UFC 200 "set Las Vegas attendance and gate records for the fight promotion," as 18,202 spectators filled a sold out T-Mobile Arena and generated gate receipts totaling $10.7M (MMAWEEKLY.com, 7/10). UFC 200 was "short of awe-inspiring," and the promotion "passed on awarding a standard Fight of the Night bonus" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/10). It "was a night of good fights early," but the Daniel Cormier-Anderson Silva bout "began and some steam seeped out of T-Mobile." Brock Lesnar "tried his best to bring it back" with his victory over Mark Hunt (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/10). Lesnar-Hunt "will by no means be a contender for Fight of the Year, but Lesnar's larger-than-life presence electrified an arena that was in dire need of it" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/10). 

Cormier "dominated every round," but Silva "was clearly the people's champion." Immediately after the fight, Silva's coaches "hoisted him onto their shoulders and paraded him around the ring to a roaring cheer" from the crowd. Cormier meanwhile "walked to his corner to the tune of thousands of boos." During Cormier's post-fight interview the boos "nearly drowned out the champion's answers" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/10). The negativity towards Cormier "was excessive, disappointing and cast" the UFC's fan base "in a poor light" (USATODAY.com, 7/9).

USWNT players "had planned to wear T-shirts with the slogan 'equal pay equal play' during media availability and pregame warm-ups" for yesterday's exhibition match against South Africa, but in the end "they did not, for reasons that were not immediately clear." Neither MF Carli Lloyd nor G Hope Solo "directly answered why the protest T-shirts had not been worn." Lloyd said, "It wasn't the right time." Lloyd added that American Outlaws, the team's fan group, "had the shirts" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/10). Lloyd said that the players "never planned" to wear the shirts yesterday (ESPN.com, 7/9).

Dustin Johnson on Friday added his name "to the list of withdrawals from next month's Olympic Games." Johnson: "My concerns about the Zika Virus cannot be ignored." Johnson is the "first American to remove his name from consideration." His spot is "slated to go to Patrick Reed." Johnson said last week, prior to the WGC-Bridgestone, that he "was still planning to compete" after a "positive meeting with USA Golf" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/8). 

Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler received a surprise visit from IGF President Peter Dawson on Saturday at the Old Course. For two holes, Fowler and Dawson "walked down the fairways alone, talking about the game's hot topic: Which golfers will play in the Olympics?" After his round, Fowler confirmed that he "talked with Dawson about the Olympics but did not commit" to playing (GOLFWEEK.com, 7/9).

San Diego City Clerk Liz Maland yesterday said that the Chargers "secured enough valid signatures for the team’s proposal to raise local hotel taxes for a downtown stadium and convention facility to appear on the November ballot." Chargers Chair Dean Spanos said, "The entire Chargers organization is grateful to all of those who helped qualify our initiative for the November 2016 ballot. We gathered more than 110,000 signatures in less than six weeks, an extraordinary result that demonstrates the high level of community interest in a new multi-use stadium and convention center facility” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/10).

WNBA Lynx G Seimone Augustus, F Rebekkah Brunson, F Maya Moore and G Lindsay Whalen "held a news conference before Saturday’s game against Dallas in a show of support for the victims and families of the high-profile shootings" across the country last week. The players took seats in the Target Center media room "wearing T-shirts that read 'Change Starts With Us, Justice and Accountability' on the front and the names of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, the logo for the Dallas Police Department and Black Lives Matter on back." The team "wore the T-shirts during pregame warmups." Brunson and Moore "read prepared statements, while Whalen and Augustus flanked the duo" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/10).

Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small yesterday announced that the track "has agreed to a two-year extension" that will see the track host IndyCar races for the next two years. The next Iowa Corn 300 is "set for July 9, 2017, followed by another race on July 8, 2018." Both races "fall on Sundays" (DES MOINES REGISTER, 7/10). IndyCar has "raced at Iowa Speedway each year since the facility opened" in '07, with this year marking the series' 10th race. The announcement of the '17 Iowa race "brings to seven the number of dates that have been confirmed for next season" (RACER.com, 7/9).

Sporting KC today at 5:00pm CT will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the National Training and Coaching Development Center, to be used by the club and U.S. Soccer. The $62M project "will occupy two patches of land that neighbor" a water park. Sporting KC CEO Robb Heineman said that the two-story building "is scheduled for completion" in October '17. The facility "will include 12 youth soccer fields," which are scheduled for a spring '17 opening. U.S. Soccer, which has its HQ in Carson, Calif., "will possess the option of having its men’s, women’s and youth national teams train in Kansas City when appropriate, with two locker rooms designated for their use" (K.C. STAR, 7/9).

The NWSL Western New York Flash's 3-2 win over the Seattle Reign yesterday at Frontier Field was played on a "smaller-than-usual" pitch, which was configured in the outfield "because the NWSL wouldn't allow it to be played over the dirt baseball infield." Reign coach Laura Harvey said, "I was told the field was 110-by-61 (yards). That’s 100-by -58. I got lied to the whole week. ... This league is supposed to be professional. That’s not good enough" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 7/10). The game was held on Frontier Field because the Flash's regular stadium "was hosting a music festival." On Twitter USWNT MF Carli Lloyd called it "shocking and embarrassing," and USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe and F Alex Morgan "also expressed their incredulity." NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush said, "In retrospect, we made the wrong decision" (ESPN.com, 7/9).

