Las Vegas Locomotives

Joel Bell started his third straight game at left tackle for the Las Vegas Locomotives this past Saturday. The former Saskatchewan Roughrider spent his Sunday evening going over game film in preparation for next week’s game against the Nighthawks, their second game against them in as many weeks.

“You can’t bring the same thing to each game,” Bell said about facing the Nighthawks twice in a row. “They’re going to try to change up their style, and we just have to focus on our job and we’ll be fine.”

This won’t be the first time Bell has played the same team twice in a row. In 2009, the Saskatchewan Roughriders played the Calgary Stampeders twice in a row, and four times total for the entire season.

“Day to day, good teams win and focus on the little details. Week to week, we have to correct what was wrong with the last game. Whatever technique error, you got to fix it,” Bell explained about his weekly preparation.

Before Saturday night’s game, the Locos signed Tony Ugoh, the former Indianapolis Colts left tackle who has started 27 games in the National Football League. Bell understands that signing a veteran is about business, and doesn’t take it personal.

“You've got to be careful, football is a job, but it’s a business too,” Bell explained. “(The Locos) are going to do whatever it takes to be the best. Every day at practice is a fight to get better and play in the next game.”

Ugoh played at left guard on Saturday, and Bell knows that his presence will only bring the best out of him.

“It encourages you if you’re a good player, it’s not an insult,” he said. “It just makes the competition that more heated. You work together and work on your technique. Players get lackadaisical when there isn’t good competition behind you.”

Not Bell, though. Don’t count on him letting off of the gas as the season continues.

The Locos are striving for another championship and know that a three-peat can happen as long as they play to their potential. They have a road game in Omaha followed by two home games to close out the season. If the Locos plan on playing a seventh game this year, they’ll have to put in work on every snap of every practice and every game.

“I believe God gave me these talents," Bell said. "And I want to glorify him every time I practice and play. I try to do my best in that sense. Because he gave me all these blessings that I don’t deserve.”

Rob Brown is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

The United Football League hosted their 2011 Draft via Twitter on May 2 and, with the 41^st overall pick, the Las Vegas Locomotives selected wide receiver Cam Colvin from the University of Oregon.

The road for Colvin to get to this point in his career has not been easy. His father died when he was six and his mother died when he was fifteen. For many, losing both parents at such an early age could have been devastating. Luckily for him, it was not.

Colvin attended De La Salle high school, which is known for its powerhouse football program. It has produced NFL players such as Maurice Jones-Drew and Amani Toomer. He played wide receiver and was one of the nation’s top collegiate recruits following his high school career.

Weighing his many offers, Colvin decided to attend the University of Oregon. A big factor in his decision was that a lot of people from De La Salle were attending Oregon and it made it more appealing.

“Having best friends, a winning program and a top academic institution. You can't lose with that,” said Colvin.

Sadly, Colvin would face tragedy again. Just a few days before the start of practice for the Oregon football team, Colvin’s friend Terrance Kelly was shot and killed.

“His loss was very hard, not only for me, but an entire community. He was one of the people I turned to when I lost my mother. So his family was like my family,” said Colvin. “It was tough but opened my eyes about life.”

Colvin admitted that it had an affect on him during his freshman year of college.

“At the time I did not think so, but I believe it did. It was a kind of distraction that most students don’t have in college,” said Colvin.

He really started to grasp the Oregon offense during his senior year after having two incredible games against Stanford and California. He produced eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown against Stanford and followed it the very next week with seven receptions for 74 yards and another touchdown against Cal.

Then, the next week, on October 13, 2007 against Washington State, Colvin suffered a broken ankle early in the game.

“I was thrown a bubble screen and my foot was caught under me and was cut at the same time, and I broke my ankle,” said Colvin.

The injury ended his senior season but it did not end his dream of reaching the National Football League.

“What's life without obstacles and pressures, I look at my pressures and the pressures of a soldier at war. I'm blessed to have dealt the things I have. Lessons learned. I take my hat off to a soldier, imagine that pressure,” said Colvin.

He put up modest numbers at Oregon with 74 receptions for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, but they were not well enough to be drafted by the NFL.

But with NFL size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and good speed (reportedly ran a 4.37 40-yard dash) the intrigue was enough for the San Francisco 49ers to sign him as an un-drafted free agent.

“It was amazing, living your dream. All the countless hours put in, long days, shorts nights, becoming the best of the best,” said Colvin. “Putting on that uniform definitely had a special meaning.”

Colvin’s NFL career was short lived but now he is focused on playing for his new UFL team.

“[Being drafted] is extremely big for me, to be apart of a winning franchise, for the staff to see something in me to help contribute to the UFL, locos and the city of Las Vegas,” said Colvin.

Colvin said he is ready to do whatever the Locomotives want him to do to help them win their third UFL Championship.

“Whatever way they need me to: special teams, offense. I'm ready to play my role and make some big things happen. We have a very talented WR core, so I'm excited to learn from the guys and make plays,” said Colvin.

The UFL has been around for two seasons and Colvin said that he has followed the league’s progress.

“I've had a few good friends and former teammates that are on teams. I am a fan of the league and what they are doing for us players,” said Colvin.

Now, he is ready to join his friends and start his career over with the UFL.

“I live to compete, regardless of the odds and elements,” said Colvin. “I'm a talented football player that loves to work, be a part of a team and play the game we all love so much.”

The United Football League hosted their 2011 Draft via Twitter on May 2 and, with the 41^st overall pick, the Las Vegas Locomotives selected wide receiver Cam Colvin from the University of Oregon.

The road for Colvin to get to this point in his career has not been easy. His father died when he was six and his mother died when he was fifteen. For many, losing both parents at such an early age could have been devastating. Luckily for him, it was not.

Colvin attended De La Salle high school, which is known for its powerhouse football program. It has produced NFL players such as Maurice Jones-Drew and Amani Toomer. He played wide receiver and was one of the nation’s top collegiate recruits following his high school career.

Weighing his many offers, Colvin decided to attend the University of Oregon. A big factor in his decision was that a lot of people from De La Salle were attending Oregon and it made it more appealing.

“Having best friends, a winning program and a top academic institution. You can't lose with that,” said Colvin.

Sadly, Colvin would face tragedy again. Just a few days before the start of practice for the Oregon football team, Colvin’s friend Terrance Kelly was shot and killed.

“His loss was very hard, not only for me, but an entire community. He was one of the people I turned to when I lost my mother. So his family was like my family,” said Colvin. “It was tough but opened my eyes about life.”

Colvin admitted that it had an affect on him during his freshman year of college.

“At the time I did not think so, but I believe it did. It was a kind of distraction that most students don’t have in college,” said Colvin.

He really started to grasp the Oregon offense during his senior year after having two incredible games against Stanford and California. He produced eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown against Stanford and followed it the very next week with seven receptions for 74 yards and another touchdown against Cal.

Then, the next week, on October 13, 2007 against Washington State, Colvin suffered a broken ankle early in the game.

“I was thrown a bubble screen and my foot was caught under me and was cut at the same time, and I broke my ankle,” said Colvin.

The injury ended his senior season but it did not end his dream of reaching the National Football League.

“What's life without obstacles and pressures, I look at my pressures and the pressures of a soldier at war. I'm blessed to have dealt the things I have. Lessons learned. I take my hat off to a soldier, imagine that pressure,” said Colvin.

He put up modest numbers at Oregon with 74 receptions for 892 yards and seven touchdowns, but they were not well enough to be drafted by the NFL.

But with NFL size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds and good speed (reportedly ran a 4.37 40-yard dash) the intrigue was enough for the San Francisco 49ers to sign him as an un-drafted free agent.

“It was amazing, living your dream. All the countless hours put in, long days, shorts nights, becoming the best of the best,” said Colvin. “Putting on that uniform definitely had a special meaning.”

Colvin’s NFL career was short lived but now he is focused on playing for his new UFL team.

