“Mayday” McDonald ends two-year UFC layoff Saturday night

Modesto’s Michael “Mayday” McDonald will make his return to the UFC’s Octagon after a two-year layoff Saturday night against veteran Masanori Kanehara of Japan.

Though the bout has been relegated to one of the featured preliminary fights of UFC 195 in Las Vegas, it’s gathering more than the usual attention. The hard-punching McDonald (16-3), one of the up-and-coming UFC bantamweights before his injury-induced hiatus, can re-establish himself with a win over Kanehara (25-12-5).

McDonald, 24, possesses knockout power, which always makes an attraction. His hand and wrist injuries reportedly have healed, and a win Saturday night could set him up for more lucrative bouts in 2016.

Since McDonald’s layoff, Bret Harte High School graduate T.J. Dillashaw has become the UFC’s bantamweight champion. The division features new talent which wasn’t around before McDonald left.

McDonald, 5-2 under the UFC banner, has not competed since December 2013 at Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena, when he was choked out by longtime contender Urijah Faber.

College basketball

MJC rolls past Napa Valley – Mason Washington took charge with 18 points, and the Modesto Junior College Pirates ended their nonleague schedule with an easy 84-63 win at home over Napa Valley on Wednesday night.

The Pirates (6-6), taller and stronger than the Storm (4-12), started sluggishly but ended the first half with a 23-4 burst to lead 40-24. Their lead reached 29 points in the second half.

All nine MJC players scored, including Brennan Pope and 6-foot-7 Michael Hatfield with 14 points apiece, Zack Gonzales with 11 and Joe Hamilton with 10. Isaiah Brown of Napa Valley was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points.

Modesto, which bounced back from a 1-2 showing at the 78th MJC tournament, opens Big 8 Conference action Tuesday night at Cosumnes River. The Pirates return home Jan. 8 against Sacramento City.

“We’re focusing on finishing the second half. We have to look at it as 0-0,” said Washington, who recognizes what should be a tight Big 8 race. Every team in the league has lost at least five games.

Warriors at home – Cal State Stanislaus will ring in the new year Friday night with a men’s-women’s doubleheader against Cal State Los Angeles in California Collegiate Athletic Association action. The women tip off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30 at Fitzpatrick Arena.

The Stanislaus women (6-4, 2-2 CCAA) are 3-0 at home. The Warriors are allowing only 60.8 points per game and lead the CCAA with 15.3 offensive rebounds per game.

The Stanislaus men (4-5, 3-1) are led by sophomore guard Christian Bayne (14.8 points per game). Alek Carlson, the team’s lone senior, averages 11.7 points.

Stanislaus stays at home Saturday night against Cal State San Marcos with games at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Wrestling

Bulldog Classic – Many Stanislaus District teams will be represented at Turlock High for the annual Bulldog Classic on Saturday.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 9:59 PM with the headline "“Mayday” McDonald ends two-year UFC layoff Saturday night."