My god it's taken me a whole week to get my hands on this card. I've been dying to see this show. It's stacked from top to the bottom. This was the last show of 2008 and the UFC set a card to send the year off with one hell of a bang. But can this show live up to the hype?
Cheick Kongo (22-4-1) vs. Mustafa El-Turk (6-3) - Heavyweight
Pre Fight: This is an all European clash with Turk being a Brit via Lebanon and they don't announce Kongo but I'm guessing French. Should be an interesting fight they build both men as potential next big things but Turk is 35 and the UFC heavyweight division is notoriously weak. Turk is a former Cage Rage champion, Kongo has reach and height advantage.
Round One: Turk gets a jab but slips but slips out of range. Kongon catches a foot and hits a straight right hand taking Turk down. Kongo hits five brutal leg kicks before Turk scrambles to his feet. Turk goes for a takedown but its blocked and Kongo hits a hard knee as they go to the clinch against the cage. Turk is trying to power Kongo down but he fails miserably and Kongo rains down elbow strikes. Turk looks tired and dazed. They get stuck in a clinch and Turk catches Kongo in the balls with a knee and they have to stop, big round of boos. OUCHY!!! Turk eats a jab and misses a wild over hand right. Turk goes for a takedown but he seems to lack the speed. Kongo avoids a trip and then nails Turk mega hard in the balls THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT! This is the most deadly game of Roshambo ever. Kongo misses a low kick, Kongo unloads with a huge series of jabs and straight right hands knocking Turk clean over and then he lays in an absolutely disgusting series of elbow strikes Turk manages to cover up but Kongo then brings an endless series of hammer strikes and the referee has to stop it as the blood gushes from Turk's face. Kongo wins by TKO in 4:26.
Wow! What a knock out, the punches that took him down weren't hugely impressive but my god that was one of the most scarily brutal ground and pounds that I've ever seen in my life. Turk showed some severe balls to hang on that long. The match itself was cagey and broken up by two brutal low blows. Worth seeing for the TKO. (D)
Rampage Jackson (28-7) vs. Wanderlai Silva (32-8-1) - Light Heavyweight
Pre Match: These two really hate each other, or they really know how to sell a fight but I think these guys seriously do hate each other. I can't wait for this, even when you know the result before hand.
Round One: They swingin wildly, Ramage connects, Silva hits a leg kick and the second strike of a one-two combo. Rampage blocks a combo, Rampage gets a leg strike, The crowd chant for "Sliva". Rampage catches Silva with a jab, Silva connects with a nice knee strike, Silva gets a good leg kick and then both men miss with wild strikes before Silva hits a nice leg kick. Silva throws a combo but Rampage catches his leg and goes after him but can't hit anything major. The crowd chant for Rampage and Silva swings wildly and Rampage hits an almightly counter left hook knocking Silva unconcious on the spot, Rampage hits the unconcious Silva three more times before the referee pulls him off. Rampage Jackson wins by Knock Out in 3:21.
That was just about as good a knock out as you could possibly hope to see, a sweet left hook knocking Silva out on the spot. The opening was cagey but you could just feel that something big was coming and it did in a big way. (B-)
Prelim: Dan Evensen vs. Pat Barry - Heavyweight
Round One: Evensen goes to the ground but gets up without taking damage. Barry has two kicks blocked, before Dan takes the fight to the clinch against the cage. They break it up as its going no where, both men hit front kicks, Barry hits a straight right and two big leg kicks before they go to the ground. Evensen tries to keep Barry in this position and Barry easily gets to his feet. Dan walks straight into the right hand and Barry hits Evensen with a sick leg kick blowing out Dan's knee and he submits. You can see his leg absolutely buckle. The winner is Pat Barry in 2:36.
Good short fight, entertaining lots of action and Barry's leg kicks were absolutely brutal, I've never seen a guys leg get destroyed like that. (D+)
CB Dollaway (8-2) vs. Mike Massenzio (11-2) - Middleweight
Pre Fight Hype: CB is the only guy in his entire college wrestling career that managed to defeat Mike so its a grudge match. CB plays the cocky deuche very well.
