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Monday, 16 May 2011
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Bellator 42 Predictions
For the second consecutive Saturday night, Bellator has the mixed martial arts spotlight to itself, as Bellator 42 is the weekend's only major MMA card. The big question facing Bellator is whether the match-ups they've put together will result in the kind of exciting card that will get fans buzzing, and create a little momentum for the promotion heading into the home stretch of its fourth season.Bellator 42 took a hit when Paul Buentello suffered an injury and had to pull out of his fight with Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad, so whatever attention this card can garner will come from the semifinals of the light heavyweight tournament, and the promotional debut of Ronnie Mann.
Here are the basics on Saturday night's card:
What: Bellator 42
Where: Lucky Star Casino, Concho, Oklahoma
When: Saturday, the MTV2 broadcast starts at 9 PM ET.
Predictions on the three main card fights below.
Richard Hale vs. D.J. Linderman
Although Bellator's light heavyweight tournament is devoid of household names, Hale made a name for himself with an incredible inverted triangle choke submission in his first-round tournament fight. That was the highlight of the year so far for Bellator, and the promotion would love to see Hale emerge as a star. I don't know if stardom is in Hale's future, but I do think he's crafty enough to beat Linderman, who advanced to the tournament semifinals by defeating Raphael Davis.
Pick: HaleTim Carpenter vs. Christian M'Pumbu
In the other light heavyweight semifinal, I like Carpenter to remain undefeated and beat M'Pumbu. Carpenter won a split decision over Daniel Gracie in the first round of the tournament, and I expect him to take another decision here.
Pick: CarpenterRonnie Mann vs. Josh Arocho
The British Mann, whose Bellator debut was delayed because of visa issues, is the reigning Shark Fights featherweight champion and was a good pickup for Bellator. Mann is 18-2-1 in his professional MMA career, has an excellent submission game and has a lot of interesting fights ahead of him in Bellator's talented featherweight division. Arocho, however, has a 6-9 professional record and isn't in Mann's class. I expect this fight to end quickly, with Arocho tapping out.
Pick: MannJerod Spoon vs. Luiz Alberto Nogueira
Spoon is on a five-fight winning streak, but the 26-year-old Nogueira has a 10-1 record and is one of Brazil's best bantamweights, and I like him to beat Spoon by TKO.
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Ajax makes title challenge ahead of United clash
UNITED TO FACE POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS
As league championships across Europe roll to a close over the next few weeks, the Dutch First Division - or Eredivisie - will be the first major competition to crown a champion. This weekend Holland's most successful club, AFC Ajax, will play host to reigning Dutch champion FC Twente at Amsterdam Arena in a winner-take-all season finale. If Ajax claims the contest, it will mark the legendary side's 30th Eredivisie title. The match will be played on Sunday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m. ET, and fans can watch live via ESPN3.com.
Currently Ajax sits on 70 points in the Dutch table, a solitary point behind first place Twente. Both clubs are coming off crucial victories from the previous weekend, with Ajax coming from behind against Heerenveen to earn a 2-1 win, and Twente thrashing Willem II 4-0 at home. D.C. United will face Ajax on Sunday, May 22 in an international friendly at RFK Stadium (5:00 p.m. ET). The meeting will mark the first encounter between these two historic sides.
WHAT TO WATCH
Ajax is known for producing some of the top players in world football, and this year's team is no exception. The Dutch giants are littered with young talent, including 19-year-old Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen, 23-year-old defender Gregory Van Der Wiel, and rising star Jan Vertonghen. Dutch forward Monuir El Hamdaoui leads Ajax this term with 13 goals in 26 League games.
United fans will also recognize American defender Oguchi Onyewu in this contest, as the U.S. National Team defender has started seven matches for The Reds since coming on loan from AC Milan.
UNRIVALED EXCELLENCE
Ajax's history of youth development is unrivaled, with top players such as Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Edwin van der Saar, Patrick Kluivert, and Clarence Seedorf all coming from the club's academy. Current goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is a member of Holland's National Team.
Stekelenburg has recently been linked with a summer move to the English Premier League, following in the footsteps of former Ajax winger Luis Suarez, who has been a sensation at Liverpool since joining the Merseyside outfit in January. Eriksen has also been linked to a move across the North Sea to Anfield.
