Detroit. Its a big step up from this time last year, when the Blue Jays we

PHOENIX - Junior Dos Santos is facing much more than a daunting challenge from Stipe Miocic when he returns to the octagon.The former UFC heavyweight champion realizes he must revive his career after two losses to Cain Velasquez, who took his belt in 2012 and defended it in 2013.To have any chance for another shot at the title, Dos Santos (16-3) must put together another string of victories, starting in the main event of Saturdays show in Phoenix.Every athlete in the UFC, they want to fight for the title, Dos Santos said. Im not different. No matter what happen, with Velasquez, I won the first one (fight with Velasquez) then lost the next ones. I really believe I can be the champion again. I really believe if I put my mind in the right place, if I train hard and if I have a good support by my side, I can be the champion again and I can stay there for a long time.Dos Santos hasnt been in the octagon since his second loss to Velasquez 14 months ago — mostly because of a hand injury.Dos Santos said his hands, which have earned him 12 career stoppage victories with outstanding boxing skills, are more than 100 per cent. But in order to get another shot at Velasquez, Dos Santos wants to become a well-rounded fighter who can handle any heavyweights challenges.Im really confident with my boxing skills, he said. But I have jiu-jitsu. I have wrestling. I have muay thai. Why dont I use that too much with my fights? I want to be confident. I want to learn how to be confident to use those things in my fight. If my boxing is not working that well, then lets do jiu-jitsu. You know? Try to find some holes in my opponent.Dos Santos and Miocic (12-1) are headlining a heavyweight-stacked card for the UFCs first live show in Arizona.Struggling contender Alistair Overeem (37-14) is taking on 7-footer Stefan Struve (29-6), who hasnt fought since March 2013 after getting treatment for a heart condition. Heavyweights Gabriel Gonzaga and Matt Mitrione also meet on the Fox show, while popular lightweight Nate Diaz came in five pounds heavy for his bout with Rafael Dos Anjos at Fridays weigh-in.Although Dos Santos place among the worlds best heavyweights isnt in doubt, Miocic hopes to join him with an upset victory. The part-time firefighter and paramedic from Cleveland who has won three straight fights expects the best Junior weve seen.Hes been a champion of the world, Miocic said. Itll be a great fight. I hope everyone knows my name (after I win).The winner of Saturdays main event will be in the mix for a title shot in 2015, whether the belt-holder is Velasquez or interim champ Fabricio Werdum. When Velasquez was forced to pull out of his defence in Mexico City in October due to a knee injury, Werdum stopped Mark Hunt and took the interim title.To get a shot at either title belt, Dos Santos knows he must best Miocic with conviction.I do think I need to do something impressive on Saturday night, he said. I want to show that Im still here and Im a top fighter. Cheap Nike Tanjun Shoes . Jurrjens signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in May, and was 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA at Triple-A Louisville. He has a 53-37 record with a 3.63 ERA in seven major league seasons, including five with Atlanta. Discount Nike Tanjun Shoes . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018. http://www.niketanjunoutlet.com/ .J. -- Travis Zajac of the New Jersey Devils took a lot of grief considering his scored the first of his career-best three goals just 12 seconds into a crucial game against the Florida Panthers. Nike Tanjun Cheap Outlet . In a series of tweets, it is explained by the Department of Player Safety that Niederreiter makes full body contact with Burrows and although there is head contact, he does not "pick" the head in the course of making the hit. Nike Tanjun Shoes Outlet .com) - The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Seth Curry on Tuesday.TORONTO - Toronto Blue Jays hitting coach Kevin Seitzer usually stands right behind the cage during batting practice while the players take their cuts. From time to time, hell move over to the side and will weigh in with a quick tip or two. Its a comfortable approach that has paid dividends for the American League East division leaders, who boast an offence that is among the best in Major League Baseball. "I think hes hands on when he needs to and he sits back and he watches when he needs to too," said Blue Jays catcher Erik Kratz. "We have a lot of good hitters here and with good hitters comes success and some streakiness. "He does a good job of limiting the bad streaks and extending the good streaks." The teams offensive statistics over the first two months of the campaign have been eye-opening. Entering Wednesdays games, the Blue Jays led the major leagues in home runs (83) and were second in runs scored (296), RBIs (281), slugging percentage (.451), hits (534) and OPS (on-base plus slugging — .784). Toronto was also tied for second in on-base percentage (.333) and sat fifth in team batting average (.264). Seitzer keeps a close eye on all the numbers but values some statistical categories more than others. "Runs scored is the one Im most concerned about," he said. "If youre scoring runs, whether you do it by home runs, situational hitting, youve got to be able to get on base, draw walks, be able to move runners and get big hits when guys are in scoring position. "It kind of encompasses everything really." The 52-year-old native of Springfield, Ill., was hired by the Blue Jays last fall after spending parts of five seasons as a hitting coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals. He succeeded Chad Mottola, who spent one year in the position. Seitzer, a two-time all-star as a player, had a .295 career average over 12 seasons with the Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians. As a coach, he has preached the importance of preparation and making hard, consistent contact in the box. "Have an idea of what the pitcher has got and what hess going to try to do, and then what each guy needs to do in order to have the best chance to succeed," he said of his approach.dddddddddddd "I like to keep things simple. I dont like it complicated, they dont want it complicated. "Theyve made really good adjustments so far." The power portion of the Toronto lineup has delivered so far with sluggers Edwin Encarnacion (.272 average, 19 homers, 50 RBIs) and Jose Bautista (.310, 14 homers, 41 RBIs) on pace for big seasons. Among the other notable performances, first baseman Adam Lind is batting .347 while Melky Cabrera has a .303 average. Juan Francisco is hitting .276 with nine homers and 24 RBIs in just 36 games. As for that important runs scored category, three Toronto players are in the top 15 in the major leagues: Bautista (44 - tied for fourth), Encarnacion (41 - tied for seventh) and Cabrera (37 - tied for 14th). Those numbers are a big reason why Toronto took a 35-24 record — the second-best mark in the American League — into Wednesdays game at Detroit. Its a big step up from this time last year, when the Blue Jays were last in the East at 24-34. "Its been phenomenal," Seitzer said of the teams effort. "If youre in first place after the first third, then the second third and the third one, then youre right where you need to be. So I couldnt ask for more right now." The 2013 Blue Jays posted decent offensive numbers despite their poor 74-88 record. The team was ninth in runs scored (712), fourth in homers (185), 11th in RBIs (669), eighth in slugging percentage (.411) and 15th in batting average (.252). While Seitzer deserves his share of the credit for the improvement, hes quick to praise the players for their professional approach and effort. He has been very impressed with what hes seen so far. "Probably the most (impressive thing) is the talent level and then secondly, their work ethic and preparation going in," he said. "When you have that combination and the ability to make adjustments along the way, youve got a chance to do some damage every night. Theyve been doing great." ' ' '