Dec 30, 2008 - 8:43:56 AM By: Jason Bent, MMATorch Columnist
UFC 92 was indeed all that it was expected to be, with fights that ended in a way that few predicted; but it certainly lived up to its billing of "The Ultimate." Circumstances were such that I ordered the PPV twice in order to see it once, but for once it was a show that could arguably be worth the $100 spent, and this one was definitely a must see to say the least. UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar may have featured what was considered a more significant fight, and was perhaps a bigger event, but UFC 92 was simply better and is a must see if you were unable to do so on Saturday.
Cheick Kongo vs. Mostapha Al Turk
Our first fight of the evening was a showcase for Kongo, and this one was just what the doctor ordered in terms of showing everyone a reason why he should be considered a true contender. Mostapha Al Turk looked like the prototypical tough guy ripped straight from an English pub. He is a tough, serviceable guy who looked like he took off his Burberry hat and chains before getting trounced; only to sit back down, have a pint and throw some darts.
Kongo can stuff takedown attempts and this was the story of this fight. The two traded shots to the groin, which were called unintentional by Joe Rogan but I believe Kongo's was more of retaliation than accident. This was a tremendous bout to open the PPV with, and when you have two heavyweights who are willing to engage, odds are no one will say they didn't enjoy watching the fight.
Kongo has only submitted one man in his entire career, and he may never do so again, but with striking like this it isn't as if he needs to focus on this aspect of his game. Rogan said, "we've never seen Kongo submit a guy but I am sure he has the skills," and the truth is that we may never know. I think we will find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop before finding out that Kongo can pull off a submission, but for now his striking is enough that we really have no need to even pose the question.
Kongo brutally pounded out a TKO victory at 4:37 of the 1st Round, and this one could have been stopped at the very moment when Al Turk's head was split open by one of Kongo's elbows. A few more seconds went by with tons more punishment absorbed by Al Turk and this one was mercilessly waved off. Most times when a fight ends by way of "ground and pound" it is due to a whole lot of shots doing a whole lot of nothing on an opponent doing far less. Kongo actually pounded out the victory; and this was vicious as he threw every shot with bad intentions and took the victory he needed in memorable fashion. Kongo is still a fight or two away but he is well on his way to getting a top tier fight, and deservedly so.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva
The third meeting between these two was definitely a much anticipated affair, and the stage was set for something dramatic. Before the fight it was Silva who stated that he wasn't taking this fight for the money but rather, "pure pleasure." Silva's idea of what he would do for pleasure greatly differs from mine, as I would do many a thing for free, but I would have to be paid handsomely in order to stand toe to toe with Jackson. "Rampage" certainly made out quite well with his payday from this fight, but I am going to concentrate on just what he did inside of the Octagon first before focusing on anything else.
Jackson took this fight to Silva and took it from him with a brutal, highlight reel, worry for the man's safety kind of knockout. Jackson uncorked a picture perfect left hook at 3:21 of Round 1 and Silva was out before he hit the canvas. Jackson's move to the Wolfslair was the best thing for him as a fighter. He has always been a great puncher but he showed much improvement in terms of his technique; and when you make his powerful punches even more precise you are creating a weapon that few in the weight class will be able to match or defend. Silva is the old school MMA fighter who wings his punches, and much like a Chuck Liddell would not be able to hold his own in even the early stages of a Golden Gloves tournament, but Jackson shows what can happen when you tweak things a bit and bring boxing proficiency to the MMA stage. Jackson's hands are fast and the "Rampage" who obliterated Silva on Saturday night was the best Quinton Jackson I have seen. Ever.
Now, this Wanderlei Silva was not the worst I have ever seen, but the damage he surely suffered may rank up their with the worst anyone has inflicted upon him, and especially so when you take into account the cumulative damage from so many years of absorbing such punishment. You can only suffer so many concussions before you have a taste of metal in your mouth and a permanent slur, and for Silva's sake let us hope he hangs them up before he is forced to because he is unable to function. I imagine he will continue to fight as he is the type to go out on his shield, and I would only recommend that he drop down to 185 lbs. and finish his career at a lighter weight. Silva may be on his way to being a shot fighter, but by no means is this why Jackson won. Quinton Jackson was phenomenal in defeating Wanderlei Silva, and he certainly flipped the switch once inside the Octagon and turned off everything else that is facing him.
