. It is, however, nice that nudges now open apps in split-screen instead of taking you away from the content you’re viewing.
Samsung also gets even deeper Gemini AI integration with this release. Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) is preloaded, and it’s optimized for drag-and-drop and split-screen usage. That’s cool if you are a fan of Google’s AI research tool, which is admittedly one of the better things the company has done with LLMs.
More questionable is the expanded support for app automations, which debuted earlier this year on the Galaxy S26 series. The idea is that you can ask Gemini to complete a task for you, and it will use the appropriate app to get it done in the background. The list of supported apps has expanded to more than 40, including DoorDash, Temu, Airbnb, Delta, and Best Buy.
Unsurprisingly, having Gemini operate even simple apps is very slow and fraught with errors. It gets there most of the time, but it’s nowhere near good enough that I’d trust the results without a thorough double-check. And at that point, why not just do it myself?
It’s not all AI retreads, though. Samsung has added something genuinely fantastic to its Galaxy AI portfolio, but it’s not the kind of AI it wants everyone talking about. As of the last version of One UI (and continuing in the version on the Fold), Samsung’s phone app does Google-style call screening. This is one of the biggest selling points for Pixel phones in this age of endless phone spam, and Samsung is finally on board.
As on Pixel phones, you have the option of directing a robot to answer a suspicious call. It transcribes what the caller says, giving you the option of answering or getting more information before picking up. This alone almost makes up for the issues I have with One UI.
Flagship performance
Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung’s new flagship foldable runs on a version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 optimized specifically for its devices. This is functionally the fastest mobile processor in the world, featuring eight high-speed Oryon CPU cores and an Adreno GPU that can rival some laptop chips.
You won’t find yourself waiting on the Z Fold 8 to get things done (unless you ask Gemini to use an app). It’s a snappy experience, even when running multiple apps side by side. Games also run flawlessly on this device, as long as you don’t mind a toasty phone.
In benchmarks, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra scores very near the top of all current phones (see below). While the chip is identical to the one in the S26 Ultra, it doesn’t quite match that phone’s scores. This is most likely due to thermal constraints in the foldable.
Heat is a problem in all smartphones—the benchmark scores you see bandied about are all based on full performance for short periods. When you stress a device for more than a minute or two, such as when you play a high-end game, performance will drop dramatically. In the past, some Samsung phones have throttled by more than half when heating up. The Z Fold 8 Ultra isn’t that bad, but you can expect to lose about 30 to 40 percent of that peak speed. However, that still leaves the Z Fold 8 with higher overall performance compared to, for example, a Google Pixel.
Samsung’s new foldable still comes with 12GB of RAM in the base model. You can upgrade to 16GB with more storage, but the phone is already very expensive. Overall, apps remain in memory long enough, and I haven’t noticed issues with multitasking. Still, at this price, 16GB of RAM would make more sense. Perhaps if we were not in the midst of the great AI RAM shortage, Samsung would have stepped up to 16GB.
There aren’t many hardware improvements in this year’s Fold, but the battery and charging did get some attention. Having finally gone the silicon-carbon route, Samsung has increased the capacity of the traditional lithium polymer cells to 5,000 mAh (up from 4,400 mAh last year). That’s on par with most non-folding flagship phones. It’s not a night-and-day difference in longevity, and you can still drain it quickly by using only the big internal display, but you don’t have to worry about whether the Z Fold 8 Ultra will make it to bedtime most days.
If the Z Fold 8 Ultra doesn’t quite make it all the way to bedtime, you won’t be terribly inconvenienced. Samsung has boosted the charging from the measly 25 W peak speed of past foldables to a much more reasonable 45 W. That’s nothing compared to what you get with certain Chinese smartphones, but it’s much more livable. Samsung says you can go from empty to 67 percent in about 30 minutes with a compatible USB-PD charger.
Ultra cameras
One of the main selling points of the Z Fold 8 Ultra over the Z Fold 8 is the camera setup. While the wide-body foldable only has two rear cameras (both 50 MP), the Z Fold 8 Ultra has an upgraded triple setup with a 200 MP primary, a 10 MP 3x telephoto, and a new 50 MP ultrawide.
