For UFC Veteran Yves Edwards, Toughest Battle Is Within His Own Mind

Filed under: UFC

The week of a fight, the last place UFC lightweight Yves Edwards wants to be is in his own head. It's a scary place sometimes, and also a tough place to escape from.

"I obsess over the stupidest things you can imagine," Edwards said. "I will obsess over the color of towels in my bathroom, or what kind of soap they have [in the hotel]. I had this one soap this one time and that wasn't a great performance, so I can't use this soap again. It's stupid, and it's just a distraction."

With nearly 60 pro fights in a career that's spanned almost 14 years, at least Edwards has had plenty of practice in dealing with his own fight week neurosis. Now he knows how to manage it. For starters, he can bring his own soap. He can also rely on his friends, like Strikeforce welterweight Tyron Woodley, to keep him mentally occupied.

Otherwise, Edwards said, it can get out of hand in a hurry. For instance, say a certain friend is coming to see the fight. Then Edwards starts to think about how he's never won a fight with that guy in the audience. Maybe he's bad luck. Maybe he's cursed.

"But then, I don't want to tell my friends not to come see my fights, so I have to stay away from that stuff," said Edwards, who faces Rafaello Oliveira at UFC on Versus 6 this Saturday night.

"I can catch myself doing it a lot. Stopping it is the hard part. Common sense and rationalization -- I'm a pretty rational person when I'm not in this mode -- that kicks in a little bit and I realize that the color of my underwear has nothing to do with how hard I've prepared for this fight or how focused I am. But it's just the irrational part of my brain, that part kicks in first. I have to talk myself down from it sometimes."

At least Edwards has experience in his favor. Wednesday marks the ten-year anniversary of his UFC debut -- a losing effort against Matt Serra at UFC 33 -- and Saturday's fight comes just one day after his 35th birthday. To Edwards, doing the math on his career numbers and realizing just how long he's been at it comes as "kind of a surprise," he said.

"I still feel like I'm 26. ...The guy that was making his debut in the UFC, he didn't know half the things I know now."

But as Edwards prepares to take on Oliveira -- a Brazilian fighter who he actually trained alongside of and "traded a few secrets" with in the past -- he does so coming off a knockout loss to Sam Stout that UFC president Dana White called "one of the nastiest I've ever seen."

It might not be a must-win fight for Edwards, but 35-year-old fighters can't afford to take too many steps backwards, and he knows it.

"The thing is, nobody gets cut off a win," Edwards said. "Not unless you've done something and screwed up. That's my only concern, is going out there and winning, keeping my job, and keep moving up the ladder."

The fact that he went from a pay-per-view card at UFC 131 to the prelim portion of a UFC on Versus card doesn't worry him, he insisted, just like it doesn't matter that he knows Oliveira to be "a pretty nice guy."

"When it comes to the fight game that means absolutely nothing to me," he said. "... This fight could be behind a Wal-Mart. All I have to worry about is, that's the guy I'm fighting. That's all that matters."

That, and that he remembers not to obsess about the brand of soap in his hotel. After a week of battling himself, the fight should be a relief.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/for-ufc-veteran-yves-edwards-toughest-battle-is-within-his-own/

Andriy Shevchenko Andy Murray Andy Roddick Anthony Kim Arjen Robben

World Cup Round-Up: South Africa's Win is a Massive Boost for Wales

Filed under: Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, South Africa Rugby

It wasn't only South Africa who breathed a sigh of relief after their 13-5 win over Samoa sealed their World Cup quarter-final spot.

The Springboks' narrow victory ensured Wales will surely join them in the last eight ahead of their match against Fiji on Sunday.

While South Africa were always odds-on to clinch their place in the knock-out phase, Warren Gatland's men have been boosted knowing they are on the verge of progressing. If they avoid losing by 39 points then they will book their place.

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That had much to do with the defending champions surviving a major scare against Samoa in Auckland.

The combined kicking efforts of Morne Steyn and Frans Steyn kept the Samoans at bay - as the pair landed eight points between them - while Bryan Habana scored their only try as the game looked over with the Boks leading 13-0 at the interval.

But they had to survive a sustained second-half Samoa onslaught, with the South Sea Islanders unfortunate to score just the one try through George Stowers.

Samoa's hopes were hit when Paul Williams was red carded for pushing Heinrich Brussow in the face after the full-back retaliated to being hit.

Yet despite pressure, and several close calls, there was no way through.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/30/world-cup-round-up-south-africas-win-is-a-massive-boost-for-wa/

Ernie Els Fabio Cannavaro Fabio Quagliarella Feliciano Lopez Fernando Torres

UFC Live Cruz vs. Johnson Weigh-In Results: Both Bantamweights at 135

Filed under: UFC

UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Demetrious Johnson were both on weight for Saturday night's title fight when they stepped on the scale Friday at the UFC Live weigh-in.

Both Cruz and Johnson weighed in right at the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds.

The largely uneventful weigh-ins were lightened up by 5-foot-11 heavyweight Pat Barry standing on a stool to stare down with his 6-foot-11 opponent, Stefan Struve, as UFC announcer Joe Rogan declared, "This is the biggest height discrepancy for any UFC fight ever."

One fighter missed weight: Byron Bloodworth, who took his bantamweight fight with Mike Easton on short notice this week, came in at 138 pounds.

Full results are below.

Main Card:
Dominick Cruz (135) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135)
Pat Barry (243) vs. Stefan Struve (261)
Charlie Brenneman (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (171)
Mac Danzig (155) vs. Matt Wiman (156)

Preliminary Card:
Yves Edwards (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (155)
Michael Johnson (156) vs. Paul Sass (155)
Byron Bloodworth (138) vs. Mike Easton (135)
T.J. Grant (155) vs. Shane Roller (156)
Josh Neer (171) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170)
Joseph Sandoval (134) vs. Walel Watson (134.5)

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/30/ufc-live-cruz-vs-johnson-weigh-in-results/

David Ferrer David Silva David Suazo David Villa Deco

Tommy Fleetwood is the Shock Joint Leader After Round Two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Filed under: Golf

Tommy Fleetwood could be forgiven for pinching himself when he looks up at the leaderboard when he tees off at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.

The 20-year-old from Southport only secured his full membership to the 2012 European Tour a few weeks ago, thanks to his maiden victory at the Kazakhstan Open.

The €64,000 first prize cheque took him to the top of The Challenge Tour rankings, earning his place on Tour for next year.

