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LAS VEGAS -- Eddie Alvarez persevered through financial troubles, promotional disputes and a loss in his UFC debut to get back to the cage with a title shot.And then he beat Rafael Dos Anjos with a fire thats been growing for years.Alvarez won the UFC lightweight belt Thursday night, stopping Dos Anjos in the first round with a blistering series of strikes.Alvarez (28-4) needed just 3:49 to finish Dos Anjos (24-8), the Brazilian champion with a five-fight winning streak. The Philadelphia-based contender initially caught Dos Anjos with a damaging right hand, but had to unload dozens of strikes on the still-standing Dos Anjos until finally getting a stoppage.Eddie is no Rocky-style underdog, but hell get his fight-crazed citys attention with a moment that validated his lengthy quest.This has always been a marathon for me, not a sprint, Alvarez said. Everybody was always telling me what I should do and when I should do it. I just think if you work hard enough and you love something, these belts are just byproducts of it. This (belt) will not be here forever, but I just think working hard and doing something youre passionate about is important.Alvarez won the title in just his fourth fight with the UFC, which signed him in 2014 after his protracted departure from the Bellator promotion. The accompanying legal troubles drained Alvarezs bank account and nearly soured him on the sport.After finally getting to the UFC, Alvarez was trounced by Donald Cowboy Cerrone in his first bout. He recovered with split-decision wins over Gilbert Melendez and Pettis to get a title shot -- and he was nearly perfect.Alvarez believed he could better Dos Anjos formidable striking skills, and he was devastatingly correct: His big right hand appeared to roll Dos Anjos eyes back in his head.I just remember thinking, `Step on the gas and dont let this get out of the first, because I could be dealing with a long night, Alvarez said. I had him hurt, so I had to empty the gas tank. I told you, dont bring the dog out of me.Dos Anjos somehow kept his feet against several flurries of big punches, but Alvarez chased Dos Anjos across the cage and unloaded with another bunch of unblocked shots, forcing the referee to stop the bout.No excuses. All the credit is for Eddie, Dos Anjos said. I was with my hands up when I got caught. I saw the punch. I was watching. Thats the fight game, man.Dos Anjos defended his belt impressively with a 66-second TKO of Cerrone in December for his first title defense, but he missed out on a lucrative bout with Conor McGregor in March after breaking his foot in training.The 12-fight event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena kicked off International Fight Week for the UFC, which is staging shows on three consecutive nights, culminating in UFC 200 on Saturday.Before the main event, heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis won a split decision over veteran Roy Nelson, and welterweight contender Alan Jouban claimed a brutal decision over iron-chinned UFC newcomer Belal Muhammad.Lewis (16-4) and Nelson (22-13) traded big shots and fought through several slow periods. Nelson developed a gruesome welt on his ample belly after absorbing a knee strike from Lewis in the first round, and Lewis appeared to dislodge a tooth from Nelsons mouth with a devastating right hand in the final seconds.Jouban (14-4) earned his fourth win in five fights with a punishing performance against Muhammad (9-1), who was still impressive in his UFC debut. Jouban floored Muhammad repeatedly with kicks and punches, but Muhammad hung on and even dominated the third round. Khris Middleton Bucks Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Glenn Robinson Jersey . With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. http://www.nbabucksproshop.com/Authentic-Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-Bucks-Jersey/ . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. George Hill Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner.FRANKFURT - The Bundesliga plans to start using blood testing this season although it has no indication that doping is a factor in football. German Football Federation president Wolfgang Niersbach said Wednesday the decision to start blood testing was made before the publication of a study that revealed a government-backed doping program for West German athletes in the 1970s. One section of the report says three German players showed traces of a banned stimulant at the 1966 World Cup. German Football League managing director Andreas Rettig said the Bundesliga wants "stricter controls" although it has "no indication" of doping. The tests will not be ready in time for the start of the season this weekend. The federation (DFB) and the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) are still working on a contract for the tests, to be conducted by NADA. Blood testing for banned substances has been used in many major sports for years. "Its the right signal to start blood testing in the Bundesliga, a decision made before the latest events," Niersbach said on the fringes of a German Football League (DFL) meeting in Berlin. The DFL runs the professional game in Germany. "We want to open up and conduct stricter controls although we have no indication of doping," Rettig said. The study on doping, publisshed Monday, has sparked a nationwide debate on the problem.dddddddddddd Calls are growing for a federal anti-doping law and to publish the full report, with all the names. The government has denied allegations of a coverup. In the study, FIFAs medical officer at the time is quoted as telling a West German athletics official that three players showed "fine traces" of ephedrine, a banned stimulant, after West Germany lost the 1966 World Cup final to host England. Leading players of the time dismissed the report. "In 1966, we still had no idea what doping was," Franz Beckenbauer said. "There were no controls, as far as I know. No one asked me (to provide a urine sample)." West Germanys 1966 captain, Uwe Seeler, backed his teammate. "I think nothing of doping," Seeler said. "I didnt dope and I dont know anybody who did." The DFD also denied the report and said no players were ever banned. But former sprinter Manfred Ommer, who admitted doping already in 1977, said football had a doping problem. "Of course there is doping in football. I have absolutely no doubt. I said it already in 1977," Ommer said. Ommer served as president of the football club FC Homburg between 1986 and 1994. The club played in the Bundesliga for a while under his presidency. ' ' '