Ahead of Robbie Lawler’s welterweight showdown with Matt Brown this weekend, we take a look back at one of the UFC title contender’s most spectacular finishes... MMA fans have been salivating ever since the upcoming clash between Lawler and Brown was announced, with both men known for their ability to finish fights. 19 of Lawler’s 23 career wins have come via KO or TKO, while 12 of Brown’s 19 career wins have come courtesy of strikes. Brown has never been stopped via strikes, but Lawler has the stand-up skill and power to threaten that statistic. In the video above you can see just how lethal Lawler is. We rewind to July 2013 when the ‘Ruthless’ one dispatched Bobby Voelker in brutal fashion. ]>
Saturday will see Matt Brown look to take a big step towards a UFC welterweight title shot when he faces Robbie Lawler, and ahead of this eagerly-anticipated showdown we take a look back at one of his most impressive outings to date. MMA fans have been salivating ever since this scrap between Brown and Lawler was announced, with both men known for their ability to finish fights. 12 of Brown’s 19 career wins have come via KO or TKO, 19 of Lawler’s 23 career wins have come courtesy of strikes. These two men are expected to wage a war this weekend, and for Brown a win would see him take a big stride towards his first ever UFC title fight. So ahead of this bout, we take a look back at Brown’s most recent outing where he showed incredible resolve before going on to stop Erick Silva. ]>
UFC Fight Night Dublin takes place tonight and  readers can claim an enhanced 4/1 about Conor McGregor knocking out Diego Brandao in the main event in Ireland. McGregor is making a glorious homecoming as he fights in his native Ireland for the first time since signing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the ‘Notorious’ one is looking to put on a show for his fellow countrymen at the O2 Arena in Dublin. The bookmakers fully expect the Irishman to deliver a victory, with Paddy Power just 1/4 that he has his hand raised at the end of the fight. They are also confident that the victory will come via a knockout, with the Irish firm going 5/6 about McGregor winning by KO, TKO or Disqualification. However,  readers can get those odds on a KO win boosted to 4/1 courtesy of Betfair – and you could say this bookmaker is giving away free money. 12 of McGregor’s 14 career wins have come via knockout, while opponent Brandao has been knocked out five times in his career – with his last UFC outing ending in a first-round KO at the hands of Dustin Poirier.]>
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could smash the club’s transfer record for the second summer running, according to director Lord Harris of Peckham. Wenger has not been known to spend vast sums of money in recent years, but the Frenchman splashed out £42.5 million to land Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013 and a Gunners director claims that was just a sign of things to come. Arsenal are desperate to close the gap between themselves and the Premier League title favourites for next season, having finished fourth this time around, and Lord Harris claims the Gunners’ pursuit of glory will lead to them eclipsing the record fee laid out for Ozil. “We want to win the Premier League and the Champions League,” he told the London Evening Standard. “If we buy two or three players then I think we can.“We want to win. We don’t want to be second, we don’t want to be third and we don’t want to be fourth. We will support Arsene with the players he wants to buy. He has always been encouraged to spend.“We would [smash the club record transfer fee]. It would be easy. I wouldn’t say if [the total budget] is £100 million, I wouldn’t say it’s £50 million and I wouldn’t say it’s £150 million.“If Arsene has asked for any player then we have always backed him to go and buy. With the exception of [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Gareth] Bale, we could buy most players.” One man who could be a summer target for Wenger is former midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who left the club for Barcelona back in 2011. The Telegraph claim Arsenal will not make his signing a priority, but they are expected to activate their ‘buy-back’ clause if another Premier League side makes a play for the Spain international.]>
Holland international Arjen Robben has rubbished reports he could leave Bayern Munich for Manchester United this summer. New United manager Louis van Gaal will set about overhauling the United squad this summer, following a miserable 2013/14 campaign under David Moyes, and reports in recent days have suggested the Dutchman could make compatriot Robben one of his big signings. The 30-year-old is no stranger to English football, having won the Premier League title twice at Chelsea, but he has shot down any chance of him leaving Munich for Manchester this summer, insisting he wants to see out the contract he signed with the German champions in March. “That’s not an option,” the 30-year-old told De Telegraaf. “I’m staying with Bayern Munich. Period. I cannot imagine why Bayern would want to lose me. I just renewed my contract and we are happy with each other. It’s very different when you’re not completely happy.“I had a fantastic time with van Gaal at FC Bayern and know what I have with him. Van Gaal and Guardiola are the best trainers I have worked with. I feel good so I will stay where I am. The chance is zero that I make the switch.” One man who does appear to be on his way to Old Trafford is Southampton left-back Luke Shaw. The 18-year-old has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Saints and it looks set to earn him a switch to United, but for now he is focusing on the World Cup after playing his way into the England setup. “It [a move to United] is something that is not even on my mind,” the teenager told the Daily Mail. “Transfer talk is completely gone – I am here to focus on England and England only.”]>
Derby County are boosted by the return of midfielder Craig Bryson for Saturday’s massive Championship Play-off Final against Queens Park Rangers. Bryson was absent from the Rams starting XI that thrashed Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 in the second leg of their semi-final tie, but the return of the Scot for this one is welcome news for manager Steve McClaren. Bryson has forced himself into the Scotland national team following an impressive campaign that has seen him score 16 times, and his partnership with 25-goal hitman Chris Martin – also now a Scotland international – is one of the most lethal outside the Premier League. McClaren will be looking for the pair to put QPR to the sword on Saturday, with Will Hughes likely to make way for Bryson. Queens Park Rangers are sweating on the fitness of full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto and midfielder Niko Kranjcar for Saturday’s clash with the Rams. A knee injury kept Assou-Ekotto out of both legs of the play-off semi-final win over Wigan Athletic, while Kranjcar has been struggling with a hamstring injury picked up in the second-leg win over the Latics. There is also confusion over the status of defender Yun Suk-Young. This week manager Harry Redknapp claimed the South Korean had been cleared to play before joining up with his national team ahead of the World Cup, but the Korea Football Association claim they have not given Suk the green light to appear at Wembley. “We’ve never given QPR the permission to keep Yun Suk-young (for the match),” a KSA official claimed. “For the past few days, QPR officials haven’t answered our calls. Coach Redknapp’s comments make no sense at all.” While there is controversy of Suk, the situation is rather straightforward in the case of three Rangers players. Midfielder Alejandro Faurlin has returned to training following the cruciate knee injury that has kept him sidelined since last November, but this game comes far too soon for the Frenchman. He is joined in the sidelines by midfielder Jermaine Jenas (knee) and winger Matt Phillips (ankle).]>
