Best Sports on TV and Stream this Weekend (October 6-9, 2023)
With some tremendous action in the world of sport last week, the show rolls on with another selection of fantastic matchups this weekend. From the conclusion of the China Open to the biggest match of the Premier League season so far, we have some drama and tension in store for us. So without further ado, let’s see the best matchups to watch this weekend.
ATP Tour: China Open (September 28th - October 8th)
After a stellar first week at the China Open, we are in the quarterfinals, and boy have we had some shocks along the way. Unseeded Gregor Dimitrov knocked out third seed Holger Rune in straight sets in the round of 16 and takes on sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the quarters. It should be an intense match between two of the most in-form players at the tournament so far, and Dimitrov will be confident in his ability to cause another shock and advance to the semis.
Another unseeded presence in the quarters is Nicolas Jarry, who knocked out fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round. His powerful groundstrokes have served him well so far, and he will take on the lowest ranked seeded player left in German star Alexander Zverev, who has enjoyed an impressive return to the tour after a bad injury last year. Zverev will prove to be a tough test, but Jarry has already proven he can mix it with the best on his day.
The final unseeded player left is Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who has the most difficult task of the three with his quarterfinal match against second seed and US Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev. Humbert knocked out fifth seed Andrey Rublev, Medvedev’s long-time friend and compatriot, but Medvedev is a much tougher task.
Finally, top seed and world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz faces Norwegian Casper Ruud as he seeks to get back to winning ways after losing his US Open title in the semifinals. He has been playing excellently so far this tournament, and Ruud has not had great form against him in the past. However, as we’ve seen, it’s been a tournament of upsets so far, so who would bet against another shock?
UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green (October 7th)
This weekend, the MMA world is buzzing in anticipation of an exhilarating UFC Fight Night, headlined by a fiery lightweight bout between Grant Dawson and Bobby Green. Dawson, known for his exceptional grappling and relentless pressure, will be looking to implement his wrestling to control the dynamic and experienced striker in Green. With Green’s sharp boxing and takedown defense, fans are poised for a thrilling clash of styles.
The co-main event features an intriguing middleweight bout as Joe Pyfer squares off against Abdul Razak Alhassan. Pyfer, a promising prospect, faces a stern test in Alhassan, a fighter known for his explosive power and striking prowess. This bout promises fireworks, with both fighters possessing the ability to end the fight in a blink.
Adding more excitement to the card is a welterweight collision between Alex Morono and Joaquin Buckley. Morono, a well-rounded fighter with a knack for mixing it up, will aim to neutralize Buckley’s stunning knockout power and unrelenting pressure.
With a lineup featuring rising stars and seasoned veterans, this UFC Fight Night is all set to deliver a riveting spectacle of martial arts skill and heart.
Premier League: Manchester City @ Arsenal (October 8th)
With Wolverhampton Wanderers of all teams ending Manchester City’s 100% record in the Premier League last weekend with a gritty 2-1 win, the rest of the teams in the league have sat up and taken note. Due to Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Liverpool, City stay top of the league, but there are 4 or 5 teams below them that smell blood.
One of those is unbeaten Arsenal, just one point below City in third place, and they have already beaten City in the Community Shield earlier this season. Arsenal were City’s main challengers last season, leading the league for much of the season before eventually succumbing to the pressure Pep Guardiola’s side were putting on them. Their summer purchases were intended to bring some steel and experience to the squad, and they look just as strong as last season already.
This game will be absolutely crucial for both teams to stamp some level of authority over the other. Manchester City will be desperate to get back to winning ways after losing in the Carabao Cup third round to Newcastle and then losing to Wolves. They rarely lose two games in a row, and the red card shown to Rodri in their win over Nottingham Forest has proven costly, with the Sky Blues missing his creativity in their recent losses.
Even a draw would signal to the rest of the league that this season might not be the foregone conclusion that most had predicted. And Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium are always a handful. It should be one of the games of the season, if not the decade.
Formula 1: Qatar GP (October 8th)
After a two week break since the last race in Japan, which Max Verstappen won with one of his best performances of the season, Formula 1 returns to Qatar with the driver’s title on the line. If results go his way, Verstappen could wrap up his third title in the sprint race on Saturday, but even if Sergio Perez stops him doing that, it’s almost certain that Verstappen will win it in Sunday’s race, barring a crash or another unfortunate occurance.
This will be the least surprising championship in recent years, with Verstappen absolutely dominating the season after Perez won two races very early on in the season. Perez has since won no races, and really has never even come close, with Verstappen setting record after record on his way to the position he’s in now. We are watching a legend of the sport at his absolute peak (so far), and the Formula 1 world has to watch in awe as he claims yet another title. It may not have been the most exciting season for the neutrals, but that’s hardly Verstappen’s fault, or problem for that matter.
Further down the order, the chasing pack of Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc will all be hoping for some kind of miracle to get them up on that top step. Sainz is the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race this season, at that fantastic race in Singapore last month, and Ferrari in general have shown a good improvement in form recently.
But this weekend will belong to Verstappen, as it should.
Author: Dan Anderson