s at 75 feet. This time it was at 90 feet." The hope is that Soria will

Canadian Jordan Meins career appears to be at a tipping point. Following a vicious first-round destruction of Mike Pyle in August, the Lethbridge, Alta. native stated hed shed the prospect label that hovered over him throughout much of his career. Mein then made it clear in no uncertain terms that big fights were in his future. I want these co-main event spots, these main event spots, the 25-year-old welterweight told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 49 post-fight press conference five months ago. Thats where I belong, Mein now has the opportunity to back up his remarks when he faces former title challenger Thiago Alves on the main card of UFC 183 in Las Vegas Saturday. The headliner will see Anderson Silva return against Nick Diaz. UFC 183 will be available on pay-per-view Saturday, with the preliminary fights airing on TSN4 at 8pm et/5pm pt. Mein said Alves is the perfect opponent for him to stake his claim as a welterweight threat. Yeah, definitely, Mein told UFC.ca during a phone interview Wednesday. Hes had a great name for a long time and its definitely going to be a good win for me. I wish I would have had a co-main event spot or something, but other fights got booked. People wanted to see more (on the card), I guess — and thats what happened. But yeah, Thiagos a great opponent for me. Of course, Mein can keep his momentum rolling in the UFCs 170-pound division, but he also stands to lose footing at the hands of the dangerous Brazilian striker. Though Alves competed for the championship, that was more than five years ago at UFC 100. Since then hes gone 3-3, with his most recent outing being an entertaining unanimous-decision win over Seth Baczynski to cap off a two-year hiatus this past April. Mein admitted a victory may not move him up the official rankings, but stated an emphatic win against a name fighter never goes unnoticed by UFC matchmakers. I dont know if it will really move my ranking if I beat him, Mein said. Hes off the ranking (list) and hed been out (for a while). So Im not too sure as far as my ranking goes, but as far as the UFC sees me, maybe itll change a little bit. It has to be impressive for it to (earn me) a co-main event spot. If not, maybe Im back to where I was. But thats what I want, that co-main event spot and then getting to the main event. I think an impressive win would do that for me. On paper, the fight is a striking fans dream, punctuated by a clash of styles. In the past, Mein has put his boxing to good use, netting impressive wins over Pyle, Dan Miller and Hernani Perpetuo since joining the UFC roster. However, Alves Muay Thai skills have been on full display in victories against Matt Hughes, Josh Koscheck and Karo Parisyan. Though Mein tends not to watch tape on his opponents, he has closely followed Alves career. He said he has a good idea of what to expect when the octagon door shuts. I dont really watch tape on guys, but I have been watching him for so many years, Mein said. So I kind of already know what he looks like — his style and his game plan. Other than that, I just try to perfect my technique, my style and then go forward from there. (He may fight) more flat footed and then I can maybe move around a little bit more. Hes got dangerous leg kicks — that plays against me a little bit. If he kicks my legs, I wont be able to move as well. Thats why its going to be a sweet matchup. I dont know how quick his kicks are. Hes also got good counter strikes. So well see what happens. Mein knows that even if he gets out to an early lead, he cant recklessly pursue Alves. The sole TKO loss on the American Top Team fighters record came against Jon Fitch in 2006 via stunning upkick, a rare finishing technique in the UFC. Mein said Alves is a durable and powerful opponent. I think he likes to counter a lot, Mein stated. As soon as you strike him, hell take a couple to give one back. Im going to keep that in mind so I dont get too carried away trying to exploit something and get caught. Though Mein aspires to reach the upper echelon of the sport, he isnt looking past Alves. At this point, his focus is purely on picking up an impressive win. Once hes done so, he can spend time contemplating his next steps. Mein said fans will be in for a treat Saturday. Fans can expect two guys that really want to finish each other, Mein said. He just had a good, long fight and I just had a quick fight. So I think hes wanting a short fight and I want to keep it that way. Were each going to bring it to one another and try to finish each other. So thats going to happen and the fans are going to love watching it. CATCHING THE MAIN EVENT Regardless of how his fight with Thiago Alves shakes out, Jordan Mein will attempt to race through his post-fight medicals in order to get a good seat for Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz. Though Diaz is considered an underdog going into the bout, Mein said the former Strikeforce welterweight champion shouldnt be counted out. Oh definitely, he said. I definitely want to watch those two. That ones so difficult to call. I like watching both. I like their styles, but theyre so different. Diaz is quite a bit of an underdog, betting-wise. It wouldnt be stupid to put money on him because he could definitely win. If youre betting, I think its a good idea. But to be honest, I have no idea. Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jets Jersey . There is no argument that the line of Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek was one of the hottest in the NHL leading into the post-season, and they did combine for three goals and seven points, but it was the depth of all four lines that helped propel Montreal. Nathan Shepherd Jersey . -- Once again, Carlos Santana was a huge hit in Kansas City. http://www.authenticjetsfootballonline.c...ng-jets-jersey/. Calgary finished atop the CFL standings with a 14-4 record and earned the right to host the West Division final at McMahon Stadium on Nov. Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jersey . Altidore strained his left hamstring in the Americans opener against Ghana on June 16 and didnt play in their next two games. "We dont know how much because we need to see how hes going, but hes available," U. Avery Williamson Jersey . It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. Darren Collison had a team-high 24 points while starting at shooting guard for the injured Jamal Crawford. Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who apparently are trying to make up for decades of humiliation at the hands of the Lakers all in one season; theyve won the last two meetings by a combined 84 points. CHICAGO -- Kyle Ryans successful major league debut was a potentially costly victory for the Detroit Tigers. Ryan pitched six scoreless innings, and the Tigers salvaged a split of Saturdays day-night doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox with an 8-4 victory. Detroit moved back into a tie for the AL Central lead, but Miguel Cabreras sore right ankle forced him from the game in the fourth inning. The winner of the last two AL MVP awards could be out for four or five days, a subject that manager Brad Ausmus broached with him earlier in the week. "It flares up from time to time with different movements and different actions," Ausmus said. "I told him I could give him a day tomorrow, and he said, No, dont decide now because I might be good in the morning. "We want him in the lineup because hes such a presence, but we need him to be healthy, too. So its a delicate balance." In the opener, Chris Sale struck out a season-high 13, beating Max Scherzer in a matchup of All-Star aces and leading Chicago to a 6-3 win. Ezequiel Carrera, Don Kelly and Ian Kinsler each had three hits for Detroit in the nightcap. Ryan (1-0) allowed five hits and walked two. "(Ryan) didnt allow the game to speed up on him," Ausmus said. "He did a good job to keep his wits about him." Ausmus considered benching Cabrera in the second game, but the first baseman said he was fit to play. He went 1 for 7 on the day with four strikeouts, two on called third strikes. His batting average dipped to .299, the first time it has been below .300 since May 16. In his third at-bat, Cabrera hit a smash up the middle that glanced off pitcher Chris Bassitt and rolled several feet behind the mound. Bassitt was able to retrieve the ball and throw out Cabrera on what should have been a close play. Rajai Davis scored on the groundout to cap a three-run inning and give the Tigers a 5-0 lead. Cabrera did not speak with reporters before he was escorted out of U.S. Cellular Field on a golf cart. "Talk to the manager and the trainer," he said. The White Sox scored four times in the eighth. Avisail Garcia had a run-scoring fielders choice before Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run homer off Joba Chamberlain. But the Tigers put the game away with three runs in the ninth. J.D. Martinezz hit a sacrifice fly and Alex Avila and Kelly added RBI singles.dddddddddddd Promoted from Double-A Birmingham prior to the game, Bassitt (0-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings in his major league debut. Sale (11-3) struck out at least 10 for the 17th time in his career, tying Hall of Famer Ed Walsh for the franchise record. The lanky left-hander reached that figure in 81 major league starts -- Walsh made 312 for the White Sox from 1904-1916. Sale allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings. Jake Petricka pitched the ninth for his 10th save. Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer and Tyler Flowers also went deep against Scherzer (15-5), who fanned 11 and walked none in 6 2-3 innings. But he was touched up for six runs, five earned, and nine hits in the makeup of a June 10 rainout. "That was the frustrating part of it. I had great stuff today," Scherzer said. "Anytime you can strike out 11 and not walk anyone, youre doing things right. But I got beat on a couple of pitches." TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: Between games, RHP Joakim Soria tested his strained left oblique by throwing on flat ground for the second straight day. "He feels (discomfort) at certain distances, but it has been a longer distance since hes felt it," Ausmus said. "The last time he felt it, it was at 75 feet. This time it was at 90 feet." The hope is that Soria will be able to throw off a mound next week. White Sox: Jose Abreu started at DH in both games and was limping at times, the result of an upper leg problem that manager Robin Ventura dismissed as fatigue before the game. "No, not at all," Abreu said when asked whether he had changed his approach at the plate. "In fact, its not an injury. Its just something thats bothering me and Im working at (in therapy)." UP NEXT Tigers RHP Rick Porcello (15-8, 3.06 ERA) will oppose White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (6-10, 3.48 ERA) in the series finale Sunday. DE AZA DEALT The White Sox traded OF Alejandro De Aza to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league right-handers Mark Blackmar and Miguel Chalas. LA RUSSA, JACKIE ROBINSON KIDS GET THEIR DUE Ex-White Sox manager Tony La Russa and the Jackie Robinson West Little League team on Chicagos South Side were honoured before the second game. ' ' '