The UFC kicks off its 2015 calendar with one of the biggest events of the year as Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier finally lock horns for the light heavyweight title at UFC 182 on Saturday. Tienda De Zapatos Ecco . TSNs coverage begins with COUNTDOWN TO UFC 182: JONES VS. CORMIER at 7pm et/4pm pt on TSN4 and TSN5. The countdown show leads into two hours of UFC 182 preliminary fight coverage at 8pm et/5pm pt. Until then, here are TSN.cas picks for the event that appropriately sets the tone for one of the most anticipated years in the organizations history. -- MAIN CARD: Jon Jones (20-1) vs. Daniel Cormier (15-0) – Light-Heavyweight Championship Andrew Robichaud, TSN.ca Jones - The reigning light-heavyweight champ and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world has beaten everyone and anything in his path en route to the belt and beyond. Until someone can prove otherwise, he is the best of the best. Cormier - If anyone can knock Jones off his perch it is the undefeated Cormier. The former Olympic wrestler has manhandled his competition in two divisions and has barely scratched the surface of his light-heavyweight career. PICK: Jones via unanimous decision Ken Rodney, TSN.ca Jones - The light-heavyweight champion creates such a length and height mismatch with almost everyone he gets into the Octagon with, that before you even start talking about his incredible fight skills, it already seems like too much to overcome. He also, for the record, has those incredible skills and has proven it by becoming one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Cormier – Undefeated and tough as nails, Cormier has an Olympic level wrestling background and being a former heavyweight has faced bigger guys before. Very simply, the closer Cormier can get to Jones, the closer this fight will be in the end. PICK: Jones via unanimous decision -- Robichaud Donald Cerrone (25-6, 1NC) vs. Myles Jury (15-0) Cerrone - The resurgent Cowboy is on a five-fight win streak and was easily one of the most successful and exciting competitors in 2014. Despite already proving he deserves a shot at the lightweight crown, a win over Jury could seal his fate. Jury - The unbeaten 26-year-old is way past matchups against the lower half of the lightweight division but has yet to defeat top-tier talent at 155 pounds. The title conversation is a crowded one, but Jurys record cant be ignored much longer. PICK: Cerrone via unanimous decision Rodney Cerrone – The Cowboy has looked better than ever putting together his winning streak and his last victory over Eddie Alvarez put all of his weapons on display as he kneed, kicked and brawled his way to victory. Jury – Under the radar no more, Jury looked impressive earning a quick knockout in his last fight to keep his record unblemished. If he can continue to put pressure on his opponent and score takedowns he could see his arm raised in victory. PICK: Jury via unanimous decision — Brad Tavares (12-3) vs. Nate Marquardt (33-13-2) Robichaud Tavares - The shine has temporarily faded from the promising middleweight after consecutive losses. Its not necessarily make-or-break time for Tavares, but its getting pretty close if he wants to be taken seriously as a title contender. Marquardt - Its been a rough road for the former Strikeforce welterweight champion. After three straight losses in 2013, Marquardt rebounded - slightly - for a win in his only bout in 2014. This is make-or-break time for the veteran. PICK: Tavares via TKO Rodney Tavares - The 27-year-old hasnt tasted victory in almost a year, dropping two fights, including being stopped for the first time in his MMA career. Hell need an impressive victory to start rebuilding his case towards being a top middleweight. Marquardt – Back in the middleweight division, a victory over James Te Huna snapped a three fight losing streak of his own. PICK: Tavares via unanimous decision — Kyoji Horiguchi (14-1) vs. Louis Gaudinot (6-3, 1NC) Robichaud Horiguchi - Three wins in three UFC fights has vaulted Horiguchi into the No. 11 slot in the flyweight rankings. This isnt his toughest bout on paper, but it could go a long way for an ever-growing reputation. Gaudinot - The Ultimate Fighter competitor has been nothing short of disappointing since his UFC debut. Two losses and a failed drug test in four bouts means the leash is short for the New York native. PICK: Horiguchi via TKO Rodney Horiguchi - A fighter on the way up, three fights since joining the UFC all fairly impressive victories. Horiguchi has the power to bring this fight to a sudden finish. Gaudinot – The 30-year-old needs to stop the negative momentum of his career after failing a drug test and failing to win his prior fight. In tough, but needs a victory in this bout. PICK: Horiguchi via TKO — Hector Lombard (34-3-1, 1NC) vs. Josh Burkman (27-10) Robichaud Lombard - The UFC has proved a different challenge for the former Bellator star. However, when Lombard wins he does so quite convincingly. The welterweight division will be on high alert if he can find a little consistency. Burkman - The veteran hasnt seen the inside of the UFC Octagon since 2008 and he may have picked a terrible time to return - based on the guy who will be standing opposite him. But who knows, miracles do happen. PICK: Lombard via unanimous decision Rodney Lombard – Looking for this third straight victory at welterweight, Lombard has been good for a very long time with only impressive wins and split decision losses on his recent ledger. The knockout blow is always in play. Burkman – Fighting in the UFC for the first time since UFC 90, Burkman is going to be in tough in this bout. Did find a measure of success in World Series of Fighting and hopefully that will translate in this fight. PICK: Lombard via TKO — PRELIMINARY CARD: Danny Castillo (17-7) vs. Paul Felder (9-0) Robichaud: Felder via unanimous decision Rodney: Castillo via decision Marcus Brimage (7-3) vs. Cody Garbrandt (5-0) Robichaud: Garbrandt via TKO Rodney: Brimage via decision Shawn Jordan (16-6) vs. Jared Cannonier (7-0) Robichaud: Cannonier via TKO Rodney: Jordan via TKO Evan Dunham (14-6) vs. Rodrigo Damm (12-8) Robichaud: Dunham via split decision Rodney: Dunham via decision EARLY PRELIMINARIES: Omari Akhmedov (13-2) vs. Mats Nilsson (11-3-1) Robichaud: Akhmedov via submission Rodney: Akhmedov via decision Alexis Dufresne (5-1) vs. Marion Reneau (4-1) Robichaud: Reneau via unanimous decision Rodney: Reneau via decision Ecco España Baratas .Y. - Major League Soccer is prepared to start its season this weekend even if there isnt a labour deal with its referees and other on-field officials. Ecco Baratas . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. http://www.eccobaratas.es/ . The team of Lars Nelson, Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and anchor Marcus Hellner cruised to victory in the 4x10 km event, winning in a time of one hour, 28 minutes, and 42.OAKLAND, Calif. - Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry was driving in a car with his wife, Ayesha, over the summer when they put on a song by a popular rapper that everybody had been telling them to play.Been Steph Curry with the shot, Drake called out in the song 0 to 100.The stunned couple looked at each other, smiled and broke out in laughter.It was pretty cool, Curry said.Sure, fans voted him into the All-Star Game as a starter, media selected him second-team All-NBA and a major car insurance company created a fictional twin for a popular commercial series last season. But the shoutout from a renowned recording artist might have been the moment Curry realized he had truly made it big.As his stardom continues to rise, Curry is still surprised by the celebrity treatment — even though nobody else is.Coaches, players and executives have taken notice of the growth in Currys game by strategizing everything they do around him. Marketers in the NBA league office and sponsors across the country have, too, putting his boyish face on national television and social media advertisements to promote their brands.And with the Warriors (23-4) atop the NBA standings, Currys case for MVP is starting to echo around the league as loud as the chants do nightly at rowdy Oracle Arena.Another chance to showcase his skills comes Thursday night, when Curry and the Warriors visit Chris Paul and the rival Los Angeles Clippers on Christmas for what might be the best game on the biggest day of the NBA regular season.Theres big moments throughout the course of the season that you enjoy, Curry said, and you have fun showing what you can do.This is one of them.Paul, the lead man in those commercials, has been considered among the best point guards for years. Curry, long labeled just a shooter, has added to his repertoire — and stayed healthy — each of the past three seasons to enter the debate alongside Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Mike Conley and others.While the qualifying criteria might be a matter of preference, this much is indisputable: nobody is running the show the way Curry is for the Warriors now.In a game dominated by big men and played by some of the worlds greatest athletes, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Curry controls the flow without physically overpowering defenders. His shooting stroke can seem unstoppable at times, and when he gets going, nobody can seem to slow him down.His range is unlimited. Like, literally, when he crosses half court — 30, 35 footers are like layups, Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said before Curry had 34 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a 114-109 win over the Thunder last week.Clevelands LeBron James and reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant are among those who already have called Curry the best shooter of their generation. In the next breath, they also credit Curry for improving his all-around game.The process began when Curry returned for his senior season at tiny Davidson Coollege. Ecco Outlet España. . He has gone from a shooting guard who dazzled during the NCAA tournament to a polished professional point guard who can dribble and distribute with the best of them.Even before Currys evolution, first-year Warriors coach Steve Kerr saw the potential. As general manager of the Phoenix Suns, Kerr tried to orchestrate a draft-night trade in 2009 to acquire Curry from Golden State.We were watching Steve Nash every night in Phoenix as a 6-1 point guard who could shoot and pass, and Steph looked like another version of Steve, Kerr said. Theyre different. Stephs more offensive-minded. Steve was more of a playmaker first. But the skillset is very similar, just the incredible hand-eye co-ordination and the ability to beat you with the pass, the dribble and the shot is a pretty rare combination.Nearly three years since the Warriors sent combo guard Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for centre Andrew Bogut, Curry has blossomed with Klay Thompson to form arguably the NBAs best backcourt.Curry is averaging 23.4 points, 7.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and two steals this season. Hes also becoming a pest for Golden States smothering defence after being challenged by Kerr to guard his position — a major shift from the past few years under former coach Mark Jackson, who usually used Thompson to defend elite point guards.Hes awesome to play alongside with, he knows when to pass and take the big shots, said Thompson, who teamed with Curry to help the U.S. win gold at the FIBA World Cup in Spain this summer. He should definitely be mentioned in the MVP talks with the way he has been playing.Getting to that level often requires attention away from the court, and Curry is starting to get his share of it.He left shoe giant Nike for a lucrative deal with Under Armour in 2013. He moved into the top five of the NBAs most-sold jerseys at the end of last season. And in November, Sports Illustrated named Curry one of the top 100 sports figures to follow on Twitter.Henry Schafer, executive vice-president of The Q Scores Company, said Currys popularity stacks up with the NBAs most notable names.Q Scores measure awareness and likability, assigning an overall value that provides a gauge for marketers who are seeking celebrity endorsers. In the latest figures taken this year, Curry had a 53 per cent awareness among sports fans and a 26 Q Score, Schafer said.Only Durant and San Antonios Tim Duncan had a higher Q Score (29) for an NBA player. James had the highest awareness at 82 per cent among sports fans with a 25 Q Score.Curry also had a 21 per cent awareness rating and a 19 Q Score among the general population, Schafer said. The average general Q Score is 15 for sports personalities.What that signals is as his awareness grows in and out of the sport, Schafer said, he looks like he has the potential to become more of an athlete thats transcending basketball.___Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP ' ' '