Leocciano Callao

A Brooklyn-based sports writer and journalist, Callao works as a breaking news reporter and MMA writer for Yahoo! Sports.

While covering a vast array of sports and leagues, the Philippine native's biggest strengths are his knowledge and experience covering the UFC, WNBA, and NBA. Callao has covered countless games, been assigned to exclusives with combat sports stars, and regularly appears on SportsNet New York (SNY) to preview UFC events.

Before Yahoo, he served as a US Sports reporter for the Daily Mail. He was also a site co-expert (editor) for FanSided's NBA website HoopsHabit and contributed to the network's MMA, NYCFC, and WNBA coverage.

Callao interned at The Brooklyn Paper while studying in the NYC Semester in Journalism program at The King’s College in 2021. He studied Media, Culture, and the Arts at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California, and played four years of college soccer.

Bylines in Yahoo! Sports, Uncrowned, DailyMail.com, SunStar Philippines, HoopsHabit, FanSided, The Brooklyn Paper, AM New York, Religion Unplugged, The Empire State Tribune, SeaBeggars.com, and Pasadena Now Magazine.

Yahoo Sports •

My country's champion, my childhood's constant: How Manny Pacquiao united 7,000 islands from 7,000 miles away

I was sitting by myself, tears streaming down my cheeks, in the middle of Freedom Park in Malaybalay City, the municipality of approximately 190,712 painted over the mountains of the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines.Manny Pacquiao had just been knocked out cold by his biggest rival, Juan Manuel Marquez, in their fourth meeting after a draw and two victories for my countryman. This time, it was different. Marquez, pent up from the close nature of their previous fights, left no room...
Yahoo Sports •

Chelsea allows Noni Madueke to undergo medical with new club Arsenal days before Club World Cup final

Chelsea star Noni Madueke has been granted permission to undergo his medical with local rivals Arsenal, with both clubs agreeing on a £52 million deal on Thursday. The 23-year-old had already agreed to a five-year deal with the Gunners before the final transfer was confirmed.The England international will leave his camp in the United States as it gears up to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup on Sunday. He will head back to the UK on Friday to undergo his medical for the North London...
Yahoo Sports •

USWNT star Lily Yohannes expected to leave Ajax for OL Lyonnes

USWNT star Lily Yohannes is anticipated to leave Ajax Amsterdam to join French side Olympique Lyonnais. On Tuesday, sources told ESPN that the 18-year-old is finalizing the terms of the deal and is expected to sign in the coming days.ESPN reported that the eight-time European champions have agreed to a transfer with the Dutch powerhouse worth €450k (approximately $529,685.96). ESPN's Emily Keogh previously reported that English side Chelsea was also on the table and interested in signing the you...
Yahoo Sports •

UFC 316: 3 things we learned that went under the radar

Merab Dvalishvili and Kayla Harrison proved their bantamweight supremacy over worthy opposition this past weekend to close the bill at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. A card that did not look as promising — to a casual viewer — bloomed in the Garden State and gave us plenty to think about.Harrison's second-round submission of Julianna Peña was so dominant that it flipped "The Venezuelan Vixen's" fighting words into prayers for her opponent's future success. The victory set up a fight for the ages...
Yahoo Sports •

Sunderland is back in the Premier League for the first time in 8 years after dramatic stoppage-time goal

A game-winning goal from Tom Watson in the dying minutes against Sheffield United became Sunderland's ticket back to the Premier League.Sunderland spent much of Saturday's playoff game at Wembley trailing behind a goal from Sheffield's Tyrese Campbell in the 25th minute. Eliezer Mayenda tied the game in the 76th minute before Watson, a substitute and academy product, put the nail in the coffin for the victory.In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Watson slotted a shot into goal as celebrations e...
Yahoo Sports •

Mexican club León's appeal to play in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup rejected by CAS

The Court of Arbitration for Sport turned down Mexican club León's appeal to FIFA regarding its entry into the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.Despite meeting the requirements to qualify for the 32-team tournament, FIFA expelled León from the FIFA Club World Cup lineup in March, as they and another Liga MX club, Pachuca, are both owned by Grupo Pachuca. FIFA rules prohibit clubs with the same owners from competing in the Club World Cup.On Tuesday morning, the CAS released a statement rejecting L...
Mail Online •

UFC fans furiously boo controversial decision after bizarre finish

The furious Seattle crowd booed mercilessly after the first UFC event in The Emerald City since 2013 ended controversially.On Saturday night, the UFC Fight Night main event between rising star Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo came to a bizarre ending after an accidental eye poke in the third round.After Yadong's fingers pierced through his left eye, referee Jason Herzog gave Cejudo the obligatory five-m...
Mail Online •

Jon Jones knocks Stipe Miocic out to retain UFC heavyweight title

And still - Jon Jones, in spectacular fashion, retained his UFC heavyweight title and GOAT status with a TKO win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.Miocic put on a better fight than most expected in the clash of titans at Madison Square Garden.However, Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic's rib cage at 4:29 in the third round that spelled the beginning of the end for the former champion.The most de...
Mail Online •

Meet Rebeca Andrade - the Brazilian icon who 'scares' Simone Biles

While Simone Biles has isolated herself in a league of her own, even the most decorated Olympic gymnast acknowledges her toughest of competitions.After losing the vault in last year's world championships to the rival Biles says 'scares me most,' she mimed removing a crown from her head and placing it on Brazil's Rebeca Andrade.However, the crown's placement could again be determined when the American livi...
Mail Online •

Jake Paul is 'smart as hell but dumb as f**k' says Tyron Woodley

While Tyron Woodley praised Jake Paul for landing a fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson, he was equally skeptical about his choice of opponent.On Thursday, it was announced that Paul, 27, will fight the 57-year-old Tyson at AT&T Stadium on July 20. The event will stream on Netflix, which released a 19-second trailer featuring the headliners to parade the announcement.Hours later, the former UFC welterwe...
Load More