Wayne Rooney has revealed he would love the opportunity to captain Manchester United next season. United appointed Louis van Gaal on a three-year deal last week and one of the first things the Dutchman must do is appoint a new captain now that Nemanja Vidic has left the club for Italian side Inter Milan. Rooney is a popular option among United supporters and the 28-year-old has now admitted he would relish the opportunity to wear the armband going forward, although reports have suggested Robin van Persie could be given the honour. “I've captained United a few times and to get it on a full-time basis would be great,” he told reporters. “I feel I am ready for (the captaincy), but it's the manager's decision.“If he chooses someone else, then honestly I've got no problems with that. I will respect his decision. Robin [van Persie] is captain of his country, he has captained Arsenal and if Robin gets the nod to be captain, then I'm sure he'll do a great job.” The 2013/14 campaign proved to be a miserable season for United but one man who has emerged with some credit is Rooney, but the England international insists he has plenty to prove once van Gaal takes the reins after this summer’s World Cup. “When a new manager comes in, you always feel you have to prove yourself over again,” Rooney insisted. “You don't know what ideas he has got or how he wants to play. I have not met him yet.“So when we've finished the World Cup and when we go back into training, it will be like a new start and you've got to prove yourself again to make sure the manager picks you.” And despite last season’s struggle, Rooney believes it is an exciting time to be associated with United following the “great appointment” of former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax boss van Gaal. “I think everybody knew for the last few weeks that Louis van Gaal was going to take over,” the United star continued. “And the record he has got around European football is fantastic. He has won a lot of major trophies and it is great that it is sorted out now.“It is obviously great that Ryan [Giggs] has stayed with him as his number two. It is exciting and it is going to be an exciting time at the club.”]>
Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will both be fit for Saturday’s Champions League Final clash with Atletico Madrid, manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed. Ronaldo and Bale were absent from a first-team training session on Tuesday, sparking speculation about the pair’s fitness ahead of this massive clash, but Ancelotti has been quick to squash any suggestion that his two most prized assets will not face Atletico in Lisbon. “Gareth and Cristiano will play and that's the most important thing,” he declared. Ronaldo was restricted to a light individual session as he continues to nurse a thigh problem that forced him to pull out of Saturday’s game during the warm up, while Bale sat out training completely. However, the Welshman has insisted nothing should be read into his absence. “It's normal in the week that one or two players miss training now and again just for a bit of rest and recovery. So I'm ready to go,” he told Sky Sports News. “We are all very excited for the final. It's a massive game and we obviously want to win it and I can't wait for it to come round now.” While Ronaldo and Bale are set to feature in the final, Ancelotti is sweating over the fitness of striker Karim Benzema, who suffered an abductor injury during Real Madrid’s final La Liga match against Espanyol. The Frenchman has formed a lethal attacking partnership with Ronaldo and Bale, so his absence would be a big blow for Ancelotti. “We know that [Benzema] is not at 100%,” Ancelotti admitted. “If there is any risk of him getting injured [ahead of the World Cup] then it’s best to leave him out.” Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid’s injury concerns are far worse with Diego Costa and Arda Turan both facing up to the prospect of missing out on the Champions League Final due to their respective injuries. Costa has been in blistering form for Atletico this season, bagging 36 goals to grab the attention of Chelsea, and the Spain international would have been one of the first names on Diego Simeone’s team sheet had he not suffered a hamstring tear in the early stages of last weekend’s title-clinching draw at Barcelona. Costa has flown to Belgrade to see a controversial placenta doctor in a bid to overcome the injury in time to face Real, but most expect him to sit out the final. A knee problem forced Turan to limp off during the same game, and he too is racing against time to be fit for the final, although there have been reports in the local Madrid media that he could be overcome the problem in time to line up against Real.]>
Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a record-setting campaign in the Champions League this season. Here we take a look back at every single goal the Real Madrid star has scored on the road to the final! Since his opening-night hat-trick against Galatasaray, Ronaldo has been simply unstoppable in this competition, scoring in nine of his Champions League outings to help Real on their way to a final showdown against city rivals Atletico Madrid. One hat-trick, five braces and a host of stunning strikes has meant Ronaldo now holds the record for most goals in a Champions League campaign (16), and his seven goals during the knockout phase has taken his career tally to a record-setting 33 goals during this part of the competition. Ronaldo sat out last weekend’s game at Espanyol due to a hamstring problem, but Real coach Carlo Ancelotti is confident the Portuguese will be fit for Saturday’s season-ending showdown in Lisbon. “He didn't feel comfortable [during the warm-up] and we decided to take him out to avoid any risk,” Ancelotti told reporters. “If it had been the final, of course Cristiano would have risked it and played - but we didn't need to do that. We think he can play the final.” So with Ronaldo fit to continue his record-setting season in the Champions League, we take a look back at the 16 goals the Real Madrid ace has netted in this season’s competition. And could there be more in the final?]>
