SASKATOON - Saskatoon Blades captain Brenden Walker and his teammates know their time together is almost up. The 20-year-old overage centre leads a veteran roster at the MasterCard Memorial Cup thats looking to go out on top after a trying season that still has a chance for a happy ending. The host team at the tournament was assembled with the sole purpose of winning the Canadian Hockey League title, but stumbled badly late in the season and was swept in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs. After a long break that included mounting criticism, the Blades lost 3-2 in the Memorial Cup opener to the London Knights before bouncing back with a big 5-2 upset win over the No. 1 ranked Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday for their first victory in over two months. Walker says it isnt lost on the players that as many as 18 of them could be participating in their final week of CHL hockey. "Were laying it all out there," Walker said Tuesday. "Theres nothing to rest for so the guys will take a shot in the teeth, whatever it takes." Blades defenceman Duncan Siemens, a first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2011, says the Memorial Cup brings out the best in players. "Theres not too many things out there that can beat the stage that were on. Its one of the hardest trophies in sports to win," he said. "You see that every night when guys go out there and are diving head first in front of pucks and doing absolutely everything they can to help their team." The 19-year-old Siemens adds that the experience on the Sasktoon roster has helped the team deal with the ups and downs it faced this season. "We do have an older group and for a few of our overagers this is their last kick at the can. I think we all want to do it for each other. Were not really focused on whats gonna come after this," he said. "We feel as a group weve worked extremely hard to this point and it would just be a waste to not put our best foot forward and not play they way were capable of." The Blades have their fate in the own hands ahead of Wednedays final round-robin game against the Portland Winterhawks as both teams sit at 1-1. A Saskatoon victory sends them to Sundays final, while a loss means the Blades will have to play in Thursdays tiebreaker against the London Knights. Overage right-winger Josh Nicholls has three goals and an assist through the Blades first two games at the Memorial Cup. The 21-year-old who is property of the New York Rangers has played in Saskatoon for five seasons and says the Blades understand the enormity of the situation for a team that has had its share of doubters. "We want it to be a special moment for us to all finish our careers together and make it a championship year. At the same time were doing it for all the alumni and the whole city of Saskatoon," Nicholls said. "I think everyone deserves a championship in this city and we feel like were really lucky. "Its a special opportunity to be in this position." Blades head coach and general manager Lorne Molleken made a series of moves that sacrificed the future for the present as the franchise pushed for its first CHL title. Although the season didnt go according to plan, he says theres still an opportunity to make history. "Thats the beauty of team sport. We have a chance to do something extremely special here and our players have laid it on the line for each other. Thats been a big big part of it," Molleken said. "We feel that we have a solid group in that room thats been a good team all year. "Weve faced a lot of different adversities so we have chance here to do something special." Blades left-winger Michael Ferland was acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a first-round pick before the trade deadline to help solidify the roster. He and Walker played in the Memorial Cup with Brandon back in 2010 and says he feels fortunate to get a second chance. "We realize that we dont really get a shot like this very often," said the 21-year-old Ferland, a 2010 fifth-round pick of the Calgary Flames. "We just want to go out on top. "Ive just got to embrace it. Times going by so fast." And while the clock is ticking on this incarnation of the Blades, theyre soaking up the experience that very few players get to experience. "This is something that youll remember for the rest of your life. For most people its a once in a lifetime experience and you want to make the most of it," Siemens said. "Its been the most fun Ive ever had playing hockey. Its an experience that will teach you a lot about yourself and a lot about the group that youre with." JARAGUA DO SUL, Brazil -- Vitor Belfort delivered one of the most spectacular knockouts of his career on Saturday, beating Luke Rockhold in the first round of the main event of "UFC on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold." Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor. Belfort pounced with a flurry of punches on the ground, and referee Leon Roberts called off the fight at the 2:32 mark of the first round. Belfort, who has been heavily criticized in some circles for his commission-approved use of testosterone-replacement therapy improves to 4-1 in his past five fights and may have moved himself back into title contention at 185 pounds. The Brazilian is now 10-2 in the past six years with both losses coming to the men largely considered the worlds two best fighters in Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. Still, Belfort said hell wait for the UFC to issue his next assignment rather than ask for a specific opportunity. "Im here to fight," Belfort said after the win. "I dont pick fights. I accept fights." Belfort was awarded a US$50,000 bonus cheque as the evenings "Knockout of the Night." In the nights co-feature, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (18-3) flashed his impressive jiu-jitsu skills in a first-round stoppage win over Chris Camozzi (19-6). Souza wasted little time getting the fight to the floor in the opening round, and while Camozzi showed capable defence for several minutes, "Jacare" was too much on the floor. The multiple time jiu-jitsu world champion quickly latched on an arm-triangle choke and squeezed tight, putting Camozzi to sleep in mere seconds. The official time came at the 3:37 mark of the first framee.dddddddddddd With an impressive win in his UFC debut, Souza immediately establishes himself as a contender in the promotions 185-pound division. "Everyone was asking if I was going to get the jitters, but I didnt because of the crowd -- the crowd has been fantastic," Souza said. "We were grappling, and I was waiting for him to give me the opportunity. I saw his neck, and I just went for it." Souza also pocketed an extra $50,000 as the evenings "Submission of the Night" winner. In a key lightweight contest, Brazilian slugger Rafael dos Anjos (19-6) earned a controversial split-decision win over American Evan Dunham (14-4). The pair traded shots on the feet throughout the 15-minute affair. It was dos Anjos who appeared to hold the power advantage, but a gritty Dunham consistently walked forward and linked together combinations. A pair of late takedowns in the opening to rounds appeared to earn Dunham the frames, but judges disagreed and awarded a unanimous-decision win with scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. UFC president Dana White, who was not in attendance for the event, immediately took to Twitter to protest the decision. "Dunham got ROBBED!!!!" White wrote. In the nights first main-card contest middleweight Rafael Natal (16-4-1) earned a unanimous decision over local hero Joao Zeferino (13-5). Zeferino, who earned his way on to the card as an injury replacement with less than three-weeks notice, looked sharp in the opening round but visibly tired as the contest wore on. Natal, while cautious, controlled the pace and positioning over the final 10 minutes en route to the clear-cut decision win. "I knew that being called on in such short notice, he wouldnt have enough time to get in shape," Natal said after the win. "I thought that although I lost the first round, I was going to get the second and third, and thats what happened." UFC on FX 8 drew a reported 7,642 fans, according to UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik. ' ' '