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Jon Anik and co. review UFC 92.

Man, what a night of fights. I was over at Hooters of York with ace videographer/editor/producer Tom Joyce and had a great time. The place was packed, people were stoked for the event and rockin' their favorite fightwear T-shirts, and the Hooter girls were lookin' good.

Tom and I interviewed BJJ black belt Daniel Beleza, who trains and teaches at MACE in Red Lion. Daniel's a great guy and a very accomplished BJJ fighter. I think it's amazing that a guy of his caliber is here in little ol' York County, so take advantage.

On to the fights: I respect Chieck Kongo for his fighting skills; his ball-kneeing skills, not at all. Kongo developed a reputation for repeated pill-shots in his fight against Cro Cop several events ago. Last night he took on Cage Rage veteran Mustapha Al-Turk and true to form, got several warnings from the ref about his low knees.

Al-Turk returned a knee that was low, maybe as if to say, (don't f--- with me, Kongo, I know your game), and Kongo got a taste of his own medicine. Kongo took the five minutes to recover, came back, and delivered a low knee on Al-Turk. Al-Turk took a few minutes to get straight, but then lost to Kongo by TKO.

Bottom line, we need to stop all the nut-shots. It hurts like hell, and I don't think the ladies will like it either, as I'm sure it damages performance in another arena, if you know what I mean. As for Kongo, somebody needs to take him off his feet, as Herring did, and put his questionable ground skills to the test.

-- What a shocker in the Mir-Nogueira fight. Mir's striking and cardio were vastly improved. He knocked Nogueira down repeatedly, but was careful to avoid any submissions, possibly thinking that his BJJ, although very good, might not be quite up to par with Big Nog's.

In the end, Mir finished Big Nog with strikes on the ground. It was the first time Big Nog had ever been finished, either by KO, TKO, or submission. His two losses to the great Fedor Emelianenko were both decisions.

-- Wanderlei Silva had a great start in his fight against longtime nemesis Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Silva used leg kicks, as Forrest Griffin did in his win over Jackson, and even delivered a hard knee. But in one wild exchange, Jackson hit Silva with a left hook right on the chin and Silva was out before he hit the mat. Jackson followed up with several more unnecessary strikes to an unconscious Silva.

Ok, so it looks like Jackson's back on track, but will probably have to have at least one more fight before he gets another title shot. Don't know where this leaves Silva, as he's been knocked several times in his last few fights. People will undoutedly say he's too small and should move down to middleweight, but I see the UFC trying him out in some type of gatekeeper role, maybe putting him up against someone like Matt Hamill, or someone on that level. If he can string together several wins, he might be able to get back in contention. Or maybe it's time to start looking at Japan. Who knows, I just hope this isn't the end of his career, although he does have his long-term health to be concerned with.

-- In the Griffin-Evans fight, Forrest started great, using high kicks, jabs and inside-outside low kicks. I thought his plan - if I have it right - was good: keep chopping away at Rashad's legs, get that spring out of his step, in an effort to slow him down, wear him out. The problem was that the fight went to the ground and Forrest couldn't work a submission from the back, and Evans finished him with strikes from the guard, just as Keith Jardine - coincidentally, Rashad's teammate - did in his fight with Forrest.

A great night of fights, and what a great way to say good-bye to 2008 and ring in the new year. It was definitely a night of stunning, shocking fights - and that's why I love this sport so much. So here's to 2009, may it be as shocking and stunning as 2008.

I just watched the UFC 92 weigh-ins on msn sports. Let's get right to the grudge match of the night, Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson:

Wanderlei came out first, had his head shaved, and looked cut. He weighed in at 203. Then Rampage came out, and he looked pretty cut too, much better than his fight with Griffin, and weighed in at 206.

Then came time for the stare-down, and you just knew sparks were gonna fly. The get about three inches from each other, maybe less, and Wanderlei starts with his classic stare-down, moving his head back and forth, his eyes boring into Rmapage. Rampage is smiling, and then he says something to Wanderlei, who then shoves him and I believe, then walks off the stage.

