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Ducks get defenseman James Wisniewski in one of four deadline deals

Written By kolimtiga on Selasa, 03 Maret 2015 | 16.38

General Manager Bob Murray completed a flurry of four NHL trade-deadline deals Monday to upgrade the Ducks' blue line.

The major "get" was defenseman James Wisniewski, 31, a former Duck (2008-10) who is expected to provide power-play points and playoff physicality. Wisniewski could be paired with Cam Fowler, after his stay-at-home partner, Ben Lovejoy, 31, was dealt to Pittsburgh for 23-year-old defenseman Simon Despres.

To acquire Wisniewski, the Ducks parted with minor league center William Karlsson, a 2015 second-round pick, and unproductive forward Rene Bourque, who was acquired from Montreal earlier this season and cleared waivers Monday morning. As part of the trade the Ducks also received a 2015 third-round pick from Columbus that originally belonged to Detroit.

The Pacific Division leaders also acquired Toronto defenseman Korbinian Holzer for defenseman Eric Brewer and a fifth-round selection in the 2016 draft, and sent minor league forward Mat Clark to Colorado for 22-year-old prospect Michael Sgarbossa, a center.

"We're capable now of competing against most of the teams in our Western Conference," said Murray, who thought the late-season change to team chemistry was worth the risk.

"It was more important to address the ability to play different games against different teams. We felt that was becoming a problem throughout the season. There's not that many players coming, and 'Wiz' has been here before, so that's a plus."

The Ducks staggered through a 6-7-1 rut from Jan. 29-Feb. 25. Their power play ranks in the bottom third of the NHL and is missing injured top-scoring defenseman Sami Vatanen for perhaps another month.

"Our power play has struggled mightily for two years now. Wiz is not afraid to shoot the puck," Murray said. "We felt that was a move that had to be made."

Wisniewski's salary-cap hit will be $5.5 million annually through 2017-18. In Columbus, he had eight goals and 29 points in 56 games this season. He suffered a bone bruise when struck by a puck recently, but is expected to play again within a week.

"It's a dream come true, to be able to go to a legit [Stanley] Cup-contending team, [where] anything else is less than acceptable," Wisniewski said. "To go to a familiar place, the success they've had, and be able to contribute . . . I'm ready for a very long playoff haul."

The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Despres was plus-nine with 64 penalty minutes in 59 games for Pittsburgh, contributing two goals and 17 points.

"Big, strong, young hockey player [who's] only going to get better," Murray said.

Lovejoy was emotional before leaving the Ducks, saying he didn't realize he'd been traded until he returned to the locker room after practice and saw 15 text messages on his phone welcoming him back to Pittsburgh, where he began his NHL career in 2008.

"I thought I was safe," he said. "And then I wasn't."

Lovejoy said he'll look fondly upon his time with the Ducks, who acquired him from the Penguins in February 2013.

"I've loved it," he said. "This place has been amazing for me both personally and professionally. I was given an opportunity here that I am so grateful for. I've always thought I could do it, but I didn't know. I forever will be grateful to Anaheim for that. If I'm leaving here, I'm excited to go back there."

Holzer, 27, told Canadian TV network TSN that it was his girlfriend who informed him he'd been traded. "I'm a little bit out of words," said Holzer, who had six points and 25 penalty minutes in 34 games with Toronto.

"It made our team better," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said of the deals. "I guess the proof will be in the pudding when we see how we react to it all, but we're excited about what happened."

TONIGHT

AT ARIZONA

When: 6 PST.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830.

Etc.: Ducks forward Tim Jackman was sent home to Anaheim after sustaining an unspecified lower-body injury Sunday in Dallas. He'll be evaluated Tuesday.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire

Times columnist Helene Elliott contributed to this report from Glendale, Ariz.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Ducks get defenseman James Wisniewski in one of four deadline deals

General Manager Bob Murray completed a flurry of four NHL trade-deadline deals Monday to upgrade the Ducks' blue line.

The major "get" was defenseman James Wisniewski, 31, a former Duck (2008-10) who is expected to provide power-play points and playoff physicality. Wisniewski could be paired with Cam Fowler, after his stay-at-home partner, Ben Lovejoy, 31, was dealt to Pittsburgh for 23-year-old defenseman Simon Despres.

To acquire Wisniewski, the Ducks parted with minor league center William Karlsson, a 2015 second-round pick, and unproductive forward Rene Bourque, who was acquired from Montreal earlier this season and cleared waivers Monday morning. As part of the trade the Ducks also received a 2015 third-round pick from Columbus that originally belonged to Detroit.

The Pacific Division leaders also acquired Toronto defenseman Korbinian Holzer for defenseman Eric Brewer and a fifth-round selection in the 2016 draft, and sent minor league forward Mat Clark to Colorado for 22-year-old prospect Michael Sgarbossa, a center.

"We're capable now of competing against most of the teams in our Western Conference," said Murray, who thought the late-season change to team chemistry was worth the risk.

"It was more important to address the ability to play different games against different teams. We felt that was becoming a problem throughout the season. There's not that many players coming, and 'Wiz' has been here before, so that's a plus."

The Ducks staggered through a 6-7-1 rut from Jan. 29-Feb. 25. Their power play ranks in the bottom third of the NHL and is missing injured top-scoring defenseman Sami Vatanen for perhaps another month.

"Our power play has struggled mightily for two years now. Wiz is not afraid to shoot the puck," Murray said. "We felt that was a move that had to be made."

Wisniewski's salary-cap hit will be $5.5 million annually through 2017-18. In Columbus, he had eight goals and 29 points in 56 games this season. He suffered a bone bruise when struck by a puck recently, but is expected to play again within a week.

"It's a dream come true, to be able to go to a legit [Stanley] Cup-contending team, [where] anything else is less than acceptable," Wisniewski said. "To go to a familiar place, the success they've had, and be able to contribute . . . I'm ready for a very long playoff haul."

The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Despres was plus-nine with 64 penalty minutes in 59 games for Pittsburgh, contributing two goals and 17 points.

"Big, strong, young hockey player [who's] only going to get better," Murray said.

Lovejoy was emotional before leaving the Ducks, saying he didn't realize he'd been traded until he returned to the locker room after practice and saw 15 text messages on his phone welcoming him back to Pittsburgh, where he began his NHL career in 2008.

"I thought I was safe," he said. "And then I wasn't."

Lovejoy said he'll look fondly upon his time with the Ducks, who acquired him from the Penguins in February 2013.

"I've loved it," he said. "This place has been amazing for me both personally and professionally. I was given an opportunity here that I am so grateful for. I've always thought I could do it, but I didn't know. I forever will be grateful to Anaheim for that. If I'm leaving here, I'm excited to go back there."

Holzer, 27, told Canadian TV network TSN that it was his girlfriend who informed him he'd been traded. "I'm a little bit out of words," said Holzer, who had six points and 25 penalty minutes in 34 games with Toronto.

"It made our team better," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said of the deals. "I guess the proof will be in the pudding when we see how we react to it all, but we're excited about what happened."

TONIGHT

AT ARIZONA

When: 6 PST.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830.

Etc.: Ducks forward Tim Jackman was sent home to Anaheim after sustaining an unspecified lower-body injury Sunday in Dallas. He'll be evaluated Tuesday.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire

Times columnist Helene Elliott contributed to this report from Glendale, Ariz.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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Clippers get a win, if not the calls they want, in testy end to trip

The new day-after NBA reports on referee calls in the final two minutes of close games could generate some strong reactions from the Clippers.

Oh, goody probably won't be among them.

The severely short-handed Clippers came out on the wrong end of two controversial sequences but persevered Monday night for a 110-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

"It was the wildest two minutes we've had in a while," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.

Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick was ejected with 1 minute 6 seconds left after picking up two technical fouls for engaging a referee about Minnesota Coach Flip Saunders' venturing onto the court.

The Timberwolves then had a chance to tie the score in the final seconds after being awarded the ball even though point guard Ricky Rubio appeared to have stepped out of bounds before he could call a timeout.

But Gary Neal missed a three-point attempt with 10.9 seconds to go and the Clippers' Dahntay Jones made two free throws to preserve his team's third consecutive victory, wrapping up a trip on which it went 3-1.

"Being on the road for six days, it was a great win for us," Redick said. "It might have been the best win of the trip."

The Clippers started the game without Blake Griffin (elbow) and Matt Barnes (hamstring) and ended it without Redick and sixth man Jamal Crawford, who sustained a bruised right calf in the second quarter and did not play after halftime.

They got contributions from nearly every remaining player during a zany game in which they lost an 18-point lead in the first half before rallying from a seven-point deficit.

