San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat June 9, 2013

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Game 1 of the NBA Finals was as close as can be, setting the stage for what is poised to be a long, hotly contested series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat.

San Antonio didn't put the Heat away until the waning seconds of the opener, relying on a Tony Parker circus shot to finish off the 92-88 victory.

That's what happens when two very strong teams play 48 solid minutes of soundly executed, highly entertaining basketball.

In an interesting twist that happens in such contests, both teams' strengths and weaknesses were limited in Game 1. San Antonio's defensive fundamentals and fastidiousness with the ball kept LeBron James and company from capitalizing on their athletic advantage, while Miami outshot and out-rebounded the Spurs to counter their efficiency with volume.

James registered a triple-double in Game 1 with 18 points (a postseason low), 18 rebounds and 10 assists (both postseason highs). Parker led the Spurs with 21 points and six assists, while Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 boards while leading San Antonio's exemplary interior defense.

That's the kind of high-caliber play fans can get used to in this series. Even more is coming your way in Game 2.


Time: Sunday, June 9, 8 p.m. ET

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Fla.

Series: Spurs 1-0

Brazil 3-0 France June 9, 2013

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France and Brazil meet in what should be an entertaining friendly on Sunday afternoon.

Both France and Brazil are looking to move past disasters at international tournaments. They have struggled to move on from older generations. This may be a meaningless friendly, but these countries will be fielding strong sides and looking to come out with a win.

Brazil are without Leandro Damiao for the visit of France to Porto Alegre, as well as the Confederations Cup, after the Internacional striker limped out of training on Thursday.

Replacing Damiao in the squad is Atletico Minieiro's Jo, formerly of Manchester City, with the forward called up to the Selecao for the first time since the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008. 

Otherwise, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is to field largely the same XI that grabbed a 2-2 draw against England in Rio de Janeiro last weekend, though Marcelo is expected to displace Filipe Luis in defence.

France coach Didier Deschamps is set to overhaul his stuttering side, with only Blaise Matuidi, Dimitri Payet and Mathieu Valbuena likely to remain from Wednesday's 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in Montevideo.

The match is much more important for Brazil, as they don't have any qualification process for the World Cup. They receive an automatic bid as hosts of the tournament. Brazil has to use these friendlies to get into form for the World Cup.

Here's all the info you need to know for this massive friendly.

When: Sunday, June 9, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Arena do Gremio, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Nogueira vs Werdum June 8, 2013

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 UFC on Fuel 10 event today from Brazil. The event will kick off with six preliminary card fights followed by a main card featuring six bouts. The prelims will be streamed live on Facebook, and that stream kicks off at approximately 5pm ET/2pm PT. They flip things over to Fuel TV at 8pm ET/5pm ET for the main card. This post will cover the prelims.

The featured bout on the prelims is a bantamweight battle between potential contender Raphael Assuncao and Vaughan Lee. The other fights look just as good as that one, so let's hope that the preliminaries are pretty entertaining.

Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments as the event progresses.

Antonio Braga Neto vs. Anthony Smith

Round 1 - The Brazilian crowd is already rocking. Braga Neto came forward quick with his hands and Smith responded with a knee to the body. Brago Neto landed a nice right hook. Neto landed a leg kick and got an ugly takedown. He quickly got Smith's back against the cage, but switched to half guard. Braga Neto locked up a kneebar and got the tap quickly. Great display of ground work there. Smith screamed in pain. Antonio Braga Neto defeated Anthony Smith by submission (kneebar), 1:52 of round 1

Caio Magalhaes vs. Karlos Vemola

Round 1 - Dan Mirgliotta is the referee. Magalhaes shot in immediately but got stuffed. Vemola looked for a takedown but got stuck in a guillotine. He escaped and slammed Magalhaes to the ground. He opened up with a ton of ground and pound but almost got caught in an armbar. He continued to be aggressive while Magalhaes hunted for subs from below. Vemola was really pummeling him, maintaining a very high pace. Magalhaes finally got up with about 90 seconds to go, and jumped for another guillotine. Nothing there though. Vemola looked for another takedown and got into another guillotine. He tried to slam his way out of it, and eventually pulled out. 10-9 Vemola.

