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2B – Daily News – Saturday, November 20, 2010 Penn rekindles MMA love for 3rd fight with Hughes ‘‘Once you’ve been UFC 123 By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer When B.J. Penn surrendered his UFC lightweight title earlier this year, he lost some of his will to compete — and maybe even to live. The former two-division champion still known as ‘‘The Prodigy’’ had outlived his nickname, reaching his 30s with no clear direction for his career after two straight losses to Frankie Edgar. Penn briefly considered walking away from mixed martial arts until a call from UFC president Dana White gave him a chance to settle his biggest remaining score. Penn (15-7-1) and Matt Hughes will meet for the third time Saturday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills in UFC 123. Rampage Jackson fights Lyoto Machida in the main event of the UFC’s first card featuring four former champions. ‘‘Once you’ve been where me, Lyoto, Rampage and Matt have been, a lot of other stuff, it just seems bor- ing,’’ Penn said. ‘‘You know, this is the only thing that keeps me feeling like I have something to live for.’’ Penn and Hughes (46-7) both jumped at the chance to complete just the sixth trilogy in the history of the UFC, where it’s rare for a rivalry to be in question after two fights. Penn stunned the MMA world when he claimed the UFC welter- weight title in their first meeting in 2004, moving up in weight to submit one of the sport’s first stars on a choke late in the first round — and punctuating it with a kiss on the dazed Hughes’ lips. When Penn returned to the UFC two years later after a stint that included fights in Japan and a court- room battle with the league, Hughes stopped him on punches in their sec- ond meeting four years ago. Penn went on to claim the light- weight title, but he’s back in the wel- terweight division for the first time since his loss to champion Georges St. Pierre last year. The weight change was necessary, since he’s unlikely to get another shot at Edgar’s title any time soon — not with a new wave of lightweight challengers com- ing in from World Extreme Cagefight- ing. Yet Penn wasn’t done fighting. It only took a few days back home in Hilo on Hawaii’s Big Island to dis- cover that. ‘‘I think what keeps me motivated is I don’t want to go in the bar and drink,’’ Penn said. ‘‘There’s not much to do in Hilo, and when I got home after this fight ... I trained for a cou- ple of days and there was a couple of where me, Lyoto, Rampage and Matt have been, a lot of other stuff, it just seems boring.” B.J. Penn days when I just hung out and I didn’t have anything to do. I drove around the town one day and I was like, man, there’s nothing to do. I would rather be training to fight in the octagon.’’ There’s no evident bad blood between Penn and Hughes, who had planned to take the rest of the year off after submitting Ricardo Almeida in August for his third straight victory in a career revival. The 37-year-old jumped at the chance to close out his rivalry with Penn — and, he says, to earn one more big paycheck this year for his family. ‘‘B.J. beat me so easy the first time, and the second match was really a tough match for both of us,’’ said Hughes, whose first UFC fight was in 1999. ‘‘He was whipping me early in the fight, and I ended up finishing late in the fight, so there’s a lot to be said with this last match.’’ Penn’s victory in their first meeting ended Hughes’ 13-match winning streak, and Hughes acknowledged taking Penn lightly. While Penn took off for Japan, Hughes won five more fights in a row, even stopping St. Pierre. Hughes apparently injured Penn’s ribs early in their rematch, but he also unloaded a wealth of big shots before it was stopped. Hughes still describes it as his favorite victory. ‘‘That’s because I overcame the guy who beat me before,’’ he said. These two veterans say they haven’t considered their careers’ direction beyond this rivalry, which could be the biggest achievement left for both. That’s because St. Pierre has cleaned out the welterweight division, beating Hughes and Penn twice apiece and inspiring little reason to think either would get another title shot. Hughes and Penn both think a con- vincing victory on Saturday could remedy that — but for now, these two veterans aren’t coveting anything big- ger than the championship of their rivalry. ‘‘There’s some added motivation here,’’ said Hughes, who worked on grappling in Salt Lake City to prepare for Penn’s famed takedown and ground skills. ‘‘The way I feel is, if I were to lose this fight with B.J., it’s losing three fights. But if I win this fight, it’s like winning three fights.’’ The Red Bluff Daily News is pleased to offer Geographic Targeting on America’s Leading Online Network… SHORT (Continued from page 1B) elbow to treat an infection. Lee — averaging 14.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 34.6 minutes in eight games after Golden State acquired him in a July trade with the Knicks — ini- tially had surgery last Friday after he cut the inside of his elbow in a nasty collision Nov. 10 with the mouth of New York’s Wilson Chan- dler, who left a fragment of a tooth in Lee’s arm. After Lee’s elbow swelled and bled overnight, he went to an emergency room for antibi- otics. He is wearing a brace and is scheduled to be re- evaluated Tuesday. NCAAFOOTBALL Friday’s Top 25 result No.3 Boise State 51, Fresno State 0 Saturday’s top 25 games No.5 LSU vs.Mississippi, 12:30 p.m., CBS No.6 Wisconsin at Michigan, 9 a.m., ESPN No.7 Stanford at California, 12:30 p.m., CSNB No.8 Ohio St.at No.21 Iowa, 12:30 p.m., ABC No.9 Nebraska at No.18 Texas A&M, 5 p.m. No. 11 Michigan State vs. Purdue, 9 a.m. No.12 Oklahoma St.at Kansas, 9 a.m., CSNB No.13 Ark.at No.22 Miss.St., 4 p.m., ESPN No.14 Vir.Tech at No.24 Miami, 12:30 p.m., ESPN No.15 Missouri at Iowa State, 4 p.m., CSNB No.16 Oklahoma at Baylor, 5 p.m., ESPN2 No. 17 South Carolina vs.Troy, 9:21 a.m. No.19 Nevada vs.New Mexico State, 1 p.m. No.20 USC at Oregon St., 5 p.m., ABC No. 25 Utah at San Diego State, 7 p.m. Saturday’s other televised games Pittsburgh at South Florida, 9 a.m., ESPN2 Troy at South Carolina, 9 a.m., CSNC Yale at Harvard, 9 a.m., VERSUS Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M at Orlando, Fla., 11:30 a.m., ESPNC Army vs.Notre Dame at New York, 4 p.m., NBC Sacramento State at UC Davis, 4 p.m., CSNC NBA NFL AFC West WL T Pct PF PA RAIDERS 54 0 .556 235 188 Kansas City 5 4 0 .556 212 194 Chargers 4 5 0 .444 239 197 Denver East 3 6 0 .333 203 252 WL T Pct PF PA N.Y. Jets 7 2 0 .778 208 150 New England 7 2 0 .778 258 214 Miami Buffalo South Indianapolis 6 3 0 .667 240 185 Tennessee 5 4 0 .556 241 179 Jacksonville 5 4 0 .556 196 250 Houston 4 5 0 .444 217 257 North WL T Pct PF PA Baltimore 6 3 0 .667 196 165 Pittsburgh 6 3 0 .667 200 162 Cleveland 3 6 0 .333 172 182 Cincinnati 2 7 0 .222 184 213 NFC West Seattle WL T Pct PF PA 5 4 0 .556 166 199 St. Louis 4 5 0 .444 160 164 49ERS 36 0 .333 160 198 Arizona 3 6 0 .333 175 261 East WL T Pct PF PA Philadelphia 6 3 0 .667 257 209 N.Y. Giants 6 3 0 .667 236 193 Washington 4 5 0 .444 183 229 Dallas South 2 7 0 .222 194 252 WL T Pct PF PA Atlanta 7 2 0 .778 222 175 New Orleans 6 3 0 .667 201 151 Tampa Bay 6 3 0 .667 188 206 Carolina 1 8 0 .111 104 215 North WL T Pct PF PA Chicago 7 3 0 .700 191 146 Green Bay 6 3 0 .667 221 143 Minnesota 3 6 0 .333 169 195 Detroit ————————————————— Sunday’s games Oakland at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m.,CBS Tampa Bay at San Fran.,1:05 p.m.,FOX Arizona at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Carolina, 10 a.m. Buffalo at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Cleveland at Jacksonville, 10 