UFC 92 Analysis and Predictions
Published by Dave Sholler on December 26th, 2008 in Current Events

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With the holiday season behind us, it’s now time to take a look at the ultimate gift still left unwrapped. Thanks to Dana White and company, MMA fans can enjoy one of the most stacked cards in recent memory this Saturday night.

MMAmemories.com takes a look at the loaded UFC 92 card and offers fight predictions and insider notes on some of the biggest bouts of 2008.

Quinton Jackson (28-7) vs. Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1)

It’s hard not to consider this one the ultimate grudge match. Sharing a strong dislike for one another, Jackson and Silva are the early favorites to earn “Fight of the Night” honors. Given the emotions surrounding this bout, it should be far from tactical. Instead, it should be an absolute slugfest.

And the winner is…Jackson. In desperate need of a win, the troubled Rampage takes the fight based on having just a tad more tread left on his tires than Silva. While Silva does hold a 2-0 lead over Jackson in bouts contested with PRIDE, Rampage has supremely improved since his days in Japan. The Memphis, TN native will use his enhanced boxing skill to tag the fading Brazilian en route to a stoppage victory.

How it could go wrong…If Jackson gets caught in Silva’s clinch, throw our prediction out the window. Silva has some of the best knees in the business and will up his career record against Jackson to 3-0 if he lands strikes in the clinch. Jackson is insanely strong. But no one, and we mean no one, can eat too many of Silva’s knees.

Frank Mir (11-3) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1)
Interim heavyweight title

The coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Season Eight will square off in what could be one of the biggest chess matches of the year. Both decorated jiu jitsu practitioners, Mir and Nogueira can surely put on a grappling clinic. However, Mir’s early bursts and Big Nog’s superior hands may be the real X factors.

And the winner is…Mir. In one of the biggest upsets of the year, Mir captures the interim heavyweight title (and a rematch with Brock Lesnar) by becoming the first man to stop Nogueira. Following Heath Herring’s lead at UFC 73, Mir uncorks a vicious kick that flattens Nogueira. Unlike Herring, Mir pounces on the fallen Brazilian and hammer fists his way to the title.

How it could go wrong…If Mir gasses out early, he falls right into the Nogueira trap. Moreover, if the fight heads into the championship rounds, it would spell disaster for the Las Vegas native, as Nogueira is the better conditioned of the two.

Forrest Griffin (16-4) vs. Rashad Evans (17-0-1)
Light Heavyweight title

Two of the most successful participants of The Ultimate Fighter series face off in a 205-pound title clash. Griffin, fresh off defeating Quinton Jackson for the title in July, is one of the most dedicated athletes in all of MMA. He should face a stiff test from Evans though. The Greg Jackson-product is an outstanding wrestler with some of the best striking in the division. Don’t believe us? Ask Chuck Liddell and Sean Salmon.

And the winner is…Evans. Even though he’ll give up four inches in height, Evans should prove to be the better boxer and wrestler. A relentless, yet calculated fighter, Evans will use angles and slick movements to frustrate Griffin. Another mid-round stoppage victory doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for Evans.

How it could go wrong…If Evans plays it safe. In title fights, you have to beat the champion to earn the belt. If Evans refuses to push the pace or engage, he won’t do enough to impress the judges. It’s hard to think that he’ll get stopped by Griffin, but a lackluster approach by Evans will prevent him from earning his first world championship.

Other quick UFC 92 predictions:

Pat Barry over Dan Evensen by TKO 2
Brad Blackburn over Ryo Chonan by UD
Matt Hamill over Reese Andy by UD
Mike Wessel over Antoni Hardonk by TKO 1
Yushin Okami over Dean Lister by UD
Cheick Kongo over Mostapha Al Turk by UD
Mike Massenzio over CB Dolloway by SUB 3