The camera focuses on Rampage, who faces the crowd, does the throat slash, and then the thumbs-down sign.

Joe Rogan then said, "I'll tell you what, ladies and gentlemen, that is going to be a crazy fight!"

So we've got some pre-fight fireworks, just as everyone expected - Wanderlei trying to intimidate Rampage, Rampage trying to get inside Wanderlei's head, even though he's lost to the guy twice. So, was Rampage's psych-out thing just a cover for the doubts he has going into the fight? Who knows. Did Rampage's antics have an effect on Wanderlei, maybe get him steaming through the night, making him use up valuable energy? Again, we'll see tomorrow night.

On to the rest of the weigh-ins for the main card:

-- Mike Massenzio, 184 vs. CB Dollaway, 186.
-- Mustapha Al-Turk, 237 vs. Chiek Kongo, 233. Kongo did a head-thrust toward Al-Turk as they squared off, but Al-Turk seemed unfazed.
-- Frank MIr, 251 vs. Antonio Minotauro Nogueira, 246.
-- Rashad Evans, 203 vs. Forrest Griffin, 205. The two had a very respectful stare-donw, shaking eachother's hands a couple times.

Big UFC 92 preview show.

This one traces pretty much their entire history, from PRIDE to the UFC.

This one looks at the Chute Boxe-Hammer House rivalry in PRIDE, plus Wanderlei-Rampage, to the tune of the movie 300's music and words.

This comes from sherdog.com member "Bowpon Mihooda" don't ask me what that means ... God, I hope it's not some major curse in a foreign language. ... Anyway, although I am a Wanderlei Silva fan, I think this fight won't be easy for him. Despite Rampage's mental breakdown, despite him losing the title to Forrest, despite training overseas, despite Wanderlei's two previous wins over him, he is still a dangerous fighter. And this is MMA, anything can happen. But, even so, you wonder how Rampage sleeps at night:

Thanks to Tracy Lee from combatlifestyle.com

Rampage Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir

Just wanted to let everyone local to York, Pa. know that ace videographer/editor/producer Tom Joyce and I will be at Hooters of York on Saturday for UFC 92. We'll be filming a video for Youtube and this blog - talking with fans, fighters, and other assorted hangers-on. It should be an awesome night of fights. See you there.

Jon Anik and co. talk UFC 92, wrap up the TUF 8 finale and discuss Bobby Lashley's future.

Now that's a photo: Three fighters in UFC 92's triple main event, training together: Wanderlei Silva, who fights Rampage Jackson in the sport's biggest grudge match, Forrest Griffin, who defends his LHW title against Rashad Evans and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, who defends his interim HW belt against Frank Mir.

from Wand's Web site:
Along with coaches Amaury Bitetti and Rodrigo Artilheiro, Rodrigo Minotauro set off this Friday (December 12) for Las Vegas, where the final of the eighth season of the The Ultimate Fighter reality show will take place. In the USA, Minota will only return after his December 27 challenge against Frank Mir. And for this UFC fight to determine who will challenge Brock Lesnar for the definitive UFC heavyweight belt, the Brazilian will count on a big-name buddy: Wanderlei Silva.

In the past the news would be hard to believe, since the two fighters belonged to teams with a fierce rivalry - BTT and Chute Boxe, - but the current MMA panorama makes it clear those days are gone. These days professionalism comes first and, as the two will go to battle on the same day (Wanderlei faces Quinton Jackson), so they decided nothing could be better than making a union between compatriots.

"We're going to be in the corners for the final fights of the TUF house. After the event, we'll stick around till Minotauro's fight," said coach Amaury Bitetti, who added:

"We should train at Wanderlei's gym, in Las Vegas, and use the structure he has set up there. Rafael Alejarra, who's a really cool guy, and Wanderlei himself invited us. We'll train together and put together a strategy. We'll be mostly swapping information," said Bitetti, who, when asked if Nog and Wand would be training together, responded:

"That's right. United we stand!"

Thanks to sherdog forum member lunacyfrog.

