NEU » the opportunity to comfortably throw

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Gabby Douglas watched Aly Raisman stick the dismount on the beam, then rose from her seat and gave her American teammate a big hug.Never mind that Raismans success in Olympic qualifying Sunday ensured that Douglas couldnt defend the all-around title she won in London four years ago. Douglas had shaken off a sub-par performance in Olympic trials and quieted critics who were convinced she didnt deserve to make this team.For her, that was enough.Im not disappointed at all, she said. I have no regrets.Douglas finished third behind Simone Biles and Raisman. Only two gymnasts per country can compete in Thursdays final, leaving Douglas out of luck. The divide between Douglas and Raisman was slim. She was edged by less than a half a point.Douglas was attempting to become the first repeat all-around winner in nearly 50 years. She took time off after her triumph in London and put together a sometimes rocky comeback in which she switched coaches three times. Yet shes always had a knack for putting adversity behind her when it mattered, and when national team director Martha Karolyi rewarded her with a spot on the five-woman team, she immediately responded.Douglas was solid in all four events, but really sparkled on the uneven bars. She earned a score of 15.766 -- good for third overall and earning her a spot in the event final later in the games.I just really wanted to do a good bar set and really swing and just flow and stick the dismount -- the polishing touch, she said.She completed the beam without a hitch before watching Raisman do the same. It was a stark improvement from the Olympic trials where Douglas fell off the beam not once, but twice, leaving Karolyi to defend the decision to put her on the team.I think Gabby just proved that she has a place on this team, Karolyi said. I know our decision was very much questioned. But Ive known Gabby for many years and I knew we could make the necessary improvements that she would be a great asset to the team.Douglas beamed when told what her coach said, but the comments were certainly no surprise to the 20-year-old. Shes been bolstered by the encouragement of Karolyi for years.She said: `I believe in you, and you can go out and do it, Douglas said. At the end of the day, that means so much coming from the head coordinator of gymnastics. `Cause shes very precise.She was adamant that proving people wrong wasnt the motivation behind her work on Sunday.I just wanted to go out there and believe in my abilities and use the talent that I was given, she said. I wasnt concerned with anything else.Douglass teammates raved about her performance and lamented that she wouldnt get a chance to compete for all-around gold. The top 24 finishers advance to the all-around finals and the American team is so dominant that if not for the rule the entire five-person team would probably advance.I hate the two per country rule ... I wish that they would change it but I dont think that they ever will, Raisman said. Thats the rules. Youve got to respect their decision, but it is heartbreaking.However theres no reason to feel too bad for Douglas. Shes almost certain to collect another gold medal with the team the overwhelming favorite to win it all. Shell get another chance at a medal in uneven bars. Perhaps thats part of the reason why Douglas took Sundays setback so well.I would have loved to go out there and defend my title, but right now Im just rejoicing and so far this has just been an amazing experience, she said. Theres nothing to be ashamed about.David Luiz Chelsea Jersey . 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CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard.Immediately after a knockout win over Hector Lombard at UFC 199 in June, Dan Henderson stood in the Octagon and said he didnt know if hed ever fight again.Later that evening, Michael Bisping won the middleweight title and everything changed.Henderson, 46, will challenge Bisping for the 185-pound championship at UFC 204 this weekend in Manchester. Its a fight that never would have happened were it not for a bit of history between the two that dates back seven years.In 2009, Henderson floored Bisping with a right hand at UFC 100. It was arguably the highlight of Hendersons career, not to mention Bispings most memorable loss. That storyline opened the door for a Henderson title shot -- and one more trip to the Octagon.Win or lose, Henderson has said this will be the last fight of his career. Lets take a closer look at Hendos curtain call. Dont agree with the picks? Let me know on Twitter: @bokamotoESPN.Main eventMichael Bisping (29-7) vs. Dan Henderson (32-14) Middleweight championship Odds: Bisping -245; Henderson +205Its kind of crazy to think about: Bisping, at 37, is still younger than Henderson was the first time they fought.Henderson says constant questions and comments about his age have made him laugh in recent years, but can you really blame anyone for marveling at Dangerous Dans longevity? At 46, hes the oldest active fighter in the UFC.They say power is the last thing to go in a fighter, and boy has that rang true with Hendo. He is still always one right hand away from rewriting everything we think we know about a perceived outcome. And while his strategy to land that right hand has gotten somewhat predictable (knock an opponent off-balance with an inside leg kick, follow with the hammer), its worth noting his three recent finishes came under variations of that.Against Mauricio Shogun Rua?in their rematch, Henderson showed how lethal he can still be coming off a clinch and landing that right. Against an uber-aggressive Tim Boetsch (poor Boetsch, I think he overestimated how far gone Hendos chin was), Henderson landed the right hand as a counter, while in the process of moving backwards. And against Lombard in June, Henderson threw a head kick, followed by a clubbing back elbow he later said hed never practiced before.So, lets not completely relegate his chances of dethroning Bisping to that patented inside leg kick, overhand right combo -- but to be fair, yes, of course, were likely to see a lot of it.And right now, its difficult to bet on Bisping fallling victim to that again.dddddddddddd Possible? Certainly, yes. But were talking about a version of Bisping whose feints and footwork have navigated the treacherous waters of Anderson Silva counters and Luke Rockhold liver kicks in 2016. This is a very confident Bisping, one who has improved his wrestling since the first Henderson fight -- and is still, dont forget, nine years younger.Age and experience played to Hendersons favor at UFC 100. That was a big spot for Bisping at the time, fighting a former Pride champion on the biggest card in UFC history. He wasnt nearly as accustomed to the bright lights as Henderson was, and it showed. Bisping has talked exhaustively about being overtrained for that fight. He had signs of fatigue after the first round, which is highly uncharacteristic of him.This time, age is firmly in Bispings corner. Hendersons chin has been questionable for awhile. Even though he beat Lombard in his most recent fight rather spectacularly, he was also dropped in the first round, again. Although few expect this fight to go the distance, a five-round fight absolutely favors Bisping. Speed favors Bisping. And even the clinch, where Henderson holds a world class Greco-Roman background, Bisping wont be a fish out of water like he was in 2009 when they first met.Henderson generates a lot of power in small opportunities. Its a loaded gun at all times. Bispings defense will be heavily focused on that right hand though, and his feints have the ability to remove an opponents weapons by virtually not even giving them the opportunity to comfortably throw them. He will not be an easy target for the H Bomb, Hendersons vaunted right hand.Prediction: If Henderson wins, it will be pandemonium -- and perfectly in line with the upset-filled 2016 weve witnessed. But ... BISPING VIA THIRD-ROUND TKO.Featured undercard boutsVitor Belfort (25-12) vs. Gegard Mousasi (39-6-2), middleweights Belforts last performance against Ronaldo Souza in May left a lot to be desired. Hell have to look much, much better to have a shot against the well-rounded Mousasi. Prediction: Mousasi via TKO, round two.Jimi Manuwa (15-2) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (19-8), light heavyweights? Saint Preux has looked like a competent grappler and a complete novice, depending on whom hes fighting. It might be on his side in this matchup. Prediction: St. Preux submission. ' ' '