However, his second round of 63 around Kingsbarns means he is now in with a chance of winning almost 10 times that amount.

Fleetwood, who is a former Walker Cup player and English Amateur champion, made nine birdies without a blemish on his card to sit joint top on 12-under for the tournament with Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey.

Fleetwood told the European Tour's website: "It feels good. It is pretty unexpected. Just to get the invite and the experience of playing here is great.

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"The last couple of weeks I've had no pressure on me really. I know where I'm playing next year, which is great, and it's definitely given me confidence because there was a bit of thought of 'Can I win?' because I had been in there so many times. I finally got it done in Kazakhstan, so let's see if I can do it on the bigger stage now."

Former Open winner Louis Oosthuizen is one shot off the lead after adding a 67 at Carnoustie to his opening round of 66 around Kingsbarns.

Graeme McDowell is a shot further back while Lee Westwood is in tied 19th place on seven-under-par.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/30/tommy-fleetwood-is-the-shock-joint-leader-after-round-two-of-the/

Juan Roman Riquelme

Tottenham 3 Shamrock Rovers 1: Jermain Defoe Stars as Spurs Survive Scare

Filed under: Tottenham, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Reports

Tottenham came from a goal behind against Shamrock Rovers to record a Europa League victory in their Group A clash at White Hart Lane.

Spurs could not find a way past Richard Brush in the first half. The goalkeeper, playing because Ryan Thompson injured himself celebrating a saved penalty against Rubin Kazan, tipped Jermain Defoe's drive onto the crossbar for his best save.

The visitors took their shock lead five minutes after the break when Gary McCabe's free-kick was saved and Stephen Rice flicked over Carlo Cudicini after Patrick O'Sullivan drove the rebound into the danger area.

Roman Pavychenko headed the equaliser on the hour mark and Jermain Defoe added a second two minutes later, also with his head, before setting up Giovani dos Santos for the third.

THE GOALS:
50 mins: McCabe's free-kick is saved. Sullivan drives the rebound towards goal and Rice flicks home.
60 mins: Giovani crosses and Pavlyuchenko heads home when left unmarked.
62 mins: Defoe heads into the roof of the net from Andros Townsend's cross.
66 mins: Defoe wins the ball in his own half and carried the ball into the opposition penalty area before teeing up Giovani to smash home.

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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
2 mins: Slick passing move ends with Giovani forcing a save from Brush.
11 mins: Giovani has another effort and stretches Brush again.
17 mins: Giovani sends through Defoe and Brush tips onto the crossbar.
20 mins: Pavlyuchenko skips around his marker but his finish when through on goal is saved.
34 mins: Danny Rose hits the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
39 mins: Stephen O'Donnell clears off the line when Pavlyuchenko heads on target from a corner.
59 mins: Danger when Brush fumbles a Rose cross.
79 mins: William Dennehy goes just over the bar with a shot.
80 mins: Pavlyuchenko goes wide with an effort

REACTION:
Tottenham striker Defoe felt the Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper was the difference in the first half:
"In the first half we had a lot of chances and the keeper made a good save from me and then Danny Rose hit the crossbar but it was coming.That happens. They had one chance and scored."

On the difference in the second half:
"We stayed positive because we were creating chances anyway and when Pav scored, we were in full control, but we were in control for the whole game.

On the victory:
"These games give the youngsters and opportunity to show the manager
what they can do at this level. It was always going to be a difficult game at this level but the youngsters have done well and I am sure the gaffer is happy with them."

On facing Arsenal:
"I missed the Wigan game due to illness, but this is a massive game now and I need to get my body ready for facing Arsenal. I'm looking forward to it. We are playing well and need to get as many goals as possible."

WHAT IT MEANS:
Tottenham record their first win of the group stages and managed to rest players ahead of the Premier League clash with rivals Arsenal at the weekend. Rovers will be encouraged by their performance before Spurs came storming back.

TOTTENHAM 3 (Pavlyuchenko 60, Defoe 62, Giovani 66) SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 (Rice 50)

PLAYER MARKING:
Tottenham (4-4-2): Cudcini 6; Walker 7, Corluka 7, Bassong 7, Rose 7 (Kane 80); Lennon 6 (Townsend 46, 7), Carroll 6, Livermore 6, Giovani 8; Defoe 9 (Falque 73, 6), Pavlyuchenko 7.
Subs (not used): Gomes, Bale, Kaboul, Modric.

Shamrock Rovers (4-1-4-1): Brush 9; Sullivan 7, Sives 7, Murray 7, Paterson 6 (Stevens 46, 6); Rice 9; McCabe 7, Finn 6 (Ricketts 73, 6), O'Donnell 7 (McCormack 46, 6), Dennehy 6; Twigg 6.
Subs (not used): Thompson, Sheppard, Kilduff, Turner.

ATTENDANCE: TBA

REFEREE: Gediminas Mazeika

NEXT UP:
- Tottenham v Arsenal (home), Premier League, 02/10, 1600 BST
- Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United (home), League of Ireland, 02/10 1400 BST

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham): Was ill for the previous game but proved his fitness with this performance. Plenty of goal threat and also chased back to win the ball and set up the third Spurs goal. Will give Harry Redknapp a selection dilemma for the next game.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/29/tottenham-3-shamrock-rovers-1-jermain-defoe-stars-as-spurs-surv/

Stanislas Wawrinka Steve Stricker Steven Gerrard Thierry Henry Thomaz Bellucci

ProElite Moves Next Show to Moline, Ill.; Tim Sylvia-Pedro Rizzo to Headline

Filed under: News, ProElite

Venue issues have forced ProElite into a change for its November show.

Sources close to the promotion have confirmed to MMA Fighting that ProElite, in its second incarnation after folding up shop in late 2008, will move a planned Nov. 5 event from Atlantic City, N.J., to the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. An official announcement from the promotion is expected by week's end.

The main event is expected to be a heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro Rizzo. Additionally, fellow former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will fight Travis Fulton, regarded as the busiest fighter in MMA history with more than 300 career fights.

The event was originally targeted for Nov. 12 at the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, but was moved to Nov. 5. Logistical trouble with Resorts caused the promotion to look elsewhere, and sources said when additional venues in Atlantic City didn't work out, the decision was made to move to the Quad Cities area in western Illinois. In addition to Moline, ProElite officials considered the Target Center in Minneapolis as a host venue for the show.