a.m. Detroit at Dallas, 10 a.m. Green Bay at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Houston at N.Y. Jets, 10 a.m. Washington at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Atlanta at St. Louis, 1:05 p.m. Seattle at New Orleans, 1:05 p.m. Indianapolis at New England, 1:15 p.m., CBS N.Y.Giants at Philadelphia, 5:20 p.m., NBC Monday’s game Denver at San Diego, 5:30 p.m. 2 7 0 .222 215 202 5 5 0 .500 172 208 1 8 0 .111 164 245 WL T Pct PF PA WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Lakers WL Pct GB 11 2 .846 — WARRIORS 75 .583 3.5 Phoenix 6 6 .500 4.5 KINGS 47 .364 6 Clippers 1 12 .077 10 Southwest Division WL Pct GB New Orleans10 1 .909 — San Antonio 10 1 .909 — Dallas 7 4 .636 3 Memphis 4 9 .308 7 Houston 3 9 .250 7.5 Northwest Division WL Pct GB Okla. City 8 4 .667 — Portland 8 5 .615 .5 Utah Denver Minnesota 4 10 .286 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL Pct GB 9 3 .750 — Boston New York 5 8 .385 4.5 New Jersey 4 8 .333 5 Toronto 4 9 .308 5.5 Philadelphia 3 10 .231 6.5 Southeast Division WL Pct GB Orlando 8 3 .727 — Atlanta Miami 8 4 .667 .5 8 4 .667 .5 Washington 4 7 .364 4 Charlotte 4 8 .333 4.5 Central Division WL Pct GB Chicago 7 4 .636 — Indiana 5 5 .500 1.5 Cleveland 5 6 .455 2 Milwaukee 5 7 .417 2.5 Detroit 8 5 .615 .5 6 6 .500 2 Vladimir Radmanovic earned his second straight start in place of Lee, getting six points on 2-for-7 shoot- ing in 17 minutes. But the Warriors really miss Lee’s rebounding. They were out- boarded (42-33) for only the sixth time in their first 12 games. Ellis shot 17 for 30. He hit 10 of his first 14 shots and started the second quarter by making five of six. But that didn’t do it for the first sell- out crowd of the season as 19,808 went home disap- pointed. NCAABASKETBALL Friday’s Top 25 results No.1 Duke 110, Colgate 58 No. 5 Pittsburgh 68, Texas 66 No. 7 Kansas 93, North Texas 60 Minnesota 72, No.8 North Carolina 67 No.12 Kentucky 79, Portland 48 No. 13 Illinois 80, Maryland 76 No. 20 Georgetown 74, Wofford 59 Saturday’s Top 25 games No.4 Ohio State vs.UNC Wilmington, 5 p.m. No. 6 Villanova vs. Lafayette, 4 p.m. No. 15 Missouri vs. North Florida, 1 p.m. No. 16 Butler vs. Ball State, 11 a.m. No.23 BYU vs. Chicago State, 7 p.m. No.25 S.D.St.vs.Wis-Green Bay, 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s other televised games Wisconsin at UNLB, 4 p.m., VERSUS Sunday’s Top 25 games No.8 North Carolina vs.Vanderbilt, 2:30 p.m. No.9 Florida vs.Morehead State, 12:30 p.m. No.10 Syracuse vs.William & Mary, 11 a.m. No. 14 Purdue vs. Oakland, Mich., 4 p.m. No.19 Memphis at LSU, 2 p.m. No.20 Georgetown vs.N.C.State, 4:30 p.m. No.22 Virginia Tech at NC-Greensboro, 10 a.m. No.25 San Diego State vs.IUPUI, 2:30 p.m. Sunday’s other televised games Honda Puerto Rico Tip-off, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 Honda Puerto Rico Tip-off, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2 MLS CUP Sunday Colorado vs.FC Dallas at Toronto, 5:30 p.m., ESPN ODDS Glantz-Culver Line For Nov.16 NFL Sunday at Pittsburgh 7 (41.5) at N.Y.Jets Baltimore 7 (45.5) 11(37.5) Green Bay at Cincinnati 6.5 (46.5) 3 (44) 5.5 (44) 3 (43) Oakland Houston at Tennessee 7 (44) Washington at Dallas at Jacksonville 1.5 (43.5) at Kansas City 8 (44) at New Orleans 11.5 (44) Atlanta at Carolina Detroit at Minnesota Buffalo Cleveland Arizona Seattle at San Francisco 3 (41.5) Tampa Bay at New England 3.5 (50.5) at Philadelphia 3 3 (48.5) N.Y.Giants Monday at San Diego 10(50.5) NBA Saturday at Charlotte Orlando at Atlanta Miami 1 5.5 3 7 at Milwaukee 6 at San Antonio 10 at Denver at Portland New York 10 1 2.5 NHL Saturday at Boston -150 at Buffalo -125 at Montreal -165 at N.Y.Islanders-120 at Washington-160 at Carolina -110 at St.Louis -155 at Minnesota -130 at Dallas -150 at Vancouver -160 at San Jose -220 Los Angeles +130 Tampa Bay +105 Toronto+145 Florida +100 