LAS VEGAS -- After Amanda Nunes released the chokehold that finished her stunning victory at UFC 200 on Saturday night, the new bantamweight champion leaped onto the cage and pointed ecstatically at her girlfriend, Nina Ansaroff.Nunes became the UFCs first openly gay champion with her first-round submission of Miesha Tate. While the Brazilian bantamweight celebrated, Nunes also spared a thought for the history-making nature of her accomplishment.This is amazing, Nunes said. The most important thing is Im happy with my life. ... She means everything to me. This girl, she helped me every day.Nunes (13-4) and Ansaroff are mixed martial artists who live and train together in Florida. While Ansaroffs strawweight career hasnt reached Nunes bantamweight heights, she has passionately supported Nunes rise in the crowded 135-pound division.She is so amazing, the most amazing person, Nunes said. I love her so much. ... Nina is the best training partner I ever had in my life.Their teamwork showed in the upset victory by Nunes, who wasnt widely expected to become the UFCs fourth different bantamweight champion in nine months.Nunes staggered Tate early with a precise right hand. She battered the champ throughout the round before easily sinking in the choke that forced Tate to tap out with 1:44 left in the round.The fact that Nunes and Tate were the main event in the UFCs landmark show was another milestone in the promotions enthusiastic embrace of womens MMA.President Dana White has said that Ronda Rouseys talent and marketability basically forced him to create a 135-pound division in late 2012. But the UFC has aggressively pushed the sport ever since, adding another division and turning numerous fighters into big names.In fact, women headlined two of the three shows during International Fight Week, with strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk beating Claudia Gadelha on Friday night in perhaps the most entertaining bout of the entire three-day extravaganza.MMA and its fans frequently subvert their meathead reputations in surprising ways: After Tate and Nunes were promoted to the main event this week following Jon Jones removal from the card due to a failed drug test, a Nevada-record 18,202 fans still paid a record $10.7 million to watch UFC 200 at the new T-Mobile Arena, although pro wrestler Brock Lesnars return to the sport played a major role.Earlier this month, the UFC also started an initiative to benefit the LGBT community in Las Vegas, selling T-shirts reading We Are All Fighters in rainbow lettering. Lesnars opponent, heavyweight Mark Hunt, and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier were among the fighters who wore the shirts during fight week, with sales proceeds going to a local community center.Just as it takes courage to step into the octagon, it takes courage to stand for what you believe in, said Lawrence Epstein, the UFCs chief operating officer. Were proud to stand with members of the LGBTQ community in their fight for equality.Nunes victory catapulted her atop a bantamweight division already featuring Tate and former champions Holly Holm and Rousey, whose unbeaten reign seems like it ended years ago, not last November. Holm will headline a prominent UFC show on Fox later this month in Chicago, while Rousey hasnt indicated shes close to a return to competition.The 135-pound field also includes Julianna Pena, a rising challenger who thrashed veteran Cat Zingano earlier on the UFC 200 card. Pena could be the next fight for Nunes, who said she would welcome any challenger for her belt.But first, Nunes is likely to embark on the rounds of talk shows and public appearances that seem to follow the champion of whats emerged as perhaps the UFCs most important division in crossing over to casual sports fans.Rousey, Holm and Tate all became popular outside hardcore MMA circles. Nunes fierce fighting style and engaging personality could do the same for her.Nunes realizes shell also get plenty of publicity for her sexual orientation, and she appears to welcome it. Shortly after her win, the Florida resident was asked about the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando last month.It was very sad, Nunes said. I wish these days didnt happen anymore. Peace in the world is very important. I dont think the USA is going to let this happen again. I think its going to stop. Brenden Dillon Sharks Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Martin Jones Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/aaron-dell-jersey/ . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Marc-Edouard Vlasic Sharks Jersey . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Custom San Jose Sharks Jerseys . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1.Mason, OH (Sports Network) - Nicolas Almagro and Jerzy Janowicz were among a Mondays first-round upset victims at the $3 million Western & Southern Open. Rising Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov sent the 13th-seeded Almagro packing in 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 fashion on the hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Janowicz, seeded 16th, was handled in straight sets by James Blake, with the 33-year-old American and 2007 Cincinnati Masters runner-up coming through with an impressive 6-1, 7-5 victory. Another upset came when 34-year-old Czech veteran Radek Stepanek doused 14th- seeded Italian Fabio Fognini, 6-2, 6-4. Fognini is a two-time ATP titlist this season. Meanwhile, German Philipp Kohlschreiber took care of on-the-mend American Mardy Fish, 7-5, 6-2. Fish, who recently returned to the tour after battling injuries and a heart condition, is a two-time Cincy Masters runner-up (2003, 2010). Kohlschreiber will meet reigning champion Roger Federer in the round of 32. Oft-injured American Brian Baker, a wild card playing his first tennis since the Australian Open in January, reeturned a winner by tackling Uzbekistans Denis Istomin, 7-5, 6-3, while former top-10 Serb Janko Tipsarevic came back to bounce American Sam Querrey, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4.dddddddddddd Also on Day 1, Jeremy Chardy beat qualifier fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3, Spaniard Marcel Granollers overcame Czech Lukas Rosol 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov overcame Slovak Martin Klizan, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, Argentine Juan Monaco whipped Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2 and Belgian David Goffin posted a 6-1, 6-1 decision over fellow qualifier Mackenzie McDonald. Monaco is rewarded with a second-round match against world No. 1 superstar Novak Djokovic. Last year, Federer defeated the four-time runner-up Djokovic in the finale to become the first player in the Open Era to win five Cincinnati titles. The only other multiple Cincinnati titlist in this years field is two-time winner Andy Murray. The 2013 Cincinnati champ will collect $583,800. This is the last Masters 1000 event before the U.S. Open, which will commence August 26 in New York. ' ' '