The event now will take place Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, which has hosted MMA events in the past - including Adrenaline MMA, the promotion started by MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox several years ago. Cox has been informally consulting with Pro Elite. Both the original Nov. 12 date and the new date of Nov. 5 are up against UFC events.

In addition to the main and co-main events on Nov. 5, sources told MMA Fighting that Reagan Penn, brother of former UFC champion BJ Penn, will fight on the card, as will highly regarded women's 125-pounder Tara LaRosa. ProElite reformed earlier this year and hosted a show in Honolulu last month that included Arlovski, Reagan Penn and Kendall Grove.

Sylvia and Arlovski on the same card sets up the possibility for a future meeting between the two, which would be their fourth fight. Arlovski won their first bout, taking the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 51. Sylvia then took the belt from Arlovski with a first-round TKO at UFC 59 and defended it at UFC 61 three months later.

Though a published report says Sylvia and Arlovski will meet on the Nov. 5 show, ProElite's head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson confirmed to MMA Fighting that Slyvia-Arlovski will not take place on that day. Additional sources told MMA Fighting it will be Rizzo meeting Sylvia - and that Sylvia-Arlovski IV is not in the promotion's current plans, but could be targeted down the road. It's a fight Arlovski, 1-2 against Sylvia, has wanted for some time.

Sylvia (29-7) has rebounded after a rough stretch that saw him lose four of five fights. He lost his heavyweight title to Randy Couture at UFC 68. He then beat Brandon Vera, but followed that with a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira that ended his run in the UFC. He moved on to Affliction's short-lived MMA promotion and suffered a quick submission to Fedor Emelianenko. Then came a 9-second knockout loss to pro boxer Ray Mercer that will likely be the biggest stain on his record. Since then, though, he has won five of six over the last two years, with all his wins by stoppage - and all at super heavyweight.

Rizzo (19-9) has not fought since a July 2010 win over Ken Shamrock for Impact FC in Sydney. Rizzo has fought some of the sport's heavyweight legends, including Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett and Arlovski. In 2001, he twice lost to Couture challenging for the UFC heavyweight title. Since leaving the UFC in 2003, Rizzo's appearances have been more sporadic - with just nine fights in nearly eight years.

Arlovski (16-9) snapped out of a four-fight skid with a win over Ray Lopez at ProElite's show last month. Prior to that, Arlovski lost to Emelianeko, Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov, the latter three for Strikeforce.

Fulton is an Iowa-based fighter with a career record of 247-48-10, according to most databases, though it is believed that 10 of those losses came in kickboxing competitions and not in MMA. Fulton fought 13 times in 2010, but has only fought twice in 2011 - going 2-0. The majority of Fulton's losses have come against future UFC fighters like Ben Rothwell, Forrest Griffin, Travis Wiuff, Rich Franklin and Evan Tanner.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/pro-elite-moves-next-show-to-moline-ill-tim-sylvia-pedro-rizz/

Ruud van Nistelrooy Ryan Giggs Ryan Palmer Sam Querrey Samir Nasri

UFC on Versus 6: By the Odds

Filed under: UFC

UFC on Versus 6 goes down in Washington D.C. on Saturday night, and while the people there may not look too kindly on you betting on presidential races (don't look now, but Ron Paul's going off at +4500), you can still scour this fight card in search of a good deal.

So who do oddsmakers like on Saturday night, and who might they be overvaluing? I'm so glad you asked...

Dominick Cruz (-525) vs. Demetrious Johnson (+325)

If there's anybody in the 135-pound division who can out-quick Cruz, it just might be Johnson. Then again, that's still a big if. Johnson's problem is that his quickness is mostly limited to the takedown department. Granted, he can shoot in for a double-leg and have your back on the mat before you can say 'sprawl,' much less do it, but it's fairly predictable. Cruz, on the other hand, is anything but. With the way he dips his head and lets his feet drift perilously close together in that peculiar little striking cha-cha of his, he'd be relatively easy to drop if only you had any way of knowing when he was going to do what. From the looks of it, he barely knows. Cruz dominates not simply because he's fast, but because he disguises his attacks so well. Is he throwing the lead right or is he just distracting you with it en route to the takedown? You never know until it's too late.
My pick: Cruz. Compared to him, Johnson is a one-trick pony. If that trick were knockout power or even slick submissions, it might be worth the risk. But no way he holds the champ down for five rounds.

Pat Barry (-185) vs. Stefan Struve (+155)

As much as I love Barry and hope he sticks around for a long time to entertain us in and out of the cage, I'm surprised to see him favored in this fight. Barry's a great kickboxer, but he's giving up so much size and reach to the 6'11" Struve. The smart play would be for Barry to attack his legs, if only because he can't reach the Dutchman's head without a trampoline. If Struve does even a mediocre job of using his length, he should be able to give Barry problems. If the fight moves in close, Struve could take it to the mat, where he has the better submissions game. The only thing he can't do is spend a lot of time in the clinch or miss with big shots that let Barry get in and counter. And okay, he also probably shouldn't let Barry do to his legs what he did to poor, poor Dan Evensen's, but that goes without saying, right?
My pick: Struve. In a stand-up comedy or personality contest, Barry wins easily. But here, with the underdog line plus all the checkmarks in Struve's favor, he's the smarter pick.

Anthony Johnson (-185) vs. Charlie Brenneman (+155)

Remember when Brenneman was, according to the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission's Greg Sirb, a real-life "Rocky story" for stepping up in Nate Marquardt's place and beating Rick Story? Well, a) someone should remind Sirb that it's his job to regulate fights, not sell them like he's Don freaking King, and b) as a thank you from the UFC, now Brenneman gets has to fight Johnson, which just reminds us all what a tough way to make a living this sport can be. Johnson has proved himself to be a pretty solid wrestler when he needs to be, but here he'll likely use that to keep the fight standing and exploit Brenneman's inexperience in the striking game. And that can be done, let's not forget. Johny Hendricks had him on ice skates after landing a few good shots, and he's nowhere near the striker Johnson is. As long as "Rumble" can make weight without killing himself, he has the tools to keep this fight where he wants it and take advantage of some holes in Brenneman's game. But then, that scale has proved to be a nemesis in the past...
My pick: Johnson. He's faced tougher competition in his UFC run than Brenneman, and a diverse set of skills has helped him tremendously. Brenneman does one thing very well, but that will only get you so far.

