Best Sports on TV and Stream this Weekend (August 18-21, 2023)
With the sporting season really exploding in recent weeks, this weekend is going to be another blockbuster, with huge matchups wherever you look. From the culmination of the FIFA Women’s World Cup to UFC star Sean O’Malley’s first title shot, history is ready to be written wherever you look. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what we have in store for us.
ATP Tour: Cincinnati Masters (August 14th-21st)
As the tennis season is closing in on the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows, we have one more Masters 1000 tournament in preparation. The Cincinnati Masters is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar outside of the big four tournaments, and this year sees a star-studded lineup as players battle to improve their seedings for the US Open.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing quarter-final defeat at last week’s Canadian Open to Tommy Paul. He has consistently shown his excellence on the hard-courts in the past, famously winning the US Open last year at age 19, but he hasn’t been in the best form since winning Wimbledon. He will be aiming for a deep run here to get his preparations back on track.
23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is also playing, and also looking to get his season back on track. He was dominating 2023 until losing to Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, and he will be one of the favorites for this week.
Other top names in Cincinnati this week are fourth seed Casper Ruud, last year’s champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, and in-form Russian Daniil Medvedev. All will fancy their chances, but the eyes of the world are on the big two of Alcaraz and Djokovic.
Premier League: Newcastle United @ Manchester City (August 19th)
With the Premier League coming back with a bang last weekend, we move on to week two of what promises to be one of the best seasons in recent memory. There are strong teams everywhere you look, and all the top teams have strengthened over the summer. Manchester City may have won the treble last year, but there are teams like Newcastle breathing down their neck as they chase a record fourth title in a row.
Fresh after incredibly finishing fourth last season, Newcastle have added steely midfielders Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes, along with left back Tino Livramento from Southampton. Their ambition is to challenge for the title, and their 5-1 destruction of Aston Villa last week is a clear message that they are here to stay.
Their takeover by Saudi Arabian owners almost two years ago has catapulted them to the elite of the Premier League, but credit must go to manager Eddie Howe for an excellent job gelling the new additions to his system, and for playing such a high-octane style that has won admirers around the league.
However, this weekend, their opponents are the formidable machine that is Manchester City. Manager Pep Guardiola has spoken of his respect for Newcastle and their style, but he has had a fantastic record against them since he took charge. City will expect to win, with goalscoring machine Erling Haaland opening the season with 2 goals against Burnley last weekend. It should be a game to remember, but can Newcastle spring an upset?
UFC 292 (August 19th)
This weekend sees the UFC come back with a monster card for their latest numbered event. 292 has been anticipated for a while because of the main event, with bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling defending his title against rising star Sean O’Malley.
O’Malley, with his distinctive rainbow hair, wiry frame, and unbelievable kicking, has become one of the stars of the sport in recent years. His controversial win against Petr Yan last year propelled him closer to the top of the rankings, and his only loss in MMA was in 2020 against Marlon Vera.
While he is undoubtedly one of the more well-known and popular fighters in the sport, Sterling poses the greatest threat to his momentum train, with two wins (one very controversial) over Yan himself, and a recent win over bantamweight GOAT Henry Cejudo. Cejudo had had three years out of the sport, but getting a win over a former undisputed champion has really cemented his place as the king of the division at the moment.
Further down the card, the dominant strawweight champion Weili Zhang takes on Brazilian legend Amanda Lemos with the title on the line. Lemos hasn’t lost since 2017, and her balanced style and slippery moves should be a real test for Zhang’s power. However, Lemos turned 36 in May, and it remains to be seen whether she has lost a step since her last fight.
FIFA Women’s World Cup Final (August 20th)
This Sunday sees the culmination of the FIFA Women’s Soccer World Cup, a tournament that has captured the hearts of the sporting world, with some excellent performances from teams all over the world. The US team were defeated on penalties by a fantastic Sweden side who have made it to the semi-finals after a 2-0 win over tournament favorites Japan.
FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP ON TV & STREAM
The Swedes will take some beating, especially with Stina Blackstenius leading the line, but they face Spain in the semi-finals on Tuesday, a team that has shown real resilience and flair to get to this stage. Salma Paralluelo has been a star for the Spanish side, and her creativity will be key to unlock the Swedish defense.
On the other side of the draw, England will take on hosts Australia in the semi-finals, looking to reach another final after their Euro 2022 win last year. Alex Russo has been in fantastic form, and their 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter finals showed the world how devastating their attack can be at times.
Australia will be confident and hopeful of getting themselves into the final, backed on by a full stadium and a crowd firmly on their side. Sam Kerr has been the star of the tournament, and no one would bet against her grabbing a goal or two against England.
Whatever happens in the semi-final matches, this final is going to be historic for a World Cup that has already brought in more viewers, sponsors, and fans than any other in history.
Additionally, this weekend has plenty of NFL pre-season games running. Check out the latest information on when, where and how to watch upcoming NFL games on TV at Livesportsontv.com.
Author: Dan Anderson