Philadelphia+140 Nashville-110 NewJersey +135 N.Y.Rangers +110 Colorado +130 Chicago+140 Columbus+180 Phoenix at Indiana Dallas at Memphis OklahomaCity Cleveland New Jersey Utah at L.A.Clippers Denver at St.Louis Indianapolis NHL WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific Division Kings WL OT Pts GF GA 12 6 0 24 55 43 Phoenix 9 5 5 23 54 57 Ducks Central Division Detroit SHARKS 95 4 22 55 49 Dallas 12 3 2 26 61 44 St. Louis 10 5 3 23 49 49 Columbus 11 6 0 22 50 44 Chicago 10 10 2 22 64 66 Nashville 8 6 3 19 45 48 Northwest Division WL OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 10 5 3 23 55 46 Colorado 11 7 1 23 68 57 Minnesota 10 6 2 22 44 42 Calgary 8 10 0 16 54 54 Edmonton 4 10 4 12 45 75 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division WL OT Pts GF GA Philadelphia 12 6 2 26 70 49 Pittsburgh 11 8 2 24 66 57 N.Y. Rangers10 9 1 21 58 57 New Jersey 5 12 2 12 34 62 N.Y. Islanders4 11 3 11 39 62 Northeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Montreal 12 6 1 25 49 39 Boston 11 5 1 23 51 31 Ottawa Buffalo 9 10 1 19 49 65 8 10 3 19 57 66 Toronto 7 8 3 17 43 52 Southeast Division WL OT Pts GF GA Washington 14 5 1 29 70 54 Tampa Bay 10 7 2 22 60 63 Carolina 9 9 1 19 62 66 Atlanta Florida 4 8 .333 3.5 ————————————————— Friday’s results New York 125, Golden State 119 Sacramento 86, New Jersey 81 Chicago 88, Dallas 83 L.A. Lakers 112, Minnesota 95 Miami 95, Charlotte 87 New Orleans 108, Cleveland 101 Oklahoma City 89, Boston 84 Philadelphia 90, Milwaukee 79 San Antonio 94, Utah 82 Toronto 106, Houston 96 Washington 89, Memphis 86 Saturday’s games Orlando at Indiana, 4 p.m. Phoenix at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Dallas at Atlanta, 5 p.m., NBATV Miami at Memphis, 5 p.m. Cleveland at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m. New Jersey at Denver, 6 p.m. Utah at Portland, 7 p.m. New York at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s games New Orleans at Sacramento,3 p.m.,CSNC Golden State at Lakers,6:30 p.m.,CSNB Boston at Toronto, 10 a.m. Washington at Detroit, 3 p.m. ————————————————— Friday’s results Atlanta 5, Washington 0 Buffalo 4, Los Angeles 2 Calgary 7, Chicago 2 Colorado 5, N.Y. Rangers 1 Columbus 4, Anaheim 3 Minnesota 4, Detroit 3, OT Phoenix 4, Edmonton 3, SO Pittsburgh 5, Carolina 4, SO St. Louis 5, Ottawa 2 Saturday’s games Columbus at San Jose,7:30 p.m.,CSNC Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 4 p.m. Los Angeles at Boston, 4 p.m. Nashville at Carolina, 4 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington, 4 p.m. Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Toronto at Montreal, 4 p.m., NHLN Colorado at Dallas, 5 p.m. New Jersey at St. Louis, 5 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Chicago at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Sunday’s games Calgary at Detroit, 2 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Atlanta, 2 p.m. Edmonton at Anaheim, 5 p.m. Phoenix at Vancouver, 6 p.m. 8 9 3 19 63 69 8 9 0 16 46 44 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. 10 9 3 23 55 65 10 7 0 20 53 49 WL OT Pts GF GA Do you… •Offer services in a specific geographic area • Sell products online and ship only within a specific geographic area • Have an offline storefront where customers purchase products •Want to drive targeted visitors to different local sites of your national company • Need to test a specific location for market potential • Are legally restricted to advertising within a specific geographic region ...Then industry-leading Geographic Targeting solution is the right fit for you. Advertising packages starting as low as $135 per month. More than a third of shoppers have already begun their Christmas shopping. Get your Christmas advertising message out early. Contact your Advertising Sale Representative Today! 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