The UFC is closing out 2008 with a bang. On December 27th, the UFC will be holding its traditional end-of-year event, and they're pulling out all of the stops with two title fights and a classic grudge match.
First, the prelims:
Antoni Hardonk (7-4) vs. Mike Wessel (6-0)
Hmm, dangerous, though one-dimensional striker versus undefeated no-namer. I got Hardonk by KO.
Pat Barry (3-0) vs. Dan Evensen (10-3)
Hmm, undefeated no-namer versus that guy who's only known for looking like shit before being KO'd by Check Kongo. Umm, I pick Barry by who-the-hell-cares.
Ryo Chonan (15-8) vs. Brad Blackburn (12-9-1)
Chonan's a name, mostly for his shocking submission win over Anderson Silva way back in 2004. Other than that, his career has been lackluster. But by virtue of having no idea who Blackburn is, I'm picking Chonan.
Matt Hamill (4-2) vs. Reese Andy (7-2)
Hmm, tough one. Haven't seen much of Andy. I'm going with Hamill.
Yushin Okami (22-4) vs. Dean Lister (11-5)
This is an interesting matchup, but unfortunately also one that I can see being a contender for most boring fight of the night. Okami is known for being a slow starter, and Lister is known for being so one-dimensional that he has to resort to pulling guard in almost every one of his fights.
I'm thinking Okami takes this by decision. Will it be worth watching? That I don't know.
Next, the main card:
C.B. Dollaway (7-1) vs. Mike Massenzio (11-2)
Don't care. Don't know how this got on the main card. I haven't watched TUF for the past few seasons, so I don't give a damn about Dollaway. And even though I know I've seen Massenzio's fight against McFedries, I don't seem to remember it. Ah well, I'll go with Massenzio.
Mostapha Al Turk (6-3) vs. Cheick Kongo (12-4)
Kongo has been very disappointing in his UFC career, so far. He seems to have all the potential in the world, but just fights....stupid. He doesn't play to his strengths. Still, I think this fight is a gimme for him. Kongo by KO.
Okay, now that all of that is over with, time for the fights that matter.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (28-7) vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-8)
A battle of former champions. Rampage, the former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion. Wanderlei Silva, the former longtime Pride Middleweight champion.
And, of course, the two have battled each other twice before. And while both fights started out competitive, both ended the same way: with Silva utterly brutalizing Rampage.
Now, many things have changed in both of their careers since then. Silva was KO'd by Dan Henderson, while Rampage beat Henderson. Rampage KO'd CHuck Liddell, while Silva lost to Liddell by decision. But will the ABC theory of MMA finally prove itself? I'm thinking not.
The most compelling aspect of this fight is the psychological. We all know that Rampage went on a, well, rampage in his truck (something about him being psyched out crazy, watching The Secret, and thinking he had to rush across town to save a friend, or something similarly whacked). Then there's the fact that Silva has the psychological edge of having utterly owned Rampage twice before. And the fact that Silva is training at Xtreme Couture, while Rampage is training in that hotbed of MMA expertise.....England.
In short, here's how a poster at Bloody Elbow summarised the psychology of the fight:
Yeah....my money's on Wanderlei by KO.
UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout:
Frank Mir (11-3) vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira (31-4-1)
Here's a battle of two of the best heavyweight submission artists in the sport. Unfortunately for Mir, I believe that Nogueira nonetheless has a significant edge in that area. I don't see Mir having any chance of submitting Nog.
In fact, I'm not sure Mir can hold a candle to Nog. Mir has decent standup, but I believe Nog's is better. Nog's jiu-jitsu is definitely better, and for damn sure his cardio trumps Mir's.
I think Mir's wrestling is probably better, and there lies his only chance to win, playing the top game, and Ground and Pounding (/lay and praying) his way to victory (see: Nog/Rodriguez way back in 2003, even though Nog was given the nod in that fight)
But to be honest, Nog has seen it all, and even though, in my opinion, his best days are behind him, I think he's going to beat Mir. Not sure he'll submit him, maybe in the later rounds once he's completely outworked Mir.
UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship Bout:
Forrest Griffin (16-4) vs. Rashad Evans (12-0-1)
Who would have thought, nearly 4 years ago when TUF started, that two winners of the show would be facing off for the UFC championship?
But that's where we are. Forrest has become the definitive linear LHW champion by besting both Shogun and Rampage, and I believe he will come out the victor here. Forrest's advantages are his heart and work ethic. He is known for being an incredible worker in the gym. He is also with one of the best camps in the game. Xtreme Couture has really helped polish his skills. His other advantage is size and reach, and could give Rashad problems. I believe that Forrest's low kicks have the potential to give Rashad tons of trouble. And to round things out, I think that Forrest has the ground skills to give Rashad fits if the fight hits the ground.
Not that I think Rashad has no chance. He's probably the better athlete than Forrest, faster and more explosive, and definitely has more power in his strikes. And he'll definitely have the wrestling edge.
Nonetheless, I think that this fight is Forrest's to take. He has the size, the reach, and the skills to give Rashad his first loss, and that's my prediction. Forrest by decision.