Since the time of Ajax maestro Johan Cruyff, the Amsterdam club has been known for revolutionary attacking football, and this brand of soccer will be on display in Sunday's contest against the fast and direct style of FC Twente. Ajax's Total Football approach has resulted in the capture of four European Cups/UEFA Champions League trophies.
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Straight to the Internet: Blueprint
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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Recap: Pontius penalty saves DC a point versus Rapids
WASHINGTON ? A second-half penalty kick from D.C. United?s Chris Pontius canceled out Drew Moor?s first-half goal, as United battled back for a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.
The result means the Rapids finish a three-game road swing with a win and two draws. United, meanwhile, also stretched a recent unbeaten run to three games.
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The Rapids entered the match missing several injured forwards, including Omar Cummings and Caleb Folan. The return to fitness of Conor Casey, though, gave them optimism. The big striker started on the bench after missing several matches, and came on late in the second half.
The regular D.C. frontline of Josh Wolff and Charlie Davies looked active early. The former nearly sent the latter in on goal in the 10th minute. But Davies? touch let him down, as the Colorado defense bent without breaking.PHOTO GALLERY
Saturday, May 14, 2011 - RFK Stadium
Their sternness set the scene for the opening goal from Moor in the 23rd minute. Jamie Smith?s in swinging delivery from the left side wasn?t cleared by D.C.?s defense, and Moor pounced on the loose ball, sliding a shot past United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
As D.C. struggled to get back into the game, coach Ben Olsen was forced to sub out his starting forward line before the half was out. Davies and Wolff both picked up injuries, and Santino Quaranta and Joseph Ngwenya came on in their place.
Ngwenya?s speed proved to be mettlesome for the Rapids defense. Early in the second half, he carried the ball into Colorado?s box and as he lined up his shot, he was dragged down by Rapids midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. Referee Terry Vaughn, however, waved play on.
D.C. continued the pressure, and their efforts were rewarded in the 62nd minute.
Working on the far left side of the Colorado area, Pontius collided with Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura. Both players went down, and this time Vaughn pointed to the spot.
With normal United penalty taker Davies off the field, Pontius stepped up and beat Pickens to level the score at 1-1.
A gritty and physical encounter unraveled over the game?s final 30 minutes, and both sides had chances to win it.
In the 87th minute, Rapids? substitute Sanna Nyassi?s cross was tipped by D.C. defender Dejan Jakovic, but it fell right to Wells Thompson, who blasted his shot way over at the top of the box.
In stoppage time, United nearly earned all three points but Ngwenya fired wide after Pickens made a good save from a Pontius effort.
D.C. now have a two-week break from league play before facing off with the Portland Timbers on Sunday, May 29. They take on Dutch side Ajax in a friendly next Saturday.
The Rapids return home to play Toronto FC on Sunday, May 22.
LINEUPS
D.C. UNITED: Hamid; Kitchen, White, Jakovic, Woolard; Najar, Simms (Fred 80'), McCarty (c), Pontius; Wolff (Ngwenya 44'), Davies (Quaranta 34')
Unused substitutes: Brettschneider, Burch, Korb, Cronin
Colorado Rapids: Pickens; Kimura, Marshall, Wynne; Moor, Thompson (LaBauex 94'), Larentowicz, Mastroeni; Smith, Akpan (Nyassi 75'), Amarikwa (Casey 67')
Unused substitutes: Ceus, Earls, Palguta, Nane
BOXSCORE
SCORING SUMMARY:
Colorado Rapids - Drew Moor 23'
D.C. United - Chris Pontius 62' (PK) | VIDEOSHOTS:
D.C. United - 11
Colorado Rapids - 7SHOTS ON GOAL:
D.C. United - 4
Colorado Rapids - 2SAVES:
D.C. United - 1
Colorado Rapids - 3MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
Drew Moor - caution 45'
Matt Pickens 92'FOULS:
D.C. United - 15
Colorado Rapids - 7Referee: Terry Vaughn
Assistants: Steven Taylor, Jason Cullum
4th official: Daniel FitzgeraldAttendance: 12,499
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