Quinton Jackson earned more than anyone else on this PPV card. While this has nothing to do with this specific fight and more to do with his agreed upon contract, it does leave a sour taste in my mouth as this man was not forced to lose anything do to his conduct over the summer. Jackson is the man who sat alongside Dana White and chided Jesse Taylor for kicking a limo window out, and it was "Rampage" who said that the "UFC doesn't need guys like this" when speaking of Taylor. Jesse was punished by losing his place in the TUF finale, and because he was drunk and out of line, we may never know if he could have defeated Amir Sadollah and won the whole damn thing.
Jackson didn't miss one beat, or even one scheduled fight ,and I have to wonder if anyone out there even imagines that kicking a limo window out is worse than trying to mow over pedestrians with a monster truck. For those who say that Taylor was a rookie who didn't deserve a free pass, I say that Jackson is a superstar veteran who should have had every reason to know better, and as such should have been made an example. Instead he is an example of the untouchable superstar who is so skilled and bankable that no one dares to bench him. The unbecoming conduct is the UFC's star treatment of Jackson.
Of course I reason that Dana White is juicing the fruit of "Rampage" for all he can get as it is a possibility that Jackson could be on ice for a while, or at least the better part of 2009. I imagine that Jackson's legal team will postpone his court date and this will allow him to get a title shot against Evans, or a marquee match up against Griffin, and allow both he and the UFC to get another payday before he has to hang them up for a minute. This benefits Jackson as far as paying for his legal defense and in life in general, and it certainly benefit's the UFC as they most definitely want one of their more marketable guys on another PPV as soon as possible.
Jackson looked awesome in victory and I have to commend him for blocking out all that is going on and even being able to do his job as well as he did at UFC 92. This was a huge win for him on every level, and sets him up well for at least his next fight and his immediate future. I happen to like Jackson and respect his ability immensely, but I still believe it is quite wrong for him to continue with the UFC without any modicum of discipline having been doled out when lesser men have been punished far worse and laughably lesser incidents. Matt Lindland's wearing of an unapproved t-shirt can't really be worse for P.R. than a truck with Jackson's face on it up on a California sidewalk; can it?
Dan Evensen vs. Pat Berry
We got a chance to see one of the preliminary bouts due to the first two ending so swiftly, and in doing so were treated to the UFC debut of Pat Berry. Berry is like a midget swinging a baseball bat in terms of his stature amongst other heavyweights and the deadly leg kicks he brings with him. The guy is built like a hydrant, and each one of his kicks that landed made me wince.
This one ended at 2:36 of the 1st Round as Evensen waved it off and opted to not continue further after having his knee blasted by one more of Berry's kicks. The replays did show that Evensen's knee suffered some damage, and things would have gotten worse had he continued and absorbed another two or three shots such as the last one.
Pat Berry made a great first impression, but I don't see him being capable of hanging with the big heavyweights. It would be best if he could cut down to 205 lbs. and campaign as a light heavyweight, as this would look to be the best fit for him. He has a great personality and was as gracious as could be in his post fight interview, and when you couple this with his performance you will find that there wasn't much to dislike about Pat Berry at UFC 92.
CB Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio
We get back to the main card, and the placement of this bout was decidedly peculiar as I truly feel that this should have been where Silva vs. Jackson landed and not this bout. Neither one of these men are known commodities, and for all of the hype that has followed Dollaway since his time on 'The Ultimate Fighter,' Dollaway is not a star fighter to say the least.
This one started off fairly well and much credit has to go to Mike Massenzio for giving a pretty good account of himself in this fight. He came oh so close to sinking in the choke and finishing Dollaway but was just unable to pull it off.
