© Marc Wickert
www.knucklepit.com
December 27, 2008
All photos copyright 2004 Zuffa LLC
Photography by Joshua Hedges
UFC 92: Ultimate 2008 lived up to its name by producing an incredibly action-packed card. It was also the night when UFC unveiled its latest secret weapon: beautiful ring girl Logan Stanton. According to www.ufc.com Logan is from Niceville, which seems obvious, and stands 5’10”. Let’s hope we see more of Logan and Arianny in 2009.
In earlier matches:
Brad Blackburn def. Ryo Chonan by unanimous decision.
Antonio Hardonk def. Mike Wessel by TKO – 2.09, Round Two.
Yushin Okami def. Dean Lister by unanimous decision.
The Battles
Cheick Kongo (6’4” 253 lb) vs. Mostapha Al Turk (6’2” 237 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
They exchanged jabs and Mostapha slipped before regaining his stance.
4.27: Mostapha leg-kicked and Cheick caught the kick, yanked Mostapha to the ground, then kicked at his downed opponent’s legs.
4.14: Al Turk climbed back up.
4.08: Al Turk missed with a wild-card looping right hand, then went for the takedown as Kongo sprawled.
3.11: Al Turk was still spending energy, hell-bent on taking Kongo down.
2.44: Kongo pushed Al Turk’s back into the wires.
2.29: Cheick was attacking Mostapha’s thighs with knee strikes, but got cautioned by Steve Mazzagatti for holding Mostapha’s shorts in the clinch.
2.17: Mostapha gave Cheick the Yorkshire ‘kiss of life’, launching a knee into the coconuts, so Mazzagatti called time out. Cheick struggled around the ring looking like he’d spent the afternoon peeling onions. The crowd got to wince twice as the replay was shown on the big screen.
1.55: Al Turk missed with a right haymaker.
1.36: Kongo leg-kicked and Al Turk seized the kick in an attempted takedown.
1.11: Kongo then demonstrated the Paris ‘resuscitator’ for Al Turk. It was a big night for onion peeling. In the replay, Al Turk’s hips could be seen rising into the air on impact. Ouch!
0.57: Cheick threw a right hand that seemed to catch Mostapha’s left eye. He followed with a succession of rights that put Mostapha down. Cheick elbowed and hammered Mostapha until Steve stepped in.
Result: Cheick Kongo by TKO – 4.37, Round One.
Rampage Jackson (6’1” 206 lb) vs. Wanderlei Silva (5’11” 203 lb)
– Light Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Rampage immediately came after Wanderlei; they slung bombs, and Rampage realized it wasn’t wise to corner Wanderlei too early into the fight.
4.28: The intense dueling continued.
4.18: Wanderlei delivered a heavy-duty combo.
3.42: Rampage snuck a left hand through Wanderlei’s guard.
3.29: He tagged Silva with two more jabs.
3.18: Silva was pursuing Jackson. Jackson went for a shoot, only to cop a knee for his trouble.
2.50: Silva smacked Jackson with a solid leg kick.
2.33: And again.
2.13: Wanderlei looked to land another leg kick; however Rampage ankle-tapped him. Wanderlei sprung straight back up.
1.41: They had a toe-to-toe stand-off and Rampage KO’d Wanderlei with a nasty left hook.
Result: Rampage Jackson by KO – 3.21, Round One.
Pat Barry (5’11” 235 lb) vs. Dan Evensen (6’3” 250 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne
Dan had a four-inch height advantage over Pat, but was having trouble closing in on him.
4.25: Pat landed his first leg kick.
4.23: He followed with kicks to the body and leg, before Dan clinched and drove Pat’s back into the wires.
3.40: Yves Lavigne broke the clinch.
3.30: They exchanged front kicks.
3.27: Barry buckled Evensen’s left leg with a kick.
3.20: Barry dished out another brutal leg kick.
3.18: They dropped to the ground with Pat in Dan’s guard.
2.43: Dan’s guard was very loose – possibly due to the leg kicks he sustained, and Pat easily stood up and backed away. Dan was slow to stand.
2.29: Pat buckled Dan’s left knee and ankle with a huge sledgehammer leg kick.
Result: Pat Barry by TKO – 2.36, Round One.
CB Dollaway (6’2” 186 lb) vs. Mike Massenzio (6’4” 170 lb)
– Middleweight
Referee: Yves Lavigne
4.39: CB detonated a body kick to southpaw Mike’s left side.
4.35: Mike closed the gap and wore a knee to the body before they clinched.
4.26: They broke free and CB missed with a kick.
4.05: Massenzio curled a left fist into Dollaway’s temple and rushed in as Dollaway crumbled to the floor. Massenzio then fitted Dollaway with a guillotine.
3.37: CB popped his head out of the choke before taking up residence in Mike’s guard.
3.08: Mike attempted a triangle that was never really happening, then became the recipient of some g’n’p from CB.
2.22: Dollaway progressed to the mount.
2.08: Massenzio surrendered his back; Dollaway got his hooks under Massenzio’s thighs and thumped away. Mike had no escape plan. He protested the stoppage, but realistically, the only thing left for CB to do was to tar and feather his defenseless opponent.
Result: CB Dollaway by TKO – 3.01, Round One.
Matt Hamill (6’1” 205 lb) vs. Reese Andy (5’10” 205 lb)
– Lightweight
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
4.41: Reese inside leg-kicked.