“[Being drafted] is extremely big for me, to be apart of a winning franchise, for the staff to see something in me to help contribute to the UFL, locos and the city of Las Vegas,” said Colvin.

Colvin said he is ready to do whatever the Locomotives want him to do to help them win their third UFL Championship.

“Whatever way they need me to: special teams, offense. I'm ready to play my role and make some big things happen. We have a very talented WR core, so I'm excited to learn from the guys and make plays,” said Colvin.

The UFL has been around for two seasons and Colvin said that he has followed the league’s progress.

“I've had a few good friends and former teammates that are on teams. I am a fan of the league and what they are doing for us players,” said Colvin.

Now, he is ready to join his friends and start his career over with the UFL.

“I live to compete, regardless of the odds and elements,” said Colvin. “I'm a talented football player that loves to work, be a part of a team and play the game we all love so much.”

There was a buzz in the MMA community leading up to the Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort middleweight showdown at UFC 126.

Silva had never faced a fighter like Belfort in the UFC. A fighter who had the hand speed and power to knock Anderson out. Vitor could threaten Silva on the feet, how would he react if he got caught in one of Belfort's flurries?

But there was another reason fans were charged up for the Silva vs. Belfort fight, it was because they were already looking past it.  Fans were excited about what a Silva victory would mean.

A win by Silva would represent the second last step towards a pound-for-pound showdown with Georges St. Pierre. Dana White said the superfight would happen if both fighters were victorious in their upcoming fights. Dana has never gone back on his word before so fans were excited. 

That night at UFC 126 in Las Vegas, Silva showed us how he matches up against another top striker. Silva's shock and awe performance against Belfort will go down as one of his most legendary.

With one kick, fans' reactions went from disbelief to reverence, with Silva possibly topping his performance against Forrest Griffin and his improbable win over Cheal Sonnen.

Anderson Silva brings to the cage what no MMA fighter ever has—artistry.

Silva is a virtuoso whose fighting appear effortless. An effortlessness that has embarrassed some of the best fighters in the world. 

Silva's mastery over  Belfort at UFC 126, reaffirmed for the MMA world that he is a rare talent. But it also left fans with some doubt.

What is left for Anderson Silva at middleweight?

Silva's dominance over the middleweight division is unprecedented. No UFC fighter in any division has come close to what Silva has done as a fighter and as a champion. Anderson has yet to lose in the UFC, holding a 13-0 record which includes eight title defences. Those are numbers that may never be matched. 

Twice Silva has made the jump to light heavyweight and both times he left the MMA community shaking its collective head. For Silva, his fights at 205 pounds have seemed more like time off from his day job.   

Silva rises to the challenge like only the greatest of athletes can. So the question is, are there any significant matchups left to challenge Silva at 185 pounds? 

Anderson Silva did what was required of him in to make the superfight with Georges St. Pierre happen. However, with his win over Belfort a growing number of MMA fans are beginning to rethink the superfight matchup. Fights fans are now arguing that there are more compelling matchups waiting for Anderson in the light heavyweight division.

Most would agree that St. Pierre poses a challenge for Silva. St. Pierre is the best functional wrestler in MMA and wrestling is the closest thing to a weakness that Silva has.

Few fans will forget Silva's bout against Chael Sonnen last summer at UFC 117. Sonnen, who is a powerful wrestler, was able to control Silva on the ground for four and a half rounds before getting caught in one of the greatest buzzer-beater submissions ever.

Silva's battle with Sonnen only intensified fans demand for the superfight matchup with St. Pierre. If Sonnen, a strong wrestler with a limited skill-set could dominate Silva for 23 minutes, what would St. Pierre, the most well-rounded fighter in MMA, be able to do against him?

Anderson Silva is a big middleweight. He is said to walk around at a weight of 230 pounds between fights. This is comparable to most fighters at light heavyweight.

St. Pierre, on the other hand, is a natural welterweight. St. Pierre has been the smaller fighter in his four of his last five matchups at 170 pounds. If St. Pierre were to move up to face Silva, he will be facing a fighter in Silva who is comfortable fighting at 205 pounds.

