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Canadian mixed martial artist Georges St-Pierre successfully defended his welterweight title in both bouts he contested in 2013, but will end the year without the gold around his waist for the first time since 2007. On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. While the victory over Diaz was standard issue dominance from St-Pierre, his Nov. 16 bout at UFC 167 against Hendricks was hotly contested and had a controversial finish. Despite the fact that most people covering the fight scored the victory for the challenger and post-fight metrics, as well as St-Pierres face showed Hendricks was more effective, two of the three judges scoring the bout gave the advantage to the champion allowing him to leave with a split decision victory. UFC president Dana White was irate after the fight even calling for the Nevada Governor to launch an investigation into the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It was clear something was also wrong with St-Pierre when after the fight he said that he needed to step away from the UFC, causing speculation that he was going to announce his retirement. Finally on Dec. 13, St-Pierre announced that due to personal issues which he did not reveal, he would be taking an extended break from the UFC as well as vacating the welterweight title he has proudly defended since 2008. "Im going to take a break. I need this," said St-Pierre. "I need to have a normal life for a bit. Ill feel better and come back stronger." Whether this is the end of St-Pierres career or just a bump in the road, he will easily find his way into the UFC Hall of Fame and go down as one of the greatest to ever step into the Octagon. . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. . The Bruins forward has been fined $5,000 by the National Hockey League for spearing Red Wings defenceman Danny DeKeyser in the groin. . "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics. . And follow TSN.ca right through Wednesdays 3pm et trade deadline for all the updates. Blue line help for Red Wings? In addition to what he reported in Insider Trading, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun wrote on ESPN. . The thinking at the time was Clowney could have already been promised he would be selected first overall by the Houston Texans, therefore negating any need to meet with any other teams. The plot took another twist this week.Siobhan-Marie OConnor is set to continue her fight for a place at the Rio Olympics in the British Swimming Championships. The 20-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar is one of GBs rising stars and is in Scotland this week for a crucial event on the swimming calendar that will help determine who will be on the plane to Brazil this summer.OConnor was the youngest in the GB team at the 2012 London Games (100m breaststroke), and she is now looking to conquer again on the biggest international stage after six medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, including gold in the 200m individual medley.Get live updates on Siobhan over the weekend on the @SkyScholarships Twitter accountWith the 100m freestyle first up for OConnor in Glasgow, she said: Im really looking forward to racing on Friday. Weve been training hard for this week for a long time and its great that its finally here.Its good to be up here with the Bath Team as well, cheering on my team-mates for the first couple of days.This will be my second Olympic trials and I really hope I can achieve the results I want and that I have worked for. Skys Sportswomen follows Siobhan-Marie OConnor as she fights for her place at the Olympics OConnor, who recently returned from a seven-week training camp to Austtralia, will compete in the 100m Individual Medley on Saturday and will finish the weekend with the 100m breaststroke and butterfly.ddddddddddddThe British swimmers will be nominated for Rio 2016 selection following the trials with the British Olympic Association set to ratify the GB squad later in April. With the Olympic swimming trials taking place this week, we look back at Siobhan-Marie OConnors Masterclass British Swimming head coach Bill Furniss said: This competition is just the next phase of a long and detailed preparation to perform on the day in Rio.After Glasgow we need to refocus on Rio - thats where the competition will be fought and not before. We want our athletes this week to experience pressure, handle pressure and welcome pressure.WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS...MARCH 19 - May 2: Holly Bradshaw, training in USAAPRIL 12-17: Siobhan-Marie OConnor, British Championships in GlasgowAPRIL: Olivia Breen, training camp in TenerifeMAY 22-30: Sam Oldham, European Championships in Switzerland Also See: About the Scholarship Meet the athletes Blogs Videos Galleries ' ' '
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