Former MLBer Derek Jeter yesterday "tied the knot with supermodel Hannah Davis in a brief and intimate ceremony" in Napa Valley, Calif. (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/10). There were "less than 100 guests at the wedding." Among those in attendance were former MLBers Jorge Posada, Andruw Jones and Tino Martinez (PAGESIX.com, 7/10).

The St. Paul Planning Commission on Friday "approved plans for a 20,000-seat, soccer-specific stadium for use by Minnesota United FC when it joins" MLS. The plans now "move to the City Council for approval" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/9).

Nearly 1,000 people yesterday gathered at Waterfront Park in San Diego for the 8:00am PT session of Soul Pose MLB All-Star Yoga (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/10).

PGA Tour Champions and Dick's Sporting Goods yesterday announced a three-year title sponsorship renewal of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open through '19 (PGA Tour Champions).

Storm F Breanna Stewart is "near the completion" of a multiyear endorsement deal with Nike (N.Y. TIMES, 7/10).

"It’s disgusting. I don’t want to even call it juice -- that’d be a slap in the face to other juices" – Justin Sands, husband of tennis player Bethanie Mattek-Sands, on the fruit flavored drink Wimbledon sponsor Robinsons provides at the tournament every year (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/9).

"I love Pat. He has a job to do. He has a different hat to wear. That hat sometimes is not to be my best friend. That hat is to be the president of the organization and to be a businessman, and that sucks" – Bulls G Dwyane Wade, on his relationship with Heat President Pat Riley (ESPN.com, 7/9).

"Donald's done tons for the women's game. I just think it's unfair she's pressing our organization to jump on the bandwagon when not all of us feel the way she does" – Golfer Cristie Kerr, on former National Council of Women's Organization Chair Martha Burk's attempts to rally golfers against playing the U.S. Women's Open at Trump National in Bedminster, N.J. (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 7/9).

“Well he’s certainly feeling a lot more joy than the Prime Minister. … That guy’s had a rough couple weeks” – ESPN’s John McEnroe, on tennis player Andy Murray thanking Britain Prime Minister David Cameron for attending the Wimbledon men’s final (“Wimbledon,” ESPN, 7/10).

"We’ve got a great product here, and I never take it personally and the Quad-Cities shouldn’t take it personally if players don’t come. It has everything to do with schedule and the number of events they decide to play in a row" – John Deere Classic Tournament Dir Clair Peterson, on scheduling conflicts keeping some golfers from the event (QUAD CITY TIMES, 7/10).

The Nashville TENNESSEAN's Joe Rexrode writes the media should honor late Univ. of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt with more coverage of women's sports. The popularity of the U.S. women's national soccer team "suggests progress, but there's still a large gap" in perception and coverage overall. Rexrode: "We can do a better job in my industry of covering women's athletics. I think we can do a better job of respecting women's athletics and engendering respect."

The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER's Andrew Carter writes under the header, "Man Or Meme: Who is Michael Jordan To Basketball's Next Generation?" For the UNC basketball program, it is "an important question," as Jordan for years was perhaps the team's "greatest marketing and recruiting asset." These days, a younger player's "only exposure to Jordan comes from the highlights on YouTube and from the streams of Crying Jordan faces that show up on Twitter feeds."

Elsewhere:

• With U.S. Bank Stadium opening this month, the Vikings and city "sail into a new era."
• Las Vegas NHL fans "better not be looking for fights."
• Bob Parsons is "spending millions to build a better golf club" with his PXG brand.
• Chicago native and new Bulls G Dwyane Wade "is getting back to his roots."
• How San Diego shaped late Baseball HOFer Ted Williams.
• F1 teams have used simulators as a part of car and driver development for years.

I get the anger at media outlets who only cover NWSL at scandalous moments. Same criticism can (and should) be lobbed at many USWNT players.

— Mike L. Goodman (@TheM_L_G) July 10, 2016

UFC spent two years building Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor as mega-stars. You can't sell us an event as the "biggest ever" without them

— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) July 10, 2016

Racially sensitive times. I applaud @carmeloanthony for taking a stand. More athletes of all races need use their platform to speak out.

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) July 10, 2016

Last time Murray won Wimbledon, many marketers projected he'd make a bazillion $. Didn't happen. But his price has definitely gone up.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 10, 2016

Andy Murray being head-to-toe in white Under Armour gear seems like an interpretive Curry shoe costume

— Mike Tunison (@xmasape) July 10, 2016

SUNDAY
The MLB SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game is on MLB Network at 7:00pm ET. The game will be followed by the premiere of "MLB Network Presents: The Bird," a documentary on former MLBer Mark Fidrych at 10:00pm ET.