Mac Danzig (+165) vs. Matt Wiman (-205)

Ah, yes. The fight that ended early, then was supposed to happen again, then got put off by injuries and other match-ups until we all forgot what was weird about the first meeting. Quick version: Wiman had Danzig in a not-quite-tight-enough guillotine choke, but the ref freaked out and stopped it anyway, thinking Danzig was in trouble. Now they meet again to settle that old score, only this time it's Wiman who's more recently feeling the sting of injustice, having just lost a close decision to Dennis Siver in July. The first meeting between these two was so brief, it was tough to tell who had the edge. But that Siver fight gave Wiman a chance to really show what he could do, and he was impressive in it. The fight was still a close one and could have gone either way, but Wiman showed how far he's come in recent years by hanging with someone of Siver's caliber and nearly putting him away. Danzig? He knocked out Joe Stevenson last December, but that doesn't exactly mean what it used to.
My pick: Wiman. He's come a long way in the last couple years. Danzig is still mostly the same guy who won TUF.

Quick Picks:

- Yves Edwards (-165) over Rafaello Oliveira (+135). Oliveira isn't fighting guys like "Wigman Big Big" anymore, and he's lost to nearly every name fighter he's faced.

- Paul Sass (+150) over Michael Johnson (-180). With the exception of his decision loss to Jonathan Brookins in the TUF finale, all of Johnson's other losses have come via submission. And I don't know if you've noticed, but Sass has some nasty ones.

The 'For Entertainment Purposes Only' Parlay: Cruz + A. Johnson + Wiman + Edwards.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/30/ufc-on-versus-6-by-the-odds/

Diego Forlan Diego Milito Dimitar Berbatov Dustin Johnson Eduardo Da Silva

The Forward Roll: UFC 135 Edition

Filed under: UFC

What lessons can we take away from UFC 135? First, Jon Jones is beginning to run away with the UFC's light-heavyweight division. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson admitted several times before and after the fight that he had worked himself into his best shape in years. The man is a former undisputed world champion, and he could barely lay a finger on Jones.

As Jones continues to progress, he learns how to better utilize his numerous gifts and establish his built-in advantages. Jackson loves to throw his hands, so Jones never let him, lengthening his already ridiculous reach with a steady diet of kicks. How do you punch someone you can't reach? Answer: you can't.

MMA math is an inexact science, but you can project how Jones will perform against Rashad Evans. While Evans has a more varied game than Jackson and boasts more speed, he'll have to navigate the same problem with distance (Evans' reach is 75 inches, just two inches more than Jackson's).

At least Evans has had plenty of time to prepare. He's known he was facing the possibility of fighting Jones since August, and he probably thought about the fight long before that. He also has some feeling for things that make Jones uncomfortable, stemming from their brief history of training together.

Still, it's hard to shake the image of Jones completely outworking two all-time legends back to back. MMA analysis website FightMetric.com independently scores fights based on offensive striking and grappling. Against Rua, Jones won with an effectiveness score of 345-57. Against Jackson, it was 244-28. Even if you don't know exactly know what those numbers represent, the scores make it clear he's routing world-class fighters. Can Evans do any better? Well, we've never seen Jones fight a real grudge match, and that element can change a fight dynamic for better or worse. Whatever the answer, it's going to be fun to find out.

Jon Jones
The best kind of fight booking is when one fight leads seamlessly into the next. That's what we have here. We know Jones will next face Evans, we simply don't know when. He'll probably take a least a month or two off, and then the UFC can begin selling one of MMA's most genuine rivalries.
Prediction: Jones faces Evans in February.

Quinton Jackson
Regardless of the outcome, it was nice to see Jackson enter a fight in great shape and give himself the best chance of winning possible. Hopefully the trend continues. There are still several interesting matchups for him, but Jackson has his eye on one or two fights in particular.
Prediction: Jackson faces Forrest Griffin in the UFC's Japan event, expected for February 2012.

Matt Hughes
The two-time welterweight champion turns 38 years old in just a few weeks, and coming off two straight knockout losses, his time is running short. Hughes said he would ask the UFC to put him "on the shelf" while he considers his future, but we already know that his wife doesn't want him to fight any longer, and Saturday night's result will only reinforce her opinion. As anyone who's married knows, you might able to put your wife off for a while, but only for so long. This is probably the end for Mr. Hughes. Happy trails to the legend.
Prediction: Hughes calls it quits and stays involved with the UFC in an ambassador type role.

Josh Koscheck
It was a fantastic night for Koscheck after taking the fight on short notice. Now, he faces a bit of an issue. He's already faced division champion Georges St-Pierre twice, so as long as GSP holds the belt, Koscheck has no chance to get another title match. So his options are either to stay at 170 and continue winning while hoping that someone upsets St-Pierre, or moving up to 185, where he'll be at a serious size disadvantage.
Prediction: Koscheck loves making money, and the bigger, better matchups for him are still at 170. If Diego Sanchez heals in a timely fashion, he's the pick for a rematch, but if not, how about we send him to the UK to fight Dan Hardy? That sounds fun.

Mark Hunt
With all the hoopla following the Jones-Rampage-Rashad triangle and Matt Hughes' possible retirement, Mark Hunt's story got sort of lost. But once upon a time, the UFC tried to pay Hunt to stay home and cut ties. It would have been the easiest payday of his career, but he chose to make his money the old fashioned way. Now a surprising 2-1 in the UFC after beating heavily favored Ben Rothwell, Hunt adds future paydays, all well earned.
Prediction: In a battle of kickboxing specialists, Hunt faces Pat Barry in January.

Ben Rothwell
After more than a year on the sidelines, Rothwell has to be terribly disappointed at losing his return bout, but at least he fought through incredible exhaustion and refused to be finished. He'll certainly get another crack in the octagon, but he needs to make this one count.
Prediction: He faces the loser of next month's Joey Beltran-Stipe Miocic fight early next year.

Travis Browne
Browne didn't put on the showcase some expected against the durable Brit Rob Broughton, but in the fight game, you have to shrug off an ugly win every now and again. It should still be onward and upward for Browne, who has yet to face defeat in the cage. This time, let's forget booking the heavyweights in elevation and put him on flat land.
Prediction: Browne faces Brendan Schaub.

Nate Diaz
Diaz looks alternately spectacular (striking and jiu-jitsu) and ordinary (wrestling) depending on the opponent in front of him. Until he proves he can stop a takedown though, it's going to be difficult to project how far he can go. The talent is there, but that one hole needs to be shut, and in the lightweight division, wrestlers are around every corner.
Prediction: Diaz faces Jim Miller, a fight that would be off the charts on the intensity scale.

