Wellington Turman ready for any short-notice fight after UFC on ESPN+ 22 win

Take a look inside Wellington Turman’s win over Markus Perez at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in Sao Paulo.

[autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag] beat Markus Perez with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in Sao Paulo.

Take a look inside the fight with Turman, who picked up his first win in the UFC and won for the fifth time in six fights.

Result: Wellington Turman def. Markus Perez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Turman (16-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Perez (11-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stat: The striking battle was nearly even – Turman led 59-56 overall. But Turman landed the fight’s only two takedowns.

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Turman on the fight’s key moment

“Markus is a crazy guy. We teased each other a lot during the fight, but I had already said I would tease him the same way he teased me. It was a tough fight, but I was better.”

Turman on fighting in the UFC

“I’m very happy. It’s my dream to be part of this. I’m very young. I still have a lot to evolve.”

Turman on what he wants next

“I am always training, always on the go. Every time the UFC needs me to save a fight, I will be available.”

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Bilal Powell, Bless Austin among 5 unsung heroes in Jets’ win over Redskins

The Jets saw contributors from a couple of young players and veteran backups that helped fuel their 34-17 win over the Redskins.

The Jets finally looked like a complete team in their Week 11 win. Yes, it was against the anemic Redskins with a rookie quarterback and bad secondary, but the Jets still executed brilliantly amid a lost season.

The offense looked unstoppable behind Sam Darnold’s career-high four passing touchdowns and Jamal Adams fueled a dominant defense that held the Redskins to three points before two garbage-time touchdowns late in the game.

It was a total team effort by the Jets to grab their third victory of the season. Though they won’t take the glory, here are five unsung heroes from the Week 11 win.

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

RB Bilal Powell

The Jets finally rushed for more than 100 yards in a game thanks to the play of Bilal Powell. The veteran rusher tallied 42 yards on only seven rushes with a healthy six yards per attempt. He spelled Le’Veon Bell on 16 snaps but provided a crucial spark to the offense early in the game.

Early in the second quarter, Powell rushed for 37 yards combined on three consecutive plays to push the Jets into the red zone. Sam Darnold hit Robby Anderson six plays later to put the Jets up 13-0.

Adam Gase mentioned his desire to lessen Bell’s workload to keep him fresh and keep defenses guessing. Powell – and Ty Montgomery – should be more involved down the stretch and can help make the Jets offense much more dynamic.

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What kind of additions do Dolphins WRs need this offseason?

The Miami Dolphins are a team generally needs talent everywhere. But just how big of a need is wide receiver?

The Miami Dolphins have needs just about everywhere on their roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball — that much is certain. Offensive tackle, quarterback, running back, interior offensive line. TE Mike Gesicki has shown some life — but generally speaking he doesn’t command targets the way you’d anticipate an alpha player (or a tight end in a New England style offensive) should. But what about the wide receiver position?

If you told a Dolphins fan four months ago that the team would potentially enter 2020 with their top four receivers being DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Jakeem Grant and Allen Hurns, what would the reaction have been?

Probably not as favorable as what it is now. Of course, the situation is complicated by Preston Williams’ injury — but the Dolphins have to be encouraged by the promising display he put on the field for eight games this season. And with Jakeem Grant getting the chance this past weekend to remind everyone how dynamic he can be when he gets a little room to work, the Dolphins’ depth at the position seems to be just fine. Can DeVante Parker continue his career resurgence? He logged a career high in receiving yards this past week against the Bills, continuing an inspirational turnaround after nearly seeing himself shuttled out of South Florida before this season.

The Dolphins have a need at wide receiver — but it is probably much less pressing than what was first anticipated thanks to the developments we’ve seen come to life from Parker and Williams. The odd man out is probably Albert Wilson, who has caught 14 passes for 84 yards and is owed $9.5M in cash next year. Wilson hasn’t looked like his explosive self in recovering from last year’s hip injury — so if the Dolphins need to address the slot receiver position, they’ll likely be given a lot of flexibility to do so via either free agency or the draft.

But it’s not a pressing need — and certainly low on Miami’s priority list after considering the state of the rest of the roster.

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Meeting between Adam Gase, Sam Darnold serving as a turning point for Jets offense

The Jets offense is finally in sync after Sam Darnold’s meeting of the minds with Adam Gase in Week 8.

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It’s imperative that players and coaches are always on the same page in the NFL. One little difference in philosophy or opinion could be the direct result of a unit falling into a tailspin instead of trending in the right direction.

It took two months to accomplish at One Jets Drive, but it looks like the quarterback and head coach are finally in cohesion regarding the direction of the offense.

Following New York’s 29-15 loss to the Jaguars in Week 8, Sam Darnold had a conversation with Adam Gase to discuss the pros and cons of Gase’s offensive scheme. The discussion could’ve gone nowhere if Gase remained stubborn in his ways, a personality trait that contributed to his downfall with the Dolphins. Instead, the first-year Jets coach listened to his quarterback and absorbed his input.

The end result? A potential turning point in the direction of the offense and Darnold’s development.

There’s no sense in running an offense in which the quarterback is uncomfortable with its inner workings. Throughout the first half of the season, Gase did most of the talking and Darnold did the majority of the listening regarding New York’s offensive gameplans. While this painted a clear picture of what Gase expected out of him, the USC product’s input was limited until two months into the season. At that point, he felt comfortable enough to dish out his thoughts on the Jets’ offense.

Since the conversation in Gase’s office took place, the Jets have gone 2-1 and now sit at 3-7. It’s not an ideal record, but a welcomed one considering how bad the team looked in losses to the Patriots and Jaguars. Darnold also looks more like the quarterback who ended 2018 on a hot streak, passing for 783 yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions in New York’s last three games.

“I think the whole offense is really getting a feel for the offense,” Darnold said. “I think, just getting in that rhythm and being able to understand exactly what’s going on out there really allows us to play a lot faster.”

It’s no surprise that the Jets are suddenly in a rhythm offensively after Darnold’s meeting with Gase. It has taken longer than many expected, but New York’s offense is finally showing promise. That can be attributed to Darnold voicing his opinion and getting a better understanding of the operation.

With Gase set to return in 2020 and now on the same page with his franchise quarterback, the Jets offense should only get better from here. New York’s competition hasn’t been stiff the past couple of weeks, but don’t be surprised if Gang Green’s efficiency on offense becomes a regular occurrence for the rest of the regular season and beyond.

Four-star Texas ATH Christian Gonzalez commits to Colorado

The Colony two-way star Christian Gonzalez committed to Colorado Monday while backing away from his prior commitment to Purdue.

Colorado has landed another four-star commitment to its football Class of 2020 and — surprise, surprise — it’s another star from Texas.

For the sixth time in the Class of 2020, Colorado has landed a prospect from the Lone Star state. For the first time, it’s a four-star recruit, and a major boon to the school’s incoming class.

Christian Gonzalez, the four-star athlete prospect for The Colony (Texas) High School, has committed to Colorado ahead of Purdue, where he had previously committed, and a host of other major Division I scholarship offers. A two-way star in Texas, Gonzalez caught 40 passes for 706 yards and 12 touchdowns and carried the ball 11 times for 119 yards and one TD.

Despite his most notable contributions coming on offense, Gonzalez was expected to emerge as a defensive back prospect in Boulder. An athlete recruit, his future could still come on either side of the ball next year, and Colorado’s use of former Buffs wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini could indicate that Mel Tucker’s program sees him as a potential game-breaking wide receiver.

No matter where he eventually plays on the field, getting a commitment from Gonzalez is a big deal for Colorado. The sixth of 20 Colorado commits in the Class of 2020 from the state of Texas, Gonzalez is just the second four-star recruit to join the class.

Meanwhile, that Gonzalez marks the 22nd Colorado commitment from Texas dating back to 2017 makes clear just how reliant the Buffs have become on Lone Star state talent regardless of which coach is at the helm.

Top 3 Cowboys reaction videos from Week 11

A look at the best video clips from the Cowboys Week 11 win, including two fan entries that will make you laugh.

The Dallas Cowboys emerged victorious Sunday night with a 35-27 win over the Detroit Lions and the celebrations are always sweet when left to Cowboys Nation. Two of the entries are all about being able to laugh at your own prosperity. The third, sandwiched in between is a great look into how the team feels about their own performances.

With the New England Patriots game right around the corner, and a chance to move the Cowboys up a notch or two in their public perception, it’s important to stay loose!

No. 3: Kountry Wayne

The comedian is always checking in on Facebook with hilarious videos and he wants you to know that this is a new team and not the same one that lost four games on the year.

https://www.facebook.com/KingKountryWayne/videos/478699129658527/

No. 2: Sounds of the Game

The Dallas Cowboys’ Sounds of the Game videos are great looks into what happens on the sideline when these grown men get paid good money to play a violent kid’s game. From Michael Bennett’s pre-game speech, to Jaylon Smith’s reaction after laying a big hit on a Lions running back, the pure emotion of this team is something to behold.

Check out the responses to Michael Gallup’s catch and faux yell, as well as when the ball somehow made it past the defender into the welcoming arms of Amari Cooper.

No. 1: Rahmel Dockery

I don’t know this cat, but this video right here is everything that is great about social media. Ezekiel Elliott wasn’t the only one highly impressed with Dak Prescott along with his pregame ritual. I dare you to not watch this multiple times.