These numbers are pre-UFC 92 and I included all the major free UFCs as "PPV" even though they were technically free.

UFC PPV events: 12

Fights: 119

Submissions

Fights ending in submission: 29 (24.37% of all fights for 2008)

Most subs in one event: 5 (UFC 91)

Fewest subs in one event: 1 (UFC 80, 82, and 88)

KO/TKO

Fights ending in tko/ko: 47 (39.49% of all fights for 2008)

Most ko/tko in one event: 7 (UFC 83 and 84)

Fewest ko/tko in one event: 1 (UFC 86)

Decisions

Fights ending in decision: 43 (36.13% of all fights for 2008)

Most decisions in one event: 6 (UFC 87, 89, and 90)

Fewest decisions in one event: 1 (UFC 91)

Conclusion:

1. The most common ending for a UFC fight this year has been ko/tko. Not surprising since this includes even questionable ref stoppages such as Vera/Verdum.

2. Submission guys are still finding ways to lock up chokes and limbs in modern day MMA, with about 1 in every 4 fights ending via sub.

3. Given the relative incompetence of MMA judges, it's nice to see that only about a third of fights end that way these days.

from FightersOnly magazine:
Wanderlei Silva says he was approached with an offer to train under Juanito Ibarra for his forthcoming fight with Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.

Ibarra was Jackson's coach and manager until the former light-heavyweight champion moved to the Wolfslair team following an acrimonious split.

Appearing on Brazil Combate TV yesterday, Silva said: "I've received a letter from someone offering training with Juanito to me, but I didn't care to accept it.

The letter "contained phone numbers that I could use to get in touch with Juanito, but I threw it away," he added.

"I think it's unethical to accept the former coach of my opponent, and if Juanito is doing this with Rampage, he may do the same with me later."

Silva and Jackson, who are long-standing rivals, will square off for a third time at UFC 92 on December 27th.

John Joe O'Regan

Click here to see the site.

Former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Muscle & Fitness. The story, titled "Frank Being Frank" by Jon Finkel, talks about Mir's bid at on Dec. 27 at UFC 92 to regain the championship in a fight against interim heavyuweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. "Along with his usual barrage of strikes and kicks, Mir could also deliver a few one-liners," the blurb on M&F's Web site reads.

I don't know much about betting, but looking at what the odds are on a fight can sometimes give you insight into how other people view the fights.

So, what I've picked up is that the guy with the "-" in front of his name is favored to win over the guy with the "+" in front of his name. You'd think it'd be the other way around. Anyway, here's something you don't see often - Silva and Jackson are even. As much as I like Wanderlei, I have to agree - the fight could go either way.

from mmamania.com:

Mir +225
Nog -350

Jackson -120
Silva -120

Griffin -150
Evans +110

An extended look at Nogueira-Mir, Griffin-Evans and Silva-Jackson.

This is a new video of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson training at Wolfslair in England for his UFC 92 fight with Wanderlei Silva. Some of the fanboys on the Internet have said Rampage looks and sounds "absent-minded" "dead tired" "on something" or "really focused." Knowing what he's been through the past few months, I'm not sure. But with all the training he's been doing, I guess at this point, I'll go with "tired." I don't know -- watch the video - you decide.

Forrest breaks down Rashad's game and talks about his own. One thing he said was he will "Be prepared to go five and to go five hard." That might be a slight advantage for Forrest. He's done that and Rashad hasn't.

Nice video from the guys at mmatraining.com. They went over to Xtreme Couture just before UFC 91 and shot this. We see Forrest, Sam Stout, Chris Horodecki, Jay Hieron, JUnie Browning and others, along with drill sergeant Shawn Tomkins stalking the mat. What a great training facility.

Rampage training at wolfslair in England

from Sherdog.com forums:
Ricky Hatton goes into this weekend's light welterweight boxing clash against Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas without the aid of long-time strength and nutrition coach Kerry Kayes. However, the Manchester conditioning coach has stayed in combat sports.

In addition to taking up a post as fitness consultant for Manchester City football club, Kayes has become a consultant for the Wolf's Lair MMA Academy in Runcorn, which is the home to elite UFC fighters Michael 'the Count' Bisping and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.

