ROD STEWART will set the stage for TYSON FURY's world heavyweight title challenge to WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO with a "performance in the hour before the fight." Stewart’s act "will warm up the 55,000 crowd in Dusseldorf’s Esprit football stadium on October 24 and be broadcast to more than 100 million television viewers in 150 countries around the world." Stewart "will use the occasion to launch his new album, Another Country" (London DAILY MAIL, 8/30). ... LIONEL MESSI received the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for the second time after finishing ahead of CRISTIANO RONALDO and LUIS SUAREZ in a live poll of 54 journalists (UEFA). ... The world's "most marketable mixed martial arts fighter is coming to Australia." RONDA ROUSEY, the undefeated bantamweight champion who "has won every one of her fights except one in the first round," will take on HOLLY HOLM at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Nov. 14.
The two Americans "were due to step into the octagon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas" on Jan. 2, but UFC President DANA WHITE announced the rescheduling on ESPN on Friday night (AAP, 8/29).
NOT INTERESTED: Real estate magnate and U.S. presidential hopeful DONALD TRUMP "denied a newspaper report" on Friday that he wanted to buy top-tier Argentine football club San Lorenzo, POPE FRANCIS' "favorite team." Trump tweeted, "Never even heard of the team - no interest!" Earlier in the day, club VP MARCELO TINELLI said that the story was "totally crazy" and that the team was not for sale (REUTERS, 8/28).
