ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI returns to the octagon this weekend for the first time in over a year.

And he can make yet more UFC history if he gets his hand raised in his Miami melee with Diego Lopes.

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Alexander Volkanovski returns to the octagon early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 314[/caption]

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Volk will challenge Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title[/caption]

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The Aussie will bid to break a curse he’s twice fallen victim to[/caption]

The Aussie will bid to become a two-time ruler of the featherweight division early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 314.

His chances of regaining the 145lbs throne have been written off by many following his back-to-back losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

But an undefeated cage curse has also been at the forefront of many MMA fans’ minds when picking the winner of this weekend’s main event.

All fighters in the UFC’s men’s divisions below welterweight have LOST their title fights when competing aged 35 or above.

Sixteen have fought in title bouts in the fly, bantam, feather and lightweight divisions aged 35 and older.

All 16 of the combatants have failed to leave the octagon with UFC gold.

Volkanovski, 36, is already well acquainted with the championship curse which haunts the lower weight classes

He fell victim to it twice in the space of four months, thanks to his ill-fated lightweight title rematch with Makhachev and subsequent dethroning as 145lbs king at the hands of Topuria.

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Alexander Volaknovski is relishing the opportunity to break the 35-and-over curse[/caption]

But he’s relishing the opportunity to break the seemingly never-ending hoodoo and further cement his legacy as arguably the greatest featherweight of all-time.

He said: “Well, it is the greatest achievement. Just look at this. I’ve never been in this situation before, right?

“I’ve never come off such a big break. I’ve never come off two losses. So it’s definitely the biggest fight [of my career].

“It really is the biggest fight of my career. And, you know everyone’s going to go, ‘Oh yeah, like you’ve done enough.’

“But I haven’t, I can do a lot more. And it starts this weekend, it starts on Saturday with this new title reign.

“When you talk about legacy, it doesn’t get much bigger than this.

“The comeback is going to be real.

“This is the s**t, you know, people write books about movies about. [And] we’re going to do it all on Saturday night.”

BRITS will find more than 50 extra channels available on their TV as part of a new freebie.

Most viewers can watch much more than Freeview these without having to pay for Netflix or any other premium streaming app.

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Rakuten is already available on a number of TVs[/caption]

One of the better free alternatives around is Rakuten TV, which has a number of ad-supported streaming channels available to watch.

These include sport, with FIFA+, DAZN Women’s Football and Top Barca among the mix.

There are even movie channels with major names straight out of Hollywood, such as Gary Oldman, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Reality TV fans can get their fix with dedicated channels showing Duck Dynasty, Hell’s Kitchen, Ice Road Truckers on the schedule.

And there is some content for kids too, such as cartoon classics and POP.

Rakuten TV is already available on a number of smart TVs but from today even more Brits will have easier access to them.

The company has signed a deal with TCL, one of the leading budget TV brands.

It’s not clear exactly which 50 channels from Rakuten TV will appear on the free TCL Channel service, but it’s said to include a mix of Rakuten’s own as well as third parties.

They’re all available to watch instantly without any need to sign up.

And it’s not only Brits who benefit – TCL TVs in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Poland will find Rakuten TV too.

“We are excited about the collaboration between TCL Channel and Rakuten TV,” The high-quality FAST channels include variety of genres that will surely appeal to our audience across Europe and further enhance the content ecosystem of TCL Channel, bringing a more diverse viewing experience to our users”.

CHELSEA are rigorously searching for a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Blues have seen starting centre-forward Nicolas Jackson amassing a total of nine goals and five assists in 26 appearances this season.

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However, the West Londoners need an elite hitman – especially with Christopher Nkunku heading towards the exit door.

And Sky Sports have reported links with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Lille’s Jonathan David.

But all of the above have also been linked with some of Europe’s biggest hitters, including Premier League rivals.

And according to The Mail, Chelsea may not be able to directly compete in terms of wages.

The same source claims one of the London giants’ targets opted against a move to Stamford Bridge as he was left dissatisfied with the salary rate.

In fact, as per the same report, the player in question found out that there are higher financial prospects at other Prem clubs – including one in the bottom half of the table.

The player’s agent told Confidential: “Chelsea don’t pay salaries.”

Nevertheless, there is no other indication suggesting Chelsea won’t be able to offer enticing salaries.