Forward-center Spencer Hawes shrugged off his season-long shooting slump to make a corner three-pointer that gave the Clippers a 105-101 lead. Point guard Chris Paul (26 points, 14 assists) somehow elevated the ball over the outstretched arm of Kevin Garnett to bury a 19-foot jumper that made it 108-103 with 38 seconds left.

Center DeAndre Jordan finished with 18 rebounds and 12 points, his franchise-record ninth consecutive game with at least 15 rebounds.

Rubio had a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Timberwolves, who were missing starters Kevin Martin (flu) and Nikola Pekovic (ankle).

The Clippers reserves filled in capably for their starting counterparts.

Jordan Hamilton, replacing Barnes at small forward, scored 10 points in his first start as a Clipper. Forward Glen Davis had a season-high 12 points to go with three rebounds, two steals, two assist and one block.

Austin Rivers scored 13 points, played solid defense on rookie sensation Andrew Wiggins in the second half and survived a run-in with Garnett late in the fourth quarter that resulted in a technical foul on each player.

Rivers bumped Garnett while walking to a timeout huddle with 3:23 left, prompting Garnett to nudge Rivers and point at him.

Rivers said afterward that Garnett had elbowed him earlier in the game, leading to a red welt on his forehead, and hit him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. So did Rivers — whose father Doc used to coach Garnett with the Boston Celtics — intentionally bump Garnett on his way to the bench?

"I was walking to my bench and he was in my way and I wasn't moving," Rivers said.

Redick also was unyielding about his role in the dust-up with Saunders. Redick said he had asked referees to intervene after Saunders walked on the court during a dead ball.

"I'm not sure why he was out on the court, but he was yelling and stuff, so I said to the ref, 'Man, get him off the court,'" Redick said. "And Flip turned to me and said, 'Man, shut the . . . up.' And he said it like three times. And I just walked to my spot and I got a double technical for that.

"So I shouldn't have kept talking, but all I said to [referee] Josh [Tiven] was, 'I'm going to get my money back' and he threw me out for that. If I'm going to get thrown out, man, at least let me say some stuff."

The Clippers ended up with the final say on the scoreboard, the only place that mattered.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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LAPD fatally shoot a homeless man on skid row

Written By kolimtiga on Senin, 02 Maret 2015 | 16.38

Los Angeles police shot and killed a homeless man on skid row Sunday during an intense altercation caught on video in which an officer can be heard twice shouting "drop the gun!"

The dramatic video — viewed more than 2 million times in the first seven hours after it was posted on Facebook — captures the final seconds of the confrontation, showing four officers engaged in a frantic struggle with the man, wrestling him to the ground.

Police were still analyzing the audio, but "it's clear there was a struggle for the officer's gun," Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. No other gun was found at the scene.

Five shots can be heard on the video. Two officers and a sergeant fired their weapons, Smith said.

"Any video that shows someone losing their life in an altercation with police is going to be disturbing," he said.

"It's disturbing for police officers to watch," he said.

The man, whose identity had not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Police said two officers were treated for minor injuries and released.

LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery said there could be more video recordings of the incident, noting that he could see two surveillance cameras mounted on buildings at the scene. Smith said the encounter was recorded by body cameras worn by at least one of the officers.

Police had responded to a robbery call in the 500 block of San Pedro Street around noon, Montgomery said. At one point during the confrontation a non-lethal Taser had been deployed, but Smith said it was "ineffective."

The video also shows two officers in the foreground grappling with and handcuffing a woman who had picked up a dropped police nightstick.

An angry crowd gathered immediately after the gunfire, as police cordoned off the scene and ordered onlookers to back away.

One witness can be heard complaining that there had been at least six officers to handle the situation, and that the mortally wounded man had been unarmed.

"Ain't nobody got no … gun!" he shouts.

"That man never was a threat," said Lonnie Franklin, 53, who said he was across the street when the shooting occurred. "The amount of officers present at the time could have subdued him."

Witnesses identified the dead man by his street name, "Africa," and said he'd been living in a tent on skid row for a few months after spending a long stretch in a mental health facility.

The LAPD has struggled for years to effectively police downtown's expansive skid row, which is a frequent destination for people with severe mental illnesses.

"We have to deal with the aftermath of a system that's failed," Officer Deon Joseph, a 16-year skid row beat cop, said Sunday.

Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said Sunday evening that he was watching the video repeatedly trying to hear exactly what the officers said to the man.

"My heart just started pounding just watching it," Soboroff said. "I feel the adrenaline. These situations are just so horrific."

Soboroff said a key issue would be whether the man did try to grab the officer's gun. Otherwise, he said, it's unclear what might have prompted the use of deadly force.

"To me, that would be the only explanation that something would happen that quickly," Soboroff said. "It escalated right in front of our eyes."

Soboroff said the LAPD, the independent inspector general and the district attorney's office would each investigate the shooting "very, very carefully."

"Of course, I would encourage people not to rush to judgment. It's not fair to anybody. It's not fair to the family of the victim or the victim or the officers," he said. "We'll find out what happened."

Last May, a mentally ill homeless man named Carlos Ocana died after falling from a rooftop after officers shocked him with a Taser. The death remains under investigation.

According to a Times data analysis, there have been 12 fatal officer-involved incidents in downtown Los Angeles since 2000. There was none in 2014 and one in 2015 before Sunday's violence.

People who witnessed Sunday's shooting described a chaotic scene leading up to the events captured on the video.

Dennis Horne, 29, said Africa had been fighting with someone inside his tent, one of many that line streets in the area.

When Africa refused to comply with a police order to come out of the tent, officers used a stun gun and dragged him out, Horne said. The officers tackled Africa, forcing him onto his back on the sidewalk.

"It's sad," Horne said. "There's no justification to take somebody's life."

Jose Gil, 38, said he saw Africa swinging at the

police before one of the officers started shouting that the man was going for his gun.

Ina Murphy, who lives in an apartment nearby, said Africa had arrived in the area about four or five months ago. He told her he had recently been released after spending 10 years in a mental health facility, Murphy said.

Another area resident, whose driver's license identified him as Booker T. Washington, said police had come by repeatedly to ask Africa to take down his tent.

People are allowed to sleep on the streets from 9 p.m to 6 a.m., but are supposed to remove their tents during the daytime, under a court agreement.

"This man got shot over a tent," Washington said.

A group of L.A. civil rights leaders urged the Police Commission on Sunday night to hold a special hearing on the use of force by officers on skid row.

Dozens of people gathered Sunday night in Pershing Square to protest the shooting.

Yannick Babou, 34, a street vendor who works in skid row, said he was selling cookies about a block from where the gunfire erupted Sunday.

"I'm not anti-police. I think we need police in society," Babou said. "But I think we need to hold police accountable when they do something wrong."

gale.holland@latimes.com

Twitter: @geholland

jack.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @jackdolanLAT

kate.mather@latimes.com

Twitter: @katemather

Times staff writers Richard Winton, Armand Emamdjomeh, Matt Hamilton and Joel Rubin contributed to this report.

ALSO:


16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

LAPD fatally shoot a homeless man on skid row

Los Angeles police shot and killed a homeless man on skid row Sunday during an intense altercation caught on video in which an officer can be heard twice shouting "drop the gun!"

The dramatic video — viewed more than 2 million times in the first seven hours after it was posted on Facebook — captures the final seconds of the confrontation, showing four officers engaged in a frantic struggle with the man, wrestling him to the ground.

Police were still analyzing the audio, but "it's clear there was a struggle for the officer's gun," Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. No other gun was found at the scene.

Five shots can be heard on the video. Two officers and a sergeant fired their weapons, Smith said.

"Any video that shows someone losing their life in an altercation with police is going to be disturbing," he said.

"It's disturbing for police officers to watch," he said.

The man, whose identity had not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Police said two officers were treated for minor injuries and released.

LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery said there could be more video recordings of the incident, noting that he could see two surveillance cameras mounted on buildings at the scene. Smith said the encounter was recorded by body cameras worn by at least one of the officers.

Police had responded to a robbery call in the 500 block of San Pedro Street around noon, Montgomery said. At one point during the confrontation a non-lethal Taser had been deployed, but Smith said it was "ineffective."

The video also shows two officers in the foreground grappling with and handcuffing a woman who had picked up a dropped police nightstick.

An angry crowd gathered immediately after the gunfire, as police cordoned off the scene and ordered onlookers to back away.

One witness can be heard complaining that there had been at least six officers to handle the situation, and that the mortally wounded man had been unarmed.

"Ain't nobody got no … gun!" he shouts.

"That man never was a threat," said Lonnie Franklin, 53, who said he was across the street when the shooting occurred. "The amount of officers present at the time could have subdued him."

Witnesses identified the dead man by his street name, "Africa," and said he'd been living in a tent on skid row for a few months after spending a long stretch in a mental health facility.

