Mystical Rituals in Sports: From UFC to Soccer Superstitions

This collection of odd news briefs highlights the intriguing rituals and superstitions in the world of sports, from shamanic practices of UFC champion Alex Pereira to the quirky pre-match routines of Slovakian footballer Lukas Haraslin. Also mentioned is a groundbreaking autopsy on a 44,000-year-old permafrost wolf in Russia.

Following is a summary of current odd news briefs.

Mixed Martial Arts-Prochazka wants champion Pereira to shun magic rituals before UFC 303

Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's meteoric rise in the UFC fuelled by a string of knockouts has a magical aura to it, and his next opponent Jiri Prochazka believes the magic may be present in a literal way. Prochazka, who was knocked out by Pereira in their first fight in November, said the Brazilian former kickboxing world champion used shamanic rituals before every fight to help him win.

Russian scientists conduct autopsy on 44,000-year-old permafrost wolf carcass

In Russia's far northeastern Yakutia region, local scientists are performing an autopsy on a wolf frozen in permafrost for around 44,000 years, a find they said was the first of its kind. Found by chance by locals in Yakutia's Abyyskiy district in 2021, the wolf's body is only now being properly examined by scientists.

Soccer-The quirky superstitions that footballers (and others) rely on

Right boot, left boot; left laces, right laces; right foot first on the pitch. For Slovakia's Lukas Haraslin - like countless other sportspeople - the order of this pre-match routine will be sacrosanct ahead of his side's last-16 Euro 2024 clash with England on Sunday. The winger will also have the same breakfast and lunch, and he'll dress for the game in under two minutes - two more items on his list of superstitions that, if carefully observed, he hopes will bring him luck in the game.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)