Soon after it became all Dollaway, and at 3:01 of the 1st Round we had a TKO victory for "The Doberman" as Massenzio was just not fighting back at all. While he was not getting blasted or really even suffering any punishment, there was no semblance of intelligent defense on his part and this one had to be stopped.
Goldberg and Rogan did their best to spin this as an impressive performance but Dollaway looked more like a "Miniature Pinscher" with gas than he did a "Doberman" in pulling off the win. A win is a win but we need to see much more from Dollaway, and one has to wonder if he will ever show us what it was that made him such a hyped fighter to begin with. His team in Arizona is one of the best, and while this should make him a fighter it is going to be his association with Ryan Bader that keeps him on the main cards for a while and not his performances.
Dollaway is a surly, unlikable sort who is every bit of all that so many have imagined him to be, and at this point he is incapable of providing a performance that makes us look past his noxious personality. At least if you loathe Rashad Evans there are reasons to watch him fight, but in Dollaway's case it would seem as if he is just taking up space on a card that could go to someone who might have a following.
CB pushed his after party on the audience, but in knowing that not too many would really care to party with him had to throw in that MTX Audio would be raffling off car stereos as well. Unless the UFC sends me some subwoofers I would strongly suggest they relegate Dollaway to the preliminary card until he shows a spark.
Matt Hamill vs. Reese Andy
Again with the quick finishes to each fight it was time to take a look at another of the preliminary offerings, and this one was a light heavyweight tilt between two world class wrestlers. Matt Hamill made his name on 'The Ultimate Fighter' and Reese Andy made his name by putting me to sleep when he fought Brandon Vera, but on paper this looked to be an interesting match up and one I was happy to get a chance to see.
Until I actually saw it.
Matt Hamill is a star. This man was a fan favorite during his time on TUF and it has been a real joy to see such a good person become an even better fighter since his time as a member of Team Ortiz. He was destroyed by Rich Franklin back in September, but there is going to come a time, and it shall be sooner rather than later, that Hamill is again back on in prime time. He is a supremely talented grappler who has added a powerful punch to his arsenal along with some boxing instincts. Matt Hamill hammered out Reese Andy at 2:19 of the 2nd Round and gets the nod by way of decisive TKO. His performance was worthy of being broadcast on the main portion of the show.
Reese Andy's performance was not. Reese Andy could probably make anything boring. In fact I imagine that you could have all 12 of Playboy's 2008 Playmates shoot t-shirts into the stands while a monkey dressed like Elvis Presley is launched from a cannon as Brock Lesnar waves to the fans from atop an elephant and if Reese Andy were near it would make the fans in attendance opt to take a bathroom break. This man is an unmotivated slug and a waste of space who makes CB Dollaway look worthy of appearing in a main event.
Reese Andy owes me for a portion of what I have spent on this PPV, and if I cannot get my money from him then I will chase him down until he entertains me in some way, shape or form. I will grow my best Michael Moore beard and revisit 'Roger & Me,' except this will be 'Reese & Me' as I travel cross country in hopes of getting him to do something that makes me feel he earned even one of his paychecks. Somewhere he has had to have put on a show that made someone think he deserved to be in the UFC and on PPV, but I sure as hell have never seen it. Ryan Bader eating piss soaked fruit was more entertaining, and for that matter I would rather see the comedian Gallagher smash some fruit before I'd want to sit through a Reese Andy fight once more.
Hamill's win was a definitive one and deserved to be lauded by Rogan and Goldberg in at least the same manner as Dollaway's victory over Massenzio but it was not. Hamill isn't quite at the next level just yet but with his drive and raw talent it is a sure bet that we will see him again and his performance against Franklin shall not be what we remember him by.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir
Before I even get into discussing this fight I have to take a moment and talk about Brock Lesnar's fantastic sport coat. Not since I was 14 years old and forced to wear a corduroy blazer with elbow patches have I seen such a godawful choice of menswear. The only difference being that I could easily be mocked for my choice at age 14, and if Lesnar opted to wear nothing but a diaper you would tell him that it looks mighty fine or else risk having your skull caved in. This one was straight out of the 'ABC Wide World of Sports' collection, and one has to imagine that this was due to Rochester Big & Tall not having anything from the 'Don Knotts' Three's Company' collection that could fit the big lug. I could just see Lesnar doing his best Chris Farley from 'Tommy Boy' and making the seams bust out of this one. Between the haircut and the sport coat it is proof positive that this country boy shall never go "Hollywood."
