Weekend Review: Ngannou reigns, Leclerc wins US GP as Salah shines in Liverpool’s win

Ngannou returned to the sport of MMA in brilliant style on the same weekend Mohamed Salah stood out for Liverpool. 

A new week comes with stories from the weekend in the world of sports. This week is no different as there are a few talking points from sporting events last weekend. 

Club football returned last weekend after the international break, which no one asked for, took over two weeks ago. 

There were some big matches and performances, including Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday night. 

Meanwhile, Formula 1 action also returned on the same weekend, with the train moving to Austin, Texas. 

As per tradition, Housebets takes a look at some of the major talking points from last weekend. 

Ngannou back with a bang 

Every weekend we are treated to a big fight, and last weekend was no different as Francis Ngannou made his return to MMA. 

Before last weekend, the Cameroonian's last MMA fight was against Ciryl Gane in January 2022, when he was still signed to the UFC. 

During that period of leave from the sport, Ngannou took to boxing, fighting Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. 

However, he was back after a long hiatus on Saturday night, making his debut in the Professional Fighters League since signing with them. 

The 38-year-old took on Renan Ferreira in the heavyweight and main event of the night in Saudi Arabia. 

It took Ngannou less than four minutes to knock out Ferreira and become an MMA champion again. 

Ngannou took Ferreira down towards the end of the first round before laying a barrage of punches on the Brazilian, forcing the referee to stop the fight. 

Following the fight, an emotional Ngannou dedicated the win to his late 15-month-old son, who passed away last year. 

Leclerc wins dramatic US Grand Prix 

Formula 1 action returned last weekend in Austin, Texas, with Ferrari enjoying a successful return to the circuit. 

The most successful team in Formula 1 history won a dominant race after Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a 1-2 finish for them. 

McLaren’s Lando Norris had claimed pole on Saturday and looked on course to close the cap on championship leader Max Verstappen. 

The Brit started out in front but collided with Verstappen on the first corner, allowing Leclerc to pass through and take control of the race. 

From that moment on, Leclerc never looked back as he won an easy race. His Ferrari teammate, Sainz, also benefitted from that moment as he took second place. 

Meanwhile, Verstappen finished third not because of his effort on the track but because Norris received a five-second penalty. 

Norris had finished third in the race proper after overtaking Verstappen but but the nature of the move prompted discussion over the radio, with Verstappen and Red Bull claiming that Norris had overtaken outside of the track limits.

Salah shines again as Liverpool edge out Chelsea 

The biggest game of last weekend took place at Anfield with Liverpool hosting Chelsea in their Premier League clash. 

Once again, it was the Reds that had the last laugh as they defeated Enzo Maresca’s men 2-1 in a highly entertaining clash. 

Mohamed Salah was again the chief architect, scoring the opener from the penalty spot before setting up Curtis Jones with a brilliant pass for the winner. 

Although Nicolas Jackson briefly restored parity for Chelsea, Liverpool were deserved winners of the day.