Yaya Toure’s future at Manchester City is in doubt following a bizarre rant by his agent, Dimitry Seluk. Toure has just enjoyed a career-best season with the newly-crowned champions, playing a vital role in City’s title success while becoming only the second midfielder to score over 20 Premier League goals in a single season. However, the Ivorian’s future at the club appears to be uncertain after his agent accused City of disrespecting his client in an outburst that has been reported by The Sun newspaper. “Yaya is so upset he’s thinking of leaving,” Seluk said. “There are a number of things that have happened that have left Yaya feeling bitterly upset. He must concentrate on the World Cup now. But City have treated him with disrespect and have really hurt him.” Seluk then went on to claim the midfielder is unhappy because no-one from the club wished him ‘happy birthday’ during the club’s trip to Abu Dhabi last week. “What happened at his birthday meant the club don't care about him,” Seluk declared. “It was proof. They can say whatever they want, 'Oh we like him but we forgot'. Forgot? About Yaya? The player who helped you to be two-times Premier League champions? The guy who helped you win the FA Cup and the League Cup?“His birthday can be on a normal day and, in a normal team, his team-mates and club would at least give him good wishes. But when you win the title on May 11, a day later you go to Abu Dhabi and on May 13 you have a big party to celebrate the title and nobody comes to Yaya to say, 'Happy birthday', what more do you want? They don't give any attention to Yaya. This is the s***tiest thing.” This is not the first time Seluk has launched an attack on the Manchester club. Last March – ironically in The Sun – he told City that Toure would look to move on if he was not offered a new contract within a matter of days. Toure soon put pen-to-paper on a new four-year deal worth £200,000-a-week, and Seluk insists his latest rant has nothing to do with getting an even better deal out of the English champions. “Yaya is rich enough, I am rich enough and for us the most important thing is relationships,” he claimed. “They don't know that money can't buy relationships - no Sheikh can buy a relationship. This isn't about money or a new contract - it's about human relationships and City have shown they don't respect him. I repeat, this is not about money. In fact, he would take less to return to Barcelona.” ]>
Atletico Madrid go in search of domestic and European double when they face Real Madrid on Saturday night, and here we take a look back at Atletico’s route to the Champions League Final in Lisbon. Atletico ended an almost four-month exile from the Champions League with a strong 3-1 victory over Zenit St Petersburg. Miranda, Ardan Turan and Leo Baptistao were all on target as the Madrid men made a flying start in Group G. [txt23163] Diego Simeone’s men were forced to show their fighting spirit to make it two wins from two games in the group. Jackson Martinez gave Porto the lead, but Diego Godin levelled matters when he struck 13 minutes into the second half. Arda Turan then completed the comeback by scoring Atletico’s winner four minutes from time. [txt11876] Atletico maintained their perfect record with a solid 3-0 win in Vienna. Raul Garcia gave them the perfect start with an early goal, and Diego Costa then put the result beyond doubt as he scored either side of half-time. [txt14997] Atletico booked their place in the last 16 with two games to spare thanks to a convincing 4-0 win over Austria Vienna. Joao Miranda opened the scoring in 11 minutes before goals from Raul Garcia and Filipe Luis saw them pull away. Costa completed the rout with his third goal of the campaign eight minutes from time. [txt8312] Atletico maintain their unbeaten record with a 1-1 draw in Russia, but they could have left with all three points had Thibaut Courtois’ blunder not cancelled out Adrian Lopez’s second-half strike.  [txt36599] Atletico completed a fine group stage campaign with a 2-0 victory over Porto. Garcia and Costa were the goalscorers as the Spanish side progressed to the knockout phase in fine style, having collected 16 points from a possible 18 – a record only matched by Real Madrid.  [txt17365] Atletico began the knockout stage with a solid 1-0 win at AC Milan, although it did take a late header from Costa to put them within touching distance of their first Champions League quarter-final appearance since 1997. [txt5863] No late goals were needed in this one as Atletico put AC Milan to the sword in Madrid. Diego Costa maintained his record of scoring in every Champions League outing so far, scoring twice for the home side, who also got goals from Turan and Garcia as they marched into the last eight. [txt35789] Atletico past their first major test of the tournament so far as they held Barcelona to a surprise 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou. Costa continued his fine scoring run to put the visitors ahead in the first leg, but Neymar ensured Barca would be on even terms for the return leg when he scored 19 minutes from time. [txt32777] Atletico booked their place in the semi-finals with one of their biggest victories in recent memory. An early goal from Koke proved to be the winner as they put the rest of Europe on notice going into the semi-finals. [txt18258] Chelsea ‘parked the bus’ in front of their goal for this one, leaving Atletico with it all to do when they two teams met for the second leg at Stamford Bridge. [txt10650] Not many teams go to Stamford Bridge and win, but Atletico did it in fine style – and they were forced to come from behind to do it. Former striker Fernando Torres gave Chelsea the lead on 36 minutes, but Atletico battled back and Adrian snatched an equaliser just before the break. Costa and Turan then completed the comeback to set up a Champions League final meeting with Real Madrid. [txt33028] ]>
Real Madrid will look to be crowned European Champions for the 10th time when they face Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, and ahead of this massive clash we look back at Real’s route to the Champions League Final. Madrid made a blistering start to their Champions League campaign with a 6-1 demolition of Galatasaray. Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show with a second-half hat-trick in Istanbul, with further goals coming from Karim Benzema (2) and Isco as Real registered their biggest every Champions League away win. [txt24876] Having scored a hat-trick in Real’s opening group game, Ronaldo continued his red-hot form in front of goal by bagging a brace as his team registered a comprehensive win over Danish champions Copenhagen. Angel Di Maria also helped himself to a double as Real took command of Group B. [txt32104] Back-to-back Italian champions Juventus were expected to provide Real with their first real test of the campaign, and they did. Ronaldo gave the Spanish side an early lead before they were pegged back by a Fernando Llorente strike. However, Ronaldo took his Champions League tally to seven goals when he grabbed what proved to be the winner on the 30-minute mark. [txt13734] Gareth Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Real Madrid, but a draw in Turin brought an end to the Spanish side’s perfect record. Arturo Vidal’s penalty put Juventus in front just before half-time, but Real came storming back as Ronaldo and Bale turned the tie on its head with two goals in an eight-minute spell. However, Llorente ensured Juve claimed a share of the spoils when he headed home. [txt19691] Real Madrid returned to winning ways with another convincing victory over Galatasaray. They were unable to match their six-goal showing on opening night, but goals from Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Di Maria and Isco guided Ancelotti’s side to the three points and a place in the last 16. [txt16173] With qualification in the bag Real travelled to Denmark with little to play for. Luka Modric opened the scoring with his first goal of the campaign, and Ronaldo then became the first player to score nine goals in the group stage when he added Madrid’s second goal in the early stages of the second half. [txt10198] Real sent a message to the rest of Europe with an outstanding away win that all but secured their place in the quarter-finals. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale both struck twice in Germany, while another brace for Ronaldo took his staggering Champions League goal haul to 11. [txt37889] Ancelotti made a number of changes to his starting XI for this one, but Ronaldo was handed a starting role and once again the Portuguese ace put his name in the headlines. The former Manchester United man scored either side of half-time to take his Champions League tally to 13, with Alvaro Morata grabbing his first Champions League goal to complete another straightforward win. [txt26423] Last season’s beaten finalists were next up for Real, and the Spanish side produced a fine display as they put one foot in the semi-finals with a fine victory. Bale set them on their way in the third minute before goals from Isco and Ronaldo gave them a commanding lead to take to Germany for the second leg. [txt6939] Real tasted defeat for the first time in their campaign, but a 2-0 defeat was not enough to deny them a place in the final four. Marco Reus scored twice for Borussia Dortmund on the night. [txt38487] Real Madrid extended their unbeaten home run in the Champions League to 18 games as they scraped a victory over holders Bayern Munich. The visitors dominated proceedings at the Bernabeu but it was Madrid who ran out winners as Karim Benzema’s 19th minute strike proved to be the only goal of the game. [txt27483] Many predicted Bayern to bounce back and win the second leg at the Allianz Arena, but instead they suffered an embarrassing defeat that ended their reign as kings of Europe. Sergio Ramos put Real two goals up inside the opening 20 minutes, and then it was the turn of Ronaldo to make history as the visitors ran out 4-0 winners. With his brace the Portuguese set a new record for most goals in a single Champions League season (16) and most goals in the Champions League knockout stage (33). [txt10984] ]>
James Milner is poised to snub a new contract at Manchester City and could make a summer switch to Arsenal, according to reports. Milner has struggled to nail down a regular starting role since joining City from Aston Villa back in 2010, and The Times newspaper claims the 28-year-old is keen to leave the Etihad Stadium in search of consistent first-team football. City are reportedly planning to offer the England international a new four-year contract this summer, but reports suggest the player would prefer to see out the final year of his current deal and leave for nothing in 2015 – if a deal is not struck with another club before then. That other club could well be Arsenal, with The Times claiming Milner will be one of the ‘two or three’ new players mentioned by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in the wake of Saturday’s FA Cup Final win over Hull City “We have to bring in two or three players to strengthen the squad that’s for sure,” Wenger admitted. “Unfortunately, everywhere we go, there are many teams on the market at the moment.” Arsenal are expected to launch a £10million bid for Milner this week, but the North London club’s pursuit of the player could be a complicated one due to the fact City’s recent punishment for breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules. Along with a £49million fine, City have seen their Champions League squad reduced to just 21 players for the 2014/15 campaign, and four of those players must be home-grown. Joleon Lescott and Gareth Barry are poised to leave the club on free transfers this summer, and with Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell also expected to depart the Manchester club will see the number of home-grown players in their squad drop considerably. That means they may want to at least hang on to Milner for next season, running the risk of losing him for nothing in the summer of 2015, but that also comes with complications. Following their UEFA penalty City’s net-spend in the transfer market over the next year must not exceed £49million, and that means they may decide to sell on Milner in order to aid their summer spending, with Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando all linked with Manuel Pellegrini’s side.]>
Lionel Messi will once again be the world’s highest paid footballer after agreeing to a new contract with Barcelona. Messi had four years remaining on the deal he inked in February 2013, but that has not stopped the Argentinian star from agreeing to a brand new contract on the eve of Saturday’s La Liga title decider against Atletico Madrid. “FC Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first-team player,” a club statement confirmed. “The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days.” Details of the contract have not been confirmed but the Spanish media claim Messi will get his wish to become football’s highest paid player once again, having been eclipsed in the wages stakes by rival Cristiano Ronaldo in recent years. Those reports suggest Messi will be paid a basic salary of £16.3 million per year, with performance-based incentives making the deal even more lucrative. With a deal agreed, the Catalan giants will now focus solely on Saturday’s massive Primera Division showdown with Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. Atletico hold a three-point lead at the top going into the final game of the season, but Barcelona’s superior goal difference means a win would see them pip the Madrid club to the Spanish championship. And Messi has called on his team-mates to win the title in honour of former Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova, who lost his battle with throat cancer just last month. “I think Atletico Madrid have had a fantastic year,” he told reporters recently. “They are in the final of the Champions League, fighting until the last minute for the La Liga title. Their performances are making the league even better, so I think it is very good but I hope that, in the end, we will be champions.“Obviously Tito [Vilanova] would love it if we win the Liga after everything that happened this year. He would be thrilled if we can dedicate the title to him, to someone that loved the club so much, that was so passionate.”]>