4.23: He threw a slow-motion kick that Matt grabbed and used to pull Reese down, but Reese quickly climbed back up. Andy was employing his jab like an Olympic fencer, before delivering an inside leg kick.
3.51: Andy took a high kick on the gloves.
3.25: He was dominating with a combination of leather and knees.
3.07: They exchanged leg kicks.
1.00: The stand-up continued, with Reese still landing his jabs and leg kicks; however Matt stayed hot in pursuit.
Round Two
The toe-to-toe recommenced at a faster pace. Matt was landing more consistently with heavy leather after receiving stern instructions from his corner during the break.
4.18: He resisted a takedown from Reece.
4.07: Hamill was overpowering Andy with a combo of fists and knees.
3.44: He ripped a powerful left gut-wrencher into Andy’s midsection.
3.26: And again. Andy buckled on impact.
2.45: Matt mounted Reese and sealed the deal with g’n’p.
Result: Matt Hamill by TKO – 2.19, Round Two.
Frank Mir (6’3 251 lb) vs. Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira (6’3” 246 lb)
– Heavyweight
Referee: Herb Dean
Round One
4.50: Southpaw Mir fires off a high kick and a leg kick that Nogueira blocks.
4.39: Mir leg-kicks.
4.27: He throws a straight left and a right uppercut.
4.21: Frank lets go with a straight right and a left hook.
4.14: He fires off fists and a knee to the body. The pair clinch and Frank sweeps Antonio’s left leg.
3.52: Frank stands and walks away after administering some g’n’p. He appears to be operating at a pace one notch above Antonio’s.
3.33: Mir kicks to the body. Nogueira is scoring with jabs, but Mir retaliates with combos.
1.51: Mir puts Nogueira down with a cracking left. His southpaw stance appears to be upsetting Nogueira, and now Mir is pounding from Minotauro’s guard.
1.40: Frank stands and steps away.
0.21: Antonio puts a flurry together.
0.02: Frank decks Minotauro with another crushing left.
Round Two
Nogueira comes out undeterred; however Mir looks poised for something big.
4.17: He backs Nogueira up with a vicious combo.
3.56: Nogueira leg-kicks.
3.30: Nogueira inside leg-kicks.
3.14: Mir tags Minotauro with consecutive straight lefts. He finishes Nogueira off with g’n’p.
Result: Frank Mir by TKO – 1.54, Round Two.
Rashad Evans (5’11” 203 lb) vs. Forrest Griffin (6’3” 205 lb)
– Light Heavyweight Title
Referee: Steve Mazzagatti
Round One
Rashad is bopping around the Octagon after making his entrance: It looks like he’s just cooling down after an easy workout. Forrest casually strolls down to the ring as only Forrest can. He is four inches taller and has a two-inch reach advantage over Rashad, who laughs when Bruce Buffer does his Quick Draw McGraw intro. Rashad is so happy to be here he even claps himself and has a smile from ear to ear. The crowd is chanting for Forrest as the fight gets underway, and Rashad commences his highland shuffle.
4.36: Evans fires off jabs and Griffin right-counters.
4.21: Griffin comes up short with a high kick. Evans has a way of dancing out of Griffin’s flight path, but then he’s right back in front of Griffin after he throws his volley. It’s almost like Evans is an optical illusion.
3.46: They both miss with jabs.
3.41: Forrest leg-kicks and Rashad’s right fist whistles over Forrest’s head.
3.29: Forrest leg-kicks,
3.22: Forrest body-kicks.
3.03: Rashad returns a leg kick, then bobs and weaves away from Forrest’s hands; however Forrest is faring better with his low kicks.
1.58: Evans spears a right fist into Griffin’s body.
1.47: Evans out-kicks Griffin.
1.39: Griffin leg-kicks.
1.22: Evans goes southpaw, then chooses to switch back and forth with his stance.
0.25: The crowd chants Forrest’s name as he body-kicks.
Round Two
Forrest returns to center ring and Rashad circles.
4.16: Rashad lands his jab on the mark.
4.11: He follows with another whiplashing straight left. He is outgunning Forrest with jabs when Forrest retaliates with a sharp right and a leg kick.
3.46: Griffin charges in and they switch to good old-time street brawling.
3.36: Evans laughs and blows Griffin a kiss before throwing a left hook. This is great entertainment and the crowd loves it. Forrest again concentrates on his leg kicks.
1.51: Rashad works his jabs and Forrest answers with another leg kick.
1.09: Rashad tags Forrest with a right cross.
1.03: Forrest inside leg-kicks. He finishes the round well.
Round Three
The dueling continues until 4.26, when Evans catches Griffin’s right kick and tugs him to the canvas.
4.25: Evans stands over Griffin and rains down hammer fists.
4.11: Griffin manages to pull Evans into guard.
3.59: Rashad slams out a big right.
3.37: He stands in Forrest’s guard, then drops back down and unloads demolition elbows.
2.49: Forrest has Rashad in closed guard.
2.21: Rashad clicks into phase two and detonates right-hand bombs, then laser-guided left uppercuts. It’s over!
Rashad remains undefeated at 18-0-1, and is the new UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion.
Result: Rashad Evans by TKO – 2.46, Round Three.
For more info: www.ufc.tv.
