Monday, May 16, 2011

Mann Dominates, M'Pumbu and Hale Advance at Bellator 42

In an exciting if overlooked Saturday night fight card, Ronnie Mann put on an impressive showing in his Bellator Fighting Championships debut, while Richard Hale and Christian M'Pumbu advanced to the light heavyweight tournament final at Bellator 42.

Mann spent three rounds brutalizing an overmatched Josh Arocho, winning a unanimous decision in which one judge awarded him a shocking (but not completely unreasonable) 30-25 victory, while the other two judges gave him the more conventional 30-27 scores. The British Mann was making his Bellator debut, and he was confident and aggressive, displaying great positional control and violent ground and pound. Mann, who improved his professional MMA record to 19-2-1, showed that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in Bellator's featherweight division, although he's going to have to beat much better opponents than Arocho, whose record fell to 6-10.

Hale beat D.J. Linderman by a razor-close split decision, with two judges giving him the bout 29-28 and one judge giving Linderman a 29-28 advantage. Linderman and Hale were close -- with Linderman perhaps having a slight advantage -- in the first couple of rounds, but Hale spent most of the third round controlling Linderman on the ground while trying to secure a rear-naked choke. The third round was enough to earn the victory for Hale.

Up next for Hale is a tournament final fight with M'Pumbu, who beat Tim Carpenter by first-round TKO with a big right hook to the chin, followed by right uppercut that knocked Carpenter to the ground. The referee ran in and stopped the fight as soon as Carpenter fell, and Carpenter complained that it was too fast a stoppage. But credit M'Pumbu for an impressive display of punching power.

In other Bellator action, Luiz Alberto Nogueira beat Jerod Spoon by unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. Spoon put forth a good effort in a fast-paced, exciting fight, but Nogueira is on another level as a striker. One of Brazil's top bantamweights, Nogueira lets the punches and kicks fly with speed and precision, and he looked great in improving his professional MMA record to 11-1.

And then there was the most inspirational performance of the night: Returning to the cage for the first time since suffering an ugly knee injury last year, Jared Hess looked good and made short work of Chris Bell, forcing Bell to tap out just 1:40 into the first round. It was great to see Hess fighting again, and he demonstrated that he's back at 100 percent.

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Skateboarder Magazine Interview With Ty Evans

An important stat proved to be the story of the first stop

Reigning Street League Champion Nyjah Huston won the first stop of Street League DC Pro Tour 2011 in Seattle at the KeyArena in dominating fashion. Huston's score of 104.6 was more than enough to take home the $150,000, as well as an automatic spot in the SLS Championship in Newark, NJ on August 28th.

If winning the $150,000 wasn't enough, Nyjah won $15,000 for best trick on the last run of the contest after he had the win all wrapped up, Huston pulled a backside 270 to..

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Judge Chuck Wolfe Defends 30-27 Score for Joe Warren

Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren won a controversial unanimous decision over Marcos Galvao on Saturday night in Yuma, Arizona, with all three judges seeing the fight differently than nearly every member of the MMA media saw it.

Particularly surprising about the decision was that judge Chuck Wolfe scored the bout 30-27 for Warren: Not only did Wolfe score the first and third rounds for Warren, as did his fellow judges, but Wolfe also gave Warren the second round, even though almost everyone else watching thought that round was decidedly Galvao's.

Although Wolfe declined to go into a detailed blow-by-blow account of the second round, he defended his scorecard and his decision, saying on Tuesday morning that he thought all three rounds in the fight were close, and that in close rounds, something relatively minor can be the difference in a 10-9 score.

"It could be one takedown different, it could be one punch different, it could be one kick different, it could be one attempted submission different," Wolfe said.

Wolfe said he wasn't aware that his scoring of the fight had caused a controversy in the MMA community, and he said that as a judge he can't be concerned about how fans or the media view his decisions. He also said that his background as a professional kickboxer and his knowledge of MMA gives him insight that surpasses that of the average fan watching at home.

"I've judged and refereed since the beginning of the sport, I've been head official for over 600 different bouts," Wolfe said. "If you want to question my credentials, I think I have way more than anyone out there to be qualified to judge. I know fans get disappointed, but I don't think you're going to have Joe Warren fans complain about how the decision went."

Wolfe acknowledged that Galvao landed some significant strikes in the fight, but he said nothing Galvao did was enough to justify giving him any of the three rounds.

"Did he damage Warren in that fight? Yeah, he did, for a short period of time," Wolfe said. "I remember the bout very clearly. When they are close rounds there's one thing or maybe two things that might put someone ahead. ... You can grade it 10-10 but you might as well not be there if you're not going to score someone to win the round."

Bellator promoter Bjorn Rebney said after the fight that he found Wolfe's 30-27 score for Warren hard to understand, but the judges work independently of the promoters. Bellator 41 took place at a resort owned by the Cocopah Indian Tribe, and Wolfe and the other judges were hired by the Potawatomi Athletic Commission. Wolfe noted that the tribal commission follows the standard procedures employed by state athletic commissions, including telling the judges to watch the fights with their naked eyes. Judges are not provided with TV monitors, which means they're seeing the fight from a different vantage point than the fans at home.

"There are a lot of things that a fan will cheer about outside the cage, but each judge has a different viewpoint and a different angle," Wolfe said. "Unfortunately, judges don't have a replay, don't have a rewind, they just have to judge by what they see."

Ultimately, Wolfe said, if Galvao isn't happy with the decision he should look in the mirror, not at the judges.

"He had three rounds to take Warren out if he really wanted to beat him -- he had three rounds to dominate Warren, as well as Warren had three rounds to dominate him," Wolfe said. "It's up to the fighter. ... Don't leave it in the hands of the judges, especially when it's a close fight."

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MMA Top 10 Lightweights: Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case

Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.

The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.

Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.

(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)

1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.

2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.

3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.

4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.

5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?

6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.

7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.

8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.

9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.

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Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara Finally Happening at UFC 133

  • Michael David Smith
  • Lead Blogger
Jorge RiveraThe much-delayed fight between Jorge Rivera and Alessio Sakara is finally going to happen at UFC 133.

"Better late than never, verbal agreements are in for what should be an action-packed match between Alessio Sakara and Jorge Rivera at UFC 133," UFC President Dana White said in the promotion's announcement.

UFC 133 hasn't been formally announced, but it's expected to take place on August 6 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The fight is now scheduled to take place nearly a year after it was first supposed to happen. Rivera and Sakara initially agreed to fight each other at UFC 118 in August of 2010, but it was scrapped when Rivera pulled out with an injury. Sakara was at first going to stay on that card, but he later pulled out of UFC 118 with an injury of his own.

With both fighters then looking for an autumn fight, Rivera and Sakara then agreed to fight each other at UFC 122 in Germany, but Sakara pulled out on the day of the fight with an illness.

Unfortunately, it's a less interesting fight now than it was before, as Rivera and Sakara were both on three-fight winning streaks when the fight was originally announced, but are now both on one-fight losing streaks. Still, Rivera-Sakara should be an entertaining scrap. As White said, better late than never.

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MMA Top 10 Lightweights: Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case

Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.

The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.

Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.

(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)

1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.

2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.

3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.

4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.

5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?

6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.

7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.

8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.

9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.

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Street League Seattle-Stop 1

An important stat proved to be the story of the first stop

Reigning Street League Champion Nyjah Huston won the first stop of Street League DC Pro Tour 2011 in Seattle at the KeyArena in dominating fashion. Huston's score of 104.6 was more than enough to take home the $150,000, as well as an automatic spot in the SLS Championship in Newark, NJ on August 28th.

If winning the $150,000 wasn't enough, Nyjah won $15,000 for best trick on the last run of the contest after he had the win all wrapped up, Huston pulled a backside 270 to..

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

MMA Top 10 Lightweights: Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case

Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.

The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.

Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.

(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)

1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.

2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.

3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.

4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.

5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?

6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.

7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.

8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.

9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.

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MMA Top 10 Lightweights: Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case

Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.

The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.

Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.

(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)

1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.

2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.

