The Japanese Grand Prix starts Friday 3rd October with the first practise session and the race on Sunday.
After Rosbergs clutch issues at Singapore Hamilton was able to open a three point lead over his Mercedes team mate in the Drivers championship and make the last 5 races of the F1 campaign more exciting than ever. It could go all the way down to the last race at Abu Dhabi.
The Japanese Grand Prix is a favourite of Vettels as he has won it 4 times out of the last 5, even though him winning would have no effect on the Drivers Championship he would undoubtedly like to get his first win of the season, which seems crazy to say about the German who has dominated the sport for the last 5 years.
"Suzuka has been a very positive place for me in the past, I've won the race three times and I also won the World Championship there in 2011 which was a fantastic experience"Quotes courtesy of (www.formula1.com)
All eyes will of course be on team Mercedes and the ongoing battle both on and off the track between Hamilton and Rosberg. although there relationship may seem fractured, their performances on the track haven't been. Mercedes have the Constructors Championship and the Drivers Championship all but secured ending Red Bulls reign of supremacy but which of their F1 starlets will claim the title?
The track made its F1 debut in 1987, set inside a fun fair and its famous ferris wheel the track is famous for being a fan and driver favourite. Usually towards the end of the F1 calender a few championships have been won at the track.
This weeks Monday Night Football is a match between Stoke City and Newcastle United, coverage starts at 7pm on Sky Sports 1
Stoke sit in 17th place while Newcastle hold up the league in 20th place, so neither of the teams have started this campaign very well and Stoke have lost both their home games so far this season without scoring whilst Newcastle have failed to score in the two away games they have played in the league. A goaless draw seems likely in this battle of the mid table also rans.
Under pressure boss Pardew looks a concerned man in contrast to the confidence of Mark Hughes who knows his job is fairly secure and maybe this will be the difference between these two average sides. Recent quotes from Newcastle owner, Mike Ashley, supposedly said to merely humour a journalist that Pardews position would be under threat should his team suffer defeat at the hands of Stoke add fuel to the considerable fire ablaze in the North East. Fan campaigns for the sacking of Pardew, including a website (www.sackpardew.com) have done nothing to ease the pressure as it continues to mount on the Londoner.
A win for Newcastle could see them jump out of the bottom three, leap frogging Stoke in the process but a win for Stoke could see them rise as high as 7 depending on the result. The Potters come in to the match with no fresh injury concerns, Geoff Cameron is still likely to be unavailable as will Peter Odemwingie but Johnathan Walters will face a late fitness test. Newcastle hope to start Papis Cisse after the Senegalse striker re-captured his form in the home game against Hull with two goals to claw back to a 2-2 draw.
The Britannia Stadium - Home of Stoke City an venue for tonight's MNF
I expect this to be a tame affair with very little goal mouth action and it could quite easily end up a bore draw
Conor Mcgregor proved yet again that he is far more than just talk, the Irishman dispatched Poirier at 1:46 in the first round.
Herb Dean stopped the fight after a left hand to the side of Dustins head dropped him and Mcgregor followed it with a couple of hammerfists.
It was only Conors 4th fight in the UFC and second main event, his meteoric rise in the organisation is down to his abrasive personality and early stoppages.Quickly becoming a fan favourite with his trademark three piece suit and matching his predictions of early finishes with results. Joe Rogan asked McGregor whats next after the victory
“You know what’s next. That world title is next. I’m gonna fly to Brazil if they want. I’ll eliminate Chad ‘Mini’ Mendez and step in and give the fans what they want — Aldo versus McGregor. Or you know we could come back and fill that football stadium [the Aviva]. Come on over, we’ll whup them on home soil or away soil. It’s no problem.”
Big statement from McGregor to call out Featherweight champion Jose Aldo, This is all part of the McGregor plan, Poirier accused The Notorious of trying to jump the line and this call out is evidence of this in action but Mcgregor backs up his words with actions, like saying he would finish Dustin in the first round and he did, comfortably. His rise up the ranks in UFC has just begun and it wont be long till he is at the top, a fight against Aldo in Brazil would be a tough challenge for anyone but if Dana and co decide to host it at the Aviva Stadium in Conors home country, that would be a huge statement by the UFC to make the champion defend his title in the challengers lair.
Heres the post fight interview
Cat Zingano battled hard against Nunes in the Women's Bantamweight division. Round one went to the Lioness but Zingano came back strong in the second round with an imposing ground game which kept the Brazilian on her back with little fight back from that position. Round 3 was essentially a deciding round with Zingano locking Nunes in a tight Muay Thai clinch straight away before suplexing her on to her back and continuing the ground and pound she delivered in the second round, a flurry of punches and elbows busted the lioness open eventually leading the ref to have to step in.
In an emotional post fight interview with Joe Rogan Cat was asked to talk us through what she was thinking when she was dropping bombs on Nunes
"I wana go home to my little boy, get this shit over with"
The controversy of the evening occurred during the Kennedy Romero fight in the Middleweight division, Round one went to Romero, landing several big shots and a couple of takedowns but in round two Kennedy came out fighting and closed the distance, himself landing several big right hands to Romero. He was rocked and looked out of it until he was saved by the bell. At the start of round three Romero refused to get out of his seat until the referee forced him to re-enter the otcogan 30 seconds later than he should have, arguably giving The Olympic silver medallist longer to recover from the attack at the end of round 2.This was explained by Romero's' corner, Too much Vaseline had been applied to Romero's' right eye which then needed to be removed. Romero came out swinging and was able to dominate Kennedy and claim victory with a TKO.
Rory celebrating winning his singles match against Ricky Fowler
This Ryder Cup began with Europe as favourites, not only due to winning 7 out of the last 9 competitions but also having a stronger team, including current world number 1 Rory Mcilroy.
Play began on Sunday, 28th September with the scores at 10-6 to Europe after a strong second day performance. Graeme McDowell was trusted to go out first and bring the crucial first point of the day against Jordan Speith and get some blue on the board. But it was Mcilroy who truly set the tone of the afternoon,
going through the first six holes with four birdies and an eagle he simply blew Fowler away and the american was overwhelmed by the power and accuracy of the northern Irish superstar.
McGinleys decision to top-load the order with some of his biggest hitters proved to be the right call following an early surge by the likes of Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth and Hunter Mahan, McDowell and Rose showed the resilience of major winners to get back in their matches after starting their rounds poorly and finding themselves a few holes behind. G-Mac went on to win his match against Spieth 2 & 1 whilst Rose fought back to get a half against his good friend Mahan. Stenson battled hard against the crowd raising Patrick Reed but succumbed to a loss by just one point.
Perhaps the performance of the day goes to Jamie Donaldson, born in Pontypridd, this was his Ryder Cup debut and he was up against former USPGA champion Keegan Bradley. supposedly a tough task but the Welshman dealt with the pressure incredibly, beating the american 4 & 3. A delicious approach shot on the 15th hole, a 146 yard pitching wedge which he dropped within a foot of the hole was the moment the Ryder Cup was won. An elated Donaldson was quoted;
“It has just been amazing to be a part of it. All I knew when I stood on the 15th that I was four up with four to play, and I just had the perfect yardage to hit the shot of my life."
The young stars of Europe seem to only be getting stronger whilst the Americans vice grip on golf loosens further. Europe have 3 of the top 5 golfers in the world (the other two being non-American) and it was evident throughout this competition with the strength in depth at McGinleys disposal. The 2016 Ryder cup will be hosted by the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minneota. Will home advantage be enough for the Americans to claim victory? Or are they like a tiger with no Ror-y Mcilroy?
