Sports
Butterbean names hardest hitting opponent who 'rocked his world' during iconic '300
Boxing legend Butterbean claims he was only rocked once during his combat sports career.
The heavyweight icon – real name Eric Esch – had 126 professional bouts across boxing, MMA, and kickboxing.
However, Butterbean insists he actually fought more than 300 times before retiring in 2013.
The American is proud of his granite chin and claims the only thing that came close to cracking it was a head kick from one of his best friends.

Butterbean names his hardest-hitting opponent
Butterbean beat Wesley Correira by TKO (doctor stoppage due to a broken arm) when they fought under MMA rules in 2006.
Two years later, ‘Cabbage’ got his revenge when they rematched in kickboxing at the K-1 World Grand Prix.
Correira landed a clean head kick that made Butterbean wobble before falling face-first to the floor.
The 58-year-old wasn’t knocked out, and he managed to get back to his feet, but the fight was called off because he was deemed to be in no fit state to continue.
“There’s nobody out there who I think is gonna be able to hurt me. I’m so tough,” Butterbean said when asked which of his opponents hit him hardest during a recent interview with Bloody Elbow
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“I’m not trying to brag on myself, but I could run into a brick wall and stand up and smile.
“I fought a guy named ‘Cabbage’ Correira, and I took a leg kick to the head.
“It’s what they call ringing your bell. I could hear bells. He’s the only one who ever really made me feel like that. He didn’t knock me out. I’ve never really been knocked out, but ‘Cabbage’ is a really tough dude and a really good friend of mine.
“It’s funny how somebody can hit you in the head and rock your world, and now your best friends.”
Butterbean eyes comeback in 2025
Butterbean was confined to a wheelchair for several years after ballooning up to 500lbs in retirement.
Now, he’s lost 220lbs and is ready to prove that you can bounce back from anything by fighting again.
“I wanna do one more fight to prove to people that no matter how down you get, if you believe in yourself like I believe in myself, you can accomplish anything,” Butterbean said of his comeback.
“I wanna do it this year. Most definitely this year.”
Jake Paul is at the top of Butterbean’s hit list, but he is also keen on a fight with Brock Lesnar.
It seems unlikely either of them will agree to face Esch, as they have ignored his call-outs.
Still, Butterbean will complete his remarkable turnaround by fighting someone else in 2025.

Sports
NCAA Volleyball Regional Schedule Set
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The fourth-seeded Indiana volleyball team (25-7, 14-6 B1G) will play in the Sweet 16 for just the second time in program history. The NCAA announced start times and dates for next week’s regional semifinals on Sunday (Dec. 7) afternoon. The Hoosiers will play top-seeded Texas at Gregory Gymnasium on Friday (Dec. 12) afternoon at Noon ET on ESPN.
Following the greatest regular season in program history, IU was awarded a top-16 national seed and the chance to host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers made quick work of their first two matchups, sweeping Toledo and fifth-seeded Colorado in Bloomington to advance to the Sweet 16.
IU is one of five Big Ten programs remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 16 schools left in the big dance, IU is one of two teams (Cal Poly) that didn’t make the big dance last year. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season program record for wins (25) and will attempt to advance to the regional final for the first time in program history.
The other matchup in the Austin Regional will pit second-seeded Stanford and third-seeded Wisconsin against each other. Their match will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of IU’s. The winners of both regional semifinals will meet on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon for a spot in the national semifinals in Kansas City.
Sports
Louisville volleyball NCAA Tournament bracket, Texas A&M vs UofL game
Dec. 6, 2025Updated Dec. 7, 2025, 6:08 a.m. ET
After defeating Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Saturday night, No. 2 Louisville will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, and take on No. 3 Texas A&M in the Sweet 16 at 7 p.m. Friday.
This will be the Cardinals’ seventh consecutive regional appearance but first with Dan Meske as head coach.
Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with the match from home:
No. 2 seed Louisville versus No. 3 seed Texas A&M will be broadcast live on ESPN or ESPN2.
Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN2 via TV-connected devices or by going to WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
Those without cable can access ESPN2 via streaming services, with Fubo offering a free trial.
Buy Louisville volleyball tickets here
After defeating Marquette, UofL will play Texas A&M in the Lincoln, Nebraska, Regional Friday at 7 pm. Here’s a look at the tournament schedule:
- First and second rounds: Dec. 4-6
- Regionals: Dec. 11-14
- Semifinals: Dec. 18 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
- Championship: Dec. 21 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Click here to view the complete bracket.
- Aug. 29: Louisville 3, Auburn 0
- Aug. 31: Louisville 3, Morehead State 0
- Sept. 1: Louisville 3, St. John’s 0
- Sept. 7: Louisville 3, Illinois 1
- Sept. 10: Texas 3, Louisville 2
- Sept. 12: Louisville 3, Creighton 1
- Sept. 13: Louisville 3, UNI 1
- Sept. 14: Louisville 3, Rice 1
- Sept. 18: Kentucky 3, Louisville 2
- Sept. 22: Louisville 3, Western Kentucky 0
- Sept. 26: Louisville 3, Boston College 0
- Sept. 28: Louisville 3, Syracuse 0
- Oct. 3: Louisville 3, California 0
- Oct. 5: Louisville 3, Stanford 1
- Oct. 10: Louisville 3, Virginia Tech 0
- Oct. 12: Louisville 3, Virginia 1
- Oct. 17: SMU 3, Louisville 2
- Oct. 19: Pitt 3, Louisville 2
- Oct. 24: Louisville 3, Duke 0
- Oct. 26: Louisville 3, North Carolina 1
- Oct. 29: Louisville 3, Notre Dame 0
- Nov. 1: Louisville 3, Notre Dame 0
- Nov. 7: Louisville 3, N.C. State 0
- Nov. 9: Louisville 3, Wake Forest 1
- Nov. 13: Louisville 3, Florida State 1
- Nov. 16: Louisville 3, Miami 2
- Nov. 21: Louisville 3, Georgia Tech 1
- Nov. 23: Louisville 3, Clemson 0
- Nov. 26: Pitt 3, Louisville 0
- Nov. 29: Stanford 3, Louisville 2
- Dec. 5: Louisville 3, Loyola Chicago 0 (NCAA Tournament First Round)
- Dec. 6: Louisville 3, Marquette 2 (NCAA Tournament Second Round)
- Dec. 11: Louisville vs. Texas A&M (NCAA Tournament Regional Round)
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her “Full-court Press” newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports’ biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.
Sports
The Omaha World-Herald’s Nebraska All-Class volleyball teams
Sports
Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open
Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.
The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.
Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history. Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.
In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history. First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).
Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.
First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).
The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.
Sports
Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.
Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.
Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.
Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.
Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.
Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.
Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
Sports
Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays
RESULTS
ITHACA, N.Y. –
The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.
Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.
Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.
Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.
IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.
Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.
Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.
Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.
Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.
Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.
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