A few hours before the Sochi Games wrap up halfway across the world, Ronda Rousey and Sara McMann will meet in a cage in Las Vegas for the UFCs celebration of its own Olympic spirit. Judo bronze medallist Ronda Rousey takes on wrestling silver medallist Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170 on Saturday night. Former U.S. Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier headlines the undercard against UFC newcomer Patrick Cummins. Two female Olympians have never met in the UFC octagon, and Rousey jumped on the chance to accomplish another MMA first, even if its just 56 days after she was booed out of the octagon for refusing to shake hands after her last victory over Miesha Tate. "Im super stoked, and its even better its happening with the Sochi Winter Olympics," Rousey said. "It just seems like this is the absolute perfect time for it to happen." Rousey (8-0) has become one of mixed martial arts biggest stars since her UFC debut in February 2013, and shell soon be a movie star as well. But Rousey realizes she owes her fame and fortune to judo, which took her around the world and eventually to the Beijing Olympics six years ago. With her victory over Tate on Dec. 28 still fresh in her mind, Rousey returns at the Mandalay Bay Events Center against McMann (7-0), who won silver in freestyle wrestling at the Athens Games in 2004. "Its a big challenge," Rousey said. "Its the biggest one Ive had to this day. I think its showing how quickly the womens division is progressing. The men, theyve had a lot of Olympians and guys with Olympic backgrounds competing before, but this is the first time weve had two undefeated Olympic medallists fighting for a title." Rouseys Olympic experience defines everything she does in MMA. Her judo skills have been her defining strength in the octagon, where she grabs and throws opponents to the canvas seemingly at will before landing her signature armbar submission on every fighter she has ever faced. She also learned the discipline necessary to be successful in MMA from the decidedly unglamorous world of judo, where internal politics eventually soured her on the sport. After she picked up MMA a few years ago, she found it suited her perfectly. Its much the same story for McMann, who wasnt sure what to do after her wrestling career until she found a new sport. "I do it for different reasons, but (Rousey and McMann) come from sports where you dont really make any money," said McMann, who has a young daughter. "Youre just doing it because of love of doing it," she added. "But at some point, when you have to work full-time and you have a family, you cant do all those things. There are just not enough hours in the day. So if you can do what you love to do and train professionally and then spend time with your family, thats an awesome, rare thing to be able to do." Cormier has a similar story, taking his first professional MMA fight in 2009 only after making two Olympic wrestling teams and winning gold at the Pan-Am Games. After winning his first two UFC fights as a heavyweight, he has dropped down to light heavyweight to avoid having to fight his teammate, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Rashad Evans was scheduled to meet Cormier at UFC 170, but dropped out with a leg injury 10 days ago, opening the door for Cummins, who had to quit his job as a barista to take the fight on late notice. Rousey isnt worried about the quick turnaround after her third-round victory over Tate in the UFCs holiday show. That fight was her first in 10 months after taking time off to film the latest sequels in the "Expendables" and "Fast and Furious" franchises. "The movie stuff was fun, but by the time it was over, I was glad," Rousey said. "Thats why its good to do the movie stuff and fighting. By the time I was done filming, I was so ready to get back to the gym. I was sitting around Bulgaria, thinking, Man, I miss my gym." And Rousey insists she isnt plotting her escape from the sport, even while shes getting more calls for more movies and entertainment jobs. "Im a fighter," she said. "Thats why anyone in Hollywood is even interested in me at all." Manchester City Jerseys .C. -- The Steve Smith era in Carolina is over. Daniel Grimshaw Manchester City Jersey . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. http://www.authenticmanchestercityshop.com/Authentic-Benjamin-Mendy-Manchester-City-Jersey/ . Team officials did not indicate the extent of the injury Saturday, simply listing Rose with "left knee soreness." Rose has played two preseason games without any sign of problems. The first NBA game in South America now will be missing its biggest star. Eliaquim Mangala Manchester City Jersey . Kevin Durant certainly played like there was on Sunday night, scoring 36 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Thunder made quick work of the visiting Pacers with a 118-94 win. Blank Manchester City Jersey . McCutchen was cut before the series opener against Seattle on Monday night, when Lewis was set for his first start for Texas since July 18, 2012. Texas selected Lewis contract from Triple-A Round Rock.VAL DISERE, France -- Canadas Julien Cousineau put the finishing touches on a long and difficult road back from injury in Sundays World Cup slalom qualifying for his first second run -- and secured his first top-30 finish -- since 2011. The 32-year-old from Lachute, Que., attacked