The LAPD has struggled for years to effectively police downtown's expansive skid row, which is a frequent destination for people with severe mental illnesses.

"We have to deal with the aftermath of a system that's failed," Officer Deon Joseph, a 16-year skid row beat cop, said Sunday.

Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said Sunday evening that he was watching the video repeatedly trying to hear exactly what the officers said to the man.

"My heart just started pounding just watching it," Soboroff said. "I feel the adrenaline. These situations are just so horrific."

Soboroff said a key issue would be whether the man did try to grab the officer's gun. Otherwise, he said, it's unclear what might have prompted the use of deadly force.

"To me, that would be the only explanation that something would happen that quickly," Soboroff said. "It escalated right in front of our eyes."

Soboroff said the LAPD, the independent inspector general and the district attorney's office would each investigate the shooting "very, very carefully."

"Of course, I would encourage people not to rush to judgment. It's not fair to anybody. It's not fair to the family of the victim or the victim or the officers," he said. "We'll find out what happened."

Last May, a mentally ill homeless man named Carlos Ocana died after falling from a rooftop after officers shocked him with a Taser. The death remains under investigation.

According to a Times data analysis, there have been 12 fatal officer-involved incidents in downtown Los Angeles since 2000. There was none in 2014 and one in 2015 before Sunday's violence.

People who witnessed Sunday's shooting described a chaotic scene leading up to the events captured on the video.

Dennis Horne, 29, said Africa had been fighting with someone inside his tent, one of many that line streets in the area.

When Africa refused to comply with a police order to come out of the tent, officers used a stun gun and dragged him out, Horne said. The officers tackled Africa, forcing him onto his back on the sidewalk.

"It's sad," Horne said. "There's no justification to take somebody's life."

Jose Gil, 38, said he saw Africa swinging at the

police before one of the officers started shouting that the man was going for his gun.

Ina Murphy, who lives in an apartment nearby, said Africa had arrived in the area about four or five months ago. He told her he had recently been released after spending 10 years in a mental health facility, Murphy said.

Another area resident, whose driver's license identified him as Booker T. Washington, said police had come by repeatedly to ask Africa to take down his tent.

People are allowed to sleep on the streets from 9 p.m to 6 a.m., but are supposed to remove their tents during the daytime, under a court agreement.

"This man got shot over a tent," Washington said.

A group of L.A. civil rights leaders urged the Police Commission on Sunday night to hold a special hearing on the use of force by officers on skid row.

Dozens of people gathered Sunday night in Pershing Square to protest the shooting.

Yannick Babou, 34, a street vendor who works in skid row, said he was selling cookies about a block from where the gunfire erupted Sunday.

"I'm not anti-police. I think we need police in society," Babou said. "But I think we need to hold police accountable when they do something wrong."

gale.holland@latimes.com

Twitter: @geholland

jack.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @jackdolanLAT

kate.mather@latimes.com

Twitter: @katemather

Times staff writers Richard Winton, Armand Emamdjomeh, Matt Hamilton and Joel Rubin contributed to this report.

ALSO:


16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

LAPD fatally shoot a homeless man on skid row

Los Angeles police shot and killed a homeless man on skid row Sunday during an intense altercation caught on video in which an officer can be heard twice shouting "drop the gun!"

The dramatic video — viewed more than 2 million times in the first seven hours after it was posted on Facebook — captures the final seconds of the confrontation, showing four officers engaged in a frantic struggle with the man, wrestling him to the ground.

Police were still analyzing the audio, but "it's clear there was a struggle for the officer's gun," Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. No other gun was found at the scene.

Five shots can be heard on the video. Two officers and a sergeant fired their weapons, Smith said.

"Any video that shows someone losing their life in an altercation with police is going to be disturbing," he said.

"It's disturbing for police officers to watch," he said.

The man, whose identity had not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Police said two officers were treated for minor injuries and released.

LAPD Sgt. Barry Montgomery said there could be more video recordings of the incident, noting that he could see two surveillance cameras mounted on buildings at the scene. Smith said the encounter was recorded by body cameras worn by at least one of the officers.

Police had responded to a robbery call in the 500 block of San Pedro Street around noon, Montgomery said. At one point during the confrontation a non-lethal Taser had been deployed, but Smith said it was "ineffective."

The video also shows two officers in the foreground grappling with and handcuffing a woman who had picked up a dropped police nightstick.

An angry crowd gathered immediately after the gunfire, as police cordoned off the scene and ordered onlookers to back away.

One witness can be heard complaining that there had been at least six officers to handle the situation, and that the mortally wounded man had been unarmed.

"Ain't nobody got no … gun!" he shouts.

"That man never was a threat," said Lonnie Franklin, 53, who said he was across the street when the shooting occurred. "The amount of officers present at the time could have subdued him."

Witnesses identified the dead man by his street name, "Africa," and said he'd been living in a tent on skid row for a few months after spending a long stretch in a mental health facility.

The LAPD has struggled for years to effectively police downtown's expansive skid row, which is a frequent destination for people with severe mental illnesses.

"We have to deal with the aftermath of a system that's failed," Officer Deon Joseph, a 16-year skid row beat cop, said Sunday.

Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said Sunday evening that he was watching the video repeatedly trying to hear exactly what the officers said to the man.

"My heart just started pounding just watching it," Soboroff said. "I feel the adrenaline. These situations are just so horrific."

Soboroff said a key issue would be whether the man did try to grab the officer's gun. Otherwise, he said, it's unclear what might have prompted the use of deadly force.

"To me, that would be the only explanation that something would happen that quickly," Soboroff said. "It escalated right in front of our eyes."

Soboroff said the LAPD, the independent inspector general and the district attorney's office would each investigate the shooting "very, very carefully."

"Of course, I would encourage people not to rush to judgment. It's not fair to anybody. It's not fair to the family of the victim or the victim or the officers," he said. "We'll find out what happened."

Last May, a mentally ill homeless man named Carlos Ocana died after falling from a rooftop after officers shocked him with a Taser. The death remains under investigation.

According to a Times data analysis, there have been 12 fatal officer-involved incidents in downtown Los Angeles since 2000. There was none in 2014 and one in 2015 before Sunday's violence.

People who witnessed Sunday's shooting described a chaotic scene leading up to the events captured on the video.

Dennis Horne, 29, said Africa had been fighting with someone inside his tent, one of many that line streets in the area.

When Africa refused to comply with a police order to come out of the tent, officers used a stun gun and dragged him out, Horne said. The officers tackled Africa, forcing him onto his back on the sidewalk.

"It's sad," Horne said. "There's no justification to take somebody's life."

Jose Gil, 38, said he saw Africa swinging at the

police before one of the officers started shouting that the man was going for his gun.

Ina Murphy, who lives in an apartment nearby, said Africa had arrived in the area about four or five months ago. He told her he had recently been released after spending 10 years in a mental health facility, Murphy said.

Another area resident, whose driver's license identified him as Booker T. Washington, said police had come by repeatedly to ask Africa to take down his tent.

People are allowed to sleep on the streets from 9 p.m to 6 a.m., but are supposed to remove their tents during the daytime, under a court agreement.

"This man got shot over a tent," Washington said.

A group of L.A. civil rights leaders urged the Police Commission on Sunday night to hold a special hearing on the use of force by officers on skid row.

Dozens of people gathered Sunday night in Pershing Square to protest the shooting.

Yannick Babou, 34, a street vendor who works in skid row, said he was selling cookies about a block from where the gunfire erupted Sunday.

"I'm not anti-police. I think we need police in society," Babou said. "But I think we need to hold police accountable when they do something wrong."

gale.holland@latimes.com

Twitter: @geholland

jack.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @jackdolanLAT

kate.mather@latimes.com

Twitter: @katemather

Times staff writers Richard Winton, Armand Emamdjomeh, Matt Hamilton and Joel Rubin contributed to this report.

ALSO:


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UFC 184: Fight-by-fight recap of Rousey-Zingano card

Written By kolimtiga on Minggu, 01 Maret 2015 | 16.38

UFC 184 takes place Saturday night from the Staples Center here in Los Angeles, headlined by a UFC women's bantamweight title bout featuring undefeated champion Ronda Rousey defending against undefeated challenger Cat Zingano. Rousey is one of the biggest stars in the sport, with Olympic level judo, dangerous submissions and a rapidly improving striking game. Zingano is a dangerous fighter in her own right, with excellent striking to go with a wrestling background and great heart.

UFC women's bantamweight title: Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano

Rousey is one of the UFC's biggest stars, if the not the biggest star. She has used devastating judo throws, increasingly dangerous striking and her signature armbar to finish every opponent in her career. Zingano is a legitimate challenger, undefeated in her own right with finishes in 8 of 9 fights. She has great striking, a wrestling background and has shown the ability to persevere through tough challenges.

