Each week during the season, Parks’s Pulse will present a smattering of thoughts on the previous weekend’s games.
Ranking the games
1) Showboats 24, Stallions 20: This had the drama of Memphis going for its first win of the season, the potential of a huge upset, and the league’s first overtime game.
2) Defenders 37, Renegades 33: Just two of the most prolific spring league QBs in history throwing bombs at each other all game. And it was fantastic.
3) Battlehawks 32, Panthers 27: An entertaining, see-saw game. Max Duggan did just enough with his arm to make his legs effective – and make fans forget about his performance last week.
4) Roughnecks 27, Brahmas 3: Break up the Roughnecks! They already have more wins than all of last season. As Roddy Jones mentioned on the broadcast, this was a “burn the tape” game for San Antonio.
Old friend alert
After playing three years for the Birmingham Stallions, earning three championship rings in the process, QB J’Mar Smith was not on the team this year. Head coach Skip Holtz indicated that Smith retired and didn’t report to camp because of that, though Smith himself has countered that narrative on social media.
Whatever happened, things seem to have patched up enough for Smith to get signed this week as the team’s emergency third QB with Matt Corral out injured. Smith’s time on the Birmingham roster is likely to be short, but he certainly knows the offense and it benefits the Stallions to be able to bring someone of his level in, even if just for a week or two.
All-access moment of the week, part one
Mike Nolan and his Michigan defense had a unique task in trying to keep Battlehawks QB Max Duggan in the pocket on Saturday. After some successful runs by Duggan early on, Nolan had a message for his front seven. “The sexiest pass rush in the world ain’t worth a flip,” he told them as a group on the sidelines. To translate: Nolan wanted the defense to contain Duggan and not create lanes for him to take off by trying to rush upfield to sack him.
Showboats Winn
Numerous records fell and streaks were broken in the Memphis victory over Birmingham. It was the first overtime game in the UFL. It was the first win by Memphis as a franchise over Birmingham. The loss was the Stallions’ first at home since May 2023. All of this in Showboats QB Dresser Winn’s first pro start, and his first TD pass in 889 days, since 2022. His touchdown pass to Dee Anderson ended up being the longest of the UFL season at 78 yards.
The Butler did it
Speaking of long touchdown catches, Battlehawks WR Hakeem Butler made his return to action in a big way. Butler was held catch-less in the season opener against Houston, then missed the next three games due to injury. St. Louis’s pass game was missing his size and ability to threaten teams vertically. We saw that on Saturday, when Butler used his physicality to separate from coverage on two long TD catches, one from Max Duggan and one from receiver Blake Jackson, a college QB at Mary Hardin-Baylor. Butler should help out a young QB like Duggan get comfortable in the offense.
The many penalties of Ricky Lee
As Arlington’s starting left tackle, Ricky Lee has played well overall this season. His Pro Football Focus grade is middle-of-the-road, slightly above average. One stat stands out for Lee, however, and it’s his penalties. He’s now been penalized eight times, including three in the first week, and at least one penalty through each of the five games. Yet, Arlington doesn’t seem all that bothered by this: Last week, they traded away his primary backup, Kellen Diesch, for another offensive linemen, J.D. DiRenzo.
All-access moment of the week, part two
One of the more accomplished players to enter the UFL this year, DT Daviyon Nixon of Arlington was a fifth-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2021, has played in 14 NFL games and in college at Iowa, was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. Nixon hadn’t made a big impact with the Renegades in 2025 until this weekend. He recovered a fumble against D.C. as the Defenders had crept to within one score in the third quarter. The camera caught Nixon sitting on the bench, still cradling the football he recovered. He told the assistant equipment manager, “Put this in my locker. That’s mine. Real talk.” Even NFL vets can value their time and performance in the UFL.