LONDON -- When the judo events kick off at the Rio de Janeiro Games, the home team will send out a defending Olympic champion on the first day of competition.With five other top-ranked judoka on its Olympic team, Brazil has a particularly strong home advantage. Although judo has traditionally been dominated by the Japanese, who created the modern martial art, the combat sport has become truly universal. That means the Japanese team, which won only a single gold medal at London in its worst-ever Olympic showing -- is no longer the favorite.Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, said he expects to see more unexpected winners at Rio.I think Mongolia will be the big surprise of the Olympic games, he said. Vizer also noted strong fighters from the U.S., Greece, Georgia, France, Russia, Cuba and South Korea. There will also be two refugee competitors, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, competing under the International Olympic Committee flag.Vizer said some rule changes to judo -- including the outlawing of leg grabs -- were made to distinguish the sport from others like wrestling and will hopefully inspire more fighters to attempt the big throws judo is known for. Fights can be won instantly if judoka flip their opponents flat on their back with considerable force and speed.While some have criticized the rule changes arguing that they favor the Japanese style of judo, which focuses on throws rather than the groundwork component of judo, Vizer said the tweaks are necessary to modernize the sport.Countries with a strong wrestling tradition, such as those in Eastern Europe and Brazil, have typically produced judo fighters who win once judo fighters end up on the ground. Thats when competitors struggle to either pin their opponents for 20 seconds or force them to tap out by applying a stranglehold or an armbar, a move where the limb is hyperextended to the point it might break.In light of the Russia doping scandal, Vizer said that no sanctions were handed to Russian judoka and that clean Russian athletes should have a chance just like other clean athletes from any other country in a statement. Russias President Vladimir Putin is the honorary president of the judo federation.RETURNING STARFrenchman Teddy Riner is simply the most successful judoka of all time. The 27-year-old heavyweight has won a record eight world championship titles, five European titles and two Olympic medals, including a gold at the London games. At 6-foot-8 inches, Riner strikes an imposing figure on the judo mat but moves surprisingly fast for a heavyweight. Riner tends to dominate by throwing his big right arm over his opponents head to take control of the fight, and very few of his competitors have been able to prevent Riner from securing a dominant grip on their uniforms.BEST RIVALRYAfter becoming the first American to win a judo gold medal, Kayla Harrison will be looking to defend her title in Rio. Her biggest roadblock might be longtime rival Brazilian Mayra Aguiar, who defeated Harrison at a Paris competition earlier this year with a match-ending throw. The two have now fought 16 times -- and split the victories evenly. At a world cup final in Sao Paolo several years ago where Harrison won over Aguiar on penalties, she was booed by the local crowd. Harrison described Brazilian judo fans as wild after the experience. Good thing I dont speak Portuguese, because if I did, I might cry.OLYMPIAN EFFORTTwo judoka athletes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be fighting as part of the IOC refugee team in Rio. Yolande Bukasa Mabika will be competing in the womens 70-kilogram division and Popole Misenga will be fighting in the mens 90-kilogram division. The two are currently training in Brazil. Misenga sought asylum in Brazil when he arrived to compete in the world championships being held there and credits the technical training he has received with making him a better fighter.You cant let people think that just because they are refugees, they have to stop what theyre doing, he said. Even though they are refugees, they need to continue practicing their sport.---Rachel Cohen in New York contributed to this report. Air Jordan Retro 4 Discount . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Cheap Jordan 4 For Sale .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. http://www.cheapairjordan4.net/ . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Air Jordan 4 Wholesale .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Jordan 4 Cheap Real . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. PASADENA, Calif. -- UCLA coach Jim Mora challenged his offense at halftime, asking them to play at the same level shown on defense and special teams through the first 30 minutes.The Bruins responded, with Josh Rosen throwing two of his three touchdowns and rushing for one touchdown after the ultimatum, and UCLA pulled away from Arizona 45-24 on Saturday night.Rosen was 20 of 37 for 350 yards, Kenneth Walker had four catches for 114 yards with a pair of touchdowns and Darren Andrews added 108 yards receiving and a 26-yard TD run.If we could just find a way to put it together as a football team we could be pretty darn dynamic, and thats the challenge, Mora said. I think its pretty evident we can play some really good defense. We can play some good special teams. We can play some good offense. We just got to do it all at the same time.UCLA (3-2, 1-1 Pac-12) struggled to run the ball for long stretches, but it didnt matter as the injury-riddled Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) saw their offensive ranks further depleted. Quarterback Brandon Dawkins took a big hit from linebacker Kenny Young in the second quarter and was replaced after halftime. Running back Nick Wilson came up limping late in the first quarter.Right tackle Gerhard de Beer and right tackle Jacob Alsadek also suffered undisclosed injuries, while left guard Freddie Tagaloa did not travel with the team.Touted freshman Khalil Tate came in at quarterback on Arizonas second possession of the second half, leading a drive that ended in a Josh Pollack field goal. Tates next drive ended with a 31-yard touchdown to Shun Brown. Tate had 72 yards passing and 79 yards rushing in his college debut, throwing a second touchdown to Cam Denson with 38 seconds remaining.FRESHMAN FINDSTate and UCLA wide receiver Theo Howard were among the most accomplished and sought-after high school players in Southern California last year. Those talents were on full display in the Rose Bowl.Howard caught his first career touchdown earlly in the third quarter, providing the spark Mora was looking for with a 19-yard catch-and-run where he shook an Arizona defensive back and sprinted up the far sideline.ddddddddddddWith dropped passes a lingering issue for the UCLA offense, how quickly Howard can become a consistent part of the rotation could determine the ceiling for what Rosen can accomplish this season.At the start of the season, Tate was expected to redshirt as the fourth-string quarterback seeing only a handful of snaps in practice. With Anu Solomon missing the last four games with a knee injury, those reps increased and coaches told Tate to prepare for the exact situation that unfolded against UCLA.Thought he would give us the best chance to score points, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said, explaining his decision to play Tate.THE TAKEAWAYArizona: The decision to play Tate could effectively put the Wildcats into rebuilding mode this season. Despite his declaration, Rodriguez would not have put Tate in there simply as a stopgap measure. Rodriguez apparently decided that Tates development now takes precedence.UCLA: After last weeks last-second loss to Stanford, the Bruins got everything they needed to remain in the Pac-12 South race. Utah lost at California and Arizona State was pummeled at Southern California, leaving surprising Colorado as the only team in the division unbeaten in conference play. However, UCLA needs improvement from its inconsistent offense to push for the Pac-12 title.UP NEXTArizona: The Wildcats travel to Utah next Saturday. Arizona upset the No. 10 Utes 37-30 in double overtime last season, giving Rodriguez a win over a top 10 team in each of his first four seasons in the desert.UCLA: The Bruins travel to Arizona State next Saturday for their first conference road game. The visiting team has won the last four games in the series. ' ' '