Round 1. Zingano comes flying in with a knee and looks for a takedown but Rousey reverses her beautifully into top position and grabs an armbar from an awkward angle for the submission in just seconds. Another electric performance by the champion.

Winner: Ronda Rousey, submission, round 1.

Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington

Holm is one of the most celebrated female boxers of all time, an 18 time world champion in 3 different weight classes. She made the transition to MMA in 2011 and earned a 7-0 MMA record before signing with the UFC. This will be her UFC debut and represents a significant step up in competition. Pennington is only 5-4 in MMA but has fought a much higher level of competition throughout her career than Holm has. The big question is how far Holm's ground game has come, because her unique background makes her a very attractive potential future opponent for champion Ronda Rousey.

Round 1. They clinch early. Pennington lands a knee but Holm follows with a nice hook on separation. They exchange from close distance with each fighter landing. Pennington goes for a takedown but doesn't come close. Holm is landing more of her punches. Pennington catches a kick and goes for a takedown but again doesn't come close. Holm lands a few additional punches late. 10-9 Holm.

Round 2. Holm connects with some straight punches early. She throws a high kick that flies over the head of Pennington as the crowd reacts big to the near miss. They clinch, with Pennington landing an uppercut and Holm a knee as they back off. Holm is generally getting the better of the boxing but Pennington is getting in her shots here and there. Pennington attempts another takedown and again doesn't come close but she does land a couple nice punches on the break. Pennington lands a few more punches a little while later. Holm lands a couple kicks late. That was a very close round. 10-9 Holm.

Round 3. Holm is aggressive with her kicks early in the final round. Pennington isn't throwing as much and early in the third appears to have lost some of the momentum she was gaining late in the second. Pennington does hit Holm with a solid punch and then moments later a hook that connects as solidly on the chin of Holm as any punch of the fight. Pennington drops Holm with a punch but it appears to have been partially a slip as Holm gets up immediately throwing heavy knees. Pennington looks for a takedown but eats some more knees and then a head kick. Pennington answers back with some looping punches. They exchange late as the crowd cheers. That was another very close round. 10-9 Pennington, 29-28 Holm.

Winner: Holly Holm, split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

Josh Koscheck vs. Jake Ellenberger

This is a crossroads fight for two formerly elite welterweights. Koscheck has been a star in the UFC since his notable tenure on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter. Koscheck's feud with Chris Leben was one of the key elements in popularizing MMA on American television. He challenged Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title and has key wins over Diego Sanchez, Matt Hughes, Paul Daley and Anthony Johnson. However, he is now 37 years old and has lost three straight fights. Ellenberger rose up the UFC ranks with six straight UFC wins from 2010-2012. Unfortunately, he has also dropped three straight fights and has looked listless, unmotivated and completely unimpressive for the entirety of all three of those contests.

Round 1. Ellenberger throws a right cross and a couple jabs early. Koscheck ducks down and takes Ellenberger to the mat. Ellenberger works his way back up, eating a few punches in the process. Koscheck presses Ellenberger against the cage and looks to take him back down. They trade knees to the body and finally separate. Ellenberger looks to back Koscheck against the cage, where he has had success in the past landing power punches. Ellenberger looks for a takedown and has it defended but lands a big punch in the followup. Dull round. 10-9 Ellenberger.

Round 2. Koscheck immediately shoots in for a takedown. He can't get it and they battle in a clinch by the cage. Ellenberger lands a couple of straight right hand shots upon separation but neither man is throwing much and the crowd boos. As Koscheck dives in for another takedown, Ellenberger grabs his neck and pulls him down to the mat for a north/south choke. Koscheck taps out.

Winner: Jake Ellenberger, submission, round 2.

Other bouts:

Masio Fullen vs. Alex Torres

Torres is a 2-1 Colombian fighter while Fullen is 8-4 and hails from Mexico. Both fighters have only competed on the lower levels of the sport, as UFC looks to establish more of a presence in Latin America.

Round 1. Fullen moves in and looks to push the action early, but eats a hard straight right hand that knocks him off balance. Torres attacks aggressively with punches and looks to finish the fight. Fullen is finally able to land a counter that forces Torres to back off and show more respect. Moments later, Fullen hurts Torres with another shot and looks to swarm again. Torres gets a brief takedown but they quickly return to the feet. Torres hurts Fullen again with a hard punch and looks to finish before Fullen lands a flying knee and scores a takedown. They return to the feet and the round concludes. Very exciting round. 10-9 Torres.

Round 2. The fighters clinch by the cage. Fullen lands a few punches and Torres attempts a takedown. Fullen blocks that and staggers Torres with another punch. Fullen follows with a crisp three punch combination and a hard knee by the cage. Fullen continues landing shots by the cage. Torres is reduced to mostly backing off and defending at the round concludes. Fullen took over the fight handily in that round. 10-9 Fullen.

Round 3. Fullen moves in and looks to reestablish his dominance from the second round. He is able to connect at will with his punches to the chin of Torres and referee Herb Dean appears to be considering a stoppage by the cage. Torres is able to get out of danger and then looks for a takedown. Fullen defends the takedown attempt but Fullen continues to work by the cage for most of the round. Torres keeps going for the takedown and they are stalemated by the cage. Fullen briefly gets Torres down but Torres pops back up and the round comes to an end. Torres held Fullen by the cage a while but it shouldn't be nearly enough to negate the damage and offense of Fullen early. 10-9 Fullen, 29-28 Fullen.

Winner: Masio Fullen, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

James Krause vs. Valmir Lazaro

Krause is a well traveled veteran of the sport, having fought for most of the top MMA organizations in the world at one point or another. However, he has lost most of the time when matched with upper echelon opposition. He has lost 2 of 3 and needs a win here. Lazaro is a 12-3 Brazilian fighter who trains out of the respected Nova Uniao camp. He lost his UFC debut and looks to rebound.

Round 1. They trade kicks and jabs early. Lazaro looks to land a power shot. Krause goes for a takedown and gets it momentarily, only to see Lazaro pop right back up. Lazaro then lands a huge right hook, the best punch of the early fight. Lazaro starts to take over as the round goes on, landing punches to the chin of Krause regularly. Krause goes for a takedown that is stuffed late. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 2. Krause gets a takedown 30 seconds in but Lazaro gets back up in a hurry and lands a few hard punches that back up Krause. They exchange jabs. Lazaro continues to land better punches and adds a hard knee to the body. Krause looks for another takedown with a minute left but it is again blocked. Lazaro lands a couple punches and a leg kick as the round ends. Lazaro is the better striker and Krause can't get it to the ground. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 3. Lazaro lands a body shot early and Krause uses the opportunity to attempt a takedown. He can't get it. Lazaro connects with a hard body kick. They fight from range as the round wears on, with Lazaro maintaining his advantage in the striking department. Krause gets his best flurry late, landing a few solid straight punches but it is too little, too late. 10-9 Lazaro, 30-27 Lazaro.

Winner: Valmir Lazaro, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Derrick Lewis vs. Roan Potts

Lewis generated a lot of attention following a pair of first round knockouts to start his UFC career. He is a powerful, devastating striker. However, he stepped up in competition for his third fight and was knocked out by Matt Mitrione. He looks to rebound here. Potts is a 37 year old South African fighter who has shown little in his two UFC appearances, both losses.

Round 1. Lewis comes out looking to land big punches and a head kick but then surprisingly switches tactics and uses a trip takedown. Lewis lands a series of shots from the top but Potts attacks the leg and looks to submit Lewis. Lewis finally rolls out of danger to the roar of the crowd and marches back towards Potts. Potts ducks down and gets a takedown. Lewis works his way out of bottom position and takes the top. He then starts dropping own huge punches looking to finish the fight. He follows with elbows but Potts survives.

Round 2. Lewis looks to have a lot of energy left given how big he is and how hard he fought in the first round. He moves in for power punches and a wild scramble ensues. Potts ends up covering up on the bottom while Lewis throws hard punches to the side of the head. Lewis ends up in Potts' full guard and rests there for a little while. He then opens up with punches again and begins dropping down bombs. He moves into full mount and keeps landing big punches. Potts is forced to just hold on and then cover up. The referee finally and mercifully calls it off.

Winner: Derrick Lewis, TKO, round 2.

Tim Means vs. Dhiego Lima

Means is an action fighter who rides a two fight winning streak into this bout. He is 4-3 overall in the UFC. Lima is a 26-year-old prospect with a 10-2 MMA record. He lost in the finals of the Ultimate Fighter season 19 but rebounded to win his next fight. He is also the brother of elite Bellator welterweight Douglas Lima.

