UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008

I didn't do to well for my UFC 91 predictions last time around.  Let's see how UFC 92 goes.

For this event I will make predictions for the big three bouts that will be taking place.  I will start with what might be the biggest draw for MMA fans. 

Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

This fight makes me nervous, anxious, excited, all of the above.  Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva have faced off two times before with the same results: Wanderlei Silva via big knockouts.  I have a hard time believing the same will happen again though. 

Rampage has improved much since his Pride Fighting days and is more dedicated to his training.  Rampage most recently lost his Light Heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin.  Wanderlei Silva seems not to have lost any of his speed since his days of glory in Pride Fighting Championships in Japan.  Wanderlei displayed excellent striking and strength in his recent win over Keith Jardine.

Both fighters are at the top of, not only the Light Heavyweight division, but pound for pound MMA fighters in the world.  I will take Wanderlei Silva in this fight, not because he's beaten Rampage twice before, but because of Quinton Jackson's rocky life since he lost his title to Forrest Griffin.  Wanderlei Silva by decision in UFC 92's fight of the night.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir

This is an exciting fight because Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir are the two best Heavyweight brazilian jujitsu MMA fighters on the planet.  Big Nog has not fought in almost a year.  He last beat Tim Sylvia to capture the interim Heavyweight Title.  Frank Mir last fought against Brock Lesnar defeating Lesnar with a knee bar after taking early punishment.

I can't say I'm overly impressed with Mir.  His last win came against Lesnar who had fought one MMA bout before that.  He has never shown stamina in his bouts, something that Nogueira is famous for.  Look for Big Nog to keep his interim Heavyweight Title and fight Brock Lesnar sometime in the spring to unify the belts.

Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans

Forrest Griffin vs Rashad Evans is a matchup of Ultimate Fighter alums.  Forrest Griffin is the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion after beating Quinton Jackson at UFC 86.  Rashad Evans is coming a stunning knockout of Chuck Liddell at UFC 88.  This bout is for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Title.

I was shocked by Rashad Evans knockout of Chuck Liddel as I'm sure most of the MMA world was.  Rashad has shown us that he is a different fighter than the lay and pray wrestler we saw during his time with the Ultimate Fighter show.  Forrests' change has been just as dramatic seeming to always outwork his opponents and being as technical a striker as the UFC has to offer.

I am anxious to see what kind of gameplan Greg Jackson will put together for Rashad Evans.  Regardless, we should not be to surprised to see nipple twisting from Rashad before the bout begins.  I don't think he can outwork Forrest Griffin, so look for Rashad to try to knockout him out.

I predict that Forrest will be able to successfully defend his title for the first time.  I'm looking forward to his next title defense which, if the MMA gods are listening to me, will be against Wanderlei Silva.

Here is a post fight interview with Brock Lesnar after defeating Randy Couture and earning the UFC Heavyweight Championship.  I found it at a fellow UFC bloggers website.  He says he went into the bout weighing 276lbs!  That is about 56 more pounds than Randy Couture weighed in at.

The UFC's next event will be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  The main card will see current UFC Light Heaveyweight champion Forrest Griffin defend his title against Rashad Evans.  Rashad recently KO'd Chuck Liddel in stunning fashion and was rewarded a title shot by the UFC.

Also on the main card for UFC 92 is a Heavyweight Interim Championship between Interim Champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Vs. Frank Mir.  Big Nog won the Interim Title against Tim Sylvia earlier in the year with a third round guillotine choke.  Frank Mir won a shot at the Interim title after beating Brock Lesnar.  Lesnar, coincidentally, recently beat Randy Couture at UFC 91 to become the Heavyweight Champ.  Brock will face the victor of Interim Championship bout sometime in February most likely.

This card is jam-packed with star fighters as Quinton Jackson, fresh off his loss to Forrest Griffin and his out of the cage legal problems, will be fighting Wanderlei Silva.  Silva and Jackson have squared off twice before in Pride with Wanderlei having won both those fights.  Those were both won by Wanderlei Silva and both were very brutal destructions of Quinton with "The Axe Murderer" using his Thai clinch to TKO, and KO Jackson.

Other Maincard fights will include:

C.B. Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio 
Mustafa Al-Turk vs. Cheick Kongo

Undercard Bouts will be:

Dean Lister vs. Yushin Okami
Mark Burch vs. Antoni Hardonk 
Reese Andy vs. Matt Hamill
Brad Blackburn vs. Ryo Chonan
Pat Berry vs. Dan Evensen

You may still find available tickets for this UFC Event if your lucky.

Brock Lesnar TKO'd Randy Couture at UFC 91:Couture Vs. Lesnar at Las Vegas.

Randy clinched with Brock well through the first round and even seemed to have the upper hand in a few of the exchanges with the big Lesnar. In the second round, however, Randy got caught with a huge right hand and Couture crumpled to the mat. Mario Yamasaki gave Randy plenty of time to try and recover but Brock kept pummeling him. Yamasaki ended the bout at 3:07 in the second round.

