ors KO of Jose Aldo.Cerrone said: Unbelievable, man. The dud

MIAMI -- The Washington Nationals have clinched a division title and are continuing to make a push toward home-field advantage for the playoffs. Adam LaRoche hit an early two-run homer to support Doug Fister and lead the NL-leading Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night. Fister (15-6) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Nationals, who have won six of seven. "Weve got some momentum, guys are playing well -- great defence behind us -- so that makes it a little bit easier," Fister said. "Were still staying focused and working together." The Nationals (89-64) lead the Dodgers (88-66) by 1 1-2 games for the best record in the league and are expected to get third baseman Ryan Zimmerman back from a hamstring injury for the stretch run. "Its nice, its what great seasons are all about, kind of peaking at the right time, getting healthy at the right time, and this last month and a half everyone is healthy and weve been playing good ball," said Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard, who pitched a scoreless eighth. Washingtons Denard Span had two hits and drove in a run for Washington. Justin Bour hit his first major league home run for the Marlins and two RBIs. "Obviously felt good to get that home run, its not as enjoyable as if we would have won, but its definitely very cool and Im excited that it happened," Bour said. "It took a little bit longer than I thought it would, but Im glad it did." Drew Storen pitched a clean ninth for his eighth save in 11 chances. LaRoche hit his 25th home run of Tom Koehler (9-10) in the first inning, a two-run drive in the upper deck to right field. "Those guys put the ball in the seats, thats what they do," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "You look in the middle of that order with four guys with 80 RBIs, those guys can do some damage." Bours RBI groundout scored Marcell Ozuna, who tripled to leadoff the second. The Nationals loaded the bases in the third inning after Span tripled and Koehler issued consecutive walks, but LaRoche struck out and Ian Desmond lined into an unassisted double play to second baseman Enrique Hernandez. Spans RBI single in the fourth extended the Nationals lead to 3-1. Bour pulled the Marlins to 3-2 with a homer to deep right-centre field. Koehler allowed three runs in five innings. "Any time you give them a two-point advantage before we even get started, its going to be tough," Koehler said. "Theres a reason why they are where they are." TRAINERS ROOM Nationals: Zimmerman (hamstring) played seven innings in an intrasquad game on Friday in Viera, going 3 for 8 with a home run. He could be reinstated from the disabled list over the weekend. "Hes sore right now, its like spring training," Williams said. "I dont think its hamstring sore, its just general body soreness." Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (Tommy John surgery) has been cleared to start throwing on Oct. 1. "I know hes really excited about it and we are too, so thats huge," Redmond said. ... RHP Bryan Morris (groin) has been shut down for the remainder of the season. UP NEXT The two teams will meet again on Saturday with Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (12-5, 2.83) on the mound against Marlins RHP Jarred Cosart (4-2, 2.05). The Nationals have won the last nine starts pitched by Zimmermann, who is 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA during that span. Cosart will be looking for his 14th win of the season after going 9-7 with the Astros. BOUR GETS HOME RUN BALL Bours home run bounced off the seats in the upper deck and bounced back into play. Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth alertly picked up the ball and tossed it over the fence into the Marlins bullpen so Bour could have the keepsake. "Werth threw it over the bullpen for me so that was pretty cool," Bour said. LaROCHE REACHES PLATEAU LaRoche reached the 25-home run plateau for the sixth time in his career. His career-high is 33 set in 2012. 00:11ET 20-09-14 Jordan Retro 5 For Sale Cheap . And yet as they left TD Garden amid the slush and snow of a winter storm on Thursday evening, there was a sense among the Leafs that they had finally stood toe to toe with their long-time bully, only to fall just short. Air Jordan 5 Retro For Sale . 42 sitting next to the bench. The 57-year-old with greying hair couldnt box out or grab a rebound, but owner Ted Leonsis waved his red towel and egged on a cheering crowd that chanted "Free Nene!" The Wizards did just fine without the suspended Brazilian forward. http://www.cheapairjordan5.com/.Hammel pitched inside more and it helped him get into the seventh inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Friday night. Wholesale Jordan Retro 5 . Viewers in the Jets region can watch the game on TSN Jets at 6:30pm ct/7:30pm et. The game is also avialable on TSN Radio 1290 in Winnipeg at 7pm ct. Cheap Air Jordan 5 . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots.Sky Sports have delved beyond the gorilla tattoos and catchphrases to ask whether Conor McGregor is really worth it. I am not retired McGregors statement in full The brash Irishman feigned retirement and was officially removed from his UFC 200 rematch against Nate Diaz before boldly declaring I am not retired to return to the pinnacle of his sport.Is it all an act? We spoke to people who know McGregor best. The previous victims Conor McGregor (left) knocked out Dustin Poirier in Las Vegas Dustin Poirier was seen as the opponent who could stop McGregors hype in the Irishmans Vegas debut. Poirier lasted less than two minutes.Poirier said: Conor is definitely the real deal. Ive had 22 fights and Ive never been put out like that. I was very emotional, just because of everything that had gone on between me and Conor. The