from the back to jump from 56th to ninth after the first run and then finish 18th overall, with his teammate Mike Janyk of Whistler, B.C., close behind him in 21st. Cousineaus standout performance represented a huge personal victory after two difficult years in which he first battled back from injury and then was unable to qualify for a second run in a World Cup race. "Its been a long time. Its good for my head and its good for the team," said Cousineau, who clocked a two-run combined time of one minute 46.30 seconds. "I just skied like Ive been doing all summer and ended up with a great time. "Its fun to finally be able to show what Ive been doing in training instead of just talking about it." Starting 56th on a course that was deteriorating as the race went on, Cousineau finished in the top 10 in his first run. "I didnt think it was that good. It felt rough and I was fighting all the way down," Cousineau said of his first run. "When I crossed the line aand saw the position I was like, Wow.dddddddddddd I was pretty excited. A lot of stress lifted with that. "I havent made a second run since December 21 in 2011. I hurt my knee after that." Janyk needed a top-12 result to earn a spot at the Sochi Games, but struggled with a stomach bug. "I was pretty green this morning," said Janyk, who had a two-run combined time of 1:46.49 and was the second-fastest racer in the top section of the second run. "In my runs I had no power at the bottom. "First run I was touch and go but made it down. Second run I found some energy. There were good top sections on both runs but for me personally it was a mixed bag." With Austrian superstar Marcel Hirscher failing to qualify for the second run, veteran Mario Matt, also of Austria, took the win in 1:44.59. Swedens Mattias Hargin was second (1:45.12) and Italys Patrick Thaler was third (1:45.37). Calgarys Brad Spence was 36th after the first run -- less than four-tenths of a second out of qualifying for the second run -- as he continues his comeback from a long-term injury. Torontos Phil Brown, and Paul Stutz, of Banff, Alta., did not finish their first runs. Stutz, in particular, looked set for a good race after he was 20th in the top split. ' ' 'g playoff game each of the last three seasons, the Reds arent going to get a final grade until well after the regular season has ended. Price isnt going to dwell on it with his players. "For me, the references — if any — will be very short in discussing the past," he said. "Theres nothing we can do about it. Ive inherited a phenomenal group of guys that really want to play this game beyond where weve been." The Reds are in good shape as they get started. The pitching staff is mostly healthy. Reliever Jonathan Broxton had surgery to repair a tear in his forearm lastt August and has been making good progress in his throwing program during the off-season.dddddddddddd. Hes the only one who may not be fully ready for opening day. "Hes stayed constant in his throwing progress, which is terrific," Price said. "And we definitely anticipate him being on the mound this month. If thats enough time to get him ready for the season, well see. Well probably have a lot better answer when we get into those last 10 days of March." Right-hander Johnny Cueto has fully recovered from strained muscles in his right side that bothered him most of last season. Cueto wound up on the disabled list three times, limiting him to 11 starts. "That being said, youre talking about a guy who ended the season healthy and there shouldnt be any impediments to his spring training based on last year," Price said. "We can hit the ground running without any inhibitions." Left-hander Tony Cingrani has recovered from back spasms that limited him during his rookie season. Cingrani moves into the spot that opened when Bronson Arroyo left as a free agent, signing with Arizona. The Reds keep in touch with players in the off-season to monitor their health. So far, the reports on all of them are encouraging, although the club will know for sure when they take physicals on Friday before the first workout. "So its probably an easier question to answer once we get through physicals tomorrow, but Im optimistic well be in good health," Price said. NOTES: Price is curious whether the bad weather on the East Coast will interfere with players travel. He said four club officials who were expected for a staff meeting on Thursday couldnt make it because their flights were cancelled. ... The position players report next Wednesday for physicals and the first full-squad workout. The Reds open their spring training schedule against the Indians on Feb. 26. ' ' 'rez will be back in a few days.CENTURION, South Africa -- Simon Dyson birdied his last four holes in a 7-under 65 to take the clubhouse lead at the Tshwane Open on Thursday. Trevor Fisher Jr. was also 7 under through 16 holes of his opening round before play was suspended because of a thunderstorm in Centurion. Englishman Dyson made a strong finish at Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate and had seeven birdies in all and no dropped shots on the Ernie Els-designed course.ddddddddddddSouth Africas Fisher Jr. also had seven birdies but with two holes to complete in his opening round. Another Englishman, Ross Fisher, and South Africans Jared Harvey and Erik van Rooyen shot 6-under 66s to be a shot behind Dyson in the European Tour event. ' ' '