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has rubbished suggestions he could leave the club if they fail to beat Hull City in Saturday’s FA Cup Final. The Gunners return to Wembley looking to halt a trophy drought that dates back to their success in this competition in 2005, and there has been continued speculation about the future of Wenger, whose contract expires this summer. However, the Frenchman insists he has no plans to leave the Emirates Stadium, even if the Gunners suffer a shock defeat to the Tigers. “The result of Saturday's FA Cup final will have no influence on my future at Arsenal,” Wenger wrote in his blog for Eurosport. “When I've been part of a club for 18 years, it would be a bit ridiculous to base my decision on one single match, don’t you think?“Will I be the manager next season? Yes, normally. It’s not completely finalised yet, but it should happen. But it’s true that I am very proud of the team’s attitude, because they have been through very tough moments. And they have always answered scrutiny with positive thinking.” Much has been made of Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy during the past nine years, but Wenger insists finishing in the top four each season is a major accomplishment for any Premier League side. “Each year, Champions League qualification is the minimal objective of the season, but, in England, it’s very difficult to be present year after year among the first four teams in the league,” he continued.“Even if we have been frustrated this season - because we led the league for 128 days, and we lost the title in the end - Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal can all feel frustrated this season. But we still have one big objective: win the FA Cup on Saturday.” Understandably the Gunners are the favourites going into Saturday’s clash with Hull, but Wenger – who saw his team lose to Birmingham City in their last Wembley final – insists the Tigers should not be overlooked. “Even if we don’t have the same number of points as Hull in the Premier League, it’s always a game,” he wrote. “In the Premier League, all teams can make passes, all teams can shoot, all teams can use corners or free-kicks. So we must accept the idea that we can lose, just like we can win.“A final is a bit different, because you have to go with the necessary energy to be at the top of your capacity. That’s where we have to focus, while knowing that this is football; you can always lose, but you have to do everything to win.“I want the players to win for themselves, for the club, for all the effort they made this year. I think that this group has had an amazing spirit; they have shown great mental qualities during hard times.“We have won against many big teams to be in the final: Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton . So this group deserves to win this final, but they have to make the final step; it’s often the hardest, certainly the most important.”]>
Arsenal duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thomas Vermaelen must prove their fitness ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final while Hull City must find a way to attack the Gunners without striker Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long. Vermaelen and Oxlade Chamberlain were both absent from the Arsenal side that completed their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 victory at Norwich City last Sunday, and Arsene Wenger has admitted he is unsure if either man will be fit for Saturday’s game against the Tigers. “There’s still some uncertainty about Oxlade-Chamberlain and Vermaelen, who was out [at Norwich] at the last minute with stitches in his knee,” Wenger told the club’s official website. “We’ll know more about that Thursday or Friday. I will only know [on Thursday] if he [Oxlade-Chamberlain] has a chance to be in the squad or not.” Apart from those two concerns, and long-term casualties Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry, Wenger has no other injury worries to contend with. Jack Wilshere returned from a foot injury at Norwich and will be fit to face Hull, while Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs are expected to overcome their respective thigh and hamstring problems in time to feature at Wembley. Hull City will once again be without first-choice forwards Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long due to them being cup-tied, and that means Matty Fryatt should start up front as he looks to add to the four goals he has already scored the FA Cup this season. The former Leicester man did miss training on Thursday, but Tigers boss Bruce insisted there is no serious problem. “He just picked up a knock but we don't expect anything,” he told the Hull Daily Mail. “We just erred on the side of caution, he'll be fine.” Bruce could be boosted by the surprise return of winger Robbie Brady, who had been expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his groin. Brady is now back in training with the first-team and Bruce has admitted the former Manchester United man could face the Gunners at Wembley. “He's come from nowhere in the last couple of weeks,” Bruce said. “It's amazing what an FA Cup final does. We've seen him training for the first time in six months. It's incredible.” Allan McGregor, Paul McShane and Sone Aluko all returned from injury during the final game of Hull’s Premier League game and all three men are expected to be in the side to face Arsenal, but James Chester is a big doubt for the Tigers as he continues to struggle with a hamstring injury.]>
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are set to collide in the Champions League tonight for the second year running, and ahead of their last-16 first leg game, we're looking back at how last season’s tie unfolded. The Gunners were just one of Bayern victims as the German side went all the way in the Champions League last season, and Arsene Wenger’s men will have their sights set on revenge for their heart-breaking exit a year ago. A 3-1 first-leg defeat proved to be Arsenal’s downfall as they crashed out on away goals following a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena, and here is how it all went down… Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich [txt5734] Bayern Munich 0-2 Arsenal [txt8522] ]>
Non-league side Goole have sacked captain Karl Colley after he tried to punch a visiting supporter during a match on Saturday. The 30-year-old was axed by the Evo-Stik South side following an incident in which he confronted and tried to punch a fan of visiting side Coalville. Colley, who had been sent off, made three attempts to confront the supporter and had to be dragged away (as the video above shows). Goole secretary Andrew Morris branded the incident “disgusting and embarrassing” and the club have confirmed Colley will never play for them again. “After the deplorable incident at today's game we can confirm that the player responsible has been released,” a statement on the club’s read. “We are a family club and incidents of this nature have no place in football and will not be tolerated at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds. The club acted quickly and decisively and released the player with immediate effect and as such the player in question will never play for our football club again. “We apologise to each and every supporter at the game today and whilst as a club, we can't legislate for incidents of this nature, we will not tolerate them from anyone.” Goole’s assistant manager is professional boxer Curtis Woodhouse, who once famously drove to a Twitter troll’s house after being abused via the social media site, and he summed it up best with this Tweet: [txt26230] ]>
Derrick Coleman will become the first legally deaf player to play in a Super Bowl when the Seattle Seahawks take on the Denver Broncos on February 2nd. While team-mate Richard Sherman has grabbed the headlines for his rant after the NFC Championship Game win over San Francisco, one man who has become a social media sensation is Seahawks running back Coleman. Coleman has become the talk of the sporting world thanks to a Duracell television advert that has told the inspiring tale of how the 23-year-old has overcome adversity to become a professional football player. "When the world tells you 'no', you have two options: You can roll over and quit - or you can trust your power. Derrick Coleman, running back for the Seattle Seahawks, trusted the power within. "Although he's deaf, he never let adversity stand in his way, on his road to the NFL. Share to inspire others to trust their power within and achieve their dreams. #TrustYourPower"]>