3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.

4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.

5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?

6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.

7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.

8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.

9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.

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D.C. United, AFC Ajax and the Royal Netherlands Embassy to host United Soccer Club clinic

D.C. United announced today that in conjunction with AFC Ajax and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the club will host a youth clinic on May 20 at 2:00 p.m. Between 60 and 80 elementary school children from United Soccer Club will participate in this 90-minute session at D.C. United?s training facility adjacent to RFK Stadium. Supported by D.C. United presenting partner Volkswagen and Ajax?s lead sponsor AEGON, the clinic will be attended by Dutch Ambassador Ren�e Jones-Bos. The clinic is set to take place prior to the first-ever meeting between United and Ajax, as the two clubs face one another in an international friendly at RFK Stadium on May 22 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

United?s Charlie Davies, Chris Pontius, and Bill Hamid will join club captain Dax McCarty in leading the clinic. Ajax players and 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel and Demy de Zeeuw will also participate in the clinic alongside former Ajax and U.S. National Team standout John O?Brien. Each player will be responsible for a coaching station.

?D.C. United is excited to join forces with Ajax, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and our corporate partners to put on this clinic,? said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. ?United Soccer Club is a program we?re proud of and we look forward to providing this opportunity for participating children.?

At Sunday?s friendly, Ambassador Jones-Bos will make the ceremonial opening kick-off.

?The Netherlands is working to boost opportunities for its young people to play sports. Our commitment to physical activity for youth extends beyond our borders. This D.C. United and Ajax soccer clinic sets an example that we hope will be replicated with MLS teams and AFC Ajax throughout the U.S.,? said Ambassador Jones-Bos.

Full event information is listed below.

Clinic participants:
D.C. United?s Dax McCarty, Charlie Davies, Chris Pontius, and Bill Hamid
Ajax and 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists Maarten Stekelenburg, Gregory van der Wiel and Demy de Zeeuw
Former Ajax and U.S. National Team standout John O?Brien
Dutch Ambassador to the United States Ren�e Jones-Bos
What: United Soccer Club youth clinic
When: Friday, May 20, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: RFK Stadium Training Fields

About United Soccer Club
United Soccer Club?s mission is to introduce the sport of soccer to youth in inner city and under-privileged communities of the greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. United Soccer Club (USC) partners with urban families, schools, recreation centers and community-based organizations in order to invest in the athletic, emotional and social welfare of the children living in the D.C Area. USC currently reaches more than 1,000 children at 12 under-served sites in the community.

About Volkswagen Group
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. VWoA sells the Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2011 Volkswagen vehicles come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.

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MMA Top 10 Lightweights: Gilbert Melendez Makes His Case

Gilbert Melendez thinks he's the best lightweight in mixed martial arts. Is he right? I don't think so, not yet. But I sure would love to find out.

The best thing about the UFC buying Strikeforce is that it means we'll eventually see the champions of the respective promotions fighting each other. For now the mantra is "business as usual," but we all know it's just a matter of time before we see the best of Strikeforce inside the Octagon. And there might not be a better fight out there than Melendez taking on the top of the UFC lightweight division.

It will probably be 2012 before we get to see that: UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar has to fight Gray Maynard in May, and the winner of that fight is expected to fight the winner of the June Anthony Pettis-Clay Guida bout after that. But it sure would be fun to see Melendez retiring the Strikeforce belt to his trophy case and fighting for the UFC gold.

Find out where I think Melendez stacks up in the lightweight division below.

(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)

1. Frankie Edgar (1): The UFC champion remains at the top of the heap at least until he fights Gray Maynard at UFC 130. The third meeting between the two will, I hope, tell us once and for all which one of them is really the superior fighter.

2. Gray Maynard (2): Maynard could certainly make the argument that he actually deserves to be ranked ahead of Edgar, since Maynard beat Edgar the first time these two fought. I'll stick with Edgar for now because Edgar's overall lightweight resume is more impressive, but these two are basically equals.

