Goodnight from UFC 92 and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Thanks for reading.
December 2008 Archives
In the final bout of the match, season one Ultimate Fighter and UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) takes on season two winner Rashad Evans (17-0-1).
Griffin appears to be the crowd favorite as chants of "Forrest" fill the arena early. Most of the first minute has little action as both fighters are just dancing around the ring. The next minute is more of the same as both fighters are looking for their shot with chants of "Forrest." Griffin looks to be moving better than Evans during the match, dictating most of the action. Evans is almost able to trip up Griffin with a kick to Griffin's leg, but Griffin is able to regain his balance. Both fighters do mix it up from time to time but no punch appears to do any real damage. Griffin looks to be in control as the round ends.
Griffin almost gets Evans but was not in position to capitalize. Griffin scored a kick that knocked Evans off balance but waited too long to move in. The action picks up quickly as Griffin lands punches and knees on Evans while Evans has his back against the octagon. Griffin withstands the attack and smiles at the end of it. Both fighters are mixing it up more but it still appears that Griffin is in control of the match.
Evans finally gets Griffin a break to start the third round as he takes Griffin down who is in a bad way on the mat. Evans rains hammer strikes on Griffin for close to 10 seconds. Griffin was moving constantly on the ground trying to make it hard for those strikes to connect. Eventually, Griffin gets some sort of defense, but is not out of the woods yet. Evans finds a better angle for striking and finally at the 2:46 mark of the third round, referee Steve Mazzagatti calls the fight.
Evans improves to 18-0-1 and a light heavyweight belt while Griffin falls to 16-5.
Antonio Nogueira's (31-4-1) interim heavyweight title is up for grabs as he faces former UFC champion Frank Mir (11-3). The winner will face UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar to unify the title.
Mir looks to be the aggressor early throwing some kicks along with some punches. Mir scores a take down on Nogueira and lands some short blows before allowing Nogueira up. Mir again mixes it up and gets some jabs in. Nogueira doesn't seem that worried with the early attacks of Mir and still moves forward. Chants of "Frank" fill the arena halfway through the round. Mir catches Nogueira with a short and strong punch that floors Nogueira. Mir pounces and strikes but after his advantage is gone, allows Nogueira up. Nogueira lives up to his reputation as having a strong chin and does not look hurt and catches Mir with a strong punch that gets a smile from Mir. Mir ends the round with a combination that floors Nogueira.
Mir is breathing heavy during the round intermission. Nogueira still is advancing on Mir and Mir is doing his best to counterattack. Nogueira gets floored again with a left hook and this time Mir just goes all out. Mir just lands strike after strike and referee Herb Dean calls the match at the 1:54 mark of the second round.
Mir is now the UFC interim heavyweight champion with a record of 12-3 while Nogueira falls to 31-5-1. Mir will next face Brock Lesnar at a future UFC event. It is a rematch of their fight at UFC 81.
In the swing bout of the match, Mike Massenzio (11-2) takes on CB Dollaway (8-2) in a middleweight bout.
Massenzio has Dollaway in a bad spot a minute into the match with a take down followed by a guillotine choke attempt. Dollaway fights out of it and ends up reversing the position. Massenzio tries to find a better position but finds himself on his belly and Dollaway just pounds the side of the head and ref Yves Lavigne ends the match at 3:01 of the first round.
Dollaway improves to 9-2 while Massenzio falls to 11-3.
One of the most anticipated matches of the night features light heavyweight Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-8-1) taking on Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (28-7). Silva is 2-0 against Jackson, both wins coming in PRIDE.
Both fighters start out stalking each other. Chants of "Silva" fill the arena about a minute into the match, followed by "Rampage" later. Jackson tries to go for a takedown but is quickly blocked by Silva. Jackson almost gets Silva as Silva loses his balance while going on an attack. Jackson can't move in. However, while both fighters go at each other, Jackson scores on a left hook that puts Silva to sleep. Jackson gets one shot in by the time referee Yves Lavigne steps in, but it looks like Jackson gets one more shot it before he finally gets off and stops the match at 3:26 of the first round.
Silva lays motionless on the mat for a while, before finally sits up. Jackson moves to 29-7 while Silva falls to 32-9-1.
The pay-per-view portion of UFC 92 will begin with heavyweight Mostapha Al Turk (6-3) against Cheick Kongo (22-4-1).
Kongo gets the first advantage on Al Turk by catching a kick and pushing him down. Al Turk, who is making his UFC debut, quickly recovers and gets back to his feet. Al Turk backs Kongo against the octagon and tries to go for a take down, but Kongo has it blocked and scores some short elbows to Al Turk's head. Kongo switches the position and has Al Turk against the octagon and during the grappling, Al Turk lands a knee to Kongo's groin. Referee Steve Mazzagatti stops the bout, allowing Kongo recovery time and the match continues. Kongo returns the favor to Al Turk and again Mazzagatti has to stop the match for recovery time. After warning is issued by both fighters, Kongo goes after Al Turk and connects with a punch and delivers textbook ground and pound action. There were sever instances where it looked like Mazzagatti was going to step in but allowed the action to continue. It wasn't until the 4:37 mark of the first round that the bout is over.
Kongo improves to 23-4-1 while Al Turk loses his UFC debut and falls to 6-4.
In the final preliminary bout of the night, middleweight Dean Lister (11-5) takes on Yushin Okami (23-4).