The next time you are watching a footballer roll around on the floor like he has been shot, just think of this ball kid at the Australian Open in Melbourne... The youngster took a wayward return from Florian Mayer right in the face, and like a soldier immediately returned to their stance! Respect!]>
Ahead of their huge rematch at UFC 168 this weekend, here's a behind the scenes look at the first Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman fight in this special video presentation. ]>
The Ultimate Fighting Championship celebrates its 20th birthday tonight when UFC 167 takes place in Las Vegas, and here's a look at the best moments from the promotion’s history. November 12, 2020 was the date UFC was introduced to the world, and now 20 years later it is a brand name recognised worldwide. Watched by millions of fans around the globe the sports’ biggest stars are household names, a far cry from the non-regulated days where the sport was branded ‘human cockfighting’. Now the UFC is poised to celebrate its 20th birthday as long-reigning welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre takes on Johny Hendricks this Saturday, and for many it will be a time to reflect on the incredible rise of Mixed Martial Arts and its leading brand. So before you place your bets on the weekend’s action, take a look at some of the most memorable moments in the history of the UFC thanks to these special videos: Top 20 Knockouts In UFC History The UFC is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with the Top 20 Knockouts in UFC History! From front kicks to body slams to one punch KOs, check out the best of the best highlights here. [txt34818] Top 20 Submissions In UFC History There's no denying that the art of submission has had a role in the 20 years of UFC history. The UFC is celebrating its birthday by showing you the greatest ground game wins in the Octagon! [txt14558] Top KO - Anderson Silva v Chris Weidman One of the most memorable moments in UFC history occurred this year on July 6, 2013, when Chris Weidman, an undefeated American fighter out of Long Island, took on the dubbed "best pound for pound fighter in the world" Anderson 'The Spider' Silva and ended his nearly seven year reign as the UFC Middleweight Champion.  [txt11528] Top Submission - Anderson Silva v Chael Sonnen For five long rounds, the Oregon native, Chael Sonnen, took on Anderson 'The Spider' Silva, for what seemingly looked like a winning battle. However, in the fifth round, the amazing ground game of Silva turned the tables and ended in spectacular triangle armbar. Relive the moments here. [txt9090] Game Changer - Forrest Griffin v Stephan Bonnar When Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar went to war for three rounds at the end of Season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter on television, it was the UFC's introduction to the world. Catch this iconic bout that many consider to be the catalyst for mainstream mixed martial arts and the UFC. [txt12385] ]>
Ronda Rousey is the odds-on favourite going into her December showdown with bitter rival Miesha Tate at UFC 168, but Tate insists the ‘Rowdy’ UFC women's champion is not invincible. Rousey will be looking to extend her perfect career record to 8-0 when she defends her title against Tate later this year, and the bookmakers appear to be in no doubt that she will have her hand raised in Las Vegas, with  offering her at 1/10. The 26-year-old former Olympic bronze medallist already boasts one win over Tate in her career. The two women met back in March 2012 and that match has gone down in infamy because Tate refused to tapout to the armbar and had her elbow dislocated. Rousey was subsequently crowned the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion, before the company was integrated into the UFC, and now 6/1 underdog Tate is aiming to gain revenge by taking the UFC title away from the champion. And she insists Rousey – who has won all seven of her fights by armbar – is not unbeatable. "I have the skill-set to beat her," Tate told . "She's not invincible by any means. I know that being emotional and being mean-spirited does not serve me well inside the Octagon. So, I'd rather go in there with a positive outlook." Tate insists she has learned her lessons from that first fight and will not be making the same mistakes when they meet again on December 28th. "I learn a lot in every fight, but especially the ones that I lose," she added. "I know the mistakes I made in that fight and I do believe they are fixable. I'm working on them all the time. "And I'm keen to the mistakes she made. She is not perfect. She makes mistakes in fights, too. It's a matter of who can exploit them better. In the first fight she was definitely able to exploit the mistakes I made better – but I'm much more familiar with her style."]>
WWE Monday Night Raw has been known for unpredictability and controversy since it began in 1993 – and this past Monday was no different when CM Punk laid the smack down on an innocent fan. The Straight Edge star had made his way into the fan area as part of the show before receiving a fair bit of abuse from some fans, presumably for that ridiculous mustache or his tattoo of the Pepsi logo. Either way Punk did not take kindly to being on the end of a few shoves and a dig to the kidneys, so he responded in the only way a professional wrestler should – but turning around and giving a massive bald guy a sharp backhand and then a cheeky right jab to the jaw. In some ways it served the fan right. Admittedly he wasn’t the one that provoked Punk but anyone who tries to wear sunglasses indoors is probably fair game to getting a smack in the chops. CM Punk has since apologised for his actions, telling : "I think the whole situation sucks. It’s an unfortunate and isolated incident. I was up in the stands, surrounded. "Somebody said, 'let’s push him down the stairs’. I got hit in the ribs three times. I was getting shoved and I was getting punched...then I started getting tagged in the back of the head. "Unfortunately, I lashed out in the heat of the moment and I apologise. I’m really just glad nobody was hurt." A WWE statement said: "Unfortunately, WWE security was not in the appropriate place at the time. "Given CM Punk’s persona as a ‘bad guy,’ fans were naturally heckling him, but unfortunately a few fans began shoving him, and one struck him in the kidney and on the back. "WWE regrets that proper security measures were not in place, and CM Punk apologizes for reacting in the heat of the moment. "Other than this isolated incident, WWE always provides proper security to ensure the safety of our fans and our performers." The fan in question has since confirmed he will not be pressing charges against CM Punk.]>