Kenny Florian completely dominated Joe "Daddy" Stevenson in the co-main event of UFC 91. Ken-flo took his back with ease once the fight went to the ground and from there applied the rear naked choke. Stevenson tapped out at 4:03 of the first round.

First televised match features Demian Maia against Nate Quarry.  Demian wastes no time in getting Quarry to the ground and mounting him.  The match is over 2:13 seconds into the first round with Nate Quarry not even getting a chance to display his standup.

Another quick bout on the maincard.  Gabriel Gonzaga fights Josh Hendricks in the second bout on the maincard and it takes sixty seconds for Nepao to TKO Hendricks.  Two quick bouts and the event continues.

 Since those last two UFC 91 bouts went so quickly, they decide to show an undercard bout: Matt Brown vs. Ryan Thomas.   First round seems to go to Ryan Thomas with Matt Brown throwing up submission attempts left and right.   Second round starts off with Ryan Thomas scoring another takedown.  Matt Brown goes after an armbar attempt and it takes about one minute to get Thomas to tap-out.  Matt Brown via armbar 57 seconds into round two.

DUSTIN HAZELETT VS. TAMDAN MCCRORY

Tamdan Mccrory shows impressive stand up against Dustin Hazelett but decides to take the match to the ground.  Bad news for Tamdan as Hazelett is one of the better grapplers in the UFC.  Dustin quickly utilized rubber guard and secured an armbar as Mccrory tapped out.

KENNY FLORIAN VS. JOE STEVENSON

Joe Stevenson and Ken-Flo trade strikes standing before going the the ground.  Kenny Florian does nothing short of dominate Joe Stevenson on the ground.  Florian takes Stevensons back and chokes out Joe.

 Main Event of UFC 91

RANDY COUTURE VS. BROCK LESNAR

Lesnar TKOS Randy Couture in the second round of his UFC 91 championship bout.  Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture exchanged strikes for the first two rounds before he got the TKO.  It was a great fight and Randy definately gave his all.

I hate doing predictions.  But this fight is huge and deserves one.

Couture is going into this fight as an underdog yet again which is only bad news for Brock Lesnar since "The Natural" just does not lose when he is an underdog.  I know the whole dont-bet-against-Randy-Couture thing is a bit overplayed but really, how can you bet against him?  Anyone can look back now on his most recent wins against Gabriel Gonzaga and Tim Sylvia and say they aren't that significant but at the time they happened, and the way they happened, they were very definitaly significant wins and not expected.  Randy Couture has a way of coming up with game plans that are taylor-made for his opponents and for developing tool sets that make him a very diificult matchup for his opponents.

Randy Couture has experience in big time fights and is comfortable in just about any position in the Octagon.  He is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion and has had a year off from fighting.  Most fighters would not benefit from a year out but I don't think Randy will have a problem with "ring rust" as he has kept up his training.  I expect "The Natural" to be in the best shape possible and have a great gameplan to nuetralize Brock.

Brock Lesnar.  Massive true heavyweight, athletically gifted and possibly a better wrestler than Couture.  Lesnar also brings to the Octagon the experience of being on "the Big Stage."  Lesnar spent a few years in the WWE and "fought" in front of huge crowds.  As new as Lesnar is to MMA, he is an extremely talented athlete who can pick up different skills very quickly.  He has only fought three professional mixed martial arts bouts with two wins and one loss to Frank Mir via submission.

I think Lesnar will not gas in this match against Couture, five rounds or no, unless Couture can keep this match standing.  If Randy can stuff Brock's takedown attempts, than he should get the opportunity to test Lesnar's chin for the first time, and utilize his dirty boxing skills.  Randy showed awesome boxing against Tim Sylvia in winning the Heavyweight title and I believe that will be his gameplan against Lesnar.  Keep the fight standing, slow Lesnar down with dirty boxing and maybe get the KO/TKO.

Brock's gameplan should be to take Randy down and ground and pound his way to either the TKO or a decision.  Lesnar's wrestling ability and size advantage should enable him to keep this fight on the ground and keep Randy on his back.  Randy has never really shown submission skills so Brock won't have to worry about that aspect.

As for my prediction, I think Randy is a master at gameplans and fight preperation.  Nobody is as dedicated to winning and winning smart.  I think Randy will be able to stuff the takedowns and test Brock's chin repeatedly.

Randy by TKO in the fourth round.  Yeah, I said it, TKO in the fourth.  We'll see if I have to eat my words in my next post.

Randy is back in the UFC, my MMA friends, and has signed a new contract.  This is awesome news for MMA fans who did not want to see Randy go out without ever even fighting again.

I for one am super-excited to know that Randy will be putting his title on the line against Brock Lesnar.  I think Brock is a huge challenge for any heavyweight so why not pit him against the Champ?

Here's looking forward to a great rest-of-the-year for the UFC and MMA in general!