HALIFAX - Chances are Matt Dwyers UFC debut Saturday night

[blueberryjerry]

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 . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded. . - Jason Day and Cameron Tringale shot an 8-under 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play to increase their lead to three strokes in the Franklin Templeton Shootout. . The England international had both goals in TFCs season-opening 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Joe McKnight and Braylon Edwards are suddenly out of work, surprising cuts by the New York Jets on Monday. For McKnight, a backup running back and the teams primary kick returner the last two seasons, its the latest setback in a tumultuous summer. Edwards departure in his third stint with the Jets could put his career in jeopardy. "Both those guys, both Joe and Braylon, had tremendous moments for us," coach Rex Ryan said. "They contributed a lot to our franchise, without question, but were trying to move forward." Veteran guard Stephen Peterman, who was signed in the off-season and appeared in line to start at left guard until recently, was also released as the Jets reduced their active roster to 75 players by the NFLs Tuesday deadline. Also cut were: running back Chad Spann, offensive linemen Patrick Ford and Trey Gilleo, wide receivers Joe Collins, Marcus Rucker, K.J. Stroud and Rahsaan Vaughn, linebacker Sean Progar-Jackson, defensive backs Donnie Fletcher and Bret Lockett, punter Ryan Quigley and long snapper Patrick Scales. McKnight, the teams fourth-round draft pick in 2010, was involved in a series of incidents this summer that included an arrest for unpaid traffic warrants, a concussion, migraine headaches, a few questionable posts on Twitter and some tension with the media. He was active for the first time this preseason on Saturday night after being sidelined by a concussion, but did not play. In an interview with The Associated Press last week, McKnight said he didnt feel comfortable about his roster status. "I have to get on the field this week, these next two games, and then prove something," he said last Tuesday. "Ive got to make sure these next few practices and these last two preseason games are real good. Ive just got to get out there on the field and make some plays. I just need to do this." He never made it onto the playing field against the Giants, even on kickoffs, which seemed curious at the time. McKnight has two career kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a team-record 107-yard return in 2011 that stands as the longest play in Jets history. Kyle Wilson, Clyde Gates, Jeremy Kerley and even Antonio Cromartie might now serve as the teams kick returners. In May, McKnight angrily responded to speculation that his time with the Jets could soon be up, saying: "Theyll have to kill me to take my spot." McKnight didnt pass his conditioning test the day before the team reported for training camp to SUNY Cortlaand last month, but did so the next day. . He was arrested in New Jersey on a day off from camp last month for outstanding traffic warrants, and later released on bail. McKnight then injured his head during practice -- he confirmed it was a concussion although the Jets never officially called it a concussion -- and was cleared to return a few days later, wearing a red no-contact jersey. He refused to answer questions that day about the concussion or arrest, repeatedly saying, "Im not getting into that right now." Two weeks ago, McKnight was carted to the locker room, wearing an oxygen mask, after banging his head on the ground during a play. He had taken a knee three times on his way to the field earlier that day while dealing with a migraine headache. Later that morning, he angrily responded on Twitter to someone he thought was a reporter who wrote that he should get released. The final straw for the Jets might have come last week when McKnight, refusing to speak to the media, gave a reporter one of the team-issued media "bridges" cards that was given to players with suggested talking points for interviews. "Im over it all, but for whats going on, I know who my enemies are and whos with me," he told the AP last week. "Ive just got to address those people accordingly." Edwards was dealing with a leg injury that kept him out of the teams preseason game against the Giants on Saturday night. Edwards was signed just before training camp began last month, marking his third tenure with the Jets. He had been given rest days throughout camp as a precaution after dealing with recent knee issues, but the Jets appear to have moved on. The team signed Mohamed Massaquoi last week to add depth to the receiving corps, and had two catches for 36 yards while Edwards wasnt active. The 30-year-old Edwards played his first four seasons in Cleveland, and was acquired by the Jets in 2009. He signed with San Francisco as a free agent in 2011, and was claimed late last season off waivers by the Jets from Seattle. "Will we close our door on a player returning? No, I dont believe so," Ryan said. "But right now, this is what we felt was in the best interest of our football team overall." Peterman was signed in April after spending the last seven seasons with Detroit. The improved play of Vladimir Ducasse and rookie Brian Winters at left guard made him expendable. Peterman was also working a bit at centre to potentially back up Nick Mangold. ' ' '

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