3. Gilbert Melendez (4): Now that Melendez has destroyed Tatsuya Kawajiri, I think he's behind only the UFC lightweight champion and No. 1 contender. I love watching Melendez because he's so active and tenacious: He took the fight to Kawajiri and showed off a great killer instinct in finishing him with the recently legalized elbows to the head on the ground. The question now is whether any lightweights on the Strikeforce roster can even be viewed as credible threats to Melendez, or if he's going to have to start fighting guys in the UFC.

4. Kenny Florian (3): For now, I'd pick Florian to beat just about any lightweight in the sport. But Florian has lost two lightweight title fights and doesn't appear close to getting a third chance, so he plans to drop down to featherweight and pursue the belt there. When he does move down to featherweight, I'll take him down the lightweight list -- and I expect him to quickly rise up the featherweight ranks.

5. Shinya Aoki (5): There really wasn't any question that Aoki would make quick work of Lyle Beerbohm, but there are a lot of questions about Aoki's future: Will he stay with Strikeforce and keep fighting second-rate opponents? Will he go back to Japan and try to be a part of revitalizing the MMA scene in his homeland? Will he finally step into the Octagon?

6. Jim Miller (8): It's time for Miller to take a major step up in competition: His 20-2 record consists of wins against a bunch of guys who aren't even close to the Top 10, and losses to the two best in the world, Edgar and Maynard. Ideally I'd love to see Miller against Melendez or Aoki, but if we're not going to get UFC-Strikeforce crossover fights yet, Miller probably will continue fighting overmatched opponents outside the Top 10.

7. Eddie Alvarez (7): The Bellator champ is a lot of fun to watch, but it's going to be awfully tough for him to move up in the rankings as long as he remains in Bellator, which just doesn't have any elite opposition for him to face. Alvarez may have the talent to beat anyone at 155 pounds, but he's probably going to have to sign with the UFC if he wants to prove it.

8. Anthony Pettis (10): The thing that's so exciting about Pettis is that he's doing so many new things at such a young age. It's not just the "Showtime Kick," although that's obviously what he's best known for: It's a combination of creative striking and an aggressive ground game, especially off his back, that makes Pettis different from any other fighter in the lightweight division. The 24-year-old Pettis is the youngest fighter on this list and is only getting better.

9. Clay Guida (NR): Guida has always been a fan favorite because of his brawling style, but it's been somewhat overlooked that his technique, especially on the ground, has noticeably improved in the last year. Guida is now on a three-fight winning streak, and if he makes it four in a row against Pettis, a title shot could be next.

10. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): Kawajiri has had some great wins in his MMA career, but he was simply no match for Melendez. At age 32, he appears to be on the down side of his career, but there are still some fun fights for him: I'd still love to see a rematch of the classic 2005 Pride fight between Kawajiri and Takanori Gomi.

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Preview: Rapids' road swing continues against DC

D.C. United continue their long homestand while the Colorado Rapids continue their long Eastern swing when the clubs meet Saturday at RFK Stadium. United have a win and a draw against Western opposition in the first two games of this home stretch, coming off a scoreless result with FC Dallas. The Rapids have a win and a draw against Eastern teams to start their three-game trip, last a scoreless draw at New England.

REFEREE: Terry Vaughn. SAR (bench): Steven Taylor; JAR (opposite): Jason Cullum; 4th: Daniel Fitzgerald MLS Career: 142 games; FC/gm: 28.6; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 46; pens: 45

INJURY REPORT:

  • D.C. UNITED ? OUT: MF Branko Boskovic (L ACL tear); MF Junior Carreiro (L ankle sprain); DF Devon McTavish (concussion); DF Jed Zayner (L hamstring strain)
  • COLORADO RAPIDS ? OUT: FW Omar Cummings (R ankle sprain); FW Caleb Folan (R groin strain); FW Macoumba Kandji (L knee ACL tear); QUESTIONABLE: DF Eddie Ababio (R hamstring strain); PROBABLE: GK Matt Pickens (R groin strain); FW Quincy Amarikwa (L ankle sprain); FW Conor Casey (L hamstring strain); MF Sanna Nyassi (lower back strain)

INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: DC: Conor Shanosky (U.S. U-20 national team)
SUSPENDED: COL: Brian Mullan (through June 26)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: COL: Conor Casey

HEAD-TO-HEAD

  • ALL-TIME (35 meetings): United 16 wins (2 shootout), 58 goals ? Rapids 13 wins (1 shootout), 47 goals ? Ties 6
  • AT RFK (17 meetings): United 10 wins (2 shootout), 35 goals ? Rapids 3 wins (0 shootout), 15 goals ? Ties 4
  • The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Two goals from Caleb Folan and a late three-goal explosion (over the final 20 minutes) gave the Rapids a 4-1 win April 3 at Dick?s Sporting Goods Park.
  • United?s 1-0 win at Dick?s Sporting Goods Park last year was their first in Denver in a decade, since a 5-2 win May 6, 2000. The Rapids won eight of the 10 home matches in between, with two draws.
  • The Rapids? win at RFK Stadium on May 15 of last year was their first there since 1999. The teams also met on East Capitol Street in MLS Cup 1997, a 2-1 United win.
  • The teams last played to a draw on Aug. 19, 2006, a 1-1 result at RFK Stadium.
  • Coaches record: Gary Smith vs. DC: P6 W3 L3 D0 ? Ben Olsen v COL: P2 W1 L1 D0

LAST MEETING (MLS)

  • 4/3: COL 4, DC 1 (Folan 38, 81; Smith 71; Cummings 90 ? Quaranta 70)
  • Caleb Folan put the Rapids into the lead in the 38th minute when he latched onto a perfectly weighted ball from Jeff Larentowicz and feinted past the D.C. defense before connecting well with a left foot drive past Pat Onstad.
  • United evened terms in the 70th minute through a Santino Quaranta first-time volley at the far post from a cross by rookie Chris Korb.
  • But barely a minute later, Rapids midfielder Jamie Smith popped up in the box to head home an Anthony Wallace long-range cross to push the Rapids back in front.
  • Folan then completed his double when he outjumped the D.C. defense to expertly head a Sanna Nyassi cross into the right hand corner of the net in the 81st minute.
  • Omar Cummings, who was rested for the start of the game and did not come on until an early second-half injury to Conor Casey, finished off a header in injury time off an assist from midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
  • COLORADO RAPIDS (4-4-2): Matt Pickens ? Kosuke Kimura, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Anthony Wallace - Brian Mullan (Sanna Nyassi 72), Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Jamie Smith - Conor Casey (Omar Cummings 52), Caleb Folan (Quincy Amarikwa 87).
  • D.C. UNITED (4-1-3-2): Pat Onstad ? Chris Korb, Daniel Woolard, Rodrigo Brasesco, Marc Burch ? Kurt Morsink (Fred 83) ? Santino Quaranta, Dax McCarty, Branko Boskovic (Andy Najar 54) ? Blake Brettschneider, Chris Pontius (Josh Wolff 65).

D.C. UNITED

D.C. United finished off a week unbeaten, playing to a scoreless draw with FC Dallas on Saturday evening at RFK Stadium. United have 11 points from 9 games on the year, sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

LAST MATCH

  • Fred & Kevin Hartman
    The game's best chance came in the closing stages. A low cross from Josh Wolff found Fred dangerously open in front of the net. But his header couldn't get the best of lunging FCD goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who steered the shot aside.
  • Hartman was credited with three saves in the FC Dallas goal, while Bill Hamid made two saves for United.
  • United coach Ben Olsen made two changes to the team that defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 at RFK Stadium. Stephen King came in for Clyde Simms in midfield and Joseph Ngwenya replaced Josh Wolff up top.
  • D.C. UNITED (4-4-2): Bill Hamid - Perry Kitchen, Ethan White, Dejan Jakovic, Daniel Woolard - Andy Najar (Santino Quaranta 72), Dax McCarty, Stephen King, Chris Pontius (Fred 81) - Joseph Ngwenya (Josh Wolff 54), Charlie Davies.