Round 1. The fighters feel each other out briefly, looking to establish range with leg kicks and jabs. Means backs Lima against the cage and connects with a series of big shots. He nails Lima with a hard elbow and then a massive knee that drops Lima to the canvas. Means looks to finish on the ground with additional strikes but Lima survives. Moments later, Means rocks Lima again with a punch by the cage. He drops Lima with another punch and then pours in vicious punches until the referee stops the contest. That was a terrific performance by Means.

Winner: Tim Means, TKO, round 1.

Kid Yamamoto vs. Roman Salazar

Yamamoto was at one time one of the biggest stars in Japanese MMA, a huge TV ratings and live attraction with world class wrestling and dominant striking. He was also widely perceived as the top 145 pound fighter in the world, and fans speculated about a dream matchup between him and WEC champion Urijah Faber. Unfortunately, age and injuries have caught up with Yamamoto, who hasn't fought since 2012 and hasn't won since 2010. Salazar is 9-3 and dropped his UFC debut.

Round 1. Yamamoto is showing a lot of fancy footwork early, moving about and not staying in range for Salazar. However, neither man is landing much offense. Yamamoto does land a nice counter hook as Salazar moves in. Salazar attempts a takedown but has it blocked. Yamamoto connects with a good uppercut and a low kick. Yamamoto clearly wants to fight at significant distance, moving in and then moving well out of range. Salazar is having trouble connecting, but Yamamoto isn't landing much either. The crowd boos at the end of the round. 10-9 Yamamoto.

Round 2. Yamamoto lands a leg kick but plants a little bit too much and Salazar dives in for a successful takedown. Yamamoto quickly powers back to his feet and goes back to his first round tactic of diving in and out. Salazar moves in and lands a solid left hand in one of the exchanges. The crowd begins to boo again. After an accidental eye poke by Yamamoto on Salazar, Salazar evidently decides he doesn't want to continue and the fight is stopped.

Result: No Contest, round 2.

Mark Munoz vs. Roan Carneiro

Munoz has been a middleweight contender for years, scoring wins over the likes of Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway and Tim Boetsch. After consecutive losses to Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida, his career could be in big trouble with another loss here. Roan Carneiro returns to the UFC in this fight after winning an 8 man one night tournament for Battlegrounds MMA. He was 2-3 in the UFC previously and was not impressive.

Round 1. Carneiro looks a lot bigger in the cage, although it was Munoz who struggled to make weight yesterday. Munoz shoots for a takedown but Carneiro controls his neck and takes top position. Carneiro is in side control. Munoz tries to get up but Carneiro takes his back and sinks in a rear naked choke. Munoz appeared to be unconscious for a significant period of time before the referee finally stepped in.

Winner: Roan Carneiro, submission, round 1.

Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau

Ferguson is slowly working his way into lightweight contender status, having won 10 of his last 11 fights including 7 UFC wins. He is a dangerous striker and has mixed in a crafty submission game as well. Tibau is one of the most experienced fighters in UFC history, having fought at least twice for the organization each year since 2006.

Round 1. Ferguson is the aggressor early, landing a series of leg kicks and then attacking higher. Tibau counterattacks with punches until Ferguson staggers him with a heavy straight punch. Ferguson then grabs a front choke and looks to finish. He can't so he follows with some big punches and looks to end the fight that way. He then sinks in his hooks and wraps up a rear naked choke for the win. Ferguson looked phenomenal.

Winner: Tony Ferguson, submission, round 1.

Alan Jouban vs. Richard Walsh

Jouban is a hard hitter who sports a 10-3 MMA record and is 1-1 in the UFC. Walsh, 8-2, competed on Ultimate Fighter Nations, representing his native country of Australia. He is also 1-1 in the UFC.

Round 1. Walsh moves forward, landing a few punches. He clinches but can't get a takedown. On the separation, Jouban hits him with a stiff kick to the body. Walsh a little while there responds with a body kick of his own. Jouban catches Walsh with a nasty elbow that staggers Walsh by the cage. Jouban opens up with punches and referee John McCarthy stops the fight. It could be argued that was a little early but no one seemed to have much of a problem with the stoppage.

Winner: Alan Jouban, TKO, Round 1.

Follow on Twitter at @ToddMartinMMA.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

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UFC 184: Fight-by-fight recap of Rousey-Zingano card

UFC 184 takes place Saturday night from the Staples Center here in Los Angeles, headlined by a UFC women's bantamweight title bout featuring undefeated champion Ronda Rousey defending against undefeated challenger Cat Zingano. Rousey is one of the biggest stars in the sport, with Olympic level judo, dangerous submissions and a rapidly improving striking game. Zingano is a dangerous fighter in her own right, with excellent striking to go with a wrestling background and great heart.

UFC women's bantamweight title: Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano

Rousey is one of the UFC's biggest stars, if the not the biggest star. She has used devastating judo throws, increasingly dangerous striking and her signature armbar to finish every opponent in her career. Zingano is a legitimate challenger, undefeated in her own right with finishes in 8 of 9 fights. She has great striking, a wrestling background and has shown the ability to persevere through tough challenges.

Round 1. Zingano comes flying in with a knee and looks for a takedown but Rousey reverses her beautifully into top position and grabs an armbar from an awkward angle for the submission in just seconds. Another electric performance by the champion.

Winner: Ronda Rousey, submission, round 1.

Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington

Holm is one of the most celebrated female boxers of all time, an 18 time world champion in 3 different weight classes. She made the transition to MMA in 2011 and earned a 7-0 MMA record before signing with the UFC. This will be her UFC debut and represents a significant step up in competition. Pennington is only 5-4 in MMA but has fought a much higher level of competition throughout her career than Holm has. The big question is how far Holm's ground game has come, because her unique background makes her a very attractive potential future opponent for champion Ronda Rousey.

Round 1. They clinch early. Pennington lands a knee but Holm follows with a nice hook on separation. They exchange from close distance with each fighter landing. Pennington goes for a takedown but doesn't come close. Holm is landing more of her punches. Pennington catches a kick and goes for a takedown but again doesn't come close. Holm lands a few additional punches late. 10-9 Holm.

Round 2. Holm connects with some straight punches early. She throws a high kick that flies over the head of Pennington as the crowd reacts big to the near miss. They clinch, with Pennington landing an uppercut and Holm a knee as they back off. Holm is generally getting the better of the boxing but Pennington is getting in her shots here and there. Pennington attempts another takedown and again doesn't come close but she does land a couple nice punches on the break. Pennington lands a few more punches a little while later. Holm lands a couple kicks late. That was a very close round. 10-9 Holm.

Round 3. Holm is aggressive with her kicks early in the final round. Pennington isn't throwing as much and early in the third appears to have lost some of the momentum she was gaining late in the second. Pennington does hit Holm with a solid punch and then moments later a hook that connects as solidly on the chin of Holm as any punch of the fight. Pennington drops Holm with a punch but it appears to have been partially a slip as Holm gets up immediately throwing heavy knees. Pennington looks for a takedown but eats some more knees and then a head kick. Pennington answers back with some looping punches. They exchange late as the crowd cheers. That was another very close round. 10-9 Pennington, 29-28 Holm.

Winner: Holly Holm, split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

Josh Koscheck vs. Jake Ellenberger

This is a crossroads fight for two formerly elite welterweights. Koscheck has been a star in the UFC since his notable tenure on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter. Koscheck's feud with Chris Leben was one of the key elements in popularizing MMA on American television. He challenged Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title and has key wins over Diego Sanchez, Matt Hughes, Paul Daley and Anthony Johnson. However, he is now 37 years old and has lost three straight fights. Ellenberger rose up the UFC ranks with six straight UFC wins from 2010-2012. Unfortunately, he has also dropped three straight fights and has looked listless, unmotivated and completely unimpressive for the entirety of all three of those contests.

Round 1. Ellenberger throws a right cross and a couple jabs early. Koscheck ducks down and takes Ellenberger to the mat. Ellenberger works his way back up, eating a few punches in the process. Koscheck presses Ellenberger against the cage and looks to take him back down. They trade knees to the body and finally separate. Ellenberger looks to back Koscheck against the cage, where he has had success in the past landing power punches. Ellenberger looks for a takedown and has it defended but lands a big punch in the followup. Dull round. 10-9 Ellenberger.

Round 2. Koscheck immediately shoots in for a takedown. He can't get it and they battle in a clinch by the cage. Ellenberger lands a couple of straight right hand shots upon separation but neither man is throwing much and the crowd boos. As Koscheck dives in for another takedown, Ellenberger grabs his neck and pulls him down to the mat for a north/south choke. Koscheck taps out.

Winner: Jake Ellenberger, submission, round 2.