Takanori Gomi
Since coming over to the UFC, Gomi's had only one flash of his old brilliance when he knocked out Tyson Griffin in April 2010. After losing three of four, the UFC has to be wondering what exactly they have on their hands. Gomi may be a historical great, but right now he's not bringing the goods. I still think he'll get one more chance at a winnable fight when the UFC brings the show to Japan.
Prediction: Gomi faces Thiago Tavares.

Tim Boetsch
In his second fight since moving down to middleweight, The "Barbarian" again looked strong, giving Nick Ring his first loss. The middleweight division is among the weakest in the UFC, so Boetsch has a chance to make himself a player in short order. Next up should be another fighter riding a win streak.
Prediction: Boetsch faces Rousimar Palhares.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/27/the-forward-roll-ufc-135-edition/

Cesc Fabregas

The Forward Roll: UFC 135 Edition

Filed under: UFC

What lessons can we take away from UFC 135? First, Jon Jones is beginning to run away with the UFC's light-heavyweight division. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson admitted several times before and after the fight that he had worked himself into his best shape in years. The man is a former undisputed world champion, and he could barely lay a finger on Jones.

As Jones continues to progress, he learns how to better utilize his numerous gifts and establish his built-in advantages. Jackson loves to throw his hands, so Jones never let him, lengthening his already ridiculous reach with a steady diet of kicks. How do you punch someone you can't reach? Answer: you can't.

MMA math is an inexact science, but you can project how Jones will perform against Rashad Evans. While Evans has a more varied game than Jackson and boasts more speed, he'll have to navigate the same problem with distance (Evans' reach is 75 inches, just two inches more than Jackson's).

At least Evans has had plenty of time to prepare. He's known he was facing the possibility of fighting Jones since August, and he probably thought about the fight long before that. He also has some feeling for things that make Jones uncomfortable, stemming from their brief history of training together.

Still, it's hard to shake the image of Jones completely outworking two all-time legends back to back. MMA analysis website FightMetric.com independently scores fights based on offensive striking and grappling. Against Rua, Jones won with an effectiveness score of 345-57. Against Jackson, it was 244-28. Even if you don't know exactly know what those numbers represent, the scores make it clear he's routing world-class fighters. Can Evans do any better? Well, we've never seen Jones fight a real grudge match, and that element can change a fight dynamic for better or worse. Whatever the answer, it's going to be fun to find out.

Jon Jones
The best kind of fight booking is when one fight leads seamlessly into the next. That's what we have here. We know Jones will next face Evans, we simply don't know when. He'll probably take a least a month or two off, and then the UFC can begin selling one of MMA's most genuine rivalries.
Prediction: Jones faces Evans in February.

Quinton Jackson
Regardless of the outcome, it was nice to see Jackson enter a fight in great shape and give himself the best chance of winning possible. Hopefully the trend continues. There are still several interesting matchups for him, but Jackson has his eye on one or two fights in particular.
Prediction: Jackson faces Forrest Griffin in the UFC's Japan event, expected for February 2012.

Matt Hughes
The two-time welterweight champion turns 38 years old in just a few weeks, and coming off two straight knockout losses, his time is running short. Hughes said he would ask the UFC to put him "on the shelf" while he considers his future, but we already know that his wife doesn't want him to fight any longer, and Saturday night's result will only reinforce her opinion. As anyone who's married knows, you might able to put your wife off for a while, but only for so long. This is probably the end for Mr. Hughes. Happy trails to the legend.
Prediction: Hughes calls it quits and stays involved with the UFC in an ambassador type role.

Josh Koscheck
It was a fantastic night for Koscheck after taking the fight on short notice. Now, he faces a bit of an issue. He's already faced division champion Georges St-Pierre twice, so as long as GSP holds the belt, Koscheck has no chance to get another title match. So his options are either to stay at 170 and continue winning while hoping that someone upsets St-Pierre, or moving up to 185, where he'll be at a serious size disadvantage.
Prediction: Koscheck loves making money, and the bigger, better matchups for him are still at 170. If Diego Sanchez heals in a timely fashion, he's the pick for a rematch, but if not, how about we send him to the UK to fight Dan Hardy? That sounds fun.

Mark Hunt
With all the hoopla following the Jones-Rampage-Rashad triangle and Matt Hughes' possible retirement, Mark Hunt's story got sort of lost. But once upon a time, the UFC tried to pay Hunt to stay home and cut ties. It would have been the easiest payday of his career, but he chose to make his money the old fashioned way. Now a surprising 2-1 in the UFC after beating heavily favored Ben Rothwell, Hunt adds future paydays, all well earned.
Prediction: In a battle of kickboxing specialists, Hunt faces Pat Barry in January.

Ben Rothwell
After more than a year on the sidelines, Rothwell has to be terribly disappointed at losing his return bout, but at least he fought through incredible exhaustion and refused to be finished. He'll certainly get another crack in the octagon, but he needs to make this one count.
Prediction: He faces the loser of next month's Joey Beltran-Stipe Miocic fight early next year.

Travis Browne
Browne didn't put on the showcase some expected against the durable Brit Rob Broughton, but in the fight game, you have to shrug off an ugly win every now and again. It should still be onward and upward for Browne, who has yet to face defeat in the cage. This time, let's forget booking the heavyweights in elevation and put him on flat land.
Prediction: Browne faces Brendan Schaub.

Nate Diaz
Diaz looks alternately spectacular (striking and jiu-jitsu) and ordinary (wrestling) depending on the opponent in front of him. Until he proves he can stop a takedown though, it's going to be difficult to project how far he can go. The talent is there, but that one hole needs to be shut, and in the lightweight division, wrestlers are around every corner.
Prediction: Diaz faces Jim Miller, a fight that would be off the charts on the intensity scale.

Takanori Gomi
Since coming over to the UFC, Gomi's had only one flash of his old brilliance when he knocked out Tyson Griffin in April 2010. After losing three of four, the UFC has to be wondering what exactly they have on their hands. Gomi may be a historical great, but right now he's not bringing the goods. I still think he'll get one more chance at a winnable fight when the UFC brings the show to Japan.
Prediction: Gomi faces Thiago Tavares.