TEAM NEWS

  • After eight goals over a two-game stretch, D.C. United has allowed just one goal in the last two ? that coming on a penalty kick.
  • ?The positive is that we had a fairly good performance after a good performance on Wednesday,? Olsen said. ?That?s what we are striving for here. We are striving to play consistent soccer, and if we do that over the course of a year, it?s usually enough to make the playoffs.?
  • It was a second game with a pair of rookies in the back four for United, with Ethan White at center back and Perry Kitchen at right back.
  • ?Perry is playing probably out of position, but you wouldn?t know it,? Olsen said. ?Him knowing when to get forward still has a little work to do, but that?s to be expected when you don?t know that position. But defensively, he?s very committed.? Said Kitchen: ?It?s always fun to go forward since I?ve been sitting back at center back for a while now,? he said. ?I was just trying to pick my moments [against Dallas], and when I was going forward I wasn?t trying to do anything too crazy.?
  • Stephen King made his first start of the league season, coming into the central midfield in place of Clyde Simms, who had started five matches in a row.
  • Stephen-King;-Andrew-Jacobson
    ?It?s a little bit of a different dynamic with [Dax McCarty] and [Stephen] King there than it would be with [McCarty] and Clyde [Simms],? Olsen said. ?King had a good understanding ? when Dax [McCarty] sits [King] is more comfortable going forward. They played off each other pretty well all night long.?
  • Andy Najar also made a second consecutive game after going five league games without an appearance in the first XI. ?I thought he had a great game; he was special tonight, definitely the best player on the field,? said Olsen.
  • United also kept a clean sheet for a second time on the season, something it took until July 10 to achieve a year ago. ?We?ve got a good mixture of athletic guys, guys who can win balls in the air, and a good mixture of guys who are smart and composed,? goalkeeper Bill Hamid said to the Washington Times. ?It makes a very solid back line.?
  • Said United captain Dax McCarty: ?That?s progress ? those are things you can build from. Now it comes down to: You?re at home, can you take the chances that you get? And we didn?t do that.?

COLORADO RAPIDS

The Colorado Rapids continued on their three-game Eastern Conference trip, playing to a scoreless draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. The Rapids have 14 points from 8 games, opening the week in third place in the Western Conference.

LAST MATCH

  • Ryan Cochrane and Benny Feilhaber each had chances find the woodwork for the Revolution, while Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens was called upon to make two saves, including a point-blank stop of a Shalrie Joseph header.
  • Matt Reis made one save as the Revolution recorded their first shutout of the season.
  • Rapids head coach Gary Smith made three changes to the team that beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1 at Robertson Stadium. Marvell Wynne came in for Jamie Smith, and Caleb Folan and Quincy Amarikwa made an all-change strike pair in place of Andre Akpan and Omar Cummings.
  • COLORADO RAPIDS (4-4-2): Matt Pickens - Marvell Wynne, Tyrone Marshall, Drew Moor, Scott Palguta - Kosuke Kimura, Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson (Jamie Smith 73) - Caleb Folan (Andre Akpan 30), Quincy Amarikwa (Ross LaBauex 85)

TEAM NEWS

  • For the first time since 2008 ? and just the second time since Conor Casey arrived at the club ? the Rapids played a game without either Casey or Omar Cummings in the scoreless draw at New England. The only other previous occasion was a 3-2 loss at the LA Galaxy on Oct. 12, 2008.
  • "There were moments that we might have made a little bit more of," Smith said. "But we've got so many bodies changing in and out now because of injuries it's very difficult to find serious fluency here."
  • The Rapids recorded a shutout for the first time since March 26, and after three consecutive losses, now have two draws and a win in their last three games.
  • ?All and all, it?s a clean sheet. It?s three unbeaten, it?s another point to the tally, and it?s the end of a very, very long week,? Smith said. ?We?ll all be very pleased to get back home.
  • The club learned Cummings will be lost for 2-4 weeks with a grade II sprain of his right ankle. Caleb Folan was also forced to leave the United match after just a half-hour with a right groin strain, after suffering from a strained quadriceps leading up to the match.
  • "I have to say we're going through a difficult period," Smith said. "But we have two very promising and bright individuals. Those bodies will be back, and we will be in a good position and all the better for it."
  • The visit to United and a return trip to the East Coast is a third consecutive game against Eastern Conference opposition. The Rapids are in a stretch of playing four out of five games on the road.
  • ?We were well organized (against New England. We had) good shape and showed discipline as a group, and that?s not easy when you?re playing your third game in seven days,? Smith said. ?These guys have gone through an awful lot. We?ve gone to two different time zones. We?ve managed to play on a level pegging with a good team, a competitive team.?