Round One: CB misses a leg kick, Mike's leg is heavily taped. CB hits a good body kick. Mike misses a combo and CB hits some knees rocking Mike and CB misses with a wild kick. Mike has to duck and weave to avoid punches he then lands a series of strikes knocking CB down but Mike can't finishes he goes to a guillotine but he only gets a neck crank and CB manages to escape. Mike goes for a triangle but CB slips out and drops bombs. Dollaway misses a wild punch but manages to pass guard adn get a full mount. Dollaway misses a big elbow strike but gets back control and CB pounds out the victory. CB Dollaway wins by TKO in 3:01.
Dissapointing conclusion to a good match, very entertaining striking and some good matches in a back and forth match up. (C-)
Prelim: Resse Andy vs. Matt Hamill - Lightweight
Round One: Resse hits a nice leg strike but Hamill catches a leg but Andy avoids the takedown. Andy keeps Hamill on the end of his jab busting Andy's nose up well. Andy blocks a high kick and gets a nice knee. Hammill goes for an over hand right but misses and Andy catches him with a lovely flurry ending with an uppercut. Hammill replies with a nice jab. Hammill gets a jab to the body and Andy gets a straight right hand to the body, Hammill has a cut on his right eye. Hammill blocks a takedown, Andy's eye is swelling up, Andy dodges a strike and hits three quck jabs. Hammill and Andy mix it up before Hammill hits a straight right hand. Andy keeps Hammill on the end of a jab combo. Both men misses strikes. They exchange blows but the punches are very light. Hammill hits some strikes but Andy replies. Andy hits a straight right but there is nothing behind it. Hammill hits a nice jab uppercut combination. End of Round One.
Round Two: Hammill comes straight in but walks into a right hand. Andy gets a leg kick and both men exchange jabs. Hammill blocks a takedown and Hammill begins to light Andy up and hits two nic knees. Andy tries to get the clinch but he can't. Hamill hits a monsterous body strike adn Andy is ducking and weaving like made. Hammill rocks Andy with a monsterous body shot and Andy just covers up but the referee won't stop it. Hammill gets a full mount and the referee has to stop it. Hamill wins by TKO in 2:19.
Good finish, the match had lots of action but Andy just had no power in his punches, Hammill did and after the feeling out proccess he brought the thunder in the second round with two mamoth body shots. (D+)
Interim Heavyweight Title
Frank Mir (11-3) vs. Antonio Minotauro Nogueira (31-4-1)
Round One: Mir throws a high and low kick but doesn't really catch either, Mir gets an inside leg kick, Minotauro covers up before Mir gets a three lovely jab combos and then a brilliant takedown. Mir rains down blows before Mir lets him stand up. Mir looks superb. Mir gets a kick to the gut, Mir goes in with another nice jab combo ending in an uppercut. Minotauro gets a couple of jabs before he covers up to avoid some huge kick and jab combos. Minotauro is blocking very well, Frank gets an inside leg kick but can't land the jab, Frank then hits a nice straight right hand and then another inside leg kick. Both men trade and Minotauro gets leveled with two big hooks and he goes for the finish but Minotauro takes it so Frank decides to stand him up. That's not easy fore Minotauro. Frank hits a really good uppercut and a knee to the gut. How on earth did he take thoese. Mir gets a kick to the gut before eating a jab. Frank gets a nice combination. Minotauro unloads with a combo but Frank blocked the majority of it. Frank gets a beautiful jab and uppercut combo and that knocks Minotauro flat on his arse right as the buzzer goes. Fantastic round, some of the best boxing I've seen in MMA, Antonio has to take this fight to the ground.
Round Two: Frank looks cool and confident. Frank gets a gut kick and swings for the fences but Minotauro dodges it well. Frank gets a nice combo, Minotauro gets a jab but its got nothing behind it. Frank comes back with some three puncho combos. Minotauro gets a nice inside leg kick. Minotauro is eating right hands for breakfast. Minotauro gets a weak leg kick, Minotauro is being very very cautious now. Frank Mir hits to big right hands and that knocks Minotauro down hard and then he dives ontop with a brilliant flurry and the referee has to stop. Mir wins by TKO 6:14.
