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The more I see mixed martial arts evolve the more it resembles a jumble of novice level boxing
and karate. It seems as if the fighters develop a base of Brazilian jiu jitsu and wrestling but
throw those disciplines out the window when faced with an opponent of a corresponding style. I
must say here that this is more prevalent in the UFC. In Pride, there were a lot more
submissions (at least it seems to me). The UFC must sell to a Vegas crowd so the sport has
evolved or some may say devolved into an exhibition between novice level boxers with excellent
take down defense.
May the best striker win…Here is my take on UFC 92.
CHEICK KONGO vs. MUSTAPHA AL TURK
Kongo is a body beautiful out of France while Al Turk is a rugged looking dude out of England
by way of Lebanon. Kongo shows some great take down defense early on as the wrestler Al
Turk tried to bully him against the cage. Al Turk keeps trying for the single leg take down to no
avail. The fighters exchanged knees to the nuts. After Kongo returned the favor, he goes off and
floors Al Turk. What follows is a vicious ground and pound with hammer fists and elbows. Al
Turk is bloody and helpless and the referee is forced to intervene. Kongo runs his record to 13-4-
1 with 10 stoppages. Al Turk drops to 6-4.
QUINTON JACKSON VS. WANDERELEI SILVA III
The trilogy comes to an end in a rather brutal fashion. Silva is definitely on the downside of his
career (a “shot” fighter for the past three years) and is being knocked out cold on a regular basis.
Jackson lands a counter left hook he wound up from the upper deck and Silva never saw it
coming. The end came at 3:21 of the first round. Again, this match is an example of the point I
was trying to make above as Jackson and Silva disregarded their wrestling/Vale Tudo skills
respectively and the brief match resembled more of a amateur boxer/Muay Thai match. Silva
was caught by a shot that any elite boxer would have seen miles away. Jackson runs his record
to 29-7 with 21 stoppages. Silva drops to 32-9-1 (26 stoppages). Silva has lost four out of his
last five. He doesn’t seem to have recovered from the knockout loss to Mirko Crocop back in
September of 2006.
CB DOLLAWAY VS. MIKE MASSENZIO
An interesting bout between two up and comers although it is markedly clear that Dollaway has
the most upside. Massenzio comes into the ring with a mysterious brace on his knee. If he is
injured, why take the fight? Massenzio starts fast and catches Dollaway in a guillotine which
bothers the “Doberman” for only a brief moment. Dollaway works his way out and eventually
mounts Massenzio. Massenzio then rolls over and inexplicably gives Dollaway his back.
“Doberman” pounds away at the back of Massenzio’s head and forces the referee to intervene.
Massenzio protests the stoppage. Strange match, almost get the feeling Massenzio was a guy
looking for an out and an excuse. The crowd boos. Dollaway runs his record to 8-1 (7
stoppages) while Massenzio drops to 11-3 (7 stoppages).
MATT HAMILL VS. REESE ANDY
We last saw Reese Andy go the distance against a comebacking Brandon Vera. He had no such
luck against the scrappy Hamill. Interesting that Hamill is deaf, to which the announcers make
no mention of. After being instructed by his corner man to “make this shit nasty”, Hamill does
exactly that. He throws punches at Andy like he’s chopping down a tree. Andy succumbs to the
punches and falls to a sitting position with one hand futilely blocking his face. Hamill pummels
away but perhaps even showing a little mercy with Andy’s now pathetic resistance. This fight
should have been stopped sooner. Hamill raises his record to 5-2 (4 stoppages) while Reese
drops to 7-3 (3 stoppages)
FRANK MIR VS. ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA
As announcer Mike Goldberg stated “there is no villain here.” Both of these fighters are easy
guys to root for; humble, talented and with a passion for the sport. The announcers made a big
deal about Mir’s struggles with conditioning but never seem to notice Nogueira’s flabby mid-
section. Mir elects to box “Minotauro” for the opening round and knocks him down two times
with big counter lefts. In the second, Mir nails Noguiera with another left and Nog goes down.
Mir is all over him, pounding away. The stoppage seems to come a bit premature but when Nog
stands up he wobbles. A great victory for Mir. He fought smartly and used boxing as opposed
to trying to submit the master submitter. His statements after the match were surprising and
honest, “Even I didn’t think I could win,” and adding “I’ve never been more afraid in my life.” A
super bout rematch with Lesnar looms for 2009. Mir raises his record to 12-3 while
“Minotauro” goes to 31-5-1.
FORREST GRIFFIN VS. RASHAD EVANS
A match between the unlikely champion and the unlikely challenger made for a good scrap.
Griffin and Evans exchanged numerous punches and kicks throughout the bout. I thought Griffin
had a slight edge going into the third when suddenly Evans took control with a ground and
pound. Griffin’s arms flailed with every blow Evans landed and the fight was stopped. Griffin
looked rather disoriented as he got up and was attended to by the UFC officials. Evans goes to
13-0-1 (7 stoppages) while Griffin drops to 16-5 (10 stoppages). Evans always seems to find a
way to win. He’s cat quick, takes a good punch and is opportunistic. Good win.
and karate. It seems as if the fighters develop a base of Brazilian jiu jitsu and wrestling but
throw those disciplines out the window when faced with an opponent of a corresponding style. I
must say here that this is more prevalent in the UFC. In Pride, there were a lot more
submissions (at least it seems to me). The UFC must sell to a Vegas crowd so the sport has
evolved or some may say devolved into an exhibition between novice level boxers with excellent
take down defense.
