With one week to go before UFC 205s blockbuster lightweight title fight, Tony Ferguson has certainly built a strong case to face the winner.Ferguson (22-3) claimed his ninth victory in a row at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, defeating former champion Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision in Mexico City. All three judges saw it exactly the same, 48-47 in Fergusons favor.The five-round fight was probably not as close as scores indicated. With the exception of the opening round, Ferguson more or less imposed his will. He bloodied dos Anjos face with the jab and had tremendous success with the leg kick. He wobbled him with a knee in the fourth round and outlanded him in overall strikes 187-to-114.In the second round, dos Anjos complained to referee Herb Dean of an accidental eye-poke. Dean didnt stop the bout, but Ferguson willingly stopped the action and let dos Anjos recover. The Brazilian said the eye-poke continued to affect him after the restart but still credited Ferguson on the win.Tony was better tonight, dos Anjos said. I felt like his thing on my eyes bothered me a little in the second. I was seeing double. Thats no excuse. Tony did a great job. He was the better fighter tonight.Dos Anjos (25-9) has now dropped back-to-back fights for just the second time in his 12-year career. He looked sharp in the first frame, as he countered Fergusons pressure with an accurate left-hand counter. He also swept Ferguson clean off his feet with an outside leg kick.He appeared to find his timing again in the third, catching Ferguson with a high head kick and more straight lefts. Ferguson, 32, marched straight through the shots though and answered with offense of his own. He attempted a handful of awkward takedown attempts, barrel rolling into dos Anjoss ankles, but ultimately didnt need one to finish ahead on the scorecards.Ferguson, who trains out of Southern California, entered the weekend ranked the No. 4 lightweight in the world, according to ESPN.com. Dos Anjos, who lost the UFC 155-pound title to Eddie Alvarez in July, came in at No. 2.Ferguson was supposed to face Khabib Nurmagomedov in April but was forced to pull out due to injury. He eventually fought UFC newcomer Lando Vannata in July, whom he defeated by second-round submission. El Cucuy has finished six opponents during his current win streak.Sanchez surprises Held in debutVeteran lightweight Diego Sanchez added another upset win to his resume, as he outworked UFC newcomer Marcin Held in a three-round unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27).Sanchez (26-10) avoided multiple submission attempts from Held (22-5), who tired as the fight wore on. The closest Held came to finishing the fight was with a standing guillotine in the first, but Sanchez, in a very unique move, somersaulted himself off the fence to break away from the hold.In the later rounds, Helds focus turned exclusively to submission attempts off his back. He rolled for one leg lock after another, but Sanchez calmly spun out of each and scored points from the top. He rocked Held with a big elbow out of the guard in the third.Sanchez, 34, has alternated wins and losses in his last six fights.Lamas forces Oliveira to tap outFeatherweight Ricardo Lamas (17-5) survived multiple bad positions in the opening round before eventually submitting Charles Oliveira (21-7) via guillotine choke at 2 minutes,13 seconds of the second round.Lamas, who had a scheduled fight against BJ Penn canceled last month, accepted the Oliveira bout, even after the Brazilian missed weight by 9 pounds on Friday.Oliveira got off to a good start, securing a body triangle in the first round and nearly finishing the fight with a rear-naked choke. Lamas managed to survive, however, and turn the tide in the second.Oliveira has now tapped to a guillotine in back-to-back fights. The submission ace fell to former lightweight champ Anthony Pettis in August. For Lamas, it marks his fifth career submission win.Dariush outpoints MagomedovLightweight Beneil Dariush (14-2) improved to 7-1 in his last eight fights, defeating Rashid Magomedov (19-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).Dariush immediately said he felt the effects of Mexico Citys high altitude, although it didnt prevent him from a victory. Fighting out of Kings MMA in Southern California, Dariush picked his shots on the feet and did well controlling position against Magomedov in the clinch.Thats where the majority of the fight took place. The two spent some time at a boxing range, trading punches, but the bout was won in the clinch. Dariush scored points with knees and consistently