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Lakers’ Danny Green gets drug-tested by NBA after monster dunk vs. Hawks

Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter, Danny Green, gets drug-tested by NBA after monster dunk vs. Atlanta Hawks.

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Los Angeles Lakers sharpshooter Danny Green doesn’t dunk too often. So when he does finish high above the rim, people take notice. On Sunday, Green offered a Dominque Wilkins impression during the Lakers 122-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks that brought the Staples Center crowd to their feet. Then, on Monday–after his first dunk of the season–the NBA issued Green a random drug test.

During the play that got the internet buzzing, the ball bounced around the perimeter for the Lakers before LeBron James collected it and attempted a 3-pointer near the top of the key. The shot missed long, and Green came crashing in from the right wing for a putback dunk that got his teammates fired up.

Maybe it was an entirely random occurrence–or maybe it was in response to the display of unusual athleticism–but after Green’s dunk made its way around the internet, the NBA issued him a random drug test. Green took to Twitter to joke about the coincidence after being notified of the test.

“Catch one dunk and get drug tested” Green tweeted. “Surprise, surprise.”

One Laker who was most likely not surprised about Green’s random drug test was Alex Caruso. In September, after photoshopped images of a jacked-up Caruso went viral on social media, the Lakers guard was similarly drug-tested by the NBA. So either both drug tests were entirely random, or all eyes are locked on the Lakers right now–even those in the league office.

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As QB waters muddy, Dolphins’ Grier must remain diligent

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier will have his hands full weighing all of the team’s options through their offseason QB search.

If the epic roster teardown of 2019 is to be a success, the biggest piece is for the endless cycle of mediocre Dolphins quarterbacks to end in 20 A.D. (twenty years after Dan). We’ve been hearing for months now about how the Dolphins are so infatuated with Tua Tagovailoa that they were going to dedicate an offseason to set up moves to acquire him.

The term that many like to use ad nauseam is “tanking.”

A bit has happened since then.

First off, the Bengals have dropped 10 straight, while the Dolphins won two in a row before dropping a rivalry game to the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are less talented but more competitive than the Cincinnati Bengals and ultimately Miami will win more games than Cincinnati. The Bengals – not the Dolphins – will get the first crack at a quarterback in the upcoming draft, barring a trade back scenario that seems quite unlikely. Book it.

Secondly, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has ascended into a media darling. More importantly, he’s ascended into kind of a stud. Burrow has padded his resume with wins against stiff competition, most notably carrying his Tigers to victory in Tuscaloosa over the juggernaut Crimson Tide. He has taken college football by storm, and there’s reason to believe he will be the first quarterback taken in the 2020 NFL Draft — likely by the Bengals.

What makes Burrow QB1 in April’s draft even more likely is the hip injury Tagovailoa sustained in Saturday’s beatdown of Mississippi State. Tua’s season is over and he’ll have a long road of rehab ahead of him to play football in 2020 and beyond. Thankfully, at this moment in time, it appears he will be able to make a full recovery and play again — something that wasn’t so clear on Saturday afternoon.

This complicates things for, well, everyone involved. As it pertains to the Dolphins and Chris Grier, it makes things even more interesting given what we know. If what Rich Eisen heard was correct and Miami is infatuated with Tua, there are some causes and effects to note: How does the injury affect Tagovailoa’s draft stock? And how does this injury impact the Dolphins’ pursuit of him?

Burrow’s rise in popularity coupled with Tua’s injury will undoubtedly result in Tagovailoa not being taken first overall in April’s draft, something that was near consensus a few months ago. This benefits Miami. If the “excellent” prognosis is accurate, will a team, notably the Dolphins, still draft him in Round 1? That’s where things get muddied.

On one hand, Miami could still take him with its first of three first-round selections; a pick that figures to be in the top five at this point. Now that Tua is injured, they shouldn’t have to trade any assets to get him, despite them winning a few games. This is a wild reality that didn’t seem possible before the injury. On the other hand, however, is the thought of waiting to grab him with one of the team’s later picks. This must have crossed the Dolphins’ decision-makers minds by now. Grab a blue-chip talent at the top of Round 1 and get their coveted quarterback? Grier has to be salivating.

Would Grier risk that, though? Would he risk losing out on his presumed ultimate target after all the work he put in to deconstruct a roster to build back up around his darling quarterback? Would he risk letting Tagovailoa slide down the draft board to the end of Round 1 where a certain division rival has an old quarterback without a contract in 2020. Nothing would be more tragic for Dolphins fans than seeing that come to fruition.

Ultimately, Grier must trust his scouts. He must trust the doctors — both the ones working on Tua now and in the immediate future, as well as team doctors – to properly treat, diagnose, and clear the quarterback. We don’t need another Brees situation on our hands. And lastly, Grier must trust his eyes and his gut in regards to his decision. He’s moved masterfully in the offseason and during the season itself to secure assets for April. He must now have the intestinal fortitude to have the conviction to make a tough and unfathomably critical decision in April.

