UFC 92 Re-Cap and Thoughts

Overall I thought it was a good event for the last card of the year, some great matchups and some pretty surprising endings, to include both the Wandy/Rampage fight and the Mir/Minotauro fight.  After the jump you’ll find my personal thoughts on the fights we saw on the PPV, as well as who I think each fighter should fight in their next bout.

Cheick Kongo vs. Mostafa Al-Turk:

Damn man, I was all for Al-Turk, but boy did he get beat the hell down.  That was some serious GnP action by Kongo, not to mention his excellent sprawl.  He’s really going to be a helluva guy to beat if he can keep the fight standing.  I don’t really care for the guy, but man you cannot deny he’s got some great skills.

Proposed next fight for Kongo: Scrap the Gonzaga/Carwin fight and make him fight Napao, I’ve been wanting to see that fight for years!

Proposed next fight for Al-Turk: Justin McCully, Heath Herring.

Rampage Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva:

Damn the man, didn’t see that one coming.  I previously thought that Rampage’s new camp , the Wolflair Academy, wouldn’t do him as much good as Juanito Ibarra did, but man was I wrong.  Beautiful rolling left hook right on the button and light’s out Wanderlei (same punch he landed on Chuck at UFC 71, only other hand).  It was a win Rampage needed in order to stay in contender status, and bad news for Wanderlei, it might be proven that he’s a little bit past his prime and incapable of doing anything historic in the UFC for the rest of his MMA career.

Proposed next fight for Rampage: I think a win like that is deserving of a title shot…but that’s me.

Proposed next fight for Wanderlei: Chuck Liddell, it needs to happen to see who’s really past their prime.

Pat Barry vs. Dan Evensen:

I pretty much expected what happened.  Pat’s a K1 stud, Dan’s not that great at all.  It was only a matter of time before the fight ended with Pat’s hand raised.  Injury or not, it was a decisive win and now the UFC heavyweight division has a solid striker on their hands.  It’ll be awesome to see Pat progress, his ground game needs some definite work but I think he’ll be a solid addition.   Dan Evensen, sorry bud but you’re definitely getting kicked to the curb.

Proposed next fight for Pat Berry: An up-and-coming striker, this guy has potential and star material written all over him, build him up right UFC matchmakers.

Proposed next fight for Dan Evensen: Something not in the UFC, bye bye.

CB Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio:

I was a little bit worried seeing Mike wearing so much leg tape, Joe Rogan pretty much said it perfectly, looked like he was hiding an injury, and for a guy like me who really wanted him to win, it was bad f’in news!  Unfortunately for me, it didn’t really matter because CB got the mount, let Mike give him his back, stretched him out and started reigning down blows, forcing the ref to step in.  Mike is A LOT better than he showed tonight, he rocked CB and even tried for a triangle choke, but it wasn’t enough.  Mike will be back though, he’s got a lot of potential for the 185lb division, I have no doubt he’ll get another shot.

Proposed next fight for CB Dollaway: Jason Day, Matt Horwich, Dan Miller.

Proposed next fight for Mike Massenzio: A low-middle ranked fighter, someone to simply get him back on the win-wagon.

Matt Hamill vs. Reese Andy:

Good little stand-up scrap between the two of them.  That’s what I like when the UFC puts two great wrestlers against each other….it’s the fact that they’ll both neutralize each others wrestling, more or less forcing them to stand and trade.  Who doesn’t love that?  I liked the little pep talk at the end of round 1 in Reese’s corner too, it didn’t do him any good though, round 2 Matt was all over him, body shots, knees, pressure, and just all around better skills.  It was a good stoppage, and a much needed win for Matt Hamill.

Proposed next fight for Matt Hamill: Eric Schafer, Steve Cantwell.

Proposed next fight for Reese Andy: Nothing in the UFC, sorry man but I think you’re outta here!

Minotauro Nogueria vs. Frank Mir:

This was the fight I was most excited for, both fighters looked great as they walked out, nothing but confidence from both sides.  It was also interesting to see Mir come in 5lbs more than Nog, and also sporting a 2″ reach advantage.   Round 1, boy did Mir look shit hot.  Awesome striking, great footwork, dropped Nog twice.  In that round, I can easily see giving it to Mir 10-8, Nog didn’t do anything offensive.  Round 2, Mir came out doing his thing, dropped Nog, pounded him out and bam, got the ref stoppage.  I personally didn’t think it was the right call, Nog’s a warrior and can take more than Mir dished out to him, and I think Herb Dean jumped the gun a little bit.  Not the best stoppage in my opinion, but you can’t deny Mir looked outstanding, and Nog well…looked like he usually does up until he usually submits his opposition.  Nice little bit of shit-talking on Mir’s part in his post fight interview with Rogan, definitely sets up a great rematch between he and Lesnar, this time for the UFC heavyweight title.

Proposed next fight for Frank Mir: Lesnar…duh!  Gotta unify the heavyweight title.

Proposed next fight for Nog: Randy Couture…make it happen!

Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans:

I had butterflies in my stomach for this fight.  I like Rashad, I like Forrest, both are horrendously awesome fighters coming from the best camps MMA has to offer.  It really could have gone either way.  Great first round, Forrest really came out and got his range, started peppering Rashad with leg kicks, which looked like they did a bit of damage, same with the kick to the midsection late in the first round.  I have it to Forrest, 10-9.

Round 2, I had to give to Forrest as well.  He was able to keep Rashad at bay with his combo’s and kicks, Rashad did look a little better, but I think that his height disadvantage prevented him from really connecting.  He got a few good shots in, but not enough to get a KO, or the round.

Round 3, Both guys come out, looking good, Forrest throws a leg kick, Rashad catches it and sends Griffin to the mat.  Rashad then used his great GnP to run a train over Forrest’s face.  Forrest ate too many shots, was looking to tap, ref saw it and stepped in.  That’s the story, Rashad Evans is the new UFC light heavyweight champion.  Great fight by both guys, much deserved win for Rashad and a tough loss for Griffin, he was no doubt winning the fight.

Proposed next fight for Rashad: Rampage Jackson, I think it’ll be huge!

Proposed next fight for Forrest: Maybe the winner of Thiago Silva/Lyoto Machida.

Quick Results:

Patrick Barry def. Dan Evensen via TKO (injury) — Round 1, 2:36.

Brad Blackburn def. Ryo Chonan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Matt Hamill def. Reese Andy via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:19.

Antoni Hardonk def. Mike Wessel via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:09.

Yushin Okami def. Dean Lister via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Cheick Kongo def. Mostapha Al-Turk via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 4:37.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson def. Wanderlei Silva via KO (punch) — Round 1, 3:21.

C.B. Dollaway def. Mike Massenzio via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 3:01.

Frank Mir def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via TKO (punches) — Round 2, 1:54.

Rashad Evans def. Forrest Griffin via TKO (punches) — Round 3, 2:46