Round 2 - Magalhaes opened with a big right. They jockeyed for position against the cage for a while until Magalhaes hit a bodylock takedown. Magalhaes passed to half, then side. Vemola rolled over and gave up his back. He looked to soften Vemola up with strikes while hunting for a choke. Vemola rolled and Magalhaes returned to side. Vemola popped up briefly, but Caio got it back down against the cage. He got to his back and sunk the choke. Nice submission win for Magalhaes. Caio Magalhaes defeated Karlos Vemola by submission (rear naked choke), 2:49 of round 2

Rodrigo Damm vs. Mizuto Hirota

Round 1 - Tepid start from both men. Damm landed a nice counter right. Nice jab from Hirota. Hirota clipped Damm with a big shot that had him backing up. Damm looked for a takedown but got stuffed. Hirota landed a big left but ate a counter that knocked him down. He popped up but Damm was on him immediately. Damm had a bodylock and got it briefly to the ground. Hirota got up though, and they grinded away against the cage for a while. They finally separated with two minutes to go and Hirota landed a left. Damm with a right that connected. Some kicks from Damm, and another big right. Hirota dug to the body. 10-9 Damm.

Round 2 - Damm opened with a kick while Hirota landed a couple of straight lefts. Damm was clearly looking for the counter and landed it. Damm with a nice combo. Hirota with a big leg kick that is returned by Damm. Hirota continued to land the left but ate counter rights nearly every time. Hirota with a left that backed his opponent against the cage. Damm scooped a single but couldn't get the takedown. Hirota's jab was finding a home more and more. Much closer round, I'm leaning 10-9 Hirota.

Round 3 - Damm continued to counter and landed a nice right. Hirota switched it up between the body and head and connected with a few shots. Both men shook off takedown attempts from the other. Damm landed the right hook once again. Hirota put together two nice combos and stuffed another shot. The pace slowed a bit but Damm was landing more and mixing in kicks. Hirota walked right into a takedown, and Damm landed a huge suplex. Easily the coolest part of the fight so far. They threw down over the final 40 seconds with Hirota pressing the action. Damm's round though, and he should take the fight 29-28.

Rodrigo Damm defeated Mizuto Hirota by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Peru 1-0 Ecuador June 7, 2013

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Pizarro marcó el primero a los 11 minutos. Perú ganó luego de 36 años a Ecuador por eliminatorias.
Claudio Pizarro marcó el primero y único gol para Perú e hizo explotar el Estadio Nacional y al país entero a los 11 minutos del primer tiempo.

El cuadro bicolor salió dispuesto a quedarse con el triunfo y hacer que todos los peruanos sigamos con la ilusión de ir al Mundial Brasil 2014.

En un vibrante partido, la escuadra nacional supo hacer respetar la casa y superó en fútbol a la selección de Ecuador.

Perú entró con mucha fuerza a la cancha y a los 2 minutos de empezado el encuentro Juan Manuel Vargas casi abre el marcador, minutos más tarde Pizarro ya mostraba que quería ser el héroe del encuentro y remató con todo al arco rival.

El capitán peruano no solo demostró porque merece la banda si no volvió a lucir su buen fútbol, su raza goleadora y pagó la deuda que tenía con la afición peruana, a los 11 minutos marcando un golazo.

Los ecuatorianos también tuvieron muchas oportunidades de anotar pero un atento Raúl Fernández mantuvo imbatible el arco peruano.

Con la ilusión del triunfo, Perú quería más y el "Bombardero" casi pone el segundo con un súper remate fuera del área.

Costa Rica vs Honduras June 7, 2013

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Honduras will look to take over first place in the CONCACAF standings when it takes Costa Rica in the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

Honduras currently sits in a three way tie for third place with Costa Rica and the United States. Mexico sits in first with six points while Panama's five points have the team in second place. The top three teams automatically qualify for the World Cup next summer while the fourth place team must place OFC champion New Zealand for a chance to be among the final 32 squads competing in Brazil.

"We're training very well," said Honduras star Jerry Bengtson during an interview with FIFA.com. "We're going to work very hard, knowing we have three difficult games but also a great group of players. We've got a good team that will go out to get as close to the maximum nine points as possible."

"We've got a great national team," he added. "Our unity is something that defines us, sets us apart and serves us. We've got youth and experience, and we're all pulling in the same direction. We're confident we've got everything it will take to reach Brazil 2014, and we're going to fight for it."


Honduras has won one game, drawn once, and lost once in its first three matches. The team defeated the United States 2-1 in the first match of the hexagonal stage and drew 2-2 with Mexico. In its most recent game, Honduras fell 2-0 against Panama.
"The qualifying tournament has been very hard-fought," added Bengtson. "I think all the teams are strong. Those who were seen as small teams have improved a great deal and are doing well. The games are very keenly contested, and nobody gives anything away. We all want to be at the World Cup."
Prediction: Honduras ties 1-1 with Costa Rica.

Start Time: 10 PM EST