This bout for the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship served as a commercial for Ken Hahn's Striking Unlimited, as Mir looked nothing less than spectacular in trouncing Nogueira. Frank Mir has never, ever, ever been this motivated for a fight, and he surely has never punched like he did in this one. I predicted that the only way he could win this fight would be if he showed us something we had never seen before, and I will be damned if he didn't do just that.
The first round was a 10-8 round and Nogueira looked like he was in there with a freight train and not the "Spearmint Rhino." Mir looked super sharp and in shape, and if he wants to call himself a stud he has every right to do so after this performance. The second round was much more of the same and at only 1:54 of the 2nd Round it was all over as Frank Mir pulled off the unthinkable and pounded out a TKO victory.
Frank Mir is the new Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion and we are on our way to seeing him rematch Brock Lesnar, and this one will be for all of the marbles and to determine the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship. On one hand I would suggest that a return bout with Mir would be better for Lesnar than one with the BJJ expert in Nogueira, but with Mir's improved striking it looks as if it could be more than a stiff challenge for the big man. Mir can submit anyone, and obviously did so against Lesnar, but he showed he can actually punch against Nogueira and this serves him well in going up against Lesnar for a second time. Either Nogueira is absolutely shot or Mir has suddenly found his power at a later stage of his career, but it sure is going to be fun finding out in 2009.
Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans
Our main event was for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and it exceeded any and all expectations that any may have had for it. The winner of the first edition of 'The Ultimate Fighter' going up against the winner of the second did much to show that the program has actually produced some fighters. Many like to deride the show, or perhaps what it has become, but once upon a time it created true stars and introduced us to guys like Griffin and Evans. This bout was a much anticipated one and would be Evans' chance of a lifetime against the tireless fan favorite in Forrest Griffin.
The first two rounds were won by Griffin, but by no means was Evans ever in any true danger or even out of this fight. We had two of the very best giving it their all, and regardless of how you feel about Evans it must be said that this man has fast become an exciting fighter to watch. I am shocked to see the day that I would say such a thing but it is very, very true. Evans is obnoxious in many ways, but he is worth his place on the card and is one to watch. He has earned his stripes in the UFC against odds that he served to stack against himself by coming off as such an unlikable sort of guy. Evans' taunting of Griffin in round two of this fight is proof positive that he can be a bit of an ass, but he backs it all up and until he is unable to do so it is likely we will see much more of it.
Round 3 was all Rashad Evans. Evans blasted Liddell out in September and he pounded out Forrest Griffin in December. This one looked like Opie getting put over Andy's lap and suffering a spanking as punishment for playing with the Sheriff's gun or maybe knocking Aunt Bea's pies off of the window ledge. Griffin took a pounding and this fight was stopped when it most definitely needed to be as Forrest looked more than a bit tipsy upon trying to stand up once it was over. Your winner and new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is Rashad Evans and he did so by getting the TKO at 2:46 of the 3rd Round.
Rashad Evans, who used to be the boring wrestler who could dance better than he could fight, is now a force to be reckoned with. It appears he is driven and in fantastic shape, and his skills are getting sharper with each fight he takes. His hands were brutal in this bout and he is going to be trouble for anyone who shall challenge him for the belt. I would welcome an Evans-Jackson fight, and would definitely enjoy seeing Griffin get a rematch, but I have a feeling that "Sugar" is capable of holding onto this belt for a long time. I had predicted that Griffin would win, but knew in my heart Evans was capable; but never did I imagine he could do so by pummeling Forrest. I cannot say that I really love Rashad Evans but I respect his abilities and he is one to watch in 2009.