Other bouts:

Masio Fullen vs. Alex Torres

Torres is a 2-1 Colombian fighter while Fullen is 8-4 and hails from Mexico. Both fighters have only competed on the lower levels of the sport, as UFC looks to establish more of a presence in Latin America.

Round 1. Fullen moves in and looks to push the action early, but eats a hard straight right hand that knocks him off balance. Torres attacks aggressively with punches and looks to finish the fight. Fullen is finally able to land a counter that forces Torres to back off and show more respect. Moments later, Fullen hurts Torres with another shot and looks to swarm again. Torres gets a brief takedown but they quickly return to the feet. Torres hurts Fullen again with a hard punch and looks to finish before Fullen lands a flying knee and scores a takedown. They return to the feet and the round concludes. Very exciting round. 10-9 Torres.

Round 2. The fighters clinch by the cage. Fullen lands a few punches and Torres attempts a takedown. Fullen blocks that and staggers Torres with another punch. Fullen follows with a crisp three punch combination and a hard knee by the cage. Fullen continues landing shots by the cage. Torres is reduced to mostly backing off and defending at the round concludes. Fullen took over the fight handily in that round. 10-9 Fullen.

Round 3. Fullen moves in and looks to reestablish his dominance from the second round. He is able to connect at will with his punches to the chin of Torres and referee Herb Dean appears to be considering a stoppage by the cage. Torres is able to get out of danger and then looks for a takedown. Fullen defends the takedown attempt but Fullen continues to work by the cage for most of the round. Torres keeps going for the takedown and they are stalemated by the cage. Fullen briefly gets Torres down but Torres pops back up and the round comes to an end. Torres held Fullen by the cage a while but it shouldn't be nearly enough to negate the damage and offense of Fullen early. 10-9 Fullen, 29-28 Fullen.

Winner: Masio Fullen, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

James Krause vs. Valmir Lazaro

Krause is a well traveled veteran of the sport, having fought for most of the top MMA organizations in the world at one point or another. However, he has lost most of the time when matched with upper echelon opposition. He has lost 2 of 3 and needs a win here. Lazaro is a 12-3 Brazilian fighter who trains out of the respected Nova Uniao camp. He lost his UFC debut and looks to rebound.

Round 1. They trade kicks and jabs early. Lazaro looks to land a power shot. Krause goes for a takedown and gets it momentarily, only to see Lazaro pop right back up. Lazaro then lands a huge right hook, the best punch of the early fight. Lazaro starts to take over as the round goes on, landing punches to the chin of Krause regularly. Krause goes for a takedown that is stuffed late. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 2. Krause gets a takedown 30 seconds in but Lazaro gets back up in a hurry and lands a few hard punches that back up Krause. They exchange jabs. Lazaro continues to land better punches and adds a hard knee to the body. Krause looks for another takedown with a minute left but it is again blocked. Lazaro lands a couple punches and a leg kick as the round ends. Lazaro is the better striker and Krause can't get it to the ground. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 3. Lazaro lands a body shot early and Krause uses the opportunity to attempt a takedown. He can't get it. Lazaro connects with a hard body kick. They fight from range as the round wears on, with Lazaro maintaining his advantage in the striking department. Krause gets his best flurry late, landing a few solid straight punches but it is too little, too late. 10-9 Lazaro, 30-27 Lazaro.

Winner: Valmir Lazaro, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Derrick Lewis vs. Roan Potts

Lewis generated a lot of attention following a pair of first round knockouts to start his UFC career. He is a powerful, devastating striker. However, he stepped up in competition for his third fight and was knocked out by Matt Mitrione. He looks to rebound here. Potts is a 37 year old South African fighter who has shown little in his two UFC appearances, both losses.

Round 1. Lewis comes out looking to land big punches and a head kick but then surprisingly switches tactics and uses a trip takedown. Lewis lands a series of shots from the top but Potts attacks the leg and looks to submit Lewis. Lewis finally rolls out of danger to the roar of the crowd and marches back towards Potts. Potts ducks down and gets a takedown. Lewis works his way out of bottom position and takes the top. He then starts dropping own huge punches looking to finish the fight. He follows with elbows but Potts survives.

Round 2. Lewis looks to have a lot of energy left given how big he is and how hard he fought in the first round. He moves in for power punches and a wild scramble ensues. Potts ends up covering up on the bottom while Lewis throws hard punches to the side of the head. Lewis ends up in Potts' full guard and rests there for a little while. He then opens up with punches again and begins dropping down bombs. He moves into full mount and keeps landing big punches. Potts is forced to just hold on and then cover up. The referee finally and mercifully calls it off.

Winner: Derrick Lewis, TKO, round 2.

Tim Means vs. Dhiego Lima

Means is an action fighter who rides a two fight winning streak into this bout. He is 4-3 overall in the UFC. Lima is a 26-year-old prospect with a 10-2 MMA record. He lost in the finals of the Ultimate Fighter season 19 but rebounded to win his next fight. He is also the brother of elite Bellator welterweight Douglas Lima.

Round 1. The fighters feel each other out briefly, looking to establish range with leg kicks and jabs. Means backs Lima against the cage and connects with a series of big shots. He nails Lima with a hard elbow and then a massive knee that drops Lima to the canvas. Means looks to finish on the ground with additional strikes but Lima survives. Moments later, Means rocks Lima again with a punch by the cage. He drops Lima with another punch and then pours in vicious punches until the referee stops the contest. That was a terrific performance by Means.

Winner: Tim Means, TKO, round 1.

Kid Yamamoto vs. Roman Salazar

Yamamoto was at one time one of the biggest stars in Japanese MMA, a huge TV ratings and live attraction with world class wrestling and dominant striking. He was also widely perceived as the top 145 pound fighter in the world, and fans speculated about a dream matchup between him and WEC champion Urijah Faber. Unfortunately, age and injuries have caught up with Yamamoto, who hasn't fought since 2012 and hasn't won since 2010. Salazar is 9-3 and dropped his UFC debut.

Round 1. Yamamoto is showing a lot of fancy footwork early, moving about and not staying in range for Salazar. However, neither man is landing much offense. Yamamoto does land a nice counter hook as Salazar moves in. Salazar attempts a takedown but has it blocked. Yamamoto connects with a good uppercut and a low kick. Yamamoto clearly wants to fight at significant distance, moving in and then moving well out of range. Salazar is having trouble connecting, but Yamamoto isn't landing much either. The crowd boos at the end of the round. 10-9 Yamamoto.

Round 2. Yamamoto lands a leg kick but plants a little bit too much and Salazar dives in for a successful takedown. Yamamoto quickly powers back to his feet and goes back to his first round tactic of diving in and out. Salazar moves in and lands a solid left hand in one of the exchanges. The crowd begins to boo again. After an accidental eye poke by Yamamoto on Salazar, Salazar evidently decides he doesn't want to continue and the fight is stopped.

Result: No Contest, round 2.

Mark Munoz vs. Roan Carneiro

Munoz has been a middleweight contender for years, scoring wins over the likes of Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway and Tim Boetsch. After consecutive losses to Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida, his career could be in big trouble with another loss here. Roan Carneiro returns to the UFC in this fight after winning an 8 man one night tournament for Battlegrounds MMA. He was 2-3 in the UFC previously and was not impressive.

Round 1. Carneiro looks a lot bigger in the cage, although it was Munoz who struggled to make weight yesterday. Munoz shoots for a takedown but Carneiro controls his neck and takes top position. Carneiro is in side control. Munoz tries to get up but Carneiro takes his back and sinks in a rear naked choke. Munoz appeared to be unconscious for a significant period of time before the referee finally stepped in.

Winner: Roan Carneiro, submission, round 1.

Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau

Ferguson is slowly working his way into lightweight contender status, having won 10 of his last 11 fights including 7 UFC wins. He is a dangerous striker and has mixed in a crafty submission game as well. Tibau is one of the most experienced fighters in UFC history, having fought at least twice for the organization each year since 2006.

Round 1. Ferguson is the aggressor early, landing a series of leg kicks and then attacking higher. Tibau counterattacks with punches until Ferguson staggers him with a heavy straight punch. Ferguson then grabs a front choke and looks to finish. He can't so he follows with some big punches and looks to end the fight that way. He then sinks in his hooks and wraps up a rear naked choke for the win. Ferguson looked phenomenal.

Winner: Tony Ferguson, submission, round 1.

Alan Jouban vs. Richard Walsh

Jouban is a hard hitter who sports a 10-3 MMA record and is 1-1 in the UFC. Walsh, 8-2, competed on Ultimate Fighter Nations, representing his native country of Australia. He is also 1-1 in the UFC.

Round 1. Walsh moves forward, landing a few punches. He clinches but can't get a takedown. On the separation, Jouban hits him with a stiff kick to the body. Walsh a little while there responds with a body kick of his own. Jouban catches Walsh with a nasty elbow that staggers Walsh by the cage. Jouban opens up with punches and referee John McCarthy stops the fight. It could be argued that was a little early but no one seemed to have much of a problem with the stoppage.

Winner: Alan Jouban, TKO, Round 1.

Follow on Twitter at @ToddMartinMMA.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

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UFC 184: Fight-by-fight recap of Rousey-Zingano card

UFC 184 takes place Saturday night from the Staples Center here in Los Angeles, headlined by a UFC women's bantamweight title bout featuring undefeated champion Ronda Rousey defending against undefeated challenger Cat Zingano. Rousey is one of the biggest stars in the sport, with Olympic level judo, dangerous submissions and a rapidly improving striking game. Zingano is a dangerous fighter in her own right, with excellent striking to go with a wrestling background and great heart.

UFC women's bantamweight title: Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano

Rousey is one of the UFC's biggest stars, if the not the biggest star. She has used devastating judo throws, increasingly dangerous striking and her signature armbar to finish every opponent in her career. Zingano is a legitimate challenger, undefeated in her own right with finishes in 8 of 9 fights. She has great striking, a wrestling background and has shown the ability to persevere through tough challenges.

Round 1. Zingano comes flying in with a knee and looks for a takedown but Rousey reverses her beautifully into top position and grabs an armbar from an awkward angle for the submission in just seconds. Another electric performance by the champion.

Winner: Ronda Rousey, submission, round 1.

Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington

Holm is one of the most celebrated female boxers of all time, an 18 time world champion in 3 different weight classes. She made the transition to MMA in 2011 and earned a 7-0 MMA record before signing with the UFC. This will be her UFC debut and represents a significant step up in competition. Pennington is only 5-4 in MMA but has fought a much higher level of competition throughout her career than Holm has. The big question is how far Holm's ground game has come, because her unique background makes her a very attractive potential future opponent for champion Ronda Rousey.

Round 1. They clinch early. Pennington lands a knee but Holm follows with a nice hook on separation. They exchange from close distance with each fighter landing. Pennington goes for a takedown but doesn't come close. Holm is landing more of her punches. Pennington catches a kick and goes for a takedown but again doesn't come close. Holm lands a few additional punches late. 10-9 Holm.

Round 2. Holm connects with some straight punches early. She throws a high kick that flies over the head of Pennington as the crowd reacts big to the near miss. They clinch, with Pennington landing an uppercut and Holm a knee as they back off. Holm is generally getting the better of the boxing but Pennington is getting in her shots here and there. Pennington attempts another takedown and again doesn't come close but she does land a couple nice punches on the break. Pennington lands a few more punches a little while later. Holm lands a couple kicks late. That was a very close round. 10-9 Holm.

Round 3. Holm is aggressive with her kicks early in the final round. Pennington isn't throwing as much and early in the third appears to have lost some of the momentum she was gaining late in the second. Pennington does hit Holm with a solid punch and then moments later a hook that connects as solidly on the chin of Holm as any punch of the fight. Pennington drops Holm with a punch but it appears to have been partially a slip as Holm gets up immediately throwing heavy knees. Pennington looks for a takedown but eats some more knees and then a head kick. Pennington answers back with some looping punches. They exchange late as the crowd cheers. That was another very close round. 10-9 Pennington, 29-28 Holm.

Winner: Holly Holm, split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28).

Josh Koscheck vs. Jake Ellenberger

This is a crossroads fight for two formerly elite welterweights. Koscheck has been a star in the UFC since his notable tenure on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter. Koscheck's feud with Chris Leben was one of the key elements in popularizing MMA on American television. He challenged Georges St. Pierre for the UFC welterweight title and has key wins over Diego Sanchez, Matt Hughes, Paul Daley and Anthony Johnson. However, he is now 37 years old and has lost three straight fights. Ellenberger rose up the UFC ranks with six straight UFC wins from 2010-2012. Unfortunately, he has also dropped three straight fights and has looked listless, unmotivated and completely unimpressive for the entirety of all three of those contests.

Round 1. Ellenberger throws a right cross and a couple jabs early. Koscheck ducks down and takes Ellenberger to the mat. Ellenberger works his way back up, eating a few punches in the process. Koscheck presses Ellenberger against the cage and looks to take him back down. They trade knees to the body and finally separate. Ellenberger looks to back Koscheck against the cage, where he has had success in the past landing power punches. Ellenberger looks for a takedown and has it defended but lands a big punch in the followup. Dull round. 10-9 Ellenberger.

Round 2. Koscheck immediately shoots in for a takedown. He can't get it and they battle in a clinch by the cage. Ellenberger lands a couple of straight right hand shots upon separation but neither man is throwing much and the crowd boos. As Koscheck dives in for another takedown, Ellenberger grabs his neck and pulls him down to the mat for a north/south choke. Koscheck taps out.

Winner: Jake Ellenberger, submission, round 2.

Other bouts:

Masio Fullen vs. Alex Torres

Torres is a 2-1 Colombian fighter while Fullen is 8-4 and hails from Mexico. Both fighters have only competed on the lower levels of the sport, as UFC looks to establish more of a presence in Latin America.

Round 1. Fullen moves in and looks to push the action early, but eats a hard straight right hand that knocks him off balance. Torres attacks aggressively with punches and looks to finish the fight. Fullen is finally able to land a counter that forces Torres to back off and show more respect. Moments later, Fullen hurts Torres with another shot and looks to swarm again. Torres gets a brief takedown but they quickly return to the feet. Torres hurts Fullen again with a hard punch and looks to finish before Fullen lands a flying knee and scores a takedown. They return to the feet and the round concludes. Very exciting round. 10-9 Torres.

Round 2. The fighters clinch by the cage. Fullen lands a few punches and Torres attempts a takedown. Fullen blocks that and staggers Torres with another punch. Fullen follows with a crisp three punch combination and a hard knee by the cage. Fullen continues landing shots by the cage. Torres is reduced to mostly backing off and defending at the round concludes. Fullen took over the fight handily in that round. 10-9 Fullen.

Round 3. Fullen moves in and looks to reestablish his dominance from the second round. He is able to connect at will with his punches to the chin of Torres and referee Herb Dean appears to be considering a stoppage by the cage. Torres is able to get out of danger and then looks for a takedown. Fullen defends the takedown attempt but Fullen continues to work by the cage for most of the round. Torres keeps going for the takedown and they are stalemated by the cage. Fullen briefly gets Torres down but Torres pops back up and the round comes to an end. Torres held Fullen by the cage a while but it shouldn't be nearly enough to negate the damage and offense of Fullen early. 10-9 Fullen, 29-28 Fullen.

Winner: Masio Fullen, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

James Krause vs. Valmir Lazaro

Krause is a well traveled veteran of the sport, having fought for most of the top MMA organizations in the world at one point or another. However, he has lost most of the time when matched with upper echelon opposition. He has lost 2 of 3 and needs a win here. Lazaro is a 12-3 Brazilian fighter who trains out of the respected Nova Uniao camp. He lost his UFC debut and looks to rebound.

Round 1. They trade kicks and jabs early. Lazaro looks to land a power shot. Krause goes for a takedown and gets it momentarily, only to see Lazaro pop right back up. Lazaro then lands a huge right hook, the best punch of the early fight. Lazaro starts to take over as the round goes on, landing punches to the chin of Krause regularly. Krause goes for a takedown that is stuffed late. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 2. Krause gets a takedown 30 seconds in but Lazaro gets back up in a hurry and lands a few hard punches that back up Krause. They exchange jabs. Lazaro continues to land better punches and adds a hard knee to the body. Krause looks for another takedown with a minute left but it is again blocked. Lazaro lands a couple punches and a leg kick as the round ends. Lazaro is the better striker and Krause can't get it to the ground. 10-9 Lazaro.

Round 3. Lazaro lands a body shot early and Krause uses the opportunity to attempt a takedown. He can't get it. Lazaro connects with a hard body kick. They fight from range as the round wears on, with Lazaro maintaining his advantage in the striking department. Krause gets his best flurry late, landing a few solid straight punches but it is too little, too late. 10-9 Lazaro, 30-27 Lazaro.

Winner: Valmir Lazaro, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).

Derrick Lewis vs. Roan Potts

Lewis generated a lot of attention following a pair of first round knockouts to start his UFC career. He is a powerful, devastating striker. However, he stepped up in competition for his third fight and was knocked out by Matt Mitrione. He looks to rebound here. Potts is a 37 year old South African fighter who has shown little in his two UFC appearances, both losses.

Round 1. Lewis comes out looking to land big punches and a head kick but then surprisingly switches tactics and uses a trip takedown. Lewis lands a series of shots from the top but Potts attacks the leg and looks to submit Lewis. Lewis finally rolls out of danger to the roar of the crowd and marches back towards Potts. Potts ducks down and gets a takedown. Lewis works his way out of bottom position and takes the top. He then starts dropping own huge punches looking to finish the fight. He follows with elbows but Potts survives.

Round 2. Lewis looks to have a lot of energy left given how big he is and how hard he fought in the first round. He moves in for power punches and a wild scramble ensues. Potts ends up covering up on the bottom while Lewis throws hard punches to the side of the head. Lewis ends up in Potts' full guard and rests there for a little while. He then opens up with punches again and begins dropping down bombs. He moves into full mount and keeps landing big punches. Potts is forced to just hold on and then cover up. The referee finally and mercifully calls it off.

Winner: Derrick Lewis, TKO, round 2.

Tim Means vs. Dhiego Lima

Means is an action fighter who rides a two fight winning streak into this bout. He is 4-3 overall in the UFC. Lima is a 26-year-old prospect with a 10-2 MMA record. He lost in the finals of the Ultimate Fighter season 19 but rebounded to win his next fight. He is also the brother of elite Bellator welterweight Douglas Lima.

Round 1. The fighters feel each other out briefly, looking to establish range with leg kicks and jabs. Means backs Lima against the cage and connects with a series of big shots. He nails Lima with a hard elbow and then a massive knee that drops Lima to the canvas. Means looks to finish on the ground with additional strikes but Lima survives. Moments later, Means rocks Lima again with a punch by the cage. He drops Lima with another punch and then pours in vicious punches until the referee stops the contest. That was a terrific performance by Means.

Winner: Tim Means, TKO, round 1.

Kid Yamamoto vs. Roman Salazar

Yamamoto was at one time one of the biggest stars in Japanese MMA, a huge TV ratings and live attraction with world class wrestling and dominant striking. He was also widely perceived as the top 145 pound fighter in the world, and fans speculated about a dream matchup between him and WEC champion Urijah Faber. Unfortunately, age and injuries have caught up with Yamamoto, who hasn't fought since 2012 and hasn't won since 2010. Salazar is 9-3 and dropped his UFC debut.

Round 1. Yamamoto is showing a lot of fancy footwork early, moving about and not staying in range for Salazar. However, neither man is landing much offense. Yamamoto does land a nice counter hook as Salazar moves in. Salazar attempts a takedown but has it blocked. Yamamoto connects with a good uppercut and a low kick. Yamamoto clearly wants to fight at significant distance, moving in and then moving well out of range. Salazar is having trouble connecting, but Yamamoto isn't landing much either. The crowd boos at the end of the round. 10-9 Yamamoto.

Round 2. Yamamoto lands a leg kick but plants a little bit too much and Salazar dives in for a successful takedown. Yamamoto quickly powers back to his feet and goes back to his first round tactic of diving in and out. Salazar moves in and lands a solid left hand in one of the exchanges. The crowd begins to boo again. After an accidental eye poke by Yamamoto on Salazar, Salazar evidently decides he doesn't want to continue and the fight is stopped.

Result: No Contest, round 2.

Mark Munoz vs. Roan Carneiro

Munoz has been a middleweight contender for years, scoring wins over the likes of Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway and Tim Boetsch. After consecutive losses to Gegard Mousasi and Lyoto Machida, his career could be in big trouble with another loss here. Roan Carneiro returns to the UFC in this fight after winning an 8 man one night tournament for Battlegrounds MMA. He was 2-3 in the UFC previously and was not impressive.

Round 1. Carneiro looks a lot bigger in the cage, although it was Munoz who struggled to make weight yesterday. Munoz shoots for a takedown but Carneiro controls his neck and takes top position. Carneiro is in side control. Munoz tries to get up but Carneiro takes his back and sinks in a rear naked choke. Munoz appeared to be unconscious for a significant period of time before the referee finally stepped in.

Winner: Roan Carneiro, submission, round 1.

Tony Ferguson vs. Gleison Tibau

Ferguson is slowly working his way into lightweight contender status, having won 10 of his last 11 fights including 7 UFC wins. He is a dangerous striker and has mixed in a crafty submission game as well. Tibau is one of the most experienced fighters in UFC history, having fought at least twice for the organization each year since 2006.

Round 1. Ferguson is the aggressor early, landing a series of leg kicks and then attacking higher. Tibau counterattacks with punches until Ferguson staggers him with a heavy straight punch. Ferguson then grabs a front choke and looks to finish. He can't so he follows with some big punches and looks to end the fight that way. He then sinks in his hooks and wraps up a rear naked choke for the win. Ferguson looked phenomenal.

Winner: Tony Ferguson, submission, round 1.

Alan Jouban vs. Richard Walsh

Jouban is a hard hitter who sports a 10-3 MMA record and is 1-1 in the UFC. Walsh, 8-2, competed on Ultimate Fighter Nations, representing his native country of Australia. He is also 1-1 in the UFC.

Round 1. Walsh moves forward, landing a few punches. He clinches but can't get a takedown. On the separation, Jouban hits him with a stiff kick to the body. Walsh a little while there responds with a body kick of his own. Jouban catches Walsh with a nasty elbow that staggers Walsh by the cage. Jouban opens up with punches and referee John McCarthy stops the fight. It could be argued that was a little early but no one seemed to have much of a problem with the stoppage.

Winner: Alan Jouban, TKO, Round 1.

Follow on Twitter at @ToddMartinMMA.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

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Kings, Ducks put up a fight that would be great to see in postseason

Written By kolimtiga on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 16.38

For those seeking deep, dark omens for the Kings after the Ducks rallied for four goals in the third period Friday and skated off with a 4-2 victory at Honda Center, for those who would see it as a symbol of the Kings' problems or inconsistencies this season after they lost for the second straight time after winning eight in a row, Jeff Carter would differ with you.

Asked what he took out of a game the Kings led largely on the strength of Martin Jones' solid goaltending and two opportunistic goals, he smiled.

"Not much, really," he said. "I think we were up, 2-0, after two periods and a big part of that was the play of Joner. He made some big saves, and we know we have to be better than we were the last couple of games and we will be."

Kings captain Dustin Brown all but snorted when asked whether he's concerned about the team's consistency.

"We won eight in a row and lose two and you guys think it's consistency?" he said to reporters. "It's just playing our game. We didn't play our game for a full 60. I don't know what you want me to say about consistency. No one was questioning it two games ago."

This was a hard game, a physical game, an emotional game reminiscent of the playoff series they played last spring. If they meet again in the postseason tournament this spring, it's likely every game will be like this — highlighted by bits of remarkable skill and exceptional goaltending and settled by who's tougher mentally.

The Kings were the tougher team last spring, and the Ducks have acknowledged that. For them, after a long stretch of midseason foundering, the outcome Friday meant a lot more than it did to Carter.

"We turned the corner tonight," said center Ryan Kesler, who began the scoring spree after the Ducks forced Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr into giving the puck away behind his own net, and the floodgates opened.

"That's the kind of hockey we need to start playing. Not just against L.A. but against everybody. We knew how well they were playing up until this game and how few goals they were giving up. We were upbeat and we definitely took it to them in the third period."

Exactly.

"I think their forecheck overwhelmed us the whole night and it caught up with us," Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said, adding that playing three games in four nights contributed to the Kings' inability to fight back in the final period.

Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf thought Friday's rally was a big moment.

"Any time you can beat that team from behind, that's a big step for us," he said. "It was a good hockey game again, as we've come to expect from these guys. It's always going to be a hard-fought battle. We did a great job of staying in the hockey game. We talked about it a couple weeks ago, when we get down, not losing our composure. We're doing a better job."

Brown also saw the Ducks' forecheck and his own team's fatigue as the deciding factor.

"We made really good plays coming out of our zone in the first two periods and we didn't handle the pressure they put on in the third coming down the walls, and as a result they got turnovers and goals," he said.

Both teams made trades last week in preparation for playoff runs. The Kings acquired defenseman Andrej Sekera from Carolina, and he made his Kings debut paired most often with Regehr. The two had played together in Buffalo, with Regehr on the left side and Sekera on the right. "He was solid," Carter said.

The Pacific Division-leading Ducks made a move too, acquiring left wing Jiri Sekac from Montreal on Tuesday for winger Devante Smith-Pelly. On Friday, in his second game with the Ducks, Sekac picked up his first assist with the team on the Ducks' second goal, by Emerson Etem.

The Kings probably are done trading. The Ducks might still be looking for a defenseman. That wasn't changed by what happened Friday. All Friday's game proved is how quickly momentum can change — and how exciting it would be to see these teams meet in the playoffs again.

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
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