Tim Boetsch
In his second fight since moving down to middleweight, The "Barbarian" again looked strong, giving Nick Ring his first loss. The middleweight division is among the weakest in the UFC, so Boetsch has a chance to make himself a player in short order. Next up should be another fighter riding a win streak.
Prediction: Boetsch faces Rousimar Palhares.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/27/the-forward-roll-ufc-135-edition/

Owen Hargreaves Paolo Maldini Patrick Vieira Paul Casey Paul Scholes

Tottenham 3 Shamrock Rovers 1: Jermain Defoe Stars as Spurs Survive Scare

Filed under: Tottenham, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Reports

Tottenham came from a goal behind against Shamrock Rovers to record a Europa League victory in their Group A clash at White Hart Lane.

Spurs could not find a way past Richard Brush in the first half. The goalkeeper, playing because Ryan Thompson injured himself celebrating a saved penalty against Rubin Kazan, tipped Jermain Defoe's drive onto the crossbar for his best save.

The visitors took their shock lead five minutes after the break when Gary McCabe's free-kick was saved and Stephen Rice flicked over Carlo Cudicini after Patrick O'Sullivan drove the rebound into the danger area.

Roman Pavychenko headed the equaliser on the hour mark and Jermain Defoe added a second two minutes later, also with his head, before setting up Giovani dos Santos for the third.

THE GOALS:
50 mins: McCabe's free-kick is saved. Sullivan drives the rebound towards goal and Rice flicks home.
60 mins: Giovani crosses and Pavlyuchenko heads home when left unmarked.
62 mins: Defoe heads into the roof of the net from Andros Townsend's cross.
66 mins: Defoe wins the ball in his own half and carried the ball into the opposition penalty area before teeing up Giovani to smash home.

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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
2 mins: Slick passing move ends with Giovani forcing a save from Brush.
11 mins: Giovani has another effort and stretches Brush again.
17 mins: Giovani sends through Defoe and Brush tips onto the crossbar.
20 mins: Pavlyuchenko skips around his marker but his finish when through on goal is saved.
34 mins: Danny Rose hits the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
39 mins: Stephen O'Donnell clears off the line when Pavlyuchenko heads on target from a corner.
59 mins: Danger when Brush fumbles a Rose cross.
79 mins: William Dennehy goes just over the bar with a shot.
80 mins: Pavlyuchenko goes wide with an effort

REACTION:
Tottenham striker Defoe felt the Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper was the difference in the first half:
"In the first half we had a lot of chances and the keeper made a good save from me and then Danny Rose hit the crossbar but it was coming.That happens. They had one chance and scored."

On the difference in the second half:
"We stayed positive because we were creating chances anyway and when Pav scored, we were in full control, but we were in control for the whole game.

On the victory:
"These games give the youngsters and opportunity to show the manager
what they can do at this level. It was always going to be a difficult game at this level but the youngsters have done well and I am sure the gaffer is happy with them."

On facing Arsenal:
"I missed the Wigan game due to illness, but this is a massive game now and I need to get my body ready for facing Arsenal. I'm looking forward to it. We are playing well and need to get as many goals as possible."

WHAT IT MEANS:
Tottenham record their first win of the group stages and managed to rest players ahead of the Premier League clash with rivals Arsenal at the weekend. Rovers will be encouraged by their performance before Spurs came storming back.

TOTTENHAM 3 (Pavlyuchenko 60, Defoe 62, Giovani 66) SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 (Rice 50)

PLAYER MARKING:
Tottenham (4-4-2): Cudcini 6; Walker 7, Corluka 7, Bassong 7, Rose 7 (Kane 80); Lennon 6 (Townsend 46, 7), Carroll 6, Livermore 6, Giovani 8; Defoe 9 (Falque 73, 6), Pavlyuchenko 7.
Subs (not used): Gomes, Bale, Kaboul, Modric.

Shamrock Rovers (4-1-4-1): Brush 9; Sullivan 7, Sives 7, Murray 7, Paterson 6 (Stevens 46, 6); Rice 9; McCabe 7, Finn 6 (Ricketts 73, 6), O'Donnell 7 (McCormack 46, 6), Dennehy 6; Twigg 6.
Subs (not used): Thompson, Sheppard, Kilduff, Turner.

ATTENDANCE: TBA

REFEREE: Gediminas Mazeika

NEXT UP:
- Tottenham v Arsenal (home), Premier League, 02/10, 1600 BST
- Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United (home), League of Ireland, 02/10 1400 BST

MAN OF THE MATCH:
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham): Was ill for the previous game but proved his fitness with this performance. Plenty of goal threat and also chased back to win the ball and set up the third Spurs goal. Will give Harry Redknapp a selection dilemma for the next game.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/29/tottenham-3-shamrock-rovers-1-jermain-defoe-stars-as-spurs-surv/

Heath Slocum Hernan Crespo Hunter Mahan Iker Casillas Ivan Ljubicic

Cruz Resets for Title Bout, While Johnson Hopes to Complete Underdog Story

Filed under: UFC, News

On the surface, Dominick Cruz has settled into the role of champion nicely. He's successfully defended the bantamweight title three times, established himself as one of the sport's pound-for-pound best fighters, and headlines his second straight UFC event at Saturday night's UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson.

Yet Cruz seems to go out of his way to remind himself that it can all change in an instant. He hasn't splurged on a big house or fancy car. Instead, he lives on the cheap and saves his money for a rainy day that might never come. Those reminders serve as motivation for training, and the mindset extends even to his most prized possession: his title belt.

"Really, I'm not going out there to defend anything. I'm going out there to win something new every single time I go out and fight for a title," he said in a Thursday press conference from the Newseum in Washington D.C. "I don't own anything. It's always up for grabs, so I have to always stay on top and stay focused and go out there to win something new, so that's it. This will be like my first time winning it."

Should Cruz beat Demetrious Johnson (10-1) on Saturday, it may feel like a first time for him, but it would mark his fourth straight defense of the 135-pound belt, surpassing the three successful defenses made by Miguel Torres when the belt was a WEC property.

Cruz has done it with a style all his own, mixing active striking and strong wrestling with endless stamina to wear down opponents over time. Overall, he's won nine straight, and on the strength of his 18-1 overall record, his .948 winning percentage is among the best in major MMA.

Rather than falling complacent though, Cruz continually surveys the landscape of his division and considers the oncoming challengers.

"Success feels good," he said. "I'm a fighter and this is what I do. I love to do it. I love my job. It's easy to stay motivated if you see all these maniacs coming up in my division. They all want to beat me up. What other motivation do I need?"