Okami had the early takedown on Lister who entered the octagon with what looked like bruise under his right eye. Okami again scores another takedown but can't do much more than that. Lister can't do much against Okami and again finds himself in a bad spot against Okami on the mat with Okami landing shots to the head as the round ends.
Okami begins the round by pinning Lister against the octagon for almost a minute before both fighters separate. Lister hits the mat more but Okami does not go in for more attacks as Lister does look like he is braced. So both fighters stay a good distance apart until referee Herb Dean separates the two and allows Lister up. Okami finally finds a shot and takes it while Lister is on the ground. After a while, Lister moves around and finds a better position. The spectators at the Grand Garden Arena don't appear to happy with the action and starts to boo. Okami mounts some offense as the round ends.
Both fighters begin the round like boxers looking to land a punch. Lister goes for a punch but is countered by Okami. Lister again goes down but instead of allowing him up, Okami goes in and lands some effective shots on Lister. Lister tries to clinch but Okami gets out and gets some shots in. All Lister can do is go on defense and hold on to the hands of Okami. Referee Herb Dean orders both fighters up with a minute left in the bout but it's clear that Okami has this match won.
Okami wins 30-27 on all three scorecards to improve to 24-4 while Lister is now 11-6.
Mike Wessell (8-1) takes on Antoni Hardonk (7-4) in a heavyweight bout.
Wessell catches a break as Hardonk slips on the mat. However Hardonk is almost able to get an arm bar out of it before the fighters break. Wessell appears to gain an advantage with his strength by pushing Hardonk in to the fence. Hardonk does appear to be in better condition as he is able to withstand some shots and becomes more offensive on the tiring Wessell. Wessell does have enough energy to score a takedown but it appears that he is bleeding from his nose. All Hardonk can do is clinch until he can find an opening like an arm bar which he attempts but can't lock it in. It makes for a tough round to call as Hardonk looked good in the middle of the fight and Wessell dominated at the end.
Wessell again scores a takedown early in the round and Hardonk is clinching in an attempt to minamize the damage. Hardonk is able to reverse the position and has Wessell face down on the mat while raining blows from above. Wessell turns over, but is now just getting hammered some more. Referee Yves Lavigne has no choice but to stop the match at 2:09 of the second round.
Hardonk improves to 8-4 while Wessell falls to 8-2.
Light heavyweight Reese Andy (7-2) takes on Matt Hamill (6-2).
Hamill gets the first takedown but can't do much and in seconds Andy gets up. Both fighters stay in the neutral position as they look more like boxers for half the round. Andy goes for a takedown but can't do much and lets go of Hamill. Hamill has a cut under his right eye that does not appear to affect him yet. Andy has some general bruising around his left eye, but the skin does not appear to have broken. It's a tough round to score, but it would appear that Hamill was in control however the cut may decide the round.
Hamill appears to be moving Andy around the ring. andy goes for a takedown but is blocked by Hamill. As he is blocked, Hamill is able to land some punches to the head of Andy. Hamill is clearly getting the better of Andy. Hamill has Andy pinned to the ground and the fence and is just landing punches forcing the referee stop the fight at 2:19 of the second round.
Hamill improves to 7-2 while Andy falls to 7-3.
Brad Blackburn (13-9-1) takes on Ryo Chonan (15-8) in a welterweight match
Both fighters land scoring strikes that do no real damage to each other. Neither fighter appears to be going for a takedown, relying only on a standing attack. Chonan goes for a kick that is blocked by Blackburn. Chonan slips of the mat and Blackburn is able to get a few strikes on him before Chonan gets up. Blackburn seems to have won to round.
Both fighters continue to look for an opening as the second round begins. Blackburn finds it, 70 seconds in the round and gets Chonan on the mat. After 30 seconds, Blackburn can't improve his position and both fighters get back to their feet. After a flurry of punches, Blackburn looks to go for a takedown, but runs out of room as Chonan backs into the Octagon is able to gain his balance. Both fighters seems tentative to strike as the round comes to an end.
It's still a boxing match as both fighters are going around the ring. Chonan has Blackburn backing up but it is not because he is throwing punches. However, Blackburn isn't just moving away, he does move in and strike every so often. Chonan goes for a takedown but it is defended easlaly by Blackburn as he backs into the Octagon. Chonan does find and opening and strikes Blackburn causing a cut above the nose. Chonan best punch appears to be using an uppercut as he tries to knock him out with it. Blackburn however is able to survive the round.
The decision goes on all three scorecard, 29-28 to Blackburn as he improves to 14-9-1 while Chonan falls to 15-9.
A stalemate quickly ends when Pat Barry scores a kick to the left knee of Dan Evensen causing it to buckle. After a couple of seconds, Evensen decides not to continue and the matchup ends at 2:36 of the first round.
Welcome to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and the Press-Telegram's coverage of UFC 92, Ultimate 2008. There will be five preliminary fights before the five pay-per-view fights starting at 7 p.m. This card has three anticipated matchups. First the "Axe Murderer" Waderlei Silva takes on Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in a light heavyweight match. Interim heavyweight champion Antonio Nogueira defends against Frank Mir. And in the main event, Season 1 Ultimate Fighting champion and light heavyweight champion Forrest defends against Season 2 champion and undefeated Rashad Evans.
The action will begin with Pat Barry against Dan Evensen in a heavyweight bout.