build-up to the fight between us made me fight emotionally, rather than relaxed, which is how I like to fight.He hit me with a good shot and I went down. Id love to do it again. I wouldnt get hit with that shot again, and I wouldnt let myself get so emotional. McGregor knocked me out! Dustin Poirier shares memories of his darkest day Dave Hill lost to McGregor four years ago on the regional circuit. He remembers a cocky Irish kid with remarkable self-assurance.Hill said: I thought it was all an act, all for show. He was kicking off at the weigh-ins. But when he got in my face, because of his intensity, I thought: He really believes in himself. That flustered me.Hes overwhelming in a fight because hes always in your face, hes so confident. He was talking to me during the fight, saying I look soft, and it made my mind go elsewhere. I was thinking should I say something? He has a presence that doesnt give you a rest and puts you on the back-foot.I dont think its an act any more. But when I started fighting him I realised that he believes everything he says - thats the way he is.The coaches I knew Conor would be a great fighter but I didn’t know he would become so popular. He was always a charismatic guy but I couldn’t have predicted how big he would get. He never has moments where that gets on top of him. Pressure is for tyres. Head coach John Kavanagh Phil Sutcliffe was the first man to teach a 12-year-old McGregor to punch at Crumlin Boxing Club, but doesnt remember an outstanding talent.Sutcliffe said: He was like any other novice who we taught the basics to. Hes ambidextrous, we teach that to all our kids, he can box orthodox or southpaw. His straight left changes fights. Its an opportunists punch - hes always had the ability to turn on his back leg to throw his back hand. If he didnt have the right attitude, he would have never made it to the top. I remember the first day meeting him. I remember the confidence Conor had. He was immediately the best boxer we had. You could take him down and submit him but he was never fazed. He knew he could knock you out Striking coach Owen Roddy The fellow UFC champion UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold said he is intrigued by Conor McGregor’s rise The team-mates Aisling Daly, McGregor, Paddy Holohan & Cathal Pendred are SBG gym products Aisling Daly, a UFC womens straw-weight contender, has risen through the ranks alongside McGregor at Dublins SBG gym.ddddddddddddDaly said: Hes still the same guy that I knew when we were teenagers but he has fancier shoes and nicer cars. Everything else about him is the same. He makes everyone realise that, with hard work, they can have the mansions and the fancy cars too.Because were a family theres no begrudging him, were all sending positive vibes to him. When one of us makes it, we all make it. Were all in the gutter looking up at the stars. Sometimes Conor will turn up for training in a five-piece suit but, on a normal day, hes rolled out of bed and arrived in a beanie hat and a tracksuit. Hes like the rest of us. Conor is a phenomenal striker and I’ve been learning from him for years. He’s definitely one of the best strikers in the UFC. Gunnar Nelson The promoter McGregor was spotted by the UFC after a successful stint with Cage Warriors Graham Boylan runs Cage Warriors, a domestic promotion that gave McGregor his big break.Boylan said: Without doubt, hes our biggest export, nobody can deny his prestige. I remember the phone call when I offered him a title shot and he said Ill fight tomorrow.When we had Conor for his fifth and sixth fights, we knew hed go on to special things. He just acted differently to everybody. He stood out from a crowd of 30-odd fighters, everybody was looking at him. People with long teeth behind the scenes realised that if he could back up the things he was saying then hed be a star. Conor won all his fights in Cage Warriors because he got into his opponents heads.The future foes We know that Conor has lost twice by submission. He was willing to give up twice, we know that. He tapped out to a choke and a knee hold, which is a move where you give up before it becomes a problem because you’re anticipating pain. I’ve seen that he is capable of giving up. Urijah Faber Frankie Edgar, ranked No 2 at featherweight, isnt impressed by McGregors talk.Edgar said: Maybe he is the second coming like hes been telling everyone! I dont get caught up in the attention around McGregor. Is he skilful? Yes. Does he bring attention to the rest of us? Yes. But hes not always respectful.Donald Cerrone also resides in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, but respected McGregors KO of Jose Aldo.Cerrone said: Unbelievable, man. The dude went out there and did everything that he said hed do. He shocked the world in 13 seconds. How awesome is that?The boxer Hes a character with no regard for anyone or anything which you admire as a fighter. I know people who have boxed with him in Ireland - hes from a boxing background. Hes certainly a better boxer than the others. George Groves The sports scientistProfessor Greg Whyte puts McGregor through a series of tests to compare him against other sportsmen.Whyte said: His VO2 max is similar to a Premier League midfielder. They run 10-12km a game with short breaks whereas Conor competes for up to 25 minutes. That is all-out effort and his endurance capacity is right up there with the best midfielders. It is his ability to recover before returning to his peak which is impressive and those values are similar to those of footballers. McGregor the compete package Read about his remarkable fitness His power output on a bike is not like an Olympic cyclist but what separates Conor is that he can do it all. He outperforms a cyclist in other areas. Also See: I am not retired Why did he retire? Who is UFCs real No1? McGregor pulled from UFC 200 ' ' '