In Johnson, Cruz may be facing the fastest opponent he's ever faced. At just 5-foot-3 and with a 66-inch reach, Johnson has some distance to navigate, but if anyone can figure it out how to make an unlikely journey, it's the man that's nicknamed "Mighty Mouse."

Johnson's rise to one of the division's best has been a largely untold story, though it is one worth telling. He's not a pedigreed athlete with a following who got major breaks along the way. Though he wrestled throughout high school, he was never a state champion, and he had no other martial arts training when he first walked into a gym in October 2005, after watching the first season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Johnson grinded his way through the northwest regional circuit before debuting tin the WEC, and then he promptly dropped his first fight by decision. The setback hardly set him back, however, and he ran off a streak, winning four straight to earn a shot at Cruz. In his last two fights, he beat Miguel Torres and Kid Yamamoto, who were at one time the best lighter weight fighters in the world. Now Johnson has a chance to join those ranks, but there aren't a lot of believers out there; Cruz is as much as a 5-to-1 favorite.

"Story of my life," Johnson said. "I'm the smallest guy probably in the UFC. It is what it is. Everyone sees me as an underdog. I don't mind. It is what it is. Like I say, story of my life."

Yet Johnson is every bit the story of determination as Cruz. Until recently, he held a full-time job in a Tacoma, Washington recycling plant. During his May win over Torres, he suffered a broken bone in his leg, but he was still back to work at the plant on the following Monday. After accepting the title bout with Cruz, he gave up the job to prepare for the biggest opportunity of his life.

Like an underdog out of central casting, Johnson is quiet and polite in addition to being small. The UFC sat him next to 6-foot-11 Stefan Struve on Thursday, further highlighting just how small he is. He didn't say much on Thursday, and even when he was asked questions, he often clipped his answer short when you had the feeling he might have had a little bit more to say. Like Cruz, perhaps he is holding it back for when it truly matters.

"You guys have all seen me fight, and you know what I do," he said. "I come out and bring the pace and I do my job. I prepare myself to win."

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/29/cruz-resets-for-title-bout-while-johnson-hopes-to-complete-unde/

Bubba Watson Camilo Villegas Carlos Puyol Carlos Tevez Cesc Fabregas

Paula Radcliffe Still Has Time to End Her Glorious Career with Olympic Gold

Filed under: Other Sports, Athletics

Every May, Paula Radcliffe shows up in London's Battersea Park to back the Race for Life cancer fund-raiser in support of her mother, who is in remission from the disease.

The world marathon record holder gives her time freely like the grounded person she is, posing for photos, chatting with women running - or walking - to raise money, frequently in memory of a deceased family member.

I go too, to support a loved one and usually get to speak to Paula, so approachable is she. This year, however, she was distracted, edgy. Something was wrong.

It became clear why in the build-up to the weekend's Berlin marathon, which would be make or break for her career.

Her training had been going badly, she was feeling acutely every strain and niggle, every back pain and sore throat. She could not understand why she was so under the weather, she said in the run-up to Berlin. She felt like quitting and would throw her kit at her husband Gary in anger and frustration.

Finally she was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. There came the relief of knowing what was wrong. Once she had rested and recovered, she felt ready again to put in the miles of training necessary.

The result was third place in Berlin but more important, achieving the qualifying time for the British team for next year's Olympic Games in London. In fact, her time of 2 hours 23 minutes and 46 seconds was more than seven minutes inside qualifying.

Radcliffe professed her disappointment that she had only finished third but there was clearly relief on her face and in her voice. It was her first marathon finish for almost two years and banished also the memory of a slow 10 kilometre appearance in London in the spring to begin her summer of doubt.

There will be those who will wonder what the fuss is about with Radcliffe and who will still see her as a spent force, at the age of 37.

She remains, though, a class athlete - and Britain has few enough of them - who deserves respect for her dedication and dogged determination to extract the most of her talent, balancing the needs of two small children with her demanding career.

After all she has been through - the two Olympics in Athens when she had stomach trouble and withdrew and Beijing when she struggled with injury and finished 23rd - you hope that Radcliffe will be on the start line in London fit and healthy.

If she is, she will surely be among the gold medal contenders. Once seen as someone who ran for the money, rather than peaking for major championships, she will be gearing herself for London and London alone over the next 10 months.

I believe Radcliffe will end a glorious career with gold - after such strife, it will be one of those amazing sporting redemptions. After being written off, she has the character to rise again.

The evidence? The women's marathon was won in Beijing in 2 hours 26 min 44 sec by Constantina Dita-Tomescu. While all marathon courses are different Radcliffe ran almost three minutes quicker than that in Berlin. And she will be 38 next year - the same as when the Romanian won her gold.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/29/paula-radcliffe-olympics-marathon/

Ronaldinho

ProElite Moves Next Show to Moline, Ill.; Tim Sylvia-Pedro Rizzo to Headline

Filed under: News, ProElite

Venue issues have forced ProElite into a change for its November show.

Sources close to the promotion have confirmed to MMA Fighting that ProElite, in its second incarnation after folding up shop in late 2008, will move a planned Nov. 5 event from Atlantic City, N.J., to the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. An official announcement from the promotion is expected by week's end.

The main event is expected to be a heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro Rizzo. Additionally, fellow former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will fight Travis Fulton, regarded as the busiest fighter in MMA history with more than 300 career fights.

The event was originally targeted for Nov. 12 at the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, but was moved to Nov. 5. Logistical trouble with Resorts caused the promotion to look elsewhere, and sources said when additional venues in Atlantic City didn't work out, the decision was made to move to the Quad Cities area in western Illinois. In addition to Moline, ProElite officials considered the Target Center in Minneapolis as a host venue for the show.

The event now will take place Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, which has hosted MMA events in the past - including Adrenaline MMA, the promotion started by MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox several years ago. Cox has been informally consulting with Pro Elite. Both the original Nov. 12 date and the new date of Nov. 5 are up against UFC events.

In addition to the main and co-main events on Nov. 5, sources told MMA Fighting that Reagan Penn, brother of former UFC champion BJ Penn, will fight on the card, as will highly regarded women's 125-pounder Tara LaRosa. ProElite reformed earlier this year and hosted a show in Honolulu last month that included Arlovski, Reagan Penn and Kendall Grove.

Sylvia and Arlovski on the same card sets up the possibility for a future meeting between the two, which would be their fourth fight. Arlovski won their first bout, taking the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 51. Sylvia then took the belt from Arlovski with a first-round TKO at UFC 59 and defended it at UFC 61 three months later.