A comparable scenario would be 5'6" lightweight champ Frankie Edgar moving up to 170 pounds to fight one of the welterweight divisions top fighters.

Size and strength are big advantages to give up between elite fighters and without question, St. Pierre will be giving up a significant size advantage to Silva.

St. Pierre has stated that if he makes the move to middleweight he will need between 6-8 months to do it properly, in order to allow his body to adjust to the newly added muscle.

If Silva waits for the superfight it will leave him inactive for close to a year. This is a long time for the soon-to-be 36-year-old champion to be sitting on the shelf.

Silva could occupy himself with a title defence against the much deserving Yushin Okami. Unfortunately for Okami, this is a fight which holds little interest to the broader MMA market. Not to mention that it could jeopardize the superfight in the unlikely event that Silva lost.

If the superfight were to happen there will be another important question hanging over the matchup. With no tune up fights at middleweight, how will St. Pierre adjust to debuting at a new weight against arguably the best fighter on the planet?

This is a legitimate question surrounding St. Pierre's move to middleweight.

The matchup between Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva is more about a challenge for St. Pierre than it is about a challenge for Silva.

Despite possessing, in theory, the ideal skill-set to defeat Silva, St. Pierre's move to 185 pounds will be accompanied by a number of variables that will make Silva a healthy favourite.

However with Silva's most recent win over Belfort fans are rethinking Silva's matchup possibilities. If carrying the extra weight at 205 does not affect Silva's speed or precision then he poses a threat to every fighter in the light heavyweight division—imagine the match-ups that can be made for Anderson at 205 pounds.  

John Jones is scheduled to fight light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua for the belt at the upcoming UFC 128. Jones got the nod after the injured Rashad Evans was forced to pull out of his scheduled matchup with Rua.

If St Pierre beats Shields and then requires 6-8 months to put on weight it would mean a  matchup between Silva and any of the above mentioned light heavy weights could be made sooner than a bout with St. Pierre. Rua, Jones and Evans each present a legitimate threat to Anderson, and on a more level playing field.

What makes the prospect of Silva moving to light heavyweight so enticing is that he would be facing competition that forces him to perform. Silva would be competing against fighters who have the skill and the size to test him in the cage.

A point worth considering—in almost every potential matchup for Silva at light heavyweight he would likely be the odds-on favourite.

This leads to the question, if Anderson would be the favourite in prospective matchups at 205 pounds, then shouldn't he be fighting in that division?

This appears to be the growing sentiment among fight fans. 

The United Football League is set to kickoff tonight Thursday October 8th at 9pm eastern with a battle between Las Vegas and California. The UFL is a new developmental league that was said to be created after the fall of the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. With those two leagues gone, undrafted rookies and other stand out players, had no where to go to prove they deserved a chance.

The UFL has been one of the quietest developmental leagues in all of sports history. In fact, many people probably don't even know about it. However when you watch a UFL game you are sure to recognize some name players from the NFL. One of which was a Bills first round selection some years back J.P. Lossman. Even Jim Fassel, former head coach from the New York Giants, is head coach for the Las Vegas Locos. Lets also not forget that Fassel led his team to a super bowl as well.

Even though the league has low expectations, they seem to have high hopes about what fans could expect. When asked about the competitiveness of the league Las Vegas head coach Jim Fassel said "The quality of the players we released at the end … it surpassed what I thought we'd end up with. Bill Walsh used to say that at the end of the day, there's not a big difference between the last 15 guys on an NFL roster and the last 15 guys you cut."

The UFL states that the new league will "offer credible, 11-on-11, outdoor professional football in pro-quality venues." Could Fassel's Locos compete with some teams in the NFL? "Yeah," Fassel said, sounding serious. "I believe that."

In all honesty, I'm excited for this league and I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer. Hell, some of the games are played in a couple of the country's most famous stadiums like the Citrus Bowl, ATT Park, Giants Stadium, and more. All I have to say is give it a chance, these players deserve it. UFL kicks off today at 9:00 EST. Click to watch live!  http://www.ufl-football.com/versus.html