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Fantasy football: Should you keep or cut these 7 players ahead of Week 12?

Some help with your waiver picks this week.

You’re waking up on Tuesday reading all that you can about the players that you should be picking up off the waiver wire as you prepare for Week 12 of fantasy football in 2019.

But it’s likely there aren’t as many things written about who you should be dropping to grab those players. That’s what this weekly column — keep ’em or dump ’em! — will hopefully answer for you: Some help in the debate over who you should keep or drop in order to improve your team.

This is it — the last week of byes in the NFL season. After that? You’ll have a full lineup to work with as you try to make the playoffs. Let’s break down some names you might debating keeping or dropping.

1. RB Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons

The hot pickup of last week was supposed to take advantage of a plus matchup against the Panthers and didn’t. Now, he’s got a couple of tough opponents against the run in the Bucs and the Saints. And yet … he’s a starting RB until Devonta Freeman returns. Ugh.

VERDICT: Keep him

2. RB Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts

In case you’re thinking about dropping him, there’s a shot he comes back — maybe in the fantasy playoffs? — so you’ve got to hold on to him for now.

VERDICT: Keep him

3. RB Ty Johnson, Detroit Lions

It seems like Bo Scarbrough has taken over.

VERDICT: Drop him

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

4. TE O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You did it, didn’t you? You bought into the big game he had against the Cardinals and thought you’d take a shot. Well, there you go.

VERDICT: Drop him

5. WR Kenny Stills, Houston Texans

This is just in case you still owned him after his Week 7 explosion against the Colts.

VERDICT: Drop him

6. WR Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts

I really want to like him in a spot this week against the Texans if T.Y. Hilton is out again, but I just can’t trust him, and it seems like Hilton will be back soon.

VERDICT: Drop him

7. RB Jordan Howard, Philadelphia Eagles

A shoulder injury kept him out in Week 11, and now Jay Ajayi is his teammate. The whole RB situation is setting up to be annoying with Miles Sanders also in the mix … but you have to keep him in case he continues to find the end zone once he’s back and healthy.

VERDICT: Keep him

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Maple Leafs-Golden Knights odds: Vegas favored vs. slumping Toronto

Previewing Tuesday’s Toronto Maple Leafs at Vegas Golden Knights sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips

The Toronto Maple Leafs (9-9-4) visit the Vegas Golden Knights (10-9-3) Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena for a 10 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Maple Leafs-Golden Knights odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.

Maple Leafs at Golden Knights: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Marc-Andre Fleury

Andersen, who is on a three-game skid, is 9-4-3 with a 2.74 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. He stopped 30 of 33 shots in his last start, a 4-2 home loss to the Boston Bruins Friday. His last win was actually against the Golden Knights, a 2-1 overtime squeaker at home when he stopped 37 of 38 shots Nov. 7.

Fleury is 10-5-1 with a 2.52 GAA and a .920 SV%. He shut out the Flames in his last start, stopping all 34 shots in a 6-0 home victory Sunday. The W snapped a two-game skid for Fleury, who did not play in the Nov. 7 loss at Toronto. Fleury has struggled against the Leafs recently, dropping his last three – he allowed six goals in a 6-3 loss last February.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Maple Leafs at Golden Knights: Key injuries

Maple Leafs: Trevor Moore (shoulder) is questionable, while C Alexander Kerfoot (teeth) and C Mitch Marner (ankle) are out.

Maple Leafs at Golden Knights: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 7:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Golden Knights 5, Maple Leafs 2

Moneyline (ML)

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-154) are the STRONGEST PLAY. Both teams have struggled lately, but the Knights ended a five-game losing streak with the Calgary win, while the Maple Leafs are on a current five-game skid. If the Knights’ ML was more expensive (above -190), I would have avoided or considered taking the Leafs (+125). But I’m going to back the Knights in this one, knowing first-hand that Vegas has one of the most enthusiastic home crowds in the league.

New to sports betting? Bet $15.40 to win $10 on a Vegas victory. Every $1.54 wagered that the Knights will win profits $1 if they do.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

AVOID. Both teams are 8-14 ATS. The Golden Knights (-1.5, +170) offer better value – every $1 wagered would profit $1.70 if they win by two goals or more. The Maple Leafs (+1.5, -209) are too costly – every $2.09 wagered would profit $1 if they win or lose by just a single goal.

Over/Under (O/U)

A slight lean to the OVER 6.5 (+110) – the Under price is -134. In the Maple Leafs’ last two visits to Sin City, the Over hit with both games finishing 6-3. Toronto is 13-8 O/U on the season, while Vegas is 11-10.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s November record: 6-7. Strongest plays: 3-3.

Follow @JohnnyParlay11 and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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