Official event website: http://92.ufc.com/
Hype videos (Courtesy of Asbel):
Videos: Heat-up for UFC 92 with Forrest Griffin & Rashad Evans
Videos: UFC 92 heat-up for Mir vs. Nogueira
Wanderlei Silva vs Quinton Jackson Video- UFC 92 Fight Talk
First, the prelims:
Antoni Hardonk (7-4) vs. Mike Wessel (6-0)
Hmm, dangerous, though one-dimensional striker versus undefeated no-namer. I got Hardonk by KO.
Pat Barry (3-0) vs. Dan Evensen (10-3)
Hmm, undefeated no-namer versus that guy who's only known for looking like shit before being KO'd by Check Kongo. Umm, I pick Barry by who-the-hell-cares.
Ryo Chonan (15-8) vs. Brad Blackburn (12-9-1)
Chonan's a name, mostly for his shocking submission win over Anderson Silva way back in 2004. Other than that, his career has been lackluster. But by virtue of having no idea who Blackburn is, I'm picking Chonan.
Matt Hamill (4-2) vs. Reese Andy (7-2)
Hmm, tough one. Haven't seen much of Andy. I'm going with Hamill.
Yushin Okami (22-4) vs. Dean Lister (11-5)
This is an interesting matchup, but unfortunately also one that I can see being a contender for most boring fight of the night. Okami is known for being a slow starter, and Lister is known for being so one-dimensional that he has to resort to pulling guard in almost every one of his fights.
I'm thinking Okami takes this by decision. Will it be worth watching? That I don't know.
Next, the main card:
C.B. Dollaway (7-1) vs. Mike Massenzio (11-2)
Don't care. Don't know how this got on the main card. I haven't watched TUF for the past few seasons, so I don't give a damn about Dollaway. And even though I know I've seen Massenzio's fight against McFedries, I don't seem to remember it. Ah well, I'll go with Massenzio.
Mostapha Al Turk (6-3) vs. Cheick Kongo (12-4)
Kongo has been very disappointing in his UFC career, so far. He seems to have all the potential in the world, but just fights....stupid. He doesn't play to his strengths. Still, I think this fight is a gimme for him. Kongo by KO.
Okay, now that all of that is over with, time for the fights that matter.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (28-7) vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-8)
A battle of former champions. Rampage, the former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion. Wanderlei Silva, the former longtime Pride Middleweight champion.
And, of course, the two have battled each other twice before. And while both fights started out competitive, both ended the same way: with Silva utterly brutalizing Rampage.
Now, many things have changed in both of their careers since then. Silva was KO'd by Dan Henderson, while Rampage beat Henderson. Rampage KO'd CHuck Liddell, while Silva lost to Liddell by decision. But will the ABC theory of MMA finally prove itself? I'm thinking not.
The most compelling aspect of this fight is the psychological. We all know that Rampage went on a, well, rampage in his truck (something about him being psyched out crazy, watching The Secret, and thinking he had to rush across town to save a friend, or something similarly whacked). Then there's the fact that Silva has the psychological edge of having utterly owned Rampage twice before. And the fact that Silva is training at Xtreme Couture, while Rampage is training in that hotbed of MMA expertise.....England.
In short, here's how a poster at Bloody Elbow summarised the psychology of the fight:
Yeah....my money's on Wanderlei by KO.
UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout:
Frank Mir (11-3) vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira (31-4-1)
Here's a battle of two of the best heavyweight submission artists in the sport. Unfortunately for Mir, I believe that Nogueira nonetheless has a significant edge in that area. I don't see Mir having any chance of submitting Nog.
In fact, I'm not sure Mir can hold a candle to Nog. Mir has decent standup, but I believe Nog's is better. Nog's jiu-jitsu is definitely better, and for damn sure his cardio trumps Mir's.
I think Mir's wrestling is probably better, and there lies his only chance to win, playing the top game, and Ground and Pounding (/lay and praying) his way to victory (see: Nog/Rodriguez way back in 2003, even though Nog was given the nod in that fight)
But to be honest, Nog has seen it all, and even though, in my opinion, his best days are behind him, I think he's going to beat Mir. Not sure he'll submit him, maybe in the later rounds once he's completely outworked Mir.
UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship Bout:
Forrest Griffin (16-4) vs. Rashad Evans (12-0-1)
Who would have thought, nearly 4 years ago when TUF started, that two winners of the show would be facing off for the UFC championship?
But that's where we are. Forrest has become the definitive linear LHW champion by besting both Shogun and Rampage, and I believe he will come out the victor here. Forrest's advantages are his heart and work ethic. He is known for being an incredible worker in the gym. He is also with one of the best camps in the game. Xtreme Couture has really helped polish his skills. His other advantage is size and reach, and could give Rashad problems. I believe that Forrest's low kicks have the potential to give Rashad tons of trouble. And to round things out, I think that Forrest has the ground skills to give Rashad fits if the fight hits the ground.
Not that I think Rashad has no chance. He's probably the better athlete than Forrest, faster and more explosive, and definitely has more power in his strikes. And he'll definitely have the wrestling edge.
Nonetheless, I think that this fight is Forrest's to take. He has the size, the reach, and the skills to give Rashad his first loss, and that's my prediction. Forrest by decision.
Official event website: http://92.ufc.com/
Hype videos (Courtesy of Asbel):
Videos: Heat-up for UFC 92 with Forrest Griffin & Rashad Evans
Videos: UFC 92 heat-up for Mir vs. Nogueira
Wanderlei Silva vs Quinton Jackson Video- UFC 92 Fight Talk
