Lineup for Injury-Riddled UFC 108 Finalized
Sherdog.com Staff Dec 21, 2009
The revolving door of UFC 108 fighters has stopped spinning for
now. Zuffa announced the complete 11-fight lineup for the event
Monday, less than two weeks before its scheduled Jan. 2 date at the
MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and top contender Thiago Silva will headline the card. Evans (13-1-1) is returning from the first loss of his professional career and will try to reestablish himself as a contender in the 205-pound division.
Silva (14-1) shares at least one thing in common with Evans: They
suffered their only defeats, both by way of knockout, to current
champion Lyoto
Machida in 2009. Silva has been dominant since migrating to the
UFC, rattling off five wins in six bouts and asserting himself as a
force in the division.
Should the American Top Team product win, he might just find his way into the rematch he so desires. Evans, on the other hand, is slated to face bitter rival Quinton Jackson if he can pull out the win. The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 107 before Jackson pulled out to co-star in the movie rendition of the “A-Team.”
It will be a stiff test against Daley, who burst onto the UFC scene in September with a dominant TKO over perennial contender Martin Kampmann in his promotional debut. Daley (22-8-2) has become an immediate contender in the welterweight division but may have his path blocked should teammate Dan Hardy defeat champion Georges St. Pierre in March.
Rising heavyweight prospect Junior dos Santos will meet Pride veteran Gilbert Yvel in what should be a violent clash of big men. Dos Santos (9-1) has been virtually untouchable since joining the UFC’s heavyweight division, pinning stoppage wins over Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic to his resume. A victory over Yvel could position him well in the division, which is currently in flux due to Brock Lesnar’s health issues.
Yvel (36-13-1) is a true veteran of the sport and showed he still has something left to give when he took Josh Barnett the distance last January before knocking out Pedro Rizzo in his last bout. This will be Yvel’s first appearance for the UFC.
UFC 108 will be a family affair for Joe and Dan Lauzon. The brothers will take on Sam Stout and Cole Miller respectively. Joe is returning from knee surgery and will fight for the first time in 11 months while Dan will be making his first Octagon appearance since 2006. After losing to Spencer Fisher as an 18-year-old, Dan has fought his way back to the big show by racking up eight consecutive wins.
More » Full UFC 108 Lineup
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and top contender Thiago Silva will headline the card. Evans (13-1-1) is returning from the first loss of his professional career and will try to reestablish himself as a contender in the 205-pound division.
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Should the American Top Team product win, he might just find his way into the rematch he so desires. Evans, on the other hand, is slated to face bitter rival Quinton Jackson if he can pull out the win. The two were scheduled to fight at UFC 107 before Jackson pulled out to co-star in the movie rendition of the “A-Team.”
Up-and-coming welterweight Dustin
Hazelett will finally get to make his much-anticipated return
from knee surgery when he faces talented British striker Paul Daley in
a clash of 170-pound contenders. Hazelett (12-4) had his original
return fight canceled due to opponent Karo
Parisyan’s late withdrawal from their November bout. The
talented grappler last fought over 13 months ago after injuring his
knee while training.
It will be a stiff test against Daley, who burst onto the UFC scene in September with a dominant TKO over perennial contender Martin Kampmann in his promotional debut. Daley (22-8-2) has become an immediate contender in the welterweight division but may have his path blocked should teammate Dan Hardy defeat champion Georges St. Pierre in March.
Rising heavyweight prospect Junior dos Santos will meet Pride veteran Gilbert Yvel in what should be a violent clash of big men. Dos Santos (9-1) has been virtually untouchable since joining the UFC’s heavyweight division, pinning stoppage wins over Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic to his resume. A victory over Yvel could position him well in the division, which is currently in flux due to Brock Lesnar’s health issues.
Yvel (36-13-1) is a true veteran of the sport and showed he still has something left to give when he took Josh Barnett the distance last January before knocking out Pedro Rizzo in his last bout. This will be Yvel’s first appearance for the UFC.
UFC 108 will be a family affair for Joe and Dan Lauzon. The brothers will take on Sam Stout and Cole Miller respectively. Joe is returning from knee surgery and will fight for the first time in 11 months while Dan will be making his first Octagon appearance since 2006. After losing to Spencer Fisher as an 18-year-old, Dan has fought his way back to the big show by racking up eight consecutive wins.
More » Full UFC 108 Lineup
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