The Strikeforce mixed martial arts promotion could soon close down, according to reports. The future of North America's "second promotion" has been in doubt ever since Zuffa - owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship - purchased the company back in 2011. Now it seems the injury-hit event to be held on November 3rd could be cancelled, and there have been suggestions that broadcaster Showtime are to end their association with the promotion. Speaking on , presenter Kenny Rice said: "Inside MMA has heard from multiple sources that the relationship between Strikeforce and Showtime may be coming to an end. "We are being told that the November 3 event is in serious jeopardy, and there's a strong possibility that Showtime will no longer broadcast Strikeforce events. "This could very possibly signify the end of the Strikeforce brand." The November card was to be headlined by a heavyweight clash between Daniel Cormier and Frank Mir, but the fight was scrapped when the latter suffered an injury. Former Olympian Cormier is still slated to headline the event, but no new opponent has been found and it now appears unlikely that he will appear. Strikeforce’s problems were then enhanced last week when middleweight champion Luke Rockhold was forced off the card with an injury, and with an already weak roster, it is hard to see where they can go from here. There has been a belief for some time that the promotion would eventually be absorbed into the UFC, much like the WEC was almost two years ago, and if this is the end it would come as no surprise. At time of writing there has been no statement from either Strikeforce or Showtime.]>
Ashley Young netted the only goal of the game as England gave new boss Roy Hodgson a winning start with a 1-0 friendly victory in Norway. The Three Lions started brightly in Oslo as Andy Carroll met a Stewart Downing and headed wide of the mark, but the visitors did not have to wait too long for the opening goal as it arrived on nine minutes. Liverpool striker Carroll turned provided on this occasion, feeding the ball to Young and the Manchester United pounced on some hesitant defending to calmly slot home without being challenged by a single Norwegian defender. The hosts responded and England goalkeeper Robert Green had to be alert to keep out a Markus Henriksen effort that struck Leighton Baines. He almost turned villain from the resulting corner but his blushes were spared as Morten Gamst Pedersen’s set piece struck the near post. James Milner brought a save from Jarstein at the other end, and the Norway number one had to be alert again to repel a Baines free-kick that had crept through the wall. John Arne Riise called Green into action at the othe rend and Espen Ruud could only volley straight at the England goalkeeper as Norway threatened to snatch an equaliser. It did not come though and England boss Roy Hodgson will be relatively pleased with his side as they step up their preparations for Euro 2012. However, there is one concern coming out of this match after Gareth Barry, on as a substitute for Steven Gerrard, limped off injured.]>
Huddersfield Town earned promotion to the Championship after beating Sheffield United, 8-7 on penalties, in the League One Play-off Final. In soaring temperatures at Wembley Stadium the game failed to ignite, but there was plenty of drama in the penalty shoot-out as Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonson blazed the 22nd spot-kick over the crossbar to send the Terriers into the second tier. United pair Richard Cresswell and Stephen Quinn had chances blocked as the first 45 minutes provided little in the way of entertainment, with Huddersfield having to wait until the second half for their first half of note. Just seconds after the restart Danny Ward opened up some space for himself, but the youngster’s effort came crashing back off the crossbar with Simonson beaten. That chance failed to spark some life into the game, but as time wore on and the players grew tired in the intense heat, openings began to present themselves to both sides. Simonson twice denied Peter Clarke and Tommy Miller’s effort was cleared off the line as the Terries sought a winner, while at the other end Chris Porter headed wide before Quinn hit the side-netting. Extra-time was needed and Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies had to make a smart save to deny Quinn after the United man had surged into the box, and opposite number Simonson matched those efforts moments later as he kept out an effort from Alan Lee, ensuring the game went to spot-kicks. Huddersfield looked to be down and out as Miller, Damien Johnson and Lee all missed their penalties, with misses from Lee Williamson and Matthew Lowton sandwiching Neil Collins’ converted spot-kick for the Blades. However, Clarke gave the Terriers hope by slotting home penalty number four and they were handed an even bigger boost when Andy Taylor, brought on to take a spot-kick, hit the post. The next 12 men all successfully converted their spot-kicks, forcing both goalkeepers to take one under sudden death rules. Town’s Smithies made no mistake with his, and opposite number Simonson then cleared the crossbar to spark wild scenes of celebration at Huddersfield end of the stadium.]>
Shane Long netted the only goal of the game as the Republic of Ireland stepped up their Euro 2012 preparations with a 1-0 friendly win over Bosnia. Ireland were slow out of the blocks in Dublin but should have been given the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot after Asmir Begovic appeared to bring down Stoke City team-mate Glenn Whelan in the penalty area. However, the referee was having none of it and the match continue. The hosts grew into the game from there and Darron Gibson pulled a shot wide after good work from James McClean. Bosnia responded as Miralem Pjanic brought a save out of Keiren Westwood, while at the other end McClean almost marked his first start with a goal as he was denied by Begovic. Begovic was again called into action as Robbie Keane’s smart touch teed up Damien Duff for a shot on goal, and that was the winger’s last contribution as he was soon replaced by Aiden McGeady, who almost made an immediate impact himself. The impressive McClean sent in a free-kick that was headed across goal by Kevin Doyle, but McGeady’s volley came back off the upright, much to the disappointment of the home supporters. Bosnia would have snatched an opening goal had Westwood not tipped a Pjanic free-kick over the crossbar, but Ireland were looking the more likely to open the scoring and it was Jonathan Walters who went close on the next occasion, heading a McGeady cross against the crossbar. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men would not be denied and they finally went ahead 12 minutes from time when McGeady crossed for Long to head home, and the former Celtic man almost created a second goal as he crossed for Walters, but the Stoke City striker could not find a way past club team-mate Begovic. However, Long’s goal proved to be enough  and Ireland will now head out to Italy for a training camp that will culminate in one final friendly, against Hungary on June 4, before Euro 2012.]>