put Magomedovs back to the fence. The overall stats were close, however.Dariushs only loss in the last two years came via submission to Michael Chiesa in April. Magomedov suffered the first loss of his UFC career.Grasso successful in UFC debutMexican strawweight Alexa Grasso enjoyed a successful UFC debut, defeating Heather Jo Clark via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).Grasso (9-0) outlanded Clark (7-6) 80-to-37 in total strikes according to Fightmetric. Grasso strung together a few good combinations early in the bout and popped Clark with several kicks to the body. Clarks nose was bloodied early in the fight.The 23-year-old Grasso appeared to slow down a bit in the third, but Clark couldnt mount a comeback. The loss was Clarks second in a row. She came up short to Polish title-challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz in May.The UFC signed Grasso away from all-female fight promotion Invicta FC earlier this year. She has finished four of her nine career victories via knockout. Nike Air Max Tilbud . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. Nike Air Max Køb . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. http://www.danmarkairmax.com/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Nike Air Max Danmark Billig . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Nike Air Max Udsalg . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. There was Group 1 racing aplenty over the Grand Final weekend, from Friday night through to Sunday, Melbourne to Sydney.Hartnell left onlookers with no doubt of his Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival credentials with a slashing win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000 metres on Sunday, when the six-year-old gelding looked every bit as good at Flemington as he did at his previous two wins in Sydney.Winning by more than three lengths over the Ciaron Maher-trained Jameka with stablemate Tally in third, Godolphin trainer John OShea noted that Hartnell had a lot of things go his way in the run. Those comments did little to downplay the impressive nature of the win, which has seen Hartnell firm to a $4.20 favourite (UBET) for the Caulfield Cup on 15 October.The Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) saw Serenely Discreet ($9) propelled into Crown Oaks contention with victory after a luckless run at Caulfield a fortnight earlier, as noted in ESPNs Racing Wrap. Adelaide-based trainer Philip Stokes said the extra room in running and a suitability for the Flemington circuit had Serenely Discreet definitely on an Oaks pathway.On Saturday, the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick saw Haurakis withering run from the rear of the field take the million-dollar prize at the very last moment. The victory saw Hauraki firm into $13 (UBET) for the Cox Plate in three weeks time.All the way back on Friday night, the Mick Price-trained Extreme Choice took out the Moir Stakes over 1200 metres. Successful in the Blue Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old, this colt showed would would be a three-year-old to contend with over the sprint trips. The worlds highest-rated sprinter and favourite, Chatauqua, was unplaced.Headline ActsHartnell: Immediately after Hartnells slashing win, James McDonald probably made the understatement of the year: Hes going well. He delivered it like Jerry Seinfeld cracking a gag while trying not to react to it himself.After winning his previous two starts by a combined margin of 13.6 lengths, Hartnell wiped clean his previously unsuccessful record at Flemington and re-affirmed his place as the Caulfield Cup favourite.Which way will he go, though? The Caulfield Cup (2400m) or the Cox Plate (2040m)?It is the hottest question of the Spring Carnival at the moment, and trainer John OShea isnt committing either way just yet. His biggest pointer so far is questioning whether he really wants his barnstorming gelding to take on Winx at Moonee Valley.Meanwhile, Jameka kept her Caulfield Cup preparations in a very positive light, finishing second, and was also a firmer into $4.60 with UBET.The Quarterback: Given his name and the exponential rise in the popularity of American sports among younger punters, it is fascinating that he can go around, and win, at a price like $7. The 2016 Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner at Flemington (1200m) followed up over the same track and distance, and there is every chance that he has a lot more to deliver over the next five weeks.After winning in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes over 1200 metres, trainer Robbie Griffiths noted that he was