LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Anthony Pettis stopped Gilbert Melendez with a guillotine choke 1:53 into the second round, defending his lightweight championship at UFC 181 on Saturday night.Pettis (18-2) dramatically finished the fight shortly after landing a front kick to the face of Melendez (22-4), who was staggered for the first time. Melendez attempted a takedown, but Pettis defended it and swiftly locked in the decisive choke to end his first title defence.I know how good I am, but a lot of people were questioning how good I am, Pettis said.Pettis hadnt fought in 16 months, but came back from injuries for his first bout since winning his belt last year. The Milwaukee native returned from knee surgery with another demonstration of his impressive athleticism for his fifth consecutive victory.Melendez was stopped for the first time in his lengthy MMA career, losing his second UFC title shot in two years.Im only getting better, Pettis said. Ive been working every day in the gym, and Im still young in this game.Melendez took down Pettis twice in the opening minutes and kept the champion pinned against the cage for most of the first round. Pettis eventually broke into his array of kicks and spins, but they didnt do much until he surprised Melendez with the front kick that rattled his skull.Melendez appeared less sharp, and the sloppy takedown attempt quickly turned into an opportunity for Pettis, who leaped onto Melendez to finish.I wanted to test his chin, and I really didnt get a chance, Melendez said. I couldnt get my combos going. Hes extremely fast and a very tough opponent.Pettis had been out of action since he won his belt in August 2013 with a first-round submission victory over Benson Henderson. After recovering from knee injuries and surgery, Pettis spent several weeks of the summer taping the new season of The Ultimate Fighter, coaching the UFCs new womens strawweights opposite Melendez.Pettis title capped a steady rise for the athletic tactician from famed trainer Duke Roufus Wisconsin gyms. He rose to prominence with his famed Showtime kick in December 2010, leaping off the cage wall to land a jaw-dropping head kick on Henderson.Pettis had fought just three times in the previous three years, winning all three bouts in the first round and raising worries of ring rust.Yet Melendez also hadnt fought in 14 months since his bloody victory over Diego Sanchez in one of 2013s best bouts. Melendez, the veteran former Strikeforce champion from San Francisco, had a UFC title shot in April 2013, but lost a razor-thin decision to Henderson. Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Online .J. - The New Jersey Devils know the odds are against them as they chase a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Cheap MLB Jerseys China . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. http://www.cheapmlbjerseysusa.com/ . - Dolphins safety Louis Delmas has been carted off the field with a right knee injury against the Ravens. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . Pospisil, whose season-ending goal is to improve his ATP Tour ranking enough to qualify for one of the 32 seedings at Januarys Australian Open, dominated Karlovic in 59 minutes. The world No. 40 never faced a break point and limited the big mans threatening ace count to a mere eight, while striking five key aces of his own. Cheap MLB Jerseys Free Shipping . Completely. Two days after releasing Peyton Manning, the longtime face of the franchise, the Colts announced they were cutting four fan favourites: running back Joseph Addai, linebacker Gary Brackett, safety Melvin Bullitt and tight end Dallas Clark.OTTAWA - Canada and France will continue their preparation for this years FIFA Womens World Cup with an international friendly on April 9 in Bondoufle, France.The Canadian team is coming off a Four Nations tournament victory this month in Shenzhen, China. Canada will participate in the MMarch 2-12 Cyprus Cup before taking on the third-ranked French side.ddddddddddddCanada, which currently holds the No. 9 position in the world rankings, defeated France 1-0 in the bronze medal game at the 2012 London Olympics.The teams played to a 1-1 draw in 2013 in Nice. ' ' '