'Rampage' is currently deep into his training camp for his third collision with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 on December 27. After losing the two previous bouts in Japan, Jackson has enlisted former Team Hatton strength coach Kayes to maximize his preparations for his crucial bout at the MGM Grand at Christmas.

More snorkel-tastic fun!

Looks like the gym, located in Las Vegas, is coming along nicely. And in case you didn't notice, the gym was designed by Throwdown.

Here's some new stuff from the kings of MMA:

The Web site is up for UFC 92, which airs Dec. 27 and has three main events: Nogueira vs. Mir, Griffin vs. Evans and W. Silva vs. Jackson. See it here.

Also, several of the major MMA Web sites/blogs are reporting that the battle of two undefeated LHWs, Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva, has been rescheduled for UFC 94 on Jan. 31.

In addition, a possible match-up for UFC 95 on Feb. 21 is Anderson Silva vs. Chuck Liddell.

And the Roundtable discussion by ESPN people:

Brazilian MMA Web site tatame.com interviewed Wanderlei Silva's former trainer, Rafael Cordeiro, who said that Rampage Jackson tried to hire him - presumably to get an edge on Wandy in preparation for their third fight at UFC 92. Rampage should have known about Brazilian loyalty ...

Q: You were at Wandelei Silva's corner when he defeated Quinton Jackson twice at Pride... What are your predictions for this fight, now in UFC?

A:I'm sure it'll be another knockout. If Wanderlei shows the same game he always showed, he'll bring to Brazil another victory. He knows Quinton's game, but unfortunately Quinton knows his too, but he may had bad memories of that... In fact, when I was here I heard some rumors that Quinton wanted to train with me, and when I knew that it was his preparation to fight with Wanderlei I didn't accept. Everybody is professional, but there are things that money can't buy. I heard this rumors, I have nothing against him, I'm a professional, but not that much, train someone to fight someone that already trained with me.

Cordeiro

from Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports:
As recently as Monday, UFC president Dana White said there were "lots of moving parts" as he tried to complete the company's end-of-year fight cards.

On Wednesday, he at least got the top three fights of UFC 92 finalized. The co-main events will feature the interim heavyweight title match between champion Antonio Rodrigo and Frank Mir. Forrest Griffin will defend the light heavyweight title against Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will meet Wanderlei Silva, who defeated him twice when they fought in PRIDE.

The Jackson-Silva card had been considered for UFC 91, when the card was slated to be in Portland, Ore., as well for UFC 94, which will be Jan. 31 in Las Vegas.

But White said he wanted to "stack" the UFC's traditional New Year's Eve weekend card and managed to do so by putting four of the company's most popular fighters on the card.

The UFC has officially moved the fight card across Las Vegas Blvd. from Mandalay Bay to the MGM Grand Garden.

Jackson will be fighting for the first time since losing the light heavyweight belt to Griffin at UFC 86 on July 5 and a bizarre traffic incident on July 15 in suburban Los Angeles. Jackson was driving on the wrong side of the road and on sidewalks and fled even while being chased by police.

He was charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors and has pled not guilty. He has a Nov. 3 court appearance scheduled.

White has said no drugs or alcohol were involved and that Jackson's actions were fueled by "delirium" caused by days of little sleep, little food and water and excessive intake of energy drinks.

Wand

Rampage

Lyoto

Thiago

Bloodyelbow.com is saying that we'll Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 92 on Dec. 27 (Web sites had previously said the fight would be at UFC 91) and Thiago Silva vs. Lyoto Machida at UFC 93 on Jan. 31.

Two tremendous fights there with four of the top LHW fighters in the world. After Rashad takes on Forrest for the LHW title, maybe what will happen is the winners of these two bouts will fight each other to see who faces the champ.

One thing to keep in mind with T. Silva vs. Machida is that both fighters are undefeated, so one of e'm is walking away with an L, which sucks because I'm a fan of both of them. But, hey a win gets them one step closer to a title shot.