The UFC will ring in the New Year with a trio of headline-worthy bouts at UFC 92 “The Ultimate 2008” this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The card features the first ever title tilt between alumni of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the final chapter in a trilogy between two heated light heavyweight rivals and a bout that will decide who faces Brock Lesnar for the undisputed heavyweight championship in 2009.

Everybody dust off your useless Y2K survival kits and prepare for some mixed martial arts breakdowns worthy of a Prince Paul mixtape.

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans

Forrest Griffin Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’3/205 lbs.
Age: 29
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Fighting out of: Las Vegas
Record: 16-4

The stakes: While Griffin’s current run as light heavyweight champion may not compare to the reality altering run of Matt Serra in the welterweight division, one has to wonder just how much longer the roller coaster ride will last for Griffin. That’s especially true when you consider he took out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua right around the time the Brazilian’s knees turned to peanut brittle and then went on to win the title against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who has all the mental stability of Tom Cruise on the “Oprah” set. One way or another, we’ll find out just how much of Griffin’s success is owed to circumstance and if this unexpected run has any legs to it.

The breakdown: As much as Griffin loves a good scrap on the feet, his massive size advantage gives him the opportunity to bully around the undersized Evans, both in the clinch and on the mat. Now that we’re finally starting to see Randy Couture’s mentorship have an impact on how Griffin fights, there’s a good chance we’ll see him remain composed. From there, his combination of obvious size and underrated grappling skill is made to throttle a guy like Evans.

Rashad “Sugar” Evans Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 5’11/205 lbs.
Age: 29
Hometown: Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Fighting out of: Lansing, Mich.
Record: 12-0-1

The stakes: Evans may be MMA’s most underappreciated star. Sure, he holds an undefeated record, but what about that “lucky” draw against Tito Ortiz at UFC 73? OK, he knocked out Chuck Liddell, but everyone fell asleep during the first round. Evans gets this kind of criticism on a daily basis, and while taking on the pseudonym “Sugar” may be a bit presumptuous, we may be witnessing the birth of a storied division’s latest superstar. If Evans is ever going to wake up fans to that reality, he’ll need to ditch the sleepwalking routine and get straight to the sugar.

The breakdown: For Evans to survive in a division loaded with fighters who dwarf him, he has to continue turning his supposed weakness into a strength. That means taking advantage of his superior footwork while banking on hand speed to frustrate Griffin and set up the coup de grace. Evans must stay mindful of resisting the temptation to barrel forward in search of takedowns, as Griffin’s size makes him difficult to push around, and his jiu-jitsu game remains a legitimate weapon.


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The bottom line: As much as Evans’ at times jaw-dropping physical ability has left the masses in awe, Griffin’s rugged physicality and well-rounded style make him a tough draw for anyone. What really flips this bout in Griffin’s favor is Evans’ habit of starting slowly and practically giving away the first round like it’s a government bailout. Griffin will take that ball and run with it, as he imposes a trench war style fight on Evans, who will eventually buckle under the pressure in close quarters combat.