UFC 92 Ultimate 2008: Mir Vs Noguira; Griffin Vs Evans

UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 was in every way, one of the greatest events of the year for MMA Mainstream., broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV December 27, 2008.

The card featured greats like Antonio "Mintauro" Nogueria & Frank Mir, as well as newcomer *Sugar* Rashad Evans & Forrest Griffin, the current Light Heavy weight champ.

Predictions have flown wild since the card's announcement weeks ago. Rashad KO'd legendary champion *Ice Man* Chuck Liddell, while Forrest Griffin went the distance to snatch the Light Heavy Weight title from Rampage Jackson (which he took from Liddell, FYI).

Mir vs Nogueria and Griffin vs Evans were the two co-main events.

Tonight's even opened with Cheik Kongo faced Mostapha al Turk. The dark Frenchman and the Lebanese native met center ring and started the round swinging. Kongo briefly stumbled al Turk, but the mid-easterner regained his balance and attempted a leg kick.

Kongo countered with a jab that landed al Turk on his back where he ate a few thumps to the hamstrings.

Back on his feet, al Turk appeared to be considering a take down, but Kongo was having none of it. With an over-hook he kept his stance wide and al Turk burned more energy than he should have trying to force the point.

Kongo ate a knee to the groin that gave al Turk far too much time to recover from his failed takedown attempt.

Karma was kind however, and al Turk got a taste of the low knee after another ill-fated attempt to take Kongo to the mat.

Kongo, displaying his class- A fighting ethics, quickly removed himself to allow his opponent to recover.

Referee Steve Mazagatti made a point of advising both men "Let's have a good fight."

Kongo came out swinging, bringing al Turk down against the fence with massive strikes and punishing elbows that turned the MidEasterner's face into hamburger. Mazagatti called a halt moments later.

Surprisingly, Rampage & Silva came up next, swinging from go. Rampage showed aggression, taking the center of the octagon and giving Silva's heavy-hands much respect. Rampage displayed caution and seemed to more strategy than in his loss to Griffin. He darted in and out, giving Silva no time to formulate or carry out much in the way of combos.

Both men approached the fight with thought and concentrated on throwing leather instead of each other. It seemed neither man was interested in much of a ground game.

Rampage ducked and blocked a combo then threw a perfect left hook that collapsed Silva into oblivion.

Referee Yves Levine called a halt with Silva flat on his back and Rampage howling in victory.

Next up, Pat Barry won his UFC debut with well-aimed, devastating leg-kicks against *The Viking* Dan Evensen. Evensen, incidentally, lost in UFC 87 to Kongo, also by TKO.

UFC Season 7 alumni CB *Doberman* Dollaway returned to the octagon against submission expert Mike Massenzio, *The Master of Disaster*. The two wasted no time getting it on, throwing punches, body kicks and knees.

Dolloway ate a punch that wobbled him enough for Massenzio to lock on a guillotine, but Dolloway worked his way out of it. He went on to avoid a triangle and an arm bar attempt from Massenzio closed guard.

After passing to side control, Dolloway gained the mount and it was all ground & pound. Massenzio gave up his back. Dollawy sank in both hooks, flattened him out and tee'd off.

Referee Yves Levine called a halt, granting the event its fourth TKO.

Matt *The Hammer* Hamill took on *Riptide* Reese Andy. Hamill landing hook after hook rocked Andy throughout the second round. Referee Steve Mazagatti called the halt when Hamill caught Andy against the cage and rained down enough blows to tenderize 30 year old beef jerky.

With the Interim Heavy Weight Championship up for grabs, Antonio *Mintauro* Nogueira stepped up to former champ Frank Mir next. Former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar looked on with interest -and humility- as the action got underway. Announcer Joe Rogan, lately of Fear Factor, called Lesnar "champ" to which he replied, "Not yet."

An emotional Frank Mir covered his face with his hat as Bruce Butler announced his win over Minatauro by TKO in the 2^nd round. The question was asked, of course, in reference to current champion Brock Lesnar.

"I don't want this shit if I'm half a champion, " Mir replied. "I beat Nogueira He beat a champion in Randy Couture, lets see if he can make it out of first round. I'll make him famous with the break I'll do on him."

For the main event, Rashad Evans, fresh from his TKO of veteran Chuck Liddell, made his way to the ring to await the current Light Heavyweight Champion, the Original Ultimate Fighter, Forrest Griffin.

As he has remained unbeaten in his professional career, one cannot help but wonder just how much time Evans spent reviewing his previous win over Griffin as he prepared for the championship battle.

As the analysis of each fighter's strengths blah-blahed, I predicted this to my Twitter buddies:

Main Event Griffin vs Rashad.... I'm thinking if its short it'll go to Sugar. If it goes all 5 its Forrest #ufc.

Unfortunately, I was watching this from work, and I missed most of the Griffin-Evans fight. Thankfully, my new Twitter-bud

mmaliveblog didn't. Here's his Tweeted commentary throughout in bold from what I did see of the fight:

UFC 92, the most main main event is next - Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Forrest Griffin defends against undefeated Rashad Evans

There's Sugar..here comes Forrest..RUN FORREST!!! (sorry cant help it)

Griffin nicely ducks a deadly right from Rashad

Both FG & RE showing caution in R 1 #ufc. screw that. I want some THROWDOWN

Griffin

is landing pretty good leg kicks. Also, he's not following like Chuck Liddell did when he was KOed. Rashad is as quick as ever

Beware the Foot of Forrest! Leg kicks helped take Rampage down!, he's workg em on Sugar too #ufc

End of first round. Griffin is using his range to his advantage for sure

*snarl grr boo* R1 is a draw IMHO #ufc

Griffin lands a strong right hand, follows it up quickly with a flurry to try for the finish!

Rashad blew him a kiss after that exchange

Oh my..Sugar's a lil cocky.. #ufc

Rashad is looking for the heavy right hand counter again; not too much success yet but with that power he's one strike away from victory

Sugar's jab or Forrest's kicks FTW? hm.. #ufc

Rashad is starting to follow his big right with a wicked left hook. Griffin ends round 2 with a good right of his own

R2..I'm callin it for Forrest. #ufc ( I could be wrong..it happens)

Rashad catches the kick finally and gets a takedown! Violent ground and pound and Forrest managed to regain guard

OMG Forrest is DOWN!! #UFC

Sugar in guard, Forrest isnt done yet #ufc

Finally we get to see Forrest's ground game. He's throwing up some sloppy triangle attempts but still has guard

Its OVER!! TKO #ufc

Rashad Evan wins! Heavy hands in the ground and pound...looked like Forrest tapped out due to strikes

Great fight. Rashad Evans is the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champ

AS I Predicted: Short Fight- Sugar!!! #UFC

Griffin is a true champ...but Sugar beat dat ass!! #ufc

It appeared to some that Griffin tapped. From what I could see, the fight was stopped by the referee in round 3. All around excellent display from both fighters. I certainly look forward to Rashad's first defense of his title.