Wartungsarbeiten » ifornia, Krikorian met with his players and urged

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Fighters at a gym tucked inside an old Morgantown shopping mall grab, twist and leverage each others limbs and heads, seeking small advantages and aiming for submission holds.Its the less glamorous stuff of mixed martial arts, a sport now legal in West Virginia thats faulted at times for its violence because of its highlight-reel knockout punches and flying kicks.West Virginia legalized MMA just last year for amateurs, though there were some unsanctioned fights before, and lawmakers had approved MMA fights by paid professionals in 2011.On Sunday, the lawmakers begin reviewing the sports new regulations. They specify safety measures like prohibiting anyone under 18 from state-sanctioned fights and requiring blood tests for HIV and hepatitis even for amateurs.Youve got to train smart, Josh Fowler said amid an hour of grappling on the big blue mat at Ground Zero Fighting Systems. The gyms 39-year-old co-owner, he plans to have his fourth amateur MMA bout in April. If you train smart you can do this for a long time.Under the new rules, amateur kicks to the head are allowed. Promoters have to post bonds and provide insurance coverage for injuries. Amateurs can turn pro after four sanctioned fights, instead of eight, if they show they can compete. A doctor is required at ring or cage matches, just like the professional sport. Brain scans would be required for contestants over 40.I have never, thank God, seen anybody seriously hurt, said Leon Ramsey, chairman of the State Athletic Commission that issued the regulations and sanctioned 292 amateur bouts in the past year.A former professional fighter and trainer, he sees well-regulated MMAs sporting promise in a state without professional teams. Smaller venues can draw crowds with affordable tickets where fighters can gain skill and experience locally and progress, he said.The current commission has three other members: Dr. Tim Peasak, a physician; Paul Thornton, a former referee; and Tony Figaretti, a longtime boxing official.Last years amendments both permitted fight cards at venues with less than 2,500 seats and legalized amateur cards.Weve been banging shows out like crazy since then, promoter Chris Smith said. He put on MMA cards in the past year around West Virginia called Ruckus in the Cage, mostly with amateurs. He said those were held before crowds ranging from about 1,000 to 2,300 people.There were about 15 MMA cards statewide last year among 44 boxing or other fight promotions sanctioned by the State Athletic Commission, Ramsey said.MMAs fan popularity may have peaked a few years ago fanned by Ultimate Fighting Championship television shows, Smith said. He sees good prospects for its comeback and no shortage of fighters in West Virginia.Ive been filling cards with 25 fights, no problem, Smith said. I could fill a card up with a whole lot more than that.Ramsey sees that as a reflection of homegrown character. Your average West Virginian is tough, he said.The commission has also approved 166 pro boxing bouts and 690 tough man-style fights in the past year, he said.Ramsey may have been the first native to fight in mixed martial arts, starting in 1997 in other states, posting a pro record of 6-3. For 20 years he trained other fighters. Now 55, he doesnt do it anymore but believes martial arts is clearly positive for youths.Amateur blood tests are to start in January, which may winnow less serious fighters, Smith said. Hes now putting together more tough man-style boxing shows where would-be fighters can sign up and compete for prizes. The new wrinkle is for kickboxing, something he said state regulators agreed to, he said.Ground Zero has about 15 fighters, a mix of conventional boxers, kickboxers and mixed martial artists. Others train only in jiu-jitsu, which Fowler took up first 11 or 12 years ago. He has had broken toes, fingers and an ankle, but has never been knocked out or received a concussion, he said.Theres definitely more people participating in combat sports nowadays than there used to, Fowler said. The UFC is directly responsible for that increase in the last 20 years. Its the best marketing tool you can get for about anything -- minus character, fair play and sportsmanship. Youve got to do that on your own.The married father of two, who has a full-time job in information technology, had his first amateur MMA bout last year. I just wanted to prove that jiu-jitsu worked on fighters and fools, he said.His three wins, against a skilled fighter, a college-level wrestler and someone without particular skills, ended in chokehold submissions. Proving jiu-jitsu works, he said. Joe Namath Jets Jersey . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Joe Klecko Youth Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Dennis-Byrd-Jersey/ . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Dennis Byrd Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Sam Darnold Youth Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Ashleigh Johnson and KK Clark joined a couple of Brazilian dancers for a samba lesson. Maggie Steffens grabbed an American flag for the party on the pool deck. One by one, the players draped their gold medals around the neck of grieving coach Adam Krikorian.The U.S. saved its best for last, and Italy never stood a chance.Johnson made nine saves, Kiley Neushul scored three goals on four shots and the United States routed Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight Olympic gold medal in womens water polo.To play as well as we did today in that moment and that atmosphere in a gold-medal game when youve been thinking about this for the last four years is just, its a dream come true, Krikorian said.Makenzie Fischer and Rachel Fattal each had two goals for the Americans, who stretched their win streak to 22 games with their sixth victory in Rio de Janeiro by a combined score of 73-32.I think we really did change the game, said Johnson, who was voted the top goaltender of the tournament. We played completely different than the games ever been played before. Really fast, intelligent, its really fun to watch and its great to play.Russia took home the bronze, beating Hungary 19-18 on penalty shots. Its the first womens water polo medal for Russia since 2000.Neushul and Steffens each gave Krikorian a big hug as they left in the final minute, and Neushul patted him on the head. When the final seconds ticked off, Krikorian walked over to congratulate Italy coach Fabio Conti, and then was tackled into the pool by a couple of his jubilant players.In another Olympics dominated by U.S. women, Steffens -- the MVP and probably the best player in the world -- and her teammates shined as brightly as any of them. The water polo tournament shifted to the Olympic Aquatics Stadium following the swimming competition, and the array of Pac-12 stars that dominate the U.S. roster picked up right where Katie Ledecky and company left off, wearing down their opponents with superior speed, athleticism and strength.The U.S. women were the overwhelming favorites all along -- and they played like it. The 12 goals and seven-goal margin were records for the Olympic final.USA is, in this moment, a team of another universe, Conti said.The Americans pounded Brazil 13-3 before outslugging Hunngary 14-10 in the semifinals.dddddddddddd They held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of only 44 seconds -- in the first quarter against Hungary on Wednesday.Its one of the best teams Ive ever been a part of, and Ive been a part of some really amazing teams, Neushul said. The team is so versatile, so many different threats. We have speed. We have size. We have athleticism, and I think this team was one of the first teams to display all those different styles in one team.By the time Krikorian and the U.S. staff hit the pool for a celebratory swim, the Americans possessed each of the major crowns in womens water polo, adding a second Olympic gold to their world championship, World Cup and World League Super Final titles.The scene after the final was the top of an emotional roller coaster for Krikorian, who rushed home before the United States first game to be with his family after the sudden death of his brother Blake, a former water polo player at UCLA and beloved Silicon Valley entrepreneur.Before departing for California, Krikorian met with his players and urged them to make the most of their Olympic experience. He returned in time for an opening 11-4 victory over Spain, and then nearly broke down in tears while talking about his brother after the win.Blakes 49th birthday would have been Thursday, and Krikorians wife, Anicia Mendez, surprised him in Rio to be there with him for the sad day and then the final.Its not about me and its about the team, and that has actually helped me and thats made it actually fairly easy, he said, and that doesnt take away from the love I have for my family or my brother. Its more of a sign of respect and love that I think we all have for each other.Krikorian brushed away any talk of winning it all for him and his family, insisting Blake himself would think it was a ludicrous notion, but his players pledged their support for their mourning coach. And they delivered with their play -- all the way to the gold medal.Thats what were about, Steffens said, is going out there, having fun and playing the best water polo we can.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '