New Year Rundown

It's a new year and All Day Sports is primed and ready to rundown all things sports, 365 days a year. The goal is to make 2010 look damn silly as I roll out the carpet on what is already a very busy first weekend in the sporting world. 2011 will bring another exciting years worth of highlights and controversies. Can't wait to get started, so lets do it.

UFC 125: Edgar vs Maynard

Going into this event I gave UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar no chance of defeating the challenger Gray Maynard in the nights main event. Maynard is the only man to beat Edgar and in the opening round it looked as if he would easily do the same as he landed over 90 punches. Maynard exposed Edgar repeatedly, busting his nose open and sending him spawling all over the canvas.

But Edgar showed why he is the champion.

After somehow escaping the first round Edgar came out in the second and picked Maynard apart with his well-placed jabs and straight-armed shots to Maynard's left eye. Then out of nowhere Edgar was able to pick up the challenger and slam him hard on his back leaving everyone watching asking, where did that come from?

Edgar and Maynard then battled it out for three more solid rounds where I saw Maynard taking the third but not doing enough in the fourth and fifth rounds to earn himself a decision. Maynard had never taken a fight that far and it showed as he looked gassed. The judges scored the bout a draw which unfortunately was fair. I hate draws, they leave everything open for speculation and unleashes the barrage of shoulda, woulda, coulda arguments. But in this case, it was too even to call. Was Maynard's first round flurry evidence of his superior skills or does it highlight Edgar's fighting spirit and unbelievable ability to pick himself up and push the pace for another four rounds?

Two words: re-match. Edgar and Maynard III would be amazing, WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis will just have to wait.

NFL schedule wraps up

With the NFL season winding down the playoff picture becomes increasingly clear. The Seahawks/Rams game is going to be the closest thing to an actual playoff game as the winner captures the NFC West division and the loser goes home. Prediction: Sam Bradford lives up to hype, Rams by 6.

In the AFC North the Steelers can lock-down the division title with a win over the 5-10 Cleveland Browns, leaving the Baltimore Ravens in a Wild Card position. Prediction: Sorry Ravens fans but the Steelers won't have any problems here, Steel by 14.

In the AFC South the Colts can get into the postseason with a win over the Titans or a Jacksonville loss to Houston. Prediction: Both teams win, Colts move on.

My favorite race is the three-way race for the last NFC Wild Card spot. The Packers, Bucs and Giants are all 9-6. The Packers are in the driver seat here as a win over the 11-4 Chicago bears will cement them the chance to play the Eagles in the Wild Card round. The Bucs are currently up 10-7 on the Saints in New Orleans. The Bucs are 0-5 versus winning teams and despite the current score I'm not sure they can pull this one out, even though admittedly I want them to. The Giants travel to FedEx field to take on the lowly Redskins and with Eli Manning winning eight of his past nine starts against the 'Skins, there's no reason why they can't win this one either. So how will it all play: Bucs fall, Giants destroy the Redskins, but the Packers get the 'W' at home following a gutsy Aaron Rodgers performance. Packers in, Bucs and Giants sent home.

NHL Hits

• The Bridgestone Winter Classic was postponed from its eleven a.m scheduled start to a six p.m prime-time showdown. I thought the rain added to the overall uniqueness of the outdoor game but at the same time it allowed for some sloppy action. No goals for Ovechkin/Crosby but two for Eric Fehr, a brutal blindside hit by Capitals' Dave Steckel on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and a terrible play behind the net from Marc-Andre Fleury round out the highlights. It wasn't the greatest Winter Classic game but the NHL did a great job nonetheless, I can't imagine how much work went into putting this one together.
  

• The Oilers barely came to play against the Flames in another bore-fest that used to be known as the "Battle of Alberta". Eberle left the game with an ankle injury as the Oilers managed a paltry 8 shots in the first two periods compared to Calgary's 19 shots in the first period alone! The Oilers brought up defenceman Shawn Belle for some added size. He played over 17 minutes recording zero shots (insert slow-clap). Six losses in a row for the Oilers tells me that this team is nowhere near good enough to make the playoffs, nice try Renney.

• Quick trades. To Anaheim: (C) Maxim Lapierre; to Montreal: (D) Brett Festerling and a 2012 fifth round pick.
  

• To Tampa Bay: (G) Dwayne Roloson; to New York (D) Ty Wishart.

Check in later tonight as I re-cap the IIHF World Junior Quarter finals as Canada faces Switzerland for a chance to play Team U.S.A in the semi finals. In other action Russia faces off with Finland, winner takes on Sweden. Happy New Year!