Rafael Nadal starts his campaign for a seventh French Open title with a first-round match against Simone Bolelli, today’s men’s draw has confirmed. Former world number one Nadal is a master when it comes to claycourt tennis, and his success at Roland Garros confirms that. The Spaniard comes into the season’s second Grand Slam on a high following his final win over Novak Djokovic in Rome, and Nadal will get his French Open campaign underway against Italian Bolelli, who is currently ranked 111th in the world. Novak Djokovic is the reigning world number one and will have his sights set on adding the 2012 French Open crown to his Australian Open success earlier this year. The Serb has won the other three Grand Slam tournaments, but the Roland Garros title continues to elude him. Djokovic will look to end his wait this year, and he will begin his campaign with a first-round match against 97th-ranked Potito Starace of Italy. Roger Federer, a 2009 winner at Roland Garros, will meet 77th-ranked German Toolas Kamke in round one, while British Number One Andy Murray, who is yet to win a Grand Slam title, takes on 69th ranked Tatsuma Ito of Japan. Complete French Open Men’s Draw: Novak Djokovic SRB (1) v Potito Starace ITA Blaz Kavcic SLO v Lleyton Hewitt AUSQUALIFIER v QUALIFIER QUALIFIER v Jurgen Melzer AUT (30) Andreas Seppi ITA (22) v Nikolay Davydenko RUSMikhail Kukushkin KAZ v Ernests Gulbis LATQUALIFIER v Gilles Muller LUX Steve Darcis BEL v Fernando Verdasco ESP (14) Gilles Simon FRA (11) v Ryan Harrison USA Xavier Malisse BEL v Brian Baker USA Pablo Andujar ESP v Victor Hanescu ROU Flavio Cipolla ITA v Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (18) Viktor Troicki SRB (28) v Thomaz Bellucci BRA Fabio Fognini ITA v Adrian Mannarino FRA Cedrik-Marcel Stebe GER v Joao Souza BRA QUALIFIER v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (5)Roger Federer SUI (3) v Tobias Kamke GER Adrian Ungur ROU v David Nalbandian ARGFrank Dancevic CAN v Martin Klizan SVK Nicolas Mahut FRA v Andy Roddick USA (26) Radek Stepanek CZE (23) v QUALIFIER         Arnaud Clement FRA v Alex Bogomolov Jr. RUS Karol Beck SVK v Lukasz Kubot POL QUALIFIER v Feliciano Lopez ESP (15) Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (9) v Albert Montanes ESP Edouard Roger-Vasselin FRA v Vasek Pospisil CAN Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP v Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy FRA QUALIFIER v Marin Cilic CRO (21) Kevin Anderson RSA (31) v Rui Machado POR Eric Prodon FRA v QUALIFIER              Michael Llodra FRA v Guillermo Garcia-Lopez ESP Dudi Sela ISR v Tomas Berdych CZE (7)David Ferrer ESP (6) v Lukas Lacko SVK Benoit Paire FRA v Albert Ramos ESP Ivan Dodig CRO v Robin Haase NED James Blake USA v Mikhail Youzhny RUS (27) Marcel Granollers ESP (20) v QUALIFIER        Malek Jaziri TUN v Philipp Petzschner GER Paul-Henri Mathieu FRA v Bjorn Phau GER QUALIFIER v John Isner USA (10) Alexandr Dolgopolov UKR (16) v Sergiy Stakhovsky UKRFilippo Volandri ITA v QUALIFIER Donald Young USA v Grigor DiMitrov BUL QUALIFIER v Richard Gasquet FRA (17) Bernard Tomic AUS (25) v QUALIFIER Santiago Giraldo COL v Alejandro Falla COL Jarkko Nieminen FIN v Igor Andreev RUS Tatsuma Ito JPN v Andy Murray GBR (4)Janko Tipsarevic SRB (8) v Sam Querrey USA Jeremy Chardy FRA v Yen-Hsun Lu TPE Dmitry Tursunov RUS v Go Soeda JPN QUALIFIER v Julien Benneteau FRA (29) Philipp Kohlschreiber GER (24) v Matthew Ebden AUSOlivier Rochus BEL v Leonardo Mayer ARG Juan Ignacio Chela ARG v Marcos Baghdatis CYP Paolo Lorenzi ITA v Nicolas Almagro ESP (12) Juan Monaco ARG (13) v Guillaume Rufin FRA Lukas Rosol CZE v Carlos Berlocq ARG QUALIFIER v Benjamin Becker GER Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo ESP v Milos Raonic CAN (19) Florian Mayer GER (32) v Daniel Gimeno-Traver ESP QUALIFIER v Ivo Karlovic CRO Igor Kunitsyn RUS v Denis Istomin UZB Simone Bolelli ITA v Rafael Nadal ESP (2)]>
Victoria Azarenka will begin her quest for French Open glory with a first-round match against Alberta Brianti, following today's draw for the women's tournament. World number one Azarenka started 2012 in blistering fashion as she wrapped up the Australian Open, but she has failed to hit those same heights on clay in recent weeks. However, if there was ever a time to find some form on this surface it is at Roland Garros, and up first for her is Brianti, the world number 103 from Italy. Second-ranked Maria Sharapova has moved back into the top two in the women’s rankings and her next aim will be to end a Grand Slam drought that dates back to her 2008 success at the Australian Open. The 25-year-old Russian, a two-time semi-finalist at Roland Garrods, will open her challenge with a match against Romanian Alexandra Cadantu, ranked 75th in the world. Serena Williams is the bookmakers favourite as she looks to win her first Grand Slam title since achieving a Australian Open/French Open double in 2010. The American will begin her campaign with a first-round match against Virginia Razzano, the 115th-ranked player from France, while sister Venus takes on 122nd-ranked Argentinian, Paula Ormaechea Complete French Open Women's Draw: Victoria Azarenka BLR (1) v Alberta Brianti ITACaroline Garcia FRA v QUALIFIERQUALIFIER v Aleksandra Wozniak CANAlize Cornet FRA v Jie Zheng CHN (31)Lucie Safarova CZE (20) v Anastasiya Yakimova BLRMaria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP v QUALIFIERVania King USA v Galina Voskoboeva KAZKristina Mladenovic FRA v Dominika Cibulkova SVK (15)Sabine Lisicki GER (12) v Bethanie Mattek-Sands USAEkaterina Makarova RUS v Sloane Stephens USAMathilde Johansson FRA v Anastasia Rodionova AUSSimona Halep ROU v Petra Cetkovska CZE (24)Nadia Petrova RUS (27) v Iveta Benesova CZELaura Pous-Tio ESP v Chanelle Scheepers RSAIrina Falconi USA v Edina Gallovits-Hall ROUElena Baltacha GBR v Samantha Stosur AUS (6)Agnieszka Radwanska POL (3) v Bojana Jovanovski SRBVenus Williams USA v Paula Ormaechea ARGQUALIFIER v Kateryna Bondarenko UKRMirjana Lucic CRO v Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (26)Sara Errani ITA (21) v Casey Dellacqua AUSMelanie Oudin USA v Johanna Larsson SWEStephanie Dubois CAN v Shahar Peer ISRQUALIFIER v Ana Ivanovic SRB (13)Angelique Kerber GER (10) v QUALIFIERRomina Oprandi SUI v Olga Govortsova BLRAnna Tatishvili GEO v QUALIFIERSu-Wei Hsieh TPE v Flavia Pennetta ITA (18)A. Medina Garrigues ESP (29) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa ESP Kai-Chen Chang TPE  v Irena Pavlovic FRAPetra Martic CRO v Michaella Krajicek NEDQUALIFIER v Marion Bartoli FRA (8)Na Li CHN (7) v Sorana Cirstea ROUB Zahlavova Strycova CZE v S Foretz Gacon FRAChristina McHale USA v QUALIFIERQUALIFIER v Mona Barthel GER (30)Roberta Vinci ITA (17) v Sofia Arvidsson SWEQUALIFIER v Mandy Minella LUXTamarine Tanasugarn THA v Carla Suarez Navarro ESPTimea Babos HUN v Vera Zvonareva RUS (11)Francesca Schiavone ITA (14) v Kimiko Date-Krumm JPNTsvetana Pironkova BUL v Yanina Wickmayer BELVarvara Lepchenko USA v Ksenia Pervak KAZPatricia Mayr-Achleitner AUT v Jelena Jankovic SRB (19)Monica Niculescu ROU (32) v Nina Bratchikova RUSVera Dushevina RUS v Claire Feuerstein FRAPauline Parmentier FRA v Urszula Radwanska POLAshleigh Barty AUS v Petra Kvitova CZE (4)Serena Williams USA (5) v Virginie Razzano FRAArantxa Rus NED v Jamie Hampton USAElena Vesnina RUS v QUALIFIERLucie Hradecka CZE v Julia Goerges GER (25)Kaia Kanepi EST (23) v Alexandra Panova RUSIrina-Camelia Begu ROU v Aravane Rezai FRAJarmila Gajdosova AUS v Magdalena Rybarikova SVKEleni Daniilidou GRE v Caroline Wozniacki DEN (9)Maria Kirilenko RUS (16) v Victoria Larriere FRAKlara Zakopalova CZE v Lesia Tsurenko UKRAnne Keothavong GBR v Melinda Czink HUNGreta Arn HUN v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS (22)Shuai Peng CHN (28) v Tamira Paszek AUTMarina Erakovic NZL v Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESPPolona Hercog SLO v Ayumi Morita JPNAlexandra Cadantu ROU v Maria Sharapova RUS (2) ]>