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After all, Enzo Maresca‘s side are pushing for Champions League qualification and that alone would pose as a massive perk for an ambitious striker to come aboard.

Chelsea have been splashing enormous sums ever since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital succeeded Roman Abramovich at the helm in the summer of 2022.

Staggering findings by the annual European Club Finance and Investment Landscape report – commissioned by UEFA – showed the Blues had the most expensive squad ever in terms of transfer fees in 2024.

By the end of the financial year, the West Londoners had racked up a combined transfer cost of a whopping €1.7billion (£1.5bn).

And Chelsea spent about £220million during this past summer transfer window alone.

A MARRIED undertaker allegedly raped a female colleague while next to a corpse at a funeral home, a German court has heard.

Bodo G., 68, is accused of raping another 41-year-old undertaker next to an open coffin with a female corpse inside in Bavaria, Germany.

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An undertaker allegedly raped a colleague at a funeral home[/caption]

He allegedly raped the woman three times in spring 2022. 

The incidents occurred at multiple locations in the funeral home, including on a wooden pallet of a coffin decorator.

The woman told the trial at Nuremberg regional court on Wednesday the the accused man “always wanted to grope me, every day”, according to Bild.

When the man allegedly raped her for the first time, it was next to a corpse.

The woman said she found it “disgusting”.

Bodo G., who is married with children, denies the rape charge.

He said he didn’t “need to” rape the woman since he has sex with his wife.

Bodo G. accused the woman of planting bodily fluids in the funeral home so that cops could find it there.

The woman said she told him she was a lesbian, but claims the alleged rapist responded that nothing could happen since was sterilised.

The man also allegedly got aroused at a funeral when a bereaved family member wore a thong.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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MOLLY-MAE Hague has been forced to deny she’s pregnant after fans spotted a clue in her home.

The media personality, 25, who is mum to two-year-old daughter Bambi, said she is spending time with Tommy at his new home, having previously planned to move there together before the split.

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Molly shared a life update on her YouTube where a pregnancy pillow could be seen in the background.

But the star was quick to clarify on that she’s not pregnant with her second child, despite using the helpful sleeping tool.

Molly said: “I always get conscious that whenever I’ve got a pregnancy pillow in the back of one of my videos that you guys are going to think that I’m pregnant again.”

The former Love Island star revealed the real reason she still sleeps with her pregnancy pillow – two years on from giving birth.

“It’s genuinely just I haven’t been able to sleep a night without my pregnancy pillow since I was pregnant,” the star said.

“It’s without a doubt the best thing that has ever entered my life, sleep has never been better since my pregnancy pillow has come into my life.

“I ordered quite a few but none of them hit like these V ones.

“I wouldn’t just say it’s a pregnancy pillow, people would usually use it if they’ve had an operation or they just need more support.”

During the same vlog, she broke her silence on her reunion with Tommy, admitting she’s spending more time at his house.

The couple recently enjoyed a family holiday to Dubai together, but purposely chose to leave the other out of their social media snaps, focusing on daughter Bambi instead.

Molly has now offered a candid update saying the pair are “just figuring things out”.

She revealed that she’s now spending time living at both her own home and at the house she previously shared with Tommy – a property they had intended to settle in as a family.

Molly said: “I’m not actually at my house, I’m at Tommy’s house.

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot today about how I skipped a massive chapter in everything that went on with mine and Tommy’s break-up.

“Basically I don’t know if you guys remember but just before we split up, I kept talking about how we were going to have a big change as a family and no one knows about it, and basically we were in the process of moving house.”

She continued: “My whole house got completely packed up and we moved over into this house, and I don’t know why but now is the right time to open up.”

Molly explained that after the breakup, she temporarily moved back into her original home – but only briefly.

“When Tommy and I split up I moved back to the original house so I moved for a short amount of time, like not even long enough to tell you guys, and I was just about to tell you but then sadly our relationship ended,” she said.

“It was even more of a hard time than anyone realised because my house was completely empty. I had people coming to view it to rent it. So yeah I moved house and no one knew. So that was all going on among everything. It was a lot of turmoil. It was shambles.”

She added: “The point is I have been spending a little more time recently back at the house I moved into, and I just want to be transparent about it because I probably will be vlogging here a little bit. I don’t want to hide anything because that is not me.”

“It doesn’t mean anything, it might mean something, but I hope it doesn’t get read into too much. It is just life and we are just figuring things out.”