Antoni Hardonk vs. Mike Wessel
This was like an orgy on Prom night as everyone finished early, and as such we were treated to yet another of the preliminary fights before the PPV wrapped up. The heavyweights took center stage to close the show and this was a real treat for those who maybe are familiar with Hardonk by name but maybe have not had much of a chance to see him before.
Mike Wessel is one hell of a pug. He is a tough guy who, if only he would spend a little bit of time on the bike or running some miles, could probably give quite a few guys some trouble. The one thing he has is heart, and it should also be noted that his chin is a close second as he absorbed shot after shot without wanting to quit. Much respect must be given to him for a tough showing against such a tough fighter in Antoni Hardonk.
Hardonk is known for his striking ability and he showed this off during this fight before finishing Wessel off at 2:09 of the 2nd Round and scoring the TKO victory. Wessel was gassed after the first round, and it was just a matter of when Hardonk would prove to be too much for him; and once he gave up the mount to Antoni, it was all over.
It was clear that Wessel gave a good showing of himself in the first round, and even more clear that should he get a second chance in the UFC that he is going to have to be in better shape and capable of going more than one solid round. I certainly hope he gets the opportunity, as he is a tough guy who did give it his best, unlike a fighter such as Reese Andy who was such a waste of time that I would have rather heard Mike Goldberg tell me to see him "next time in the Octagon" on a continuous loop for five minutes than to have seen him on this PPV. Wessel is a tough man, and he was beaten by the better fighter in Antoni Hardonk. This one was a treat to see and Hardonk delivered as advertised.
UFC 92: The Ultimate was a fantastic way to cap off what was a banner year for the UFC and MMA in general. 2009 looks to be even better but the beautiful thing about sports is the hope that it will be better without it necessarily having to be better. There are always going to be great fights, but none are greater than the anticipation of the next one. Right now I am looking forward to UFC 93 with hopes that Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin will deliver on all of their promise, and even greater hopes that BJ Penn and Georges St. Pierre can deliver on at least half of theirs at UFC 94.
Sometimes we spend too much time looking back on yesterday or trying to leap ahead to the future, and in doing so neglect to take a moment and appreciate what is happening to us right now. Right now is a great time to be a fan of the UFC, and before we look ahead to where the sport is going, how about we take a moment and appreciate just how far its come. MMA has long been an "Ultimate" sport, but the UFC's offering of UFC 92 is proof positive that MMA can also be a "major" one as well.
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Just wanted to say I had a blast reading your article man! I will add this
site to my favorites and check back every now-and-then to read your stuff.
I wish I could provide more feed back but I pretty much agree with
everything you said.
I honestly thought Silva was going to win because of the last two outings
with Jackon, but like you said apparantly Jackson has improved with his new
training camp.
No way in hell did I think Frank Mir was going to win but obviously he was
just too hungry and trained his butt off in the stand up.
I must say I did think Rashard was going to win only because he is always
the underdog in his fights and so far he has always won (not counting the
tie with Tito Ortiz).
I remember seeing him back on T.U.F.2 and I became a fan of his when he
knocked down that giant of a human being, Brad Aimes. Rashad was fighting
at freakin' heavyweight back then and everyone said he was too small, and
even at light heavy you can still make that arguement, but damnit he keeps
on winning so I guess he knows better than his critics.
Anon
30 Dec 2008, 10:30
Sorry but, I've got to say this:
Mir's striking is being dangerously overrated. I say dangerously because if
he fights like he did against Nog when he rematches Lesnar, he's going to
lose.
He's not packing nearly enough force behind them and they honestly didn't
seem that fast. His kicks are going to get checked again, and he can expect
to get dumped on his ass over and over against.
Hopefully he tries to somehow get the fight on the ground against Lesnar,
otherwise he might end up on the receiving end of a highlight reel knockout
by Lesnar.