Though a published report says Sylvia and Arlovski will meet on the Nov. 5 show, ProElite's head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson confirmed to MMA Fighting that Slyvia-Arlovski will not take place on that day. Additional sources told MMA Fighting it will be Rizzo meeting Sylvia - and that Sylvia-Arlovski IV is not in the promotion's current plans, but could be targeted down the road. It's a fight Arlovski, 1-2 against Sylvia, has wanted for some time.

Sylvia (29-7) has rebounded after a rough stretch that saw him lose four of five fights. He lost his heavyweight title to Randy Couture at UFC 68. He then beat Brandon Vera, but followed that with a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira that ended his run in the UFC. He moved on to Affliction's short-lived MMA promotion and suffered a quick submission to Fedor Emelianenko. Then came a 9-second knockout loss to pro boxer Ray Mercer that will likely be the biggest stain on his record. Since then, though, he has won five of six over the last two years, with all his wins by stoppage - and all at super heavyweight.

Rizzo (19-9) has not fought since a July 2010 win over Ken Shamrock for Impact FC in Sydney. Rizzo has fought some of the sport's heavyweight legends, including Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett and Arlovski. In 2001, he twice lost to Couture challenging for the UFC heavyweight title. Since leaving the UFC in 2003, Rizzo's appearances have been more sporadic - with just nine fights in nearly eight years.

Arlovski (16-9) snapped out of a four-fight skid with a win over Ray Lopez at ProElite's show last month. Prior to that, Arlovski lost to Emelianeko, Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov, the latter three for Strikeforce.

Fulton is an Iowa-based fighter with a career record of 247-48-10, according to most databases, though it is believed that 10 of those losses came in kickboxing competitions and not in MMA. Fulton fought 13 times in 2010, but has only fought twice in 2011 - going 2-0. The majority of Fulton's losses have come against future UFC fighters like Ben Rothwell, Forrest Griffin, Travis Wiuff, Rich Franklin and Evan Tanner.

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/pro-elite-moves-next-show-to-moline-ill-tim-sylvia-pedro-rizz/

Andy Murray Andy Roddick Anthony Kim Arjen Robben Ashley Cole

Paula Radcliffe Still Has Time to End Her Glorious Career with Olympic Gold

Filed under: Other Sports, Athletics

Every May, Paula Radcliffe shows up in London's Battersea Park to back the Race for Life cancer fund-raiser in support of her mother, who is in remission from the disease.

The world marathon record holder gives her time freely like the grounded person she is, posing for photos, chatting with women running - or walking - to raise money, frequently in memory of a deceased family member.

I go too, to support a loved one and usually get to speak to Paula, so approachable is she. This year, however, she was distracted, edgy. Something was wrong.

It became clear why in the build-up to the weekend's Berlin marathon, which would be make or break for her career.

Her training had been going badly, she was feeling acutely every strain and niggle, every back pain and sore throat. She could not understand why she was so under the weather, she said in the run-up to Berlin. She felt like quitting and would throw her kit at her husband Gary in anger and frustration.

Finally she was diagnosed with a thyroid problem. There came the relief of knowing what was wrong. Once she had rested and recovered, she felt ready again to put in the miles of training necessary.

The result was third place in Berlin but more important, achieving the qualifying time for the British team for next year's Olympic Games in London. In fact, her time of 2 hours 23 minutes and 46 seconds was more than seven minutes inside qualifying.

Radcliffe professed her disappointment that she had only finished third but there was clearly relief on her face and in her voice. It was her first marathon finish for almost two years and banished also the memory of a slow 10 kilometre appearance in London in the spring to begin her summer of doubt.

There will be those who will wonder what the fuss is about with Radcliffe and who will still see her as a spent force, at the age of 37.

She remains, though, a class athlete - and Britain has few enough of them - who deserves respect for her dedication and dogged determination to extract the most of her talent, balancing the needs of two small children with her demanding career.

After all she has been through - the two Olympics in Athens when she had stomach trouble and withdrew and Beijing when she struggled with injury and finished 23rd - you hope that Radcliffe will be on the start line in London fit and healthy.

If she is, she will surely be among the gold medal contenders. Once seen as someone who ran for the money, rather than peaking for major championships, she will be gearing herself for London and London alone over the next 10 months.

I believe Radcliffe will end a glorious career with gold - after such strife, it will be one of those amazing sporting redemptions. After being written off, she has the character to rise again.

The evidence? The women's marathon was won in Beijing in 2 hours 26 min 44 sec by Constantina Dita-Tomescu. While all marathon courses are different Radcliffe ran almost three minutes quicker than that in Berlin. And she will be 38 next year - the same as when the Romanian won her gold.

 

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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/29/paula-radcliffe-olympics-marathon/

Miroslav Klose Nemanja Vidic Nery Castillo Nick Watney Nicolas Almagro

Justin Edwards vs. John Maguire Added to UFC 138

Filed under: UFC, News

Just 11 days after shutting down Wanderlei Silva prospect Jorge Lopez at UFC Fight Night 23, welterweight Justin Edwards accepted on Wednesday a fight against John Maguire at UFC 138 on Nov. 5 in Birmingham, England.

Edwards is a replacement for the injured James Head. Maguire is also a recent addition to the UFC 138 card, signing on last week to replace Mark Scanlon against Head.

Edwards (7-1), a contestant on season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, lost his UFC debut in a split decision to Clay Harvison in June, but bounced back two weeks ago with a unanimous decision over Lopez, snapping the Team Wand fighter's 10-fight win streak.

Maguire (16-3) is UK-based submission fighter who will be making his UFC debut. Fighting out of the Tsunami Gym, he has held the Cage Rage UK and OMMAC titles.

UFC 138, headlined by the promotion's first five-round, non-title fight, Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz, will air on same-day, tape-delay on Spike TV.

Spike TV Bouts
Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz
Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao
Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi
Matt Brown vs. John Hathaway
Paul Taylor vs. Anthony Njokuani

Preliminary Bouts
Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto
Cyrille Diabate vs. Anthony Perosh
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Young
Phil De Fries vs. Oli Thompson
Chris Cope vs. Che Mills
Chris Cariaso vs. Vaughan Lee
James Head vs. Mark Scanlon
Justin Edwards vs. John Maguire

 

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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/09/28/justin-edwards-vs-john-maguire-added-to-ufc-138/

Wayne Rooney Wesley Sneijder William Gallas Xavi Zach Johnson