January 12th, 2025 - Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic

The Machine and the Sixers continue to roll! They currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers look seriously smart for drafting The Machine as it looks like he might be just who they need to take the Sixers to the next level!

Their dominance continued down in Orlando as the Sixers came out on top with ease 107-86.

The Machine finished with:

• 17 Points, 3 Rebounds, 8 Assists
• Teammate Grade: A

It's been a solid rookie season, and The Machine is progressing beautifully!

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🌎My Thoughts on the Sports World Today🌎

In the real world, it's a pretty big sports weekend! UFC returns, and the NFL Conference Championships go down tomorrow! It's a pretty awesome way to hide from these FREEZING temperatures and this pretty massive snowstorm. Hope everyone stays safe!

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UFC 324

I am so glad the UFC is back. UFC 324 looks AWESOME. It's full of legendary, fan favorite fighters everywhere you look.

Arnold Allen returns after quite a long time off to fight the always fun Jean Silva. Allen hasn't fought since July of 2024. I thought Allen was about to be a champion once upon a time but he has been seriously inactive and has lost two of three. He is still ranked number six though so a championship run is still possible. Jean Silva meanwhile has been super active and pretty hyped in general. Silva is ranked number ten so a win over Allen would be pretty useful. Allen and Silva are really exciting fighters, this could easily be Fight of the Night. I predict Allen gets the victory. I imagine Allen has been working his tail off in the year and a half he's been out.

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Former Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas fights Natália Silva in what is a massive flyweight matchup. Silva has not lost since December of 2017!!! NUTS. Namajunas is a legend with a super decorated career, one of my favorite fighters. Rose has a weird habit of fighting to her opponent's level, good or bad. So I actually think that Rose might perform better than people think. Also, Silva is ranked #2 while Rose is #6. This might be Rose's last great chance to really stay in the upper echelon of the sport. Also, it would give rose a chance to get a title at a heavier weight class which would add a lot to her legacy. Silva is locked in though and in her absolute prime, it's like she can't lose. I have no clue what to expect.

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Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Derrick Lewis are gonna have a heavyweight slugfest. Cortes-Acosta will likely win but Derrick Lewis has serious power. Derrick always has a chance, one of my favorite fighters ever too!

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Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong looks SUPER fun. I don't have much else to say really regarding this one. Sean is a superstar, Yadong has a TON of power. I actually feel as if Sean might get this done and remind everyone how good he is.

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Finally, the main event is Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett for the Interim Lightweight Championship. NUTS, I actually forgot this was an Interim Title match before writing this up. This just adds a ton of pressure to what was an important fight already! Justin still only has five losses in his career which is nuts considering the wars he's been in and the opponents he's faced. I always knew he was great but if you look at his accomplishments on paper, they are quite eye-popping. The man has really only lost to legends, all-time greats, Hall of Famers.

Meanwhile Paddy Pimblett is truly wildly underrated. The guy is kind of an animal in there and he's pretty big for the division. I do admit he may have lost his fight versus Jared Gordon a few years ago but otherwise the man has earned my respect.

This is quite a strange fight to read. Justin is six years older, but way more accomplished. I also wonder how serious he is taking Paddy because everyone underrates him. While Paddy has earned my respect, Justin is absolutely the best fighter Paddy his faced, perhaps in his life.

I think Paddy gets it done by submission. But who knows man, I am pumped for this one!

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NFL Conference Championships

Tomorrow while I hibernate from this massive snowstorm, I'll be watching these Conference Championships!

These playoffs have been excellent so far and I am hoping tomorrow is more of the same.

It's astonishing to see the Patriots back in an AFC Title Game again only a handful of years after Tom Brady left. They should beat the Broncos who lost Bo Nix but the Broncos are not about to give up especially after making it this far. These are grown men trying to achieve their dreams. Jarrett Stidham can truly change his life in two games. Not only will he have a Super Bowl ring he actively helped earn, but if he does somehow lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl win, a team out there will certainly take a chance on him to at least compete for a starter's job. In so many ways on so many levels this is massive for Stidham. Sean Payton would also see a huge legacy boost in that scenario. I do have the Patriots winning though, they are just rolling right now. As a Titans fan it's really bittersweet seeing Mike Vrabel do well with those guys. But good for him!

The NFC Title game looks NUTS. Seahawks vs Rams. The Seahawks are built so well as a roster. They just lost Zach Charbonnet though who is maybe the best RB2 in the league. Still, they are still so well balanced across the board. In my eyes Sam Darnold has established himself as a good QB in this league. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an absolute beast of a receiver. The second DK Metcalf left, Jaxon just took off.

The Rams on the other hand are an offensive juggernaut, but maybe don't feel quite as balanced. If Matthew Stafford wins another ring, his legacy will be enhanced massively and he'd have one of the more intriguing careers I've ever seen. Twelve years of being stuck in Detroit and sort of overlooked by the whole league to all of a sudden win two rings would be pretty nuts. I think that Davante Adams and Puka Nacua combination is going to be hard to stop.

My original Super Bowl prediction was Bills vs Rams. While the Seahawks are a scary matchup, I'll stick with the Rams.

So I predict we'll see a Rams-Patriots Super Bowl!! It would be crazy to see two MVP candidates of vastly different ages face off in Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford!

I can't wait!

The sports world never sleeps, till next time!