Off Topic » DaMarques Johnson in the second round

HALIFAX - Chances are Matt Dwyers UFC debut Saturday night will go smoother than his last fight.In May, the six-foot-four welterweight from Kelowna, B.C., stopped former UFC fighter DaMarques Johnson in the second round of a bloody Battlefield Fight League main event in Richmond, B.C.Johnsons camp warned Dwyer six weeks out that their fighter wouldnt make 170 pounds. So could they meet at a 175-pound catchweight, without Dwyers BFL title on the line?I thought that was kind of weird, being so far out from the fight, that he couldnt make the extra five pounds but whatever, Dwyer recalled thinking.The week of the fight, Dwyers manager was told Johnson wouldnt be able to make 175 and would pay a penalty for every pound over. Come weigh-in day, Dwyer tipped the scales at 173.9 and Johnson was around 185. He looked pretty drained too so he cut weight to make where he was at, said Dwyer.Dwyer (7-1) was still willing. But the local athletic commission, wary of the weight discrepancy, said it wouldnt allow the fight until he weighed 180.Rather than hit the fridge, he improvised.I threw my jeans on, stuffed my pockets full of cellphones and car keys, just to get the weigh-in over, he said with a laugh. I made the weight.The lanky Dwyer, who usually walks around at 195 pounds, was a little over 180 after rehydrating. Johnson was even bigger and packed a punch, but the fight turned after he was cut by an elbow.It must have hit like a vein or an artery or something because it was leaking pretty good, said Dwyer, a little fuzzy on his physiology.Dwyer kept going, took him down and eventually stopped him. It was his second straight win over a UFC veteran, following a January TKO over Shonie Carter.On Saturday, the 24-year-old Dwyer takes on Albert (Einstein) Tumenov, a New Jersey-based Russian with a 13-2 record (including 1-1 in the UFC) on a UFC televised card in Halifax.A tough Russian guy, said Dwyer. A bit of a brawler. He likes to throw punches as hard as he can.Dwyer will have a five-inch height advantage on the 22-year-old Einstein, as well as a 3.5-inch edge in reach.Dwyer will become the third fighter from David Leas Toshido MMA in Kelowna to make the UFC, joining Sarah Moras and Rory (Ares) MacDonald.They definitely helped pave the road for me to get here, Dwyer said. They put Kelowna on the map. Its definitely easier to get in when the UFC already know about our gym.MacDonald, who now trains in Montreal, takes on American-based Belgian Tarec (Sponge) Saffiedine in Saturdays main event.Dwyer was supposed to fight Alex Garcia at UFC 176 on Aug. 2 in Los Angeles but the card was cancelled after featherweight champion Jose Aldo pulled out through injury. To help pay for his training, Dwyer headed north to make some money working on the oil rigs.Born in New Westminster, B.C., Dwyer has lived in Kelowna since he was two. He was 17 when he started training in 2007 thanks to his high school rugby coach and vice-principal Mark Steen, who started an MMA program.It was a natural for Dwyer, an avid MMA fan.I pretty much knew how to do an armbar before I was ever in a jiu-jitsu class. Watching it and trying it on your friends.Dwyer, who watched UFC 174 in Vancouver from the stands with Moras, has won five straight while Tumenov has won nine of his last 10.---Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . The (35-35-10) Jets have 80 points and are also playing .500 hockey on home ice this season with a 17-17-6 record. Michael Hutchinson will start his second straight game in goal. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . Leave it to Matt Niskanen, the newly proclaimed Eddie Haskell of the Washington Capitals. http://www.cheapnhljerseysusa.com/. Selected by the Titans in the 2007 NFL Draft, Johnson rejoined the club last season after a five-year stint with Indianapolis. Cheap NHL Jerseys China . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. Cheap NHL Jerseys Online .Cullen scored the go-ahead goal at 13:47 of the third period and Nashville beat the slumping Dallas Stars 3-2 on Thursday in a game that wasnt decided until the last shot of the night.ST. LOUIS -- Facing trouble, Michael Wacha did his best to slow down the game. He certainly frustrated New York Mets hitters who had him on the ropes. Wacha escaped a pair of jams with strikeouts, and the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a fifth-inning tie en route to a 5-2 victory on Tuesday night. "I hadnt been doing that in my last three starts," Wacha said. "It was nice to be able to start making pitches and being able to execute." Daniel Murphy couldnt deal with the changeup when he struck out with runners on second and third to end the fifth inning. "I dont think I swung at a single strike the at-bat I struck out," Murphy said. "He threw the ball well to me, and I helped him out." Murphy wasnt alone. "I dont think there are too many right-handers with a better changeup," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "I think thats accepted league-wide." Yadier Molina hit his first homer since May 24 for the Cardinals, who have won eight of nine and will go for a three-game sweep on Wednesday. They have won a season-best five in a row and are a season-best seven games above .500. David Wright hit his first homer since May 28, and Lucas Duda also connected for the Mets, who have lost 11 of 14. "Theres many sleepless nights," Wright said. "I wont lie and say its easy or it doesnt bother me, but you have to understand theres not too many players, if any, that can go through a whole season and ride that roller-coaster ride a little bit." Mets manager Terry Collins batted the pitcher eighth, with Eric Young Jr. hitting ninth, for the second straight game in an effort to stimulate the offence. During the 14-game slump, the Mets have scored two or fewer runs seven times. Daisuke Matsuzaka worked a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Mets starter Jonathon Niese (3-4). Matsuzaka left Sundays start against San Diego after one inning because of a severe upset sstomach.dddddddddddd Wacha (5-5) gave up a run and five hits in six innings. Fanning Murphy preserved a 1-all tie, and he struck out Ruben Tejada with two on to end the sixth when the Cardinals led 3-1. Wacha had a career-best 10 strikeouts on April 23 at New York but also had a career-worst five walks and lasted four innings in a loss. Jon Jays RBI triple with two outs in the fifth gave the Cardinals the lead, and Matt Holliday followed with an RBI double. Pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Peter Bourjos added RBIs in the sixth, with both runs unearned after second baseman Murphy dropped Daniel Descalsos slicing, looping liner with a man on and two out. "I just misplayed it," Murphy said. Jay is batting .405 (15 for 37) in his last 12 games with four multi-hit games. It was his first RBI since May 30. "Hes on a real good run at the plate," Matheny said. "The way hes taking his at-bats ... weve seen this before. You just see him go, and its fun to watch him go." Niese allowed five runs, three earned, in six innings. The lefty has made 18 consecutive starts allowing three or fewer earned runs. It is the longest active streak in the majors, extending to last September, but he is just 5-5 during that span. Wright entered the game 3 for 43 in his last 13 games. He leads the Mets with 34 RBIs, but has just four this month. The home run was his first on the road this season. Duda hit his ninth homer of the season leading off the ninth against Jason Motte to make it 5-2, and Anthony Recker doubled, but Pat Neshek retired the next three for his second save in four chances. NOTES: Lance Lynn (7-4, 3.16) faces Bartolo Colon (6-5, 4.15) in the series finale on Wednesday. Lynn worked eight scoreless innings in his last start. ... The Cardinals are 20-2 at home against NL East opponents the last two seasons. ... The attendance of 42,209 was St. Louis 19th sellout in 35 home games. ' ' '