LAS VEGAS -- This has been a year of transition in mixed martial arts. Except, of course, in the UFCs flyweight division.The 125-pound division has been business as usual thanks to its dominant champion, Demetrious Johnson. In the midst of, among other things, a $4 billion UFC sale, a significant increase in free agency and the exchange of nine UFC titles in 2016, Johnson has kept his head down, dominated a former Olympian and will seek his ninth title defense when he faces Tim Elliott on Saturday at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale.This is a year of change in our sport, obviously, but I havent really been impacted by it, said Johnson. Im content defending my title. What matters is what I do in the gym and in the Octagon.That doesnt mean the current longest-reigning UFC champion is disinterested in what has taken place this year.Johnson, 30, says he has kept himself educated on the various fighters rights efforts that have been announced in 2016. He specifically mentioned the need for a fighter pension so athletes are taken care of once they hang up their gloves.His primary focus, however, is the cage. With a win on Saturday, Johnson (24-2-1) will move into a tie with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre for the second-most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. His streak would trail only that of former middleweight champion Anderson Silva?with?10.When asked to compare his run with what lightweight champion Conor McGregor?has achieved this year -- the first to ever hold two UFC titles simultaneously -- Johnson said they are similar.Winning a belt is hard, Johnson said. He knocked out the lightweight champion and he knocked out the featherweight champion. That in itself is a great accomplishment. For me, defending a title eight times, thats an accomplishment, too.He might say his is better, because thats kind of his personality. But Im not going to sit here and measure.One major difference between the two feats is the level of exposure they received. McGregor was, at one point, scheduled to headline the promotions landmark UFC 200 event. Although that ultimately didnt happen, the Irish star then showed up on the blockbuster UFC 205 event in New York.Johnson fought Henry Cejudo at a tough-luck UFC 197 event in April, which lost a marquee main event between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier due to injury. This month, hes fighting Elliott, the TUF flyweight tournament winner who was publicly announced as his opponent only on Wednesdays final episode of Season 24. The event will take place at The Palms.Itd be dope to be on a bigger card, UFC 207 at T-Mobile Arena [on Dec. 30], but at the same time, my paycheck stays exactly the same either way, Johnson said. They want me fighting at The Palms and not at a new arena? Ill fight at The Palms. The UFC calls, tells me who Im fighting and what the location is, and I say, Thank you, sounds good.One change Johnson has decided to make going forward is he will agree to fight only twice per year. He was originally booked to defend the title against Wilson Reis at UFC 201 in July but was forced to withdraw due to an injury.According to Johnson, the injury was the result of overtraining -- just too much consistent wear and tear on his body.I had two and a half months between fights and my body was just exhausted -- not from the fight but the training, Johnson said. Thats where most of my effort goes, is into training. It was overuse, I didnt do anything out of the normal. It just popped.When that happened I was like, F--- it, Im only fighting twice a year now. Im not going to put that stress on my body. Its not worth it. D.J. Reader Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Jay Prosch Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.officialauthentictexansstore.com/authentic-joel-heath-jersey.html . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Clark Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Jeff Allen Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Host nation Brazil is off to an excellent start in womens handball, stunning reigning Olympic and world champion Norway 31-28 Saturday in the tournaments opening game.Ana Paula Rodrigues had 12 goals for Brazil, which was the 2013 world champion but has never won an Olympic handball medal.Brazil took the lead early in the first half and held on after Norway tied it 18-18 in the second half. As Future Arena filled with passionate home fans for the morning game, five straight goals and big saves from goalkeeper Mayssa Raquel Pessoa took Brazils lead from 22-21 to 27-21.Every player from Brazil played very good -- this is what I think. Played together, said Brazils Alexandra do Nascimento, who scored twice. She said Brazil had learned to keep its composure after its loss to Norway in the 2012 Olympic quarterfinals. Brazil had led at halftime of that game.Now Brazil knows well this situation and if you make one mistake, this is one goal for Norway. Brazil today played very slow but intelligently, she said. Even though the Future Arena was not quite full, loud support ffrom the fans was very, very positive, Do Nascimento added.dddddddddddd.The group stage runs through Aug. 14 and Norway is still likely to qualify for the knockout stages as one of the top four teams of the six-country Group A.We have to be more tough and the defense is the thing we have to be better on, Norways Emilie Hegh Arntzen said. (Rodrigues) was very good today and we know that she is an important player on the Brazilian team. It was tough to stop her today. If we meet them again, she wont be scoring so many goals.The Netherlands, last years world championship silver medalist, started with an 18-14 loss to France in the opening game of Group B.Allison Pineau and Alexandra Lacrabere had five goals each for France, whose physical defensive play swung the crowd behind the Dutch players.France led most of the game until the Dutch tied it 13-13. 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