If I had to choose the winner based on mean-lookin' faces, I'd choose Thiago Silva, by way of "Pulverizing th' Bum"

Some people are complaining about this line-up, but really, what could the UFC have done? Several main event guys had to drop out, and there’s only so many guys around that are “true” headliners. Rashad Evans is one, and Thiago Silva is getting there. With a clean win over Evans however, Silva will be a main eventer. There are a bunch of solid bouts here though, just like how last year’s “Fight for the Troops” turned out to be an incredible card, with “b-level” fighters.

Main Bouts (On Pay-Per-View):

Rashad Evans (205) vs. Thiago Silva (205)

Evans will have picked the brain of teammate Keith Jardine, whose brains were scrambled by Silva a few months back. I say Evans takes it by TKO, but it will be a close fight.

Paul Daley (172) vs. Dustin Hazelett (168)

The one-dimensional Daley will get taken down and submitted by Dustin “McLovin’” Hazelett in short order, or Hazelett will be staring at the lights. I’m betting Hazelett is smarter than that, and will take Daley down fast.

Joe Lauzon (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)

I like Stout, a fellow Canuck, but Lauzon is too much on the ground for him. Joe by sub.

Duane Ludwig (156) vs. Jim Miller (155)

Bang.

Junior Dos Santos (237) vs. Gilbert Yvel (239)

Junior takes the duke, and puts himself in the short list for guys to fight for the heavyweight strap.

Preliminary Bouts (On Spike TV):

Martin Kampmann (171) vs. Jacob Volkmann (171)

Kampmann has sure fallen down the charts after a single loss, from a welterweight title eliminator against Mike Swick at UFC 103 to the prelims here. Sounds like he has Jon Fitch-itus. Why no love for Marty?

Dan Lauzon (155) vs. Cole Miller (155)

J-Lau Jr. (pronounced Jay-Low) takes on the wiry pipe cleaner of an excuse for a fighter, Cole Miller. I think Dan is still too young, and will get taken out by Miller, who has had more big show experience.

Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised):

Mark Munoz (185) vs. Ryan Jensen (186)

Munoz. Because he has a better last name.

Mike Pyle (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170)

What a Pyle of…Jake takes this, after improving his cardio after the loss to Condit. Jake was doing great until he gassed. Hopefully that problem has been fixed.

Rafaello Oliveira (156) vs. John Gunderson (155)

This is the first of the un-televised prelims for a reason. Not much of an idea who these guys are, but I’m taking Oliveira, because I like that pasta.

Quinton Pities YOU!!

The UFC brass can’t be too happy about this one. After lamenting about Quinton Jackson’s role in the upcoming A-Team movie, Dana White and the boys apparently have no choice but to re-schedule the fight to another time, likely after the new year. This is another reason why I dislike using the Ultimate Fighter to build fights. It takes forever, and something comes up (like this) and you have two of your main draws, in their prime, sit idle for up to a year!! What sense does that make? Jackson last fought March 09, and Evans May 09.

Personally, unless they’re injured, I think guys should be fighting every 5-6 months. That gives them 2-3 months to heal up any nagging injuries, and gives them 2-3 months for a training camp.

The UFC had booked Memphis, TN on Dec 12 for the Jackson-Evans bout, hoping to cash in on the fact that it is Jackson’s home town. Double d’oh!! Again, how does this happen? It’s like the UFC plans to go to England, spends months (and millions $$$) building up Michael Bisping vs Fighter X, and have Bisping pull the rug out from under them to do a side project. Lame.

The UFC has offered up another very good main event however, as BJ Penn will defend his 155lb title against Diego “YES” Sanchez.

It turns out that Jackson sustained torn ligaments in his jaw which will require surgery, and hyperextended his left elbow to boot.

Rashad Evans will now defend his title against Lyoto Machida instead. Machida, who was always waiting in the wings in case Jardine won the fight at UFC 96 against Jackson, has verbally accepted the bout, as has Evans. Marketing-wise, this is a big blow to the UFC, as Jackson is a much more marketable fighter. Machida, while ultra-talented, doesn’t have “it” and has a bit of a dull personality.

Main Event 1A: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Frank Mir

The UFC decided to use season 8 of the reality show to build this one.  It’s for the interim heavyweight strap and should be a great scrap, but it lost a bit of its lustre when the self-exiled heavyweight champion Randy Couture made an unexpected return to the organization and announced he was facing Brock Lesnar. No matter, Nogueira is a gamer and this will be a good scrap.

Main Event 1B: Forrest Griffin vs Rashad Evans

Griffin has become arguably the most popular fighter in the UFC. He is the original Ultimate Fighter and a true rags to riches story. Evans meanwhile, has officially shed his “boring, plodding, unable to finish”, at least in my book anyways. He put on decent fights, but they always felt a bit slow, and he would just seem to do enough to win by decision, dating back to his first fight on TUF 2, where he won all his fights by decision. No longer, as Evans’ last win, a sudden knockout of Chuck Liddell, would even make Kenny “I finish fights!!” Florian blush with girlish glee.