The 200 MP camera is the same as last year’s foldable, and the sensor is identical to what’s in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, the aperture is narrower (less light collection) due to the constraints introduced by foldables. Photos are binned to 12 MP, showing good dynamic range and brightness, although Google does have Samsung beat there. They still have that distinctive vibrant and sometimes too contrasty look we associate with Samsung cameras.
Capture speed has always been a challenge for Samsung phones, which seem to lean toward being brighter, even at the expense of some blur. Things are better than they once were with the Z Fold 8 Ultra, but you should take a few snaps of any subject that is moving around to make sure you get one that’s crisp. Luckily, Samsung’s burst mode is quick and reliable.
You don’t get a telephoto camera with Samsung’s wider foldable, but this sensor increasingly feels like an afterthought for the Ultra. It’s still just 10 MP, and the sensor is tiny at 1/3.94 inches. it will get you a bit closer to your subject, but the results often look overprocessed. That’s doubly true if you zoom beyond 3x and count on Samsung’s processing to clean up the image.
The new 50 MP ultrawide does offer a nice upgrade over last year’s Fold, though. The field of view is wide enough that it offers a different perspective than the main camera but not so wide that the edges look distorted. The boosted resolution speeds up captures in low light and results in slightly better detail with the expected pumped-up Samsung colors. This sensor is also used for macro shots on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the detail you get close up is noticeably better than the last Fold.
While the still photos may have some foibles, Samsung’s video recording on the Z Fold 8 with the main sensor is a step up from almost any other phone. It can handle up to 8K resolution at 30 fps, and the enhanced stabilization available at lower resolutions is great for recording on the move. Video is crisp across the board, with great range and colors.
The foldable niche
In some ways, it’s amazing that a device like this exists. It’s hardly any more bulky than a traditional smartphone, but it’s a tablet that fits in your pocket. There’s almost no crease in the screen, and the hinge is rock-solid. Heck, you can even drop it in a pool, and it will keep ticking (IP48). The cameras, battery life, and performance aren’t as compromised as they were with past foldables, either.
The slow pace of change in mobile technology has prompted many of us to become a bit jaded, but if foldables of this caliber were somehow remarkably cheaper, they would be in everyone’s pocket. But that’s the problem—they’re not cheaper. In fact, all computing devices are getting more expensive.
The $100 price bump is quickly becoming a 2026 tradition, but that’s a bigger chunk of the price when you’re talking about a flat phone that used to cost $800 or $900. At $2,100, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is only a little more expensive than last year’s version. If you were willing to spend $2,000 on a foldable, $2,100 is not a big leap.
The dream of foldable mass adoption may be slipping away, but that doesn’t mean these devices don’t have a place. If you do most of your computing on a phone and could benefit from the added screen real estate, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is a killer device. It won’t weigh down your pocket, and it lets you easily multitask and use apps with tablet-style interfaces. You’ll pay handsomely for that ability, but enough people are willing to do so that Samsung’s 2026 foldables are seeing record sales—though they still trail flat phones by a wide margin.
For people who would consider spending two grand on a phone, this is a good option. But it’s not so much better than the Z Fold 7 that you need to rush out and get the new model. For Z Fold 6 owners who like the experience, though, this is a worthy upgrade.
The good
Excellent multitasking features
Compact and light for a foldable
Fast performance
Brighter, flatter foldable screen
Upgraded ultrawide camera
Faster charging and slightly better battery life
The bad
A huge focus on AI you may not want
Weak telephoto camera
Camera module sticks out a mile
The ugly
Getting even more expensive

Ian Machado Garry believes he will shock the world by dethroning Islam Makhachev and becoming the welterweight champ in the UFC 330’s main event.
The Irish welterweight, who is focused solely on his fight on Saturday night, also addressed the state of welterweights in general. There are many fighters vying for the right to be the champion. Garry said that rising star Michael Morales is also scheduled to weigh-in as backup for the UFC 330 championship fight. However, if he wins the title fight against Makhachev and becomes champion then there will only be one other person who deserves a shot at the title.
