ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Latest on four-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey dropping out of the 2017 race (all times local):2:45 p.m.An Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race official says four-time champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey is hoping his withdrawal from next years race will give him a chance to take better care of his health so he can be ready to compete again in 2018.Race marshal Mark Nordman says Mackey has continued to struggle with hand circulation problems that were partly blamed for him scratching from this years nearly 1,000 mile race across Alaska.Mackey could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001 and underwent extensive surgery as well as radiation treatment and the loss of his salivary glands.After returning to the sport he went on to become the only musher ever to win both the Iditarod and the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in the same year. Its a feat he has accomplished twice.---2 p.m.Organizers of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race say four-time champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey has dropped out of next years nearly 1,000-mile race because of health reasons.Race marshal Mark Nordman confirmed the withdrawal to The Associated Press on Monday after the Iditarod Trail Committee announced it on its Facebook page.Mackey could not immediately be reached for comment. He started last years race, but later scratched because of health concerns.Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001 and underwent extensive surgery as well as radiation treatment and the loss of his salivary glands. After returning to the sport he went on to become the only musher ever to win both the Iditarod and the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in the same year. Its a feat he has accomplished twice. Fake Lakers Jerseys . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. 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"Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. After 52 years of championship drought, the city of Cleveland has claimed the UFC heavyweight championship and the NBA Finals in 2016.Born and raised Ohioan Stipe Miocic will look to give the region another championship moment on Saturday, when he defends his title against Alistair Overeem at UFC 203 inside Clevelands Quicken Loans Arena.In addition to the main event, a second high-profile heavyweight matchup between former champion Fabricio Werdum and Travis Browne will take place, as well as the long-awaited MMA debut of former professional wrestling star Phil CM Punk Brooks.Lets take a closer look at this welterweight rematch. Dont agree with the pick? Let me know on Twitter: @bokamotoESPN.Main eventStipe Miocic (15-2) vs. Alistair Overeem (41-14) Heavyweight championship Odds: Miocic -145; Overeem +125Time flies, doesnt it? We are now five years and 10 fights into Overeems career in the UFC, and the truth is: He has thoroughly dominated his opposition. But in the rare moments things have gone bad for Overeem, they have gone spectacularly bad.Theres a good chance that trend continues in Cleveland. Generally speaking, this isnt a bad matchup for Overeem. Miocic is a capable boxer with a power right hand, is an above-average wrestler and a mentally composed champ -- but its hard to find an area where he holds a sizable technical advantage. If were looking at straight-up skill in hand-to-hand combat, Overeem gets the nod. Hes the far more experienced of the two and just brings a much more versatile playbook into the Octagon than Miocic.But similar observations could have been made before every one of the three UFC fights Overeem lost. In a 25-minute fight, Overeem is always at risk for one of those aforementioned bad moments. And those have typically occurred after he has gassed himself out.Miocic is a definite threat in terms of simply outlasting Overeem. Hes extremely durable, which he needs to be, as theres a good amount of risk in his pressure-oriented style. He prefers to be the one in charge, pressing forward behind the jab and the left hook, maintaining that boxing range and creating windows to throw the hammer -- his right hand. He has the wrestling shot at his disposal, but in the past and particularly in this matchup, the threat of that shot might be more effective than the shot itself. In other words, its unlikely Miocic will wrestle his way to his first title defense, but the constant threat of him getting a takedown adds a layer to this standup fight.When Overeem fought another boxer-based striker in former champ Junior dos Santos, he all but shut down the Brazilians forward movement with circular movement and constant, constant feints. Overeems feints were so intelligent and effective in that matchup that dos Santos pace slowed to a boo-inducing crawl; he was eventually reacting so much to every movement that it was almost easy for Overeem, who is terrific at misdirection, to set up whatever shots he wanted.dddddddddddd Miocic cant fall victim to similar tactics, and based on his skill set, his best counter is likely to not react to the feints at all. Bell to bell, bully through them and get to that preferred boxing range.As notoriously dangerous as Overeems clinch striking is, its an area Miocic probably cant shy away from. There arent many tools in MMA as intimidating as Overeem knees, but in order for Miocic to cut off the cage and consistently get in Overeems face like he needs to, he has to be prepared for the clinch. The good news is that as the fight progresses, that clinch should favor him more and more based on his cardio. Given Overeems history in the UFC, even if Miocic loses rounds early, hell still be in a strong position to finish later on provided he is surviving and forcing Overeem to work.?One thing to really watch is how Overeem attacks the lower body. Those side kicks to the lead leg, a staple of Jackson-Wink MMA, could be very effective in breaking the pace Miocic wants to set. Front kicks to the body and, of course, the knees any time they lock up could essentially erase Miocics cardio advantage. And if it all adds up to Miocic being unable (or unwilling) to keep up his aggression, Overeem will have stacked the deck in his favor.Prediction: To be clear, there is a darn good chance Miocic sets Cleveland on fire with a one-punch, right-hand KO ... but my pick is the other way. Overeem via TKO, third round.Featured undercard boutsFabricio Werdum (20-6-1) vs. Travis Browne (18-4-1), heavyweightRepeat of a fight from 2? years back, a decision loss that remains Brownes worst night ever in the Octagon. Redemption? Crazy things happen at heavyweight, but odds are against it.Prediction: Werdum, 30-27 decision.CM Punk (0-0) vs. Mickey Gall (2-0), welterweightNot a whole lot of information to base this prediction on. Punk is brand-new, as is Gall. At the very least, Gall looks the part of a young prospect with natural skill. Punk is 37 and coming off back surgery.Prediction: Gall via rear-naked choke, first round. And bonus prediction: Punk does fight again.Urijah Faber (33-9) vs. Jimmie Rivera (19-1), bantamweightHow many times has Faber been in this spot? Coming off a title loss, accepting a lesser known opponent in a potential hangover situation ... fourth time in four years weve been here! Faber has never suffered back-to-back losses, does it happen here?Prediction: Rivera by decision. ' ' '