Main Event 1C: Quinton Rampage Jackson vs Wanderlei Silva

Oh man, this is going to be good. Personally, I’m looking forward to this one the most. Jackson will be looking to avenge his two KOs at the hands of Silva, but inside the cage this time. As well, what better way to get his suddenly stalled career (loss the 205lb title, got arrested, sent for mental evaluation) back on track then to defeat Silva? Silva will look to build on his 36 second mauling of Keith Jardine from UFC 84 in May.

Gotta love these loaded year end cards.

Coming off of his most impressive win to date, Rashad Evans has earned a shot at 205lb champion Forrest Griffin.  UFC President Dana White confirmed the match up, but stopped short of confirming the date.

Evans put former 205lb champ Chuck Liddell to sleep with a big right hand at UFC 88, while Griffin took the title from Rampage Jackson at UFC 86.  The bout is rumored to take place at UFC 92 on New Year’s Eve weekend on December 27.

Here are the official weigh-in numbers for UFC 88, which will air live on pay-per-view September 6 from Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.  Like I said before, I picked Chuck to win judging by how pissed off he looks in this poster.  Evans merely looks agitated.  Chuck looks like he wants to eat Rashad’s kids…if he had any.

Main Event
Rashad Evans (205) vs Chuck Liddell (204)

Main Card
Matt Hamill (205) vs Rich Franklin (204.5)
Dan Henderson (185) vs Rousimar Palhares (184.5)
Nate Marquardt (185) vs Martin Kampmann (184.5)
Matt Brown (170) vs Dong Hyun Kim (170)

Thiago Tavares (155) vs Kurt Pellegrino (156)
Tim Boetsch (205.25) vs Michael Patt (205.25)
Jason Lambert (185) vs Jason MacDonald (185)
Ryo Chonan (170) vs Roan Carneiro (170)

Let’s see here.  Liddell by 2nd round KO, Rich Franklin by unanimous decision, Dan Henderson by round 3 TKO, Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision, Dong Hyun Kim by round 2 TKO, Kurt Pellegrino by unanimous decision, Tim Boetsch by round 1 TKO, Jason MacDonald by round 2 TKO, and Ryo Chonan by round 2 tapout.   There, I said it.

I’m a bit surprised the Battle of the Jasons is on the under card.  Despite the Karo Parisyian vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida being scrapped to to Karo’s injury, the UFC chose to bump Matt Brown vs Dong Hyun Kim up instead.

We’re counting down to UFC 88 in Atlanta, Georgia, and I thought I’d share my thoughts on the main event of Chuck Liddell vs Rashad Evans.

Randy Couture’s surprise return has stolen a bit (ok, it has taken a LOT of attention off this fight) of thunder, but this main event should be a good scrap.  It’s time to see if there’s a changing of the guards, if you will.

Liddell has his swagger back after defeating Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79, though a hamstring injury delayed his next fight for about three months.  Creeping up to 40 years of age and coming off a serious injury and long layoff could affect Liddell’s conditioning this fight, especially if Evans uses his wrestling and rolls with Chuck for much of the fight.  Expect Evans to stand and trade with Liddell for a while, then go in for the shot.  Even though Keith Jardine successfully stood with Liddell, he used a plethora of leg kicks to keep the Ice Man off balance, leg kicks which Evans isn’t known for.

Rashad, surprisingly, has not competed since UFC 78, a decision win over Michael Bisping.  On a side note, I hope the UFC does something about these long layoffs between fights.  It’s ridiculous that a fighter in his prime would sit on the sidelines for 11 months, waiting for a fight. Evans looked good in that fight, first standing, then wrestling and changing things up on Bisping.  He’ll need that effort and then some against Liddell.

Rashad’s key to victory lies in his takedown and his wrestling.  He needs to ground Liddell and pound him out.  Unless he has drastically improved his striking, he isn’t good enough to stand and trade with Liddell.  He was at a stand-off with Tito Ortiz on the feet.  Taking an elder statesman into the third round wouldn’t hurt his chances either.

Liddell’s key to victory lies in his takedown defense and his counter-punching, like every single one of his fights.  Like he says himself, he’s not a hard guy to figure out.  He does need to end this one before the third round however, or I don’t think his cardio will be good enough to pull him through with a decision.

Prediction:  Liddell by KO in round 2.

In an interview with Tagg Radio, the former UFC 205lb Champion had this to say:

(I still got) two to four years depending on how my body’s feeling.  I’m hoping in two years I’ll still be saying ‘two to four years.’  I still feel like fighting now and my body is still working now.

It’s amazing what a win can do for you.  After Liddell’s losses to Rampage Jackson and Keith Jardine, people on websites were talking about how he should hang it up and how rapidly he’s falling from grace.  A win over Wanderlei Silva later, and it’s all forgotten.

His upcoming fight with Rashad Evans at UFC 88 in Atlanta, GA on September 6th is a pivotal fight for the 38 year old fighter.  With a win, Liddell could be in line for a title shot at Forrest Griffin.  With a loss, it would be 3 losses in his last 4 fights and whispers of the word “retirement” will crop up again.  Should Evans lose, he still has lots of time to rebound and climb back up the ladder.  At Liddell’s age, in this young man’s sport, he can ill afford to lose any ground.