Garry stated during UFC 330’s media day, “Listen I spoke to him last week and we talked about it, but there is one.” Carlos Prates is the only person that has earned, or merited, the title shot following this fight. The other guys didn’t do enough.
Carlos Prates earned it. No one else has earned this award in the division. All of them need at least another fight. Prates just finished two bouts with two men who had never fought before, and did so in a crazy way. On three weeks notice, I stomped his a$$ for 24 minutes. If he gives me three months or more to prepare, he will know what to expect. “He’ll sleep soundly after the next.”
Prates will be in contention to win the next title, after his two previous appearances at the Octagon where he dominated former champions Leon Edwards (and Jack Della Maddalena) with ease.
Shavkat Rakhmonov is another name you will hear if Garry becomes champion. He gave “The Future”, his only career loss, when the two met in 2024. Rakhmonov was to use that win as a springboard for a title match against the then-champion Belal Muhammad, but an injury has kept him from fighting in the fight and has also prevented him from competing over the last two years.
Garry is definitely looking forward to the rematch.
Garry: “I wish Shavkat Rakhmonov a speedy recovery. Someone told me yesterday about his hardships. “I wish him well. I wish him good health. He deserves to be healthy because more important things than combating are his family and health in the long run.
Shavkat, all the very best to you. When he returns to the octagon he will only be fighting me. He’ll be first in line when he returns because I’m the one who wants to fight him.
Garry acknowledged that a victory over Makhachev in UFC 330 may lead to an immediate rematch.
Makhachev, who is currently riding a 16-fight win streak and the sport’s No. Makhachev, the No.
Garry doesn’t oppose that either, but he thinks a rematch with Makhachev will depend on the outcome of the UFC 330 fight.
Garry stated, “Let’s first focus on defeating him one time and then focus on defeating him twice.” It depends entirely on your style. Do you really want to watch me fight this guy again if I scalp him within two minutes? It’s the truth. It’s likely that a war of words like the one he had [Alexander] Volkanovski would lead to a second match.
There are also many challenges that I find exciting. We’ll get Saturday night over with, and we’ll then see how I do it and whether a second match is in the works. It’s not something I would be opposed to. He’s certainly earned it. Let’s finish Saturday first!”

A teenager from Acton in Massachusetts is held on bail after being charged with the murder of his mother and younger brother. The case was linked to ChatGPT.
Arjun Aravind wore handcuffs as he entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge and other charges at his Thursday morning arraignment in Concord District Court.
In their Martha Lane home, he is accused of murdering his mother Sudha, 45, and Siddharth, 14, in the afternoon on Tuesday. Susan Wiseman, the prosecutor in this case, said on Thursday that an official cause of death had not yet been established. However she stated it was “a physical and violent struggle.”
Wiseman stated that “at this point, the evidence found on scene made it clear that both victims had been subjected to blunt force trauma in some way.”
Aravind, who was in the car of his mother in Wayland at 3:40 am after the killings was apprehended.
Wiseman stated that “a number of items found in the car corresponded to the crime scene.”
No motive has been revealed yet. Marian Ryan, Middlesex’s District Attorney, said that Aravind “had recently demonstrated some worrying behavior” including searching the Internet and ChatGPT for theories or fantasies about the murder of his family.
Documents in court show that Aravind’s father was recently worried by his son’s internet and behavior, and began hiding knives around the home.
Debra DeWitt, Arjun’s attorney spoke to reporters briefly after the arrest.
She said, “When he went out of the house, he didn’t realize that they had died, so, he was in a bit of shock.”
DeWitt said CBS News Boston that the family moved recently to Acton in order to offer a school and support system for their children.
DeWitt stated that the father was only trying to help his son. She said that Aravind had not spoken to his father since they were murdered. DeWitt requested that the teenager undergo a mental evaluation.
Aravind will be back in court on September 11 for an evidentiary hearing.
Acton is located about 30 miles north of Boston.