That was absolutely awesome from Mir, brilliant boxing skills from Mir. The scary thing is Mir is a much better submission artist than he is a boxer. That's the first time Minotauro has ever been finished in his career. On this evidence Lesnar-Mir is gonna be one hell of a fight, I don't give Lesnar a hope in hell on this evidence. Mir jumps up and shouts at Lesnar "you've got my belt", Lesnar looks cool and cocky. In the post match Frank Mir is heavy humble. Great match, one sided but fun fight to watch, Mir put on a striking show case. UFC 100 just can't get here fast enough. (B)
Light Heavyweight Title
Rashad Evans (17-0-1) vs. Forrest Griffin (16-4)
Pre Match Hype: Forrest is the kind of working hard, bring non stop energy and Randy Courture says he's the hardest working man in the business. Rashad on the other hand has never attempted a submission in his career, but he's never needed to. This is Ultimate Fighter Season One Winner vs. Season Two Winner. The fans at home think Forrest will win with a 70% - 30% split.
Round One: Oh man the tension is just massive. The crowd chant for Forrest. Rashad misses a jab combo and Forrest hits a jab. Evans dodges a round house kick, The crowd now chant for Evans, they exchange strikes and both men dodge. Rashad hits a right hand and blocks a high kick, Forrest replies with a nice leg kick. Rashad hits a nice leg kick of his own, Rashad hits a nice punch combo, Forrest hits a jab combo then dodges a strike and a leg kick. Forrest hits a nice jab combo and then hits a leg kick. Rashad dodges some jab combos before they mix it up with some jab combos. Rashad gets a body shot and Forrest gets a overhand right. Both men hit brutal leg kicks rocking the over man. Forrest goes for two high kicks but Rashad swats away. They mix it up again and no one can quite catch a fight plum. Rashad hits a lovely jab hook combo but Forrest dodges a hook and hits a nice straight right hand. The crowd chant for Forrest as he hits a big kick to the ribs. Rashad switches stances a dodges a body kicka and a superman punch. Great opening round.
Round Two: Forrest misses a wild kick and another and Rashad slips the crowd went nuts for that. Forrest gets an inside leg kick, Forrest tries to land jabs but Evans dodges easily and lands two really nice jabs. Forrest gets a leg kick as Rashad hits a jab. Forrest hits a brilliant hook and a leg kick combo. Rashad hits a big right hand and Forrest unloads with a monsterous combo against the fence but Rashad takes it and tells Forrest to bring it on. Rashad gets inside and hits a lovely jab combo. Forrest hits a nice leg kick to calm it down, Forrest hits another nice leg kick. Forrest dodges a jab and hits an inside leg kick before catching Rashad with some more jabs. Forrest misses two round house before hitting two great leg kicks. Rashad misses a jab and Forrest catches a hook. Forrest hits two nice leg kicks but Rashad gets a good hook. Rashad comes back with a leg kick. Both men touch gloves. Forrest misses a leg kick and the crowd comes to life, Forrest eats a big right hand and Rashad hits a leg kick. They mix it up, they then trade some more, Forrest gets a nice leg kick, Rashad rushes in with an uppercut combo catching the last one. Forrest gets a leg kick and hook combo rocking Rashad with the last right on the buzzer. Another superb round.
Round Three: Forrest gets a jab and a leg kick, Forrest throws a punch and high kick combo. Forrest goes for a kick but its caught Evans knocks the shit out of him gets him down and gets a huge unending hammerfist combo but Forrest manages to recover to guard, wow. Forrest does his best to recover and keep Evans down even attempting a triangle, Rashad hits two big elbow strikes. Rashad hits a big hammer fist, Forrest goes for a Triangle but Rashad catches him with a monster strike and Forrest is in cloud Cookoo land! Forrest tries to tap as Rashad knocks the shit out of Forrest pounding him silly. Forrest is a true pro and as soon as he can stand he hugs Rashad and says great fight.
Brutal knock out to end three rounds of absolute top quality fighting. This was superb stuff from two classy guys, this match was absolute non stop action, with two rounds of great striking, a big knock down and then a brilliant ground and pound battle, for a minute there I thought Forrest might just be able to escape but that great TKO finish was superb from Evans. Forrest and Evans continue to be two of the most exciting fighters in the world. (A)
Overall Thoughts: That was a brilliant show with three great main events that were all different from one another. The undercard matches were all solid, this was effectively a bumper show, any of these matches could headline any UFC show. This builds toward three amazing fights Evans-Machida, Mir-Lesnar and Anderson Silva-Forrest Griffin. A much see show. If your unsure of MMA watch this show. (9.5/10)
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