May the best striker win…Here is my take on UFC 92.
CHEICK KONGO vs. MUSTAPHA AL TURK
Kongo is a body beautiful out of France while Al Turk is a rugged looking dude out of England
by way of Lebanon. Kongo shows some great take down defense early on as the wrestler Al
Turk tried to bully him against the cage. Al Turk keeps trying for the single leg take down to no
avail. The fighters exchanged knees to the nuts. After Kongo returned the favor, he goes off and
floors Al Turk. What follows is a vicious ground and pound with hammer fists and elbows. Al
Turk is bloody and helpless and the referee is forced to intervene. Kongo runs his record to 13-4-
1 with 10 stoppages. Al Turk drops to 6-4.
QUINTON JACKSON VS. WANDERELEI SILVA III
The trilogy comes to an end in a rather brutal fashion. Silva is definitely on the downside of his
career (a “shot” fighter for the past three years) and is being knocked out cold on a regular basis.
Jackson lands a counter left hook he wound up from the upper deck and Silva never saw it
coming. The end came at 3:21 of the first round. Again, this match is an example of the point I
was trying to make above as Jackson and Silva disregarded their wrestling/Vale Tudo skills
respectively and the brief match resembled more of a amateur boxer/Muay Thai match. Silva
was caught by a shot that any elite boxer would have seen miles away. Jackson runs his record
to 29-7 with 21 stoppages. Silva drops to 32-9-1 (26 stoppages). Silva has lost four out of his
last five. He doesn’t seem to have recovered from the knockout loss to Mirko Crocop back in
September of 2006.
CB DOLLAWAY VS. MIKE MASSENZIO
An interesting bout between two up and comers although it is markedly clear that Dollaway has
the most upside. Massenzio comes into the ring with a mysterious brace on his knee. If he is
injured, why take the fight? Massenzio starts fast and catches Dollaway in a guillotine which
bothers the “Doberman” for only a brief moment. Dollaway works his way out and eventually
mounts Massenzio. Massenzio then rolls over and inexplicably gives Dollaway his back.
“Doberman” pounds away at the back of Massenzio’s head and forces the referee to intervene.
Massenzio protests the stoppage. Strange match, almost get the feeling Massenzio was a guy
looking for an out and an excuse. The crowd boos. Dollaway runs his record to 8-1 (7
stoppages) while Massenzio drops to 11-3 (7 stoppages).
MATT HAMILL VS. REESE ANDY
We last saw Reese Andy go the distance against a comebacking Brandon Vera. He had no such
luck against the scrappy Hamill. Interesting that Hamill is deaf, to which the announcers make
no mention of. After being instructed by his corner man to “make this shit nasty”, Hamill does
exactly that. He throws punches at Andy like he’s chopping down a tree. Andy succumbs to the
punches and falls to a sitting position with one hand futilely blocking his face. Hamill pummels
away but perhaps even showing a little mercy with Andy’s now pathetic resistance. This fight
should have been stopped sooner. Hamill raises his record to 5-2 (4 stoppages) while Reese
drops to 7-3 (3 stoppages)
FRANK MIR VS. ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA
As announcer Mike Goldberg stated “there is no villain here.” Both of these fighters are easy
guys to root for; humble, talented and with a passion for the sport. The announcers made a big
deal about Mir’s struggles with conditioning but never seem to notice Nogueira’s flabby mid-
section. Mir elects to box “Minotauro” for the opening round and knocks him down two times
with big counter lefts. In the second, Mir nails Noguiera with another left and Nog goes down.
Mir is all over him, pounding away. The stoppage seems to come a bit premature but when Nog
stands up he wobbles. A great victory for Mir. He fought smartly and used boxing as opposed
to trying to submit the master submitter. His statements after the match were surprising and
honest, “Even I didn’t think I could win,” and adding “I’ve never been more afraid in my life.” A
super bout rematch with Lesnar looms for 2009. Mir raises his record to 12-3 while
“Minotauro” goes to 31-5-1.
FORREST GRIFFIN VS. RASHAD EVANS
A match between the unlikely champion and the unlikely challenger made for a good scrap.
Griffin and Evans exchanged numerous punches and kicks throughout the bout. I thought Griffin
had a slight edge going into the third when suddenly Evans took control with a ground and
pound. Griffin’s arms flailed with every blow Evans landed and the fight was stopped. Griffin
looked rather disoriented as he got up and was attended to by the UFC officials. Evans goes to
13-0-1 (7 stoppages) while Griffin drops to 16-5 (10 stoppages). Evans always seems to find a
way to win. He’s cat quick, takes a good punch and is opportunistic. Good win.
