Many leagues are now up and running despite the global surge of COVID-19 cases
There have been many points this year where sports fans have gasped at their T.V. program lists, heartbroken that nothing is on. The pandemic did subside somewhat, so sports returned; however, we are now faced with another surge of COVID-19. Thankfully, with serious efforts and a disciplined approach, this Christmas season seems to have a bit of everything. If you find yourself stuck indoors battling boredom and perpetual sadness, here are some fun sporting events you might want to tune in for!
Dec. 22 marks the return of the NBA season, as they turn around quite quickly from their last campaign, which took place safely in the NBA bubble. This year, the players will embark on a bubble-less campaign, complete with various storylines and exciting matchups. The Toronto Raptors are the only team that will adapt their playing circumstances, as they will not play in Canada. The team will play its season from Tampa, Florida this year.
The NFL has successfully launched its season, so you can find a number of high-profile matchups over the holidays! Christmas Day has the Minnesota Vikings playing the New Orleans Saints, and Boxing Day has a bevy of big games, such as the NFC West divisional rivalry game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals!
Soccer is 100 per cent a go this Christmas, so be sure to check out all the massive games across the pond, as LaLiga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and the Premier League continue to play matches. Manchester City plays their rival, Manchester United on Dec. 12., and the Champions League will announce the round of 16 teams. Should Barcelona and Juventus make the cut, you can look forward to arguably the biggest match up in global sports becoming a possibility: Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi.
Mixed martial arts is set to stay active during December, as the UFC has two dates. Dec. 12 brings the pay-per-view only “UFC 256” main card which sees flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo defend his championship against the quickly rising Brandon Moreno. The 125-pound title bout will be Figueiredo’s second title defence this year. Then on Dec. 19, the UFC is back on ESPN+ with a main event between Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal. Canadians should check their listings for TSN, as they often show ESPN+ UFC cards.
Boxing is back in December with some decent cards, and though you won’t see too many superfights or massive title challenges from a name value perspective, as they say in British boxing, there are some Christmas crackers set for this month! Anthony Joshua and Gennadiy Golovkin have some high-profile fights booked, and Dec. 19 has a very intriguing matchup between super middleweight champions Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Callum Smith. Álvarez is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws in boxing today, known for his incredibly well-rounded style that results in fast-paced fights. Smith, undefeated and clearly the best super middleweight in England, is also known for his finishing ability, as he holds knockout victories over champions such as George Groves and Rocky Fielding.
Hopefully, these suggestions give you something to look forward to this Christmas season.