“Hopefully, in a dream world, I get to a place where I am permanently in this house and I guess this will make a little more sense as to why Zoe and Danny have moved into my house.”

Over the weekend, Molly and Tommy, also 25, were pictured at Centre Parcs on a fun-filled mini-break by fellow guests.

Molly confirmed what everyone had worked out, sharing another snap of Tommy, this time in black and white, walking along holding Bambi’s hand.

Last week, the couple were pictured ahead of a pub lunch with Bambi.

It was Molly and Tommy’s second holiday in three weeks.

Confirming their reunion following their split in August 2024, the couple flew to the UAE with Bambi last month for a luxury break.

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Molly had originally moved into Tommy’s new home before their split[/caption]

KATIE Price has reignited her huge feud with Peter Andre in a war over their daughter Princess’s hair.

Page 3 legend Katie, 46, and singer Peter, 52, who split in 2009, have had a notoriously rocky co-parenting relationship over the years.

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Katie Price has reignited her huge feud with Peter Andre[/caption]

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She accused her ex of once getting Princess’s hair cut without asking her first[/caption]

They share two children together – Junior, 19, and Princess, 17.

In the latest episode of The Katie Price Show podcast, which she hosts alongside her sister Sophie, 35, the reality star accused her ex of once getting Princess’s hair cut without asking her first.

During a chat about parenting boundaries, Sophie said: “Do you know what would also wind me up? If Albert’s hair or Olive’s hair was cut without me knowing.”

Katie replied: “I’ve been there.”

Sophie continued: “I’d be absolutely fuming.”

Katie then explained: “I’ve been there. There’s been times when Princess has come home and her hair’s been cut without the mum’s permission.

“I think things like that… it’s the parent’s decision, or you let the other parent know if they’re happy with it and stuff.”

She added: “Isn’t it weird though, I’m sure there’s mums out there, things that annoy them that mother-in-laws or family members do to annoy them.”

During last week’s episode of the podcast, Katie shared a rare insight into co-parenting with Peter.

The OnlyFans star admitted she hasn’t seen much of their kids recently – despite them living with her.

She told Sophie: “Although they live with me, because they’re going away soon and Junior’s just been doing night stuff, working nights, I haven’t seen much of them.”

Katie also revealed that Princess has a habit of raiding her wardrobe – something she clearly doesn’t mind too much.

She said: “I always say, Princess loves my clothes and all of that. And now, weirdly, I’m going to be twinning not just with her, but with Mum!”

Katie explained how a shopping trip with their mum turned into a three-generation fashion moment.

The TV personality said: “She dragged me into this little clothes shop called Nia, and I ended up buying the same cardigan and t-shirt version as Mum – even got us matching layered bracelets.

“It’s the first time I’m going to be twinning with my 73-year-old mother!”

While chatting to Sophie, Katie also poked fun at the contrast between their family setups.

She added: “You go over to your sister, she’s been married three times, five kids, different dads… and then look at them [referring to Sophie’s family] – they cook together, go on little trips, they’ve got their perfect little family unit. You wouldn’t think we’re from the same family!”

Katie and Peter’s whirlwind romance began in the Australian jungle during the 2004 series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.

Just over a year later, they tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Highclere Castle in Hampshire in September 2005 — the same grand estate later made famous by Downton Abbey.

But the reality TV fairytale wasn’t to last.

The pair announced their separation in May 2009 and finalised their divorce four months later.

These days, Junior is a singer and is often seen on the showbiz circuit with his girlfriend Jasmine Orr, 24.

Princess makes a living as an influencer, having signed brand ambassador deals with Superdrug, PrettyLittleThing, and has even launched her own jewellery range.

The Sun revealed last week that she’s getting her own ITV show for her 18th birthday too.

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Katie said she hasn’t seen much of their kids Junior and Princess recently – despite them living with her[/caption]

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The couple raised their children in the public eye[/caption]

Versace will be acquired by the Prada Group from the US luxury group Capri Holdings.

While the MX-30 EV was a flop, Mazda is having another crack at the electric crossover market with a bit of help from its Chinese partner.

US stocks have opened lower as investors dropped shares in information technology and energy companies.

Peter Dutton will reaffirm a commitment to a multi-billion exploration program, among a suite of mining-focused measures, while in Perth on Friday.