Weighing In: UFC 92

by Zak Woods on Dec 26, 2008 2:10 PM EST

In an effort to bring more content to WKR, we are teaming up with Michael Comeau of mmaeruption.com for a new feature called 'Weighing In'.

1.) Will Silva vs. Jackson III be any different than their two previous fights?

MC: Hmm, how many ifs, ands, or buts can I use here?

It all depends on Rampage's mental state. Rampage has said he has nightmares about Wanderlei, so it's safe to say the Axe Murderer is inside his head. And of course, Rampage's split with Juanito Ibarra and the infamous Rampage's Rampage incident don't paint a picture of stability.

However, If Quinton comes in confident and ready to defend against the clinch, he has a solid shot at winning this fight. Since his last fight with Wanderlei at Pride 28 in October of 2004, Rampage has become a much sharper boxer, a nice compliment to his impressive chin. On the flip side, Wanderlei hasn't impressed me in his last two fights. He basically got the jump on Keith Jardine which doesn't tell us much about how he'll fight an improved Rampage, and he looked pretty sloppy in both strategy and execution in his decision loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 79.

So the answer is, I have no idea. This match is a total toss-up because we have to weigh Quinton's improved fighting skills against his mental state.

WKR: There is no doubt that Ramapage has changed since his last fight with Wanderlei. Gone is the good humored prankster who demonstrated serious improvement in the UFC from his days in Pride. The crucible that was the fight with Forrest Griffin and its aftermath, boiled down the intriguing stew of Rampage's personality, leaving us with a fighter focused on fulfilling his duty.

This isn't the first time Quniton Jackson has changed before our eyes. Jackson spiritual renewal was thought to be the death nail of his violent occupation. Yet Jackson found strength in his new found expression of faith and proved that he was still a force to be reckoned with. This time though, I am not so sure.

Jackson's decision to flee to England may prove to be a prudent decision, allowing him to focus on the fight as opposed to dealing with the legal distractions here in the U.S. But that doesn't prevent us from questioning the move; after all England is not exactly the Mecca of MMA, more like the Sadr City.

Jackson does have the benefit of fighting in the UFC, where the rules are friendlier to wrestlers. In the first fight with Wanderlei there was a strange stand up when Jackson was in a dominant position on the ground.

That difference alone gives Jackson a chance to win this fight. Expect Jackson to try and take the fight to the ground. However, with all the speculation about Jackson's mental status the fight remains a question mark. Just look at the odds, they remain almost even with very little movement.

2.) Who has been more underestimated throughout their career, Forrest Griffin or Rashad Evans?

WKR: Rashad Evans without a doubt. Dana White has even admitted to underestimating Evans consistently throughout The Ultimate Fighter. Evans career in the UFC hasn't exactly been sterling despite never losing. Decision after decision dogged his career (the Sean Salmon knockout was an aberration not the norm). Fans, like us, all but abandoned him.

When the fight with Liddell was announced and the possibility of it being for a title shot became public, rumors of favoritism sprung up like brush fire. How was it possible that a title shot could be given to Liddell if he beat a fighter whose marquee fight was a draw with Tito Ortiz? Liddell's sponsor, IcemanRX, jumped the gun announcing a promotion to see Liddell in the title fight this very weekend.

Yet Evans triumphed in spectacular fashion. That victory may of caused us to seriously reconsider Rashad's fighting abilities but that doesn't change the history up to that moment.

MC: I'll go with Forrest because of his losses to Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine, simply because they cast a pretty dark shadow on Forrest's ability to reach the top of the division. And if you look back to Forrest's fight with Shogun at UFC 76, there were an awful lot of R.I.P. Forrest threads started right before that event.

As for this Saturday's match-up, it's an awfully tough one to call. Forrest has a lot of heart, amazing cardio, and will have a considerable size advantage, but Rashad does have a strong wrestling base and fast hands. In terms of training camps, I give Rashad the edge as Greg Jackson's camp has been on a roll this year on the back of some great game-planning. This is an EXTREMELY close match-up.

Call me a kook, but I see Rashad beating Forrest by way of jinx. The UFC is praying for Rashad to lose, just as they did when he fought Chuck Liddell, and God does not often reward those kinds of prayers.

3.) Does Frank Mir have a shot at beating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira?

MC: Overall, Nogueira has a better ground game, but I don't count out Frank Mir's ability to catch Nog in a submission. Mir is fast, agile, and extremely strong. The only problem is, Frank's stamina isn't the best, and Nog could fight for forty days and forty nights if he had to. On the feet, there's no question. Nog has much better boxing and one of the best chins in the sport.

But the real problem may be Frank Mir putting Nog on a pedestal and I just don't think he's mentally ready to go the distance with a guy he regards as unstoppable.

WKR: Stop putting the Nogueira on a pedestal!

I agree that Nogueira's skill sets trump Mir's abilities, but I feel that Nogueira has been flirting with defeat since entering the UFC. Nogueira was almost knocked out be Heath Herring, a fighter he beat twice in Pride, if Herring had pounced sooner he would've won the fight. Tim Sylvia actually looked like a great heavyweight fighter when he dominated Nogueira before being submitted. While some my describe this as vintage Nogueira, you only go so long before losing when one is constantly flirting with defeat.

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