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Post-match quotes: D.C. United 1 - Colorado Rapids 1

D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN

Overall thoughts on the match:
We were not sharp enough from the get-go. This is the part of the process that needs to get better with this young group. We think we are better than we really are because we had two games, so now we go out and forget about the commitment, the fight - all the little things that got us the results we had in the last two games. We started off in an unacceptable manner.

Now, the response was fantastic. I had to rattle them out a little bit and I thought coming off the second half was much better. The ball movement was better, and our balance was better. Our balance overall wasn?t good enough in the first half; we didn?t have options. I am not going to give good reviews on the first half to anyone on our squad.

I am not happy with one point, but I am happy that we battled back.

Thoughts on the referee:
I don?t want to go into any specifics, but I think he had a very bad night; I could be wrong, or I could be right.

On Dax McCarty:
We ask a lot of Dax [McCarty]; he?s doing a lot of stuff that some people don?t see. Tonight wasn?t his greatest night on the ball, although I think he was pretty sharp in the second half. But it wasn?t just him, nobody was sharp, guys were slipping, they didn?t have the right footwear. All these little things were not good enough in the first forty-five minutes, and essentially, it cost us two points.

On Santino Quaranta:
I thought Tino [Quaranta] did very well up top and gave us a really nice spark. It hasn?t been an easy transition for him, being on the bench, but I was really proud of him coming in and doing a good job tonight.

On Chris Pontius:
In the second half, he was very good. He is part of a lot of the good things that we do. Physically he is pretty well-rounded, he?s strong; I think he?s getting there. But I still need more numbers from him, he still needs to get more goals and assists for us.

On Fred:
Fred is a different player than what we have on the field. He can make plays and he?s a very composed midfielder. We wanted the three points, so we thought if we put him there we would be a better passing team, a little more creative, and he did just that. Another guy that is fitting into his role very nicely and helping us out.

D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER CHRIS PONTIUS

On earning a second half penalty:

Chris Pontius

Ned Dishman/Getty Images

I saw an opening on the backline, I cut back on Marvelle Wynne, and I just kind of got myself in front of Jamie Smith. I was able to get some contact and it resulted in a penalty.

On converting the penalty:
I was confident [in taking the penalty], and I knew I had hit [the ball] well. I wasn?t going to try and place it, especially with the way the game was going.

On the game overall:
For us I thought we had a very poor first half. I thought the second half was better, but that said it wasn?t good enough. We strive for consistency in this team, and we didn?t have enough of it tonight.

On United?s progress as a team:
I think we have a good group that is coming together. Obviously at home you want to win all your games, especially against a good team like Colorado tonight, but we?re coming along well. There are a few things we need to fix, but at least they are things we know we can fix in training and through hard work.

D.C. UNITED GOALKEEPER BILL HAMID

On the match:
We started off a little slow, but we picked up it up effort-wise. It was good to a get a result, but we didn?t just want one point. Overall we worked hard, but we would have liked to come away with more.

On Colorado?s goal:

Ethan White, Dax McCarty

Tony Quinn/Icon SMI

The free kick came in and passed the first line of defense, and I reacted to the left and it hit the back of [Jeff] Larentowicz?s head, and [the ball] dropped right to [Drew] Moor and he just tucked it in [the goal].

On moving forward:
I think we did well to get five points from these three home games. I?m looking forward to Ajax, they will be a tough opponent, and I guess they are pushing for a league title in Europe, so we?re going to work hard and try to push ourselves.

COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH GARY SMITH

On the game:
I was in the end disappointed we didn?t take all three points. I thought the penalty was a poor call and I thought we had a big shot for [a penalty kick] ourselves at the far end when Sanna [Nyassi] goes to shoot and the leg comes through the back of him. We didn?t start the second half very well and D.C. with a little bit of help from the officials took advantage of it. But, yes, in frustration we didn?t get all three [points], but it?s been a long three road trips unbeaten so it?s decent.

On his team?s slow start in the second half:
We didn?t start [the second half] well. I think you have to give some credit to D.C. They started brightly and came out with renewed energy and vigor and I think the trip looked like it had gotten the better of us. Being away the last three games, it can sometimes take a bit out of your legs and that second period took a while for us to get going. I still say that the penalty call itself changes the course of events and I would think if [head official] Terry [Vaughn] sees it again on a replay, he?ll question the choice he made and I?d like to think he?d question the choice he made on Sanna [Nyassi] as well. But for us, it?s a positive three games ? unbeaten, four unbeaten now ? and we can look forward to going back home and playing three out of four at home now.

On earning a road draw:
I?m extremely pleased that we?ve stayed unbeaten. Three away games on the spin are not easy and they?re made even more difficult when you?re travelling to the East Coast because it?s a four hour journey. You come through the time zones and the guys have got to adapt. The players have shown spirit and determination and adapted extremely well to wherever they?ve gone. Last week in New England on a plastic pitch [they] adapted well and kept a clean sheet. Of course I?m pleased [with the draw]. I?m frustrated we didn?t take all three. I thought the circumstances surrounding [D.C. United?s] goal and how they got their point was disappointing because I think when we all look back on it, it?s not a penalty.

COLORADO RAPIDS DEFENDER DREW MOOR

On the game:
At the end of the day, it was a gutsy road point and we?ll take it. It was very physical from both [teams], which usually you expect coming here. They?re a scrappy team and they had a good run of the play there in the second half and we had to sit in and absorb a lot of the pressure. I thought we did a good job. I think [we were] a little unlucky to give away the PK there, but I think at the end of the day we?ll take the road point.

On his first half goal:
It?s just one of those things you go over in training. You go forward enough times which I have ? it?s been about a year since I?ve scored ? you?re bound to get a bounce to go your way and that?s kind of what happened. I didn?t attack the ball right away. I kind of stayed off the guy?s shoulders who went up for the ball and it just landed perfectly for me. I had a little bit of finishing to do, but it?s always good to get set piece goals.

COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER PABLO MASTROENI

On the game:
I think it was overall a pretty decent game. I think we had a good portion of the possession in the first half, had some good flow. [We] had some decent opportunities, just entry balls were either a yard left or a yard right to the guys up front and I think the [forwards] did a good job holding the balls in and bringing [the midfielders] into play. And then at the start of the second half I think D.C. came out with a little bit more energy. We were on our heels a little bit. We couldn?t get near the ball and couldn?t get any pressure and I think [D.C. United?s] goal was just a matter of time. They did a good job bringing it to us. So I think overall it was a fair result and we?ve had three games on the road over the last ten days so we?re pretty content with the five points.

On scoring first:
I think it was huge on a few different levels. I think it was our first set piece goal all year and that?s something that we?ve really been focusing on. It?s so hard to try to win games with goals out of the run of play and I think that just kind of set the tone for us and gave us confidence and allowed us to continue to keep decent possession and move the ball quickly.

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NCAA Football - Sporting News

College football recruiting 2012

College football recruiting 2012

2011 NBA draft

2011 NBA draft

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Eastern Conference semifinals

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Eastern Conference finals: Bulls-Heat

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Stanley Cup conference finals breakdown: NHL's final four

Eastern Conference finals preview: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Eastern Conference finals preview: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Western Conference final: Vancouver vs. San Jose

Western Conference final: Vancouver vs. San Jose

Former teammate Wes Walz remembers man behind Derek Boogaard myth

Former teammate Wes Walz remembers man behind Derek Boogaard myth

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College football recruiting 2012

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College basketball recruiting 2012

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March Madness 2011

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