unsure whether some of the other more race fit competitors might have had the edge on this six-year-old, who was first-up this preparation. That provides an ominous sign for others taking on The Quarterback in two other 1200 metres Group 1 contests ahead: the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Oct. 21 and the Darley Classic on Nov. 5.Talking Points3yos in the UCI Stakes: The UCI Stakes over 1800 metres often provides a reliable guide to the AAM Victoria Derby a month later. This time? The jury is certainly still out. Wine Bush won at 20-1, coming off some reasonable performances in midweek maiden grade in Sydney, but punters and experts alike werent hailing him a top Derby hope. The biggest plus possibly is the fact that Wine Bushs trainer, Chris Waller, did win the Derby with Preferment in 2014, but tthe handler wasnt overly enthused post-race, either.ddddddddddddAround the corner, Under The Louvre: After being scratched from the meeting at Caulfield last Saturday, having drawn a wider barrier, much was anticipated from the Robert Smerdon-trained Under The Louvre at Flemington.Horses for courses? Perhaps. Although Under The Louvre has won once and placed three times at Flemington -- and on that record and good lead-up form, he started a $3.70 second favourite in the Gilgai Stakes -- the straight course just didnt seem to be his go this time. Jockey Dwayne Dunn noted that Under The Louvre will be better over 1400 metres next time and around a corner. Thats around the home turn corner at the Caulfield Racecourse, which happens to be around the corner from his stable box.EyecatchersSerenely Discreet: We noted in the ESPN Racing Wrap a couple of weeks ago that this Adelaide-trained filly was luckless in her previous run at Caulfield. There were no such issues this time for her as she heads towards the VRC Oaks (2500m) on 3 November. Her win in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) pleased trainer Philip Stokes, with the bigger, wider Flemington circuit suiting her racing style. Serenely Discreet was a drifter on raceday from $6.50 to $9, but UBET have wound her price in to $9 second favourite for the Oaks.Pure Pride: The Group 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) for the mares saw Pure Pride ($21) tightened for room 800 metres from home, and she gained a clear run really only in the final 300 metres. From that point, she rattled home to finish second, beaten just half a length. Whether she can stand up to Group 1 company in the Myer Classic (1600m) on Derby Day may be a stretch to say, but there could be a black-type victory within her grasp sometime soon.BlackbookersTrenchant: Desperately unlucky, as described by jockey Craig Williams. Look out for this one as he steps up to a mile. Just as Williams was pushing the colt forward along the rails, he lost all momentum when blocked for a run by Northern Lion. The gaps still didnt open up sufficiently in the run to the line.Bella Sorellastra: Finishing second to Serenely Discreet at $31, the run suggested that another win shouldnt be too far away for this filly by the very smart Irish sire Lope De Vega. She was suited by many winners and placegetters being able to run-on and figure in race finishes throughout the day, but still she is worth following after being awkward away from the starting gates.FlopsThrossell: Carried the hopes of many in this Derby lead-up run, not least this column, but the $3.50 UCI Stakes favourite was out of the picture going into the Flemington straight and finished 33 lengths last. Stewards found the colt measured an irregular heartbeat post-race, which will need to be remedied to their satisfaction before he is allowed to race again.Faatinah: While the winner, The Quarterback, was impressive, the $2.90 favourite, Faatinah, was most disappointing after an excellent win at Flemington four weeks earlier. Dropping out of the race with 200 metres to go, jockey Michael Walker was at a loss to explain the below-expectation performance.Victoria Racing Club: It was a pity that VRC officials didnt seize the opportunity and directly invite Western Bulldogs fans to continue their celebrations at Flemington. Little over a mile from the course, thousands of the Bulldogs faithful celebrated at the clubs spiritual home, the Whitten Oval. Where was the announcement of Free Admission for Bulldogs fans at Flemington today? Where was the marketing initiative to get the players onto a bus (remember that short distance) to parade down the famous Flemington straight in another picture-perfect moment in time? They werent there, and nor were hundreds if not thousands of others either. ' ' '